Nelson Middle School News
September 2015
From the Principal's desk
Greetings Mustang Nation!
What a great start to the school year we have had! Our teachers and students have been doing some pretty amazing things thus far and more is expected as we go through the year. There are two key things that really have us excited and that I want to touch on in this newsletter: our school Motto and the arrival of Chrome books for students in grades 7 and 8.
On the first day that teachers came back to school, I asked them to come up with a motto that could be simply stated and would guide all of our efforts for this school year. That Friday the faculty decided on “Only your best is good enough”. The motto was introduced to students in their class meetings during the first week of school. Simply put, our motto means that we (students, faculty, and staff) will do our best in everything that we do. That is all that anybody can ask. If we all do the very best that we can, surely we can make this a wonderful school year.
We are also very excited about new technology that the division invested in that will definitely enhance the teaching and learning that we do on a daily basis. In the coming weeks, NMS 7th and 8th graders will each receive their very own Google Chrome Book. The Chrome Books offer students and teachers a terrific learning tool for school but also, the devices will be used to extend the learning day when they are released to the students to take home. The world will literally be at the fingertips of our
students and teachers every day. We would like to take this moment also to thank the NCPS School Board as well as the NC Board of Supervisors for their support in this initiative. We could not have done this without them. I have included my contact information in this newsletter should you have any questions regarding the Chrome Books.
In closing, I would like to remind everyone that you can keep up with all of the happenings at NMS by following us in any or all of the social media sites listed below:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NMSMustangs
- Twitter: @NMSMustangs
- Instagram: nmsmustangs
Sincerely,
Roger Dunnick, Ed.D.
Reading as a Culture in the Classroom
This year, in Mrs. Johnson’s English classes, students are learning to
become passionate, habitual readers. Students are being encouraged to explore
different genres, develop their own personal tastes, and share their reading
through book talks of novels that they rate as 5 Star Reads. The students are
also learning to be intentional about their reading by keeping “someday” lists of
titles that are recommended by peers, teachers, and other readers. Our class is
becoming a place where you might overhear students talking about how good a
particular book was or what the student intends to read next.
Research tells us that the only way to develop expertise in reading is to
have frequent voluminous practice with a book that engages you and that is
on your reading level. Malcolm Gladwell writes in his book Outliers (2008) about needing 10,000 hours of committed practice to gain expertise in any skill. That being
said, reading is the most important homework that can be assigned by an English
teacher. It is the expectation that students will read a minimum of 70 pages a
week in any given book that they are reading this year. This will increase as they
get better and gain endurance and speed.
So far, the majority of the students have read two or three books already
this year, and many have read upwards of 10. Students have already ordered
books from Scholastic, and with the bonus points received, fifty-nine new books
were added to the classroom library! Parents are encouraged to strike up a
conversation about the book their student is reading. Think about turning off the
TV and reading together one night a week, or get two copies of the same book to
read and talk about as you read with your child. Your child is apt to read more if
they see you as a reader too.
NCEF Grant Provides Ten Kindles for Checkout
Thanks to 8th grade teacher Karen Largen and the Nelson County Education Foundation, the NMS Library was able to purchase ten Kindle e-readers for students to check out as well as funds to purchase many e-books to read on them. Mrs. Beeler has purchased a few books, but students will be able to make requests for e-books they would like to see available.
In order to check out one of the Kindles, students will need to see Mrs. Beeler or Mrs. Hunt in the library for a parent permission form. We hope these will be very popular with students. Be sure to thank Ms. Largen for this great opportunity when you see her!
Art Studio Happenings!
Grade 6 just completed Batman and Robin art while Grade 7 created Stick Abstract Paintings. The 8th grade Art I classes finished Graffiti art using their names. Stop by and see some of their artwork in the front hallway of the middle school.
Stay tuned for more, or better yet, come visit the Art Studio and see our young artists in action!
NMS School Musical: Honk! Jr. Coming Soon!
Honk! Jr. is a delightful adaptation of one of the most beloved fables of all time, Hans Christian Anderson's The Ugly Duckling. Performance dates are October 29th and 30th at 7:00 p.m. Honk! Jr. is directed by Mr. Kershner, NMS Chorus teacher.
Upcoming Events
This Month:
- 9/7 NO SCHOOL...LABOR DAY
- 9/8 FFA Forestry Field Day and Crops Judging Practice begin
- 9/10 NO SCHOOL...PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES 1-7PM
- 9/29 FFA State Fair Trip
Next Month:
- 10/10 FFA Bluegrass Benefit Concert and Silent Auction
- 10/23 to 11/3 Scholastic Book Fair