North Side Family Flyer

Wildcat Parents,

Can you believe this is our final Family Flyer of this school year? School years seem to go faster the older I get...Now that the days are getting longer and the weather is working its way to staying warmer, the children are definitely getting the "itch" for summer vacation. Please help us to remind them that we have 20 days left of school. There are many fun activities planned, but we also have our EOY Diagnostic assessments to complete and some standards to finish learning.

Our vocabulary word for May is SPORTSMANSHIP. We felt this word was great for May because it is spring sports season AND we have our annual field day here at North Side. Field day will be on Thursday, May 23rd this year. Please help your child to make sure to wear appropriate clothing and shoes on that day. This year will be a full day of field day activities for ALL students.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education,

Stephanie Leasure

April 29th-May 10th - 4th and 5th grade Archery during Specials class

Thursday, May 2nd - School-Wide Gallery Walk, open to families from 4-5 p.m. and during the music program

Thursday, May 2nd - Spring Music Program for Grades 1st, 3rd and 5th, 6:00 p.m.

Monday, May 6th - Friday, May 10th - STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK

Tuesday, May 7th - ENMS comes to North Side to visit 5th graders

Tuesday, May 7th - 5th grade Parent Meeting @ ENMS regarding 6th grade, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 8th - 5th grade Field Trip to Biztown

Thursday, May 9th - Spring Shot Clinic (5th graders)

Tuesday, May 14th - 4th grade Field Trip to History Museum

Wednesday, May 15th - Senior Walk @ NS, around 1-1:15 p.m.

Thursday, May 16th - 1st grade Field Trip to Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Tuesday, May 21st - 2nd grade Field Trip to Botanical Conservatory

Wednesday, May 22nd - 4th grade Field Trip to Sauder Village

Wednesday, May 22nd - Board Meeting @ SS, 6 pm

Thursday, May 23rd - FIELD DAY, all day for all students (please make sure they wear gym shoes and appropriate clothing)

Friday, May 24th - 5th grade vs. Staff Annual Kickball Game, 1:15 p.m.

Tuesday, May 28th - Principal's Challenge EOY Celebration, 8:30-10:30 off campus

Tuesday, May 28th - Wildcat Way School-Wide Awards Celebration, 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday, May 29th - Student's Last Day of School

Wednesday, May 29th - 5th Grade Cookout @ the Park, 11:00-1:00

Wednesday, May 29th - K-4 Awards, times to be announced (teachers will reach out to parents)

Wednesday, May 29th - 5th grade Walk-Around, 1:45 p.m.

Field trip season is here. A background check must be passed and on file if you plan to attend the field trip. If needed, please call the office to see if you already have a background check on file or if it has been returned and is good to go.

Please help your child to keep track of the everchanging temperatures each day. This will help them to dress accordingly for outdoor recess, including jackets, if needed.

If your child is ill, please make sure to call your child(ren) in sick to school. You may call before school hours and leave us a message, if needed. Our number is (260) 347-1354. If we do not hear from you, we will call to check in on your child. Please remember the 24-hour rule, they should be fever free, vomit free, and diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school.

*Please make sure to call our office BEFORE 2:00 p.m. if you need to change your child's transportation on the way home for that day. This allows us time to share this information with both the teacher and your child before dismissal begins at 2:40 p.m. Your child's safety and making it home is our #1 priority. We appreciate you helping us with this!

As we continue our journey together in supporting your child's education, I wanted to take a moment to discuss a crucial aspect of their development: vocabulary.

Vocabulary is the cornerstone of communication and academic success. It extends far beyond simply knowing the meanings of words; it empowers children to express themselves effectively, comprehend complex texts, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. As educators, we strive to cultivate a rich and diverse vocabulary in our students, and your partnership in this endeavor is invaluable.

Here are a few reasons why nurturing vocabulary growth is so vital:

1. Enhanced Communication Skills: A robust vocabulary enables children to articulate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with clarity and precision. It equips them with the tools to engage in meaningful conversations, express themselves persuasively, and build strong interpersonal relationships.

2. Academic Achievement: Proficiency in vocabulary is strongly linked to academic success across all subjects. Whether reading literature, solving math problems, or writing essays, a strong command of vocabulary enhances comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical skills.

3. Reading Comprehension: Vocabulary knowledge is directly correlated with reading comprehension. Children with larger vocabularies can decipher unfamiliar words in context, leading to a deeper understanding of texts and improved overall literacy skills.

4. Cognitive Development: Learning new words stimulates cognitive development by challenging the brain to make connections between concepts and experiences. It fosters intellectual curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a lifelong love of learning.

5. Career Readiness: In today's increasingly competitive job market, effective communication skills are essential. A diverse vocabulary opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities and equips children with the linguistic agility needed to succeed in diverse professional settings.

Given the significance of vocabulary development, I encourage you to actively engage in activities that promote language enrichment at home. Here are some simple yet effective strategies you can incorporate into your daily routine:

• Read Together: Set aside time each day to read with your child. Choose a variety of books that expose them to new words and concepts. Encourage them to ask questions about unfamiliar words and discuss their meanings in context.

• Word Games and Puzzles: Engage in word games such as Scrabble, Boggle, or crossword puzzles. These activities are not only fun but also reinforce vocabulary retention and word association skills.

• Conversations: Engage your child in meaningful conversations about their day, interests, and observations. Encourage them to use descriptive language and introduce new words into their vocabulary through natural conversation.

• Word Journals: Encourage your child to keep a word journal where they can record new words they encounter in their reading or daily life. Encourage them to look up the meanings and use them in sentences to reinforce understanding.

By incorporating these strategies into your daily interactions with your child, you play a vital role in nurturing their language skills and setting them on the path to academic success.

Attendance:

We are on the home stretch of another great year! Let’s finish off the school year by getting your student to school every day! Please communicate with the office on days your students will be absent. If we do not hear from someone, we will be making calls to verify the absence. Please refer to the EN attendance policy if you ever have questions as to why you are getting letters or being asked to come in for an attendance meeting. We will still be following out attendance protocol this last month of the school year.

Safety:

We will continue to practice our drills this last month heading into summer. We want to make sure everyone at the school is prepared for whatever comes our way. State Law requires all schools to practice drills on a regular basis each month. We practice drills to make sure all staff and students are prepared in case we are ever faced with an emergency. We continue to look for ways to make our practices better. We take safety seriously and want to make sure your children feel safe while at North Side Elementary. If you should ever have questions, please feel free to reach out to me at jperlich@eastnoble.net.

Strep throat continues to be the illness that is rapidly spreading right now. Remind your child(ren) not to share drinks, chapstick, etc... with friends and continue to cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing. We also want to remind them of the importance of washing hands frequently. We are also seeing spikes in the stomach bug and viral infections including fever for days. Please help us to keep these illnesses from spreading by keeping your child home to rest and get better.

Other reminders:

• Your child must be fever-free, without fever-reducing medication, for 24 hours before returning to school. The same applies to vomiting and diarrhea.
• Please send a change of clothes in your child’s backpack for those occasional accidents or spills. I will do my best to provide your child with a change of clothes, but if I do not have the appropriate size, I will have to call home and ask for a change of clothes.
• If your child has clothes that they have outgrown, I am always accepting clothing donations!! This is how I keep my “extra clothes” stocked. I am always in need of pants and underwear, sizes 6-12. Don’t worry, clothes are always washed before I give them to students 😊

We made it to the end of the year! We will be celebrating everything we have accomplished this year during the month of May! Here is our year in review to jog your memory of some things your PTO brought to the North Side team and students:

-Monthly Sunshine Project to encourage and remind teachers they are cared for and supported by North Side parents and members of our community.

-Fall Scholastic Book Fair where we provided the students the opportunity to expand their home libraries and love of reading!

-Fall Carnival where we had carnival games with prizes, large bounce houses, a petting zoo, and the opportunity for a fun evening with the whole family and the students’ teachers. What a fun way to bring everyone together!

-A very special visit from Santa and Mrs Claus to jump start the holiday season by spreading kindness and love to everyone at North Side Elementary.

-North Side North Pole provided the students a special opportunity to think of others by shopping for a special gift for their family members during the holiday season.

-Mid-year school supply restock for teachers and their classrooms.

-PTO catered dinner for teachers and the administrative team during parent teacher conference nights in the fall and spring. Those were very long days for our North Side team, and providing them with a meal helped them focus more on connecting with our students’ families!

-The Sweetheart Dance was a wonderful evening that provided families a chance to dress up, let loose, and have some good clean fun together! The students also had a lot of fun dancing with their friends and sharing their family with their school.

-PTO provided quick snacks for the students to enjoy during their long days of testing. Just a little pick me up and reminder that they have people who believe in them and are rooting for them!

-Special funding for kids to attend field trips with their classes! We wanted every child to have the opportunity to experience education with their peers outside our four walls; to have a chance to have their eyes opened to the world and experience some of their lessons tangibly.

-Spring time refresh of recess supplies including kickballs, basketballs, footballs, jump ropes, etc.

-To make all of these fun things possible, the students had opportunities throughout the year to be part of the funding of these projects. They participated in Freezer Pop Fridays, Popcorn Fridays, and our annual Read-a-Thon!

As we wrap up the end of this school year, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation for the volunteers who have made all of these events possible. They are making it possible to take the school experience to another level for our children, and to help the ones who educate them and care for them during the day feel loved and supported.

Please keep an eye on your child’s folder and Seesaw as PTO is preparing their last event of year: TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!!! Here is your opportunity to help us show gratitude to the ones shaping our children’s future!

It has been such a pleasure serving the students free breakfast and lunch this year. In order to continue this into next school year, please remember to complete the free/reduced application at registration time. We hope you have a wonderful summer and please remember we will be serving summer lunches.