NMS Family Update

I first want to thank everyone for the hospitality that has been shown to me by our community! It was really great to meet so many families on locker day and open house. So many of you were so welcoming and I am so appreciative of the kindness that has been displayed! Thank you

• We had a fabulous first couple days! Our kids are amazing and they are working hard to learn their schedules and learn those locker combinations.

• I know we would rather be without the masks, but I am really proud of our students for adhering to our mask mandate and adjusting to wearing them again. They have done a great job!

• QUICK REMINDER: If you drop your child off in the morning, please remember to use the back parking lot. The drop off window is from 7-7:40AM. To access the back parking lot please use South Street, which is north of the school. If you are late dropping your child off after 7:40, you may drop them off in the front parking lot at the front doors!

August 23-24- Volleyball Tryouts 7/8 Girls @NMS until 4:30

August 25- Cross Country 6-8 Practice starts @NMS until 4:15

August 25- Board of Education Meeting 7PM

September 1- School Picture Day

September 2- Girls Volleyball HOME

September 3- SIP DAY- NMS Dismiss at 10:50

September 6- NO SCHOOL- Labor Day

September 7-30 i-Ready Testing window (NARROW WINDOW SET DATES)

September 9- Girls Volleyball HOME

September 13- Cross Country meet HOME

September 20- Cross Country meet HOME

September 21- Girls Volleyball HOME

September 29- Board of Education Meeting

September 30- Girls Volleyball HOME

During the COVID pandemic a team of teachers, staff members and administrators worked to identify a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program to support all students. Student benefits from an SEL program include:

• Better understanding of themselves and others;

• Improved decision making;

• Increased academic performance;

• Learning skills to manage emotions.

After reviewing over 20 SEL programs, we are happy to share that our new Social Emotional Learning program, Character Strong, will be implemented this school year. Students will have weekly sessions that will have a specific focus. The resources that will be using is focused on building our students SEL skill set. Below are the 5 competencies of SEL that will a part of Character Strong.

We are building an ARMOR TIME into our students schedule which will be a 30 minute session on Wednesdays within the school day and will be similar to an "advisory period". Our goal is to deliver different lessons during this session and then use information during these sessions through out the week! You should see this on your child's schedule very soon!

Part of our weekly challenges in our school is to have weekly Character Dares for students and Staff. We will be asking students to do something that will align with sessions that we will be teaching during the week. Here is a Family Character Dare (below) for you to try!

Email: swhipple@nsd2.com
Website: https://www.nippersinkdistrict2.org/o/nms
Phone: 815-678-7129
Twitter: @Nippersinkmidd1