Tornado Watch
November 2019
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear North Medford Families and friends,
In this issue of the Tornado Watch you’ll see information about many of the events happening in November. The biggest event is Parent/Teacher conferences – please be sure to read this section closely as it may apply to you and your student!
The piece of information I want to emphasize are North’s academic results. For the past three years, we have been among the highest ranked schools in Oregon when measuring graduation rates. I am happy to report that our academic scores are up as well – way up in fact. Our reading and writing scores have increased 7 percentage points over the previous year! This is no small feat as this represents a very heavy-lift on the part of our teachers to get students to perform so well on these state standardized tests. We are performing far better than state averages and are proud of the hard work our students have put in to show what they can really do.
In Math, our growth targets still need to show improvement. We are currently performing just under State of Oregon averages and are taking steps to remedy that situation. Our district adopted a new math curriculum last year and anticipate continued improvement in this area.
I look forward to seeing you on campus in the near future!
Sincerely,
Daniel P. Smith, Ed.D.
NORTH MEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE IMFORMATION
North Medford High School Administrative Information:
Principal: Dan Smith 541- 842-1189
Assistant Principals: Jessica Hamlin 541-842-1204
Brent McConaghy (Mr. Mac) 541-842-1180, Erika Wright 541-842-1332
Counselors:
Rob Cowden 541-842-1220, Coray Dykes 541-842-1253
Mayra Garcia 541-842-1251, Sarah Mortinson 541-842-1211
Activities Office: Jen Ernst 541-842-1215
Athletic Director: Patrick Grady 541-842-1194
Attendance: 541-842-3671- 24 hours/7 day Attendance Email: attendance@medford@k12.or.us
District Website: www.medford.k12.or.us
Main Office Telephone: 541-842-3670
Main Office Fax Number: 541-842-5206
Registrar: Janet Jones 541-842-1187
Student Center: 541-842-1191
Student Management: 541-842-1192
Tornado Future Center: 541-842-5222
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Conferences will be held on Monday, November 25th and Tuesday, November 26th. More information will be available soon on our website regarding how to schedule a conference for your student.
ATTENDANCE WINDOW REMINDER
If you are bringing a student to school after an appointment or taking a student out of school, please be sure to use our attendance window. It is at the front of the school, for your convenience.
DOORBELL/BUZZER SYSTEMS FOR NMHS
In an effort to improve safety for Medford School District (MSD) students and staff, the MSD invested in new doorbell/buzzer systems for the front entrances of all schools, including NMHS.
For your convenience, we have an outside attendance window located on the front of the Main Office building. We ask parents to utilize this as much as possible.
When coming to the school office for any reason, please be sure to have your ID ready, as this is required to enter the building.
The Main Office front doors will be open during drop-off and pickup times as follows:
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri – 7:30 – 9 a.m.; 11:05 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.; 3:45 - 4 p.m.
Wed – 7:30-9:15 a.m.; 11:25 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.; 3:45- 4 p.m.
Thank you for your assistance as all of us improve safety for our staff and studentsSTUDENT ID BADGES
Student ID badges need to be visible and can be:
*clipped onto clothing
*worn around the neck with a provided lanyard
*hanging out of a pocket
MUST BE WORN WHILE ON CAMPUS
SENIOR PICTURES
Dear Seniors and Parents:
The Tornadia staff would like to see every member of the Class of 2020 pictured in the senior section of the yearbook.
Lifetouch took a yearbook picture of each senior at registration. If you want to use this photo in the yearbook, you don’t need to do anything. However, seniors may also have yearbook portraits taken by professional photographers of their choice. We will replace the Lifetouch picture with the new photo, but pictures must be emailed to yearbook.photos@medford.k12.or.us by January 10, 2020.
All photos must meet the following requirements:
· Full color .jpeg file with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
· Face size fills approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the photo frame
· Subtle/conservative background (no bright, alarming colors)
· Follows school dress code (Avoid: props, spaghetti straps, bare shoulders, and hats.)
Any senior pictures not meeting the specifications listed above will not be used.
Email photos as a file attachment to yearbook.photos@medford.k12.or.us with the subject line senior photo and student’s first and last name.
If you have questions or concerns regarding senior pictures or the yearbook, please contact me at (541)842-5311 or Curtis.Stout@medford.k12.or.us.
Sincerely,
Curtis Stout
North Medford High Yearbook Adviser
IMPORTANT SENIOR DATES
Important Senior Dates 2019-2020
* Senior quotes January 10, 2020
* Submit on Google form sent through email
* Senior photos: January 10, 2020
* Submit to yearbook.photos@medford.k12.or.us
* Follow dress code; head and shoulder shot;
* Read flyer with requirements sent to google e-mail account.
* Ads for Grads Early Bird (lowest price): November 30, 2019
* Purchase on jostens.com/yearbook ads
* Ads for Grads Deadline: February 13, 2020
Yearbook Prices
* Before January1, 2020 $55 Purchase on jostens.com or with Mrs. Ernst in the activities office.
* After January1, 2020 $65 Personalization of yearbook done through Jostens.com
TORNADO FUTURE CENTER
For more information on what is happening in the Tornado Future Center head to our North Medford Website, go to programs and click on Tornado Future Center.
ANNUAL CHILD FIND NOTIFICATION
Annual Child Find Notification—Services for Students with Special Needs
Are you concerned about your child’s development? Do you feel your child has significant learning, speech/language, physical or behavioral problems that interfere with their classroom performance? Medford School District 549C wants to find and evaluate the skills of children under the age of 21 years living within its district boundaries who have serious physical, vision, hearing, speech/language, learning, or emotional problems so that appropriate educational services may be provided for them. If you have concerns about your child’s development, please contact the school office or the Student Services Office at 541-842-3668.
TALENTED AND GIFTED
Medford District 549C schools are in the process of identifying students who are academically talented and/or intellectually gifted. Students may be nominated for the Talented and Gifted Program (TAG) by the following: national or state test scores (97th percentile or above), teachers, parents, community members, or by self-nomination. After nominations are complete, information will be gathered and a screening committee will screen each student. Students will be contacted if additional testing is needed. If you wish to obtain information on this program or you have any questions, please contact Terri Dahl, the district talented and gifted coordinator at 541-842-3633, or at North Medford High School contact Sophia Chu at 541-842-5319
ELECTRONIC FLYER DELIVERY
The Medford School District delivers school information and approved flyers from community organizations electronically. These school-approved eflyers are emailed directly to you. Additionally you can view eflyers by clicking the Peachjar button on your school’s website homepage.
This “green” initiative saves our schools tons of paper and reduces copy costs by thousands of dollars. On top of that, posting school flyers in this electronic backpack removes a significant administrative burden from teachers, office staff, and volunteers.
If we have your email address on file, then no action is required on your part. If your child has moved to a new school in the district, you will receive eflyers from the new school. If you have not provided your email address, please do so to avoid missing important information.
To ensure smooth delivery of this communication, we suggest you add “school@peachjar.com” to your email contacts. When you receive your first eflyer, be sure to click “always display images.”
This system is used exclusively for distribution of school-approved flyers. Your email address will not be shared or used for any other purpose. Thank you for supporting our efforts to ensure parents are well informed about school programs, activities, and events.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
ATTENDANCE:
To excuse student absences please call 541-842-3671 within 48 hours of the absence. You may excuse your student ahead of the absence by calling 541-842-3671 or sending your student with a note to attendance. All notes must have your student’s name, date type of appointment, time of release and be signed by a parent or guardian.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSURES:
In case of heavy snow, adverse fog conditions, or other emergencies demanding the closure of school, students and parents will be able to obtain information through their local radio and television stations beginning at 6 am, or at our district website: www.medford.k12.or.us. Please do not phone the school as employees will also be delayed.
Emergency DRILLS:
Please note: Our staff may not be able to answer calls during any emergency drills. In case of a real emergency district will send out information as soon as possible. Our first concern is safety of our students.
EMAIL:
Please be sure to keep your email information up to date so that we may keep you informed of current events and important information.
PAL (Parent Access Link):
PAL is a great source of information available to families within the District. PAL provides parents and students online access to individual updates regarding grades, assignments, and attendance. Information regarding this service is available online and at the Main Office.
BUSING QUESTIONS:
Bus information may be found on our district website under the “Parents” tab or you may contact First Student at 541-772-1114 for questions regarding routes, pick-up times, drop-off times, or any other busing issues.
HIGH SCHOOL PARKING:
Students must have a parking permit in order to park in student designated parking areas only during school hours. Parking permits may be purchased at the Activities Office.
DELIVERIES TO THE HIGH SCHOOL:
We ask that parents and students do not have balloon and flowers, or food deliveries made to school. Thank you for your understanding as we try to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum.
NORTH MEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Go to osaa.org for all sports schedules.
LIBRARY NEWS
Library News
by Kelly Larson, Teacher Librarian
The North Medford Media Center webpage is like a mini-electronic library. Students have access to two major databases, Gale and EBSCO, World Book Encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance and Learning Express, which offers all kinds of test taking tutorials and career related help. Usernames and passwords are available in a document that is located on the same page that is only available to staff and students.
This month I would like to feature Cameron’s Collection and SORA. Both are online collections of books with different purposes.
Cameron was a teenager who struggled with anxiety and depression. She was trying to raise awareness about the stigma of mental illness, when she suddenly passed away at age 16 due to an undiagnosed heart condition.
In her honor, Gale Cengage curated an online collection of forty mental health eBooks. All of the books are available at any time in the privacy of your own home and without fear of stigma. The password for these books is mentalhealth.
Sora is our library’s eBook and audiobook collection. Students can filter searches by eBook or audiobook, reading level, genre or subject. The username for this program is the student’s ID number and the password is whatever they are using at school currently.