Weekly Wildcat Newsletter - Feb. 26
Northwestern Middle School News and Notes
Good afternoon Wildcat Country!
We had some beautiful weather this week (minus today)! I enjoyed getting outside and seeing our students run around during recess when it was 70 and sunny. I'm hopeful for more days like this soon!
Our rising 6th grade students participated in a remote tour of our school this week. Thank you to Ms. Manganelli, Ms. Pena, and some of our talented students for putting this video together for our soon-to-be Wildcats! I hope to welcome our new students into the building, perhaps this summer, before school starts in the Fall.
I had the pleasure of helping with afternoon carpool at some of our feeder schools this week - Crabapple Crossing and Birmingham Falls. I will be visiting Alpharetta ES next week. I really enjoyed these school visits.
I have a couple reminders for our community. Our front desk hours are 8:25 am to 4:25 pm, but after school we do have an Administrator on duty until 5:00 pm to answer phone calls. If you need to contact the front desk, please call between these hours or email at nmsfrontdesk@fultonschools.org.
Students should never be on school property after hours unless they are supervised and participating in a school event or an approved teams event such as Milton feeder programs. This includes our school building and grounds (basketball court, track, and fields). If you have any questions about this please let me know.
If you have any questions, you can email me directly at petersonj1@fultonschools.org.
Have a GREAT weekend! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone Monday morning!
4th Quarter Learning Environment
As we approach the midterm of the second semester, FCS is requesting parents make a commitment for how they wish their child to learn – face-to-face instruction vs remote learning – for the remainder of the school year. The last 9-week period begins in March and runs until the end of the semester. No action is needed if parents are satisfied with their child’s current learning environment, and only those who wish to change should contact their school between March 1-12. The student’s learning group will remain the same as it stood on March 1, unless the school is notified.
New Student Devices Are Coming!
If your student has a FCS Surface currently checked out to them, we are replacing all those devices with newer (faster and better) touchscreen laptops. Most of these replacements are Lenovo Thinkpads. F2F students will get their device during Social Studies classes next week. For remote students only, we are utilizing a Signup Genius and will collect and distribute devices in the carpool lane on Thursday and Friday of next week (March 4-5).
Monday, March 1 – 6th grade
Tuesday, March 2 – 7th grade
Wednesday, March 3 – 8th grade
Thursday/Friday, March 4-5 – Remote students
If your REMOTE student has a Surface, please go to this link to sign up for a time to turn that device in and get a replacement. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0949A9AD28A3FC1-device2. This process should be quick and contact will be minimal. However you will need to stay in the carpool lane for a few minutes to login from within the school’s Wi-Fi. Please bring your student’s login information if they are not coming with you.
Students will need to turn in the Surface in order to get the new device. Please bring the Surface charger as well. If you forget the charger, please bring it to school at your earliest convenience. If you have lost it, we will provide information about how to pay for it using OSP ($30). You will not receive a device if you do not bring the Surface, but we will still replace the Surface if you do not have the charger. If your student has a Surface pen, you do not need to return that. They work on a basic level with the newer touchscreens.
At this time, we are only able to replace the Surfaces. If your student has another type of FCS device, we are not replacing it at this time. Please call the Help Line if you’re having problems with any device other than a Surface. 470-254-2300.
If you have any questions, please email our Device Coordinator, Ms. Mary Deininger at deininger@fultonschools.org.
Georgia Milestones - Spring 2021
The US Department of Education (ED) has provided guidance to states regarding assessment, accountability, and reporting requirements for the 2020-21 school year. ED will consider waiver applications for flexibility from some accountability and reporting this school year. Unfortunately, ED will NOT waive the federal testing requirements for this year. Therefore, we must proceed with administering federally-required assessments this spring. The State Board of Education has notified districts that students in remote learning should not be required to come into the building solely for the purpose of taking Georgia Milestones. However, schools and districts should notify parents that this option is available to them. As a result, the Fulton County Schools Office of Assessment will create a survey for schools to send to families to determine which families would like to opt-in to spring testing. The details of this survey, as well as general processes and planning for Milestones will be shared in the near future.
Exceptional Children's Week 2021
Support MHS Student Research
Remote Student Pictures
COVID-19 Parent (Student) Reporting Portal
School Year 2021-22 Scheduling Timeline
During this process we will continue to update and provide information to parents/guardians and students. These communications will be sent home through messenger by our Counselors and Grade Level APs, as well as updates in our Weekly Wildcat.
Questions?
Rising 9th Grade Parents/Guardians - contact Ms. Euodia Harris at harrise1@fultonschools.org
Rising 6th-8th Grade Parents/Guardians - contact Ms. Amber Manganelli at manganellia@fultonschools.org
Rising 6th Grade Elementary
Rising 7th/8th Grade NMS
Come Sub With Us at Northwestern!
Fulton County Schools is providing a temporary pay incentive to substitutes starting December 1st through the remainder of this school year. The following are the added incentives:
- Add an emergency substitute daily rate incentive (see below) that expires as of May 31st.
- If occurs, FCS will pay a quarantined individual substituting in the (teacher role only) a $75 flat daily rate for a maximum of 10 days during the quarantine period. The quarantine must be directed by a FCS COVID-19 Response Team nurse and the result of a direct contact with a positive COVID-19 staff/student while substituting at a FCS school. This is a one-time incentive.
- Increase the maximum number of substitute workdays per month from 17 to 20 days for the remainder of this school year.
New Substitute Rates with incentive
Keep Students Healthy Checklist
- Students are required to wear a face covering/mask while at school. Staff are also required to wear face coverings.
- If your child is sick, please keep them at home and make sure they are fever free for at least 24 hours before return.
- If anyone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19 and you have been advised to isolate or quarantine, please adhere to the public health guidance and do not send your student to school until after the noted timeframe.
- Encourage your student to wash hands frequently.
- If your child becomes sick while at school, you will be expected to be pick-up your child immediately.
- Please alert school administration of any COVID-19 related concerns.
Parent/Guardian Visits to School
We are attempting to limit visitors to the school and ask that our community only visit for essential reasons. We will make allowances for student who have forgotten things at home. There is no charge for breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria at this time, so parents/guardians do not need to deliver food for their students.
When visitors come to the school, they will be asked to complete a health assessment before entering the building. Wearing a mask is required and visitors will have their temperature checked upon entering the building. If you have to pick up your student or visit the school, please plan for these additional steps and come early.
Clinic Information
Medications may be brought to the school. Prescription medications must be in the original container and labeled. All medications must be accompanied with proper medical forms. Please go to https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/7525 for forms and healthcare plans. Medications will be accepted by appointment only. Please call Mary Crandall at 470-254-8514 or send an email to crandall@fultonschools.org.
- In the event that your student has been exposed to Covid please inform an Administrator and your concern will be forwarded to Student Health Services for further evaluation.
- If your child develops a fever while in school, they will be isolated and you will need to pick them up immediately.
NMS Clubs and Student Activities
Northwestern is excited to offer a variety of clubs and activities this school year. Please visit the NMS website’s Quick Links and select Student Clubs and Activities to learn more about our offerings.
NMS Student Newspaper
Cambridge Junior Bears Football
Milton Cheerleading
Don’t Miss Out
Only 200 yearbooks left to order. Click HERE to order or go to Balfour.com.
Questions can be directed to the Yearbook Team at nmsyearbookmiltonga@gmail.com
We Need Your Help
NMS will be switching out all surfaces for an updated school issued device from the county. We need parent volunteers to help make this surface exchange as smooth as possible for the students. Follow this link to sign up to help. Please be certain that you have complete the volunteer registration with FCS before coming into school.
Do You Own Your Own Business?
or Know Someone Who Does?
Northwestern Middle school invites you to partner with us to enhance the educational experiences of our students and support the needs of our teachers. Become a Business Partner and your financial donation will be greatly appreciated. In return, the NMS PTO would display your business logo to our NMS families in various communications, websites and on campus throughout the year. Click HERE to learn more about our Business Partner levels and ways to partner with us.
Northwestern Middle School
Home of the Wildcats!
Email: nmsfrontdesk@fultonschools.org
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/northwesternms
Location: 12805 Birmingham Highway, Milton, GA, USA
Phone: (470) 254-2870
Twitter: @TheNMSWildcats
NMS Front Office Hours
Outside of these hours, you can send an email to our front office staff at nmsfrontdesk@fultonschools.org.
Thank you for your continued support of Northwestern Middle School!
Sincerely,
Joel - Principal
Northwestern Middle School: Teach Hard, Love Harder - The Wildcat Way!