Hexter 1, 2015 In This Issue... From the Principal

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1 Dr. Scott Ingwerson Principal ORGANIZATION NAME 2828 S. 139th Plaza Omaha, NE FAX http: //mps.mnms.schoolfusion.us Millard School Board: Dr. Jim Sutfin, Superintendent, Dave Anderson, Mike Kennedy, Paul Meyer, Linda Poole, Mike Pate, Patrick Ricketts Hexter 1, 2015 In This Issue... Click on the Link Below Conferences, Bus, Make- Up Pictures, Absences, Millard APP, Supervision Lost&Found, Football, Musical, Show Choir, Lunch Money Activities & Athletics, Student Council, Counseling News Page Counseling News 5 Student Insurance 6 Student Insurance 7 Our Mission Statement: Millard North Middle School, an International Baccalaureate School, guarantees each student will acquire the academic skills necessary for personal excellence and responsible living in a global society by developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring citizens who help create a better world through intercultural understanding and respect. In our world-class educational environment, all students are challenged with engaging and diverse opportunities to become active, compassionate lifelong learners From the Principal I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the school year. This is an exciting year for Millard North Middle School; this is our second year as the only all IB-MYP school in the state of Nebraska. We are privileged to work with such tremendous students in a supportive community who choose to take advantage of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. Millard North Middle School has a remarkable reputation of success that we hope to build on and improve in the future. This year we will need your help as we plan for our future. Millard North Middle School will engage in our site based strategic planning process throughout the school year. This is a very important process and will help chart NMS's course for the next five years. We plan to send out a quick survey to help collect names of parents who would like to be involved in the process. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of parents who can participate. Please mark your calendars for our NMS Open House on Tuesday, August 18 th and Student Led Conferences on October 12 th and 13 th. Open house, for 6 th grade, is in the evening from 5:00-6:15 and 7 th and 8 th grade are invited to attend from 6:45-8:00. The Human Growth and Development parent meetings will be held this night from 6:15-6:45. More details about our Student Led Conferences can be found within this newsletter. We hope to see you at both events. On behalf of the administrative team, myself, Eric Grandgenett and Anna Thoma, we are extremely excited for the upcoming school year. The sky is the limit for the great things our students and staff can accomplish. Together, with your help and support as parents, we will strive for the world class learning environment we desire to provide every student, every day. Sincerely, Dr. Scott Ingwerson Principal New Faces New staff members at NMS this year include: Gwenn Archer (Spanish), Michelle Avilla (FCS), Robert Cunningham (8th grade Science), Andrea Finley (Paraprofessional), Brittany Haupt (Computers), Amanda Moerles (7th grade Science), Jake Smith (Health/PE)

2 Hexter Page 2 Student-Led Conferences The staff at Millard North Middle School are looking forward to meeting with all of our families for Student- Led Conferences. We are excited to use the web based program called Pick-A-Time again this year to help us schedule your conference. We believe it makes the process easier and more efficient for everyone. Scheduling on Pick-A-Time will be activated on September 28th. There will be a link to the Pick-A-Time web site posted on the North Middle School web page. Please allow 30 minutes for your team conferences and another 30 minutes to meet with special area teachers, including P.E. and world languages. Again, the link to schedule your conference will be available on Monday, September 29. Student-Led Conferences will be held October 12th & 13th from 4:30 8:00 pm. Do you ride the bus? A packet of 20 tickets may be purchased in the office for $30. Students may purchase tickets before school, lunch or during Guided Study. Please provide cash or check payable to Millard North Middle School. (At this time we can not accept checks made out to anyone other than STA.) Pictures Pictures are scheduled for September 8th for students that missed orientation in August. Please stop by the main office and pick up the order form. Procedure for Absent or Tardy Students On any day that your child is going to be absent or tardy from school, we ask you telephone our office ( ) between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. A written note brought to the main office will also be accepted to excuse the absence or tardy. You may even call the office during the evening or early morning and leave a message on our voic . Or please call in advance if you know you will be traveling. Download the new Millard Public Schools Mobile App Like us on Facebook Search for Millard North Middle School Follow us on AND #nmsstangs Student Supervision Our campus is supervised by our staff before and after school. Students often congregate outside and therefore, supervision is provided from 7:20-7:35 a.m. and from 3:00-3:20 p.m. Supervision in the building is from 7:20-3:20 p.m. Students who stay at school after 3:20 need to be with a teacher. This can include participating in a club or sports, working on assignments with a teacher, staying in the Mustang Scholar Retreat (our aftercare program), or working in the library. The library will close each day at 3:25 each day. Students participating in clubs, sports, or these other activities need to plan ahead and arrange a ride home before participating in the event.

3 Hexter Page 3 We need your help! Please remember, it is disruptive to the learning process to page students during class time for nonemergency reasons. Please try to arrange rides home with your student before they come to school in the morning. Also, encourage your child to leave you a message if they call you during the day. Your child may call from another phone in the school, but the main office number will display in your call history, so we in the office may not be aware of who called you and why. Lost and found Has your child lost a book, sweatshirt, lunchbox, folder, or a pair of shoes? Please check the table across from the nurse s office for any items that may belong to your child. We will periodically donate unclaimed items, as they accumulate quickly and abundantly. These donations are given to the Intramural Football All 7th and 8th grade students interested in playing Intramural Football in the fall, please make sure that ALL paperwork is turned in during the first couple days of school! Attention Parents If you do not wish for your child's picture and first name only to be in yearbook, NMS Newsletter, Facebook page, or Twitter Page please contact the office for the appropriate paperwork. School Musical The Millard North Middle School Music and Drama Department are proud to present Beauty and the Beast, Jr. There will be an informational meeting on Thursday, August 13th in the Chorus room (703). Auditions will be held the week of August 17th. Please see Mrs. Brown or Mrs. Seville with questions. It s going to be an awesome show!! Show Choir Stampede, Millard North Middle School s Show Choir, will hold auditions for open positions in September. There are openings for 6th grade Sopranos and Altos, and 6th-8th grade Baritones. Please see Mrs. Brown with any questions! Lunch Money Online payments for lunch money can now be made at myschoolbucks.com. You may also have your student turn in lunch money with cash or check to the office. Please make sure checks are made out to Millard Hot Lunch.

4 Hexter Page 4 Activities & Athletics If your child is interested in participating in athletics please make sure you have the appropriate paperwork turned into the office. There will be an activities fair on Thursday August 13th during your students HR class. There, students will find more information about any sport or club/activity they might be interested in. Student Council We are excited for a new year, with new and returning representatives to bring fun and excitement to our school. Some of the activities sponsored by the Student Council are school dances, Red Ribbon Week, student and staff recognition and appreciation, and charity fund drives. Students pick up applications at the Activity Fair on Thursday, August 13, but can still get an application form from one of the sponsors, Ms. Brown or Ms. Haupt. Please return the application by Friday, August 28, as our first meeting will be in early September. Counseling News During the next couple of months, Millard Public Schools will be recognizing National Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness. As a result, all students will participate in activities that educate them on the signs of depression and provide information regarding suicide prevention. These activities will be led by our school counselors and social worker. Students will watch a video about the signs of depression and suicide. They will also participate in a classroom discussion. As part of this activity, counselors will administer a three question screener to determine if students are currently experiencing signs of depression or self-harm. Rest assured, if there is any need for parent contact after students participate in these activities, a counselor will follow up with you. If you choose to opt your student out of these activities or need further information, please contact your grade level counselor/social worker. 6th grade: Joy Wallar, th grade: Eric Depue, th grade: Malinda Kroll, For further information about suicide and depression you may visit the following link:

5 Hexter Page 5 Counseling News Connecting with Your Child s School Counselor/Social Worker for a Successful School Year Adapted from schoolcounselor.og Understand the expertise and responsibilities of your child s school counselor. Both school counselors and social workers make a measurable impact in every student s life, assisting with academic, career and personal/social development. They function as a facilitator between parents, teachers and the student in matters concerning the student s goals, abilities and any areas needing improvement. School counselors provide services not only to students in need, but to all students. Meet or contact your child s school counselor at least three times per school year. The beginning of a school year is an excellent opportunity to initiate contact with your child s school counselor and doing so can ensure your child s positive school experience. Find out who the counselor is and what his or her experience and background are. By communicating with one another at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year, parents and counselors can have a definite impact on a child s success. Both the School Social Worker and School Counselors at NMS are each assigned a grade level and stay with that group of students throughout their time in middle school. Joy Wallar 6 th Grade Counselor jjwallar@mpsomaha.org Eric Depue 7 th Grade Counselor/Social Worker etdepue@mpsomaha.org Malinda Kroll- 8 th Grade Counselor makroll@mpsomha.org Discuss your child s challenges and concerns with the school counselor. As a parent, you know your child best. However, the school counselor can help you better understand your child as a student. It s important to encourage your child s expression of needs, hopes and frustrations. School counselors are trained to help your children. Learn about your child s school and social connections from the school counselor. When you need information or assistance, your child s school counselor can help you get in touch with the appropriate school officials; learn about school policies on behavior, attendance, and dress; know the school calendar of important dates and stay connected with the school in many other ways. The school counselor can also help you locate resources in the community when you need them. Work with the school counselor to identify resources and find solutions to problems. If your child is having a problem at school, it is important to work with your child s school counselor to find solutions. Discuss resources available within and outside of the school, and get information on how such programs can benefit your child. Your school counselor can be a valuable partner in your child s education and preparation for life beyond school.

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