CONGRATS to Neal's Teacher of the Year: Ms. Byrd!
Please join us in wishing a heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Byrd, who is this year's Teacher of the Year! Ms. Byrd is a sixth grade social studies teacher who has been dedicated to our students for a decade and works everyday to continue learning and growing as an educator. Thank you, Ms. Byrd, for your passion and commitment to our community!
Congrats to Neal's Beginning Teacher of the Year: Mr. Fashoro!
Honor Roll!
Congratulations to our Quarter Two Honor Roll and Student Awards! We are all so very proud of you. Catch a replay of the celebration on Neal's podcast channel!
The Parent & Family Advocacy and Support Training (PFAST)
The Parent & Family Advocacy and Support Training (PFAST) program is a fun and FREE training that explains how to navigate your child’s educational experience. This year's training will be offered online via Zoom and will be divided into 8 sessions of 1 hour and 15 minutes each. We’ll be covering special topics related to virtual learning in this semester’s sessions. We’ll also be giving out prizes each week for participation. The English language classes will be on Fridays from 3-415PM from February 5 to March 26. If you have any questions, please contact Christa Gibson at mailto:cgibson@dconc.gov or by telephone at 919-560-5438. Information about the course can be found at https://go.ncsu.edu/pfastfaq. Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/pfast2021
Check out the Sixth Grade Newsletter!
Neal Food and Pantry Program
SwingPals
We'd like to thank our continued partnership with Doug Hodges and Swingpals. Student Services partnered with Swingpals this month to deliver our food pantry bags directly to families. Be sure to check out Swingpals (swingpals.org) and sign-up for Neal's Food Pantry.
Front Porch Discussions with Mr. Biggs!
Powerschool Parent Portal:
Ja'Vian Yarborough- "He is always on time or early most days for Science class. He responds and communicates effectively with his Camera On, through voice, and the chat feature. He ask great questions that keeps the class engaged and focus on the lesson for that day! I'm extremely proud of his work ethic! Keep up the hard work." -Mr. Liska
David Cazares-Ortiz- "David is not only a great reader but a great teammate. He makes everyone laugh by writing quick jokes in the Zoom chat, and he's always willing to help me with my Spanish! He even showed off some adorable baby chicks one day. I love hearing what he thinks of the books we are reading, and I appreciate that he gives it his all in every practice competition. I'm so glad to have him in the Battle of the Books club!" -Ms. Moriarty
"If you want to engage youth, you have to spend time with them. This includes doing things that they like and enjoy. I encourage you to focus on spending time getting to know [our youth]. This includes talking to us and getting to know our interests."
"We believe that all children have the potential to be involved in their community, environment, and have the skills to become the next generation of entrepreneurs. They just have to be three things; one, informed about what's going on and how they can help. Two, having engaging conversations with interesting topics to keep them interested. Lastly, inspired!"
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MIND: Browse topics on National Geographic Kids! Did you know that National Geographic has a website just for kids? There are articles on everything from slithery snakes to African American heroes like John Lewis and even facts about the Coronavirus! Check it out if you are looking to learn about new topics in a kid-friendly format. | BODY: Play some awesome wellness-themed games! Learn about the five food groups with printable crossword puzzles, mazes, word searches, word scrambles and coloring sheets. This site has awesome tips on things like how to switch to whole grains, choose healthier beverages, and plan a grocery run! | SPIRIT: Use meditation to achieve inner calm! Feeling stressed? Here's an article that compares five FREE meditation apps, so you can choose the one that's right for you! Work through difficult emotions with a guided meditation, deepen your practice with a themed course, or simply enjoy a few quiet minutes to yourself. |
MIND: Browse topics on National Geographic Kids!
BODY: Play some awesome wellness-themed games!
SPIRIT: Use meditation to achieve inner calm!
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NEED HELP? / ¿NECESITAS AYUDA? Contact your grade-level counselor or Ms. Jimenez if you need help logging in! / ¡Comuníquese con su consejero de nivel de grado o con la Sra. Jiménez si necesita ayuda para iniciar sesión! | TECHNOLOGY HELP | Virtual Learning |
NEED HELP? / ¿NECESITAS AYUDA?
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Talk to Someone Click here to see a list of Hotlines that you can call if you need immediate mental health assistance. There are hotlines for a wide range of topics including suicide prevention, domestic violence, depression and anxiety, and even financial assistance. Always call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger. | Not Sure if You Need Help? Sometimes it can be hard to know if your mental health symptoms require professional care. Check out this handy PDF from the National Institute of Mental Health to assess how much your symptoms interfere with your daily life. | Help Others It's difficult to see someone you love in pain, especially when you may not know the best way to help them. Click here for 5 Action Steps to Help Someone in Emotional Pain by the National Institute of Mental Health. |
Talk to Someone
Not Sure if You Need Help?
Help Others
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)- This is an incredible organization has compiled a list of Covid-related resources for families in Durham. There is information on child care for essential workers, the Disaster Distress Helpline, Durham FEAST, and much more. You can also check out their printable story book to help children talk about their experiences and feelings related to Covid here.
Neal Middle School
