Welcome to Week 15!

Welcome back! Here we are - at the finishing stretch of the 2nd 9 weeks. We hope everyone is well rested and ready to learn!

As we are returning from the much needed break, we would like to remind everyone to be cognisant of any COVID-19 symptoms and please keep students home if they do not feel well. This will allow us to ensure that we remain healthy at NES and can allow everyone to participate in the end of the semester learning and activities. To access up to date information about COVID-19, please visit the OCSB COVID-19 Dashboard at http://www.okee.k12.fl.us/covid-19-dashboard 

Several grade levels have already revealed their exciting Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Day plans for the last week of December. Be on the lookout for the grade level newsletters for details!

Our first group of students has completed the Too Good for Violence program in PE. We will start the second rotation on Monday. This program aims at helping students in differentiating feelings and actions, understanding and practicing respect between peers, manage bullying situations and choose peaceful ways to resolve conflict and manage stress and frustration.

After school tutoring program continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays for invited students until Thursday, December 17. This concludes the kindergarten tutoring, but we will continue with grades 3-5 tutoring after the Christmas break.

Looking ahead - several students will be transitioning from one learning option to another starting January. Thank you Option 2 families for completing the survey and informing us of your intent! Option 2 students who did not complete the survey will be automatically transferred to Option 1 at the conclusion of the 1st semester.

Gift of Reading

The MidFlorida Credit Union Gift of Reading program will take place in our kindergarten classrooms on Wednesday. Students will listen to a read aloud of “I am a Tiger”, and they will receive a copy of the book to take home. Here is the link to the virtual book reading if families would like to also read it at home with older siblings: https://www.midflorida.com/about-us/community/gift-of-reading/.

Food for Families Food Drive

NES will be participating in the Food for Families Food Drive for the next two weeks of school. Students are encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items to support families in need. All food stays in our community. Cans and food items will be collected in individual classrooms and the class with most cans/items will receive extra recess with treats!

Tiger Trot - PBIS and Family Engagement Event

We are super excited to announce that we will be holding a family fitness event on Saturday, December 5 to help everyone get into the holiday spirit and support our PBIS program! Dress in your festive running outfit and come out for a fun 1K trail run at NES! There will be a candy cane corner, tinsel terrace, snowman spotting, jumping jacks jungle, snow cone finale, and more! Students will receive a certificate of participation.

Make-Up Days

The second Tropical Storm ETA makeup day will be 12/18 (formerly an early release day). 

Please mark your calendars! 

Volunteers Needed

We are in need of volunteers to assist with school-related events as well as our every day business. Please call the school for more information. Our volunteer program coordinator is Mrs. Alyson Shirley. All volunteers must go through the district screening process before being allowed on campus.

School Lunch Menu This Week

 

Lunch and breakfast are free to all students! 

Important Dates

12/2 Mid Florida Gift of Reading Program in Kindergarten

12/5 Tiger Trot PBIS and Family Engagment Event

12/7- 12/18 iReady Diagnostics 2 Assessment Window 

12/18 End of 2nd 9 Weeks - Regular School Day

Additional Learning Activities and Resources

• Logins to district programs is accessed at https://launchpad.classlink.com/okeechobee

• Math facts practice is available at https://www.reflexmath.com/

• Tutorials on Florida Standards are available at http://www.floridastudents.org/

• Video tutorials and practice for core subject areas on each grade level are available at https://www.khanacademy.org/

• Students are encouraged  to read at least 20 minutes each day.

Required Self-Screener

Self-screening is required prior to entering campus. Students exhibiting these symptoms at school will be sent home and may return according to the guidelines from our clinic.

• Temperature 100.4 degrees F or higher 

• Sore throat

• New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain

• New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever

• Chills

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• New loss of taste of smell

• Congestion or runny nose

And/or,

• Had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with a person with confirmed COVID-19

Additionally,

• Temperature checks are conducted for students and staff

• Walk in visitors are not allowed - always call ahead for an appointment

• Parent meetings are held virtually when at all possible

• Drop off of non-instructional items is not allowed.

School Safety

Reports concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities, or the threat of these activities, can be made to appropriate public safety agencies and school officials using the following link: https://getfortifyfl.com/Tip.html. All students have access to this reporting tool on their Chromebooks at school.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tuuli Robinson

Principal of North Elementary School
robinsont@okee.k12.fl.us