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North Central News
North Central Junior High: March Updates
Important Dates:
March 4th: No School
March 5th: 3rd Trimester begins
March 11th- 15th: Spring Break
March 19th: PSTO Meeting 11:30 am - 12:30 pm (NCJH Main Office)
Meet Some Of Our Awesome Staff!
Mr. Lutjen
My name is Justin Lutjen and I am currently in my 8th year as ELP/Success Center teacher at North Central Junior High. This is my 17th year in education. I have previously served at Iowa City, West and Mid-Prairie. My wife, Kelsey, also works in education as a 1st grade teacher at Van Allen Elementary in North Liberty. We have three kids. Kellen (3rd), Chaise (1st), and Bryn (2yo). They keep us busy, as the older two are active in different sports. When I can find free time in the summer I enjoy being on the golf course. My passion is providing the support and guidance to create and sharpen the skills necessary to make our students successful in all their endeavors. I believe we have a great administration, staff, and community here at North Central Junior High, and I am fortunate to be a part of it.
Mr. Arnold
My name is Chris Arnold and I have been the head custodian at North Central Junior High for the last year. I have been a custodian in the ICCSD since 2015, having been the head custodian at Alexander and the day custodian at Liberty High School. I take great pride in ensuring our building is a safe and clean environment where students can succeed. Additionally, I have a passion for coaching, and giving back to the community. I am the assistant varsity wrestling coach and the assistant varsity boys soccer coach at Liberty High School and have been so since the school opened. My wife, Keeley, and I have a daughter, Lachlan (4), and a son on the way. We love spending time outside, going to sporting events, playing volleyball, bowling, and seeing after our three dogs.
Student Artwork
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, North Central Junior High wanted to give back to our community by holding a school-wide fundraiser. The North Liberty Community Pantry was selected as the organization to receive all proceeds from our fundraiser. This year, we chose Penny Wars as our school-wide fundraiser. Students had a blast plotting and planning strategies to stay in the positive with pennies and sabotage other homerooms with silver coins and dollar bills. Congratulations to the winning homeroom: Mrs. Mayo's 8th grade homeroom managed to stay in the positive with a total of $15.80! North Central students and staff raised $1,627.78! After we donated, we received a kind message from the executive director of the community pantry, Ryan Bobst:
“ I want to send our sincerest thank you to North Central Junior High students and staff! The donation from Penny Wars made our day! The generosity and commitment to the community by students and staff are inspiring to us!...At this time of unprecedented need, where we have doubled our level of service in just two years, all donations help ensure our neighbors have food, clothing and connections to resources. If there is any interest from students regarding volunteer or service projects, we would love to explore that further.”
A special thank you to Hills Bank in North Liberty for graciously sorting buckets and buckets of change for our school wide fundraiser. We couldn't do it without their support!
Well done North Central!
Choir Concert 2/7/24
Orchestra Concert 2/22/24
Band Concert 2/29/24
Math Counts Team
Congratulations to North Central's MathCounts team on a 2nd place finish at the Chapter competition Monday, Feb. 12th: Coco Xiao, Jiwon Kim, Kyros Wu, and Victor Yao
Kyros Wu, the reigning 2023 state champ in Iowa, earned first place individually. Coco Xiao earned 10th place. Over 60 students from 11 area middle schools competed in the Chapter competition. North Central's team will compete in the state competition for the second year in a row on Friday, March 22nd in Ankeny.
MathCounts participants from North Central at the Chapter competition: Mawada Abbas, Coco Xiao, Anaya Patil, Macy Kacmarynski, Jiwon Kim, Kyros Wu, and Victor Yao
MathCounts participants
Mawada Abbas, Coco Xiao, Anaya Patil, Macy Kacmarynski, Jiwon Kim, Kyros Wu, and Victor Yao
State Champion!
Kyros Wu the reigning 2023 state champ in Iowa, earned first place individually. Coco Xiao earned 10th place. Over 60 students from 11 area middle schools competed in the Chapter competition. North Central's team will compete in the state competition for the second year in a row on Friday, March 22nd in Ankeny.
MathCounts second place finish!
Coco Xiao, Jiwon Kim, Kyros Wu, and Victor Yao
PSTO UPDATES
Dear NCJH Families,
Thank you to those who have turned in Hy-Vee receipts for the Hy-Vee Cash 4 Students. The last day to turn in receipts is March 31,2024. The PSTO will earn $1.00 for every $200.00 of receipts collected. Monies received will be used to provide meals for our wonderful NCJH staff. We will be providing a meal in April and will celebrate our Staff and Teachers in May. Please look for the Sign -up Genius in the coming months to help honor our amazing NCJH Staff! Our next meeting is March 19 at 11:30 AM.
Thank you!
PSTO
PSTO Information: https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/1340
CELL PHONE POLICY
North Central Cell Phone Policy
Cell Phone/Personal Technology Policy & Confiscation Procedures
Cell phones: Students may use cell phones during passing time and at lunch while school is in session. All phones must be put away, and ringers silenced before entering the classroom. Phones in use or view during class time may be confiscated by staff (this includes using phones to listen to music). Students who refuse to comply will be subject to additional school consequences. Additionally, students are not allowed to have headphones/earbuds on or in their ears during class. At North Central Junior High School the following steps will be used to enforce the policy:
1. At the beginning of class all teachers/staff will say “secure your phones”
2. Students should have their phones put away and out of sight.
3. If the phone is out or being used, the teacher will confiscate the phone and deliver it to the main office where it will be secured until the end of the day.
4. If a student is refusing to give up his/her cell phone a counselor or administrator will be called and escort the student to the office where the phone will be secured.
5. If a student’s cell phone/device is confiscated three (3) different times, it will be held at school until a guardian comes to school to pick it up. A conference will be requested with student/guardian/admin to discuss possible solutions and/or additional consequences such as:
a. Multiple-day cell/device detention;
b. Trimester long cell/device detention;
c. Yearlong cell/device detention
ATTENDANCE:
If your student will be absent for any reason, please make sure you notify the NCJH Main Office (319-688-1210 or via email at barber.kandi@iowacityschools.org) by 9:00am on the day of the absence. Emailing teachers does not excuse the absence. If your student needs to leave early, please notify the main office and a pass will be given to your student to leave class early. Students must check out in the main office before exiting the building.
STUDENT DROP OFF
Students are not allowed access to the building before 8:30am. Students wanting to meet with teachers, must get permission from the teacher prior to the meeting, to be let in to the building before 8:30am. The office will not allow students in to the building before that time unless notification from the teacher has been given to the main office. Students will not be allowed up to meet with teachers before 8:15am unless that has also been clearly communicated with office staff.
North Central Junior High
Email: miller.colby@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/NorthCentralJH
Location: 180 East Forevergreen Road, North Liberty, IA, USA
Phone: 319-688-1210
Twitter: @NCJHlightning
Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact:
- Laura Gray, Director of Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness (programming), gray.laura@iowacityschools.org
- Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations (employment), howard.eric@iowacityschools.org, 1725 N. Dodge Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000; or
- If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker, Ombuds, ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312.