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Greetings and Happy New Year to you as we celebrate the dawning of 2024! We hope that these last two weeks have included time for both connection and rest. As of tomorrow (January 2nd) we come together again as a school to resume this first semester ahead of the semester end on February 1st. The coming weeks will be busy as our students engage in our winter/mid-year assessments (see below section) and work to complete all that is needed ahead of mid-year report cards.

Included in this updates is our Important Dates section and a variety of notes related to this month of January. As available, please take a moment to read through each update. Your time and support in doing so is appreciated.

Please know that our North team wishes you and yours the absolute best this year - We continue to be grateful to be part of our North community.

Thank you!

Para obtener una versión de este boletín en español, haga clic aquí.

Important December Dates:

• 1/2: School Resumes (regular schedule)
• 1/15: NO SCHOOL (National Day of Service Honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
  
• 1/16: Girls Basketball Tryouts (practice follows, games begins 2/1)
• 1/24: Winter Choir Concert @ EHS Civic Auditorium (7:00pm)
• 1/25: January PTA Meeting + BINGO/Loteria Hosted by PTA (Times TBD)

• 2/1: First Semester Ends
• 2/2: NO SCHOOL (teacher workday, S1/S2 break)
• 2/5: Second Semester Begins
• 2/13: Wresting Practices Begin
• 2/15: First Semester Report Cards sent home
• 2/19, 2/20: NO SCHOOL (mid-winter break)

2023/24 Student Calendar

2023/24 Athletics Calendar

As many of you saw/noted, our North Kitchen Manager of 31 years, Jean Simmons, retired as of January 1st. Mrs. Simmons gave her all in serving generations of North Stars and in doing so, made our school a better place each/every day. In retiring, Mrs. Simmons begins a chapter that she has long considered and looks forward to spending more time with her family, including her grandchildren. While we are thrilled for her, she will be missed at North.

Thankfully, our students and colleagues had an opportunity celebrate Mrs. Simmons and say thank you with a few gifts during her final lunch with us on Friday, December 15th. This includes a “Jean’s Kitchen” sign (above/right) that will proudly hang in our kitchen/commons for years to come, in honor and recognition of her 31 years of heartful service.

Next week, (1/9 & 1/10) our STARs will engage in our second round of iReady assessments as part of an important winter/mid-year window. As in the past, our students will take both a reading and a math assessment. As an adaptive diagnostic, this technology-based assessment is particular to each student, adjusting and responding as they proceed through each test.

Many of our students will take each of their assessments “in one sitting” meaning that we will adjust our schedule on those two days to include blocks of focused time dedicated to each diagnostic. Data from these assessments will aid our efforts to understand areas of strength and need for each student and respond accordingly. To gain accurate data and respond as needed, we will need each student to give their best effort.

We ask for your partnership in encouraging the same of your child/children. Their best effort will yield accurate results and accurate results inform needed efforts as we work to meet the academic needs of each of our North students. Your assistance and encouragement is sincerely appreciated.

In late November, leaders from across our district (right) visited North for an intensive instructional review. This annual process began with a collective review of student-level data, both past and present, and explored how identified needs compare with our school-wide goals. Teams then visit classrooms for collaborative walkthroughs followed by a share-out session specific to identified highlights and needs.

Our North review went well and reconfirmed our four interdependent goals for this 2023/2024 school year. Those goals, noted below, are designed to focus on specific conditions related to improving our learning environment for our students. As we compile mid-year data (including first semester grades) across the month of January, we will be able to provide additional updates related to these goals and how we are progressing.

Our weekly STAR block occurs every Friday morning and is specifically designed to enhance social and emotional learning (SEL) and readiness for learning skills. Within a four-week structure, we focus two weeks on social and emotional learning, one week on readiness for learning, and a fourth week on academic planning with support.

During this fourth week, students with missing assignments receive support to identify, plan, and work towards the completion of these missing opportunities. Additionally, students that are encountering challenges with being tardy to their classes receive support in identifying reasons why they are late and the development of a plan to remedy these issues. Students that are not encountering challenges with missing assignments and/or a significant number of tardy incidents are not required to stay for support and typically attend a monthly themed social. This past month, our December s’mores-themed social was attended by over 400 students. Every student has the opportunity to attend these monthly opportunities as long as the number of outstanding assignments and/or tardy incidents is not negatively impacting their learning, achievement, and associated grades.

As the weather has cooled, we’ve seen a rise in clothing/apparel to match the temperatures. We welcome jackets, sweatshirts, and other cold weather items but ask that blankets remain at home. If a student needs a coat or any other clothing items, we are well stocked and have options to help. If other extenuating circumstances exist that necessitate the use of a blanket, we will work with that student and their family to consider options and needed accommodations.

Our rationale for asking that blankets remain at home is specific to the distraction that these items cause in our classrooms and hallways. For this reason, we are working with students in a one-to-one manner to explore options for leaving their blankets at home. Thank you for your help and support in this regard.

Across the days and weeks leading-up to the National Day of Service honoring the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., our school will collectively work to connect our students to the past, present, and future of Civil Rights efforts, both across our nation/world, and closer to home. We’ll utilize our daily announcements, classroom opportunities, and a school-wide assembly on Thursday, 1/11 to amplify our collective learning.

Across the coming two weeks, we are aiming to highlight the voices of our students, both in spoken word and song, to honor those that have gone before us. The phrase, “I am + we are” intentionally challenges each member of our school (students and adults) to consider our individual responsibilities and actions as part of a larger, interconnected, ever-needed effort to confront and eradicate racism, bias, and inequality in all forms. This leads us to and through the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service (a “day on, not a day off”) on Monday, January 15th.

Dear North Middle School Families,

As we bid farewell to the old year and eagerly embrace the new one, the North PTA extends warm wishes for a Happy New Year filled with joy, growth, and shared moments of laughter.

Here are some updates and exciting events lined up for January:

• PTA General Meetings: Don't forget, our PTA general meetings are scheduled for the 4th Thursday of each month at 7PM in the Library. This month, mark your calendars for January 25th, when we will be hosting a combined BINGO/Loteria night preceding our PTA meeting. Join us for a night of fun and camaraderie! Time TBD!
• Membership Matters: Haven't joined North PTA yet? Your membership makes a significant impact by supporting various events and activities for our dedicated teachers and wonderful kids. The best part? No volunteering required! Your membership alone is a powerful contribution. Please click here for more information.
• Dine-out at Panda Express: On January 17th, let's come together as a community to dine-out at Panda Express. Details can be found at this link: Panda Express Fundraiser. Your participation helps in supporting our school. Let's eat, connect, and make a difference!
• Family Fun Run Preparation: January marks the start of our preparations for the Family Fun Run in May. We are on the lookout for corporate or small business sponsors for this exciting event. If you are interested in sponsoring or know of a business that would like to contribute, please reach out to us at northmspta@gmail.com.
• Volunteer Opportunity at the Star Store: Every Friday, the Star Store opens its doors for students to spend their STARbucks. We are still in need of volunteers to help out on Fridays. If you can spare some time and would like to contribute, please check out the following link for volunteer opportunities: North Middle School PTA: Staff the Star Store! (signupgenius.com).

As we step into the New Year, let's continue working together to create a supportive and engaging environment for our students. Thank you for being a part of the North PTA family.

Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic New Year!

Warm regards,

North PTA Team

Tiffany Nash, co-president

Heather Rodriguez, co-president

Dora Watson, vice-president

Meaghan Swanson, secretary

Heather Reid, Treasurer

Our January Newsletter from our Everett Public Schools is linked/attached below. This specifically crafted monthly communication is designed to connect with all of our families and provide information pertaining to all of our schools/programs. This month's newsletter includes updates pertaining to:

• January is School Board Appreciation Month
• Severe Weather & School Reminders + Snow Routes
• Harvest of the Month
• Good Citizenship Day, 1/16
• and more!

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Thank you again for taking the time to read our January edition of North News. On behalf of our entire North team, we wish you and yours the absolute best across this New Year of 2024. We are grateful that you are part of our North community.

goNorth!

With Gratitude,

Allison, Drew, & Tyler

North Middle School

tream@everettsd.org - amacgregorfornes@everettsd.org - abaewilliams@everettsd.org

Phone: 425-385-4800

Fax 425-385-4802