A Message from Dr. McLaughlin
Week of February 24, 2020

Weekly Hot Topics

Nishuane Updates

Congratulations to our Bucket Fillers of the Week:
Week of January 9, 2020
Kindergarten: Miles Roper, from Room 112
First Grade: Khelile Hunter, from Room 207
Second Grade: Amelia Genao, from Room 214
And our staff Bucket Filler of the Week: Ms. Keyes

Our Peaceful Picnic with the Principal will be on Wednesday, February 26! 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/edit#gid=0

Important Upcoming Dates

● February 28: PTA Meeting, 9:30 am, Nishuane Library
● March 5: Abbreviate Day, 2:10 pm dismissal-Curriculum Thursday
● March 6: No School for Students, Professional Development Day
● March 7: Health & Wellness Fair, 1:00pm

PTA UPDATES

● Nishuane Spiritwear Now Online! Easily order Nishuane gear online here. Enjoy 10% off your first order.
● 2nd Grade Yearbook Photos Needed: Help us collect pictures of our 2nd grade students for their annual yearbook! Send photos to Jen Herman at hansenherman@gmail.com by ___. Please include student(s)’ name, teacher name, event name and year with pictures.
● Volunteers Needed for Art Department Fundraiser: Help raise money for Nishuane’s Art Department and see more of your child’s art! Volunteer to take photos of our children’s artwork for Artsonia, a platform to view art online and make keepsakes featuring their creations. More information here.
● 2020 Health & Wellness Fair: Saturday, March 7th, 1-3:30pm (Snow date, March 14th) A fun, free Nishuane community event to promote fitness, social-emotional well-being, and healthy eating.

HELPFUL RESOURCE LINKS

District-Wide Updates

● Healthy School Lunch Challenge: Pomptonian is hosting the 2nd Annual Pomptonian Healthy School Lunch Challenge. Please see the attached flyer as well as the official recipe form the students must use. Copies will be available in the cafeteria.
There will be 2 first-place winners selected from all of Pomptonian’s districts and they will each receive a vertical garden for their school, Pomptonian’s Chef Greg will prepare their recipe to be featured in the school cafeteria, and a banner to be hung in the school cafeteria. There will also be 4 second-place winners selected. They will have their meal prepared and served in their school cafeteria and will receive a banner to hang in the school. All recipes and photos must be submitted by March 20th to pictures@pomptonian.com.
● Digital Backpack: Please click here to view community and organization events in town.

• 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.