March 27, 2024
🗒️ Message from Nicole Feld, Academic Instructional Coach
NCES Families,
Our 5th Grade Defenses are occurring this week! Here are some FAQs that you may be wondering about.
What is the JCPS Backpack of Success Skills?
Several years ago JCPS created a digital “backpack” to showcase student work.
The goal is to “empower students with the tools they need to be successful students, professionals and citizens of the world.”
Each student has artifacts in the following Success Skills:
Prepared and Resilient Learner
Globally and Culturally Competent Citizen
Emerging Innovator
Effective Communicator
Productive Collaborator
School Signature Item
What is our “School Signature Item” at NCES?
Service Learning fits well with our NCES Mission and Vision (posted weekly at the bottom of this newsletter for easy reference). Our 5th graders completed their School Signature Item with individual service learning projects in the fall. Our K-4 students are using Deeper Learning Lab time with Mrs. Fields to complete grade level projects. Each grade level will follow these steps of service learning:
1. Identify a problem that needs solving
2. Research
3. Make a Plan
4. Implement the Plan
5. Showcase Work
What is a 5th Grade Defense of Learning?
In JCPS 5th, 8th and 12th graders defend their learning in the Success Skills before moving on to the next grade.
In the 5th Grade Defense of Learning, students reflect on their learning, prepare a 6 minute speech, and present to a panel of their teachers, sharing their artifacts in each Backpack Skill.
Explaining their learning and readiness to transition to middle school is an exciting challenge that gives students a great sense of accomplishment.
Your students are gaining not only important academic content, but they are honing real-world skills that will serve them their entire lives. We thank you for allowing us to have a part in your child’s education, and we appreciate your support of our mission and vision!
Nicole Feld, AIC
🍎 Parent Teacher Association
Knights on Parade
Knights on Parade has officially begun! Let the fundraising commence. To compete for individual and class prizes, please register first. Remember, if 75% of school is registered by Friday, Mr. Terry will be making his debut in an inflatable horse costume, and you will receive your NCES water bottle. Register HERE.
Hospitality
A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to Louisville Orthodontics for their generous support of the NCES PTA, treating all of our teachers to a delightful breakfast last week. Your kindness is deeply appreciated!
smART Showcase Prep with Ms. Sarah
Our dedicated art teacher, Ms. Sarah, is actively engaging our students in creating artwork for our upcoming smART Showcase in May. She is seeking volunteers every Friday until the event to assist in preparing student art pieces for display. You can choose to sign up for a single shift on any given Friday, multiple shifts on one day, or commit to a regular shift each week. Volunteers will report directly to Ms. Sarah.
Click HERE to volunteer to be a part of this event.
PTA Calendar
Stay up to date on the latest NCES PTA news by following our calendar below.
New NCES PTA Website
We have launched a new NCES PTA website. Check it out right HERE.
📔Family Resource Center
Health Clinic 5/9 (see flyer here)
Nonconsent forms for physicals coming home week of April 8 and consent forms for immunizations coming home the week of April 15.
The Family Resource Center is hosting speaker events this spring:
Anxiety- March 27th at Chancey Elementary
ADHD- May 14th at Norton Commons
Please see the flyer for more information and RSVP here.
Questions - contact Christy Case, FRC christina.case@jefferson.kyschools.us
🏑 Field Hockey Clinic
Kammerer is hosting a Field Hockey Clinic for 4th and 5th graders. If you are interested, see the flyer below.
Click here to sign up and get more information!
🎉 Celebrations 🎉
Our STLP Team competes at the state level in Lexington today! They have entered several categories and we wish them the best! Thanks to our leaders, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Fields, and thanks to our parent chaperones and supporters!
BETA Club brought home 12 awards at the state level last week! We were top 5 in many individual and team categories. Thanks to Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Handel, and Mrs. McCollum for leading the team, and to our many parent volunteers who led and supported our teams.
🍎 PTA Calendar
Recurring Information
School begins at 8:40.
Students should be settled in their classrooms by 8:35.
There is a parent/student lunch area where you will be able to sit with your students to eat lunch. The student may invite one friend to eat lunch with you all. The lunch schedule is here. Photo ID required.
If you are interested in having your student participate in Blessings in a Backpack, please complete this form.
If you need clothes for your student from the Clothing Assistance Program (CAP), please complete this form.
Photo ID is always required when entering the building during the school day.
Follow us on social media! Facebook: Norton Commons Elementary School, Instagram: @NCES_Knights, X (Twitter): @NCES_Knights
If you are not getting text alerts from NCES, make sure to sign up for School Messenger.
Our ECE Department is raising money from Box Tops! Download the app and email rachel.murphy@jefferson.kyschools.us or christina.frederiksen@jefferson.kyschools.us with questions.
Inclement Weather Plan - Please click here for NCES NTI information.
💻 KSA Dates
The Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) will take place the last 14 days of the school year for 3rd-5th graders. The current testing window is May 6 - May 24. 3rd-5th grade families, please avoid scheduling appointments and/or trips during this time period.
