Tornado Watch
December 2019 - January 2020
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear North Medford families and friends,
Students have been hard at work demonstrating their learning and expanding their knowledge in ways that will make them competitive in the world of work after high school. Whether they choose to directly enter the workforce or continue their learning at a two-year college or four-year university, we are equipping them for success. The importance of showing up, contributing, and providing evidence of a job well done has never been as important as it is today. Teachers are striving to help your student demonstrate what they actually know rather than just providing a simple answer. As a result, students today are learning to be problem solvers that have the potential to solve future problems that have yet to be answered. All of that is to say that I believe your students are on the right track to a better education right here at North Medford.
Stories abound in the media today of specialization in sports whereby an athlete only focuses on one sport specialty. However, at North Medford, we value and encourage our athletes to participate in multiple sports and the Black Tornado is stronger for it. As many of you know, we have concluded our Fall sports seasons with flying colors and are now getting into the nitty-gritty of boys’ and girls’ basketball, wrestling, and swimming. Indications are that our students will continue to excel during this season as well.
The winter season also brings showcase events for our Fine Arts programs. It my sincere hope that you will make time in your busy schedules to take in a concert, theater production, or a pottery/art exhibit during the upcoming months. North Medford students have much to offer the world. The students in our fine arts programs “learn by doing.” It is through these experiences that they learn first-hand what it means to communicate through artistic expression. They also learn just how important and impactful this pursuit can be in our ever-increasing hyper-media society.
I look forward to seeing you at these events and hope that we might have a change to visit!
Sincerely,
Daniel P. Smith
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.
STUDENT 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
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.
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
NMHS Class of 2020 has completed almost 300 applications this fall. College Application Week was a huge success. If you have a senior who is planning on attending college and does not have the following things completed it is time to get them done: FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) , College Applications, SAT and or ACT testing completed. Early Action is complete for most colleges and a lot of our students already have their admission decisions. If you need help with any of these things, contact the Tornado Future Center 541-842-1243 and we will help you.
The North Medford Foundation Scholarship application opened on December 2nd. If senior students want to apply for the scholarships offered through the NMHS Foundation they need to check their g-mail for the application and follow the instructions to download it. They can contact Jeri in the Tornado Future Center if they need help. This application will not work unless it is downloaded correctly.
December 9th -19th will be NMHS Alumni visits. Alumni students who are still in college will be in the Tornado Future Center during lunchtime to visit with our NMHS students and share their college experiences with our students. Watch daily announcements to see who will be here.
Seniors will be involved n Mock Interviews on December 20th through their Career & College Classes. Be sure your student comes to school dressed for an interview that day.
The next ASVAB Career Exploration Test will be on January 17th. Students should sign up on the Google form that was sent out via g-mail to them.
AVID
Applications to join AVID during semester two are now available. The AVID elective supports students as they challenge themselves in more rigorous classes. Students are taught study skills, note-taking, time management, writing skills, and research skills, while being immersed in a college-going culture. The class also includes study groups called tutorials that provide support for success in the academically rigorous curriculum. Additionally, the AVID class provides access to information about colleges and universities through field trips, guest speakers, college tutors, scholarship opportunities, and college admission requirement information.
1. AVID recruits students who are motivated to do well and who are serious about their academic future. Please get an application from Mrs. Malcolm in TA-3 or by email at charity.malcolm@medford.k12.or.us
MEET OUR SPARROW
LIBRARY NEWS
Sora: Online e-books and Audiobooks
All Medford School District students have access to a library of e-books and audiobooks. Students can easily access these books by going the NMHS Media Center page and scrolling down to the Sora icon. Logon is the student’s ID number and their current password. Sora is also available at soraapp.com.
Search filters allow students to search by e-book and/or audiobook. Other filters help students find books in their reading levels, books by interest, or by genre. Students can make suggestions to the district librarian if titles are not in our catalog.
Achievements are marked with badges like “Top of the Class” once a student has finished 10 books or “Don’t Let Go” when the scholar has renewed a book. Sora’s best feature is that it can link to the Jackson County Library’s e-book and audiobook collection, which is part of a consortium, so there are thousands more titles available to students.
If your children are interested in accessing these digital books and need help, they can come to the library and see the teacher librarian, Mrs. Larson or her assistant, Mrs. Barker.