The Lion's Paw
Northwest Academy of Health Sciences News and Events
A Note from Our Principal
Greetings Northwest Academy of Health Sciences Family!
My name is Dr. Katina F. Webster and I am thrilled to have been chosen to lead the Northwest Academy school community as Principal at this very exciting time. It is hard to believe summer is almost over. We look forward to welcoming you back ready to learn. You will hear me and your teachers talk a lot about having a growth mindset this year. We want you to believe that you have what it takes to overcome challenges when the work gets tough. Our expectations for you are high and failure is not an option. If we all work together you will shine. Students, I am holding you personally responsible for taking charge of your learning. Be involved and committed to your own success by deciding you want to be your best you. When people ask what the new Northwest Academy is all about, I want you to say: WE ARE LIONS! Reaching beyond excellence to extraordinary with heart, courage and commitment!
Parents, my career as an educator spans seventeen years. I’ve served as a classroom teacher, team leader, department chair, resource teacher, specialist, an adjunct professor and assistant principal. I believe my strong background working with diverse learners, my enthusiasm, and commitment to high quality instruction and professional development are all qualities that will benefit Northwest Academy. I am also a product of the community having attended the former Old Court Middle School and am a graduate of Randallstown Senior High School. My love for the community is genuine and the fact that I get to be part of this transformation is a tremendous honor. With that in mind, it is important to me that we work together to ensure students are obtaining a first class education in a safe, nurturing, learner centered environment. Our door is open!
Sincerely,
Dr. Katina F. Webster, Principal
Northwest Academy of Health Sciences
Important Dates
February 14, 2017 at 6:30 PM
PTA Meeting
February 17, 2017
Half-Day Professional Development - Elementary and Middle Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students - Teachers on Duty
February 22 2017 , 5-7 PM
Conference Night
March 14 2017 6:30 PM
PTA Meeting
Magnet Corner
Dear Students and Families,
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year at the new Northwest Academy of Health Sciences (NAHS). I am LaShawn Brown, your Magnet Coordinator. While the magnet program courses are only available to those students that applied and were accepted to the program, ALL of the students at NAHS will benefit from innovative programming that will be infused throughout the building. We have plans for health science related events, guest speakers, and field trips. I will also be working once again with our 8th graders to get them prepared for the magnet high school selection process by inviting the magnet high schools to present valuable information and tips before the application deadline of November 18th. This partnership allows us to work with students on their interview skills, creating brochures, and portfolios. Seventh graders have something to look forward to as well! I will be visiting their language arts classes this year to begin discussing their interests, while also looking for ways to cultivate those interests in the building and beyond.
We did not just change our name, we have changed our mindset. I hope that you are ready for the best year yet!
Sincerely,
LaShawn Brown,
Magnet Coordinator
Students in Action
Students and Strawbees
Cubelets and Strawbees
Creativity Abounds
Department Notes
English/Language Arts
The Reading curriculum provides an integrated course that emphasizes an accelerated and enriched program for reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The curriculum will introduce, reinforce, and synthesize content skills in research, spelling/vocabulary, composing, and technology.
The English Language Arts curriculum is a comprehensive program that is grounded in the standards for literary analysis, composition, grammar usage and mechanics. Students will explore these concepts by reading major works of literature,
composing a variety of compositions, researching information about various topics, studying appropriate language skills, and utilizing technology for both information gathering and product production and presentation.
The hallmark of both the Reading and English Language Arts program is to provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate competence in their studies through a variety of creative processes and products.
Math
Hello Northwest Academy of Health Sciences Family:
The Northwest Academy of Health Sciences (NAHS) Math Department is extremely excited and honored to be able to work with your child(ren) this school year.
MATH THIS YEAR:
Common Core is continuing to make its way into our classrooms. The way we taught students in the past simply does not prepare them for the higher demands of college and careers today and in the future. In mathematics, this means three major changes. Teachers will concentrate on teaching a more focused set of major math concepts and skills. This will allow students time to master important ideas and skills in a more organized way throughout the year and from one grade to the next. It will also call for teachers to use rich and challenging math content and to engage students in solving real-world problems in order to inspire greater interest in mathematics.
MATH EVENTS:
Please remember, MSA and HSA are no longer used to assess our math students during the spring. Continuing in the place of these test we will administering both MAP (fall & winter) and PARCC (spring) testing.
In the past our Algebra I students have taken the HSA to gain their high school math credit. They will no longer have this chance, and now will take an Algebra specific PARCC test.
We look forward to working with you this academic school year.
Educationally yours,
The Northwest Academy of Health Sciences Math Department
Special Education
Welcome back to the new 2016-17 school year! The Special Education Department of Northwest Academy of Health Sciences believes all children are talented and unique with a great potential to fulfill! Furthermore, we believe learning is a lifelong quest and facilitating the development of students’ literacies, in mathematics, languages, and the arts and sciences, so they can fully benefit from learning opportunities throughout life, is our mission. Our department seeks to involve parents fully with our educational team, within the nurturing yet challenging learning atmosphere of NAHS, to assist children to develop their talents, skills, and love of learning, so they will be ready for high school and beyond, when that time approaches. Our staff is highly trained, qualified, and motivated to do their best daily for your children! Please call on us for any of your questions and concerns. We look forward to working with you on behalf of your child.
Please contact us if you have any questions:
Ms. Laura Lagomarsino
Department Chairperson
Ms. Bridget Meadows
IEP Chairperson
Social Studies
Teachers have been hard at work planning lessons that transport our students through history and the life changing experience of learning a new language. Highlights for our department this year include a World Language Day, National History Day and participation in the STEM Fair, as well as monthly cultural exhibits and presentations honoring our country’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. We also look forward to welcoming our incoming 6th graders to NAHS and saying hello again to our returning students as they start a new year as 7th and 8th graders.
Music
We look forward to working with all of you in developing, refining and retuning your musical skills and talents. Our major musical events are as follows:
March/April –BCPS Music Adjudications
May – Annual Spring Concert
In addition to the above events, we are proud to announce the beginning of the NAHS Gospel Choir!!!! Stay tuned for more details!
If you have any questions concerning our instrumental or vocal programs or course offerings, please feel free to contact Mr. Doscher (Instrumental Director) @ tdoscher@bcps.org; or Dr. Gray (Vocal Director) @ wgray@bcps.org.
Dr. Winston R. Gray, Department Chair/ Vocal Director
Mr. Tim Doscher, Instrumental Director
Nurse's Notes
Changes in Immunization Requirements
All 7th grade students in 2016-17 (next school year) will be required to provide proof of having received a dose of meningococcal vaccine (also called Menactra) and a booster dose of Tdap (also called Boostrix and Adacel.) These vaccines are in addition to the vaccines required for kindergarten. Most children receive these vaccines at age 10 or 11. If they have not submitted their proof of vaccines, they need to bring that as soon as possible. Students who do not have documentation of the new vaccines ( Tdap and MCV) will be withdrawn.
Parents of current 6th graders are urged to
· Check with their child’s health care provider to see if the child has received these vaccines.
· Schedule an appointment for the child to receive these vaccines BEFORE August 24, 2016.
· Provide verification of the immunizations to the school nurse.
More information about these vaccines is available at the Office of Health Services website http://www.bcps.org/offices/sss/health/.
Library Announcements
Check out this flyer for a list of all September activities and events!
Ms. Stellmann is looking to form a book club with the help of the Randallstown library. Tell interested students to come and see her.
Contact Us
Email: estellmann@bcps.org
Website: northwestms.bcps.org
Location: 4627 Old Court Road, Pikesville, MD, United States
Phone: 410-887-0472
Twitter: @NAHSBCPS