Wolfpack Pride
March 10th, 2023
Principal's Message
Hello Wolfpack!
This week has been so much fun! I hope your students found ways to connect with the many opportunities provided this week. Tuesday was a highlight of my year. In the morning, nearly 400 students were able to experience how the Court of Appeals truly works. Judge Staab told the students that she was truly impressed with the level of respect the students showed the court for three hours. She acknowledged that sometime court proceedings can be tedious and yet they remained attentive. Judge Fearing complimented the students on their thoughtful questions. He was impressed by the deep thinking our students engaged in. For me the afternoon was topped off with the Happy Holi celebration. I learned a tradition Indian dance, learned about the significance of Happy Holi, and then engaged in the color celebration. Below you will find pictures of these events and more.
NCHS March Madness is all about educating students and families about the importance of attendance. Attending regularly has many positive benefits. Regular attendance fosters a sense of community within the classroom. Students who feel connected to a classroom community are more likely to succeed academically. Students gain background knowledge from discussions with their peers while learning in school as well as time for social interactions. All of this contributes to the overall academic and emotion well-being of our students. Thank you for encouraging your students to come to school every day.
The strength of the wolf is in the pack.
Tami McCracken, Principal
This Week's Events
Friday, March 10th
- Boys Soccer vs. LC at Merkel, 4:00 PM
Saturday, March 11th
- Baseball vs. Colville, Noon
Tuesday, March 14th
- Soccer at Central Valley, 6:30 PM
- Band Concert, 7:00 PM
Thursday, March 16th
- Track and Field Jamboree at Shadle Park, 4:00 PM
- Soccer at G Prep, 6:30 PM
- Choir Concert, 7:00 PM
Friday, March 17th
- Baseball at Shadle Park, 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 18th
- Soccer vs. Shadle at Dwight Merkel, 8:00 PM
Community Celebrations
ProStart Takes 3rd at States
Nine high school Culinary Teams competed this past weekend in Seattle at the ProStart Culinary Invitational. NC placed 3rd behind west-side schools Newport and Bonney Lake. Congratulations Team!! Well done!
Debate Off to States
- Kyla Shodahl is competing in Program Oral Interpretation and Original Oratory.
- Mireya Parkin-Pineda is competing in Program Oral Interpretation and Extemporaneous Speaking.
- Emelia Canfield is competing in Program Oral Interpretation.
Great job qualifying for States and best of luck to you! We were glad to celebrate with you as you headed out this week!
Atasha Velarde Named Washington World Fellow
Congratulations to Atasha Velarde. Atasha was chosen by Washington's Lieutenant Governor's office as one of 15 students across the state to be a Washington World Fellow for 2023. This program began in 2017. It is a 2.5 year global leadership program that is open to 15 new students each year. The fellowship is administered at no cost to the award recipients. The purpose of the program is to provide students who may lack access to similar opportunities with training that will enhance their high school academics, support their trajectory into college, and encourage them to become leaders in their communities and beyond. Almost every Washington World Fellow plans to be the first in their family to attend college. Atasha will be begin a rigorous academic program at the end of April. It includes college research, mentoring, and preparation for college entrance exams. Also Atasha will begin a unique global leadership program. Thanks to an international partnership with Viana, Spain, fellows work with a group of Spanish students to prepare an international youth summit to tackle social issues facing Spain and the US. During their junior year, fellows continue their work on their college goals and global leadership development. Fellows also spend the spring of their junior year preparing for a study abroad experience.
The Washington World Fellows participate in a study abroad program in Viana Spain. The program is packed with Spanish language and culture class classes to take place both inside and outside of the classroom. This six week study abroad trip in Viana, Spain concludes with the fellows presenting their projects at the international youth summit and participating in a local service project. During the trip to Spain Atasha will have the opportunity to truly immerse herself in the language, the culture, and the community while living with local families.
Congratulations Atasha for being chosen for this prestigious program. Good luck. The whole NC family is excited for you!
WIAA Athlete of the Week
Congratulations to Kathryn Lawrence, who's been selected as the WIAA/Gesa Credit Union Athlete of the Week! This award is designed to honor student-athletes across the state for their outstanding performances and impactful contributions in their communities. Selections are based on nominations. A full list of weekly winners is available at wiaa.com/athleteoftheweek.
Congratulations, Kathryn, on a well-deserved honor!
Charity Basketball Game Raises $1300
On Tuesday, we held the annual Ronald McDonald House Charities Staff vs. Student basketball game. The staff continued their winning streak with the help of advantages that could be purchased by fans! $1300 was donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the largest amount yet! Thanks to all our participants and fans for their support!
Announcements and Events
Holi Festival at NC
Last week, NC celebrated the Holi Festival in partnership with the Indian Youth Club of Spokane. Student leaders pictured to the right helped to plan the event. Holi is a joyful spring festival where participants celebrate eternal love, the arrival of spring, and the triumph of good over evil. Our students learned about the significance of this celebration, participated in a traditional dance, and enjoyed in a color celebration. Thanks, Shades, for coordinating this fun event and Happy Holi to all who celebrate!
Vape Detectors
Vape detectors are integral intervention to give students their bathrooms back. These devices serve as a deterrent for students from vaping in school restrooms. Our goal is to reduce student vaping and to instill a sense of safety and privacy for students using bathrooms at school. With the support of SPS Board of Directors, NCHS now has active vape sensors in every bathroom. Please talk to your student about the dangers of vaping and the presence of vape detectors.
NC March Madness
Beginning next Monday, February 27th, we are starting our first ever Attendance March Madness competition. Each week, every teacher will be assigned a matchup against another teacher. The teacher whose classes have the highest average attendance will advance to the next round, progressing through the bracket until there is only one teacher remaining! Who will persevere to get their One Shining Moment? Who will be our Cinderella Story? Will there be a surprise upset? All this and more will be revealed!
There will be prizes given out to the winning classes, and we will also come and celebrate any class who has 100% perfect attendance for any given week during the competition. Get those brackets ready and let the competition begin!
NC Soccer Expectations
The Inland Empire Soccer Referee Association (IESRA) has put in place a new Zero Tolerance Policy for our upcoming season of high school games regarding unsportsmanlike conduct from fans and players alike. Fans are not to have any interaction with officials besides thanking them for their service so our team can play. The consequences for statements such as “you missed that call,” “that’s a foul,” and even visual displays of dissatisfaction may result in parents/guardians/spectators being escorted off the premises. In repeated instances, the officials may abandon our soccer games and walk away prior to a contest finishing. This could be very detrimental to our team and their success this season.
It is important for us all to embody the GSL motto: Cheer positively for our own team, no exceptions! As a community, let’s be respectful and encourage our team and the individuals around us to do the same for the sake of our student-athletes, team, and their season.
Groovy Shoes Shirts On Sale
Our remaining 30 Groovy Shoes shirts will be going on sale now for the discounted price of $8. If you missed Groovy Shoes, but still want the shirts, make sure to stop by the Business Office now through Spring Break!
Single Point of Entry
NCHS has established a single point of entry system to better safeguard student safety. We have seen an increase in the number of students not following the single point of entry protocols. Please help your student understand the importance of this safety procedure.
NC Badminton Champs
On Wednesday, we held our annual badminton tournament, which was won by the "Royal Tigers." Abu Sufiyan and Md Sakib Ahmed played hard to beat out 19 other teams for the win - the most teams we've had participate in the badminton tournament! Congrats!
Get Connected Conference
The annual Get Connected Conference will take place on Wednesday, March 29th at Spokane Falls Community College . This is a one-day college & career conference for students of diverse backgrounds grades 9 -12. If you are interested in attending, please stop by the library to see Ms. Shamerica Nakamura or Ms. Sarah Myers.
Band Fundraiser
The band is currently raising money to help buy new music and equipment. Our goal is to raise $1,500 by the end of the year, which you will see in action during our performances in the fall. The fundraising site shows various items the band would like to purchase and how much they cost. Please consider supporting your NC band!
Creative Writing Workshops
Creative Writing Workshop and Voices will be hosting creative writing workshops on Mondays in room N345 from 2:45-4:00. This is a chance to work on your writing, workshop with others and submit for publication. Contact Mary Fruchter, maryfr@spokaneschools.org with questions.