February 6, 2025 - NPAS Staff District Newsletter

Dear NPAS Staff, 

I hope this message finds you well. At the beginning of the school year, I asked you to consider the following themes for the 2024-25 school year: listening, leading and learning. Now that the calendar has turned to 2025 and the second half of the school year is underway, I thought it appropriate to provide an update from my perspective. 

Leading: One of our priorities for this academic year is to recreate efficient, effective and sustainable leadership teams at each site. This investment in site-based leadership fosters alignment throughout the district, builds upon our collaborative culture, ensures stakeholder voices are heard and prioritizes teacher leadership. I have enjoyed meeting with teams at each site over the past several weeks. These interactions have allowed me to share district-related information and hear from the teacher leaders about what they would like to see from leadership teams going forward. Continuing with the theme of leading, our district office redesign continues to progress nicely. This work is grounded in our desire to maintain, and when possible, enhance our academic and operational support for all. We are also working with an increased focus on academics and academic support, all the while doing so in a cost-sensitive manner. 

Listening: Over the past year and a half, we have enhanced our communication practices at the district level. Our monthly newsletters to both staff and families are just one example of a strategy that has been implemented. The next phase of this work will be engagement or listening to our stakeholders. A highlight for this academic year will be the Facilities Task Force, which recently began to meet. This group consists of approximately 30 stakeholders from across the NPAS. Their collective charge is to prioritize our long-term facility needs and make recommendations to the school board for potential next steps. Look for more opportunities for listening / stakeholder engagement going forward. 

Learning: As a system that exists to foster the academic and social development of every one of our students, we need to prioritize teaching and learning even during times of uncertainty and budget deficits. As I commented this Fall, when the adults in the organization are learning, so will our students. I am so impressed and encouraged by the high levels of teaching and learning I witness when I visit classrooms across our great school system and ask that this top-quality learning remains the priority for both your students and staff throughout the remainder of this academic year. 

Finally, thank you for all that you do to help us fulfill our vision of being a premier school district that models excellence and prepares all of our students for life’s opportunities. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are appreciated by our students, families and members of the greater community. 

Please reach out to me or your site/program administrator with any comments or questions. Take care. 

Sincerely, 

Andrew Vollmuth

Wellness Committee Update – February 2025

The Wellness Committee for the 2024-2025 school year has met a few times and we are looking to recruit additional staff members. Currently, we have no representation from the High School. If any staff members are interested in joining, please contact one of us (contact information below).

As we conclude the month of January and reflect on our New Year’s resolutions, we’d like to remind everyone of some valuable resources available to employees with Medica insurance:

• My Health Rewards: This app allows you to earn incentives for logging steps and activities. It’s easy to install on your phone and link to your account. You can earn up to $220 per year in rewards, including e-gift cards and other options.  My Health Rewards
• Life Time Digital Fitness Program: This program provides access to hundreds of on-demand and live fitness classes, meditations, and nutrition and lifestyle articles to support your wellness goals.  Life Time DFP

Deskercise Challenge: Thanks to a grant from SHIP, we’ve purchased desk exercise equipment for staff use. Each building received 1-2 pieces of equipment. If you signed one out by the end of December, your name was entered into a drawing. Congratulations to Callie Witty and Jodi Prchal for winning the challenge! This equipment is still available for checkout anytime. 

Super Snacks: The Wellness Committee distributed Super Snacks to each school, the bus garage, and the District Office in the last week of January. Staff enjoyed Trail Mix and Popcorn as a healthy treat!

What’s In the Works: The 2024-2025 SHIP grant has been submitted, and each school has requested specific items as part of the application. We will be notified in March about what each school may be awarded.

We’re excited to continue supporting staff wellness throughout the year! If you have any questions or would like to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wellness Co-Chairs

Lindsay Pape, Director of Health Services   [email protected]

Jenny Yetzer, Director of Nutrition Services   [email protected]