*Thank you to Mrs. Sanders for organizing the Science Carnival Reward where students could have a fun social time while learning!

*Thank you, Mrs. Long for organizing the concession stand and lunch orders for staff!

*Thank you to the teachers and volunteers that came to run the events.

The last two months have been a challenge as we have had to navigate computer, internet, and login issues on student & teacher computers. However, as of this week:

Students - Please charge your Chromebooks THIS WEEKEND and EVERY EVENING!

All students had the opportunity to hear about internet safety this week with Ms. Deavers in their Science classes. She also helped students login to their Chromebooks & Schoology. If your student was not present in Science this week, they may not have received their password. They can ask ANY TEACHER who can look it up for them or see Ms. Deavers during their lunch period.

Please remind your student to bring a CHARGED CHROMEBOOK to school each day.

As we look forward to April & May, there are MANY special events at NMS! April brings us Spring Break (starting April 7th), the beginning of our spring music concerts (Strings concert, April 26th) and Community Day (April 29th)! Check out the many special events in the graphic below! We hope you will join us on the NMS campus this spring! WV General Summative Assessments begin on MAY 1st! It is important for students to have a charged, working Chromebook that week for testing. Please "save the date" for these important events!

Today, the Northern Lights Show Choir will compete in a competition at Martinsburg High School! We know they will represent us well because the dress rehearsal was FANTASTIC! Good luck to the choir and Ms. Crowley, our choir director!

Any student who has out-of-school-suspension during the 4th nine weeks (March 13th & after) will NOT be invited to the end-of-year 8th grade activities.

Let's finish this year with strong grades and great behavior so we can ALL celebrate our achievements!

ALSO, check out the information below about the James Rumsey Summer Career Academy!

Cheerleaders interested in SPRING and/ or SUMMER conditioning, check out the flyer below! There is also a flyer for Cheer Camp on April 6th at Martinsburg High School!

As a parent, you play a critical role in your child's education, especially during their teenage years. While many parents participate in elementary school events, parent involvement in a teen's school can drop off in later years. Being involved in your teen's school can have an even more significant impact on student academic success and overall well-being. In this article, we'll explore some of the benefits of parent involvement in your teen's school.

1. Improved academic performance - Studies have shown that parent involvement in their teen's education can lead to improved academic performance. According to a study by the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), students whose parents are involved in their education are more likely to earn higher grades and score higher on tests. When parents are actively involved in their teen's school life, they can help monitor their child's progress and provide support when needed. This involvement can also help keep teens motivated and engaged in their schoolwork.

2. Better attendance - When parents are involved in their teen's school, it can also help improve their attendance. Teens are more likely to attend school regularly when they know their parents are invested in their education. A study by the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) found that students with engaged parents have an average attendance rate of 96%, compared to 91% for students with less involved parents. Parent involvement can also help address any issues that may be causing absenteeism, such as bullying or health problems.

3. Increased self-esteem -Parent involvement in their teen's school can also help boost their self-esteem. When parents take an interest in their child's education and participate in school activities, it shows their teen that their education is important and valued. This can lead to a greater sense of self-worth and confidence in their abilities. A study by the NEA found that parental involvement is associated with increased academic achievement and improved self-esteem, particularly for students from low-income families.

4. Better behavior - Parent involvement in their teen's school can also help promote positive behavior. According to a report from the Harvard Family Research Project, parental involvement in a child's education can help prevent and reduce problem behaviors such as substance abuse, delinquency, and violence. When parents are actively involved in their teen's school life, they can help reinforce positive values and encourage good behavior. They can also help address any behavioral issues that may arise as parents and teachers partner to increase student success.

5. Stronger relationships - Parent involvement in their teen's school can also help strengthen the relationship between parent and child. When parents are involved in their teen's school life, it shows that they care about their child's education and well-being. This can help build trust and open lines of communication between parent and child.

There are many volunteer opportunities at North Middle School, but you don't have to give of your time at school to be an involved parent! Reading the newsletters, discussing school with your child, checking Schoology on a regular basis, and asking probing questions of your teen can have many of the same positive benefits listed above.

Below you will find a list of questions to ask your child occasionally to delve into their world, but here are a few questions to find out about their school life:

1. What did you learn in school today?
2. What was the most interesting thing you learned in school today?
3. Did you have any particularly challenging assignments or projects in school this week?
4. Is there anything you would like to share about your school day?
5. What was the best part of your day at school today?
6. Did anything happen at school today that you want to talk about?
7. What subjects are you enjoying the most this semester?
8. Is there anything you are struggling with at school that you would like to discuss?
9. Who did you sit with at lunch today?
10. What are you looking forward to at school tomorrow or next week?

Asking open-ended questions like these can encourage teens to share more about their experiences and feelings related to school.

We are also excited to announce the return of "COMMUNITY DAY" on April 29th from 10am to 1pm which is a time for parents, students, and staff members to spend time together. We will have food, games, and prizes! You won't want to miss this! SAVE THE DATE! More details will be shared soon!

Check out these fun activities happening our building this week:

*Ms. Tang brought in her flute to share music with Ms. French's students!

*Ms. Gantt's class finally finished their "Growing Beyond Earth" project with NASA! It took 14 weeks to grow plants using the exact same conditions they use on the International Space Station. Then, this semester they were able to make their own changes to the experiments. The students are now working on their presentation for the Symposium in April with panel of NASA scientists as the judges!

*Ms. Landerkin's students created and played board games about English skills. There was so much fun in class as the students took turns playing each others games to review English!