Hello Northwest Families!
Welcome back to a new school year filled with promise, growth, and endless possibilities! As we open our doors once again to our new school year, I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to both our returning families and those joining us for the first time. Our dedicated team is ready to help all of our students flourish. Together, as a united educational community, we will navigate challenges, celebrate achievements, and create lasting memories. Here's to another wonderful year. Let's make this academic year truly exceptional!
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FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (TUESDAY, AUGUST 22)
Please remember that the first two days of school (Tuesday 8/22 and Wednesday 8/23), are half days. Students will be released at 12:05 pm.
We are going to again kick-off our year by walking the red carpet! Grade-levels will be assigned to different areas in front of the school (along Bower Street). Students will find his/her teacher and walk down the red carpet and into the building together as a class. Parents are welcome to wait with their students in the grade-level areas, but will not be able to enter the building (this is a district-wide policy). Please note: we will start the red carpet entrance with our Kindergarten and Begindergarten students at around 8:50 am, followed by 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st. You are welcome to stay for all or part, especially if you have children in multiple grades. We will be making announcements, but sometimes the energy and excitement make it difficult to hear!
To make the process of finding their teachers a little easier on the first day, and to help kids feel a little more confident and informed, we have assigned each grade a color. Students can look for their teacher by their designated color of balloons (for example, a third grade student would look for his/her teacher by the green balloons). We will also have all staff outside to assist.
BK/K = red
1 = orange
2 = yellow
3 = green
4 = blue
5 = purple
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DAILY ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
The elementary school day begins at 8:50 am. Students are allowed into the building starting at 8:45 am (unless they are eating breakfast at school, in which case, they are welcome to the cafeteria as early as 8:30). For the purpose of safety and supervision, please have your students at school as close to the 8:45 - 8:50 am timeframe as possible.
Students will be dismissed at 3:42 pm. In general, there are four options for dropping off and picking up students at Northwest:
Bus
Kiss-n-go
Kids Kare
Walking
For more information about any of these options, click here.
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OPEN HOUSE (MONDAY, AUGUST 21)
Open House will be in-person. It will be a “drop-in” style; there is no major presentation, just a casual, stress-free opportunity to meet your student’s teacher, see their desk and locker, and explore the building! While you are welcome anytime that evening, the recommended times are as follows:
BK/K = 5:00 - 6:30pm
Last names A-M = 5:00 - 5:45
Last names N-Z = 5:45 - 6:30
GRADES 1-5 = 6:00 - 7:30pm
Last names A-M = 6:00 - 6:45
Last names N-Z = 6:45 - 7:30
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FAMILIES CAN STILL APPLY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
For the 2023-2024 school year, meals provided by the school are again free for all students. I understand that it seems redundant to apply for free and reduced lunch if it is already free, but many of our programs’ funding is determined by our applications numbers. Applications are available online: https://howell.familyportal.cloud/. To see if you qualify, or to print a paper application, click here.
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We appreciate your support and partnership! Follow us on Facebook for updates and information. You can check our “Frequently Asked Questions” document which contains answers to some common back-to-school questions. You are also always welcome to contact your child’s teacher, or our school counselor (Kim Martin at [email protected]).
Yours in education,
Craig Munro
Principal