NCCA Middle Cyber Connection
Issue 1, October 2020
Greetings NCCA Families!
We have officially reached our first milestone by completing the first quarter of the 2020-2021 school year - congratulations Cyber Owls! This quarter has been full of engaging lessons, online assignments, guided instruction, and virtual events and activities.
Students have worked extremely hard this week with their Edgenuity coursework as well as completing Fall Benchmarks in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies with a 93% participation rate! Thank you to our students and learning coaches for your intentional focus and follow through on completing these assessments to ensure that we have data to guide effective instruction.
Active participation is extremely important in achieving success as a virtual learner! Middle School year-long core courses (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) requiring 2.5% completion per week. Semester courses (Electives and PE/Healthful Living) require 5% completion each week. Students should attend synchronously (at the time of instruction) small group guided lessons, or asynchronously (posted recording) and submit activities as assigned by the teacher. In addition, students are responsible for successful mastery of all material, which may require additional time, supplemental assignments, and/or participation in small group guided instruction.
Kudos to our student leaders highlighted in this newsletter edition for their academic and character performance. Our middle school Cyber Owls are achieving amazing academic success and continue to make me proud!
Best,
Principal Fleming
NCCA Mock Election
Through this process, students will find information about the presidential election and the NC governor election. Be sure to cast your vote by clicking here: "Vote Here" This link will take students to an overview presentation along with access to a Google Form to cast their vote for the president and governor!
It's a Pumpkin Contest!
You can submit your photo and information when complete at the following link: https://bit.ly/36GIB9r
Good Luck Everyone!
MS Cyber Owls Rep Their City
This Word Cloud was created using all of the cities that students stated they live in. So are you wondering... What is a Word Cloud? Google says a word cloud is “an image composed of words used in a particular text or subject, in which the size of each word indicates its frequency or importance.” So, the more often a specific word appears in your text, the bigger and bolder it appears in your word cloud. We know that ALL of our cities are important, but the larger the city the more students we have that actually live there! #cyberowlstrong #nccamiddle
Learning Coach Hub Mondays!
Did you know that your Middle School team hosts Learning Coach Hubs?
Beginning the 1st quarter we started the school year hosting weekly Learning Coach Hubs to support our families and provide resources. As we move into the 2nd quarter we are transitioning our meetings to monthly with the following identified Mondays: November 9, December 14, January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, and May 10.
If you have any questions you would like discussed at the upcoming meetings, please complete this short form: Learning Coach Hub Questionnaire. By completing this form we are able to ensure that we have information and/or resources that you need in a timely manner.
Virtual sessions are facilitated in Google Meet by Mrs. Majors, experienced Learning Coach turned NCCA teacher, and Mrs. Gratale, a national board-certified NCCA teacher!
One School One Book.
Our Book Club Meetings will be at 7:00 pm on:
November 5, November 19, December 3, and December 10
Forest Essay Contest
Did you know wood is the only natural resource on Earth that is renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable? To celebrate Forest Products Week, the North Carolina Forestry Association along with its sponsors; N.C. Forest Service and the NC Sustainable Forestry Initiative, are hosting a statewide essay contest to promote the 1,000 companies directly contributing to the North Carolina forest economy.
The Middle School Essay requirement was 400 words or less on the topic of: Research an everyday product made from trees in North Carolina. Describe how it is made, and how the item has helped you in your daily life.
CONGRATULATIONS to our NCCA MS Forest Essay Contest Winners! They will move to the State Level Competition next week. This writing initiative was a collaborative effort with the Science and ELA Departments!
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Each quarter NCCA teachers nominate one student per grade level to receive the Spotlight on Student recognition in the quarterly Middle School Cyber Connection Newsletter. Students are nominated for a varied number of reasons of which may include:
- Exemplary character when interacting in virtual small groups
- Showing student leadership
- Leading and participating in the community through volunteering, participating in clubs, --churches, or other organizations.
- Excelling in showing kindness and compassion
Jasmine Moore, 6th Grade
- My favorite subjects are Science and Math because I can learn something new and they have great projects.
- My favorite kinds of books include Junie B Jones, Bad Kitty, and Dork Diaries.
- I love knitting and it helps me to release stress.
- My dream job would be either a boutique worker or doing something that can help my mom with selling her soaps and other things.
- After high school, I plan to attend college. I would like to attend Western Piedmont.
- I love crafting, knitting, riding my bike, playing with my brothers, and playing games with my family.
Joseph Boddie Hillard, 7th Grade
Joseph was described by his teachers as "wise beyond his years". He is extremely driven and hardworking and has an excellent work ethic. Check out some of the unique things that Joseph has shared about himself:
My favorite subject is math because this is the subject I’ve studied the most and like to solve complex equations.
My favorite kinds of books are fiction stories and my two favorite series include Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
I like to play video games, watch TV, read, and love to sleep.
My ultimate dream job is to be a robotics engineer.
I would like to either attend Carnegie-Mellon University or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
I am part of a military family where my family has served in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. I am adopted by my aunt and uncle. I have 2 sisters, 1 brother, and a very large extended family.
Layla Harris, 8th Grade
Layla was described by her teachers as "resilient and inspiring". Her narrative writing was extremely moving and inspiring and she is always so joyful.
My favorite subject right now would be Studio Arts, Because I love to make different types of art pieces and to be able to show my creativity to others through art.
My favorite kind of books are all of the Roald Dahl books because this Novelist loves to show his creation to others in the books he writes such as Matilda, The GFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Gremlins, And many more!
I like to go outside and look at all of the things that have been created on earth and just gasp upon them because these creations such as trees, plants, flowers, water, and more are all things that benefit us for the better and that is so amazing how God can create such things like this and be able to make everything he creates useful to anything!
A dream job would be to have the ability to cook in a restaurant for many people, I wouldn't care what type of restaurant, but as long as I can be able to cook for the people and show them how great of a cook I am! My second choice would be to become a baker making simply delicious cakes and pies and cookies!
After High school, I would like to try to get a job and work towards purchasing a car and a new home.
I love to listen to music, bake, cook delicious food, draw, paint, and explore. I have a love and somewhat obsession with Cats/Kittens!
A Virtual Field Trip to Biosphere 2
Imagine spending years living isolated from the rest of the world inside an artificial Earth-like habitat, researching and learning how humanity might survive on other planets. Biosphere 2 was created for just that! Located in Oracle, Arizona—a giant domed structure that looks like it belongs on another planet.
On Wednesday, October 21st, students in Great Minds of Science and Earth & Environmental Science students had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Deputy Director of the Biosphere Zooming, John Adams. An engaging presentation focused on providing insight and solutions for the environmental challenges our world faces today!
STEAM & ROBOTICS LINKS
Google Classroom: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTYzMTAyNjIxMDc1?cjc=aylhhjh.
Code: aylhhjh
Club Website: https://sites.google.com/myncca.com/nccasteamclub/home
NCCA Celebrates National Bullying Prevention Month
This October, NCCA joined other schools and organizations across the country in observing National Bullying Presentation Month. Acknowledging this month encourages schools, communities, and organizations to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying and put an end to hatred and racism by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of all forms of bullying on all children of all ages. Our NCCA staff joined in to show our support of our students on Unity Day where we wore orange in support! #unityday2020
Additional Resources
NCCA Middle Counseling Website
NCCA Student Handbook/School Calendar
Bi-Weekly Principal Messages
Concept Coaching Tutorial Support (Located in Edgenuity LMS)
Look for the button titled "tutoring help" located at the bottom right of your student screen to get help while in the lesson. Tutoring is available for all core subjects.
You have an option to book an appointment or call 1-888-866-4989- select option #2: https://www.edgenuity.com/concept-coach-booking
Accessing your Course Map and Report
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xUBoLlHz-UQU7gJEL7Nd1FvUrJoKv5SNnmXeDC6tpn4/edit?usp=sharing
About Us
Email: cfleming@myncca.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/myncca.com/nccamiddle/home
Location: 2800 Meridian Pkwy Suite 150 Durham, NC 27713
Phone: 984.262.9237
Facebook: facebook.com/nccamiddle
Twitter: @nccamiddle