Norton Creek Elementary

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.

Our school office is open from 7:30am until 4:00pm on school days.

9/04/23- Labor Day Holiday/No School

9/7/2023- Norton Creek Open House Night

Last Name A-M attends from 5:30-6:15pm

Last Name N-Z attends from 6:15-7:00pm

9/11/2023- School Board Meeting/Haines 5pm

Please mark these dates on your calendars-

Early Release Days for Elementary school this year(dismissal is at 2:10) are August 30th, September 27th, October 25th, November 29th, January 24th, February 21st, March 20th, and April 24th.

This year, D303 has launched our new strategic plan. This five-year plan is the roadmap to success we will follow for each student and will be found at the heart of everything we say and do. The commitment statement is: "Together building pathways to excellence," and this commitment is anchored by three values - belonging, perseverance, and achievement.

Belonging is the first value, and I would argue, the most important. Creating a true sense of belonging for each student, family, and staff member at Norton Creek (and across our district) means: You don't have to do anything to belong here. You just have to be you. Often times throughout our childhoods, we were taught by people who truly loved and cared for us to "fit in." Fitting in sounds great until we realize what it demands of us. To "fit in" means I need to give something up about myself so that I can look, sound, act, and feel just like everyone else. Quite differently, cultivating a true sense of belonging means that regardless of someone's circumstances or background, we've got them. They have people here who have their backs, understand, and appreciate them. It's amazing how differently kids and adults perform when they feel like they have an army behind them.

Next week, we have two great opportunities to share that sense of belonging. Our fabulous PTO will meet Tuesday evening at 5:30 in the LRC. Coming together with other parents and guardians who want to contribute to Norton Creek is a great way to feel like you belong. It's also a great way to help other folks feel like they belong too. It has the right vibe to put people at ease and feel like they are a part of our Norton Creek community. If you haven't had the chance to already, you'll find our PTO are masters at bringing our community together and helping everyone feel like they belong.

Two evenings later, we have our open house on Thursday, September 7. Speaking as a parent and principal, open house is one of my favorite events. It used to be a curriculum night, and we would shoot information at families out of a firehose about everything they could expect in the upcoming year. That's important information we can share with you throughout the year in newsletters, E-Mails, conferences, and the like. If you're like my wife and me, what you most want to know at this stage of the year is: Who is this very important person educating my son or daughter? Is the teacher nice? Does the teacher like my son or daughter? I don't want to spoil next Thursday for you, but I will say this: All of our teachers are truly nice people, and they all really like each one of their students. Demonstrating this everyday for our Eagles and families is at the foundation of what we do at Norton Creek. Please, come to our open house with your Eagles next Thursday and see for yourself!

Belonging cannot be something we only focus on at the start of the year, and then move on. We must work intentionally to ensure everyone feels like they belong at Norton Creek everyday throughout the school year. It is the first step toward building happiness, perseverance, achievement, and empathy within each of our Eagles.

We have a four day weekend coming up, Norton Creek! Enjoy the beautiful weather making memories with your favorite people!

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Norton Creek open house night is on September 7th. please plan on attending during the following times.

Last Name A-M 5:30-6:15

Last Name N-Z 6:15-7:00

If you are planning on volunteering this year at Norton Creek please complete the following forms. We are asking that forms be turned in by September 15th. Please fill out the form completely and indicate what you will be volunteering for this school year. If fingerprinting is required we will reach out to you. Once completed please turn them into the office. When you come in the building to volunteer a driver's license will be required every time in order to enter.

5th Grade Choir!

Dear Families of 5th Grade Students!

It’s time for 5th Grade Choir! This ensemble will run in a similar fashion as the current Elementary Band and Orchestra programs with a weekly before school rehearsal, but will NOT conflict with current band and orchestra rehearsals. The choir program will run from late September through May, with our first rehearsal being Friday, September 29th! Please register by September 15th!

DATE/TIME: Choir will meet on Friday mornings at Norton Elementary School from 7:15-8:00 a.m. Parents/guardians are responsible for dropping their choir student(s) off at Norton Creek no earlier than 7:10 a.m. Rehearsal location will be the MUSIC ROOM!

FEE: This year for the first time, all 5th Grade Ensembles are running on a tiered fee system as follows:

Participation in…

1 ensemble=$50

2 ensembles=$75

3 ensembles=$100

All fees will be paid in PushCoin on Home Access Center. If your student is only participating in choir, the payment can be made by selecting choir on the drop down menu under Elementary Ensembles. If your child is in band and/or orchestra, and you have already paid for those ensembles, you will receive a bill for $25 to cover the remaining choir cost once you register them for choir.

Mrs. Mastrangeli in the front office will adjust the fees and bill your family according to your student’s registration in the number of ensembles they choose to participate. The PushCoin drop down options will not accommodate for the correct tiered fees for students participating in multiple ensembles unless you pay for all ensembles at once, which is why the secretary will have to bill families for the correct amount.

If you have any questions concerning PushCoin, please contact Mrs. Mastrangeli!

UNIFORM: Students will also be asked to purchase a choir uniform t-shirt later in the year! All singers will be required to wear this uniform t-shirt for all performances and can certainly wear them to school to show their choir pride!

CONCERTS: Performance dates are yet to be determined this school year!

The goal of the 5th grade elementary choir program is to offer a formal choral music opportunity to our young students and to enrich their musical experience while preparing for middle and high school vocal music possibilities. We will work on ensemble practice, team building, vocal technique, vocal health, unison and part-singing, all through a rich variety of vocal music repertoire. I look forward to this adventure and hope your student will be a part of this wonderful experience!

If you would like to register your student for 5th Grade Choir, please click the link below:

Choir Registration

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email me!
Sincerely,

Mrs. Beetstra

Norton Elementary K-5 General Music Teacher
Norton Creek Choir Director

adrianne.gallaugher-beetstra@d303.org

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:

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.

Please remember to add money to your child(s) Pushcoin account in order to be able to purchase a lunch or a breakfast. Breakfast and lunch will not be free this year and will incur a fee daily. Norton Creek will be open at 7:45am on school days for breakfast. Please call the office with any questions.

Website: https://nortoncreek.d303.org/
Location: Norton Creek Elementary School, Smith Road, West Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-2700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Norton-Creek-Elementary-1439295139641887/