Nishuane News

Nourishing Minds while Nurturing Hearts loge

A Message from Dr. McLaughlin
Week of October 7, 2019

Hello Nishuane families! I have two exciting pieces of information to share with our family community this week! First, Mr. John Poff, has started this Monday as our new Nishuane School drama teacher. He is thrilled to join our team and we are so happy to welcome him. Second, the time is here for our first School Action Team for Partnership Meeting (SATp) tomorrow night (Thursday, October 10th)! See below for information regarding our first meeting and a brief welcome from Mr. Poff!

Our School Action Team for Partnership:
Are you a parent/caregiver interested in learning about our Nishuane School Improvement Plan, and what we aim to achieve this year? Then join us tomorrow, Thursday, October 10th at 7:30pm in the Nishuane Library to hear more and then consider volunteering to be a part of one or more of our SAT Sub-Committees:
- Parent Education (Parent Palooza)
- Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds
- Cultural Infusion
- PTA Partnerships
- MFEE Grant Liaisons
- Literacy Partnership (Pennies for Pages)
- *Information Station
- *Effective Communication
*New this year!

Can't attend but still interested in participating? Please contact either SATp Co-Chair: Jodi Horton (jahnmark@gmail.com) or Robert Hastings (rhastings@montclair.k12.nj.us)

Nishuane's School Action Team (SAT) committee is comprised of teachers, parents, administrators and community leaders who work together to develop, implement and evaluate our school's improvement plan. The plan aims to support each child's academic, social and emotional growth, while engaging families and allowing a variety of voices to be heard in regards to student growth and achievement. We hope to see you tomorrow!

Our 2019-2020 calendar and Family Handbook are both available on our school’s website!
Friday’s are School Spirit Days at Nishuane! have your child wear their Nishuane gear or the color blue. Our staff is excited for this as well!

A Welcome from Mr. Poff:

Greetings! I am Mr. Poff, the new Drama teacher of Nishuane School. I am extremely thrilled to be joining the wonderful staff, as well as to become a part of the incredibly talented SNAP team oat Nishuane School. This year will prove to be both a fun filled and educational year for the students at Nishuane School as they learn the different aspects and various techniques of Drama, as well as participate in our yearly school productions. Through SNAP classes, rehearsals, Creative I classes, and Aesthetics, I look forward to providing the students with all the wonder, magic, and beauty of drama. All the world is a stage, and every child deserves their spotlight to shine. I look forward to providing your children with that spotlight.

Bucket Filler logo

Congratulations to our Bucket Fillers of the Week:

Kindergarten: Devyn Miller from Room 112
First Grade: Zena Brown from Room 211
Second Grade: Sophie Holbech from Room 201
And our staff Bucket Filler of the Week: Ms. Shana Williamson

Our Peaceful Picnic with the Principal will be at the end of each month for all of our Bucket Fillers! Food (specifically pizza and milk) is part of this event and so as per the BOE Food Policy, we are notifying you in advance of the following: Food will be served at this event. It is required to be peanut and tree nut free. All ingredients will be listed at the event; otherwise, the food will not be served.

School Spirit: Every Friday!
Wear your Nishuane gear or the color blue.

Our Family Handbook:
http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/media/4774/nishuaneparenthandbook2019-2020.pdf
Our School Calendar:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14yJNjbYlq0DLOf1lWcyKhEEITnF_mezKOhPK0HGzmhc/e dit#gid=0

Important Upcoming Dates

October 10th: School Action Team for Partnership Meeting 7:30pm
October 14th: School Closed- Staff Professional Development
October 15th: PTA Meeting- 9:30am
October 18th: Principal’s Tea 9:30am
October 19th: PTA Pancake Breakfast 9 am- 12 pm; Book Fair Kickoff 9-1
October 22nd: Parent Palooza 6:30 pm; Book Fair Open 4-8pm
October 24th: Apple Crunch (students only)
October 31st: Cast of Characters Parade- 2:15pm

PTA UPDATES

Save the date!!! Join us for our largest school-wide event this fall! The 36th Annual Nishuane Pancake Breakfast Saturday, October 19th 9:00am- 12:00pm. Tickets/placemat information and volunteer opportunities to follow!

The Health Bodies/Healthy Minds committee is hosting their first event of the year this Saturday, September 28th by participating in a 5k run/walk at Brookdale Park. The event starts at 8am and is called The Most Good 5k. It is conducted by The Salvation Army in Montclair and all proceeds from this event go directly towards providing a wide variety of community services. This is wonderful opportunity to get fresh air, exercise and have some fun with other Nishuane families! You can sign up at the website below. When filling out the Registrants page make sure to go to the bottom of the page and select “Yes” to join the Nishuane PTA group. On next page select “Join an Existing Nishuane PTA” and then use the drop down to select “Nishuane September 5k”. https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Bloomfield/TheMostGood5KBloomfield

HELPFUL RESOURCE LINKS

MPS: http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us
Nishuane PTA: http://nishuanepta.org
Nishuane Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nishuanepta/
Questions? ptapres@nishuanepta.org
Brought to you by the Nishuane PTA – we appreciate your support!

Housekeeping
● Visitor's Passes: When you are visiting the school and greeted over the intercom, please share your name and who you are coming to visit with the staff. No unannounced visitors please. When you are buzzed in, please be sure to stop in the main office upon arrival to sign in and take a visitor’s pass. Please affix the sticker in a spot that is visible throughout your visit. While you are in the office, Ms. Wilson or Ms. Ruggiero will call the classroom to let the teacher you have arrived and ensure the class is ready for the visit. They will then invite you to go to the classroom. We really try to keep unannounced visits or pop-ins to a minimum as this is a distraction to the students and we do not want to alarm any students. We love our Nishuane families and welcome you all to the school. We appreciate your cooperation in working together to ensure school safety.
● Drop-off Safety: Please remember the following important safety pieces for a safe arrival each morning:
○ Do not park your car across the street from the school on Cedar Avenue.
○ Do not stop your car at any point on High Street directly across the street from the school (along side of the tennis courts). All of the school buses turn onto High Street at this point and it is very dangerous for students to be dropped off in a car/ cross the street here.
○ Cross the street with your children or have them cross the street at crosswalks only.
○ Do not block driveways around on Cedar Avenue when dropping of or picking up children
○ Do not make U-turns in the middle of Cedar Avenue
Student Pick Up: Thank you for understanding that we cannot call students from their classroom after 3:15pm as we begin dismissal shortly after that. Parents who arrive to pick-up a student at 3:15 or after will be asked to meet their child at their usual dismissal location.
● Student Pick Up: Thank you for understanding that we cannot call students from their classroom after 3:15pm as we begin dismissal shortly after that. Parents who arrive to pick-up a student at 3:10 or after will be asked to meet their child at their usual dismissal location.

Nishuane School