NORTH NEWS
February 11, 2024
SPECIAL INTEREST/ OUR WEEK IN REVIEW
NORTHERN LIGHTS DAZZLES AUDIENCES IN THEIR COMPETITION!
Congrats to the Northern Lights for their amazing performance last weekend in Grafton, WV! They received the Best Sportsmanship Award, the Best Dressed Directors award, and a score that had significantly improved since the last time the group competed!
We are so proud of all of show choir students and their directors! A special thanks goes to Ms. Bair for her leadership of the team!
Thanks to Ms. Bair, Mr. Smitherman, & Ms. Pleva for your leadership!
UPCOMING EVENTS
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING SPIRIT WEEK!
In honor of our basketball teams making the playoffs, let's have a little fun this week! Check out the poster below for our February spirit days!
STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING - FEB 12th
Student Council members - remember that you have a meeting after school on February 12th in Ms. Updike's room. Please make sure to have your rides here ON TIME (4:15pm) after the meeting!
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE VALENTINE'S DANCE
The Valentine's Dance will take place after school until 4:15pm on Thursday, February 15th! Tickets will be on sale during LUNCH ONLY on FEBRUARY 14th! Make sure you bring your $5 on Wednesday to get your tickets. We will not be allowing students to use the office phone to call home if you forgot your money. See you at the dance on Thursday!
STUDENTS, are you going to the Valentine's Dance this week?!
SAVE THE DATES - Feb 16 (2-HR EARLY DISMISSAL) & Feb 19th (SCHOOL CLOSED)
SPORTS NEWS
BASKETBALL NEWS
PLAYOFFS CONTINUE THIS WEEK! We are so proud of our JV boys team for playing their hearts out in the championship last Thursday against South Middle! Even though they lost, our JV boys came back from a huge deficit to make score close! What a great season!
Our JV girls and Varsity boys teams will start their postseason on Tuesday at 6pm at home! Good luck to our basketball players!
Varsity boys are the top seed team - they will open their post-season Tuesday night at home (second game at approx 7:15pm).
CHEER NEWS
Please wish your North Blue Devil Cheerleaders a big "GOOD LUCK" as they travel to the Cardinal Cheer Classic at Spring Mills High School on February 17th. Doors open at 9:00am and the competition begins at 10:00am. We would love to see a crowd at Spring Mills cheering for our cheerleaders!
SPRING MILLS HIGH TRACK & FIELD
If you are an 8th grade student interested in track & field and you will be attending Spring Mills High School next year, this message is for you! The first date of spring tryouts is Feb 26th and interested students will need their parent to fill out Family ID (see directions below) which will close on March 8th. If you are interested and need more information, please contact Spring Mills High School.
GUIDANCE & COMMUNITY NEWS
WANT TO LEARN CHINESE MANDARIN?
Are you interested in learning a new language or about different cultures? If this interests you, and you are a current 4th -8th grade student, then the Berkeley County STARTALK program might be for you. Beginning in February through the end of May, students in this program will have the opportunity to learn about the Chinese Mandarin language. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a two-week learning camp this summer through the BCS Summer SOLE program. There is NO COST to participate if accepted! If you are interested in this opportunity, check out the flyer below for more details. You can also email wvstartalk@gmail.com.
SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
*Shepherd University TRiO Upward Bound Program - Available to rising 9th-12th grade students, this program serves students who are historically underrepresented in higher education. Students benefit from weekly tutoring, 6-week Summer Academy classes on the Shepherd University campus, leadership building, service learning opportunities, and more. Click on the flyer below to apply.
*KESEM at West Virginia University - Children 6-18 years old who have lost a parent to cancer or have a parent currently undergoing cancer treatment can join this camp to connect, heal and thrive. Check out the flyer below or contact wvu@kesem.org for more information.
FREE BCS VIRTUAL TUTORING
FREE BCS virtual tutoring is available in Math, Science, English (Reading and Language Arts), and Social Studies for ALL BCS K-12 students Monday-Thursday from 5-7 pm by appointment. Tutoring sessions are approximately 30 minutes.
Please complete the form below and you will be contacted via email on your requested day prior to 5 p.m. with the information for your tutoring session. One of our tutors will call the number you provide between the hours of 5 - 7 p.m. Please be sure you select a date that you are available and able to attend. Also note that you will not have the tutor for the full 2 hours.
Also 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.
SIGNING UP FRIENDS/ FAMILY FOR NTOUCH MESSAGES
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!
PARENT CORNER: GUIDING TEENS INTO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Valentine's Day presents an excellent opportunity to initiate conversations about relationships with our teens. Parents can use this occasion to discuss the qualities of healthy relationships, the importance of mutual respect, and strategies for resolving conflicts constructively. Teen relationships encompass a broad spectrum, from friendships to romantic involvements. These interactions play a pivotal role in shaping our children's social and emotional development. As parents, it's vital to recognize the significance of these relationships and offer guidance as our teens navigate them.
- According to recent surveys, around 30% of teens report feeling lonely and isolated, highlighting the importance of fostering meaningful connections.
- Shockingly, approximately 9% of middle school teens have reported engaging in sexual activity, underlining the need for conversations about healthy boundaries and consent.
- Moreover, a significant percentage of middle school teens experience unhealthy peer pressure, with studies indicating that over 40% feel pressured to engage in behaviors they are uncomfortable with.
Tips for Guiding Your Teen:
- Open Communication: Foster an environment where your teen feels comfortable discussing their relationships with you. Encourage open dialogue by actively listening without judgment and offering guidance when needed.
- Model Healthy Relationships: Lead by example in your own relationships and interactions. Demonstrate qualities of respect, empathy, and communication, which are essential components of healthy relationships.
- Set Boundaries: Help your teen establish boundaries in their relationships, both online and offline. Discuss the importance of respecting personal space, consent, and understanding when to say no.
- Encourage Independence: While guidance is essential, empower your teen to make their own decisions and learn from their experiences. Encourage them to trust their instincts and make choices that align with their values and well-being.
- Stay Informed about Social Media: Recognize the influence of social media on teen relationships. Stay informed about the platforms your teen uses, and discuss topics such as online safety, cyberbullying, and the impact of digital communication on interpersonal connections.
Remember, the journey of adolescence is marked by exploration and growth, and our role as parents is to provide a steady anchor amid the waves of change. Let's seize the opportunity to engage with our teens, celebrate their connections, and empower them to navigate the complexities of relationships with confidence and resilience.
STUDENT CORNER: A STUDENT GUIDE TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
STUDENTS,
As you are growing older, you've probably already noticed your relationship needs changing. It's important to learn how to have good relationships with others, whether they're friends or someone more special. Let's talk about some tips and signs to help us have happy and healthy friendships and romantic relationships.
Are you a good friend? Take this quiz!
1. Do you speak kindly to others and listen to what they say? Good communication involves both talking AND LISTENING.
2. Do you respect everyone's personal space? Everyone has their own space and boundaries. Respect them by not making others feel uncomfortable. It's always a good idea to ask for permission from someone before touching them.
3. Are you a supportive friend? Support your friends when they need you. Cheering them up when they're sad or helping them when they need it shows you care.
4. Do you trust each other? Do you tell others' secrets or talk about people behind their backs? Trust is super important in friendships. Be honest and dependable so your friends can trust you. **IMPORTANT NOTE: Never keep a secret that can be harmful to your friend! If keeping the secret puts someone in danger, make sure you find a trusted adult to help!
5. Do people feel good around you? Being with friends or someone special should make you feel happy and safe, not worried, sad, fearful or angry.
How do you know if you are in a GOOD RELATIONSHIP with someone?
- You feel respected and feel like your feelings matter to the other person.
- When there is a conflict or problem, you feel like you can calmly talk it out with the other person.
- Your GOOD friends make you feel encouraged and help you reach your goals. They don't put stumbling blocks in your way. For example, if you are trying to get good grades, they don't talk to you in class to keep you from hearing the teacher or getting your work done. Good friends support each other.
- You should generally feel good around that person if they are a positive friend. You enjoy fun activities and create happy memories.
- Most importantly, you feel safe around that person. You don't feel like they are going to harm you physically, emotionally, or mentally. They make you feel good about yourself and you can be comforable being your yourself around them
How to Get Help with a Relationship:
If you ever feel uncomfortable or have a problem with a friend or romantic crush, it's okay to talk to an adult you trust. This could be a parent, teacher, pastor, school counselor, or another trusted adult who cares about you. They're there to help and support you. Look for those trusted adults in your life now before you need them.
Having good relationships makes life happier and more fun. By being kind, respectful, and supportive, we can build strong friendships that make us feel good about ourselves. Remember these tips and signs as you make new friends and navigate your relationships. Enjoy the journey of growing up and making meaningful connections with others!
Students, who is the trusted adult in your life?
SCHOOLOGY ACCESS
PARENTS, DO YOU NEED YOUR OWN ACCOUNT?
ONLINE ABSENCE NOTE ACCESS
A COOL THING HAPPENED IN CLASS...
*Ms. Simmons & Ms. Zahradnik's classes teamed up with Technology Specialist, Ms. Deavers on Friday to play an interactive computer game on argumentative writing. They also talked with a teacher-created chatbot to assess student knowledge at the end of class which provided great data for the classroom teachers!
*Ms. Long's Family & Consumer Science class made pretzels in class this week! SO delicious!
*Ms. Keppler's art students were have a blast while working on their paper mache projects.
*Willow, one of Mr. Callis' students, has been creating Black History Month murals on his whiteboard. She is SO talented!
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