SUPERINTENDENT

March 1, 2023

From the Desk of the Superintendent

NCSD Families,

Hello Wildcat families! What an amazing whirlwind of a year we have had! It is hard to believe that it is coming to an end. This was a year of firsts for the district, and I wanted to personally thank you for your warm welcome and support that you have offered our new team this year. While I am sure everyone is ready for a break, we are excited about the fresh start of a new year come fall. I wanted to give you a few things to think about over the summer, and I hope you read some of the articles prepared below:

Summer Reading Days - Last year, we held our first K-4 Summer Reading in August to transition into the school year. It was very well attended and, with the help of our PTOs who provided activities for the kids, it was a lot of fun for all. We will be doing Summer Reading Days again this summer and they will become one of our many new annual events. You can find the Reading Days dates listed below.
Summer Academic Ideas - Here is just a brief list of suggestions about fun activities that you can do with your child to keep learning fun. Remember, learning should be enjoyable, and not a chore or a punishment. Primarily, summer should be a time for families to play and enjoy a break from the rigors of the school year. However, here are some ideas to keep your children excited about learning and sharp this summer:

Reading: Make reading a daily habit for your children. Novi Public Library runs summer reading programs that can provide motivation. Reading can help children improve their literacy skills, as well as broaden their understanding of the world.
Educational Games and Puzzles: Playing board games, card games, or puzzles that have an educational angle can be great to keep students sharp. They can improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills while keeping the kids entertained.
Online Courses and Educational Apps: There are numerous free or inexpensive online learning platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, and Duolingo. Students can take courses in subjects they're interested in, or work on skills they want to improve.
Arts and Crafts: Activities like drawing, painting, or making crafts can help develop fine motor skills and creativity. They can also be a fun way to learn about different art techniques and styles.
Science Experiments: Doing science experiments at home can be a fun way to learn about the scientific method and various scientific concepts. There are many experiments that can be done with household items.
Journaling: Encourage students to keep a journal over the summer. This can help improve their writing skills, as well as provide a way for them to reflect on their experiences.
Physical Activities: Physical activity is important for overall health and well-being. Encourage families to incorporate physical activities like swimming, biking, or playing sports. They could also explore hiking trails in their area to learn about local flora and fauna.
Cooking and Baking: Cooking and baking can teach children about measuring, fractions, and following instructions, as well as basic life skills. This could also be a way to integrate learning about different cultures through their cuisines.
Museums, Zoos, and Aquariums: These can be great educational outings. If these institutions are not accessible, many of them offer virtual tours.
Music: If families have access to musical instruments, they could encourage their kids to learn to play. Even without instruments, kids can learn about different music styles and history.
Travel: If it's safe and feasible, traveling can be a wonderful educational experience. Even exploring different parts of their own city can broaden children's horizons.

Events to put on your radar and your calendar:

Kindergarten Enrollment - I know I updated you about this in April and May, but our kindergarten enrollment continues for the district and is open now. We rely these enrollment numbers for building appropriate staffing levels that are based on the number of children we have attending. If you will have a kindergarten student next year or if you know someone in Novi who will have a student starting next year, please have them contact our Enrollment Office at: enrollment@novik12.org

Summer Reading Days - As mentioned above, we held our first Summer Reading last August to transition into the school. This will become one of our many new annual events.

Here is the line-up for August 2023's Summer Reading:

August 14 at 10:00 AM - Novi Woods - Novi Public Library

August 17, at 9:30 AM - Orchard Hills - Novi Rotary Park

August 18, at 9:30 AM - Parkview - Novi Lakeshore Park

August 22, at 9:30 AM - Village Oaks - Novi Brookfarm Park

August 25, at 9:30 AM - Deerfield - Novi Wildlife Park

Go Wildcats!

Ben Mainka, Superintendent
Novi Community School District

NHS Student Presents at Conference

Novi High School junior, Sanjith Udupa, spoke at the first IEEE International Conference on Mobility: Operations, Services and Technologies (MOST), held May 17-19, at the I2C center in Detroit. He presented his recently published paper “Follow Me: A Robust Framework for the Guidance of Sensorless Indoor Mobile Robots.”

“It was a wonderful experience listening to and learning from the other presenters and panel from industry leaders in the mobility space,” Sanjith said. “I also got to see fascinating demos of the industry standard autonomous vehicle software in action."

“I had this opportunity because last summer I was a research intern at Wayne State University’s Connected and Autonomous Robotics Lab, where graduate students led by Dr. Weisong Shi research software for the future of autonomous vehicle operation and connectivity. I reached out and Dr. Shi generously let me join their team where I, under the guidance of my mentor Liangkai Liu – who just earned his PhD from Wayne this spring – did an independent project on indoor autonomous mobile robot software."

“When I was finished, Liangkai suggested that I write a paper about my work, which involved allowing multiple sensorless indoor autonomous robots to share sensor data from one guidance for the purpose of coordinated path planning using a novel algorithm I developed. I submitted the paper and it was accepted to the conference earlier this year. As the first author, I got to present my work to the crowd of academics in attendance.”

Sanjith, recently named one a FIRST Dean’s List winner, continues to represent Novi High on the international stage.

“Overall, my first conference was a really great experience and I learned a lot and made connections with some very incredible people,” Sanjith said. “One of the reasons I had this experience is because of what I learned in Novi High School’s robotics team, Frog Force. I can't wait to do more research and have more opportunities like these in the future.”

Some of the first Awkward Pause troupe members.

Best of Awkward Pause Celebrates 20th anniversary show

The (Awkward Pause…) Best of Show will celebrate with a 20th anniversary performance at 7 p.m. on June 10th, at Novi Middle School. Tickets are $5.

The social-issue based theatre troupe was founded in 2003. The troupe is made up of students in grades 10-12 who write their own material. Awkward Pause produces a style of theatre that includes both performance and conversation with the audience. The troupe performs annually for each grade at the high school, and often goes on tour to other high schools and within the Novi community. We spoke to theatre director, Heather McKaig, about how (Awkward Pause…) has progressed over two decades.

The first part of the audition process for next year’s troupe is due June 2.

You’re celebrating the 20th anniversary in June.

How has the troupe changed or evolved over two decades?

Heather: “Well, all scripts can be accessed digitally and I no longer use my iPod for music! I think more has stayed the same than changed, but certainly I have become a stronger leader the more I have done the work, and that has given troupes more options and depth to their work. That said, the work is the same: people telling stories, listening, and looking for the things that will connect with an audience and start conversations.”

That people want to return to perform says a lot about the program.

What do you attribute to the lasting bonds?

Heather: “Getting ready for Best Of has been some serious work that I could not have done alone, but it has been so fun!!! As of May 28, we have connected with 161 of 246 alums and, while I have been in touch with some of them over the years, most I have not. It is wonderful to hear what they are up to and who is still talking to whom."

“Kids really get to know one another in the troupe and, if they are open to it, learn a great deal about themselves and other people. I was just looking back at some of the pieces from the first show in 2003 and a line that stuck out to me is, 'the only thing we have in common is that we are different.' There is power in learning about how we are the same and how we are different, often in ways that we could not have imagined, and I think that depth of thinking and asking questions bonds people. Adolescence is also a time of such dramatic change, which can on its own bond people together.”

Probably an unfair question, but do you have a favorite skit?

Heather: “There is no way. Just no way. There are SO many that I think are strong writing and/or so spot on in terms of topicality and heart. Something I enjoy about pieces that are brought back from the past is that the interpretation of the same lines is always different, which is fun, but I never fail to hear the voices of the kids who did it first which makes me smile every time.”

Do you think it is easier or tougher to be a High School student than 20 years ago and why?

Heather: “I think it is the same. The ways in which high school is easy or tough have changed, but there were significant challenges 20 years ago - and longer ago when I was in high school - just as there are today. Again, in looking back at the original script, I found myself right back in it with those 11 kids and the fear and struggles they had, shared, and wrote about.”

Alaina Smythe celebrating after scoring winning goal in overtime.

Novi alum scores OT Winner in NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship Game

Sophomore midfielder, Alaina Smythe, scored a team-high five goals, including the overtime winner, to help Lawrence Tech capture the NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship on May 6. We asked Smythe to reflect on her championship experience and her memories of Novi.

You scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the championship game. How did you end up in the position to score -- it came off a pass from a teammate. What's that like to score such an important goal?

Alaina: "I just remember everything going so fast that at one point the defender turned her head, so I just had to go. Then I cut down the middle and got the quick pass from Gabi Mitchell and, for a split second, I remember that the goalie stuffed me earlier in the game, so I faked a second time and it went in."

What was going through your mind when you realized that you'd scored? What's it like now to think back on what you accomplished?

Alaina: "Everything was such a blur after I scored, I just felt a rush of excitement and all my teammates (were) running after me. When I think back on it, all I know is that our business is finished as a team and we will come back stronger every year."

You led the team with five goals in the championship game. What do you attribute your success to in the championship game?

Alaina: "All the caused turnovers, the movement on offense, the saved goals, and all the assisted goals made us work so well as a team, which contributed hugely to our success. I battled adversity when in one of our games I was concussed and I thought I would be out the rest of the season, but I came back and played stronger than ever. Overall, I was content with how far I have come."

Update us on life after Novi. What are some highlights off the field? What are you majoring in? What are your career goals?

Alaina: "I am majoring in Biomedical Engineering and I am planning on working in research on neural pathways in the brain in the future. I also am working on research with some of my professors to further my future."

What advice would you give current Novi students about their experience now that you have a couple years of perspective since graduating?

Alaina: "I would tell students that even though their hard work doesn’t seem to be paying off, at the moment, it will in the future. Also, when people say you can’t do something, do everything to show them that you can do anything."

What are some of your favorite memories as a Novi student and how did NCSD help prepare you for collegiate success?

Alaina: "One of my favorite memories as a Novi student is definitely getting close to all my friends and teachers at Novi. Staying in contact with my teachers is one of my favorite things to do. Also, NCSD helped me prepare for my collegiate success by just allowing me so many opportunities to grow and find my interests."

Photo credit: Mariusz (Mario) Nowak

Summer Tech Tips and Resources

Continue learning about helpful technology tips over the summer as many students will still have access to their devices over the summer:

Scenes from the Novi High School Commencement

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Seven students wearing gowns for commencement.

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Upcoming Events in June

June

Thursday, June 8: Frog Force and Automated Amphibians are hosting a Novi HIgh School Robotics Info Night for parents and students entering Grades 9-12 on June 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Novi High School Media Center.

June 8-9 - Reminder - K-1 students, please return your devices to the ESB between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:15 PM. Please refer to the Novi Technology Department Email from May 11 and June 6.

Tuesday, June 20: Help celebrate the Feed The Need Outreach Program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Village Oaks Elementary. There will be free lunch, a bounce house and opportunities to interact police, fire and other local heroes.