October 18, 2023
REMINDER: School begins at 8:40 am. We encourage students to be settled in their classrooms by this time. Please aim to have them arrive a bit earlier if coming by car or walking. Thank you! 😊
🗒️Message from the School Counseling Team
This past week we celebrated World Mental Health day. Here at Norton Commons Elementary, we want to play a pivotal role in your students' mental health. Making the decision to seek support for your students' mental health can seem daunting, but we want you to know of some of the mental health supports that we provide here at school. All students at Norton Commons receive monthly Social Emotional Learning classroom lessons. Teachers also incorporate Character Strong activities to work on our monthly Act of Valor character trait. October's Act of Valor is responsibility. We also offer school based individual and group counseling. If you are interested or would like to learn more about these school based services, please reach out to your student's teacher.
JCPS also offers a new program called CareSolace. This program helps families find community based therapists that meet their specific criteria (i.e. location, type of counseling, insurance, gender, etc.). We utilize this program for students and families who have concerns/needs presenting outside of school. If this is something that your family may be interested in, please contact the school counseling team!
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
➗ RSVP! ➖ Math KNight 11/9 ➕
Back by popular demand! Math KNight is open to all K-5 families with a submitted RSVP (by 10/30).
RSVP here by 10/30. Just like last year, ALL are welcome, but a head count is required to ensure space and food is available. No walk-ins permitted, so plan to fill out the form by 10/30 if you are coming.
Thursday, November 9, 6:00-7:15; doors open at 5:45pm.
Math KNight is a chance for families to play math games together. Lots of options will be available for your family to freely choose activities that fit your interests and ages.
Pizza, cookies, and water will be served.
Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!
News from our Family Resource Center
Forms Due/Prizes: 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). You can access the Assessment here. Classes who have over 95% of their students complete the forms by Nov 1 will receive a special treat! We appreciate your help with this!
Holiday Assistance: If you need help with food and/or gifts during the upcoming holidays, please complete this form by 10/23.
Academic Information 📝
KSA Score Information/Update: The School Report Card public release is tentatively set for Nov. 1. The embargo review period for media and district review will begin on Monday, Oct. 30, and end on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Individual student score reports will be sent home for every child on October 30th.
Students in 3rd & 5th grade will take the NNAT3. 4th grade students will only take the NNAT3 if they did not participate in the test in 3rd grade. This non-verbal assessment will be used to identify students in General Intellectual Ability for Gifted and Talented. Make up testing will occur up until November 3rd.
Records and Immunization Information 📝
Friendly Reminder:
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 (Note: The school dental exam is acceptable).
A vision exam conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist (Please note that the school's vision test does not meet this requirement).
Dental and Vision records must be into the school no later than January 1st! Thank you for your attention.
🏀Clubs and Activities
Fall clubs and activities are in full swing and will continue through 11/17.
Basketball tryouts are today/Wednesday 10/18, 3:30 for 4th and 5th boys and girls who signed up. Students will be finished by 5:00. Practices will begin Wednesday 10/25.
Cheerleading tryouts will be tomorrow/Thursday, 10/19, 3:30-5:00 for those 3rd-5th boys and girls who signed up.
🍁Terry's Tailgate
Terry's Tailgate Flyer with QR code 2023 (1).pdfYMCA Fall Festival🍂
🍎 Parent Teacher Association
Visit the PTA Website for information and events!
Join Terry’s Tailgate happening right before Fall Festival from 4:00-6:00 on 10/20! RSVP here!
The results are in. Please see the following:
1st place: 3-way tie between Mrs. Fredericksen, Ms. Brewer, and Mrs. Rohrs with a 100% participation
Runner up - Mrs. Azevedo with 96% Participation
Most # of Candy Bags: Mrs. Rose with 41 bags
The above classes will all receive donuts with Mr. Terry Wednesday, Oct. 25th
🎉 Celebrations 🎉
Saturday School began this week! Saturday School is a 6 week program funded by Extended School Services. It is offered by invite as an extra opportunity for instruction. Our teachers use data to determine students across grade levels who would benefit from working together. We LOVE seeing our students on Saturday having fun learning.
🗓️ Important Dates
10/18: Bending with Bowden Club 8:00-8:30
10/18: Basketball tryouts 4th/5th grade 3:30-5:00
10/18: Quick Recall Tryouts 4th and 5th grade 3:30-4:30
10/18: Let's Code Club 3:30-4:00
10/19: Post Office Club 8:00-8:30
10/19: Cheerleading Tryouts 3rd-5th grade 3:30-5:00
10/19: STEM Challenges Club 3:30-4:00
10/20: Best Buddies Club 8:00-8:30
10/20: Terry's Tailgate and YMCA/NCES Fall Festival (10/21 Rain date)
10/21: Saturday School Session 2
10/23: Picture Day
10/24-10/27: Red Ribbon Week (more info to come)
10/30: Math KNight RSVP due
Recurring Information
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.
The PTA Reflections Program invites students in all grades to reflect on our 2023-2024 theme and create art in the following categories: dance, film, literature, music, photography and visual arts Visit the PTA Website for more information.
Transportation 🚘
School building opens at 8:00. School starts at 8:40. Students who arrive at 8:40 AM or later must have a parent accompany them to sign-in in the main office as a tardy. Breakfast will close at 8:35 AM daily. Only students who arrive on late buses will be provided breakfast after that time.
🚍 Bus Riders:
Please download the Edulog Lite app so that you can track your child's bus.
🟧 Walkers:
If your child is a walker, please do not park in the parking lot in the morning or afternoon.
🚗 Car Riders:
Parents remain in their vehicle.
Keep your 2023-2024 car rider tag visible until student is in the car.
Note from the FRC 🎒
Items Needed- The Family Resource Center is in need of girls’ underwear and gently used pants in XS and S sizes. Label the items “FRC” and send them in.
Dental Clinic- Offered by NCES and School Smiles in November. If interested, follow this link to sign up (also sent this form in the beginning of the year packet). This exam will fulfill the JCPS requirement for a dental exam for all 5-6 year old students.
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.)
Holiday Assistance- The FRC provides food baskets at Thanksgiving and for winter holidays we provide food baskets and/or gifts. Priority is given to our students on Free/Reduced lunch, but if there are special circumstances surrounding your request, please let me know. Please complete this form to apply. Completing the application does not guarantee that you will receive assistance. You will receive a letter if you are approved and it will indicate the type(s) of assistance you will receive.
Just a reminder:
Blessings in a Backpack provides food on the weekend for families who may be facing food insecurity. Students receive a packet of food on Fridays that usually contains a meat product, crackers, cereal, and some snacks. If you are interested in having your student participate, please complete this form. The program will start at the end of the month.
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
