NORTH NEWS
January 28, 2024
SPECIAL INTEREST/ OUR WEEK IN REVIEW
STUDENTS HONORED FOR THEIR SOCIAL STUDIES FAIR PROJECTS
Our school's library buzzed with excitement on January 24th as we hosted the annual Social Studies Fair. This year, 88 projects delved into categories such as World History, US History, anthropology, and economics. Over 30 students received certificates for their outstanding work, with many advancing to the county Social Studies Fair at Musselman Middle on Feb 10th. All students who are moving onto the county fair should have their contracts completed and given to Ms. Updike by Tuesday, January 30th!
We extend our gratitude to Ms. Updike for coordinating the event, our Social Studies teachers for guiding students on their projects, the volunteer judges, and Ms. Mills, our librarian, for hosting the fair in the library. Congratulations to all participants for their dedication and scholarly pursuits!
CONGRATS TO OUR MATH FIELD DAY PARTICIPANTS
PARENTS - THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
UPCOMING EVENTS
INTERIMS TO BE ISSUED FEB 5th!
There is only one more week until the middle of the 3rd nine weeks! Don't forget to check your student's progress on February 5th, but now is a great time to look at the missing assignments in each class and try to catch up!
NAEP TESTING COMES TO NMS FEB 7th
On February 7th, approximately 45 NMS students will be participating in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This data is used to formulate the "Nation's report card" - a common measure of student achievement -and it offers a window into the state of our K-12 education system and what our children are learning. When students participate they are helping to inform decisions about how to improve the education system in our country. Students have already been informed in writing if they have been selected to take the assessment and their test results will be kept anonymous. Their NAEP test performance does not impact student grades. For more information, please visit the NAEP website below.
SAVE THE DATES - Feb 16 & 19
SPORTS NEWS
There are only a two more games left in the regular season (1/29 & 1/31)! Play-offs will be scheduled soon for the week of February 5-9th! Come out and cheer on the NMS teams to victory!
BOYS BASKETBALL
Congrats to the JV player of the week: Isaiah Randolf!
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Congrats to the players of the week! JV: Aubrey Rau & Varsity: Amina Taylor
ONLINE BASKETBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE!
Did you know that you can purchase your girls & boys basketball tickets ONLINE? Purchase your tickets early and avoid the line! The link to purchase tickets is on our website under Athletics - Basketball. It will also be located right here on all of our newsletters throughout the season! See the link below!
Check out the game schedule below for both the girls & boys basketball teams! There are only a few more chances to see a regular season NMS basketball game!
GUIDANCE & COMMUNITY NEWS
OLWEUS ANTI-BULLYING SURVEY
As part of our Olweus Bullying Prevention program, North Middle will be surveying students to obtain information about bullying behavior and attitudes in the school setting. The results of this survey will provide critical information necessary for planning our bullying prevention efforts and will also provide a way to measure our progress in addressing and reducing bullying over time. This survey will be conducted tomorrow, January 29, 2024 and as a parent, you have the right to both view a sample copy of the survey and/ or opt your child out of participating. To view a sample copy of the survey, please click the button below and use the login information below the button. If you prefer for your child NOT to participate in the survey, please inform the school IN WRITING by noon on January 29, 2024.
Username: eSampleSurvey (or sSampleSurvey for the Spanish version) Password: Olweus
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: SOCIAL MEDIA'S IMPACT ON STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS
Meet Susan, a fictious teenager who loves painting and playing the guitar (and who is like many of the students walking the halls of Martinsburg North Middle School). Behind her cheerful demeanor, Susan battled a silent enemy: cyberbullying. Unknown to her parents, she faced relentless torment online, which took a toll on her mental health and self-esteem. Despite her attempts to conceal her pain, Susan's grades plummeted, and she withdrew from social interactions at school. It wasn't until her parents noticed subtle changes in her behavior that they intervened, offering her the support and guidance she desperately needed to overcome cyberbullying's harmful effects. Susan's story underscores the importance of recognizing the signs of cyberbullying and fostering open communication with our children about their online experiences.
In today's digitally connected world, social media has become an integral part of our teenagers' lives. While it offers opportunities for communication and self-expression, it also presents challenges that can impact our students' relationships and well-being. As parents, it's crucial for us to understand these challenges and support our children so they can responsibly navigate the complexities of social media. Social media platforms often introduce unique challenges that can affect student dynamics at school:
*Comparison and Self-Esteem: Social media allows students to carefully craft the online version of themselves that they want to show the world - an exaggerated truth. This fosters feelings of inadequacy as students compare themselves to others' social media highlight reels which can lead to low self-worth.
*Cyberbullying: Because students can remain anonyomous in their posts, social media amplifies the impact of bullying as students become increasingly cruel in their criticisms and opinions. Students who never have a break from social media are constantly being bombarded with negative and harmful comments. Whereas earlier generations only had to face bullying at school or on the playground, today's students face a constant onslaught of bullying at all hours of the day.
*School Violence: Excessive use of social media can contribute to conflict between peers at school leading to fights and other types of bullying/ violence. This becomes destructive to the education of entire classes of students, not just the few involved in the conflict.
Recognizing Signs of Cyberbullying:
It's essential to remain vigilant for signs that your child may be experiencing cyberbullying:
*Emotional Changes: Watch for sudden mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or depression without apparent cause.
*Academic Decline: Notice changes in academic performance, reluctance to attend school, or avoidance of social situations.
*Physical Symptoms: Be attentive to physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or changes in eating or sleeping patterns, which may indicate underlying emotional distress.
Taking Action Against Cyberbullying:
If you suspect that your child is being cyberbullied, take proactive steps to address the situation. Provide a safe space for your child to express their feelings and experiences without judgment. Validate their emotions and reassure them that they're not alone in facing this challenge. Keep records of threatening messages, harmful comments, or other forms of cyberbullying as evidence for school authorities or law enforcement, if necessary. Collaborate with your child's school counselors, teachers, and administrators to implement effective intervention strategies and support systems to safeguard your child's well-being.
Here are just a few people at North Middle who can help:
*Our administrators: Ms. Eyler, Mr. Lam, Mr. Lake, Ms. Holloway
*Our counselors: Ms. Sigler (6th grade & A-K of 7th grade), Ms. Poe (7th grade L-Z, 8th grade)
*Our Technology Specialist: Ms. Deavers
*Our social workers: Ms. Kocik & Ms. Wolfgang
*Our safety officer: Mr. Olack
Together, let's empower our teenagers to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and cultivate positive, respectful relationships both online and offline!
SCHOOLOGY ACCESS
PARENTS, DO YOU NEED YOUR OWN ACCOUNT?
ONLINE ABSENCE NOTE ACCESS
A COOL THING HAPPENED IN CLASS...
*The Northern Lights Show Choir is working hard in class to prepare for their competition at Grafton High School Show Choir Festival on February 3rd!
*Due to the snow during the Martin Luther King week, many classes participated in activites this week to celebrate the legacy of this famous American. Mr. Smith's classes analyzed the "I Have a Dream" speech for evidence of ethos, pathos, and logos. One of Mr. Callis' students drew an amazing portrait of MLK!
*In Ms. Mowen's math PBL class, students built an 8-inch cube, then calculated the surface area. They were given just enough paper to cover there cube so they can then decorate it.
*Ms. Mills is doing a new lesson with students in the library this month. She's helping kids figure out what their "genre personality" is! What kinds of books appeal to their interests?
The Northern Lights Show Choir
One of Ms. Mowen's students shows off their cube project.
A display in Ms. Mills' "genre personality" lesson.
A display in Ms. Mills' "genre personality" lesson.
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