Principal Highlights
Superintendent Turner presented updated staffing recommendations to the Board on Wednesday. If these recommendations are approved, there will be additional staffing changes across our buildings. Individual letters will be sent once staffing moves are confirmed. I know it can be frustrating not to have all the details right now, and I truly appreciate your patience and understanding as this process continues to evolve.
What these changes mean for Nishuane:
-One Curriculum Support Teacher will return to their role.
-Ms. Williamson, school counselor, will remain at Nishuane full time.
-We will continue to have the support of a district behaviorist.
This week we also began speaking with classes about the upcoming January transition. Ms. Williamson is leading these conversations and supporting students as they process the changes. We are working closely with teachers to keep routines steady and classrooms supported. And even with all the change, we found moments of joy—Ms. Pereira even sang our morning joke! Be sure to ask your children about it!
School Action Team for Partnership (SATp)
Thank you to those who were able to join us at our general meeting yesterday! You can read the minutes here.
The students continue to earn links and participate in lessons through the Kindness and Justice Challenge.
The students completed the December Social Justice lessons.
-K- Family and ancestry
-1st- Community needs and working together
-2nd- Discrimination, action, and changemakers
We need your help! Volunteer for an initiative here.
Important Nishuane Reminders
Reminder Regarding Cell Phones/Watches with Capabilities
As a reminder, electronic devices may be in backpacks but not out or on during the school day. If a student does not follow the expectation to keep the device out of sight, then it will be sent to the office and caregivers will have to sign them out.
Arrival & Dismissal Safety
As a reminder, the car line will begin Monday, September 8, 2025. Please carefully review the important Nishuane School arrival and dismissal information included in the beginning of year communications. These protocols and safety precautions must be carefully followed at all times to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal.
As always, thank you for your partnership in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our entire school community!
For the
safety of all children, please follow these guidelines during drop-off and pick up:
1.) CROSS CHILDREN ONLY AT THE CROSSWALKS.
2.) Do not leave children unsupervised at the school before 9:00 am Door A (Cedar Avenue Main Entrance only).
a.) Students cannot play on the playground before or after school without caregiver supervision.
3.) Park your car and walk your children to the front door.
4.) Do not double park or block traffic on Cedar Avenue.
5.) At all times, watch out for other children.
6.) Do not use the school’s parking lot for drop-off or pick up.
7.) At all times, follow posted parking signage.
Visitors & Signing In
When you come to school during the day for any kind of meeting, the procedure is that you get buzzed in (after you state your name and purpose), you sign in and then you report to the office. You will be required to wear a visitor or volunteer badge. All staff members expect to see this badge on visitors and will ask you if you have signed in if you are not wearing it. This is protocol to ensure safety for all.
○ Please remember that visitors must report only to the location of the building that was indicated on the visitor form. Visitors may not visit other locations in the building. Thank you for your support with this important safety measure!
○ Please wear a visitor’s badge for the duration of your visit. The visitor’s badge must be visible at all times.
○ Please do not prop doors open under any circumstance.
○ Please do not hold open the door for anyone behind you when entering or exiting the building.
Nish Spirit Wear Fridays
Every Friday at Nishuane is School Spirit Day! On Fridays, students may participate by wearing blue and white, as well as Nishuane spirit wear. Spirit wear is available for purchase through our PTA.
Lunch Applications
All families (regardless of eligibility) are asked to complete and submit lunch applications for the new school year. The application can be found here:
https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/departments/business_office/food_services
Any questions regarding the status of a specific application should be directed to Food Services Director, Reddrick Robinson: 973-509-4200 x14611
Attendance
Nishuane will be implementing a new method for reporting student absences or tardiness to the Nishuane Attendance Office. The Parent Portal (Genesis) is now open for you to conveniently submit your student's attendance details. Log in to the Parent Portal and use the 'Attendance' tab, then select 'Notify Attendance Office.' Please refer to the attached document for step-by-step instructions.
The Nishuane Attendance phone line will still be operational during this transition period; however, we kindly ask that you try to report absences or tardies using the new method. If you encounter any challenges or need assistance, feel free to reach out to the Nishuane Main Office, 973-509-4222
School Breakfast/Lunch
If you think your child will want a school breakfast or lunch from time to time, be sure to register your child with a
My School Bucks account. You will need your child’s school ID number which is located in Genesis.
Staff Parking Lot
Please do not park in the staff parking lot as all spaces are assigned. While it may sometimes look like a spot is available, it could be because a staff member is out for lunch or it is assigned to someone who does not come in until 12:00.
Emergency Drills
Starting in September, we are mandated to perform two emergency drills per month. One is always a fire drill and the other is to practice lockdown. Just as we ask students to practice academic or sports skills, we practice these drills so they are familiar with the procedure in the event of a true emergency. You will always receive an email informing you of the additional drill that we practice.
Appropriate Footwear
For safety purposes, please make sure your children are wearing shoes that stay on their feet. No flip-flops in school. Also, on gym days, it is important that students are wearing sneakers designed for physical activity. Wedge sneakers and “heelies” are not allowed.
Nurse’s Notes
Please see the below reminders from Nurse Anne Ndungu
(Phone: 973-509-4236~Fax: 973-509-1197 ~ E-mail: [email protected]):
Dear Nishuane Families,
A warm welcome to our new families and a warm welcome back to all our returning families. It has been such a pleasure the last few days to meet our new students and to see all the familiar faces.
I hope that everyone had a healthy and wonderful summer. Parents of kindergarten students and transferring students if have not submit the medical documents, the following is required:
● A current Physical (within a year).
● An up-to-date Immunizations record.
● Health Survey.
Yearly Physicals forms are greatly appreciated in order to keep the students' records up to date.
For students with allergies, asthma or any other medical conditions, please submit the Action Plans which are renewed every year and drop off the medications as soon as possible.
All forms can be obtained from the district's website or from the nurse's office.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your continued cooperation. I am looking forward to a great school year!
Anne Ndungu, RN
Phone: 973-509-4236 Fax: 973-509-1197
Email: [email protected]