Tornado Watch
North Medford High School*Dec-Jan 2018-2019
Letter from the Principal
Dear Black Tornado Friends and Families,
As I write this message parent conferences are wrapping up and students are out for the Thanksgiving break. Students know that there will be four weeks between now and Christmas break and then two more weeks until the semester ends. While the holiday season is a great distraction from academics, now is a very important time to stay focused and caught up. As you already know, the secret to graduation is staying current in classes! There is much you can do to enhance your student’s progress. If you have a moment, check out this link entitled “10 Ways to Help Your Teen Succeed in high school” https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html I often hear parents of high school students lament “what can I do; they won’t listen to me!” but the truth is you are more powerful than you might think! Number nine in the article is perhaps the most important – Attendance. I capitalize it to emphasize the power of attendance in students’ success. The good news is that you can positively impact attendance by talking about it and by consequences…yes, sanctions work! Never before has attendance been so important to success in high school. In Oregon, students have to earn 24 credits to graduate. Did you know that only 9 states have this requirement? Most have 22 and several have even less! Yes, this additional requirement makes Oregon appear to have lower rates of graduation as your child has to earn two credits more than the majority of students in America, but our teachers know how to get it done and attendance plays a critical role – did you know that North Medford has the highest graduation rate in Jackson County? Our graduation rate for 2016-17 was 90.27%. What that means for students is this: if they have the good fortune of attending NMHS, they have a 90% chance of graduating from high school! Make sure they get here – it will change their lives for the better.
Needless to say, we all need to take time to enjoy the season and our loved ones. I trust that you will take some time to do just that and wish for you the very best this season can bring you and yours.
Sincerely,
Daniel P. Smith
SENIOR PICTURES, SENIOR QUOTES, AND YEARBOOK INFORMATION
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 December 21, 2018.
All photos must meet the following requirements:
· Full color .jpeg file with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
· Follows school dress code (Not allowed: 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.
IMPORTANT SENIOR DATES:
· Ads for Grads Deadline: February 12, 2019
Purchase online at www.jostens.com/yearbooks/yearbook-ads.html
· Senior photos due by December 21, 2018
Submit to yearbook.photos@medford.k12.or.us
Follow dress code; head and shoulder shot; (read flyer with requirements).
YEARBOOK PRICES
Before January 1, 2019 - $55 - Purchase online at jostens.com or at the NMHS Activity Office
After January 1, 2019 - $65
If you have questions or concerns regarding senior pictures or the yearbook, please contact Curtis Stout at 541-842-5311 or by email at: curtis.stout@medford.k12.or.us
ACT & SAT TEST DATES
MEDFORD EARLY COLLEGE
Save Time! Save Money! Earn an associate’s degree in high school!
Medford School District will pay college tuition for any student who wants to attend classes at Rogue Community College (RCC) or Southern Oregon University (SOU).
College classes also count toward a high school diploma.
RVTD buses stop at each high school and goes to the RCC Higher Education Building and the Table Rock Campus several times a day.
For more information, contact your counselor or administrators at NMHS.
TORNADO FUTURE CENTER
Students, if you are looking for scholarship opportunities or have questions about your future career, take the time to check out the Tornado Future Center page on the NMHS website, https://www.medford.k12.or.us/north. Click on the Programs tab then Tornado Future Center.
SENIOR DATES AND DEADLINES:
OSAC Scholarship Application opened November 1 and closes March 1, 2019.
North Medford Foundation Scholarship opens December 3 and closes January 31, 2019
For more information about how the Tornado Future Center may assist you, come in and visit Jeri Childress or Mike Mayben in M-1.
ATTENDANCE REMINDER
ABSENT? LATE? NEED TO LEAVE EARLY?
Call 541-842-3671
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.
NORTH MEDFORD MEDIA CENTER
Visit the North Medford Media Center page for resources you can access from home. We have much to offer, from databases to eBooks and our regular library catalog.
BUDDY PROGRAM COORDINATOR NEEDED!
We are looking for a parent volunteer who would like to be our Buddy Program Coordinator.
NMHS Buddies will be mentoring 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students at Abraham Lincoln, Lone Pine, Kennedy and Wilson Elementary Schools.
If interested, please contact Erika Wright at 541-842-1183.
Thank you!
SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS
December 18 - Noon – 1 pm – Teaching Self-Regulation to Kids and Yourself
December 18 - 5:30 – 7 pm – Teaching Self-Regulation to Kids and Yourself
January 29 - 5:30 – 7 pm – Transition Services
February 26 - 5:30 – 7 pm - Voices of our Students
March 19 - TBD – Ability Awareness Workshop for Students and Parents
March 19 - 5:30 – 7 pm – Ability Awareness Gala
April 30 - 5:30 – 7 pm – Avoiding Power Struggles
May 28 - 5:30 – 7 pm – DIY Summer Activities
NORTH MEDFORD BAND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Holiday Band Concert: December 4, 7 pm, NMHS Auditorium
Band Holiday Bazaar: December 8, 10 am - 4 pm, NMHS Commons and Cafeteria
Congratulations to Alex Yu (clarinet) for being selected to perform in the All-State Wind
Ensemble in Portland in February!
Congratulations to Ellie McGary (French horn) for being the first band student ever from NMHS to be selected to perform in the Pacific Honours Ensemble in Brisbane, Queensland Australia next October!
MEET OUR SPARROW
North Medford High School Sparrow Merleah S.
Sponsored by:
Airport Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac
(Empowering kids to help kids in medical need.)
Merleah was born on March 25, 2015, much to the delight of her two big sisters. Not long after, she had the joy of becoming a big sister herself when her little brother was born.
In October of 2017, at just a little over 2 ½ years old, Merleah started complaining that her legs hurt. She also stopped gaining weight and didn’t seem to be growing. Her mother mentioned these concerns to the pediatrician at a baby wellness check-up. Her doctor ran a few blood tests and found that her white blood cell count was very low.
Merleah and her mom were sent over to a specialist and more tests were run. Finally, a bone marrow biopsy was taken, and the results came back positive for cancer. Little Merleah has a cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL). This is an aggressive type of cancer that attacks the blood and bone marrow and destroys white blood cells.
Time was of the essence, so Merleah and her father were flown by life-flight to Portland to start administering chemotherapy immediately. A PICC line was placed into Merleah and she received intense chemotherapy for five days. Her family was then released and able to return home.
Back in her home town of Medford, she has been spending this last year going through an intense medical journey that includes:
- Port surgery
- Two bone marrow biopsies
- Lumbar punctures
- Steroids and daily chemo medications
Despite this medical hardship, Merleah brings grace and joy to each situation. She is the big smile in the room that keeps everyone strong.
Merleah loves rainbows, she is a huge fan of Queen Elsa, pink is her favorite color, and she loves princesses. This little girl is all the personality and sweetness one could handle.
Merleah will be adopted as a Sparrow to North Medford High School. Students at NMHS will work hard to raise money for Merleah through sponsored community service and fundraising projects.
If you would like to make a donation for Merleah, please stop by our activities office.
Thank You!
DECA MEMBERS WHO WERE ELECTED TO OFFICE
Congratulations to the following DECA members who were elected to office:
Cassidy McDowell and Lexi Davis - Co-Presidents
Morgan Kennedy - Vice President
Aubrie Browning - Secretary
Elizyannah Jennings - Treasurer
Danielle McCormick - Public Relations
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The NMHS CDC currently has preschool openings for children 30 months to 5 years of age. The certified center offers full and part-time programs operating Monday through Friday from
7:30 am to 4 pm. Tuition is based on session selection.
For registration and further program information, please call 541-842-1290.
Annual School Improvement Survey
ANNUAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEY
MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILIES:
Please take a moment to fill out our school improvement survey. Your feedback is critical in continuing to improve the educational opportunities we provide to our students. The survey will be open until November 26.
Thank you!