Dear NBCA Families,

We received notice this morning that the governor has extended the school closure mandate until Monday, April 13, in accordance with the Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order. She noted that more information regarding school closure will be forthcoming. This has not changed our plan to return to school on April 13 due to spring break the week prior.

Information is rapidly changing and we are taking this mandate from the governor very seriously. The school meal program is considered an essential task of the government mandate, which means we will continue to distribute meals as planned with extra safety precautions.

We will be distributing a meal bag for children 18 years and younger on Tuesdays and Fridays of each week from 11am-1pm. 

Tuesdays – 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches

Fridays – 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches

Last Friday, we distributed 203 meal bags!  Thank you to Mr. Sallese and his staff for preparing the meal bags.

Learning packets are still available to be picked up in the front entrance on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11am-1pm.  If those times do not work for you, please email me at teresalarkin@choiceschools.com and I will work it out so picking up the packet is at a convenient time for you.

Teachers and staff have been asked to make contact with all of our families throughout this time.  We want to know how you are doing and offer any help that we can. Teachers will continue to send out emails and post on Facebook with optional learning opportunities.  Please let your child’s teacher know how you would like for him/her to communicate with you.

Today, more than ever, it is important that we stay connected with one another regarding important updates. Our school community is dedicated to keeping you informed about the updates and actions we are taking during this time of uncertainty. Please have patience with us, as information is changing minute-by-minute, day-by-day. We promise to keep our website updated with new information as well as send out weekly emails from our office.

 We are here for you.

 Thank you for your continued support and communication during this time.

~Mrs. Larkin

~Ms. Crawford

Enjoy your Thursday!

Packet Pick Ups begin today at school! Learning packets have been created for all students. The packets will be available outside the building and are organized by crates labeled by teacher with the student’s first name written on the top.
Today: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tomorrow: 6:00pm – 8:00 pm
Friday: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Today’s March is Reading Month Read-Aloud comes from Mrs. Hernke and her son as she read “Almost Everyone Farts” Enjoy and keep reading!

Dear NBCA Families,

I hope you are all well.  It feels very weird to be here at the school as we are cleaning and a few of us are planning without students and staff.  We will try to communicate with you as much as possible through mass emails and Facebook.  I would encourage you to follow us as Facebook as we will post often and try to have a little fun through our posts.

Because things are changing on a daily basis, here are our updates for today.  I apologize, but this is a long message.  Please read through the whole thing.

Spring Break remains April 5-10.   

We will continue to have our spring break scheduled for the week of April 5-10.  At this time, we are scheduled to resume school on Monday, April 13.

Breakfast & Lunch Pick Up-Grab-and-Go style 

Parents may pick up meals on Tuesdays and Fridays (see details below), beginning tomorrow, March 17, and will include breakfast and lunch for each child 18 years and under for multiple days.

All pickups will be held in front of the school building and are available for any child, NBCA student or not, 18 and under.  Additionally, the child does not need to be present at pick up to receive a grocery bag. Visit Kent ISD link above for additional food pickup times and locations provided by other schools if this time does not work for your family.

1. Every Tuesday from 11 AM-1PM: grocery bag for each individual child will contain 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches

2. Every Friday from 11AM-1PM: grocery bag for each individual child will contain 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches

Optional Learning 

We have worked with staff to develop learning extensions that you may choose to use with your children during this extended time at home.  These learning extensions are supplemental to student learning and are designed to prevent learning gaps as time progresses.  These assignments will not be used for decisions of unit placement at the end of the year.   They have been created to provide your children opportunities to feel routine and normalcy during this time of change.

Your child’s classroom teachers will email you suggested and optional learning activities for reading, writing, and mathematics.

The intent of these learning resources is to create a sense of routine and normalcy for our students.  Completing these learning extensions is your choice as a family.  Be sure to check out all the videos, postings, and resources your child’s teacher(s) will be sending you!

Learning packets have been created for all students.  The packets will be available outside the building and are organized by crates labeled by teacher with the student’s first name written on the top.  You may pick up the learning packets during the following times:

Wednesday, March 18 – 9:00am-3:00pm

Thursday, March 19 – 6:00-8:00pm

Friday, March 20 – 11:00am-1:00pm

Community Resource Sheet Family & Student Resources.pdf

Communication with the School

he school building will be closed during this time.  If you must get ahold of someone at the school, email is the best way to contact us since we will be working from home.  If you are unable to send an email, leave us a voicemail and we will return it as soon as possible.

1. Principal Terry Larkin: teresalarkin@choiceschools.com

2. Vice Principal Kristen Crawford: kristencrawford@choiceschools.com  

3. Office Manager Giny Aho: ginyaho@choiceschools.com

We are thinking of all of you.  Please follow all of the guidelines by the state so we can get rid of this virus and get back to school! From all of us here at New Branches, we wish your family a healthy, happy, and enriching time together over the next three weeks.  We look forward to greeting our students and families once Governor Whitmer authorizes our return to school.

Our best,

Terry Larkin, Principal

Kristen Crawford, Vice Principal

The New Branches Team