Redbird Roundup, Vol. 11
Friday, November 1, 2019
Our Mission and Vision
Norris Middle School prepares all students for their future by providing a safe, caring, and diverse school environment that maintains high expectations, academic excellence, and respect for all. Success, achievement, respect…It’s a Redbird thing!
La Escuela Secundaria Norris prepara a todos los estudiantes para su futuro ofreciendo un entorno escolar seguro, atento y diverso que mantiene altas expectativas, excelencia académica y respeto para todos. Éxito, logro, respeto…Es una cosa de los Redbirds!
Principal's Greeting
We survived the first snow and Halloween. Enough said.
Quite a busy week. We have lots to look forward to in the coming weeks as well with our next session of sports beginning competitions, and performances and other activities.
I hope you can join us tonight for our Dia de los Muertos celebration put on by RASA and No Place for Hate. This is always a well-attended event by our families.
We have our big Robotics tournament tomorrow at Norris, I would encourage you to come check it out. It's quite a fun event!
Have a wonderful weekend, get some rest!
Dr. Carr
Note from Dr. Carr
I will be out of the building the following dates:
November 4-5 at a Principal Mentor Training (should have access to phone/email)
November 12 at Principal's Meeting (should have access to phone/email)
November 14-15 at La Cosecha Dual Language Conference (should have access to phone/email)
I am going to combine the Redbird Roundup for the week of November 4 and November 11, so we'll get one big one on Friday, November 15. Thank you!
November 4-November 8
Monday, November 4: Faculty workshop after school
Tuesday, November 5: Team PD (to be scheduled by team leads, doesn't have to be this day); Boys Basketball home vs. Morton
Wednesday, November 6: Wellness Wednesday, Westat Visit, Schedule Committee meets after school
Thursday, November 7: Westat Visit, Boys Basketball home vs. Buffett
Friday, November 8: Girls swim vs. Marrs at South
Staff Introductions
Heather Blumel
Name: Heather Blumel
How many years have you been teaching/in education? 12
What is your favorite thing about Norris Middle School? How well my team works together.
How would your friends describe you?
(I asked 3 friends) Intelligent, Athletic, Creative, I get things done, Speak my mind, kind, funny
What website/app do you use most often?
Snapchat
What is something we would never guess about you?
I failed a math class in high school
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen a kid do?
I saw a kid lick his tennis racquet
What is the worst food you ever ate?
Raw conch penis (can I say that?) It is a delicacy in the Caribbean
What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
5779 miles Athens, Greece
Katrina Jacobberger
Name: Katrina Jacobberger
How many years have you been teaching/in education? This is year 10 with OPS (8 at Norris) and 11 with MCC
What is your favorite thing about Norris Middle School? The cohesiveness of our staff is unparalleled. We are an excellent team and not everybody has that when they go to work every day.
What website/app do you use most often? Outlook… sigh.
What is something we would never guess about you? I am terribly, terribly shy with new groups of people. I get painfully nervous every time I speak in public.
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen a kid do? Friends, I teach the kids who revel in their own weirdness… Ah! Student at last year’s Rotary Honor Roll luncheon, ate her packed lunch from home under the table because the food was “strange.”
What TV show would you binge watch if you had the time? Doctor Who (again). Sherlock (again). Something new and a little bit scary.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home? Rome, Italy
What would you sing at karaoke night? Well, apparently, Lizzo’s Truth Hurts and I can really nail Left Eye’s rap in the middle of Waterfalls.
Is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not? Not the way we do it in the United States. A French hotdog, sliced in half and served in a baguette? For sure.
Up Next Week in the Redbird Roundup
I do three staff introductions each week. You'll be getting an email from me with questions. Even if you have done it before, please participate and do it again! Please respond and include a picture by Thursday! I will do the first week.
Up next: Teresa Faris, Cathy Lodge, and Blake Heybrock.
Wellness Word to the Wise
Taking care of your teeth and gums offers more reward than just a healthy smile: Research suggests your oral hygiene may also have an impact on your overall health.
So, during National Dental Hygiene Month, take a look at exactly how good a job you’re doing by capturing a video of yourself while you’re brushing. Why? One study found that people who recorded their toothbrushing sessions for just two weeks increased both their accuracy and number of brush strokes, helping improve their overall technique
Powerful Practices
Clear Learning Goals/Activities Aligned
Reading Across the Curriculum
Norris Staff and Students Seen and Heard
The Fun Never Stops
I can't express how moved I was by all the thoughtful cards, notes, sweets, coffees etc. for National Principal's Month. I really was just so overwhelmed with emotion. I had a few teachers take me on a scavenger hunt on Thursday. One of my stops was in the Chorus room and the students sang me a beautiful song! It was so wonderful.
Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I love this place, our kids, our staff. I am so lucky.