Norton Creek Elementary
Friday Tidbits- December 1st, 2023
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
December-
12/06/2023- Parent Ed Series 10:30am/Haines and 6pm Haines
12/11/2023- School Board Meeting 5pm/Haines Center
12/13/2023- Parent Ed Series 6pm/Haines
12/18/2023- Policy/Committee Meeting 5pm/Haines
12/18/2023- Learning and Teaching Meeting 5:30pm/Haines Center
12/19/2023- Parent Ed Series 6pm/Haines
12/21/22023- Business Services Meeting 5:30/Haines
12/22/2023- Last Day Of School In 2023
12/25/2023-1/8/2024- Winter Break
January-
1/09/2024- School Resumes/Back to School
1/24/2024- Early Release Day/Dismissal at 2:10
Please mark these dates on your calendars-
Early Release Days for Elementary school this year(dismissal is at 2:10) are January 24th, February 21st, March 20th, and April 24th.
SCHOOL DAILY SCHEDULES
Kindergarten thru 5th Grades-
8:00am-3:00pm
Students can be dropped off at 7:45am for the school day. If you arrive before that time please keep your child with you until 7:45 as there is no supervision outside until then.
The School Day ends at 3pm on all days except early release days which is 2:10pm. If you pick your children up by car please plan to be here at 3pm daily.
If you are arriving after 8:00am for safety and security you must walk your student into the main office and sign them in.
Our school office is open from 7:30am until 4:00pm on school days.
From the Principal Tony White.....
There is certainly a lot happening in life these days, and when the whirlwind starts whipping up...it can be easy to lose sight of the wildly important. The wildly important work here at Norton Creek (and across D303 in general) is building a culture of dignity, collaborating effectively, and promoting instructional coherence. Over the course of the next three weeks, I'll dive into each of these strategic priorities outlined in the D303 Strategic Plan.
Building a culture of dignity means recognizing the immense value all people possess inherently because of their humanity regardless of circumstances, social status, or background. This is a fancy way of saying that everyone matters to our school - no matter what. There is nothing someone can do or be that makes them more or less valuable to our community.
To ensure everyone feels valued we have to do more than tell people they are valued. Our programs and policies must promote access and excellence for all - no matter what. Each learning environment within the larger learning environment of the school must support the social and emotional well-being of students, staff, and families. Putting this on paper is a nice start, but putting it into practice changes the entire organization one student, staff member, and family at a time.
Building a culture of dignity requires great attention and intention. It cannot happen by accident, and it must be fostered and modeled by the big people within the organization so the littlest people in the organization know they are cared for an extend that care to their peers almost automatically. It's just the way we do things around here. When we get caught up in the whirlwind, it can be easy to lose sight of the wildly important, and there isn't much more important work in the world than honoring the dignity of each and every person in our Norton Creek community. It's a high bar to hold ourselves to, but a bar any lower simply would not be good enough. No matter what.
November is in the history books, and now we're speeding into December. As we're hurtling through time and space, pump the brakes as often as you can to soak in some memories with your favorite people in the world! Have a wonderful weekend, Norton Creek!
Winter Weather Is Here....
The weather has officially changed. Please ensure that you send your student(s) to school with a coat, hat, gloves, snow pants and boots in order to be outside in the snow at recess. Any students that do not have those required items for recess will be limited to the blacktop for recess.
West Chicago Aftercare Program
Attention 5th grade Orchestra Students:
East and North Orchestras are having a Holiday Orchestra Clinic just for YOU on Saturday, Dec. 2 at East High School. This event will include playing holiday songs with high school students, doing a cool music craft, games and cocoa and cookies! Students that participate are invited to play along with the high school students at their winter concert on Thurs. Dec. 7. Please see the flier below to register today! A t-shirt and goody bag are included! Hope to see you there!
Parent Volunteers
Friendly Reminders From the school office...
A few reminders to keep the school year going.....
How do I contact the nurse?
Please email the nurse at karen.lombardo@d303.org or call 331-228-2704.
How do I contact the office or nurse via email?
Please email the office at nor-office@d303.org
What time can my student arrive to school?
We open the doors at 7:45am for student arrival every morning. Students should not be dropped off before that time as there is no supervision for students. If you arrive before drop off time please keep your child in your car until the appropriate time.
Arriving Late To School-
If your child is arriving after 8:00am please walk them into the school and sign them in. Please also notify the attendance line if you plan to arrive to school after 8:30am.
How do I report an absence?.
Absences should be called in by 7:45 AM if your child will be absent for any portion of the day. The number is 331-228-2700 and has voicemail. You can call during the evening or overnight and leave a message. Please leave your child’s name and the reason why your child is out. If they are ill, please indicate their symptoms.
Even if you notify your child's teacher of an absence via email, we ask that you please still notify the office at nor-office@d303.org for attendance purposes. Please note that if your child is sick, they should be fever free and have no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. Of course, you can always email the teacher as well, but you need to formally notify the school of any student absence.
Is your child leaving school early?
Also, if you will be picking up your child early or taking your child out for an appointment, please let our front office know as early in the day as possible by calling the main number at 331-228-2700 or email at nor-office@d303.org. This can be very helpful should a pick-up time be when the child is in specials or at lunch. Kids can be indoors as well as outdoors depending on their schedule and it can take a few extra minutes to locate and get the child down to the office for an early pickup if they are not in their classroom.
Does your child need a prearranged absence?
Students must apply for the privilege of using prearranged absence days through the principal’s office.
This completed form must be turned in at least (2) school days prior to the requested absence to the main office.
The building principal or designee has the authority to grant up to (5) days of excused absence per year
for the following types of absences:
Participation in regional and/or national contests or awards
Family vacation—qualified by the phrase “accompanied by parent”
Special religious events
Please see attached form below or visit the district website at www.d303.org under the FORMS section.
What if my child has a change in dismissal/transportation?
Please let the school know as early as possible if there is a occasional change to your child dismissal by emailing nor-office@d303.org and your child's teacher or call the office directly at 331-228-2701. If it is after 2pm please call the office directly so that we can ensure your child gets the notification of changes. Dismissal time can be very hectic and to help ensure a smooth dismissal, getting any transportation changes for students early is very helpful. Simply call the school office or email at nor-office@d303.org and let them know.
What if my child forgot an item at home?
If your child has forgotten an item at home and it is needed for that day please email the classroom teacher to notify them that you will be dropping an item off. Bring the item labeled with the name and teacher to the office and place the item in the bookcase by the front window.
What is my child lost/misplaced an item at school?
Please ask your child to check the lost and found table. You can also email the classroom teacher to let her know that your student is looking for an item. They will allow time for them to check the table in the Community Room.
Note: Save our school number in your contacts. Norton Creek Elementary: (331) 228-2700.
LUNCH SCHEDULES
LUNCH SCHEDULES:
1st Grade: 11:00-11:20
4th Grade: 11:20-11:40
RISE Students: 11:40-12:00
Kindergarten: 11:40-12:00
2nd Grade: 12:00-12:20
3rd Grade: 12:20-12:40
5th Grade: 12:40-1:00
If your student forgets their lunch please email the classroom teacher and drop off at the main office. Please label with the students full name.
