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Norristown Area School District
November is here, and the school year is moving quickly! The first marking period for middle and high school wrapped up on October 30, and our elementary marking period will close on November 22. This month’s District Dispatch is packed with news, upcoming events, resources, and ways to stay engaged. 🍂🏈🍗
News
Facilities Master Plan Updates
As part of NASD’s District Comprehensive Plan for 2024-2027, we included a goal to “Develop and implement a comprehensive facilities master plan to ensure all NASD schools and district buildings are well-positioned to support the expected student population and the delivery of a robust program for the next 10-15 years.”
To support the implementation of this goal, NASD formed a steering committee of community members and collaborated with SchraderGroup to develop the district’s Facilities Master Plan. By assessing the district’s current building needs, future space requirements, and financial resources, the plan aims to guide meaningful investments in NASD’s facilities. Watch our video series from last school year that explains the planning process, including the community workshop model that developed the options for consideration. (English Videos, Vídeos de español)
The options for consideration were presented and discussed at a series of town halls, which allowed the Administration to gather community feedback to develop recommendations for the NASD Board of School Directors.
After 8 town hall meetings held over a period of 6 months, the Administration formally recommended the following and was approved by the NASD School Board of Directors at the October 2024 Regular Voting Meeting:
Completion of renovations identified as “Level 1” or “High Priority” in the facility assessment completed by SchraderGroup within three years of plan approval.
Construction of an addition to Norristown Area High School - Main Campus.
Expansion of building space and capacity at Cole Manor, Hancock, and NASD Administration Building through modular or prefabricated additions to the existing buildings within 18 months of plan approval.
Construction of additions to Eisenhower and East Norriton to allow for the reconfiguration of those sites to a 5th-6th center and a 7th-8th grade center.
Construction of a new Charles L. Blockson Elementary School, a new K-4th grade school building, at the existing Blockson Middle School site. Upon completion of this construction phase, elementary school attendance zones will be adjusted.
Completion of remaining renovations at all district buildings as outlined in the facility assessment conducted by SchraderGroup.
Please note that all formal recommendations considered constitute ONLY the scope of the Facilities Master Plan. The entire Facilities Master Plan will be an 8-12 year process with some phases occurring concurrently, while other phases will need to occur sequentially.
At the same October meeting, the Board granted authorization for the Administration to begin preliminary planning work for Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the Facilities Master Plan. Each and every step towards implementing phases of the Facilities Master Plan require deliberation and approval by the NASD School Board including contracted services, debt issuance, design approvals, bid awards, etc.
Schoology Reset - Parents/Guardians Need to Reset Their Password
In order to ensure accurate connections between parents/guardians and students in Infinite Campus and Schoology, we have reset all parent accounts to Schoology. Students’ accounts remain the same, but parents/guardians will need to reset their passwords to access their updated accounts. Follow the steps below to get started.
Click “Forgot your password” on the Schoology login page
Enter email address that the district has on file through Infinite Campus/District Communications and click “Send My Login Information”
Click on the link in the Email with the subject title “How to Change Your Schoology Password”
Click on the “Log In” button to be sent to the page to reset your password
Change your password and click “Submit” and you will be logged into your Schoology account
Hancock Elementary School - New Principal
We are excited to announce that on Monday, October 28, the NASD Board of School Directors approved Mrs. Lisa Lumpkin as the new Principal of Hancock Elementary School! Mrs. Lumpkin will officially begin her role on Thursday, November 7, instead of Monday, November 4, as previously announced. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring to the Hancock community.
Care Solace
NASD has partnered with Care Solace to connect students, staff, and families with mental health and substance use support. Services are free, confidential, and available for all insurance types.
You can access Care Solace services in three ways:
Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/nasd
Contact your school health professional, and they will submit a referral on your behalf.
No matter what you're experiencing, there is hope and help. We are confident that our new partnership with Care Solace will help us build a healthier, more vibrant school community.
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider.
We Are Hiring
Are you ready to be #NASDproud? You can visit the NASD Human Resources page to learn more about our open positions and apply now!
If you're ready to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation, we want to hear from you! 🍎📚🧑🏫
Follow NASD on social media or check out our Live Feed on the District Website to see even more!
Thank you Custodial Team!
National Custodians Day was October 2! We celebrate the incredible dedication of our custodial staff who keep our schools clean, safe, and welcoming every day. Your hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for all that you do! 🌟🫧💙
Thank you Coaches!
National Coaches Day was October 6! We celebrate the incredible dedication, leadership, and passion our coaches bring to the field, court, and classroom. Thank you for inspiring our student-athletes to achieve their best both on and off the field!🏅💙
Homecoming 2024!
Homecoming 2024 at Norristown Area High School was an unforgettable weekend for our Eagles! 🎉 Friday’s pep rally had everyone fired up with school spirit, and while the football team faced a tough loss, at halftime we crowned this year’s Homecoming King and Queen, Jahir Ramirez and Melany Mosquea! 👑 The celebration continued at Saturday’s dance, where students made memories to last a lifetime. Huge thanks to everyone who made it all so special!
Hispanic Heritage Month!
We’re reflecting on the amazing events we enjoyed together! From classroom celebrations to our festive Hispanic Heritage Nights with delicious food and music, to the incredible artwork displayed across the district, and a special school community cookbook created by Blockson Middle School’s 7th graders, it’s been a wonderful time of honoring culture and community. Thank you to everyone who made these moments so special! We are proud to celebrate Hispanic excellence EVERY DAY in Norristown! 🌮🎶🎨💙✨
Catherine Kelly, NASD's Home and School Visitor/Homeless Liaison!
Congratulations to our amazing Home and School Visitor/Homeless Liaison, Catherine Kelly, who was honored with the 2024 Paving the Way to Educational Success Advocate Award! 🏆 Her efforts in supporting students experiencing homelessness and foster care have made a profound impact in our community, and we couldn’t be prouder. Catherine was recognized at the Advocate Awards Ceremony, where she was celebrated for her unwavering commitment to ensuring educational stability for each and every NASD student. 💙 Congratulations, Catherine!
NAHS’s 3rd Annual 9th Grade Community Day!
Our freshmen had the opportunity to explore a wide range of student clubs, organizations, and activities, discovering all the exciting possibilities high school has to offer. They also connected with our valued community partners, who provided resources and support to help set them on the path to success. It was an exciting and engaging day as our newest Eagles are beginning their high school journey!🦅💙
A huge thank you to all of our community partners for their participation and support in making this event a success for our students!
District Leadership Spotlight - Ms. Nicole Melia
Visit the News page on the NASD website to read the District Leadership Spotlight on Nicole Melia, our new Director of Food Services. We are so excited to have her here in our NASD community!
District Leadership Spotlight - Mrs. Malikah Upchurch
Visit the News page on the NASD website to read the District Leadership Spotlight on Mrs. Malikah Upchurch, our new Supervisor of Secondary English Language Development. Welcome to NASD, Mrs. Upchurch!
Events
October 2024
Early Dismissal (Grades 5-12): Monday, November 4, 2024
Schools Closed (Professional Development/Election Day): Tuesday, November 5, 2024
NASD Annual Coat Distribution: Saturday, November 9, 2024. More information!
Hall of Champions Association 43rd Annual Induction Ceremony: Thursday, November 21, 2024. More information!
Early Dismissal (Grades K-12): Friday, November 22, 2024
Early Dismissal (Grades K-4): Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Evening Conferences: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Morning Conferences (No School for Students): Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Schools and Offices Closed (Thanksgiving): Thursday, November 28 through Friday, November 29, 2024
Looking to get involved in activities, programs, and more? Visit our online Community Bulletin Board!
The NASD Community Bulletin Board is a place to promote and see community events, programs and activities in Norristown, West Norriton, and East Norriton that may be of interest to the greater NASD community.
The NASD Community Bulletin Board is your go-to place for events in the community. Be sure to check back often to see new events, programs, and more!
Looking to submit your flyer on the Community Bulletin Board? Complete the form found on the top of the webpage and your flyer will be submitted for approval.
Resources
Infinite Campus
The Infinite Campus Parent Portal is how you can monitor your child’s progress, submit attendance notes online, complete important forms, update your information, and more. If you are still not registered, visit the Infinite Campus Page on our website for more information. 🏫📊
Rooms
NASD has moved from Talking Points to Rooms. This is a two way communication platform for teachers and families. Rooms is designed to make staying in touch with your student’s teachers and receiving important school updates easier than ever. 💬🏫🎒
1. Start by downloading the NASD app. Download here for iPhone or here for Android.
2. After opening the NASD app, look for the toggle on the bottom right corner and select Rooms.
3. Toggle to the phone icon in the upper right corner and enter your cell phone number to receive a code.
4. Enter the authentication code in the provided field.
5. Select My Notifications to see your newest Messages and Announcements!
Updates to the NASD App!
The NASD App will have a few new updates coming your way!
Simplified Navigation:
A more intuitive navigation! The new school application implements a footer navigation that makes classroom information more accessible. This release also includes important improvements to menus and filters.
Swap between classes:
Change Classes using our new top filter and access content from multiple classes more easily. Red notification dots appear to the right of class names, these indicate that there is updated information within that class.
School Board Information
Meet the NASD Board of School Directors
View the NASD Board Brief for October 2024: This is meant to be a summary of actions taken at the most recent Board meeting, and is not intended to serve as minutes of the meeting.
All meetings take place in the NASD Administration Building in the Board Room. Special meetings and committee meetings are called on an "as needed" basis and are usually held on Monday night. Public notice of all additional or changed School Board meetings is published in The Times Herald. For more information, please contact Kathy DiMaio.
Committee Meetings:
Second Mondays
Policy: 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Pupil Services: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Second Tuesdays
Education and Technology: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Second Wednesdays
Facilities and Finance: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Third Mondays
Work Sessions: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Fourth Mondays
Regular Voting Meetings: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Stay Connected
Mission
The mission of the Norristown Area School District is to educate and inspire each and every student to become a life-long learner, to strive for continued growth and personal excellence, and to demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed for success in a diverse, global society.