We are
ready to go!

Please take a moment to hear from Mr. Brown regarding the recently revised
Campus Readiness Plan.
Dear Northwest Christian family,

Eight more sleeps! When my kids were little and anticipating any number of events for which they were terribly eager (birthdays, vacations, Christmas morning), they would excitedly proclaim, "Only three more sleeps!" They had counted the nights between the current day and the impending event and labelled them "sleeps". It is that same sort of elated enthusiasm that I'm sensing as I talk to students around campus right now. "Is the mask thing a bummer?" I ask. Nope. "What about the changes to chapel or other stuff?" Don't care. Time and time again, these students explain to me that they are ready to get back. Get back to friends. Get back to community. Get back to routine. I think if we asked them to stand on their heads and walk on their hands, they would somehow make it work. Man, I love these kids. And, as I will do tonight, I keep telling myself, "Only eight more sleeps!" before I get to see them.

Did the Arizona Department of Health Services announcement regarding benchmarks apply to NCS? Absolutely. On Thursday, August 6th, working with the Arizona Department of Health Services, Governor Ducey put forward "Benchmarks for Safely Returning to In-person Instruction" and a dashboard that helps schools and parents to monitor those benchmarks. As a school, we appreciate the consolidation of numerous data streams into a single forum which is more readily monitored and we will be watching these numbers closely. We will be praying that a Covid-19 resurgence does not take these numbers higher than they were on Thursday, July 23rd. It was on that date that Governor Doug Ducey cleared a path for private schools throughout the state to return to in-person instruction on August 17th. In that the numbers have only improved since that date, we remain steadfast in our appreciation for the Governor's clear guidance and are excited to launch school on Monday, August 17th.

Campus readiness plan. The recently revised Campus Readiness Plan was released to our community on Sunday, August 2nd. If you did not get a chance to review it, please check out the introductory video here as well as the plan itself here. If you have any questions regarding the plan or are seeking clarification, please reach out to me using the contact information provided below.

Registration, Meet-the-Teachers, iPad distribution... Did you get this morning's email with all that you need to know about these important back-to-school events and others? If not, please click here.

You are in control. With research now supporting what you and I already innately understood as parents--the longer schools are closed, the greater the academic achievement gaps grow--it is incredibly important that we set forth upon the 2020/2021 learning journey with our students. That being understood, we also want you to recognize that you have choices! Whether you are ready for your students to return to campus for on-ground, in-person instruction or prefer to have your students wait until a later date, we have prepared a plan that will enable your students to keep learning.  Your options (NCS on-the-ground, NCS Plus, or NCS Online) are described here. Additionally, we have FAQ's here. The deadline to request NCS Plus for your student was Saturday, August 8th but if you are still hoping to start the year at home, please email NCSPlus@ncsaz.org.

High School athletics. The Arizona Interscholastic Association has just released its plan for fall athletics. Over the course of the next week or so, we will be working to quickly accommodate their developing schedules within our master calendar. You can read through the AIA's press release and early scheduling here. (The plan for middle school athletics remains consistent with what was published within the Campus Readiness Plan.)

School Calendar Revisions. Please be aware that, because the start-of-school has been pushed back eight school days to Monday, August 17th, the dates on the calendars that were distributed within the "What's Next?" information that was emailed and mailed to your home earlier this summer are incorrect. You can access an updated version of the school calendar here. As you review it, please be aware of the following:
  • Barring any unforeseen public health mandate from the state, it is our intention not to change days scheduled for breaks or to extend the last day of school. To understand an accounting for days of instruction, please see the Campus Readiness Plan.
  • The half-day previously scheduled for Friday, August 21st is now a full-day.

As of today, "eight more sleeps"! I cannot wait!

Geoff Brown
Superintendent
Northwest Christian School
(623)225-5573 (cell)
gbrown@ncsaz.org
AUGUST
PikMyKid Information for Elementary families... In our ongoing efforts to enhance your children’s safety, we have decided to begin using the PikMyKid Dismissal Application. Throughout the country, it has been proven to simplify dismissal, reduce traffic congestion, and most importantly, improve overall safety. The unique features of PikMyKid allow you, as parents, to easily change pick up modes, quickly delegate to an alternate individual for pickup, change to an ‘After School’ program, and even schedule for future pickup mode, pickup individual, and after school programs. This app allows you to be in full control of your child’s dismissal and it gives us, the school, complete information regarding dismissal and the ability to acknowledge every change and to instantly check your child’s dismissal status should you have a question. Learn more here! User Guide here! Benefits here!

5th grade families, please watch this video from Mrs. Hutson regarding Band for this year!

12th grade families, please read the following information regarding your senior!
  • Senior Parent Letter here.
  • Senior Ad Info here.

Two new courses for middle school and high school!
  • New Piano Course for 6-12 Grade. This group piano course is designed for the beginning music student who is interested in developing basic piano and music reading skills. This course is for students that have little or no experience playing piano.  While performing on the piano is the primary goal of this class, the basics of music theory such as notation, rhythm, melody and harmony, will also be learned. Students will develop the self discipline needed for good practice habits as they prepare for class performances. Space is limited and it would need to work in your schedule. The course will be taught by Nathan Kleller. Please contact Jeff Parsons if you are interested JParsons@ncsaz.org
  • New Online Young Life Leadership Course for High School 11-12th Grade. We are piloting a new online YoungLife Leadership course as one of the first course available through the Northwest Christian Biblical Worldview Institute coming in August 2021. This course is a semester course that explores the YoungLife leadership model. Topics explored include the history of Young Life, the 5 C;s of YL ministry, and the diverse areas of ministry within YL. This course teaches leadership skills, and will give students the opportunity to observe these skills in action, and then practice these skills in real ministry situations. The course is taught by San Diego-area staffer, J.T. Barnes. Please email Mrs. Kipp if you are interested.  MKipp@ncsaz.org 

Cashless, convenient, safe lunches. As you will read within the revised Campus Readiness Plan, the school will be requiring all students to use the cashless MySchoolBucks system to purchase lunch and snacks. You can read more about how the system works within NCS here. The students will each be issued a card with a bar code that will enable them to avoid hitting keys on a community keypad. These cards will be provided within the homerooms of primary students and within first hour for secondary students. If a secondary student does not have first hour, they will pick up their card in second hour.

Changes within the Europe trip for Band/Choir/French Students. Unfortunately, for reasons related to Covid-19, the destination for this trip is changing. We look forward to providing additional information as soon as possible but the trip destination is changing to Hawaii and is now scheduled for March 11-17, 2021. The central focus of the trip will be a band/choir festival scheduled for Saturday, March 13th, 2021 on Oahu. We are working to reschedule the Europe trip to the 2022/2023 school year.

Information from the School Nurse. We are excited to welcome our new School Nurse, Anna Johnson R.N., to the Crusader family. Please be aware of several requests from the Student Health Office:
  • In light of risks associated with Covid-19, the NCS Student Health procedures summary has seen some revisions. The updated summary is available here. The Arizona Department of Health Services has published a list of Covid-related immunization FAQ's here.
  • All students are required to have an updated Emergency Form and current copy of up-to-date immunizations in order to start school. If you are a returning student, you would have already filled out an updated emergency form as part of the re-enrollment process. If you are a new student, you will need to turn in a completed emergency form if you have not already done so.
  • Is it possible to get an exemption from immunizations?
  • Parents/guardians of K-12 students who wish to exempt their child(ren) from school-required immunizations for personal belief reasons must take the ADHS Online Immunization Education Course in order to obtain information about immunizations, including the risks and benefits of immunizations and the potential risks of non-immunization. The course will then generate a "Personal Beliefs Exemption Form" which indicates that they have viewed the required education, which the parent then signs and provides to the school.
  • If your student is in preschool, you can simply complete the "Religious Beliefs Exemption Form".
  • All students with EpiPens must have a Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan Form filled out and signed by a doctor. This form must be on file in the health office along with the EpiPen prior to starting school.
  • If you would like your student to have daily or "as needed" medications given, an unopened small bottle of the medication along with the med form needs to be dropped off to the health office. Please ensure the medication will not expire during the school year. The health office will be open August 11-14 from 8:00am to 3:00pm if you would like to drop off any medications in advance or want to discuss health issues regarding your student. Medications will be accepted any time during the school year. If you have any questions please feel free to call or email Nurse Anna. The med forms (Part A and B) are available here
  • When is this all due? Whether turned into the front desk, mailed to the school, or emailed to the health office, the due date for immunization records, exemption forms, and emergency forms is August 14th. Medications (with Medication Forms A and B) and EpiPens (with the Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan Form) can be turned in on or by the first day of school. Medications can only be dropped off to Nurse Anna by an adult, they cannot be sent with a student. Nurse Anna has set aside both August 13th and August 14th for parents who wish to drop-in with medicines or that might have questions regarding their student.
  • You can email Nurse Anna at anjohnson@ncsaz.org

  • EARLY EDUCATION
  • August 5, 6, 7, and 10: Meet the Teacher. More information on schedules will be provided to our families via email. A video from Mrs. Underwood!
  • August 17: First day of school.
  • Out of dress code parent quick guide here.
  • August 21: Full day of school. The school calendar had previously indicated that this date would be a half-day. However, due to the postponement of the first day of school, this day will now be a full-day.

  • NCS ONLINE
  • Greetings to the newest group of Crusaders, our K-5 students that are enjoying NCS Online's elementary program. As the school year gets underway, you will use this "Week-at-a-Glance" email to understand the nexus between your online experience and the Northwest Christian on-the-ground experiences that are available to you. These will include chapel, the After School Advantage Program (ASAP), the Junior Crusaders elementary athletic program, field trips, Missions Learning projects, library, and exciting Crusader community events like Homecoming and more.

  • ELEMENTARY
  • August 13: Elementary Meet the Teacher. Scheduled to run from 8:30am to 2:30pm, families will be scheduled to either come in and meet the teacher or Zoom in with the teacher if they prefer. A video from Mrs. Underwood!
  • Students with last names starting with:
  • A - C - 8:30am-9:30am
  • D - H - 9:30am-10:30am
  • I - M - 10:30am-11:30am
  • 11:30am-12:30pm Teachers at lunch
  • N - S - 12:30pm-1:30pm
  • T - Z - 1:30pm-2:30pm
  • August 13: Kinder and First Grade Info Night. Starting at 6:00pm, we will host a Zoom meeting for curriculum information and orientation for the families of kindergarten and first grade students.
  • August 17: First day of school.
  • August 21: Full day of school. The school calendar had previously indicated that this date would be a half-day. However, due to the postponement of the first day of school, this day will now be a full-day.

  • MIDDLE SCHOOL
  • August 10: Middle School Student Schedules will be sent out via email.
  • August 14: New to NCS Middle School Students: Welcome Party, join our student council for a pizza party to get to know some other MS students! The party will take place in the Room 205, 12:00pm-12:45pm. Sign up here!
  • August 14th: New to NCS Parent Lunch, 12:00pm-1:00pm. This will be a time to gather and fellowship with other new parents. Keep in my, during this time, if you have student in grades 6-12th, they will be at the NEW to NCS student welcome party in the Don Sanderson Gym and Room 205. Sign up here!
  • August 17: First day of school. Please print this form for your student to bring with them on the first day of school. They will turn the form and fees (cash or check made payable to NCS) in to their first hour teacher.
  • August 21: Full day of school. The school calendar had previously indicated that this date would be a half-day. However, due to the postponement of the first day of school, this day will now be a full-day.
  • August 25: Back to School Night. This year's "Back to School" night will be virtual...more information on this to follow.

  • HIGH SCHOOL:
  • August 10: High School Student Schedules will be sent out via email.
  • August 14: New to NCS High School Students: Welcome Party, join our student council for a pizza party to get to know some other HS students! The party will take place in the Don Sanderson Gymnasium, 12:00pm-12:45pm. Sign up here!
  • August 14: New to NCS Parent Lunch, 12:00pm-1:00pm. This will be a time to gather and fellowship with other new parents. Keep in my, during this time, if you have student in grades 6-12th, they will be at the NEW to NCS student welcome party in the Don Sanderson Gym and Room 205. Sign up here!
  • August 14: "Registration Day". This day will be organized by the students' last names. You will start in the Don Sanderson Gymnasium foyer. Please print the following forms that pertain to your student and bring them with you on the 14th:
  • ALL STUDENTS: REGISTRATION DAY CHECKLIST FORM
  • Student Driver Registration Form
  • Senior Lunch Release Form
  • High School iPad distribution. Please make sure to print and sign the iPad Acceptable Use Policy agreement found here. You will turn this in when you pick up your ipad.
  • 8:00 - 9:00   
  • Abbitt – Beckner, Room 121
  • Bell – Brinton, Room 102
  • Brown - Chavarria Room 213
  • 9:00 - 10:00  
  • Chavez - Des Roches, Brodie, Room 101
  • Des Roches, Luc – Evans, Room 218
  • Fagerlie - Giblin, Room 122
  • 10:00 - 11:00 
  • Gibson - Harrison, Room 219
  • Hartigan - Hudson, Hunter, Room 123
  • Hudson, Lily - Kamp, Room 211
  • 11:00 - 12:00 
  • Kauffman - Liles, Room 214
  • Loewen - McKinstry, Room 103
  • McLuhan - Munoz, Room 218
  • 1:00 - 2:00   
  • Murphy - Poulos, Room 212
  • Powell - Schulz, Room 309
  • Schumacher - Stone, Ryland, Room 105
  • 2:00 - 3:00   
  • Stone, Kaitlyn - Valdez, Room 211
  • Valerius - Wolfe, Ethan, Room 103
  • August 17: First day of school.
  • August 21: Full day of school. The school calendar had previously indicated that this date would be a half-day. However, due to the postponement of the first day of school, this day will now be a full-day.
  • August 25: Back to School Night. This year's "Back to School" night will be virtual...more information on this to follow.
  • High School Camp: In light of the decision to push the first day of school to Monday, August 17th, high school camp has necessarily been rescheduled to the spring. We are presently working with YoungLife and Lost Canyon and looking forward to communicating these revised dates soon.