Neshobe School

Dear Neshobe Families and Caregivers,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!

For 100 years, children have walked through the doors of our beloved Brick Building with excitement, curiosity, and the promise of a new school year. This fall, as we celebrate the building's centennial with a beautifully renovated learning space, a new generation of Neshobe students will begin writing the next chapter of its story. What a special year to come together as a school community.

As we look ahead to this year and beyond, we are thinking about the big picture, not only what our students learn, but who they become through the relationships they build, the challenges they embrace, and the community we create together.

Our theme for this school year is: Start Strong. Stay Connected. Keep Growing. These three simple ideas will guide our work throughout the year. 

Starting strong is about much more than just showing up for the first day of school. It is about creating healthy routines and habits that help students feel confident, building relationships that foster belonging, and establishing classrooms where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to learn. Strong beginnings create the momentum that carries us through the entire school year.  

Staying Connected means strengthening the relationships that make Neshobe such a special place. We know that students thrive when families, staff, and our community work together to support learning and celebrate success. By listening to one another, communicating openly, and showing kindness and respect each day, we create a school where everyone feels they belong.

Keep Growing reminds us that learning is a journey. Every day brings opportunities to build new skills, deepen understanding, and learn from challenges. As we grow academically, socially, and emotionally, we celebrate progress, encourage perseverance, and help every student discover their strengths while becoming confident, compassionate members of our community.

Summer Celebrations and Shout-outs

Along with welcoming everyone back, we would like to celebrate the incredible work that has happened throughout the summer. Our summer programs were filled with learning, creativity, exploration, and fun thanks to the dedicated teachers, support staff, and specialists who created engaging experiences for our students. Whether students were reading, creating, exploring outdoors, solving problems, or simply enjoying time together, they continued to build confidence, friendships, and a love of learning. We are grateful to every staff member who shared their time and talents to make this summer such a success.

Behind the scenes, our facilities and maintenance team was equally busy preparing our school for the year ahead. Along with paving one of our parking lots, they completed several significant building improvements that have refreshed and enhanced our learning spaces. We are also incredibly thankful to our PTO, families, staff and community volunteers who generously gave their time to clean, paint, organize classrooms, and beautify our campus. Their dedication is a wonderful reminder that Neshobe is far more than a school, it is a community of people who care deeply about our children and believe in the power of working together.

One of the highlights of this summer was the renovation of the Brick Building, formerly the Forestdale Community School, just in time for its 100th birthday. Students will return to bright, inviting learning spaces that inspire creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and joyful learning. We are especially excited to once again have access to the stage, creating opportunities for presentations, performances, assemblies, and celebrations throughout the year. It is a space where students will share their voices, talents, and accomplishments, bringing families and our community together to celebrate learning. While the building has stood for a century, it is our students who bring it to life each and every day.

New Faces at Neshobe

We are thrilled to welcome new staff to Neshobe this year! Some are familiar faces in new positions, while others are brand new to our school family. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:

• Matthew Brankman: Associate Principal

• Becky Chapin: Paraeducator

• Katie Mayhew: Paraeducator

• Erika Stone: Paraeducator

• Tammy Thomas: Special Educator

• Wendy Waldrip: Paraeducator

• Alicia Waymire: Paraeducator

A Commitment to Learning and Growing

As we begin this new school year, our work will continue to be guided by our Continuous Improvement Plan. We remain committed to helping every student become a confident reader, a capable mathematician, and a curious learner. At the same time, we know that meaningful academic growth happens when students feel connected, supported, and challenged in classrooms where relationships come first.

Just as importantly, we are committed to helping students develop the social and emotional skills that allow them to thrive. Through our schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework and restorative practices, students learn how to build healthy relationships, solve problems, take responsibility for their actions, repair harm, and contribute to a caring community. These life skills are every bit as important as reading, writing, and mathematics because they prepare our children for success both in school and beyond.

Some traditions will remain familiar, while others may be new. Through it all, our commitment remains the same. Together, we will continue creating a school where every child feels welcome, challenged, and supported while modeling what it means to be Kind, Safe, and Responsible every day.

To help everyone start strong, please review the important resources and upcoming events below.

Essential Resources & Dates to Remember

• Neshobe Student & Family Handbook-Please see updates on:

  • Arrival and Dismissal pg. 2

  • Personal Belongings pg. 41 

  • Meals, Snacks, and Hydration pg.39

  • Transportation and Bus safety pg.42

  • Re-visit our Emergency Operations Procedures pg.21

• RNESU District Calendar

• Aug. 23: Join our PTO and  community volunteers for Neshobe Clean-Up and Grounds Day! (more info to follow)

• Aug. 25 (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM): PTO Popsicles on the Playground

• Aug. 25 (3:00 PM – 3:30 PM): Kindergarten Classroom Visit (Registered Kindergarteners only)

• Aug. 26: First Day of School (K–6)

  • Grades 1-6: 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM (Learners may begin arriving at 7:35 AM)

  •  Kindergarten: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM (Aug. 26-28)

• Aug. 28: New Family Preschool Registration and orientation

• Aug. 31: (8:00 AM-12:00 PM) First Day of Preschool for 4 year olds

• Sept. 1:  (8:00 AM-12:00 PM) First Day of Preschool for 3 year olds

• Sept. 3 (5:30 PM – 6:30 PM): Open House & Back to School Night

• Sept. 3 (6:30 PM – 7:00 PM): Annual Title I & Family Engagement Meeting-Neshobe Library

• Sept. 7: Labor Day (No School)

• Sept. 18: Early Release 

• Oct. 12: Indigenous People’s Day (No School)

• Oct. 30: Early Release

• Nov. 4:(3:00 PM-7:00 PM) Conferences 

• Nov. 12: (3:30 PM-6:30 PM) Conferences

PowerSchool Registration, Updates & Communication

New Families: