News from the View!
Dedicated to furthering the lives of our students.
Monthly Update
Hello Again,
As I reflect on the 2018-2019 school year, I would like to acknowledge, and celebrate the many creative learning experiences, and innovative educational opportunities that have taken place in every learning environment, every day. Together the staff at North View have provided each student with an inclusive, and responsive environment that empowers, and inspires. Our continued commitment to furthering the lives of each student by using the best practices available has made our school a wonderful, and special learning environment.
It is my belief that the hallmark of a great school is to continuously work to improve learning for each and every student, each and every day. As the leader of North View Middle School, I see this as my most important responsibility, and I am happy to say that we continue to make progress on the school goals outlined in our School Improvement Plan.
Our continued interdisciplinary literacy-focused professional learning teams allowed staff to develop common instructional practices around comprehending, and responding to text, and our preliminary data shows that our students have benefited from this work. This year again, we have seen an increase in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) proficiency rates at all grade levels, with seventy percent of seventh-graders making medium or high growth.
Through their work in professional learning teams, and planning meetings our Math teachers provided students with learning that was student-focused, inquiry-based, and collaborative. This inclusion of data-driven best practices, and instruction that meets the academic, and individual needs of our students has improved student achievement and led to an increase in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding MCA proficiency rates in all grade levels, with nearly seventy-three percent of eighth-graders making medium or high growth.
A final word to North View students: Thank you for all your hard work throughout the school year. I am so honored to be your principal; you make me proud to be a Knight. You keep me laughing and young at heart. I am grateful for your joy, astute insights, and amazing talents. Best wishes to our graduating eighth graders, whom I will miss greatly—please come back and visit. Everyone have a safe and happy summer break.
Until next school year, here’s wishing you love, laughter, and learning.
If you have any questions about this or anything else related to North View Middle School, please feel free to contact me. If you would like to view previous newsletters, please click here.
Community Resources
- Life can be wonderful, fun, and uplifting, but life can also be difficult, stressful, and overwhelming at times. If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis (any type of crisis), text 741741 to receive help from a trained Crisis Counselor. Click here for more information about the Crisis Text Line.
- If you know of anyone who may need meals this summer, there are quite a few options in our area. Click here for more information.
In case you missed!
Model United Nations
This cooperative, hands-on, experiential learning allowed our 8th grade students to confront a range of topics with the perspective of their assigned country or organization. Through these experiences students developed an appreciation of differing viewpoints, experienced the challenges of negotiation, saw the rewards of cooperation, and discovered the human side of international relations and diplomacy.
End of the Year Field Trips
One World Many Stories Event
Our Commitments:
We, the staff at North View Middle School, commit to…
- Providing challenging academic opportunities that are relevant, engaging, culturally responsive, and rigorous.
- Providing a meaningful, encouraging and safe environment that fosters the whole child, and focuses on student strengths.
- Including data driven best practices and instruction that meets the academic and individual needs of our students, improves student achievement, and promotes growth.
- Engaging in continued professional development to ensure that we are aware of our students’ racial perspectives, challenge our biases, and include practices that serve our diverse student population.
- Providing effective collaborative partnerships with the entire school community by ensuring that we encourage multiple opportunities for involvement, communication, and access.
- Modeling and implementing daily engaging multi-level reading and writing strategies within our classrooms.
- Accepting responsibility for each student’s success and celebrate that success with our school community.
Our Mission!
Committed to furthering the lives of each student by using the best practices available.
Email: bledsoed@district279.org
Website: http://schools.district279.org/nvms/
Phone: 763-585-7200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nvmsknights/
Twitter: @NVMSPrincipal
About me.
Hello,
This is my fifth year serving as principal of North View Middle School. Before coming to North View, a large portion of my professional career has been spent with Osseo Area schools, six of which were spent working as the Assistant Principal of Osseo Senior High. Before that, I spent time as a Dean of Students for Richfield High School and middle school level Science teacher and behavior dean with the Minneapolis public school system.
While in Minneapolis, I spent five wonderful years teaching middle level Science at Lincoln Community School and Anishanabe Academy to sixth, seventh and eighth grader and two years providing academic and behavioral support while working as dean. My past experiences have shaped my core beliefs and philosophy of education. For me, schools must be an integral part of the community they serve. They should also be focused on high expectations for all students, and through developmentally appropriate and strong instructional practices, give students the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to exceed these expectations.
If you would like to connect with me please click here. I would love to hear from you!