We want to congratulate Connie DeBord for her years of service to Unit 5 and Northpoint Elementary and her retirement. Northpoint will host an open house for Mrs. DeBord on May 14 in our south gym immediately after school.  Unit 5 will recognize Mrs. DeBord on May 17th at the annual Unit 5 Appreciation Dinner!

For May, we have had a few changes to our schedule. 
Our Field Day will be on the 18th of May due to the availability of our inflatables.  Raindate for Field Day is on May 21st. 
Some other dates of note in May
Late Start on  May 9th
DeBord Open House on May 14th
Student Council on May 15th
Eco Club on May 16th
Field Day on May 18th
5th Grade Night on May 22nd
Last Hour of School on May 23rd

Online registration.  We are asking all parents use this process.  There will be no parent products filled out related to registration available during walk in on August 9th or make up on August 13th.  Those coming on either of those two dates will be using a laptop kiosk to register.  Only NEW families will use the paper registration process in August. 

Start Times for 2012-2013- these have been changed to better make our transportation fluid and timely.  Elementary times are changed to 8:45 AM start and 3:30 PM end...please make a note of it!

It has been a wonderful 8 years as the Principal of Northpoint!  Thanks for ALL the support!!

April, May dates

That time of year again!

Upcoming April dates:
KARNIVAL KNIGHT!  is April 13th- Look for things coming home from our PTO. 
CASUAL PICTURES will take place on April 17th- This is a proof program.
LATE START will be on April 18th.
CIVIL WAR day for our 5th grade will be on April 20th.
NO SCHOOL on April 30th for teacher institute

Upcoming May dates:
COOKOUT DAY( students only please) is on May 18th
FIELD DAY will be on May 21st with RAINDATE on May 22nd
5th GRADE NIGHT is on May 22nd
LAST HOUR OF SCHOOL tentatively is scheduled for May 23rd.

All for now...

Data

All,

Data really does give us good information at the school level.  Each year, we take time to review trend data and do our best at analyzing it.  For your information, we have posted current data trends online on our web page at www.unit5.org/northpoint.  Please take some time to review.  I have also posted a document from the IASA that outlines potential changes to NCLB and the AYP process.  As usual, these sorts of things are completely political in nature and could result in lower student test scores due to a sort of "compromise."  My goal is to keep all of you proactively informed of these changes.

Mr. W

2012 yearbook sales

The 2012 Northpoint Yearbook sales begin on February 1st.  We will have hard copies attached with the upcoming newsletter and available in the school office.  You can also join the nearly 50 parents that have ordered the yearbook online at www.jostensyearbooks.com.  The deadlines are as follows...

February 28th- deadline for hard copy orders
March 31st-deadline for online orders

Me to We

I am currently( still)  reading a book Me to We.  From a copyright standpoint(2004), this is an outdated title, however, this theme of recognizing the importance of We is never outdated.  As we continue to work on day to day school initiatives, it is critical that we maintain a sense of We.  It is that We that best meets the needs of each child or the Me.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is "One of the greatest rewards of helping others in finding purpose and meaning in life..."  So true, this is truely why we all became teachers in the first place...Teaching certainly does give purpose and meaning to all of our lives.

" No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." - John Donne

Weather this PM..

 Drive safely this PM and be patient at pick up time...

A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS AFTERNOON...AS THE MAIN LOW PRESSURE CENTER PASSES WELL SOUTH OF THE REGION. THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE LIGHT...WITH SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS MAINLY LESS THAN ONE INCH. THE PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF BY MIDNIGHT. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION...PARTICULARLY DURING THE AFTERNOON COMMUTE AND FOR ANY EVENING ACTIVITIES...AS SLICK SPOTS WILL DEVELOP ON MANY AREA ROADWAYS.

Evening activities canceled..

Additionally, no evening activities tonight at Northpoint.  This includes basketball practices and other meetings.