NMS Parent Update

November 20, 2023

Para leer este mensaje en español, debe pulsar en el botón “Translate Newsletter” para cambiar el idioma. Este botón se encuentra a la derecha, debajo de “Accessibility"

Check out what is happening at NMS!!

Spongebob the Musical

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Spongebob the Musical, which was performed at the high school auditorium on November 17th and 18th. The students did an amazing job. We are so proud of them!!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the students and watch this amazing production.

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Thanksgiving Break

This is a reminder that there is no school on November 22-24 as we celebrate Thanksgiving Recess. School resumes on Monday, November 27th.

From everyone at Norwich Middle School to you and your families, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with family and love.

We are looking forward to returning to school and finishing strong in December!!

Attendance Matters!!

Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security!!

As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.

We thank:

· Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy.

· Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.

· Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we are healthy and safe, feel a sense of community and experience the excitement of an engaging learning environment.

· Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

Holiday Sale is Underway!

Spirit wear makes for great holiday gifts for the entire family, including these customizable designs for Mom, Dad, Grandparents and more!

All proceeds go directly to the PTSA Backpack Program. Our district wide Backpack Program helps families in need with supplemental food over long school breaks.

This sale features limited-time savings of 20% sitewide! Orders over $75 will receive free shipping, and those below that will ship for just $5!

Use coupon code: HOLIDAY5 for an additional 5% of the already 20% discounted prices. Shop Now!

Series on Reducing Screentime

The Middle School Parent update is going to start a series on reducing screen time in our students. Screen time is an epidemic that is plaguing our society, and we want to educate on our families on how to combat this in our homes. This week's topic - gaming addiction:

How can gaming become an addiction?

An addiction is defined as a person's inability to control use of a substance or behavior, despite negative consequences. Some people who are engrossed in screen time or video games while ignoring other normal activities could be close to meeting this definition.

So why does this happen? The reward center in the brain releases dopamine in response to a pleasurable experience or hyperarousal. If a person experiences hyperarousal while playing video games, the brain associates the activity with dopamine. The person develops a strong drive to seek out that same pleasure again and again.

Dopamine is a powerful neurotransmitter in the brain. It helps sustain people's interest and attention, which is why it can hard for people to tear themselves away from a situation or behavior. It's also self-reinforcing. The more times people experience the behavior, the more dopamine is released, and the more driven they are to return to the behavior.