Children learn best when they like their teacher and they think their teacher likes them. 

– Gordon Neufeld

• • • Thank you to ALL staff for being so quick and flexible during our unexpected HOLD on Thursday 

    • It is extremely important to practice the 5 drills and use the language of the drills with your students so that we are all prepared if a real situation occurs

    • Attached is the slideshow of NPS Emergency Responses.  The videos to show your students are on slides 23,36,43 and 51  

 District Safety Protocols 2023-2024

• • • We will have a lockdown drill and evacuation drill before the end of September, dates TBA

• • • Staff make sure to be at your arrival post at 8:35 and remain there until 8:50

    • Make sure you are using resources in ELA and Math from the curriculum/unit plans when planning for instruction

    • Check the morning email and any updates on it each morning as important details for the day will be listed in that email

• • • NWEA Testing: Sept. 13- Sept. 29th

    • Grades 1-5 Math

    • Grades 3-5 Reading

    • Classroom teachers, check the accommodation spreadsheet and input all accommodations by Monday 9/11/23  NWEA Accommodation

    • Please refer to the NWEA Schedule and DIBELS Schedule as dates have recently changed: 

 Fall Testing Calendar

• • • PLEASE READ THROUGH SLIDES 8-17 ON UPDATES TO NWEA.  ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE REACH OUT TO JOHN S. OR CHERIE

      NWEA UPDATES  

• ***New K-3 DIBELS testing window: Sept. 20-Oct. 3

• Thursday 9/14:  K-2 will be from 6-6:40 and 3-5 will be from 6:40-7:25  

• Students are welcome to come to share their classroom with their parents

• Please refer to Ms. Esposito's email with more details on how the evening will run

Tracey's Book Fair is approaching!!! The Book Fair will kick off during our Open House on Thursday, 9/14. The Book Fair will be open to families from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in our Library. This year, the Book Fair will be during your Communications special. Thank you, Mr. Riddell, for hosting our Book Fair this year and helping our Cubs find books right for them! Please click on the link to see the schedule. Book Fair 2023 

Important Notes:

-On Friday, 9/15, and 9/18, Communications will be held in your classroom. 

-Purchasing- 

E-Wallet-  HTTPS://WWW.SCHOLASTIC.COM/BF/TRACEY 

or cash in a labeled envelope.

-Sales tax is added to the total. If you have any spare change that you would like to donate to help our Cubs out, that would be appreciated! Many Cubs only had exact change last year and needed more for the sales tax. I'll be collecting change in Room 108 to help out with this. 

-Volunteers can sign up using the QR code in this link. Book Fair 2023 

Thank you to our fabulous PTA for sponsoring these special events for our Cubs!

• The district is looking to strengthen the leadership pipeline and meet the diverse needs of the district.  NPS is committed to developing current and future instructional leaders. The NPS Leadership Development Cohort is an opportunity for new assistant principals and aspiring administrators to build on their current skill set to lead for change and impact in Norwalk. 

• If you hold a 092 and are interested in becoming a future leader, please see this flyer with information on how to apply: Leadership Flyer

Please see below from Rob Pennington:

On October 10 we are looking to run a NorwalkEdCamp PD for ½ of the day. The Professional Development descriptions are outlined on the website below. We are looking for teachers to share best practices with each other on a variety of topics. It is for teachers, by teachers. Each session will be 70 min in length and you will have the opportunity to attend two sessions. Presenters will be paid at the contractual rate. 

THIS EVENT:

• Leverages the knowledge and experiences of NPS Educators by allowing them to determine topics for discussion.

• Allows participants to determine session topics.

• Encourages participants to facilitate sessions by sharing experiences.

https://sites.google.com/norwalkps.org/edcampnorwalk/home

Norwalk EdCamp

Proposals are due by the end of the week and are below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSext3z-2k4oXb5q8LEnohYYs4fHmBM8EcDG1i5qd9uVJQZzXg/viewform

Click on the link if you would like to apply: Call for Proposals  

Even with this crazy week I have begun planning Community Meetings with teachers and even begun to push in during SEL time.  Great work is happening.  Please let me know if you would like to team up as a Grade Level or class to co-facliliate some Character and SEL Lessons

Also - PTA InfoThe Book Fair will be taking place during your classes PRINT Library Media Special the week of Sept 18th in the library. The Scholastic Book Fair will open starting at the Open House on September 14th in the library and welcomes the community to come and shop or stop by any time that says "Open Shop" on the calendar! Staff are welcome and encouraged to stop by any time on Friday to make a staff wish list or purchase their own books. Donuts with Grownups will also be happening Friday morning 8-9am in the couryard with the book fair open for shopping, and stop by for donuts, too!

Fill in your facorite things so our Cubs can shower you with love throughout the year.  Fill it in here! https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/aQRVC1wPMVcEKkmxUGaPkz?domain=docs.google.com 

ELA

WIN Cycle Dates 

Cycle 1: 9/6-10/17, Cycle 2: 10/18- 11/10, Cycle 3: 12/11-2/9, Cycle 4: 2/12- 5/10, Cycle 5: 5/13- End of the Year

Please use this link to access our Cycle 1 spreadsheet. Cycle 1 WIN 2023-24 

If you need any materials, please fill in this spreadsheet. WIN Materials

CORE Phonics Survey

Data Instructions - Please use this link to access the above pictures and links.

 DRA PM Passages

It is important that our students have access to texts they can read independently. Attached is a folder with all of the DRA PM passages. These are helpful to use when determining a student's independent reading level. Any student needing Level A/1, B2, or C3 needs the benchmark assessment. All benchmark assessments can be found in Room 108 by my desk in the teal filing cabinet. You are free to help yourself. 

DRA PM Passages