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September 10, 2015 Dear Norfeldt Families, Welcome back! We have had a wonderful, smooth start to the school year. Despite the heat, our students have jumped right back into learning. It was very nice visiting with families at the PTO’s Fall Family Picnic last night. Please know, I am honored to work in such a wonderful school community. This year, as a staff, we are focusing much of our professional learning on “growth mindset.” Growth mindset is the belief that one’s intelligence can grow and develop with persistence, effort and focus on learning. Our I.Q.s are not “set.” Research in neuroscience emphasizes the concept of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change, adapt or rewire itself throughout our entire life. Neurons in our brains make connections when we learn something new. These connections become stronger with practice and effort. The more connections we make, the denser the brain becomes. The more density, the “smarter” you are. Growth mindset focuses on learning goals which is in line with our school mission and beliefs. Everyone can learn. It is our job as educators to differentiate instruction, teach students to persevere and put in effort, and teach them to react positively to failure. You may hear your child talk about the power of “not yet.” This simply means they haven’t learned it…yet. I encourage you to join me for my “welcome speech” on Curriculum Night and hear more about growth mindset. The Smarter Balance Assessment (SBAC) results have been released and an overview of the results can be
seen at: http://www.ct.gov/sde/SettingtheBaseline2015. We are expecting individual student results to be sent
home within the next few weeks. West Hartford (and Norfeldt) had very good results in comparison to the state averages. We are very proud! We will continue to confidently stand behind our challenging curriculum and comprehensive educational programming and as always, continue to strive for continuous improvement. For more information about SBAC, including ways you can support your child, please refer to the following:
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/pressroom/2015_smarter_balanced_briefing_document.pdf http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2748&q=335764
http://bealearninghero.org/
I will share more detailed information about the SBAC results at the P.T.O meeting on October 8th.
We hope to see you next Thursday, September 17th at Curriculum Night.
Warm Regards,
Jen Derick
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTSMonday 9/14 Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)- SCHOOL CLOSED Tuesday 9/15 Grade 4 Choir, 7:45AM Music Room Grade 5 Orchestra, 7:45AM BOE Meeting, Town Hall Rm. 314, 7:00PM Wednesday 9/16 Grade 5 Choir, 7:45AM Music Room Thursday 9/17 Leisure Svcs, Morning Club (Grds 2 & 3)-Fitness, 7:30AM Grade 5 Band, 7:45AM Curriculum Night- Grades 3-5, 6-7:30PM, Grades K-2, 6:30-8:00PM Friday 9/18 Grade 1 Field Study to Indian Rock Nature Preserve, 9:00AM Monday 9/21 Leisure Svcs, Morning Club (Grds 4 & 5)-Fitness, 7:30AM Tuesday 9/22 Grade 4 Choir, 7:45AM, Music Room Grade 5 Orchestra, 7:45AM Wednesday 9/23 Eid Al Adha (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), SCHOOL CLOSED Thursday 9/24 Leisure Svcs, Morning Club (Grds 2 & 3)-Fitness, 7:30AM Grade 5 Band, 7:45AM
For more Norfeldt calendar information please visit http://norfeldt.whps.org/
To see West Hartford’s district events please visit http://www.whps.org/ or https://www.westhartfordct.gov/
STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS PRIOR TO 8:20 AM. THIS IS FOR SAFETY
REASONS AS THERE IS NO SUPERVISION PRIOR TO
8:20AM. IF YOU CHOOSE TO BRING YOUR CHILD TO
SCHOOL EARLIER THAN 8:20AM, PLEASE REMAIN
OUTSIDE WITH YOUR CHILD UNTIL THERE IS
SUPERVISION. THANK YOU.
ALL PARENTS AND VISITORS MUST SIGN IN AND
WEAR A VISITOR’S BADGE. THIS IS A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF OUR SECURITY MEASURES.
PLEASE LABEL ALL OUTSIDE CLOTHING, GYM
CLOTHES, ART SMOCKS AND LUNCH BOXES WITH
YOUR CHILD’S NAME.
FORMS NEEDED! On the first day of school, your child received a
folder containing many important documents that required your review and signature. If you have not done so already, please review and complete these
forms and return them to school as soon as possible. We appreciate your prompt attention to
this matter.
Lost and Found Already missing a ball cap, lunchbox or
something else? Please check out the Lost and
Found at the bottom of the ramp near the gym.
PTO Dues
The Norfeldt PTO is currently accepting membership dues of $10 per family. Please fill out the bottom portion of the flyer that went home this week, along with a check made payable to “Norfeldt PTO” and return it to the front office. The PTO uses these funds for grants that students, teachers and administrators apply for each year. In addition, the PTO offers activity scholarships to students, helps to support student field trips, after school programs, as well as to purchase materials and supplies for the many activities we host throughout the year. Act fast and receive a free gift if you pay your dues before October 31, 2015!!
Welcome Back! The PTO warmly welcomes all the Norfeldt
families back to school after a gorgeous summer!
We are excited to welcome several new members to
the PTO Board this year: Danielle Ivens, Second
Vice President; Kristen Levithan, Treasurer;
Brittany Dworman, Volunteer Coordinator; Susan
Berey, PT Council Representative; and our new
Faculty Representatives, Shery Bober and Erica
Moses. They will join Tara Deveney and Andrea
Dixon, Co-Presidents; Laura Faga, First Vice
President; Demetria Wright, Secretary; Christina
Foreman, SEPTO Representative; and Jason
Crouch, IT Liaison. The PTO is excited to host 30
plus events at Norfeldt this year! Volunteers are
always needed and appreciated for these events and
anyone wishing to volunteer for any event should
contact Brittany Dworman at
Spiritwear Wondering where to get that awesome Norfeldt
Dolphin Tie Dye T-Shirt, Sweatshirt, or Fleece
(available in Adult sizes, too!) as well as magnets
and notepads? Contact Danielle Ivens at
[email protected] with questions.
From the Nurse’s Office
Just a reminder that all yellow emergency should be completed and returned to school so that parents can be reached in case of an emergency.
Also, all student medications are kept in the Health Office, including Tylenol, Ibuprofen, inhalers, and medicated creams. If the medication is to be administered during school hours, your child’s pediatrician will need to complete a medication authorization form (found on the whps.org website under Offices/Nursing Services/For Parents). Elementary-aged students should not carry their medication to or from school – an adult should bring the medication directly to the Health Office. Thank you.
ELC Lottery Applications
The Early Learning Center at Whiting Lane School
and Aiken Elementary School is now accepting
applications for the 2016-2017 school year. The
program is family centered and has half day
sessions that meet four days a week. A lottery will
be conducted in January.
To be considered for the program, children must be
three years old by September 1, 2016, toilet-trained
by the start of the school year and exhibit age-
appropriate language, social and play skills. All
applicants must participate in a play-based
screening prior to being considered for the lottery
selection.
If you are interested, please contact Pam Macca at
(860) 233-1455. The application process will close
on November 30, 2015.
ELEMENTARY VACANT SEAT PROGRAM
Vacant Seat Program – Application Start date is
Monday, October 5, 2015
The West Hartford Public Schools vacant seat
program utilizes available space on school buses.
This program allows students to ride buses, where
space is available, who under the West Hartford
Public Schools Transportation policy are not
eligible for transportation. No additional bus stops
are added to the routes for this program.
Interested parents should contact the West Hartford
Public Schools Transportation Office at (860)561-
6647 for additional information on or after October
5th. Requests are taken in this office by
telephone on a first come, first served basis
starting at 8:00 am.
From the Music Room We’re off to a great start in the music room! All classes are busy reviewing concepts from
last year, preparing for new concepts, singing, dancing and making music together.
Choir has begun, with 4th graders attending on Tuesday mornings at 7:45AM and 5th
graders on Wednesday mornings at 7:45AM. As we get closer to the winter concert, both grades will meet together on Wednesdays.
Check out my blog at
blog.whps.org/norfeldtmusic. I will post monthly updates of what’s happening in class, as well as occasional clips of various
music class activities.
Ms. Lisa Besman, Vocal Music
GoCard – They are here, and they are fabulous!
GoCards are community discount cards that are
good for one year. There are 12 merchants on each
card including; Bertucci’s, Mooyah, Blue Plate
Kitchen, Sweet Frog, Harry’s Pizza, TCBY,
Subway, Posh Tomato, Moe’s, AC Petersen, Lox,
Stock & Bagels, and Good Year. Each GoCard is
$10 which can be paid back in savings after two
trips to Mooyah. What an awesome way to support
Norfeldt while helping your family’s bottom line!
Forms and payment are due to the main office by
Wednesday, 9/30/15.
Stop and Shop & Big Y – Please register your
Stop & Shop and Big Y savings cards so that each
dollar you regularly spend on groceries can earn
points for Norfeldt that are then turned into supplies
for our school.
Burgers for Better Schools Program – This
program means that every time you eat at Red
Robin, 1% of your check will be donated directly to
your school of choice. Choose Norfeldt!
Remember, the more you devour – the more they'll
donate!
Box Top & Campbells’ Labels Fundraiser Did you know that you can help Norfeldt earn
money just by eating Campbell’s soup or blowing
your nose with a Kleenex tissue? These products
and MORE are part of the Box Tops for Education
and Campbells’ Labels fundraising programs. By
cutting out and turning in these Box Tops and
Labels to the school office, you help us raise
money! Box Tops and Labels can be submitted in
an envelope or plastic bag marked “school office,”
or just for fun, use the Box Top activity sheet from
your first day packet. To date, Norfeldt has raised
thousands of dollars through participation in these
programs. PLEASE HELP US RAISE MORE! We
will be counting and bundling BOX TOPS and
LABELS for fall submission shortly. If you are
available to assist, please contact Golda Ginsburg at
Thank You The PTO would like to thank the following individuals: Brittany Dworman for chairing and Desiree Gomez, Kristen Levithan, Kim Santamaria, and Paige Wolfe for their hard work on the First Day Folders. Andrea Dixon and Jessica Hynes for co-chairing the Back to School Teacher Luncheon and Noeet Bachar, Chris Cornachio, Tara Deveney, Janice Doot, Brittany Dworman, Jessica Fehl, Melissa Jacobson, Erin Killelea, Kristen Levithan, Lisa Levy, Jackie Makarewicz, and Nella Zydanowicz for helping to prepare yummy salads and desserts for our teachers to enjoy as they prepared to welcome our children back to school. Kim Santamaria for chairing the Kindergarten Parents Coffee Hour on August 27th to make the parents of our youngest Dolphins feel welcome at Norfeldt. In addition, thank you to her team of bakers and helpers; Joslyn Cruz, Tara Deveney, Andrea Dixon, Jessica Hynes, Janice Doot, Brittany Dworman and Lisa Levy for their culinary efforts. Susan Berey and Paige Wolfe for co-chairing the Back to School Fall Picnic as well as their committee consisting of Noeet Bachar, Andrea Dixon, and Bin Zhu and fifth grade room parents, Tara Deveney, Heather Fronczek, and Teresa Kleinman for helping the fifth grade students raise funds for their yearbook. It was great to reconnect with other Norfeldt families after a long summer over pizza and TCBY frozen treats!
School Picture Day
Friday, 10/2/15
It’s coming! School Picture Day is almost
here. Schedule the haircuts and get the
outfits ready! Litchfield Hills Photography
will be on site at Norfeldt on Friday,
October 2nd to make our children shine.
Halloween Costume Sale
Thursday, 10/8/15, 5-7 pm Norfeldt’s first ever Halloween Costume
Sale will take place on Thursday, October
8th from 5-7 pm. All costumes are only
$5.00!
International Night Plans are underway for Norfeldt's 3rd Annual
International Night which will be held on
Thursday, January 28, 2015 (snow date January
29, 2016). We are excited to continue to enhance
one of Norfeldt’s biggest events. Committee
meetings will be held in the coming weeks and we
would like YOU to volunteer!
International Night is an evening that celebrates the
diversity of our Norfeldt community. We need help
staffing booths from the different cultures and
countries which are represented by our Norfeldt
families. If you are interested in volunteering for
International Night 2016, please contact co-chairs,
Jessica de Perio Wittman at
[email protected] or Jessica Richard at
[email protected]. Volunteer request forms
will soon be in your student’s folder. Please fill one
out and become an active part of our International
Community.
Norfeldt PTO Website Link If you are looking for the PTO web pages,
you can find us under “Families” on the
Norfeldt website. Or use this link:
http://www.whps.org/page.cfm?p=1119.
You will find updated event information,
flyers, and contact information. Check it
out!
Facebook The Norfeldt PTO is on Facebook. Event
information, pictures, and links are
available. LIKE US today!
Anyone interested in joining an existing Girl Scout troop, please contact Laura Faga [email protected]. A kindergarten daisy troop leader is also needed.
Guilt Free Fundraiser – Coming soon! Be “GUILT FREE” all year long! Simply
make a donation now and never feel guilty if
you don’t participate in any other
fundraisers this year! Suggested donation is
$25.00 per family. Checks may be made
payable to the Norfeldt PTO.
NORFELDT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO
2015-2016 School Year
Dues Payment Form
The Norfeldt PTO is currently accepting membership dues of $10 per family. Pay your
dues now and receive a new Norfeldt notepad! Your membership in the Norfeldt PTO
ensures you receive timely and updated information on all current and future PTO
events.
Monies collected from the dues goes to the PTO grants that Norfeldt students, teachers
and administrators apply for each year. In addition to the grants, the PTO offers field
trip and activities scholarships to students, after school programs, and thirty plus
activities throughout the year.
Thank you for your support of your Norfeldt PTO as we continue to strive in our
community-building efforts!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
2015-2016
Norfeldt Elementary School PTO Dues
*Please complete the whole form*
Norfeldt Student Name(s) and Grades: __________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Parent’s Name: ______________________________________________________________
Email Address : ______________________________________________________________
Phone #______________________________
_______ YES! I would like to volunteer to help at PTO Events. I would like to help with
this event or activity: ______________________________. (If you are not sure which
event, just leave the space blank. We are happy to contact you with some alternatives.)