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Originally delivered on 5/11/2018 8:30 am

SUBJECT: News from the Farm - May 11, 2018


 

News from Mrs. Merriam

Dear Nuckols Farm Foxes,

Thank you so very much for making our staff feel so special during Teacher Appreciation Week. We recognize just how lucky we are to serve such a wonderful, generous community and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

This is a hectic, busy time for most families. We are testing and are wrapping up and reviewing across the board. Thank you for keeping our young foxes on a schedule, which will provide as many advantages as possible to help them perform up to their potential. As I mentioned in my last newsletter communication, I welcome parent input regarding specific information that would make next year a banner year for your child as class placement is considered. No teacher or student names, please. As I mentioned before, our staff spends a considerable amount of time on teacher matches and dynamics of student make-up in classrooms as good placements are a benefit to all. Please send your communication in written format to me by May 18 if you feel there are specific circumstances regarding your child’s placement.

Thanks again for a great Teacher Appreciation Week!

Lisa Merriam

PTA NEWS

 

Make Your Voice Heard by May 24!

We want to know how we can best serve our students, faculty, and families through the PTA’s programs and services. Your ideas on what works well and what you would like to see in the coming year will help us develop new programs and events for 2018-19 and beyond. Please take this brief survey and share your thoughts by Thursday, May 24.

Make it a Pizza Night

Spring schedules have you wondering what to make for dinner? Make Wednesday, May 23 a pizza night, and support NFE's Spirit Night at J. Rocco's Pizza. Order for delivery or carry out from 4-8 pm, and mention NFE.

 

Way to Go!

Congratulations to NFE First Year Teacher of the Year Emily Meade (left) and NFE Teacher of the Year Kelley Martin (right), pictured here with Mrs. Merriam. Miss Meade and Mrs. Martin were recognized at a ceremony on May 8 with other HCPS Teacher of the Year recipients. The Farm is lucky to have you both!

 

Celebrating our Teachers

We kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week with a festive Cinco de Mayo luncheon on May 4. Teachers and staff enjoyed an extra-long lunch outside highlighted by a tasty taco bar catered by Moe's and scrumptious salads and delicious desserts provided by our incredible Hospitality volunteers. Muchas gracias to all our volunteers, especially Amy Lawson, Stephanie Weber and Helen Dang for helping with set up and clean up.

We have had such an incredible year here on the Farm, which is just now beginning to wind down. We have laughed, together. We have cried, together. We have made new friends, and we prepare to say good-bye to others. We have grown together, and we continue to search for more creative and exciting ways to provide a world-class education for every child at NFE. This is a vision that has driven our PTA for 20 years and will continue to drive its success for decades to come. 

There are so many people to thank that any list would inevitably exclude someone who had given his or her all at a time of great need. We are grateful for all our volunteers, parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, and staff who go above and beyond the call of duty in quiet and often silent moments of victory that echo through our culture. They are the dads who volunteer for the first time or the mom who pulls three cafeteria shifts in one week just to be sure the kids have a familiar face they can rely on for help. Each opportunity we have to step up is a chance to show our children how we lead by example in their lives. When we step up, they step up. When we put their school first, so do they. So many parents want to get involved in anyway possible, and we are blessed to have a PTA crafted to help everyone participate in creating a magical year for our children. We have big dreams for these little miracles, to change the world and make it a better place for everyone. So while this year has brought some unforeseen challenges and rewards, it has also brought immeasurable joy and countless memories.

            Soon our NFES PTA Board will transition to a new set of leaders and visionaries, charged with creating another year of magical possibilities by creating something from nothing. They will be reaching out for your to help, and support. Reach back. I promise you will never regret it. Take a risk, and sign up for something new you have never tried. Next year I am planning on volunteering in the library as I will have some extra time on my hands. I hope to see you there. 

As the lights begin to dim on the 2017-2018 school year, we reflect on how much we have grown and changed and the limitless possibilities ahead. To our fifth graders, we wish you a fond farewell and know that we support you in all of the exciting times ahead. You may not walk on the Nuckols Farm campus every day, but you will always walk into our hearts. To an eager class of kindergarteners newly registered and ready to learn, never give up, always have faith, and keep hope alive in your heart, and you will be invincible. To all the families and students of Nuckols Farm, we wish you a peaceful summer ahead filled with unexpected adventures, sights, and sounds that will make you stronger and more fortified for the challenges of a new year.

As for my year as president, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. Thank you so much to the Executive Board and entire PTA Board. Thank you all again for this incredible honor and best wishes to Deb Harper as she assumes the mantle of president. Most of all, thank you to Mrs. Merriam for her 35 years of service to Henrico County Schools. The world is a better place because you chose to serve and share your wisdom and talents with countless children and families. You are the visionary we all look to, and your legacy is well preserved in every brick and window of Nuckols Farm Elementary School. You have earned a much-deserved rest. I look forward to hearing about your next chapter and in turn sharing with you the good news that always comes with life on the Farm.

Emily McKinney, NFES PTA president

The Farm is Beautiful

Thank you to all the families, Y Princesses and their dads, and Cub Scouts who took time out of their busy weekends to help keep our school beautiful this year! We couldn’t get it all done without your help!

Myra and Gracie, Gardens & Grounds Co-Chairs

 

News from SCA

On Wednesday, May 16, SCA will be giving school tours to rising kindergarten students and families.

We collected over $300 at the Spring Picnic for Camp Comfort Zone. Thanks to all who donated.

 

Wear a Hat, Help a Kid

“Hats on to End Cancer” Day is Monday, May 14. Children who donate $1 can wear a hat all day. Proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

 

Cafeteria, Library & Recycling Volunteers Needed

May is here, and June is around the corner! Be sure to sign up to volunteer in the cafeteria,library or with the recycling club. Sign up for one shift or make a regular commitment today!

 

Volunteers Needed for Field Day

Field Day is Friday, June 1 (rain date is June 4). Additional details coming soon. Contact Mrs. Sweeney if you can volunteer.

For a complete list of volunteer opportunities on the Farm, be sure to check out the Volunteer Handbook, or contact Becca Kutz.

IMPORTANT DATES

No Upcoming Events

 

of these dates...

Monday, May28 - School closed/Memorial Day

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

 

 

Spirit Day - June 6

Mark your calendar for our last spirit day of the year - Wednesday, June 6 from 2-7 pm at Ginger Juice, 12171 Broad Street in Greengate. 

FIFTH GRADE CORNER

Updated Immunization Record Required for Middle School

The 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.

 

Looking for Luau Prize Donations

The Fifth Grade Luau is a month away, and we are looking for some fun door prizes for our graduating foxes! If you’d like to donate something (gift cards, certificates for experiences, new items like beach towels or tote bags, middle school or college logo items, etc.), please drop your donation off at school by May 24. Contact Anne Kush.

 

 

 

Share your Skills with Middle School PTAs

Short Pump Middle School and Pocahontas Middle School have a variety of openings with their PTAs for the 2018-19 year. Have a current or rising middle school student? Contact Leslie Chowning, SPMS PTA president, or Lee Dolan, PMS PTA president, for more details.

SUPPORT THE FARM EVERY TIME YOU SHOP OR EAT!

 

Enroll in the Silver Diner Eat Well, Do Well Rewards Club - Earn Benefits for You & NFE

For 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.

 

Get Gifts for Moms, Dads & Grads

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.

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.

You won't lose gas points if you register so sign up today!

 

 

Keep Clipping those Box Tops!

We're coming into the homestretch of our Box Tops race! 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. 

HCPS NEWS

Deadline Approaching for Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee

Applications are being accepted through Sunday, May 13 for Henrico County Public Schools’ new Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee. The 26-person committee will include one teacher, one student, one parent and one school leader from each of Henrico’s five magisterial districts. Five seats are reserved for interested citizens, preferably one from each magisterial district. The committee will be chaired by the director of equity and diversity and supported by a liaison from the Henrico School Board. Get more information here.

 



Nuckols Farm Elementary PTA
12351 Graham Meadows Dr
Richmond, VA 23233

nuckolsfarmpta@gmail.com