Friday, November 21, 2025

Principal's Message

Nord Families,

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, we have so much to be grateful for at Walter G. Nord School. Thank you to our incredible students, who continue to grow, learn, and shine each day. Thank you to our dedicated Nord staff for always putting students first and creating such a welcoming and supportive environment. And thank you to our families for your ongoing partnership—your support truly makes a difference.

As a reminder, Thanksgiving Break runs from Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th. School will resume on Monday, December 1st. We hope our Nord families enjoy a restful and meaningful holiday.

Special congratulations are extended to Mrs. McArthur, Dean of Students, and Mrs. Hughett, Head Cook, who were selected as our district staff members of the month! Thank you Mrs. McArthur and Mrs. Hughett for your hard work and dedication to our Nord staff and students!

Take care,

Nick Toney
Principal, Walter G. Nord School

Our Nord students continue to demonstrate their Comet Impact by being respectful, responsible, and safe each and every day! As we approach the end of the semester, we have two exciting events planned to celebrate their hard work:

On Thursday, December 18th, students will take a walking field trip to Amherst Cinemas. Thank you to our amazing Nord PTO for generously covering the cost for all students! To qualify for this trip, students must have no major referrals from Monday, November 24th through the date of the trip. Please note that three minor referrals equal one major referral. Walter G. Nord School Administration reserves the right to determine eligibility.

Additionally, our Comet Impact Team is working to create a Quarter 2 PBIS Reward Day on Friday, December 19th. Students will have the chance to sign up for various reward rooms led by our staff. More details will be shared soon.

Congratulations to our Comet Impact Staff Members of the Month: Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Carrion, Mrs. Ehrhart, and Miss Hegarty.
These outstanding educators continually go above and beyond for our students and exemplify what it means to show Comet Impact. Thank you for everything you do for our Nord family!

Nord students continued to have opportunities to spend their PBIS points from the first grading period! Students purchased a ride along with School Resource Officer Lamb, Lunch with Mrs. McArthur, and reading of the morning announcements!

Congratulations to our Comet Impact Raffle winners! Thank you for being respectful, responsible, and safe!

Welcome Back Mrs. Kremer!

Our Nord family is excited to welcome back Mrs. Kremer, school counselor, who returned from maternity leave earlier this week! Thank you to Mrs. Morron, who did an exceptional job filling during Mrs. Kremer's absence. More information regarding our school counselor can be found on our website by clicking the button below. Mrs. Kremer can be reached via email at chandler_kremer@amherstk12.org or phone at 440-988-1495.

Outside Recess

Please make sure your child is coming to school with a coat, hat, and gloves this winter. Recess will be held outside when the feels-like temperature is 20 degrees or higher at the time of recess.

Nord School has a Care Closet which is run by Ms. Maiorca, School Social Worker. Please email Ms. Maiorca if your family needs assistance with warm clothing this winter.

Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Assessment (NNAT3)

Dear Caregivers,

Between December 1st and December 19th, all fifth graders at Walter G. Nord School will take the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Assessment (NNAT3). The NNAT3 is a nonverbal reasoning assessment that measures how students recognize patterns, solve problems, and think logically using shapes and visual information rather than words. It is one of the assessments the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce allows districts to use for gifted identification in the area of Superior Cognitive Ability. A score of 125 or higher on the NNAT3 indicates that a student is gifted in this area.

If you have any questions about the assessment or gifted identification, please feel free to reach out!

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Hall

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Veterans Day Lunch

A big thank you to all our Veterans who joined us for our Veterans Day Lunches! We hosted over 100 Veterans at Walter G. Nord on November 11th to celebrate Veterans Day. Thank you to our Nord lunch staff, custodial staff, and all who made this event possible! Click this link for more pictures from this meaningful event.

Kindness Crew Spirit Week

Thank you to Mrs. Liming, Mrs. Morron, and our Nord Kindness Crew for hosting Kindness Spirit Week! Our Nord students and staff showed their Comet Pride and displayed kindness all week!

Nord Young Men's Empowerment Group

The Walter G. Nord Young Men's Empowerment Group held their first meeting of the school year on Thursday, November 13th. Thank you to Mr. Korek, Mr. Mullen, and Mr. Hermensky for your leadership!

Nord Computer Science Club

Our Walter G. Nord Computer Science Club, led by Mrs. Schwartz, meets once a month for hands-on activities that spark creativity and problem-solving. Students engage in coding, online challenges, and building projects. This month, they designed and created their own T-shirts using vinyl and a heat press!

Walter G. Nord Specials Team

We are excited to highlight our amazing Walter G. Nord Specials Team in this edition of Nord News! We have six specials at Nord: Art, Library, Music, Physical Education, Spanish and Wellness. Our fifth grade students also have the opportunity to participate in band and orchestra.

Mrs. Glowacki- Art

Mrs. Glowacki serves as the Art Teacher at Walter G. Nord School. An Amherst alum, she has spent the past 12 years teaching in the district while also coaching varsity track and field. She is married and has two dogs who keep her busy at home. Her goal for the school year is to inspire students to create, make messes, and try new things as they explore their artistic talents.

Mrs. Holbert- Wellness

Mrs. Holbert teaches Wellness to fourth and fifth graders at Nord and second graders at Powers Elementary. She has taught Wellness for three years and is in her twelfth year of teaching overall. She and her husband are proud parents of their one-year-old daughter, Delilah, and they enjoy spending time with their Siberian Huskies, Howie and Scout. Mrs. Holbert’s Wellness curriculum aligns with Ohio’s SEL standards and covers skills such as conflict resolution, coping strategies, positive self-talk, goal setting, and internet safety. Her goal is to help students understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships, and develop the social-emotional tools needed for success in school and in life. Click this link to visit Mrs. Holbert's Wellness Website!

Mr. Johns- Physical Education

Mr. Johns teaches Physical Education at Nord, self proclaimed as a “Chaos Coordinator,” “Shenanigans Motivator,” and “Local Silly Goose.” This is his fifth year in the Amherst District and his tenth year teaching. He lives in Elyria with his wife and two daughters, one of whom will join Powers Elementary next year. A fan of games, puzzles, climbing, and making memories with his family, Mr. Johns brings energy and enthusiasm to his PE classes. His goal is for students to leave his class feeling improved—learning to embrace challenge, develop athletic skills, and grow through both success and failure.

Miss. Peskura- Spanish

Miss Peskura teaches Spanish to fourth and fifth graders at Nord and also teaches Spanish at Powers Elementary. She is in her sixth year teaching in the Amherst Exempted Village School District and greatly values working alongside dedicated colleagues, enthusiastic students, and supportive families. Her family includes her parents, two sisters, niece, and nephew, and they keep busy with traveling, athletics, and quality time together. She is committed to creating a positive learning environment where all students can succeed and grow in their Spanish language skills. She wishes all Nord families a safe and joyful holiday season.

Mrs. Perry- General Music, Band, and Orchestra

Mrs. Perry is the beginning band and orchestra director at Walter G. Nord School. She holds degrees from Slippery Rock University, Kent State University, and The Juilliard Conservatory. With 22 years of teaching experience, she began her career in North Olmsted before joining Amherst, where she also served as assistant band director for the Amherst Marching Comets from 2005–2017. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling with her family and long-distance running, having completed numerous ultramarathons. She and her husband of 22 years have two sons, ages 16 and 18, who are active musicians and athletes. Mrs. Perry’s goal is to instill a lifelong love of music in her students and to share the joy of musical expression.

Mrs. Wagner- Library

Mrs. Wagner serves as the Media Aide at Nord and also works with second-grade students at Powers Elementary. She has held a variety of roles in Amherst Schools over the past 20 years, allowing her to connect with many students and families in the community. A lifelong Amherst resident, Mrs. Wagner has three sons, two daughters-in-law, and two granddaughters. She is grateful for the opportunity to support students and foster their love of reading and learning.

Mrs. Von Kaenel- General Music

Mrs. Von Kaenel is in her 35th year of teaching and has served the Amherst community since 1993. She currently teaches General Music to second, fourth, and fifth grade students. She and her husband Joe have been married since 1995 and have two sons, Christian and Noah. This year, Mrs. Von Kaenel is preparing her second graders for their February performance of The Bremen Town Jam. Her fifth graders will study music theory, piano, and ultimately create an original musical composition and video. Fourth graders learn foundational piano skills and conclude their time with her by producing a digital mini-concert for their families.

Walter G. Nord PTO

Our Walter G. Nord School PTO is proud to support our students, staff, and families of Nord through fun events, volunteer opportunities, and community connections. We would love to have you join us at our next meeting on Monday, December 8th at 9:30am. If you would like to join virtually, please complete this form. If you have any questions about our Nord PTO, please feel free to contact us at nordpto1@gmail.com.