HOLIDAYS & CLOSURES:

Thursday, December 23rd: School Closes at 12:50pm

School Closed for Holiday Vacation: December 24th through 31st.

We return to school on Monday, January 3rd, 2022

MESSAGE FROM MR. JACKSON:

Greetings NHMS Families,

I hope this message finds you healthy and well.NHMS families were given a special holiday treat Wednesday evening as they experienced an amazingly wonderful Winter Season Concert.  Our school’s orchestra, band, and chorus were able to showcase their talent and hard work to a live audience for the first time in two years. A special debt of gratitude goes out to Elizabeth Gallagher, Irene Guda, and Angie Nida for orchestrating a wonderful series of performances to a packed house in the auditorium. Additionally, a special thank you to Jay Gerlach and Bryan Kirby for their contributions behind the scenes to keep the production moving along smoothly. It was so nice to have families attending a school event in person. 

A special thank you goes out to 5ive Fingaz for donating his time and positive message for our student body this morning. We are very fortunate to have a prominent artist in the Norwalk community who could present such a positive and inspirational message through art.  5iveFingaz was born and raised in Norwalk and continues to reside here. 

His key talking points today centered on the following:

• Growing up in Norwalk
• Early art exposure
• School and art
• Dealing with anxiety through art
• Love More Than Ever movement and book

His unrelenting exploration of truth and meaningfulness is universal to all humans. He feels a tremendous sense of responsibility to humanity, and he is succeeding in making an impact for peace, love, and positive change.

Education during the pandemic has certainly provided significant challenges for our families, students, and staff. This school year feels dramatically different from years past as we strive to support academic and social/emotional growth for our students. Additionally, there’s an increased level of stress and anxiety among our students during the holiday season. Please know that the challenges we are facing are not unique to our school or our district. Teachers and school leaders throughout the nation are confronted with the same unprecedented challenges. Please know that together, we can act as a powerful buffer against the adverse effects of stress and even trauma that our students experience by establishing a safe and supportive environment for learning.  Again, thank you for your collective efforts to support our students, families, and community with grace and compassion.  

As always, please let us know how we may be of service to you. We hope everyone enjoys a relaxing weekend and a well-earned upcoming holiday break. See you in 2022! 😊

Sincerely,

Eric Jackson, Principal

UPCOMING TESTING:

We will begin our middle of the year NWEA testing session starting on Tuesday, January 4th. Students will take the Math Assessment from January 4-6, and the Language Arts Assessment January 10-12, 2022.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW DEAN OF STUDENTS!

We welcome Ms Stephanie Peckham to Nathan Hale as our new Dean of Students. She comes to us after 23 years at Brien McMahon High School, ready to take on middle school!

If parents have any questions, or need to contact Ms Peckham, she can be contact via email - PeckhamS@NorwalkPS.org

THANK YOU PARENTS!

Thank you to all of the families who donated desserts for the PTA Holiday Dessert Bar. Your kindness is much appreciated! Thank you to PTA President Janine Randolph and Doreen Anderson for making it happen!

A FEW IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR PARENTS:

MASKS: Masks must be worn by students at all times. WIth Covid-19 positivity rates soaring again, we need to remind everyone that masks need to be up and over the nose!

PHONES: Students should not have cell phones out during the school day. Phones are being confiscated if they are out and being used. Air pods are not to be word during the day. Remember, the school is not responsible for lost phones or airpods.

WATER BOTTLES: Students should have their OWN water bottles in school for water fountain use. The school does not supply cups for students. Please make sure your child's name is written in permanent marker on the bottle.

CHROMEBOOKS: Broken or damaged chromebooks must be reported to our Tech Coordinator, Mr. Malcolm Welfare - WelfareM@NorwalkPS.org

PICKING UP FOR EARLY DISMISSAL: Finally, parents are arriving at school to pick up their child for early dismissal without prior notification. Notes are required in the morning so your child will be ready for pick up. No early dismissals between 2:30-2:50pm at the end of the day. Please read below for the full overview - we keep this in every week's email to families.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS:

Intramurals will run until December 22. If your child is staying for an intramural and you are picking them up, please be at the school by 4:00pm. Travel teams will begin in January. 

Travel Basketball Tryouts:

Tuesday, January 04, 3:00-4:00pm - Boys

Wednesday, January 05, 3:00-4:00pm - Girls

Students must have a completed and signed permission slip to try out.

Print here: Travel Basketball Permission Slip

REMINDER: Early Dismissal Procedure

If you are picking up your child EARLY from school, send in a written note with your child in the morning - include your child's name and the time and reason they are leaving early.

Notes are to be brought to Mrs. Grasty in the Counseling Office before homeroom She will then update the Daily Attendance to indicate that your child is leaving early. Her direct line in 203-899-2910 x17208.

Your child should come on their own to meet you at the Security Desk at the appointed time. This will eliminate us looking for your child in the building and interrupting classes.

Please sign them out in the notebook and have your ID ready. Only those friends and family members listed on your child's emergency form are allowed to pick up your child.

No Early Dismissals between 2:30-2:50pm as busses are entering the parking lot for the close of the school day.

Thank you for your understanding and following this procedure. We are currently getting between 15-20 "emergency" or last-minute requests to find students for Early Dismissal. This is disruptive to classrooms and takes both security and office staff away from their locations to find your child.

PHOTO GALLERY

Five Fingaz presentation today. The artist with Mr. Jackson.

The 2021 Winter Concert - Chorus with Ms Nida; Orchestra with Mrs. Gallagher; and Band with Mrs. Guda.



Mr. McQuaid's Grade 8 Math class - Introducing students to organizing data in two-way tables. Students created their own questions and collected data from their classmates to display in a two-way table. 

Be sure to scroll down to the end of this email for a Calendar list of important dates!

In-School Covid-19 Testing at Nathan Hale Every Wednesday

In collaboration with Progressive Diagnostics, NPS is offering free Covid PCR testing for all unvaccinated NPS elementary and middle school students beginning with the week of September 27.

Research shows that school-based screening testing helps to identify cases sooner, rather than waiting for symptoms to develop. 

Progressive Diagnostics will offer free testing once a week at each school to unvaccinated students, not exhibiting any Covid-related symptoms, with parental consent.

Consent forms can be accessed by clicking on this link: https://progressive-diagnostics.com/school-testing/consent-form/

Schools will not be responsible for selecting students to participate in this program. Parents interested in having their child participate may submit the form electronically.

The test is a non-invasive swabbing of the lower nostrils (no “brain tickling”) and takes only a few seconds to collect.

Results will be available to parents within 24 hours via a HIPAA compliant online portal.

As we work together to keep our students and staff safe, please continue to keep your child home if they aren’t feeling well, or exhibiting any Covid symptoms. For additional information regarding Progressive school testing click here. FAQ’s in English or Spanish are available for viewing as well.

B.A.R.K. CONTACT INFORMATION:

For parents whose children are enrolled in the Carver Foundations' B.A.R.K. After-School Program: The program Director is Dr Thomas Stanford. If you need to pick up your child early, or have to inform Dr. Stanford of a change in plans, please contact him directly on the BARK Phone Number: 203-804-7550. That is the most efficient way of reaching the program.

CALENDAR:

Tuesday, December 21: Touch Football & Dodgeball, 3:00-4:00pm

Wednesday, December 22: Indoor Soccer, 3:00-4:00pm (last day)

Thursday, December 23: 2-Hour Early Dismissal - Nathan Hale closes at 12:50pm

No After School Sports, No BARK, No ASPIRE Program



Friday, December 24: Schools Closed for Christmas Eve

Monday, December 27 - Friday, December 31: All Schools Closed for Holiday Recess

See you all on Monday, January 3rd, 2022!

Tuesday, January 04: NWEA Testing - Math

Tuesday January 04, Boy's Travel Basketball Try-Outs, 3:00-4:00pm

Wednesday, January 05: NWEA Testing - Math

Wednesday, January 05, Girl's Travel Basketball Try-Outs, 3:00-4:00pm

Thursday, January 06: NWEA Testing - Math

Monday, January 10: NWEA Testing - Language Arts

Tuesday, January 11: NWEA Testing - Language Arts

Wednesday, January 12: NWEA Testing - Language Arts