NAMS Soar & Achieve Newsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and commitment to your child's education. Your continuous involvement and dedication to our Middle School community is invaluable and essential to the success of our students.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education, and for being an integral part of our school family. In this edition, we will share information about the upcoming events and learning experiences that will occur over the next few weeks.

We look forward to continuing this journey together and making this academic year memorable and impactful for your child.

Warm regards,

Mr. Kevin L. Freeman, Sr.

Principal

New Albany Middle School

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are an opportunity for parents to meet with teachers to hear about their student’s areas of strengths & weaknesses. Please use this link to sign up for a conference with a specific teacher. You do not have to meet with all of your child’s teachers. We recommend you prioritize the teachers of the classes where your child is struggling.

Washington D.C. Field Trip - 8th Grade

The 8th grade class will be traveling to Washington, DC October 31-November 3, 2023.

Registration: Secure your student's spot on this memorable journey now by visiting the following link, completing the online registration, and paying the $130 deposit: bit.ly/namsdc2023.

Roommate Selection: The roommate selection process will occur during the week of September 18th. Each room will accommodate four students. Students will have the opportunity to choose from three different options to express their roommate preferences.

Payment Deadline: To ensure your student's place on the trip, the full amount due must be received by Friday, September 22, 2023.

Parent Meeting: A meeting will be held in the MS cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 for all parents of students registered to go on the 8th grade class trip.

We look forward to providing your student with an enriching and educational experience in our nation's capital. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Gabe Heselton, the 8th Grade Class Trip Coordinator, at heselton.1@napls.us.

PaySchools Central

Free/Reduced lunch applications

If you believe you may qualify for free/reduced lunch, please make sure to have your application submitted by October 1st. Click here for more information.

School Fees

Student school fees have been uploaded to PowerSchool and are due now. You can pay for school fees through Pay Schools Central or write a check to NAMS.

Attendance Reminder

Our goal is to partner with families to ensure each student is being successful. We know that school attendance is a vital component of student success. We do understand that various circumstances exist, but we want to be proactive in our efforts to communicate current attendance information for your student.

If your student misses 65 hours in any given school year, the school’s attendance officer will notify the child's parent or guardian. Linked below is House Bill 410 which fully details attendance requirements through the Ohio Department of Education.

Chronic Absenteeism- HB 410

Planned Absence

If you know your student will miss school, please complete the planned absence form linked below and return it to the main office. Please see the specific requirements and details listed on the form.

Planned Absence Form

Early Dismissal

Linked below is the Early Dismissal Form. Please use this form to let Mrs. Thiel know your student is leaving early from school. Students will only be released to those who are authorized in PowerSchool. When picking up a student, the adult must come into the building and present valid identification.

Early Dismissal Form

Tardy to School

Any tardy student to first period should sign in at the main office and receive a tardy slip from Mrs. Thiel to enter the classroom. Please note, this does include bus riders and attendance will reflect late buses as TE (tardy excused) and will not be held against the student. Parents are not required to escort their students into the building.

Library News

Check it out...the Library has gotten off to a good start:

All students have been placed with their ELA teacher in the Circulation System
733 books were checked out during the first 3 weeks of school
Reading Incentives are in the works

Upcoming events~ This year's Author Visit is just around the corner.

Steve Sheinkin is the acclaimed author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction histories, including Fallout, Undefeated, Born to Fly, The Port Chicago 50, and Bomb. His accolades include a Newbery Honor, three Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards, a Sibert Medal and Honor, and three National Book Award finalist honors. He lives in Saratoga Springs, New York, with his wife and two children.

Mr. Sheinkin will visit the Middle School in-person on October 24 and 25.

Mrs. Kellett

NAMS/HS Library Aide

Constitution Day - September 17, 2023

Constitution Day, is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. We will recognize it during Social Studies classes and students will receive a small booklet with a copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Winter Athletics Meet & Greet

If your athlete is interested in playing winter sports, please make sure they are registered on FinalForms. Click here. Winter sports at NAMS are boys' basketball, girls basketball, coed swimming/dive, and girls' and boys wrestling. For more information, there will be a MS Athletic Winter Meet and Greet on October 10, 2023. The meeting will be held in the high school and middle school cafeterias and will begin at 6:00 pm. Meet the coaches will begin immediately following the general meeting.

PTO News

NAMS Fall Dance

Friday, October 6, 7-9pm

Middle School Gymnasium

New Albany Middle School students are invited to join us for a fun Western themed dance to celebrate the beginning of the school year. Admission is $5/student and tickets may be purchased during lunch the week leading up to the dance. Students will have the opportunity to purchase tickets at the dance, which can be redeemed for pizza, western loot, and Dippin’ Dots!

Become a chaperone:

We are looking for 50 parents who would like to help our event run smoothly by volunteering to chaperone. You will arrive at 6:15pm to help set up and find what station/area you will be in charge of. Sign up HERE.

Donate items:

If you would like to help us create a fun atmosphere for the dance, purchase items to donate from our wishlist HERE.

Double check the shipping address at checkout to ensure items are shipped to NAMS PTO and save yourself a trip. Please deliver all items by September 29.

Go Eagles!

Coleen Barber- President

Secretary- Melissa Hoovler

Treasurer- Missy Evans

VP of Fundraising- Amy Wenker

VP of Programming- Terri Erlenbach

VP of Membership- Jenn Fuller

VP of Hospitality- Marice Brickner

VP of Hospitality- Kristen Pietro

Communications- Tracy Ellis