We hope you will enjoy this informative newsletter! It's full of updates about what's going on here at Neal Middle School. Be on the lookout for more newsletters released on a monthly schedule. Staying connected will help all of us succeed!

Sincerely,

The Newsletter Committee

( Ms. Moriarty, Mr. Liska, and Ms. Hanna)

Neal Middle School is offering an after-school tutoring program to assist students with math, literacy skills, and science for 8th graders. Your child will benefit from enrolling in this program. Sessions will be held virtually on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning April 19, 2021 through May 28, 2021. Sessions will run from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Sessions are also available on Wellness Wednesdays from 10:00 to 12:00. Students are required to come every day, but do not have to stay the entire time. Please indicate your interest in having your child participate in the after-school program by clicking here and completing the registration form.

SPARK Camp is open to rising 4th – 8th grade AIG identified students enrolled in Durham Public Schools. During the 4 day camp, students select 2 classes for exploration, such as Crime Scene Investigation, Science Experiments, Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, The Legend, and many more! Student selection by lottery process will take place with notifications sent before May 8th. Lottery will include siblings. Click here for more information or click here to register.

El campamento SPARK esta disponible para los futuros estudiantes de 4th a 8th grado, identificados para AIG (Servicios para estudiantes academica y/o intelectualmente dotados), inscriptos en las Escuelas Publicas de Durham. Durante el campamento de cuatro dias de duracion, los estudiantes seleccionaran dos clases para exploracion, por ejemplo, Investigacion de la Escene del Crimen, Experimentos de Ciencias, Hamilton: el hombre, el mito, la leyenda, iy muchas mas! Seleccion de estudiantes por el proceso de loteria con notifaciciones enviadas a mas tardar el 8 de Mayo. Le loteria incluira a los hermanos/as. Mas informacion aqui o Registrar acqui!

Testing is just around the corner! Click here to see a larger version of Neal Middle School's testing calendar for the 2020-2021 school year.

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is a two-phase process by which students can earn credit for a course by demonstrating a deep understanding and mastery of application of the content standards prior to taking the class. Students who successfully complete CDM will receive a pass/fail grade and course credit. Click here to find out more!

Durham Public Schools is pleased to announce that Ottendorf Labortories LLC has agreed to provide free asymptomatic PCR testing for COVID-19 at DPS schools. While students and staff may access testing at their school, they may be tested at any DPS location. Click here for the testing schedules.

Click here to see the newsletter that's just for 6th graders and their families. See our cohort calendar, celebrate the April Habit Highlight winners, and find our what May's Habit Highlight will be!

Click here to see the newsletter that's all about our Elective classes at Neal! There is a section for each class, from Art to Spanish and everything in between. Find out what students are working on in each class, find some great resources, and hear about what's next on our amazing elective team's agenda!

Please complete this form if you would like to pick up a food bag, school supplies or hygiene supplies. Pick up will take place at Neal Middle School - 201 Baptist Road, Durham, NC 27704. Sign-up for a pick-up slot in the form below. Please contact the school if you have any questions, 919-560-3955. (Por favor acomplete esta forma si le gustaria recojer una bolsa de comida, utiles para la escuela o productos de higiene. Lo recojeria en la Escuela Neal Middle School- 201 Baptist Road, Durham, NC 27704. Seleccione una de las horas en esta forma. Por favor contacte a la escuela si usted tiene alguna pregunta, 919-560-3955.)

This year we are unable to send out physical report cards, but no need to worry! You can check on your students' grades and attendance anytime using the Powerschool Parent Portal! Click here to read a letter explaining how to access the Parent Portal, and here is a version in Spanish. You can also watch this handy video tutorial that will take you through the process step by step.

Diana Burney has been an incredible student both in and out of the building, and Amira Sekher has been a joy to have in class these last couple of days! -Mr. Cody

Donnamarie Williams (8th Grader) has been a Superstar in AIG this semester! For her Passion Project, she learned Mandarin Chinese and was able to create a TikTok where she demonstrated what she learned. Caliyah Royster (7th Grader) has excelled in AIG this semester. She is incredibly hardworking and conscientious and just submitted an amazing Canva presentation on Youth Leader, Alex Scott. -Ms. Jamieson

Shoutout to Ms. Harris and Ms. Autry for doing great things in 6th grade Science. - Ms. Branch

Ms. Click has been awesome in continuing to adapt her teaching to meet our students. The Virtual Notebooks kids have been completing for her have been incredible! - Mr. Cody

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for you, a friend, or a family member.

This has been a tough year for many families in our community. If you need more resources, check out this handy Google Doc- there are pages and pages of information about where to get free meals, enrichment activities, discounts and PD opportunities for teachers, COVID-specific assistance, and so much more! (Shoutout to Christy Bechtel, our Beginning Teachers mentor, for this incredible list!) Each month we will highlight one resource in particular. This month's pick is...

Charter Communications-

• Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
• Charter will partner with school districts to ensure local communities are aware of these tools to help students learn remotely. Charter will continue to offer Spectrum Internet Assist, high speed broadband program to eligible low-income households delivering speeds of 30 Mbps.
• Charter will open its Wi-Fi hotspots across our footprint for public use.

CALENDAR

• FRIDAY, 4.30.21

  Cohort B - 7th Grade

  DPS SPARK Camp Registration

  
  

• SATURDAY, 5.1.21

  DPS SPARK Camp Registration

• SUNDAY, 5.2.21

  DPS SPARK Camp Registration

• MONDAY, 5.3.21

  Cohort C - 8th Grade

  DPS SPARK Camp Registration

  DPS Spark Camp Registration Deadline

  
  

• TUESDAY, 5.4.21

  Cohort C - 8th Grade

• WEDNESDAY, 5.5.21

  Wellness Wednesday

• THURSDAY, 6.10.21

  Credit By Demonstrated Mastery Exam Application Deadline

Neal Magnet Middle School has been educating Durham for over 50 years! These days we are soaring to new heights, including a 15% proficiency increase over the last four years. Our school met or exceeded growth in the past two years! Go Eagles!

Website: https://www.dpsnc.net/domain/44
Location: 201 Baptist Road, Durham, NC 27704, USA
Phone: (919) 560-3955
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NealEagles/
Twitter: @DPSNealMiddle