Novi Middle School News
News from Wildcat Country -March 12th, 2020
Administrative Note
We are excited to welcome you to Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, March 24th. Note that we only have one night of conferences in the spring. Remember that if you plan to attend, you should schedule your appointments with teachers on-line ahead of time. Details on how to do so are below. We look forward to seeing you!
Also, please note that NMS will be a polling place for the Michigan primary election held tomorrow (March 10th). Voters will use the Auxiliary Gym and will be restricted to entering the building at a side door entrance (Door #9) We will have a hallway monitor securing the space throughout the day.
We will also be partnering with Novi High School and several buildings in the district to support Charity Week! Once again we will be partnering with Make A Wish Michigan to raise money to grant the wishes of deserving children. Charity week will be March 23 - March 27. We will have dress up days and our fundraiser is the blue star competition. For one dollar each, students can purchase Make A Wish stars. We encourage each A-20 class to make their best design outside the classroom with purchased stars. We will thank our top class in each grade with a pizza party!
Have a GREAT week!
Sincerely,
Principal Baker & Dean Southworth
Parent Teacher Sign-Up & Information
Dear Parents/Guardians of Novi Middle School:
Our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, March 24th from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM at Novi Middle School. The staff will be in positioned in alphabetical order in the Cafeteria and both gymnasiums. If you are unable to schedule a time with a particular teacher, you can always contact that teacher directly via e-mail or phone to discuss student progress or concerns.
My Conference Time is an on-line parent-teacher conference scheduler that allows parents or guardians to personally reserve a date and time for their conferences. The program is secure and it does not release any personal information to a third party. This program helps teachers to be adequately prepared for each student’s conference and aims to honor your time.
Please conclude your conference within three minutes to allow you to promptly move to your next scheduled session. Please plan to leave a little space in between sessions to move from one conference to the next. Also, please do not plan to schedule a session with your child’s A-20 teacher - this will help to provide spaces for students in that teacher’s academic classes. If you have questions about A-20, please do not hesitate to reach out to the teacher via phone or e-mail. Please note that sessions fill up quickly, so please make your reservations as soon as possible. If you need a longer window to discuss a concern or issue, please individually contact that teacher and schedule a meeting with that teacher for a different day.
Directions for signing up for multiple parent-teacher conferences:
1. Please go to www.myconferencetime.com/novims
2. Click on the link “Register for Multiple Conferences”.
3. Enter the number of students who will be registered for conferences. Click Continue.
4. Enter each student’s first and last name, including other required information. (Email address is not required, however, if you enter one, you will receive an email confirmation) Click Continue.
5. Check the box next to all the teachers with whom you would like to conference. Click “Find Schedules with Common Dates”.
6. The screen shows available dates of the selected teachers. Click on the day you would like to meet with the teachers.
7. Using the chart, Click the students’ name and desired time for each teacher. Click “Sign up for Selected Conferences” at the bottom of the page.
8. The next page confirms you now have the requested date and time reserved for the parent-teacher conference. If you entered your email address correctly, you will receive a confirmation email.
Directions for signing up for one parent-teacher conference (with just one teacher):
1. Please go to www.myconferencetime.com/novims
2. Find and Click on the name of your student’s teacher.
3. Select your preferred date and time and Click “Sign Up”.
4. Enter the required information. (Email address is not required, however, if you enter one, you will receive an email confirmation.).
5. Click on “Sign Up for Your Conference” near the bottom of the screen.
6. The next page confirms you have the requested date and time of the conference. If you entered your email address correctly, you will receive a confirmation email.
If you are unable to sign up for a time and date online, please contact your child’s teacher directly via email.
Thank you for your high level of engagement and support of your child’s education.
Sincerely,
Robert Baker, Angie Southworth & Andrew Comb on behalf of the NMS Staff
MSVMA District Choral Festival Cancelled
I regret to announce that the MSVMA District Choral Festival has been cancelled. Our Pre-Festival Concert this evening is also cancelled. The safety and well-being of our students and community is our number one priority. Therefore, I support the administrators and the MSVMA Board of Directors in their decision to cancel these large group gathering events. At this time, neither event has been rescheduled.
I am extremely saddened by this unfortunate circumstance. Our students have been working hard to perfect their songs. This is probably the hardest working group of students I have ever had. Meanwhile, we will carry on and take pride in what we’ve learned from festival preparation with heads held high.
Stay healthy everyone.
Kristen Grebinski, NMS Choir Director
Novi Middle School Twitter
Novi Middle School Counseling Department- @NoviMScounselor
Novi Middle School Staff Spotlight
Hi, my name is Bailey Bishop. This is my second year teaching at Novi Middle School and second year teaching in my career! I teach Computers 7, Health 7, and Physical Education. I earned my bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Grand Valley State University. Outside of the school day I like to take my one year old dog Alex for long walks, exercise, cook/bake, eat Leo's coney island, and binge watch the Office. I enjoy camping, the outdoors, and exploring/traveling to new places in Michigan.
Important School Dates
MARCH
12th - No Late Bus
24th - Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences - 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Novi Middle School
Academic Support
Fleece and Thank Yous
March 28th 12-5pm
MABD-WHAT IS IT??!!
A free event for the Walled Lake, Novi, and surrounding communities to come together to make fleece blankets for children facing hospital treatments! All ages are welcome!
LOCATION- SUBURBAN COLLECTION SHOWPLACE
46100 Grand River Ave Novi, MI 48374
Join us in the Cornerstone Event Rooms 1-4, located on the west side of the venue.
Parking is FREE!
For more info: give.fleeceandthankyou.org/MABDWLN
No Late Buses Available on the Following Dates
On the following dates, there will be no late buses running from the Middle School. Parents should plan to provide transportation if a student needs to stay after school. Thank you!
Thursday, March 12
Schoology - Grade Reporting
Yearbook
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
CLUB NEWS AND INFORMATION
Club & Activity Sponsors
CLUBS
Art Club - Alex Erskine alexander.erskine@novik12.org
Game Club - Taylor Morgan taylor.morgan@novik12.org
Golf Club - Kim Wesner kimberly.wesner@novik12.org
Interact Club - Michelle Evans michelle.evans@novk12.org
Math Club - Melissa Henderson melissa.henderson@novik12.org
Paw Print Newsletter - Ken Fenchel kenneth.fenchel@novik12.org
ACTIVITIES
Fall Play - Lori Burkhardt loretta.burkhardt@novik12.org
Spring Musical - Lori Burkhardt loretta.burkhardt@novik12.org
Art Club
Chamber Club
Coding Club
Game Club
Our next Game Club meeting will be held on Monday, March 16th in room #110.
GSA
Math Club
Paw Print Newspaper
Science Olympiad
Future Novi Middle School Activities
Washington DC Trip: Every 8th grader is invited to explore our Nation’s capital for four days in November. Students register for this trip during January of their 7th grade year, but some openings usually remain after that time. Email Mr. Fenchel at kenneth.fenchel@novik12.org or see him in room 128 for more information.
SPORTS
Girls Lacrosse
"Attention ALL girls interested in playing lacrosse this spring. NO experience is necessary to play and we are excited to offer this sport brand to Novi Middle School. Email Coach Evans from the high school at michelle.evans@novik12.org. Informational Flyers will be available in the main office as well."
Track Practices
Julie Henderson: julie.henderson@novik12.org
Ben Scott: benscott67@gmail.com
*Middle School Girls Soccer Tryouts*
Tryouts for the Novi Middle School Girls' Soccer Team will be held on Wednesday, March 25, and Friday, March 27. In order to participate, you must:
- register on the athletics page of the district website BEFORE 3/23.
- turn in a physical dated after 4/15/19 to Mr. Fenchel BEFORE 3/23 (or have played a middle school sport earlier in the school year).
- bring clothes for the weather, as well as running shoes, shin guards, a water bottle, and, if possible, cleats. Do NOT bring a ball.
Players on the team may NOT compete for any other soccer team during the middle school season. This includes club, showcase, parks and rec, etc.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Fenchel at kenneth.fenchel@novik12.org.
Athletic Website
We are very excited to announce that the Novi Community Schools Athletic Department has partnered with FinalForms, online forms, and data management service. FinalForms allows you to complete and sign athletic participation forms for your students. The most exciting news is that FinalForms saves data from season-to-season and year-to-year, meaning that you will never need to enter the same information twice! FinalForms also pre-populates information wherever possible, for each of your students, saving you time.
You may review your data at any time to verify it is current. You will be required to sign your forms once per year and after any update.
Click on the Parent Playbook (attached) to get started in FinalForms. If you require any support during the process, scroll to the page bottom and click “Use Support”.
We are asking that ALL parents of athletes use FinalForms.
Please register at: https://novi-mi.finalforms.com/students
and follow the prompts to create your account, create your students and sign your forms.
Thank you for your assistance in streamlining our paperwork processes at Novi Community Schools.
Avoiding Lice
As school is now in session, it is important to remember the guidelines for avoiding head lice. It has been found in classrooms around the district already this year so please be vigilant in looking for it and treating it effectively. The website below has very helpful information.
Food Pantry
Sincerely,
Mary DePotter
Novi Middle School Counseling Secretary
248.449.1609 mary.depotter@novik12.org
PTO
Once again, Thank you to so many parents for donating to the Novi Middle School PTO this year at registration. The PTO has several great projects to support our students throughout the year and is looking for volunteers to help with activities/events. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Kaija Juszak - ksjuszak@gmail.com or Jen Pleet - jenpleet@hotmail.com.
Thank you so much for your consideration!
Box Tops for Education
New Box Tops App
Volunteer Background Checks
Food Service
BREAKFAST - Please fuel up for the day with a Delicious Breakfast served by our friendly Staff available for any and all interested students in the Cafeteria. A breakfast station is open in the cafeteria from 7:25am - 7:45am. Food and drink should please remain in the cafeteria only.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
The Michigan Child Protection Registry
The Michigan Child Protection Registry, administered under our Secretary of State’s office, is dedicated to stopping minors, parents and other caregivers from receiving any solicitations from gambling, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and pornography companies via email and text messaging. You can visit the Registry at www.ProtectMIChild.com.
There are 4 things you can do to help get this information out to parents:
- Include information about the Registry in a newsletter. I’ve attached a copy of what other schools have used in the past in their newsletters.
- Include a link to the Registry somewhere on your website.
- Include a brief description and a link to the Registry on your Facebook page. (I can assist you with the wording.)
- If you are looking for someone to talk about the Registry, internet safety and the popular apps that teens are using, please contact me. I speak to a lot of parent groups all around Michigan.
I can’t stress enough how important internet safety and this Registry is in helping to keep our kids safe while using any type of mobile device. Please let me know if you can help us inform parents of this resource, if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you so much and have a great day!
Alisha Meneely
Community Outreach Coordinator
Protect MI Child
Cell: 616-540-8669
Go to www.protectMIchild.com and register today!
Like us on Facebook and get updates on how you can keep your children safe.
Morning Drop-off/Afternoon Pick-up
Please do not plan to pick up or drop off on the east side of the building. This area is reserved for school bus drop-offs and pick-ups. Thank you for your patience and for helping to keep all of our Wildcats safe.
Welcome to ALL of our Wildcats!
Our Wildcats are POWERful!
Here is our map if you need to study :)
Novi Middle School
Asst. Principal: Andrew Comb
Dean of Students: Angie Southworth - 7th Grade Liaison
Email: Robert.Baker@novik12.org
Website: http://www.novi.k12.mi.us/ms/
Location: 49000 West 11 Mile Road, Novi, MI, USA
Phone: 248-449-1600
Twitter: @novi_ms