Nishuane News

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Nishuane School News
March 15, 2024


This week brought nice sunny weather and some exciting happenings
at Nishuane!

Thank you to all parents and caregivers that visited Nishuane for our first-grade production of Federico and the Wolf. Our first graders did a spectacular job! What a performance! A big thank you to our SNAP teachers and first grade team for making this very special performance possible!

This week we continued our focus on Women’s History Month with a spotlight on women who have put their “stamp” on history from A-Z. We learned about Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Lucille Ball, and Malala Yousafzai. Ask your child to share interesting facts that they learned about these remarkable women!

Additionally, we are excited to share that the Women’s History Month enrichment activity was sent home this week. Check your child’s backpack for the activity where your child can share a woman or female identifying role model that they feel is making or has made her “stamp” on history. Feel free to select a woman from a book that you read with your child from our extensive list of books in our Women’s History Month Digital Library 2024. If you choose to complete the enrichment activity, please return it to your child’s classroom teacher and it will be displayed on our Women’s “HERstory” Month bulletin board for all to see! Make sure to write any of the titles you read or listen to on your Pennies for Pages reading log.

As a reminder, parent/caregiver conferences will be facilitated on March 20th (Evening Conferences: 6 pm-8 pm) and March 21st (Afternoon: 2:30 pm-4:30 pm). Both afternoon and evening appointments will be available. Please see communications from your child’s teacher(s) regarding how you may schedule a conference time. Additionally, we will follow an abbreviated schedule with a 2:10 p.m. student dismissal on each of the conference days. Please see directly below for more details.

March Parent/Caregiver Teacher Conferences
Parent/Caregiver teacher conferences will be facilitated on the following dates: March 20th (Evening Conferences: 6 pm-8 pm) and March 21st (Afternoon: 2:30 pm-4:30 pm). All conferences will be arranged by your child’s classroom teacher(s) and will be conducted in-person at Nishuane. Your child’s teacher(s) will reach out to schedule a conference as needed. Nishuane will follow an abbreviated schedule on both of these school days with a 2:10 p.m. dismissal time.

If participating in an in-person conference, please follow the below protocols for entering the school building:
1.) Please do not park in the staff parking lots as spaces are needed for staff to park.
2.) Enter the building through the front main entrance (Door A).
3.) At the top of the stairs, please sign in, fill out, and put on a Visitor's Badge.
4.) Proceed to the location of the conference. Administrators will be available on the first and second floor to direct visitors to their conference locations.
5.) Sign out before leaving the building through the front main entrance (Door A).
6.) Should you need to use the restroom while in the building, please only use those designated for staff use. They are located next to room 203 on the second floor and in the Staff Lounge on the first floor.
7.) Only proceed to the location of the visit. Please refrain from making additional stops.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Nishuane main office staff or your child’s teacher(s) with any questions that you may have prior to the scheduled conference. The office may be contacted at 973-509-4222.

Thank you for your partnership! We very much look forward to seeing you next week!

“Be a Changemaker” Collection

This week we launched the “Be a Changemaker” collection and approximately 200 toiletry items have been donated by Nishuane families in our effort to serve our local community as neighbors helping neighbors. There is still time to donate any of the following: full-sized toiletry (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, lotion, deodorant, conditioner and shampoo) items. All donations can be sent in with your child next week. The collection ends on Friday, March 22nd. If you decide to make a donation, let your child help you pick out the items your family would like to donate. We look forward to sharing out the total number of donations with you next week!

Pennies for Pages
“Pennies for Pages,” Nishuane School’s literacy outreach project in which students will read and raise funds for the Montclair Public Library, is underway! Pennies for Pages began on Monday, March 4th and will end on Friday, May 17th. Please click here for the family letter that was sent to families. Nishuane will host a Family Literacy Night on Wednesday, April 3rd at 6 pm. This year’s theme is “Cook Up Some Fun.” Please click here for additional information and to sign-up for this fun filled evening!

Nishuane Visitor Form & Protocols
Please click here to review Nishuane’s visitor protocols. Visitors must complete the visitor form prior to a visit.
○ 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 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.

 
Nishuane Instagram
Nishuane is on Instagram! Follow us @nishschool for a peek into the learning and fun we have in our community. Our account is private for everyone's safety. When requesting to follow us, please send a message with your child's name and we will accept you.

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.

Nurse’s Notes
Please see the below reminders from Nurse Anne Ndungu
(Phone: 973-509-4236 or E-mail: [email protected]):
Friendly Reminders from the Health Office:

I hope that everyone is doing well and healthy.  Please help your child/children to dress appropriately for the weather and ensure that your child/children have a warm coat as we do go outside for recess.  Recess is held outside on days in which the real feel temperature is 28 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Also, kindly send an extra pair of clothes for your child to keep in the locker just in case of an accident.

Below please find the guidelines on when to keep your child home:
● The student has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher. The child may return to school when fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications (Tylenol, Motrin).
● When antibiotics are prescribed, the student may return to school after taking the antibiotics for a minimum of 24 hours and fever free for at least 24 hours, without fever-reducing medications.
● The student seems tired/lethargic, pale, has little appetite and is generally not him/herself.
● The student is vomiting or has diarrhea. May return to school 24 hours after the symptoms are resolved and able to tolerate a normal diet.
● The student has an undiagnosed rash. A rash may be indicative of many things, frequently of illnesses that are contagious. Therefore, a student should see a physician to be evaluated. A note from the physician should be provided upon return to school.
● The student has severe cold symptoms or the flu, an upper respiratory infection, strep throat, a persistent cough, a runny nose that cannot be managed, or any other symptoms that would interfere with effective school participation. Please contact the school nurse before sending your child back to school.
● Please do not hesitate to seek the advice of your healthcare provider to determine when your child is able to return to school.
● If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Important Dates: Mark Your Calendars! 

Women’s History Month: March 1, 2024-March 31, 2024
“Be a Changemaker” Collection: March 11, 2024-March 22, 2024
● Pennies for Pages: March 4, 2024-May 17, 2024
St. Patrick’s Day: March 17, 2024
Start of CI Screenings: March 18, 2024
Nish Family Meetings (For Students):
Kindergarten: March 18, 2024
Second Grade: March 19, 2024
First Grade: March 25, 2024
Pre-Kindergarten: March 25, 2024
Spring Begins: March 19, 2024
Trimester 2 Ends: March 20, 2024
Trimester 3 Begins: March 21, 2024
Parent/Caregiver Conferences (2:10 pm Student Dismissal Both Days): March 20, 2024-March 21, 2024
March 20th: Evening Conferences (6 pm-8 pm)
March 21st: Afternoon Conferences (2:30 pm-4:30 pm)
Women’s History Month Assembly: March 22, 2024 at 2:50 pm (Auditorium)
Holi: March 25, 2024
Start of RtI Cycle III: March 25, 2024
Start of CI/Aesthetics Cycle III: March 26, 2024
Dentist Visit Assembly: March 28, 2024 at 2:50 pm (Auditorium)
Second Trimester Report Cards Available on Genesis Parent Access Portal: March 28, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
Good Friday (District Closed): March 29, 2024
Easter: March 31, 2024

School Action Team for Partnerships (SATp) News & Upcoming Events
https://nishuane.montclair.k12.nj.us/administration/school_action_team  
Arab American Heritage Month: The SATP is looking for volunteers who would like to plan activities for this year's Arab American Heritage Month. Click on the following link for more info and to sign up. https://bit.ly/3LnYR2F Any questions reach out to Dr. Sedita or [email protected]
● Questions? Ideas? You may contact the SATp at the following email address: [email protected]

PTA News & Upcoming Events
www.nishuanepta.org 
PTA Calendar: https://montclairpta.org/nishuane/calendar/

Join the Nishuane PTA Facebook group!
Join the Nishuane PTA WhatsApp group!

PTA Meeting
The next PTA meeting will be on Tuesday, 4/2 at 7:30pm via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 941 0638 3051
Passcode: Nish2020

Countdown to Mayfair!
Less than two months until the Nishuane PTA's biggest annual fundraiser, May 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mayfair is open to the community and offers entertainment, inflatables, arts & crafts, games, prizes and delicious food. Stay tuned for details about early bird tickets and PLEASE consider joining the planning team. We still need two chairs: Rides & Games, and Clean-Up. Click here to learn more or sign up.

Save the Date: Fireball (April 20th)
Fireball fundraiser is on April 20, 2024. Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 22, 2024.

Fireball is a once every two-year fundraiser hosted by the Nishuane and Hillside PTAs. See attached flyer for more details https://bit.ly/3TwkuSW
We are still looking for volunteers to help make this evening one to remember. If you are interested, please reach out to Latisha Liebert at [email protected]

Nishuane PTA Nominating Committee:
The PTA still needs 2 more volunteers to serve on the Nominating Committee to present a slate of 2024-25 board candidates. The time commitment is ~5 hours, including training, identifying and vetting candidates and some paperwork. Thank you to Abena Amoah-Harris for volunteering.

SPIRITWEAR ONLINE!
The PTA is happy to announce that you can now purchase Nish SpiritWear online https://nishuanespiritwear.square.site/. Please email questions to Ayana Stewart at [email protected]

Seeking Mural Artists :
Are you or someone you know a Mural Artist? The Nishuane Grant Committee is in search of Mural Artists that would be able to help beautify our school. We are looking to gather quotes to help execute this process. Please contact Ayana - [email protected] for more information!

SPRING EXPLORERS
registration starts on April 15th and classes start the week of April 29th. More details to come.


Please join the PTA. Visit the Nishuane MemberHub store to activate/reactivate your PTA membership. Our mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children

2023-2024 PTA Meeting Schedule


● Friday, April 2 at 7:30pm
● Thursday, May 2 at 7:30pm
● Friday, June 7 at 9:30am

District-Wide Updates 

Montclair Public Schools
https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/
Pre-Kindergarten: Information pertaining to the district’s Mini-Mounties Pre-Kindergarten program may be found at this link. This helpful webpage contains helpful resources pertaining to the Pre-K program in the MPS.
Montclair Public Schools Adult Spring English as a Second Language Classes: Please click here for information about the Montclair Public Schools ESL Classes for adults that will be offered this spring.

MFEE
https://mfee.org/
Nominate a Teacher for 2024 Weston Awards!
Do you know a Montclair Public School teacher who excites students to learn? Who helps students feel valued? Who responds to the individual needs and strengths of students? If the answer is YES, nominate them for a 2024 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching! All nominations are due by Friday, April 5, at midnight.
Sixteen Montclair Public Schools teachers will receive individual cash awards of $2,000. The winners will be celebrated at a public event on June 12, 2024. MPS parents/caregivers and students are invited to nominate any current K-12 MPS teacher for this award. Winners will be selected by a committee of community members:
● One teacher from each elementary school
● One teacher from each middle school
● Two teachers from the high school
● One special education teacher from across the district
● Two “at-large” awards for teachers from any school
● NEW: A Peer Inspiration Award, based on teacher nominations and given to a teacher who has served as inspiration to their peers
Nomination form: https://www.mfee.org/weston-awards
Please note: The nomination form has been translated into several languages:
Español Português Türkçe 中國人 Kreyòl ayisyen
Please send any questions to [email protected]. Read more about the awards in this Montclair Local article, too. Thank you! – The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence


● SEPAC
https://montclairpta.org/sepac/
SEPAC Liaisons: Lynn Mendelsohn & Marisa Lazatin are the SEPAC Parent Liaisons for Nishuane. Please reach out to them directly by either emailing Lynn at [email protected] using this Google Form for any questions or concerns you have about Special Education at Nishuane.
● Some celebratory dates to put on your calendar include:
Neurodiversity Week - March 18 - 24
World Autism Day - April 2
Autism Acceptance Week - April 2-8
Paraprofessional Day - April 3
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 6 -10
Disability Pride Month - July

Community Events
AAPI Montclair Color Run
AAPI Montclair proudly presents COLOR RUN 2024- an exuberant celebration of the festivals of Holi and Songkran with a 5K and 1-mile Fun Run. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Information at: https://aapimontclair.org/color-run-1
Register at: https://runsignup.com/.../NJ/Montclair/AAPIMontclairColorRun

Digital Backpack: Please click here to view community and organization events in town.
Housekeeping: Please check the district website for district policies and school procedures (In our Family Handbook on our website).

Our Vision: Nishuane School is a diverse school that develops creative, curious, and confident learners through academic exploration, healthy relationships, and exposure to the arts.



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