News and events

December 2, 2024

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving break. As some of you may have experienced, getting my kids up and ready for school on Monday was no easy task. We have 14 days of school in December before another long break. Breaks like these offer a wonderful opportunity for rest, family time, and celebrating traditions. However, they can also disrupt the routines that help children do well academically and emotionally.

Maintaining a routine during the break is important for your student. A consistent routine helps students remain focused, making the transition back to school easier in January. I am setting a goal for my family to keep our routines as normal as we can during the busy break and I encourage you to do the same. Here are some tips:

• Keep a Sleep Schedule: Try to maintain regular bedtimes and wake-up times to ensure your child gets adequate rest.
• Engage in Learning Activities: Encourage reading, writing, or educational games to keep their minds active.
• Include Physical Activity: Winter is a great time for outdoor fun or indoor activities.
• Limit Screen Time: Balancing screen time with other activities is important for overall well being.

Our performing arts groups take center stage this month. Band, orchestra and choir will all host their Winter concerts. You can find out more information on our website. As I said above, Winter Break starts for middle school students on December 20th. We return to school on January 2nd. I hope all of you have a restful and wonderful WInter Break.

December

3 - Orchestra 7/Fiddle/Chamber@ 7:00

5 - Orchestra 8 @ Northdale @ 1:00 p.m.

5 - Band 7 @ 7:00/Band 8 @ 8:00

6 - Choir 7 & 8 @ BHS @ 7:00

10 - Band 6 & 7:00 & 8:00

12 - Orchestra 6 (D1) @ 7:00; D2 @ 8:00

17 - 8th-9th Grade Registration

17 - Choir 6 @ 7:00

20 - No School, Staff Development

23 - January 1, 2025 No School, Winter Break

January

2 - School Resumes

6 - 6th-7th Grade Registration

7 - 7th-8th Grade Registration

7 - Conference Sign Up Begins

8-9 - 5th Grade Visiting for 6th Grade Registration

9 - VH CEMS Follow up 8th-9th Grade

16 - Conferences 3:30 - 6:40 (Virtual/In-person)

20 - Holiday, No School

21 - Conferences 3:30 - 6:30 (Virtual/In-person)

Minnesota weather is shifting gears, and the Anoka-Hennepin School District has plans in place for when extreme winter weather arrives.

The safety of all students is the first priority when determining if schools should stay open in adverse weather. If a determination is made to close school due to extreme winter weather, the district will alert families in a variety of ways, including:

• Text and email message from #AHSchools. (For parents/guardians only.)

• District and school websites.

• District and school social media pages (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

• Media outlets including WCCO, KSTP, FOX 9, KARE 11, CCX Media, WCCO radio and Star Tribune newspaper.

Those responsible for activities scheduled in schools over the weekend will determine if adverse weather conditions necessitate a cancellation.

Read more about the district’s policies on extreme winter weather at ahschools.us/weather.

Thank you NMS Volunteers for all the hours you have given so far this school year to support our staff and students! it is never too late to become a volunteer. Do you want to get involved at school? Become a NMS volunteer today by completing an NMS volunteer application today. All our current volunteer opportunities can be viewed here. Ski/Snowboard Club Chaperones Community Education is looking for volunteers to chaperone their Ski/Snowboard Club. Our trips this year will all be to Trollhaugen and the dates are Fridays, December 13, January 10, January 31, February 14 and February 28. Volunteers receive free lift tickets. Volunteers need to arrive at 4:15 and return to Northdale around 11pm.

The Northdale MS Ski Club volunteers will be assisting the ski club advisor with the following:

• Check students onto the bus at the school at 4:30

• Help load the ski gear in the trailer

• Help issue lift tickets at the hill

• Help with bus supervision on the ride to the hill

• Help unload the ski gear from the trailer at the hill

• Help students renting ski equipment at the hill

• Throughout the ski trip help at the NMS check in area

• Monitor the NMS students by being visible (skiing) on the hills

• Check students onto the bus at the hill at assigned leave time 9:45

• Help load the ski gear in the trailer at the hill

• Help with bus supervision on the ride to Northdale

• Help unload the ski gear from the trailer at Northdale

Sign up to chaperone.

Santa’s Workshop - December 16 & 17 (Volunteers and Cookie Donations Needed)
Our 8th grade WEB students are paired up with a kindergarten or 1st grader from a local elementary school to make winter crafts and enjoy cookies. Adult volunteers are needed to help serve cookies and beverages. Sign up to volunteer or donate cookies. Supplies need to be at NMS by 8:00 am on December 16th.

Registration for Winter and Spring Athletics is open. Registrations for Winter and Spring Enrichment Activities and Clubs start on December 2. You can view all of our class offerings on December 2.

December Activities and Winter Athletics

Ski/Snowboard Club - Friday evenings. Open to grades 6-8. This club gives Anoka-Hennepin School District Middle School students the opportunity to ski and snowboard as a group and develop their skills in these exhilarating sports. Ski/Snowboard Club strives to provide a venue for wholesome outdoor activity for our young people during the winter months. The club will visit Trollhaugen on December 13, January 10, January 31, February 14, and February 28. Membership is open to Middle School students regardless of their skill level. Equipment rentals are available at the ski hill and will be paid for on the day of the trip at the ski hill. Students will be transported by bus to and from the ski hills. Please contact the NMS Community Education Office if you have a season pass at Trollhaugen.

Fall Dance Clinic - Tues-Thurs, starting December 3. Open to grades 6-8. Interested in joining the school's competition dance team? This dance clinic will work on various skills and choreography. Dancers will improve their flexibility, endurance and skills such as turns and leaps. This is a great opportunity to get more individual help with dance technique and other important aspects of dance like performance, timing and execution of moves. The students will be taught skills, not routines.

Chess - After school Wednesdays, starting December 4. Open to grades 6-8. Challenge yourself! Play chess! Exercise your brain! This is an excellent opportunity to develop better chess skills this fall. Impress your opponents and increase your IQ while having fun playing chess. Compete for different prizes and end of the year trophies. All chess levels are welcome. Presented by Twin Cities Chess Club.

NMS Winter Athletics - Northdale Community Education offers the following athletic programs this winter:

• Boys Basketball Gr 7/8

• Girls Basketball Gr 7/8

• Ping Pong

• Performance Cheer

• Dance Team

• Boys Basketball Gr 6

• Girls Basketball Gr 6

Viking Service Club Drive for Ramsey County Child Protective Services

Community Education held a Sew Fun Charity Sewing class at Northdale on November 5. Participants sewed 24 colorful fabric bags to donate to Ramsey County Child Protection Services for youth who are entering the foster system.

In coordination with this, Viking Service Club will be conducting a drive to collect the things these children may need on their first couple days away from home. This drive will run December 3-December 9.

Item we are looking for include the following:

• Travel size toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes

• Feminine hygiene products

• Hair brush/comb

• Socks

• Small notebooks and pens

• Coloring books with crayons

• Small toys or stuffed animals

Students can bring donations to the Community Education Cart that will be placed in the North Commons outside the Main Office.