SAVE THE DATE: Report cards will be issued to students on MARCH 17th!

March also brings back events like the Battle of the Books competition, NMS' 1st ever talent show, spring pictures, and the Royce Sock Sale, which is returning for the first time since Covid! We are very excited about everything happening in our building! Please refer to the list of upcoming events below!

Students already took the essay portion of the test. The multiple choice portion is scheduled for March 28th. Eighth graders, please see your social studies teacher for more information.

Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or other similar device. These devices work by heating a liquid (often containing nicotine) and turning it into a vapor that is then inhaled. Unfortunately, vaping can be very harmful to a person's health, especially for young people whose brains and bodies are still developing. The nicotine found in most vaping products is highly addictive and can lead to long-term dependence. Additionally, the chemicals used in the production of the liquid used in e-cigarettes have been linked to a variety of health problems, including respiratory issues and heart disease. The aerosol produced by vaping can also contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and carcinogens that can damage the lungs and other organs. For young people, these health risks can be particularly devastating, as they can lead to long-term health problems and interfere with their physical and cognitive development. Furthermore, the use of vaping products can also lead to a host of social and behavioral problems, including reduced academic performance, increased risk-taking behavior, anxiety, and addiction to other substances.

We encourage all parents to speak to their teens about the dangers of vaping and how to avoid it because teen vaping has been on the rise during the past few years. Some tips for having this conversation include staying calm and non-judgmental, asking open-ended questions to encourage dialogue, and using factual information to back up your concerns. It can also be helpful to listen to your child's perspective and be available to answer any questions they may have. Encouraging healthy habits, good friendships, and building self-esteem can help teens stay away from unhealthy habits and substances like drugs, alcohol & tobacco.

If you need more information about this issue, we have provided some statistics and a link to the U.S. Surgeon General's fact sheet on vaping below this article. As always, our guidance counselors are available to help talk with parents and students about this issue if assistance is needed.

From solar systems to pepperoni rolls, and natural disasters to Dr. Seuss Day, it's been an amazing week at NMS!

*Ms. Springer's classes celebrated Dr. Seuss with a themed grammar bell ringer and a "Oh The Places You'll Go!" writing assignment. They also have been trying to see how many words they can find in the phrase "Reading is Fun" in honor of Dr. Seuss. And finally, they made their own word searches with their unit vocabulary to study for next week's assessment.

*Ms. Gantt's students have been learning about natural disasters by playing "Grungeball, " a game combining teamwork, basketball with a trash can, and review questions.

*Ms. Heck's Science students explored the nitrogen cycle by playing a board game and learning about how nitrogen becomes usable for living organism.

*Ms. Long's Family & Consumer Science 8th grade class has been working on their pepperoni roll lab! It smells SO good walking outside of her room!