October 2, 2025

Lunch Menu # 4 (Week of October 13-17)

Dear Elementary Parents and Community,

It was wonderful to see those of you who joined us for our recent PTA Coffee Morning. We appreciated the chance to hear your feedback—both the things you feel are going well and the questions you raised. One topic that came up was earthquake drills, and several of you expressed interest in knowing the procedures we teach students so you can reinforce them at home. During a drill, students are instructed to get under their desks, place one hand on their neck, and hold onto a table leg with the other. If they are in the hallway, they move against a wall and cover their necks.

Balancing Academics with Movement and Play
Did you know that our elementary students enjoy 45 minutes of recess every day, as well as 80 minutes of dance and 80 minutes of physical education each week? At Nova, we believe in nurturing the whole child, which means creating a balanced palette of academics, movement, and play. These opportunities not only support physical health but also foster creativity, teamwork, and joy in learning.

We are proud to provide an environment where students thrive both in the classroom and on the playground.

Morning Drop Off
To build independence, children should put their belongings in their cubbies and lockers and walk to class independently. Parents can hug goodbye at the cubby area or the main door to the school.

Communication
At Nova, we value clear and consistent communication between home and school. To keep you informed about your child’s learning journey, we send home two mid-semester progress reports and two end-of-semester report cards each year. In addition, we host two rounds of Parent/Teacher Conferences as well as one Student-Led Conference, providing multiple opportunities to share progress, celebrate growth, and discuss next steps together.  Should you have questions at any time about your child's academic, social, or emotional progress, please don't hesitate to contact your child's homeroom teacher.

Upcoming Dates
World Teachers' Day - October 3
Fall Break No School - October 6-10
Progress Reports Sent Home - October 27
Fall Festival - Students may dress up for Halloween - October 29
Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School - October 30-31

I wish you a great week ahead. I hope you enjoy the time during fall break with your children.

Warm regards,

Julie A. Cox