Superintendent's Newsletter 03.01.2024

Posted Date: 3/01/24 (12:31 PM)

Family Newsletter | March 1, 2024

Dr. Jennifer O'Neill
joneill@norton.k12.ma.us
@joneill727

Superintendent's Message

As spring approaches, the principals and administrators of NPS are dedicating a significant amount of time to finalizing our budget for the 2024-2025 school year. As we have shared previously, the district needs a 12% increase in order to maintain level services. A level service budget allows us to retain the same levels of teaching and learning for all students in the upcoming school year.

Historically, Norton Public Schools has received an average increase of 3.78% over the last ten years. Therefore, we anticipate that we will need to make programmatic and staffing reductions in order to balance our school budget. This means that we will not be able to offer all of the same programs and opportunities for our students next year. At this time, the administrative team along with the Norton School Committee is looking at programs and positions that will have the least impact on student learning and no final decisions on cuts have been made.

I encourage our families to continue to watch or attend our school committee meetings, to ask questions and to learn more about our budget process.

Tiered Focused Monitoring Webinar

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) conducts a review every three years of public schools through the Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM) system. This review process emphasizes elements most tied to student outcomes and includes early literacy, special education and civil rights.

As part of the process DESE is conducting a zoom webinar in conjunction with Nortons Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) this Tuesday night at 6:00 PM. Parents/Guardians can come to the SEPAC meeting at the High School Auditorium where the webinar will be projected on the larger screen, however if you are unable to attend in person, you can join via the zoom link below.

The purpose of the webinar is to explain the TFM process and answer any questions parents might have about that process.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/95966157667?pwd=dk1mNDdSMGhSSDVqUDlRdmhDTTVhUT09

Passcode: 380462

Or One tap mobile :

+16469313860,,95966157667#,,,,*380462# US

+13017158592,,95966157667#,,,,*380462# US (Washington DC)

Or Telephone:

Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

+1 646 931 3860 US

Webinar ID: 959 6615 7667

Passcode: 380462

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration has opened for the 2024-2025 school year for children who will be five years old on or before August 31, 2024. All students who are entering Kindergarten must register, including those already enrolled in our Little Lancers Preschool program. All materials are due by March 25, 2024.

This process marks a big first step in our transition to a new Student Information System (SIS). Families of incoming kindergarten students will submit registration information through our registration portal in PowerSchool. A separate form must be completed for each child. Once the pre-registration form has been submitted, it will be sent to a staff member for approval, and families will then receive an email with instructions to complete the registration process. All materials are due by March 25, 2024.

JCS and LGN will each host virtual orientations for new Kindergarten families on March 11th at 6:30 pm. Additional information including required documents for registration and links to the orientations is available on our website under Student Registration in the Families tab.

Solar Eclipse

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. While no place in Massachusetts will see the sun completely disappear, some parts of the state will see a shadow covering 95 percent of the sun, if weather permits. The eclipse will begin shortly after 2 p.m. and will last about two and a half hours until about 4:30 p.m. Visit DESE’s new eclipse resource site for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 1st

Norton High School Term III Warning Notices

March 8th

Elementary Term II Marks Close

March 14th

Norton Middle School Term II Marks Close

March 15th

Districtwide Early Release (Professional Development)

March 18th

Elementary Term II Report Cards

March 20th - 21st

Elementary Conferences

March 21st

Elementary Early Release (Conferences)
Norton Middle School Report Cards

April 4th

Norton High School Term III Marks Close

April 12th

Districtwide Early Release (Professional Development)
Norton High School Term III Report Cards

April 15th -19th

April Vacation

Virtual Backpack
This week's NPS Virtual Backpack flyers include:

Norton Community STEAM Showcase
Save the Date! Norton Spring Fling Dance
Attleboro Arts Museum Spring Classes and Workshops
Brockton Symphony Orchestra - Winter Fairy Tales
Project Contemporary Competitiveness
Advanced Studies Program - Summer Camp Residential Program

To submit a flyer to the Virtual Backpack, please contact Pam Anderson at pamelaanderson@norton.k12.ma.us.

03.01.24