NMS Update 8.4.2024

Northfield Middle School 24 -25

Message from the Principal

Middle School Families:

Welcome to our NMS Update for the 2024-25 school year. For the next several weeks we will be introducing a few people that you and your students may connect with. Also, make sure to look through the important dates and information below.

Who is Northfield Middle School’s Assistant Principal?

Greetings! I am Michael O'Keefe, assistant principal and activities director at NMS. This is my 26th year in education, and 10th year serving Northfield families. I am also a husband and a dad. In my spare time, I like to woodwork, spend time with family, and watch baseball. Here is my family at Tropicana Field this summer. I am the tall guy!!

Michael O'Keefe

Northfield Middle School Assistant Principal

MS Activities

MS Activities Registration will open on Monday, August 5, 2024. A separate Skylert message regarding fall activities offered at NMS will be sent out tomorrow, providing more information and a link to register. Please visit our NMS Activities website to see what is offered this Fall. Please note that families will only be able to register for Fall activities at this time. If you have any questions regarding activities, please contact Kari Hartwig at khartwig@northfieldschools.org or Michael O’Keefe at mokeefe@northfieldschools.org.

iPad Insurance

All families are encouraged to purchase the 24-25 iPad protection plan for their student’s iPad. Insurance covers 100% of the cost of the first accidental damage. Students without insurance are responsible for the full damage and/or replacement cost. The annual cost of the iPad protection plan is $20 per student. There is a reduced rate of $15 for students who receive reduced-price lunch and a rate of $10 for students who receive free lunch pricing. Please contact the main office if you have questions regarding iPad insurance for the 24-25 school year.

Immunizations Required for Incoming 7th Grade Students

Students entering 7th grade in the fall of 2024 must have all required childhood immunizations on file, or a legal exemption in order to attend public school in Minnesota. Parents may review their student's current health record in Family Access.

Please ask your physician to print or fax your immunization records to NMS. Records can be mailed to NMS 2200 Division Street South, Northfield, MN 55057, faxed (507-663-0660), or dropped off at the main office by August 30th, 2024.

Questions, please contact Carol Reed, NMS nurse, at creed@northfieldschools.org or

507-663-0656.

Required immunizations for students entering 7th grade:

Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis)

Varicella vaccine - two shots or documentation of having the chicken pox

Meningococcal (meningitis)

If you do not want your child to have these immunizations, we will need a physician-signed medical exemption or a notarized conscientious exemption form in the health file.

The exemption can be found on the following link from the Minnesota Department of Health

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/basics/imzform.pdf

Picture Days/Self Guided Tours

Thursday, August 15th: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Tuesday, August 27th: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

All middle schools students should have their picture taken in order to be added to our 24-25 yearbook and to receive an NMS student ID. There will be an additional retake day on October 1, 2024. Josten's will have an online ordering system for parents to view their students' photos after pictures have been taken (jostenspix.com). We will provide an event code for parents to use when placing your order online.