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News from Mrs. Merriam 
Dear Nuckols Farm Fox Families, May is a super busy month here on the Farm with our Spring Picnic/Staff Kickball Game, Cinco de Mayo luncheon for staff, Teacher Appreciation Week, kindergarten performances, the opening of our testing window, ExploreLabs, SCA Kindergarten tours, and PTA Board transitions. May is busy for our staff as well as we are attending county functions to recognize our Henrico 21 staff and student awardees (Ms. Brinson and Sarah C. are our very deserving representatives this year!). We also are meeting to formulate ideas for always changing and improving instruction as our test data is analyzed and to explore other innovative educational initiatives for the upcoming year. We are planning future staff development options, forming professional learning communities, and collaborating on our theme for 2018-2019, Nuckols Farm’s 21st year! It is exciting to start planning for a new year, and we would appreciate your input if you have any specific information that would help us to make 2018-2019 a banner year for your child by sending me written communication regarding what may help make a perfect teacher match. I am NOT asking for specific teacher or classmate information, but rather would like information about your child that is relevant to making a good match IF you feel there are circumstances that warrant special placement. Our staff spends many hours on teacher assignments and dynamics of student make-up in our classrooms. It is important to us that our students are set up for success from the first day of school on Tuesday, September 4! Please have your parent input to me by May 18 as this process begins while our teachers are still on campus.
We welcome Mrs. Meredith Flippin and Mrs. Beth Cornwell, who will finish out the school year as board subs while Mrs. Kirkland and Mrs. Mohn are on maternity leave. As well, we welcome our exuberant new PTA President Deb Harper and bid adieu to outgoing President Emily McKinney, who did a phenomenal job of heading our active PTA. Thank you, Mrs. McKinney! Thank you for your invaluable support to our teachers and staff. I look forward to ending this school year on a positive note and know that my foxes will be in good hands and that next year will be amazing! See you at Field Day on June 1! Lisa Merriam |
 | | Join Us May 1 for our Spring Picnic & Faculty Kickball Game
Grab 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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Let’s show our teachers how much we appreciate them this week! Activities are optional but all families are encouraged to participate.
Monday – “Flower†them with Love Please bring a flower of your choice from your garden or purchase from the store. Room parents will provide a vase for your teacher to enjoy a beautiful bouquet all week. Tuesday – Colorful Cards Please have your child create a homemade card and/or provide a gift card for your teacher.
Wednesday – My Favorite Things Send in an item from your teacher’s “Favorite Things†list (room parents will provide). Thursday – Stock the Classroom Send in a favorite school supply (some ideas are glue sticks, sharpie markers, colored paper, pencils and more…be as fun and creative as you want)! Friday –Favorite Color Wear your teacher’s favorite color (room parents will tell you the color).
Also… Friday, May 4 is the NFE PTA Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. Teachers get an extra-long lunch that day. Room parents may need volunteers to help in the classroom. And Don’t Forget.... Music, Art, Library, PE… our awesome resource teachers…and our amazing faculty and staff! Send a digital thank you note to your favorite teachers as part of the Virginia PTA and Virginia Lottery's Thank-A -Teacher program. |
Students Treated to Special ProgramsThanks to generous Fox Fund donations, author and illustrator Lee Harper visited with all students on April 24. The next day, students were treated to a performance of “Have you Filled a Bucket?†by Virginia Repertory Theatre. Books also were provided to grade levels to enhance student appreciation of these programs. Thank you for your gifts!
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Coin Drive Supports Art and Music
Thanks to everyone who donated to the Community Service Club’s recent coin drive. We raised $69.73 for Johnson Elementary School’s art and music departments. | | 
School Spirit Tasted Great
Thanks to everyone who supported our Chipotle spirit night on April 23. We raised $707.08 to support the Kindergarden! |
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We're looking for coaches for our 2018-19 FIRST LEGO League, Jr teams. FIRST LEGO League, Jr is a STEM-based program that introduces students to building and engineering concepts through the use of LEGOs and later robotics.
One or more coaches guide a grade-level, co-ed team of students. Through teamwork and exploration, they study a specific scientific program our world might face today then design and construct a model using LEGOs and motorized components. At the end of the year, students present their model at a FIRST LEGO League, Jr Expo and the school. Contact Jenny Scott.
| | NFE Announces Volunteer of the Year
Congratulations to the 2018 NFE Volunteer of the Year, Alissa Poole. In her remarks announcing this year's recipient, Mrs. Merriam said, "While she has spent at least four years on the PTA Executive Board during her tenure at Nuckols Farm Elementary, and many other years coordinating a variety of activities, it is the countless hours our Volunteer of the Year has devoted to crafting effective communication tools this year that uniquely qualify her for this distinguished honor." Alissa has served as PTA communications chair for the last 2 years. She's also served as yearbook co-chair, PTA secretary, PTA president, room parent and library volunteer during her 9 years at NFE.
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Have Fun with Recycling
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 that date. Sign up through Membership Toolkit.
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Help Spread the MulchMulch day for Gardens and Grounds is finally here! Bring your wheel barrows, pitch forks, rakes and gloves, and join us Sunday, April 29 from 1-4 pm to spread mulch around our beautiful school! Even if you can only join us for an hour, we’d love the help! Please email Myra Robinson or Gracie Herbert if you can make it! |
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Meet March's PTA Volunteers of the MonthCongratulations to March's PTA Volunteers of the Month, Brandy Burnett and Stephanie Weber. Brandy has served as PTA treasurer for two years, keeping budgets updated and records in order. Stephanie serves as the co-chair for ExploreLab and Community Service Club and can be found all over the Farm, volunteering in the cafeteria, on picture day and anywhere else there’s a need. Thanks to you both for being PAWSitively amazing! If you know a volunteer who deserves to be celebrated, nominate him or her for Volunteer of the Month. |
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of these dates...Friday, June 1 - Field Day (rain date June 4) Thursday, June 14 - 5th grade awards assembly (8:30 am)
Friday, June 15 - Dancing on the Blacktop/Half Day | | 
Make it a Pizza Night
NFE's next Spirit Night will be on Wednesday, May 23 from 4-8 pm at J. Rocco's Pizza.
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Updated Immunization Record Required for Middle SchoolThe State of VA requires all students entering 6th grade to receive a TDAP booster prior to the first day of school. It is each parent’s responsibility to provide this record to your child’s school nurse once completed. If you have not done so, please bring it to Mrs. Vallei at NFE before June 15 or the nurse at your child's middle school after that date.
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April 30 is LAST day to order Luau Tickets
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! | | 
Show your Puma Pride!
SPMS cheerleader tryouts will be held May 29-June 1 from 3:30-5:30 pm each day. Call 804-360-0800 for more information.
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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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 | | Mother’s Day is May 13 Need Mother’s Day gifts? Remember to use smile.amazon.com for all of your Amazon purchases. Just choose Nuckols Farm Elementary PTA as your charity and the school will earn money for your purchases. |
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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. Because of your support, we earned $1,078 between December 2017 and February 2018. 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! Check out the April/May collection sheets to see how your class stacks up. All Box Tops to be included in the contest are due by May 31. Keep clipping, and 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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From the Art RoomMarch and April have been busy with beautiful artwork and shows. In March over 74 students participated in our Henrico County Art Show, and in April we had a show at Our Lady of Hope with over 100 students. This past week we had our West Creek Emergency Center Art Show. All the students’ artwork looked amazing, colorful and creative! I am so proud of all our students for their hard work and talent. Congratulations for a job well done! I am very thankful and blessed to teach at such a great school and to share my love of art with your wonderful children. Nancy de Nijs Pictured below (left - Mrs. de Nijs and Mrs. Merriam with Alex T., Ryan L, Savannah C. and Julian C. at the West Creek art show; center - Mrs. de Nijs with Spencer S. at the HCPS art show; right - Alexa G. and Maddie J. at Our Lady of Hope art show)   
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 | | Denim Drive = SuccessThanks for your support of this year's SCA Denim Drive. We collected 112 pairs of jeans! |
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HCPS Equity & Diversity Listening Sessions ScheduledHenrico Schools’ new Office of Equity and Diversity wants to hear from members of the community. Monica Manns, the office’s new director, will hold listening sessions this spring to hear residents’ ideas about equity and diversity in the school division.
The sessions will begin with an introduction and an update on the advisory committee. The bulk of the time will be for reserved for citizens to talk. Feedback received at the listening sessions will be shared with School Board members, Henrico Schools administrators and the new advisory committee. In addition, a survey will be forthcoming. The data from both will help guide the division’s next steps. The last two equity and diversity listening sessions are scheduled for:
April 30 (5:30-6:30 pm) - Tuckahoe Area Library, 1901 Starling Drive
May 1 (4-5 pm) - Twin Hickory Area Library, 5001 Twin Hickory Road
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