NORTH NEWS

Thanks to all of the families that visited the Book Fair on Thursday night for family night! In addition to the holiday shopping, sweet treats were provided with every purchase! Ms. Long's FACS class made oreo truffles!

Did you know that NMS has TWO published authors among our staff? Last February, 6th grade teacher Mr. Ware published a book entitled Maryland in the French & Indian War. For the book fair last night, our very own 7th grade science teacher Ms.Heck was signing copies of her young adult fantasy book entitled, Binding Fate that was just re-released this fall!

What a fun evening in the library! Ms. Mills has also been running a contest this week between classes to see who can raise the most change for students who cannot afford books from the fair. We are happy to report that our students have been very generous and several student "wish lists" for books have been fulfilled!

Thanks to Ms. Mills for organizing the fair and to Books-a-Million for their support! Some of the proceeds each year go towards purchasing new books for the school library. We can't wait to see all of the new books we will receive!

Tuesday and Wednesday were musical evenings at NMS! The NMS band held their concert on Tuesday night with the Choir following on Wednesday. All of the students did an amazing job and we are SO proud of your hard work! Thanks to Ms. Aberegg and Ms. Bair for leading our students!

Students in Ms. Kyker's classes and members of Ms. Updike's student council have been busy this holiday season to make sure the veterans at the VA in Martinsburg feel honored and loved. Ms. Kyker's students have been creating cards with heartfelt messages while student council members created sock sundae ornaments. In addition, both student groups have also been collecting personal care items for veterans which will be delivered to the VA as well. Thank you to our students and their teachers for making a difference this holiday season!

We have seen an outpouring of support from our community! Thank you! The work is not quite finished and we could use more donations to benefit our families; any amount would be appreciated and we thank you again for your support! We are supporting students at our school but also their brothers & sisters at other schools. Please help if you can! Click the link below to donate.

If you signed up, please pick up your gifts on Thursday, Dec 21st from 9:30am to 11:30am. Please report to the lower entrance at the front of the building. Look for the cones and Santa! He will be giving out the presents! If you have questions, email Brandon Sarina at brandon.sarina@k12.wv.us.

Next week during each lunch shift, CandyGrams will be sold for $2 a piece. A CandyGram is a fun, positive way to send a friend well wishes and a treat before winter break!

Don't forget to dress like your favorite holiday movie character on Monday and choose a side on Tuesday (Santa or Grinch) by wearing red or green! Wednesday is everyone's favorite ugly sweater day and Thursday rounds out the week with tree-topper day (wear a holiday themed hat or headpiece, no hoods). Let's all get in the spirit with only four days until break!

Come to Martinsburg High School to see the NMS Strings students perform under the direction of Mr. Hojka! The concert starts at 7pm on December 20th! We would love to see many NMS families in the audience that evening!

Check those Schoology grades! Get that missing work finished! Please view the scheduling reminders below!

BOYS BASKETBALL

North Boys Varsity beat Musselman 61-9 on Monday. North was led by Kemar Green with 17 points. The North JV Boys also won 47-26 over Musselman. Liam Coe led the scoring with 23 points. Christian Irving led Musselman with 17 points. Thursday's game against Shepherdstown was postponed until after the break.

The coaches of the boys teams would like to announce the players of the week! Congratulations to the following players!

Players of the week JV

Week One: Zevyn Dunn-Carey

Week Two: Liam Coe

Players of the Week Varsity

Week One: Desean Smith

Week Two Kemar Green

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Both the Girls JV & Varsity had wins Thursday vs. Shepherdstown! The JV team won 42-14 and the Varsity won 48-20! Top scorers for the JV team were Daesia Smith & Gabby Capacho. Alexis Simmons & Aaliyah Wymer led the Varsity team with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Come out to watch the teams play South this Monday! Girls will be away; boys will be at home!

ONLINE TICKETS AVAILABLE!

Did you know that you can purchase your girls & boys basketball tickets ONLINE? Purchase your tickets early and avoid the line! The link to purchase tickets is on our website under Athletics - Basketball. It will also be located right here on all of our newsletters throughout the season! See the link below!

Check out the game schedule below for both the girls & boys basketball teams!

The cheerleaders would like to thank everyone who supported them at their spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Friday night! Funds are still being tabulated, but your support meant the world to these ladies!

We were also happy to welcome our tiny blue devils on Saturday for cheer camp! Look for these future blue devils cheerleaders to steal the show during an upcoming NMS basketball game!

The West Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce applications for Governor's Schools of West Virginia are now open. Please visit their new website to learn about these exciting opportunities for students in middle and high schools and to access the applications.

These FREE summer residential programs offer incredible experiences for students in a variety of disciplines. Applications and directions for preparing for auditions can be found at the website below.

Middle School Programs

• Governor's School of Literacy through the Arts, Culture, and History (GSLACH) - current 8th grade students
• Governor's STEM Institute (GSI) (WVU) - current 7th grade students
• Governor's STEM Institute (GSI)(Green Bank) - current 8th grade students

First United Bank is excited to offer a student saving account special. Students who open a new savings account will be able to have their first deposit matched up to $10.00!

If you are interested in this opportunity, check out the flyer below or call Jennifer Lewis, Community Office Manager at the Edwin Miller Blvd Branch at 304-267-3130.

FREE BCS virtual tutoring is available in Math, Science, English (Reading and Language Arts), and Social Studies for ALL BCS K-12 students Monday-Thursday from 5-7 pm by appointment. Tutoring sessions are approximately 30 minutes.

Please complete the form below and you will be contacted via email on your requested day prior to 5 p.m. with the information for your tutoring session. One of our tutors will call the number you provide between the hours of 5 - 7 p.m. Please be sure you select a date that you are available and able to attend. Also note that you will not have the tutor for the full 2 hours.

Also available daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at no cost for West Virginians, TutorWV provides support for patrons of all ages and stages. For students, the program offers online, on-demand, expert tutoring and homework help in more than 200 subjects, along with drop-off review services for essays and math problems. Tutoring included for AP, SAT and ACT. Read the press release.

Primary & secondary guardians are automatically added to the NMS NTouch list. But if you are an aunt, uncle, childcare provider, or student and you want to receive NTouch alerts & school newsletters, please use the QR code or link below to sign up for alerts!

Shenandoah Community Health visits our school every Thursday. Students can be seen for a variety of reasons, including immunizations and school sports physicals.

If you want your child to be seen in the mobile clinic by a medical professional, please contact the main office for more information!

As we approach the holiday season, our community is filled with a tapestry of diverse traditions and celebrations that reflect the rich cultural and religious diversity of our world. This time of year is an excellent opportunity to teach our children about the various customs and beliefs associated with holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, fostering a spirit of understanding, respect, and appreciation for different cultural traditions.

Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights, December 7-15, 2023

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the miracle of the oil in the Temple. Families light the menorah, play traditional games, and enjoy special foods. To educate your children about Hanukkah consider:

*Menorah Lighting Ceremony: Attend a local menorah lighting ceremony to experience the traditions firsthand. Many communities host public celebrations that welcome people of all backgrounds.

*Learn Hanukkah Songs: Encourage your children to learn traditional Hanukkah songs and share them with their friends. This can be a fun and engaging way to promote cultural understanding.

Christmas: A Joyful Celebration, December 25, 2023

Christmas is widely celebrated across the globe and is rooted in Christian traditions surrounding the birth of Jesus. Families often come together to decorate Christmas trees, exchange gifts, and share festive meals. To educate your children about the diversity within Christmas celebrations, consider:

*Exploring Global Traditions: Take a virtual journey around the world to discover how different cultures celebrate Christmas. Learn about unique customs, such as the "Posada" in Mexico or the festive "St. Lucia's Day" in Scandinavia.

*Reading Diverse Holiday Stories: Introduce your children to holiday books that showcase various cultural perspectives. Stories like "The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie dePaola or "The Nutcracker" by E.T.A. Hoffmann can provide insight into different holiday traditions.

Kwanzaa: Unity and Heritage, December 26,2023 - January 1, 2024

Kwanzaa is a celebration of African heritage, focusing on seven core principles known as the Nguzo Saba. Families come together to light the kinara, exchange symbolic gifts, and celebrate their roots. To educate your children about Kwanzaa:

*Create a Kwanzaa Display: Explore the principles of Kwanzaa by creating a display that includes the kinara, the seven candles, and symbols representing each principle. Discuss the significance of each element with your children.

*Explore African Culture: Use this time to learn about the diverse cultures of Africa. Explore art, music, and history to gain a better understanding of the continent's rich heritage.

Tips for Teaching Cultural Appreciation

1. Interactive Activities: Engage your children in hands-on activities related to different holiday traditions. This could include crafting decorations, cooking traditional recipes, or participating in community events.

2. Open Dialogue: Encourage open and respectful conversations about cultural diversity. Answer your child's questions and, if needed, seek additional resources to deepen their understanding.

3. Visit Cultural Events: Attend multicultural events or visit local cultural institutions to expose your family to a variety of traditions. These experiences can be both educational and enjoyable.

4. Respectful Gift-Giving: Teach your children about the importance of thoughtful and culturally sensitive gift-giving. Consider giving gifts that reflect the values and traditions of the recipient.

By embracing the diverse holiday traditions of our community, we can foster a sense of unity, understanding, and respect among our children. Let's celebrate this holiday season by learning from one another, embracing our differences, and building a more inclusive and compassionate world.

Wishing you and your families a joyful holiday season, no matter which traditions you observe! We hope the upcoming winter break will allow time for your family to recharge & relax! Wishing you a happy 2024!

Schoology is our online grading program. Parents are able to create accounts which allows them to view all of their child's assignments, due dates, & grades! If you do not have a Schoology account and would like one, please fill out the form below and our technology specialist will email you directions to set up that account. EVERY STUDENT benefits when parents and teachers are able to communicate!

*In 6th grade reading and ELA classes students are learning about the three author's purposes: to persuade, inform and entertain. As a final project, students had to choose a topic and then create three pieces of media which displays each of the author's purposes. Some students created YouTube thumbnails, infographics, or memes using Canva! Teachers reported that students were highly engaged during the activity! Check out Serenity's meme on the left!

*Ms. Stover's reading class created infographics in class this week! Now the students will have their notes organized in a concise, visual way for future use with the bonus of learning graphic design skils at the same time!

*This week, Mr. McCarthy & Ms. Heck led their classes in disecting frogs - fake frogs! Thanks to a grant from TeachKind Science, students had the benefit of hands-on learning without destroying animals. The frogs come from a company called Synfrogs which is associated with PETA. These frogs are reusable, so next year's students will be able to use them once the frog bellies are replaced with new ones. Thanks to our 7th grade Science teachers for bringing this opportunity to our students!

"We at North Middle School are committed to doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to ensure that all student reach their highest potential!"

THE NORTH WAY

BE SAFE - BE RESPECTFUL - BE RESPONSIBLE

Email: rachel.deavers@k12.wv.us
Website: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/martinsburgnorth
Location: 250 East Road, Martinsburg, WV, USA
Phone: 304-267-3540
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialNMSpage
Twitter: @nmsteachers