Parent Engagement
Elementary school is the time in a child's life when they're happy to see their parent at school, and so we encourage - and welcome - parent involvement!
NPS therefore provides a wide range of opportunities for parents to connect with their children's teachers, understand their children's progress and learning, and entrench themselves in the NPS community.
NPS Parents Association
The NPS Parents Association is one of the easiest clubs to join - YOU'RE ALREADY IN!
Community is the buzzword most often associated with NPS and the Parents Association is at the heart of it. Volunteering at NPS connects families to one another, fosters lasting relationships, and helps our wonderful community in the process. Through the PA, parents may volunteer in a number of capacities, including serving as a Room Parent, organizing Faculty Appreciation Lunches, or supporting one of our annual community events such as Fall Festival, Sunset with Santa, and the Spring Celebration.
Chapel and Assemblies
Chapel is an important community touch point.
All students attend weekly Chapel. Lower Division students in Pre-K 3 through Second Grade attend every Wednesday morning in Jones Hall, while Upper Division students in Third through Sixth Grade attend on Thursday mornings in the NPC Chapel of the Presidents. Assemblies are held approximately each month, and students throughout the grades present learning highlights. Families and friends are invited to attend, and it's a favorite way to stay connected for many of our community members.
Learning Shares
Learning shares offer parents a glimpse into classroom learning
In addition to the traditional means of communicating student progress - namely through report cards and parent teacher conferences - NPS faculty enjoy hosting "Learning Shares," a brief and informal classroom visit that highlights a particular unit of student and student work. Children gain a deep sense of pride, independence, and accomplishment when they articulate a project they've just completed, read a piece of their own writing, or demonstrate a new skill set to their parents. Learning shares occur in all grades two to three times each year and may highlight work in any of the core curricular areas of literacy, math, science, and social studies.
Community Events
NPS coordinates a variety of community events for students, parents, and extended family and friends.
In the fall, each grade organizes a class party for parents to kick off the school year, while the Parents Association holds Fall Festival, a Saturday event for the family complete with pumpkins, bounce houses, face-painting and more. In the winter, Sunset with Santa offers Christmas fun for the entire family and offers a chance for children to share their list and take their photo with Santa himself. In April, parents gather for the Spring Celebration, which raises critical funds for the NPS Financial Aid Program and sets a joyful tone for the final weeks of the school year. Rounding out the school year, NPS holds Grandparents and Special Friends Day in May.
Communication
Effective communication is a priority in the NPS-family partnership.
To this end, NPS strives to communicate clearly and consistently in all matters related to students' and families' experience at NPS. Throughout the school year, families receive two weekly emails: Backpack Express and a grade-level newsletter. Backpack Express is the school-wide newsletter that informs parents of events, scheduling information, and other important community updates. Grade-level newsletters offer insights into the curriculum and community learning that occurs each week.
NPS holds Parent-Teacher Conferences in September, November and March for conversations about student progress. Additionally, teachers and administrators are always happy to communicate by email, phone, or in person on an as-needed basis.
Affinity Groups
NPS organizes and supports parent-led Affinity Groups
A list of affinity groups for the upcoming school year includes Neurodiverse, Jewish, Black Diaspora, Middle Eastern, Single Parent/Co-Parenting, Multi-Racial, Spanish Bilingual/Bi-Cultural, and Asian & Asian American. These groups offer opportunities for connection, shared experiences, and community building within our school.
Service Saturdays
Service Saturdays are an opportunity to serve the greater community.
NPS holds several Service Saturdays throughout the year and students prepare sandwiches for Martha's Table. The service activity is designed so that even our youngest students in Pre-Kindergarten 3 may participate and accomplish a meaningful action for someone else.
Share Your Experience
NPS students benefit from the experience and knowledge of our community members.
We are always happy to welcome families to the classroom to share their personal experience with cultural celebrations, religion, or how to apply curricular skills to everyday, professional life. These visits enrich the learning experience of our students and also build community as we get to know community members - parents, extended family, friends - in different lights.