March, 2016 Family Newsletter Dear NCS Families, The school year continues to race by for many of us. Today marks the end of the 3rd Quarter, leaving a quick 9 weeks of the school year remaining. The parent and community involvement at NCS has been amazing. Thanks for so much for offering support in classrooms on a routine basis, extra help with field trips, for participation in school community events like our Family Dance, Culver's Night, and Terrace Town preparations. Thanks for your support of daily reading at home or with other homework efforts. We ask families of students in grades 3-5 to be aware of State Assessment dates at NCS. Please do your best to avoid scheduling appointments during these times, talk to your child about simply giving their best effort each day, and help ensure they are well rested and able to give their best effort. Grade 3 will be testing 7:50- 9:15 on April 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13. Grades 4 and 5 will be testing 10:15-11:40 am on April 19, 20, 26, 27, and 28, and then Grade 4 only on April 29, May 3, 4, and 5 from 10:15-11:40 am. I hope you have a restful, fun, safe Spring Break with your family regardless of whether you plan to travel or not. With warm regards, Jim Ruder, NCS Director

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 24 TODAY!!

Butter Braid Pick-Up at NCS (2:15-3:15 pm)

March 25-April 1

SPRING BREAK (NO SCHOOL), including Friday, March 25th

April 5, 6, 7, 12 & 13

3rd Grade Testing (7:50-9:15 am)

April 8 Autism Event (Diversity and Equity Committee)

April 10 Ice Skating Party, Chili Cook Off, and Lunch Buffet

April 12 Diversity & Equity Committee Meeting (6:00-7:15 pm)

April 18 NO SCHOOL

April 19, 20,26,27,28

4th & 5th Grade Testing (10:15-11:40 am)

April 21 All School Terrace Town Field Trip to the Monona Terrace (11:15 am-2:15 pm)

April 22 Earth Day field trips for all classes (11:00 am-2:15 pm)

April 23 Terrace Town at Monona Terrace Open to the Public for Viewing Projects

April 29, May 3,4,5

4th Grade Testing (10:15-11:40 am)

May 9 (DATE CHANGE!)

NCS Art Show & 50/50 Art Raffle (6:00 pm) and Spring Concert (6:30 pm)

May 18 5th Grade History Play (1:15-2:15 pm)

May 19 5th Grade History Play (8:45-9:45 am)

May 19 Welcome to Kindergarten Evening (starting at 6:15 pm)

June 2 5th Grade Graduation (5:45-6:30 pm) in the Step Room

June 2 NCS Family Ice Cream Social (6:30-7:15 pm)

June 3 5th Grade Evening Party at NCS

June 8 All School Field Trip to Goodman Center and Pool (9:00 am-2:15 pm)

PLEASE CONTINUE TO REFER TO THE NCS PARENT GOOGLE CALENDAR AND THE NCS WEB PAGE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE (nccs.verona.k12.wi.us) FOR INFORMATION ON WHEN CLASSES HAVE GYM, LIBRARY, FIELD TRIPS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND FOR OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS AND MEETINGS AT NCS.

BUTTER BRAID PICK-UP IS TODAY!

The PICK-UP DATE for the BUTTER BRAID ORDERS is at NCS from 2:15-3:15 pm TODAY, March 24th, the last day of school before Spring Break. (Please note that the pick-up day on the order form was incorrect when it said Friday. It is actually on Thursday, March 24th.). If you are not able to pick up your items at the pick-up time or if you want them sent home with your student, please contact our parent coordinator, Melissa Albright, via email or text at: melissa1974@gmail.com or (217) 552-7217. Important Note: the breads arrive frozen, so plan on keeping them cold once they are picked up; they will start to rise if they get warm and thaw.

SPRING BREAK IS MARCH 25TH

THROUGH APRIL 1ST Spring Break is coming soon and starts tomorrow, Friday, March 25th. It is from March 25th through April 1st. School resumes on Monday, April 4th. May our weather improve greatly here in WI so we can fully enjoy our time off!

NEW CENTURY SCHOOL IS ON

TWITTER AND FACEBOOK: FOLLOW US and LIKE US!

We have been actively posting our classroom, field trip, and after-school special moments on Twitter and Facebook as well as on our NCS webpage (nccs.verona.k12.wi.us) on the district website. So, FOLLOW US on Twitter (New Century_VASD) and LIKE US on Facebook (New Century School - Verona Area School District)

*** DATE CHANGE *** for NCS Spring Concert/Art Show

NEW DATE: MONDAY, MAY 9TH

NCS SPRING CONCERT, ART SHOW,

AND 50/50 ART RAFFLE NEW DATE: EVENING OF MAY 9rd

We are sorry to report that we have run into a calendar glitch with having full access to the Performing Arts Center at the Verona Area High School on the originally scheduled date of May 3 for our NCS Spring Concert and Art Show. Instead, we are fortunate to be able to RESCHEDULE it for Monday, MAY 9th, with our Art Show at 6:00 pm and the Music Program to follow at 6:30 pm. Thanks for making adjustments to your calendars. We hope for 100% student participation during the evening program on Monday, May 9th. Thanks for making adjustments to your calendars. Once again, we apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused you. This is a wonderful way to celebrate our students and the special things they are doing in our integrated arts program. The Art Show will begin at 6:00 pm followed by the Spring Concert at 6:30 pm.

50/50 ART RAFFLE Prior to the concert, we will hold an ART RAFFLE. This year, instead of raffling off themed baskets, we’ll have a 50/50 raffle featuring 3 collaborative art pieces by New Century students, coordinated by our talented Integrated Arts teacher, Tess Wirth! Come join the fun and don’t miss the unveiling!

(Right photo by Jim Ferolie/Verona Press)

NCS FAMILY DANCE AND 5TH GRADE BAZAAR WERE A HUGE HIT!!

Our NCS students and their families had a great time grooving the night away at our annual NCS Family Dance and our 5th graders got an opportunity to sell their handmade, crafty creations there too, such as dog toys, soap, origami, pet rocks, flower pens, and jewelry. Our 5th graders made $313.50 to contribute toward their end of the year class party! Wow! Thank you to all who supported them! A special thank you goes out to Tim Schmidt and to Andy Larson of Saturn's 8 DJs for donating the DJ equipment and services!

ASSESSMENT TEST DAYS

For our WI Forward testing, we will be having NCS students in grades 3, 4, and 5 test at the following dates and times: GRADE 3: April 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 (7:50-9:15 am) GRADES 4 & 5: April 19, 20, 26, 27, 28 (10:15-11:40 am) GRADE 4 ONLY: April 29, May 3, 4, 5 (10:15-11:40 am) Thanks for reassuring your child to simply give their best effort with the tests. Please do your best to avoid scheduling appointments during these times and help ensure your child is well rested. Thank you!

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH

GRADE HISTORY TEACHER? Our NCS 5th graders have been rehearsing for this year’s history play, “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grade History Teacher?” It is a game show setting covering history material from the Boston Tea Party, the Salem Witch Trials, and the Underground Railroad. The other NCS classes, some Sugar Creek classes, and parents come to watch the students perform. The play is one hour long and will be performed in the Sugar Creek STEP Room on: Wednesday, May 18th, from 1:15-2:15 pm and then again on Thursday, May 19th, from 8:45-9:45 am. Parents are invited to attend either of the two performances!

WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN EVENING

MAY 19th STARTING AT 6:15 PM We will be holding a Welcome to Kindergarten Evening on Thursday, May 19th, starting at 6:15 pm for all incoming kindergarteners. The parents and their kindergarten age child are invited. If you have questions, contact the office.

ICE SKATING PARTY, CHILI COOK

OFF, & LUNCH BUFFET ON SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH

NCS will have an Ice Skating Party, Chili Cook Off, and lunch buffet on Sunday, April 10th, at Verona Ice. Skate time is from 1:00-2:30 pm and we have the party room until 3:00 pm. Come hungry as we will have a lunch buffet! Admission is $5 and friends are welcome! Look for a SignUp Genius in March for food donations. While technically more of a community building event, the funds donated for skating and lunch benefit our school.

DIVERSITY AND EQUITY

COMMITTEE UPCOMING EVENTS AND UPDATES

We are excited to announce an opportunity for NCS students to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). On April 8th, ACT (Achieving Collaborative Treatment) presenters will talk about Autism using age-appropriate language. April 8th event times are: Grades 4/5 10:40-11:25 am Grades 2/3 12:40-1:30 pm Grades K/1 1:30-2:00 pm

As with all Diversity and Equity events, parents/caregivers are invited and welcome to attend. If you have any questions/concerns, contact Karen Pings, Mr. Ruder, or Isabel Agasie as soon as possible so we can respond to you. Planning is underway for an all-school event during the month of May focused on issues of social justice. We hope to provide opportunities for both students and parents/caregivers to learn about and discuss some of these issues. NCS and Verona Area Pre-K are co-sponsoring the presentation “Children Are Not Colorblind: How Children Learn Race.” The event, which is free and open to the public, will be on May 17 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Verona Area High School PAC. Dr. Erin Winkler, Associate Professor of Africology at UW-Milwaukee, will present current research on young children’s understanding of race, including how ideas about race form, what children learn and when, why we see changes at various ages, why all of this matters, and how parents and educators can help children identify racial identity, racism, and racial inequities at an early age in age-appropriate ways that empower their children. The Equity and Diversity Committee identified some community-sponsored events that focus on diversity and equity. These opportunities are not sponsored by our committee, but we want to pass the information to all of you:

Banned Books Children’s Storytime Monday, March 28, from 10-11 am (during Spring Break!) (Fitchburg Public Library – Storytime Room) Join us as we honor freedom of speech by reading books that have been banned or challenged. We'll start with "I Am Jazz," which was recently challenged in the Mount Horeb School District, and follow it up with other "controversial" picture books. Come find out what the buzz is all about and stay for several activities celebrating differences. Recommended for ages 3-12 and their families. 2016 Madison College Pow-Wow Saturday, April 23, from 1:00-10:00 pm. Redsten Gym, 1701 Wright St, Madison. General Admission: $5.00 (includes dinner) Are you interested in giving input on the Diversity & Equity Committee future events? Come to our next meeting on April 12 from 6:00-7:15 pm at NCS in the Integrated Arts Room. If you are interested in learning more and being part of it, please contact Jen Polglaze jpolglaze@gmail.com, Isabel Agasie isabel.agasie@gmail.com or Karen Pings kpings@live.com.

SMILE NCS!

The next day we have ALL students and staff in attendance at NCS, we will take a picture of our entire school body together. We will celebrate a PERFECT ATTENDANCE DAY with taking a picture from a 2nd floor window of everyone gathered together outside. We wish for perfect attendance each day, but if your child is sick or has been sick within the last 24 hours, the best place for them to recover is at home. Thanks!

FUNDRAISING UPDATES

BUTTER BRAIDS Thanks to all who supported this DELICIOUS fundraiser. It was a great success, earning $905 for our school. Special thanks to parent coordinator, Melissa Albright. CULVER’S HOSPITALITY NIGHT Thank you to all who joined us at Culver’s on Wednesday, March 16! It was a fun time and a great success! Special thanks to our volunteers and our parent coordinator, Karen Schultz. UPCOMING FUNDRAISING EVENTS:

New Century School Ice Skating Party and Chili Cook Off on Sunday, April 10

Spring Concert & 50/50 Art Raffle on Tuesday, May 9 (Note the date change from May 3)

Don’t forget to:

Keep sending in Box Tops & Labels for Education,

Keep using your Target REDcard (through May), and

Keep using Amazon Smile for NCS when you shop online!

NCS STEM ENRICHMENT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

STARTS ITS 3RD SESSION Our After-School Programs have been a resounding success and have given many students the opportunity to learn, be challenged, and work together. On Monday, March 14TH, we began our third and last 8-week session of the school year. In this session, “Light: Observing Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets,” students identify and describe patterns in their recorded data from observations of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. Students build upon their knowledge of light to design, build, test, and reflect on a device designed to solve a problem related to the patterns of the sun.

BRICKS 4 KIDZ

Our other After-School Programs include Homework Club and Bricks 4 Kidz. Bricks 4 Kidz classes build upon the universal popularity of LEGO bricks to deliver a high quality of educational play. Kids construct a new model each week based on exciting themes from space to sports, amusement parks to animals. Kids will

learn about everything from gears, torque and friction, to geography, space exploration, weather, and more! Many thanks to Jennifer Bradley, Deb Pleuss, and many staff & parent volunteers who make these learning experiences possible.

TERRACE TOWN UPDATE

Our 2nd and 3rd grade classes took walks through our community this week to get ready for our # TerraceTown project. Thanks, volunteers! Check out this great video of the walks: http://tinyurl.com/z6c93o5

Our students also continue to have opportunities to learn from visits from our architects. This week, Josh Johnson explained to the 2nd and 3rd grade students about population density. Visit our NCS web page (http://nccs.verona.k12.wi.us/) on the district site for more interesting learning happening in our classrooms!

UPDATE ON THE “KIND COINS FOR KENYA” SCHOOL

As part of our Great Kindness Challenge and “Kind Coins for Kenya” campaign, NCS students raised $240 to help build a new school in a Kenyan village. They raised $68,431.41, which is enough to break ground and start building a beautiful new school. Stay tuned for weekly updates and photos by LIKING them on Facebook at #KindCoinsForKenya. Thank you for helping make the dreams of many children to learn and go to school come true!

SAVE THE DATE:

5th GRADE GRADUATION ON JUNE 2ND AT 5:45 PM

FOLLOWED BY THE ALL SCHOOL NCS FAMILY ICE CREAM SOCIAL

AT 6:30 PM NCS will hold its graduation ceremony to congratulate its 5th graders on Thursday, June 2nd, at 5:45 p.m. All NCS parents and students are invited to attend the ceremony in the Sugar Creek Step Room. It will be followed by the All School NCS Family Ice Cream Social Night at 6:30 pm at NCS. Come join us in celebrating!

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS

Terrace Town at the Monona Terrace: April 21: All grades (11:15 am-2:15 pm) April 23: Open to the Public to view NCS projects and those from other schools Earth Day picnicking and hikes: April 22: All grades (11:00 am-2:15 pm) K/1: Harriet Park and the high school forest 2/3: Scheidegger Forest County Park and Prairie Moraine Park 4/5: Madison School Forest Goodman Community Campus and Pool: June 8: all grades (9:00 am-2:15 pm)

TRIATHLON FOR KIDS

Online registration for the Tri 4 Schools spring events is open! There are 2 events for your child to participate in: 1. Waunakee Kids Triathlon on Saturday, April 30th. Go to: http://www.tri4schools.org/events/waunakee/. 2. Madison Marathon Kids Run on Saturday, May 28th, at 6:30pm. Go to: http://www.tri4schools.org/events/madisonmarathon/ Nearly 100% of race fees go back to the NCS physical education program!

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 8TH IS THE NCS ALL-SCHOOL FIELD DAY AND

YEAR END CELEBRATION AT GOODMAN COMMUNITY CAMPUS &

AQUATIC CENTER Chaperones will be needed. So consider being a chaperone and spending the day enjoying various outdoor activities with our students. Stay tuned for more information.

GO ONLINE NOW TO SEE UPCOMING

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES There are so many worthwhile events and classes happening in Verona, Fitchburg, and the Madison area for your families in the next month. Visit: http://www.verona.k12.wi.us/communityactivities to fill your calendar with fun!