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News from Mrs. Merriam 
Happy National Volunteer Week - April 23-27! I would like to take a moment to express my sincere thanks to our amazing volunteers who grace our presence daily to support our endeavors to make Nuckols Farm the best school on Earth. We honor those who feed us the most delectable lunches imaginable, make our copies, stuff our folders, plan our activities, read with and to our students, keep our library running smoothly, hang our artwork, chaperone our field trips, speak about their careers, herd and encourage our students on picture day, create our amazing yearbook, collect Box Tops, coordinate our Reflections program, lead our Lego League teams, send in supplies, facilitate our Explore Lab opportunities, and keep our students safely armed with utensils and condiments at lunch. Because of our monumental volunteerism, our students have been offered stupendous experiences through after school enrichment, robotics, the addition of a Math Night this year, Book Fair, and most recently have experienced a STEAM Museum and other cultural arts activities. The ever-popular Turkey Trot, fall and spring picnics, Science Fair and Fall Festival were, and will be, incredible, and students thoroughly enjoyed enrichment days at which they made crafts and performed community service for others, as skillfully planned by room parents and Pinterest. Our Community Service Club is led by volunteers, and through this service the members have committed themselves to not only help others, but also to lead the student body to help the community. Even our marquee has been dressed by a quiet, attentive volunteer who slips in at least monthly to update our school activities. Our faithful Recycling Club is led by volunteers, and every Tuesday, moms, dads, and others meet before our students arrive to cover our whole school collecting recyclables and depositing them in our recycle bin. Our communication tools such as this PTA email blast and our Facebook page are manned by a powerful volunteer who not only reports the articles and information forwarded to her, but also looks for news and information from our community to keep us all on the same page. Our grounds have blossomed and been improved by a dynamic duo of volunteers who have not only shed blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention committed to planning time with our school C & M crew) but have recruited others from the Y Princesses, Cub Scouts and families in the community to assist on the weekends. We even have a Keep Henrico Beautiful volunteer family who has devoted its time and commitment to clean up our campus a minimum of four times per year. We have spiffy spirit wear, and our volunteer Ways and Means chairs have brought in money to be used for our educational purposes as needed. Supplies are offered for purchase and Spirit Nights, including Papa John’s Teacher Delivery Night, are made possible through the arduous efforts of volunteers. As recently as this afternoon, we will host a volunteer who will help our students see the importance of respect for others at our school-wide PAWS assembly. Our school community is strong, and our volunteers pave the way for success for our students, staff, and families. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated and beloved volunteers. Your invitation to join us for a Volunteer Assembly and brunch was issued recently, and I hope that you will join us as we thank YOU in a small way for your BIG efforts. Hope to see you on Monday, April 23 from 9-10 am in the Multipurpose Room! Your very grateful Principal, Lisa Merriam |
 | |  | Volunteer Gathering & Brunch
You're invited to join NFE's students and staff for a Volunteer Gathering & Brunch on Monday, April 23 at 9 am in the Multi-Purpose Room. Brunch will follow in room C2. Call 804-364-0840 if you can attend.
| | Spirit Night at Chipotle - April 23
Stop by Chipotle at 11728 West Broad Street on Monday, April 23 between 4 and 8 pm for a Spirit Night to benefit NFE's Kindergarden. Be sure to show the flyer, and we'll receive 50% of the evening's proceeds!
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Beautify the Farm on April 15 & 29
Sunday, April 15 from 1-4 pm is our school’s spring clean up day! We will be trimming bushes, cutting down trees, picking up trash, and making our school look beautiful! On Sunday, April 29 from 1-4 pm, we will be adding mulch to our beautiful garden beds!
We need volunteers! Please email Myra Robinson or Gracie Herbert if you can help! | | 
Spring Picnic & Faculty Kickball GameGrab a snack, and join NFE families and faculty for the annual spring picnic and faculty kickball game, Tuesday, May 1 from 3-5 pm (rain date is May 3). SCA will be selling snacks and collecting donations for Comfort Zone Camp (CZC). sweetFrog will be selling sweet treats, and a portion of sales will benefit CZC.
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Send Thanks to Your Favorite Teachers
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 7-11) is right around the corner, and for the third year, the Virginia PTA and Virginia Lottery are partnering to encourage students, parents and community members to send thank-you notes to deserving teachers.
Help us thank teachers for all they do. Send a digital thank you note today, and you’ll get a confirmation when it's sent on May 7. |
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 | | Vote on 2018-19 PTA Executive BoardThe 2018-19 PTA executive board slate will be voted on during the April 17 general membership meeting prior to the fourth grade performance. The slate is:
President – Deb Harper
President-Elect – Carrie Schaeffer
VPs Ways & Means – Sarah Rasmussen & Kate Bagwell
VP Volunteers – Becca Kutz
Treasurer – Brandy Burnett
Secretary – Michelle Lipawsky |
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Administrative Professionals Day is April 25. We don't know what we would do without the smiling faces and helpful hands of Mrs. Jennifer Cristello and Mrs. Peggy Whitescarver. Thanks for all you do to keep the Farm running every day!
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National Nurses Day is May 6, and we don't want to miss the chance to thank our favorite school nurse, Mrs. Beth Vallei. Thanks for keeping our Foxes safe and healthy!
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National School Principal's Day is May 1, and it's a great day to give a shout out to the best principal around, Mrs. Lisa Merriam. Thanks for your dedication and enthusiasm every day!
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 | | Spring Break Welcome Back Breakfast Thanks to the Hospitality Committee for providing a “welcome back breakfast†to the Farm's staff on Monday morning after spring break. Bagels really do make it better! |
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Have Fun with Recycling
The Recycling Committee is planning its Annual Weigh Day on April 17 where all recycling collected on this day will be weighed to determine an estimated total for the year. On May 15, third graders are invited to "try out" our recycling club as part of Third Grade Preview Day. We're always looking for parent volunteers to supervise our Fox recyclers especially on April 17 and May 15. Sign up through Membership Toolkit.
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Help Wanted on the Farm Next Year
We're looking for volunteers for two open positions on the 2018-19 NFE PTA board - Lay Advisory and Henrico County Council of PTAs representative. These are great jobs for working parents or volunteers with limited time as meetings are held in the evenings. Contact Emily McKinney for details.
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Meet March's Cafeteria Volunteer of the MonthCongratulations to March's Cafeteria Volunteer of the Month, Trish McNeel! Trish will receive a Fox apron to celebrate her efforts. Thanks for being PAWSitively amazing!
We're always looking for Fox-tastic cafeteria volunteers. Sign up today!
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 | | SCA Spirit Week - April 23-27
Monday - Sports jersey day Tuesday - Crazy sock day Wednesday - Pajama day & stuffed animal day Thursday - Tie-Dye day Friday - Yellow and Green day |
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of these dates...Monday, April 16 - Student half day (dismissal at 11:05 am) Tuesday, May 1 - Faculty Kickball Game & Spring Picnic, 3-5 pm May 7-11 - Teacher Appreciation Week Friday, June 1 - Field Day (rain date June 4) | | 
Get Luau Tickets before April 30
The annual Fifth Grade Luau will be held Friday, June 8 from 6-8 pm. Order your tickets now before sales end on April 30. Your fifth grade Fox won't want to miss this fun evening with friends! |
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 | SUPPORT THE FARM EVERY TIME YOU SHOP OR EAT!
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 | | ~ NEW PROGRAM ~
Enroll in the Silver Diner Eat Well, Do Well Rewards Club - Earn Benefits for You & NFEFor you - Earn one point per visit ($5 minimum purchase), and receive a $5 reward after accumulating 5 points within 150 days. On your fifth visit, a $5 reward is added to your account balance, and your points are reset to zero. For NFE - 5% of what you spend is donated to NFE. To get started, visit Silver Diner's web site or download the Silver Diner mobile app. Once you're logged in to the app, click the menu icon on the top left of the app, scroll down and select “Link to a school." Choose Nuckols Farm Elementary from the Henrico drop down list. Questions? Contact Gretchen Moen.
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 | | Shop for Spring with AmazonSmileMother's Day is coming as are graduations, Father's Day and many other gift-giving occasions. When you're shopping online, use AmazonSmile and be sure to designate Nuckols Farm Elementary PTA as your charity.
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 Order a Slice, Help Our School
Need an easy meal idea? Order online from J. Rocco’s Pizza (select Nuckols Farm in the fundraising tab) or Papa John’s (use code NFES). Both options benefit NFE and are valid all year! | | 
Register your Kroger Card Visit Kroger's Community Rewards web site to register your Kroger Plus card, and select NFE (code is 89074) as your Community Rewards Organization. If you registered last year, you don't need to re-register. You won't lose gas points if you register so sign up today!
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Keep Clipping those Box Tops!
We're coming into the homestretch of our Box Tops race! The April/May collection sheets will come home soon, and all Box Tops to be included in the contest are due by May 31. The winning class will be announced in June. Keep clipping, and be sure to ask friends and family to collect for you too. Be sure the expiration date is legible and that you don't include any expired Box Tops. |
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 | | NFE Students Pay It ForwardNFE students stocked the shelves at Pay It Forward Outreach last month with their Food Bank Friday donations and snack bags assembled by some classes during spring enrichment. Pay It Forward Outreach is a local organization that helps local homeless individuals and families by providing food, clothing, toiletries and hot meals. The organization also helps furnish homes once individuals and families get back on their feet. Great job, Foxes!
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Support SCA's Denim DriveFrom April 9-20, SCA will be collecting all types of denim clothing (jeans, shorts, jackets, etc.) for the HCPS Denim Drive at Regency Mall. Drop off denim items in the boxes outside the main office. | | 
Jump Rope for HeartJoin us for Jump Rope for Heart on Wednesday, April 18 from 2:15-3:15 pm. Contact Mrs. Sweeney for details. Be sure to send a note if your child plans to stay after school to participate.
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We will celebrate all month with fun activities! Get wrapped up in great books! - Each class will be offered a 15 minute relax and read time in the library. During this time, students will be encouraged to bring a cozy blanket or towel, and we’ll “wrap ourselves up in good books†for 15 minutes. Your teacher will let you know what day to bring your cozy blanket or towel. Review favorite books! - Students can go to Ms. Young’s webpage and fill out a review on one of their favorite books. Students will be chosen at random to share their reviews on our morning announcements show sometime during the month. Younger students are welcome to fill out the form with the help of a parent or sibling!
Author Visit - Author and illustrator Lee Harper will visit the Farm on April 24. Mr. Harper has written and illustrated his own books and has collaborated with a variety of other authors to illustrate their books. Get more information about Mr. Harper.
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| Come to Hermitage High School, 8301 Hungary Spring Road, on Saturday, April 28 from 9 am - 2 pm for “Family Learning Series Summit 2018: Engaging and Empowering Parents.†The event will include breakout sessions on topics of interest to parents and guardians. There will also be a keynote speaker/comedian, vendors and exhibits, food trucks and door prizes. Child care will be provided for children ages 4 and older. Register at http://tiny.cc/fls. |
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