NORTH NEWS
April 21, 2024
SPECIAL INTEREST/ OUR WEEK IN REVIEW
7th GRADERS "GET A LIFE"
On Friday, the entire 7th grade participated in the "Get a Life" program through the WV Treasurer's Department. In this interactive activity, students receive a pretend job, salary & family characteristics, and then must visit several stations throughout the gymnasium to purchase houses, groceries, pay taxes, etc. The purpose of the activity is to help students begin to understand the "real world" and allow them to preview their future adult financial decisions.
Thanks to the members of the WV Treasurer's office for offering this engaging activity to our students! Many were quite shocked by how little they could afford per month.
Students had to choose a house and calculate whether they could afford the monthly payment.
Students had to decide what types of insurance to purchase based upon their job and family make-up.
Students had to choose appliances for their new homes.
Two students are purchasing utilities.
This group of 7th grade students is trying to pick out a car and calculate the impact on their monthly income.
This student is purchasing groceries for her family for the month.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PLANTING FOR A GREENER FUTURE AT NMS
As Earth Day approaches on April 22, 2024, the community of Martinsburg is gearing up for an event at North Middle School! Two classes of 7th grade students have been selected to plant trees and rose bushes in front of the school. What makes this Earth Day celebration truly remarkable is it's collaborative spirit. Joining the students in their tree-planting endeavor will be members of the community, including representatives from the West Virginia House of Delegates, Martinsburg City Council, Martinsburg Fire Department, City Manager, and Public Works Department. This collective effort underscores the importance of community engagement in addressing environmental challenges.
Adding an additional educational dimension to the festivities, the Martinsburg Storm Water Department will conduct a demonstration for students about the use of rain barrels.
The success of this Earth Day celebration wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of local organizations and businesses. The Martinsburg Shade Tree Commission, City National Bank, Chick-fil-A, and the County Commissioner's Office have all made donations of supplies or refreshments for the event. We are excited to join hands, hearts, and shovels on April 22nd with members of our community as we celebrate Earth Day!
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY AT THE SPRING SEMI-FORMAL
All NMS students are invited to the spring semi-formal dance on April 25th from 5:30-7pm! Students should get ready to dress their best and dance the night away! Tickets will be on sale during lunch on April 24th. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate this school year!
SAVE THE DATE FOR COMMUNITY DAY!
We are thrilled to extend a warm invitation our North Middle families to attend Community Day on April 27th from 10am to 1pm. This event promises to be a vibrant celebration of our school community, filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. At NMS Community Day, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Come enjoy free food, games, crafts, prizes & even a free market; the day is designed to bring our community closer together in a spirit of camaraderie and fun. It's an opportunity for parents, students, and families to come together, connect with one another, and create lasting memories.
So mark your calendars and join us for NMS Community Day on April 27th. Let's come together as a community to celebrate our school, our students, and the wonderful connections we share. We can't wait to see you there!
SPORTS NEWS
CHEER NEWS
It's that time of year again! Cheer conditioning is happening every Monday & Wednesday from 6:00 - 8:00pm until May 22nd. This is open to any current 6th or 7th grade student who is currently attending North Middle or any 5th grade student who will be attending North Middle next school year. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Jones @ natalie.jones@k12.wv.us.
ATTENTION 8th GRADERS INTERESTED IN MARTINSBURG HIGH CHEER
MHS Cheer is holding practices & conditioning this spring/ summer. If you are a current 8th grader who is planning to attend Martinsburg High School in the fall, check out the flyer below!
GUIDANCE & COMMUNITY NEWS
FREE TUTORING
Available daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at no cost for West Virginians, TutorWV provides support for patrons of all ages and stages. For students, the program offers online, on-demand, expert tutoring and homework help in more than 200 subjects, along with drop-off review services for essays and math problems. Tutoring included for AP, SAT and ACT. Read the press release.
HEALTH CLINIC INFORMATION
Shenandoah Community Health visits our school every Thursday. Students can be seen for a variety of reasons, including immunizations and school sports physicals.
If you want your child to be seen in the mobile clinic by a medical professional, please contact the main office for more information!
2025-2029 SCHOOL EXCESS LEVY INFORMATION
The upcoming Primary Election on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, will include a continuation of the Berkeley County School excess levy on the ballot. A school excess levy is an opportunity provided to local boards of education to focus on improving and maintaining the educational system with community approval.
Fifteen percent of the BCS budget is provided by the school excess levy, and 100 percent of the funds benefit BCS students, staff, and the community. Berkeley County voters have passed the school excess levy since 1948; continuing 75+ years of community support for public education.
Please visit the link below to learn more about the school excess levy.
PARENT CORNER: DRESSING FOR SUCCESS
As we strive for a positive learning environment here at North Middle, it’s crucial to address some ongoing challenges regarding our dress code policy. We've noticed a few recurring issues that not only disrupt the learning environment, but also impact the overall school atmosphere. Let’s delve into these concerns and discuss how we can work together to ensure a more conducive environment for everyone.
Common Dress Code Violations
One of the main challenges we face is students arriving at school dressed inappropriately. Some of the most common violations include:
Holes in Pants or Skirts/Shorts Above the Mid-Thigh: While we understand fashion trends change, excessively ripped clothing and/or shorts/skirts that don’t meet the length requirement can be distracting to the learning process.
Uncovered Abdomens and Low-Cut Shirts: Clothing that reveals too much skin can disrupt the learning environment and make fellow students uncomfortable.
Inappropriate Messages on T-Shirts: Clothing with offensive or inappropriate language can create a negative atmosphere within the school.
Wearing Hats/Hoods in the Building: While hats and hoods may be comfortable, they should be removed once students enter the school building as per our policy so we can identify students. This is a safety issue.
Challenges Faced by Staff
Enforcing the dress code can sometimes lead to a loss of class time when students want to argue about being asked to change, which is not conducive to a respectful and cooperative learning environment. It’s important for students to understand that adhering to the dress code is not just about rules, but also about fostering a positive school culture where everyone feels comfortable and respected and learning important skills that will serve them well in their adult careers.
How Parents Can Help
We greatly appreciate the support of parents in reinforcing our dress code policy. Here are a few ways you can assist:
Inspect Your Child’s Clothing: Before your child leaves for school, take a moment to ensure their clothing meets the dress code standards. Discuss which articles of clothing are for school and which are for the weekend or activities at home.
Encourage Compliance: Remind your child not to wear clothing that they know doesn’t comply with the dress code, such as hooded sweatshirts or excessively revealing attire as well as WHY it is important to abide by these guidelines.
Discuss the Importance of Dress Code: Help your child understand why adhering to the dress code is important for their futures. It prepares them for the expectations they will face in the professional world, encourages modesty and respect for their own body, communicates the importance of education, and teaches them to obey and respect authority.
Consequences for Dress Code Infractions
It’s important for students to understand the consequences of dress code violations. These may include being asked to change into appropriate clothing, contacting parents to bring a change of clothes, or other disciplinary actions for repeated infractions or disrespect towards staff members.
Maintaining a positive learning environment is a collective effort, and we appreciate the cooperation of both students and parents in upholding our dress code policy. By working together, we can ensure that every student feels comfortable, respected, and ready to learn. We want our teachers to be able to focus on teaching & student achievement; not engaging in dress code battles. Thank you for your support and assistance with this matter.
STUDENT CORNER: IT'S NOT JUST A LIST OF RULES...
Hey there, middle schoolers!
Let's talk about our school's dress code. It's not just about rules; it's about creating a positive environment where everyone feels comfortable and ready to learn. Dressing appropriately is important for a few reasons:
First, it prepares us for success in the future. In the working world, people dress professionally to show respect and professionalism. Following the dress code now teaches us how to present ourselves well and prepares us for future success.
Second, it helps others respect our bodies and privacy. By dressing modestly, we show that we value ourselves and expect others to do the same. It's about feeling confident and comfortable without drawing unwanted attention.
Lastly, following the dress code teaches us to comply with authority figures, which is a skill we'll need throughout our lives. Whether it's following workplace rules or respecting laws, learning to obey authority helps us succeed and thrive in society.
HERE ARE A FEW DRESS CODE REMINDERS:
Don't wear pants with holes or skirts/shorts cut above the mid-thigh.
Keep your stomachs covered and don't wear low-cut shirts.
Keep inappropriate messages off your t-shirts (violence, drugs/ alcohol, sexual material, offensive messages).
Do not wear hats/hoods in the building.
On the weekend, you have complete freedom to wear whatever you and your parents approve of, but in the building on Monday-Friday there are guidelines to follow so we can keep a safe, comfortable, school where everyone can learn! So remember these guidelines when you are getting dressed each morning so we can all have a productive day!
Which reason for the school dress code is most important?
HOW TO GET iPAD HELP
STUDENTS! Make sure your iPad is charged (everyday) and updated! Your homeroom teachers will be checking! If you have lost your charger, need a new sticker, damaged your iPad, can't login to your Apple ID or have ANY other iPad problem, scan the QR code or click the link below and fill out the form. Ms. Deavers will contact you this week! Remember, these QR codes are located ALL OVER THE BUILDING in case you ever need to report an issue with your device!
SCHOOLOGY ACCESS
PARENTS, DO YOU NEED YOUR OWN ACCOUNT?
ONLINE ABSENCE NOTE ACCESS
A COOL THING HAPPENED IN CLASS...
*Students in Ms. Kyker's Social Studies classes are studying industry and got to experience the difference between craftsmanship and the assembly line. Students drew pictures as a master craftsman, and then they had to choose one picture to recreate in an assembly line. So fun!
*Ms. Long's Family & Consumer Science classes have been busy making cake pops for next week's community day! You won't want to miss their tasty treats on April 27th!
*Students in Ms. Landerkin's ELA classes have been researching. The 7th graders are learning about Cleopatra, Marc Antony, & the fall of Rome while the 8th graders have been diving into the Hatfield/ McCoy feud. Now, they are starting the process of podcasting about what they have learned! Ms. Deavers visited the class to show them how to design a podcast thumbnail and use Canva to record and edit their podcast. We are so excited to see what they create this week!
*Ms. Stover's Reading class just finished the book Hatchet. As a final project, students had to create an augmented reality scene to describe Brian's campsite in the book. Students then recorded videos of their augmented reality scene, taking viewers on a tour of their creation. Then, students got to view and evaluate each of the other students' scenes and compare them to the descriptions in the book. Ms. French's students also dropped by for a sneak peek!
STAY IN TOUCH!
MARTINSBURG NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
"We at North Middle School are committed to doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to ensure that all student reach their highest potential!"
THE NORTH WAY
BE SAFE - BE RESPECTFUL - BE RESPONSIBLE
Email: rachel.deavers@k12.wv.us
Website: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/martinsburgnorth
Location: 250 East Road, Martinsburg, WV, USA
Phone: 304-267-3540
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialNMSpage
Twitter: @nmsteachers