November 29, 2023
REMINDER: School begins at 8:40 am. We encourage students to be settled in their classrooms by 8:35. Please aim to have them arrive a bit earlier if coming by car or walking. Also, please do not park in the Handicapped spots. Thank you! 😊
🗒️Message from the School Counseling Team
NCES Families,
The month of December’s Act of Valor character trait is Empathy. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes to understand how they are feeling. Practicing empathy is important all year round but especially needed during the winter months. Here are 5 tips for cultivating empathy:
Model empathy for others and your child
Provide your child with opportunities to practice and learn empathy
Support your child in understanding the feeling that may be stopping them from empathizing with others. At times, feelings like anger, frustration, and other emotions challenge a child's ability to empathize with others at that moment.
Help your child recognize moments where empathy can be used with family and friends
Read books that focus on empathy
As always please reach out to Mr. Guttmann or Ms. Libby if you have questions.
Mr. Guttmann
timothy.guttmann@jefferson.kyschools.us
Ms. Libby
elizabeth.steltenpohl@jefferson.kyschools.us
💻❄️NCES Short-Term NTI Information 💻❄️
In the case we have inclement weather, we plan to hold Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) as much as possible. With advance notice, we plan to send students home with a device and next steps on work. Teachers and staff will hold live lessons and be available to support students via the digital platform or email.
Please click here for additional information. Thank you for your support!
Academic Information 📝
The JCPS application window for the 24-25 school year is officially open. The window will close December 22nd. Please use the link HERE to apply
🍎 Parent Teacher Association
Volunteer! Clothing Assistance Program Sorting on 11/30
Volunteer! Helping Ms. Sarah with Gingerbread Houses 11/27-12/7
Volunteer! Snowflake Shop Volunteers Needed 12/1, 12/4-12/8
Snowflake Shop Class Schedules and Family letter
Visit the PTA Website for information and events!
Volunteer opportunity: Join the NCES PTA from 10am-1pm on 11/30 at the JCPS Clothing Assistance Program. If you are available to help, please sign up here
🍲 FRC Information
Sign up to donate for holiday food assistance here. We will be collecting until 12/15.
🎉 Celebration 🎉
Safety Patrol is up and running. We are so excited that these 5th graders support students and staff while building leadership skills.
🗓️ Important Dates
11/29: Quick Recall 3:20-4:45
11/29: Basketball 3:30-5:00
11/30: Cheerleading 3:30-5:00
11/30: Gifted G.I.R.L.S. meeting
Recurring Information
Transportation Change Form and Transportation Reminders:
From 8:15-8:40 AM, the parking lot closest to the carpool lane will be closed. If you need to visit the front office during this time, please park in the lot located on the cafeteria/bus drop-off side of the building The map below shows the area marked in green. In short, during these times, the carpool side will be exit-only.
For everyone's safety, please refrain from dropping your student off at the four-way stop on the carpool sidelines that you see marked in red on the map below. Instead, always use the designated carpool line.
To assist with traffic flow and clarity, parts of the carpool map will be color-coded. Areas marked in red will be no-access zones or have blockades to help traffic flow, while those highlighted in green will indicate suitable parking areas if you need to enter the school building during that 8:15 to 8:40 time frame.
There are 3 forms that we need completed, the Educational Benefits Forms (EBF), Residency Form and the FRC Needs Assessment. The first two can be completed on your Parent Portal account. (Go here to log-in/sign-up and complete the forms designated "required"). You can access the Assessment here. If you would prefer to complete a paper copy of these forms, please reach out to me at the email below. Classes who have over 95% of their students complete the forms by Nov 1 will receive a special treat! Please help your student's class earn a prize!
Please ensure you've submitted the nursing consent form, which can be found in the Parent Place. Additionally, we need the most recent immunization records for your child. For any child new to JCPS and all kindergartners:
A physical examination record.
Dental records by 1/1/24 (Note: The school dental exam is acceptable).
A vision exam conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by 1/1/24 (Please note that the school's vision test does not meet this requirement).
Photo ID is always required when entering the building during the school day.
Parents may join their child for lunch! Lunch schedule linked here. No restaurant food is permitted. Photo ID required.
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.
FRC Recurring Information
Hearing and Vision Screenings on 12/14 and 15- If you DO NOT want your student to participate, you must sign and return the notice of non-consent, coming home this week. (This doesn't count as the JCPS required vision exam for 5-6 year old students, but reach out to me for referrals to affordable eye doctors if you need one.)
Just a reminder:
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.
Any questions about this information or if I can help your family in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at 502-357-6265 or christina.case@jefferson.kyschools.us
