SUPERINTENDENT

September 1, 2023

From the Desk of the Superintendent

NCSD Families,

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful fall we are having and gearing up for a nice Thanksgiving with family this month. The begnining of the year rush is over and we are now in a very nice routine and hopefully everyone is settling in. I have a few items to put on your radar this month, but I hope that you read about many of the fun things happening in the newsletter below!

Strategic Planning Survey - As you know, the district is working on building a strategic plan for the future of our district. If you have not had a chance to complete the NCSD Strategic Planning Survey yet, please feel free to do so here.
Days Off in November - Just a reminder about some of the days we do not have school this month. Next week on Tuesday, November 7, it is election day and we do not have school. Also, at the end of the month, we have November 22-24 off for Thanksgiving Break.
Blocksi for Parents - Blocksi is a classroom management tool that is used in classrooms to manage what students are doing on their personal devices and Chromebooks. I am pleased to let you know that we now have a parent version that allows you to manage your child's internet use on their school device while at home. This Blocksi Parent Portal provides parents controls and insightss about their childrens use of the internet and their Google accounts while at home. To sign up, please visit the following link: NCSD Blocksi Parent Dashboard Instructions.

Go Wildcats!

Ben Mainka, Superintendent
Novi Community School District

Frog Force Frenzy in November:

FROG FORCE FRENZY AT NOVI MIDDLE SCHOOL (NOV. 18)

Some of the top robotics teams representing grades 6-8 will compete in the Frog Force Frenzy, a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) State Qualifying Tournament, on Nov. 18 at Novi Middle School.

The events are free and open to the public. The FTC Opening Ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by match play from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Following a 30-minute lunch period, a second round of match play runs from 1-4:30 p.m. Alliance Selections will be made at 4:45 p.m., followed by elimination rounds starting at 5 p.m. the Awards Ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Eight Novi teams will be competing in the tournament:

Team 11129 – Novi Robo Titans
Team11276 – Techno Toads
Team 21453 – Robotics Ribbiters
Team 21456 – Amphibious Army
Team 21790 – COSMIC TOADS
Team 23439 – RoboKnights
Team 23445 – Furious Frogs
Team 6294 – Atomic Toads

Additionally, Team 6134, the Black Frogs, will hold a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive. Anyone attending the Frog Force Frenzy event can bring a new and unwrapped toy as a donation to Toys for Tots campaign.

Frog Force Team 503, Novi High’s Hall of Fame FIRST Robotics team, will host the FTC tournament. About 50 students and 20 parents help with organizing and running the event.

“As a first-time event coordinator for the Frog Force Frenzy event, it has been an incredibly fulfilling and enriching experience for me to plan the event with the guidance of coaches and mentors on the team and to see all our plans gradually coming to fruition!” said Suma Navada.

“Most of the Frog Force students have previously participated in the Frog Force Frenzy event when they were in Middle School. For them it is coming full circle now when they get to volunteer at the same event”.

Politics Club meets with Mayoral Candidates

Justin Fischer and Aaron Martinez each spoke at Novi High School Politics Club meetings in early October. There is no school on Election Day (Nov. 7). Novi High student Preston Soisaleumsack answered a few questions about the recent Politics Club meetings and the takeaway students had from those interactions.

Why was it important for Politics Club to invite local candidates to speak? How did students benefit from those interactions?

Preston: “Local politics is a really great thing because it doubles as the easiest way for us to influence the political system, and also the most directly impactful in our lives…. For this election, we’re having a change of hands for the mayor’s office. That’s a big deal! Novi hasn’t had a new mayor for 12 years. We wish Mayor Bob well in future endeavors and are excited to see how Novi goes forward under new leadership.”

Why should students be interested in Politics before they can vote?

Preston: “I think these speaker sessions prove a major point: Voting is only one out of hundreds of ways to participate in our government. Outside of voting and running for office, all the other access points are available for students. During the month of October, Politics Club members here had a chance to voice concerns, raise questions, and even ask about internships with real political figures! These political issues affect us whether we pay close attention to them or not, so it’s important we’re aware of how to take action.”

For younger students who haven't yet experienced the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C., what advice would you give them about getting the most from that experience?

Preston: “Ask lots of questions! If I were still in 8th grade, I would seize that opportunity to dive right into the trip and be curious. Knowing a little bit about government and US history prior to the trip definitely can help you get excited, but it’s not totally required. Once you’re there, you’re standing right in the middle of where all the action takes place. There’s no better way to learn than that, so long as you really immerse yourself.”

Fall Middle School Play

Students from Novi Middle School will highlight the contributions of STEM leaders during a the fall play, “Eureka! Science and Invention.”

The play will be be held at Novi Middle School on November 3, at 7:30 p.m,. Tickets are $10.

Seventh-grader, David Rice, who plays three different characters in the play, including Samuel Morse, said the community should come to the show to “learn history about scientists.”

“It’s mostly serious, but there can be some funny parts in some scenes.”

Kian Rabourn, an eighth grader, also plays three characters said, “I think my favorite role is probably Charles Thomas Jackson. I feel like it’s very fun. I get to do a lot of stuff, and I get to use an accent, which I like doing.”

Rabourn said Middle School Theater is a good afterschool activity.

Fellow eighth grader, Rachit Naik, agreed. He’s been involved in community theater and film.

“In other theaters I’ve worked at, they pretty much do everything for you, like sets and costumes,” Naik said. “You’re just expected to go act. Here, it’s a little different. You’re expected to be a little more committed, but that’s what makes it fun.”

Naik said students should consider being involved in Middle School Theater because it can benefit you in a lot of different ways.

“I had a lot of stage fright and wasn’t very confident before I started doing theatre,” Naik said. “It’s actually helped me change a lot as a person. Now I can put myself out there. It helps you in confidence, focus, and memory.”

8th Grade DC Trip

A total of 383 students will visit Washington, D.C. next week as part of the annual 8th grade trip.

“This year, our itinerary is very similar to past years, but we are adding a new stop at the National Museum of the United States Army,” said Novi Middle School teacher Meghan Barnauskas. “This is a newer museum in D.C. that opened in 2020, and we are looking forward to taking the students this year!

“We are still visiting our classic stops, including Arlington National Cemetery, The Smithsonian Museum of American History, Mount Vernon, the National Archives, Ford's Theater, the African American Museum of History and Culture, and many of the popular memorials and monuments.”

Which stop is her favorite?

“I would have to say that watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington is always my favorite stop,” she said. “I always glow with pride as our large group of 8th graders watches the ceremony with the utmost reverence and respect. The changing fall colors also set a beautiful and breathtaking backdrop for the whole scene.

Throughout the trip, I hope our students build a better understanding of our nation's rich history and also grow and bond as an 8th grade class community.”

This will be a new experience for several staff members as well.

“This year we are welcoming our new dean of students, Mr. Sinopoli-Smith,” Barnauskas said. “As well as new teachers to the middle school, Mrs. Radtke, Mr. Crose, Mrs. Broderick, and Ms. Bull to our list of dedicated chaperones!”

Novi well represented at the Freep Marathon

Former Novi High grads Joost Plaetinck (Novi High Class of 2016) and Mike Blaszcyzk (Novi High Class of 2010) finished 1-2 in the Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon, in mid-October, and are currently training together in an attempt to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Trials in the Marathon.

Plaetinck (Class of 2016) finished in 1:06.42 and earned $1,500 for the win. Blaszcyzk (Class of 2010) finished in 1:07.22 and earned $750.

The Novi boys cross-country team manned the Mile 23 aid station during the Marathon.

Here’s how some other Novi staff finished:

FULL MARATHON

Lara Marrison 3:32:10

HALF-MARATHON

Kim McKinnon 1:54.33

Garret Zuk 1:54.35

Rachel Schypinski 1:54.37

Kendra Willette 1:56.23

Meghan Barnauskas 2:03.33

Shawn Minard 2:04.08

David Sinopoli-Smith 2:07.48

Digital Citizenship Tip

Keeping safe online and protecting privacy is just one part of the many ways we can support kids in establishing healthy habits around their digital wellbeing. Video: six ways kids (and adults!) can protect their online identities.