Let the Leaves Fall

8th Street Photography: Arrival of School Photo Packets

If your child(ren) missed school photos or you wish to have them retake their school photo please make note of the dates set for picture retakes in our Mark Your Calendars section below.

Please read this update from 8th Street Photography regarding the shipping of photo packets.

High School students have received their photo packets.
Middle School photo packets shipped today (October 6). Students should get them next week.
Prairie Woods photo packets have an estimated shipping date of October 10. Students should get them end of next week.
Prairie Meadows photo packets have an estimated shipping date of October 13.

Families should have almost two weeks to decide if they would like to have their child(ren) take retakes. If you have questions or would like to view your child's photo online before the arrival of your photo packet(s), email: 8thstreetphoto@gmail.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

For the most up to date information visit our website calendar.

Friday, October 6 - 7-12 Activities Grade Check
Monday, October 9 - School Board Work Session
Tuesday, October 10 - High School Picture Retakes
Tuesday, October 10 - "Dig Pink" Volleyball Game
Wed. Oct., 11 & Thurs. Oct., 12 - PW Vision & Hearing Screenings
Friday, October 13 - "Tackle Cancer" Football Game
Saturday, October 14 - The Continental Ballet Company presents "Cinderella" - Get Tickets!
Thurs. October 19 & Fri. October 20 - No School: Fall Break
Monday, October 23 - School Board Meeting
Monday, October 23 - High School Band and Choir Concert
Tuesday, October 24 - Middle School Picture Retakes
Thursday, October 26 - Prairie Woods Picture Retakes
Thursday, October 26 - Fall Festival at Prairie Meadows (Open to Public)
Friday, October 27 - Quarter 1 ends
Monday, October 30 - No School: Teacher Workshop Day
Tuesday, October 31- No School: Staff Development Day

Saturday, October 14th, 2023 at 7pm

In the New London-Spicer Performing Arts Center

$30/ticket

This production of “Cinderella” is an original creation by Riet Velthuisen, Founder/Director of Continental Ballet Company. She carefully selected music from Rossini and the entire ballet is her original choreography. In 2000, this production was recognized by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts which placed Continental Ballet Company (CBC) on their Roster of Approved Artists. This performance features CBC’s professional dancers. The lead roles will be performed by company members Maylu Pena and Wesley Rocha. Other cast members include Hope Easter, Nanami Nakajima, Adrienne Berrington, Michaela Macauley, Lily Griffith, Alarica Hassett, Jaime Casey, Aaron Davies, Matthew Halpaus, and Richard Smith. Cinderella’s stepsisters will be performed by Keegan Eide and John Agurkis. Her stepmother will be performed by Joseph Bingham. While this trio adds quite a bit of humor to the production, the dancing, costumes and sets are exquisite and will have fairies, a castle, a ball scene and the quest to find who can fit into the missing shoe!

Sponsored by: Dooley's Petroleum, Jennie-O, Lake Region Bank, Rambow & United MN Bank.

BUY TICKETS!

What's the deal with the free meals?

This year, the state of Minnesota passed a Free School Meals bill for all kids enrolled in school or under the umbrella of a National School Meal Program.

Here are some facts:

All children will get one free reimbursable breakfast
All children will get one free reimbursable lunch
Extra components (such as a bag of chips) are charged at the ala carte price
Second entrees are charged at the ala carte price

Reimbursable meals have different components depending on the meal.

Breakfast must consist of 3 items: The entree counts for 2, plus they must have juice or fruit.

Examples) If they have a breakfast bar and a juice- Qualifies

If they have a milk, juice, and a fruit- Qualifies

If they have a milk and a bar- Does Not Qualify (missing juice or fruit)

Lunch must also consist of 3 items: One of those components must always be a fruit or a vegetable.

Examples) Sloppy joe and peaches- Qualifies

Popcorn chicken, rice, & milk- Does Not Qualify (missing fruit or a vegetable)

Above is the minimum of what your child must have for the school to be reimbursed for the food we serve, but they can choose to take all the components they want. At NLS, we follow the National School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program. Since we follow their guidelines for reimbursement, we provide our meals according to the national nutritional guidelines.

If you have any questions, please contact: Alyson Keenan, 320-354-2252 ext 2651, keenana@isd345.org or Vicki Mickelson, 320-354-2252 ext 2607, mickelsonv@isd345.org

High School - Principal Bonnie Spohn

A huge thank you to all who participated in making Homecoming memorable. Our community and schools appreciate the extra time spent to coordinating - including the extra work it took to postpone the football game! One thing is for sure - NLS certainly showed their Wildcat Spirit!

Our high school building hosted Jostens representatives this past week to meet with our sophomores regarding class rings and then with our seniors regarding caps, gowns, and other graduation materials. Please contact the high school office if you need a paper order form.

Reminder: High School picture retakes will take place on Tuesday, October 10.

Wildcat Activities

Every week, the activities department recognizes a student as our Wildcat of the Week. These students are recognized not only based on their accomplishments, but also how they display the R.O.A.R principles - Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility. Our most recent Wildcats of the Week for 2023 were Delaney Hanson and Madisyn Claseman (tennis) and Tyra Nelson (cheerleading).

Wildcats Dig Pink Volleyball Game is Tuesday, October 10 at 7PM. (Home vs. Litchfield). Dress in all pink!

Wildcats Tackle Cancer Football Game is coming up on Friday, October 13 at 7PM. New London-Spicer football team became involved with the Tackle Cancer football game the fall of 2019. NLS Teacher Deb Boonstra who is also the wife of Assistant Football Coach Jeff Boonstra, was approached by former Head Coach Dan Essler and asked to organize the event. Deb shared, "As a cancer survivor, and Wildcat super fan, I am proud to support this event as far too many people are affected by this terrible disease."

Show support by purchasing a 50/50 raffle ticket ($1each), a Tackle Cancer bracelet ($3 each or 2 for $5), a sign honoring someone affected by cancer (minimum donation of $1), or some cotton candy ($3).

Middle School - Principal Dr. Jenn Fuchs

The Middle School is wrapping up their fall fundraising. We have completed pizza sales for 5th grade, candy bars sales for 6th grade and Gold Cards sales for 7th grade. Our 8th graders are closing up their final sales of Boon Supply and Moose Drool Chocolates. Your support is greatly appreciated by all grades.

We completed our STAR testing for reading and math and will be using that data to determine additional students who may need reading or math interventions. We will also be finishing up fall events this month and then preparing for winter extracurricular activities. We have some fun events planned for October so stay tuned!

Our fifth graders had a fantastic time at the annual Wolf Ridge field trip!

Prairie Woods - Principal Randy Juhl

As part of Fire Safety Week, the New London and Spicer Fire Departments will be coming to Prairie Woods on Wednesday, October 11th to talk with our students about fire safety. In addition, our 3rd grade students will have the opportunity to partake in a smokehouse simulator. I want to thank all the fire personnel for coming to our school. I would encourage all families to create a home safety plan in case a fire happens at home. Also, don’t forget to check your smoke alarms.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11th and Thursday, Oct. 12, staff and students from Ridgewater College will help with hearing checks and our local Lions Club will help with vision screenings. The Lions used a Welch Allyn SPOT Vision Screener that is capable of screening for Astigmatism, Myopia, Hyperopia, Anisometropia, Strabismus, Amblyopia, and Anisocoria. The individual screening takes just a few seconds and it is performed from a distance of about 3 feet. It is important to understand that this is only a screening and does not constitute an examination or diagnosis of vision problems. Following the screening, you may receive a letter if any of the above vision or hearing problems are detected. Please feel free to reach out to the district nurse with any questions.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11th we will hold a practice ALICE RESPONSE Drill in the afternoon. This drill will focus on evacuating the building. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mr. Juhl.

Congratulations to our September ROAR Students of the Month!

Kindergarten: Rose Esterly, Abel Alvarado, Quinn Adkins, Alexa Nelson, Meadow Hannig, Hunter Schoumaker

1st grade: Abe Carlson, Jerzie Peterson, Scarlett Richards, Dutch Hannig, Keeva Rice

2nd grade: Carson Wallner, James Moline, Lachlan Minter, Ava Peterson, Aaliyah Mead, Aric Freeland

3rd grade: Janessa Mead, Josina Klebe, Isla Finstrom, Harper Luberts, Aubrie Powelk

4th grade: Josephine Ray, Piper Johnson, Cora Thalberg, Hazel Thalberg, Norah Hedman

Prairie Meadows - Coordinator Jennifer Hellickson

Our Cub Kids Preschoolers are having a fun fall at Prairie Meadows! They are adapting to the new routines, making new friends, and enjoying their learning experience. Miss Anna's class is learning all about apples! Students brought in apples from home and did an investigation to learn more about them. They learned all about the different colors of apples, counted seeds, measured their apples, and tasted them. They ended their apple study with each student eating their own little apple pie! Miss Stacy's class is learning about trees and leaves! Students have been learning about the parts of a tree and the different colors of leaves. They took advantage of the beautiful fall weather and went on a nature walk around the school to collect fall items!

Mark your calendars for our Fall Festival on Thursday, October 26 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Prairie Meadows in Spicer. "Dress up and Trick or Treat" Open to the Public.

Looking for toy donations for our youngest learners: Have gently used puzzles, cars/trucks, building blocks, legos, magnatiles, Barbies, Polly Pockets or toys that you are no longer interested in? Please feel free to drop those off at our Community Education Office or Prairie Meadows building! We would love to add those to our morning rotations at free play in the Prairie Meadows Early Childhood Education building!

NLS Community Education

We have a lot of new programming this fall and the kids are enjoying the new offerings! Please note: New classes, ads, or information for our Fall/Winter Booklet are due October 13th to the Community Education Office.

Also, the Cinderella Ballet is coming up quickly! Please make sure you get your tickets today - we have sold half of our capacity already!

https://www.nls.k12.mn.us/ticketsales

Lastly, we have a Shooting Camp for 4th - 12th grade basketball players on Sunday, November 12th. This is an awesome opportunity and participants get a take home program from Jay Wolf, our camp instructor. You can sign up through the community education website.