NCCA Middle Principal News!
October 22, 2021
Greetings NCCA MS Families!
We have reached our first milestone of completing the first quarter of 2021-2022 and well into the 2nd quarter of the school year - congratulations Cyber Owls! This school year has been filled with engaging lessons, online assignments, guided instruction, and virtual events and activities.
Active participation is extremely important in achieving success as a virtual learner! Middle School year-long core courses (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) require 2.5% completion per week. Semester courses (Electives and PE/Healthful Living) require 5% completion each week.
There is an expectation that students attend synchronously (at the time of instruction) small group guided lessons, or asynchronously (posted recording) and submit activities as assigned by the teacher. In addition, students are responsible for successful mastery of all material, which may require additional time, supplemental assignments, and/or participation in small group guided instruction.
Just a reminder that attendance is directly correlated to progress and/or participation in synchronous events. Any absences obtained during this current attendance window can be corrected or excused by submitting proper documentation for the absence, or by making up missed work to close gaps in pacing. This window began on October 13, 2021 and will close on November 10, 2021. Following November 10, 2021, any absences accrued during that period will be permanent.
It’s almost time for NCCA Middle Benchmarks! Students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of concepts learned thus far this school year. Please be on the lookout for further details next month! Our students will be taking Department of Public Instruction generated NC Check-ins in the areas of Reading (6th - 8th), Math (6th - 8th) and Science (8th).
6th and 7th grade students will also be taking a science benchmark created by our middle school teachers aligned to NC grade-level content standards in the area of science.
Kudos to our student leaders highlighted in this newsletter edition for their academic and character performance. Our middle school Cyber Owls are achieving amazing academic success and continue to make me proud!
Also, this October, NCCA joined other schools and organizations across the country in observing National Bullying Presentation Month. Acknowledging this month encourages schools, communities, and organizations to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying and put an end to hatred and racism by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of all forms of bullying on all children of all ages.
Our amazing counseling team celebrated with a variety of activities for our students! Be sure to check MS Counseling Website to keep up to date with activities and events! Our MS team celebrated by wearing orange to show our support for bullying prevention by encouraging kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. #UnityDay2021 #StompOutBullying #UnityDay2021
Best,
Principal Fleming
8th Grade Science with Mrs. Delgado
Owls are birds of prey. That means that they hunt the animals that they eat. After an owl eats the small rodents, birds, and bugs that are a part of its nightly diet, its stomach cannot digest the fur, bones, teeth, feathers, and insect shells from that food.
These “extra” parts are formed into a tight PELLET inside the owl and are then are later SPIT UP by the owl. Pellets are usually about as big as an adult thumb and they are often dissected by students and scientists to help them learn exactly what owls eat and what kinds of small animals and bugs live in a particular area.
Mrs. Delgado's 8th-grade students had the opportunity to closely watch as she examined owl pellets for the live lesson. Students were completely engaged with all types of observations and questions as they watched. If you get a chance to examine what is inside an owl pellet, you will be lucky, there is a lot to learn and it is surprisingly FUN! Interested in learning more about Owl Pellets? Check out this YouTube Video!
In addition, Mrs. Delgado was approved for a grant through the Science Coaches Program and the American Chemical Society. A chemistry professor at Barton College will work collaboratively to support planning even more exciting and engaging lessons for students in Science. We are excited to see and learn from the chemist through virtual demonstrations/lessons but also talking about career opportunities.
Kudos to Mrs. Delgado for her creativity and out-of-the-box engaging virtual lessons! It was simply virtual learning at its best!
About Us
Email: info@myncca.com
Website: https://myncca2021.wixsite.com/nccamiddle
Location: 2800 Meridian Pkwy Suite 150 Durham, NC 27713
Phone: 984.262.9237
Facebook: facebook.com/nccamiddle
Twitter: @nccamiddle