NAMS Soar & Achieve Newsletter

Dear Middle School Families,

Thank you for your continued support of New Albany Middle School. With the arrival of October comes a new season of learning and exploration for our students and staff. We are excited to introduce the Sources of Strength program, a comprehensive initiative focused on preventing suicide, bullying, substance abuse, and social isolation. This program encourages student leaders to work with their peers and staff to cultivate a positive school environment that promotes hope, help, and strength.

Information about Sources of Strength and other news and events are shared in this newsletter. Again, thank you for your unwavering support of our students and staff. With your continued partnership, we will SOAR and Achieve!!

Mr. Kevin L. Freeman Sr.

Principal

• Parent-Teacher conferences are tonight Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 3:15- 6:45 pm.
• Parent Meeting - 8th Grade Trip to Washington DC at 7:00 pm in the middle school cafeteria

Registration for Winter Sports

Now is the time to register your athlete for winter sports at the Middle School! Winter sports at NAMS are boys basketball, girls basketball, coed swimming/dive and girls and boys wrestling. Registration can be found here on FinalForms. Once registered on FinalForms, you will begin receiving communications from the coaches with try-out dates and times. Try-outs will occur mid-October, so don't delay registration. For more information, there will be a MS Athletic Winter Meet and Greet on October 10, 2023. The meeting will be held in the high school and middle school cafeterias and will begin at 6:00 pm. Coaches breakout sessions will begin immediately following the general meeting.

Sources of Strength is an evidence-based best practice youth suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. Sources of Strength moves beyond a risk focus and utilizes an upstream approach, mobilizing a group of powerful Peer Leaders to spread messages of Hope, Help, and Strength throughout their school and community. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard, they can leverage their strengths.

The mission of Sources of Strength is to empower a well world and prevent suicide by increasing help-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. The program uses a fun-filled style of active learning to encourage open discussion about the very real problems that youth face and what can help. Sources of Strength believes it takes both students, staff, and families working together to create a lasting positive impact.

During the 2023-24 school year, we will recognize various cultural and commemorative dates. Our Building an Inclusive Campus Culture (BICC) committee will develop activities and/or displays as appropriate for our middle school students. Our focus will be on highlighting the significant contributions that these diverse groups of people have made to our world while further strengthening our culture of kindness, dignity, and respect.

The following cultural and commemorative dates & individuals will be recognized this year:

September/October: Hispanic Heritage Month
October: LGBTQ+ History Month
November: Native American History Month
February: Black History Month
March: Disability Awareness Month/Women's History Month
April: Asian American Pacific Islander Month
May: Mental Health Awareness Month

How we will recognize each month:

• A digital bulletin board will be displayed in the main office and will rotate among our other digital displays.

• Friday short video announcement highlighting the contributions of people who are being recognized during the month.

• These announcements will be curated by our BICC team and presented by a mix of staff and students.

• These announcements will take place during our study center periods on each Friday of the month.

Before each month, parents will receive information on how these dates will be recognized and a preview of the materials/information that will be shared with our students. This information will include the individuals being recognized as part of the Famous Friday announcements and the biographical information that will be shared. Click here to view the individuals that will be highlighted for Famous Fridays during October.

Opt-Out

Parents can opt their student(s) out of these brief announcements. When opted out, students will report to the library for study center to view our normally scheduled announcements. Opt-Out Form

Ohio Health Grief Group

Ohio Health is collaborating with New Albany Middle School to offer a small group focused on the topic of Grief. Grief is a complex emotion and can impact individuals in different ways. Grief is not limited to the loss of people, but it can begin when a close family member is diagnosed with a terminal illness. If you believe your child would benefit from participating in this group, please let Leslie Wilson or Margie Thompson know by Friday, October 27, 2023.

Signs of Suicide - 7th Grade Classroom Guidance Lesson

Click here for more information.

Author, Steve Sheinkin will speak to all middle school students during his visit on October 24th and 25th. He will also speak to students in a smaller setting in our school library. Don't miss out on this chance to interact with Steve in a small group setting. Get ready for an engaging time hearing from this award winning author!

Please check the Eagle Eye course in Schoology on how to participate in the small group event.

We have had several iPads that have turned up broken already this school year. Please talk to your student about being mindful regarding where they are laying their ipads down throughout the campus. There is no reason why a student should be on an iPad that is not assigned to them. If damage is caused to an iPad by another student, the student that damaged the iPad may have consequences.

One of the district’s goals is for all students to feel safe, supported, and connected at school. To help the district focus our efforts on identified needs, students will be taking a short anonymous Belonging Survey during the survey window from October 16-23, 2023. Parents can preview the survey for grades 1-3 and grades 4-12.

Parents may opt their student out of the Belonging survey by completing this opt-out form. Opt-out forms must be completed by 5:00pm on Friday October 13, 2023.

NAMS Fall Dance

Friday, October 6, 7-9pm

Middle School Gymnasium

New Albany Middle School students are invited to join us for a fun Western Themed dance to celebrate the beginning of the school year. Admission is $5/student and tickets may be purchased during lunch on October 4th - 6th. Students will have the opportunity to purchase a ticket at the door, as well as tickets which can be redeemed for Pizza, Dippin’ Dots or Western Loot!

Become a chaperone:

We are looking for 50 parents who would like to help our event run smoothly by volunteering to chaperone. You will arrive at 6:15pm to help set up and find what station/area you will be in charge of. Sign up HERE.

Donate items:

If you would like to help us create a fun atmosphere for the dance, purchase items to donate from our wishlist HERE.

Double check the shipping address at checkout to ensure items are shipped to NAMS PTO and save yourself a trip. Please deliver all items by September 29.

Go Eagles!

Coleen Barber- President

Secretary- Melissa Hoovler

Treasurer- Missy Evans

VP of Fundraising- Amy Wenker

VP of Programming- Terri Erlenbach

VP of Membership- Jenn Fuller

VP of Hospitality- Marcie Brickner

VP of Hospitality- Kristen Pietro

Communications- Tracy Ellis

Early Dismissal Form

Pre Planned Absence Form

Lunch Menu

Final Forms

Pay Schools Central

• September 26 - Parent Teacher Conferences
• September 26 - Parent Meeting - 8th Grade Washington DC Trip
• October 6 - NAMS Fall Dance
• October 10 - Winter Athletics Meet & Greet - MS Cafe at 6:00
• October 13 - Central Day (No School)
• October 20 - End of First Grading Period
• October 23 - 27 - Red Ribbon Week
• October 24 - 25 - Author Visit - Steve Sheinkin
• October 26 - PSAT for 8th Grade Students

Kevin L. Freeman, Principal

Laura Mejia, Assistant Principal

Ryan Grashel, Dean of Students

Leslie Wilson, Counselor (7th Grade)

Margie Thompson, Counselor (8th Grade)

Jill Hatten, Secretary

Erin Miller, Student Services and Athletics

Amy Thiel, Secretary

Email: news@napls.us
Website: www.napls.us/ms
Location: 6600 Dublin Granville Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054
Phone: 614-413-8500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewAlbanyMS/