NorthWood Middle School January 2017

Students helping others . . .

As part of a seventh grade Language Arts unit, students read the novel A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. The novel highlighted the hardships faced by many people who do not have access to clean water: water borne illnesses, lack of sanitation, and the inability to attend school. Instead of simply reading about their plight, we challenged students to do something to help. We partnered with Charity: Water to try to raise $350 as a seventh grade class to provide clean water to eleven people somewhere around the world.

Students kept track of every time they used water throughout the day on Thursday, December 8th. We challenged them to consider donating .10 per use. However, the students brought in $577.93 to donate! They surpassed our goal by well over $200. As every dollar donated is directly tied to a water project, their donations will help 19 people access safe drinking water. A water project takes about 21 months for the organization to complete; however, upon completion, Charity: Water will provide NorthWood Middle School with a GPS location and pictures of the water project our students helped fund. If interested, you can find more about the organization here: https://www.charitywater.org/projects/.

Give the Gift of Internet: Package Plans for Low Income Families Christmas Programs This time of year when money is tight it’s nice to hear of possible I would like to thank everyone who financial assistance programs. Please check with your current attended our band and choir Christmas phone service provider for student/family discount programs. programs. The students worked very Adding the internet to your home for educational needs may be hard and did a great job. Having a more affordable than you think. supporting crowd always makes the Example: www.internetessentials.com show! -Mr. Rice

Notes from the Nurse...

We would like to remind parents of the CDC recommendations to keep your family healthy. Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective. Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue simply cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Stay home when you are sick and there is no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours. Get your family vaccinated for the seasonal flu.

Indiana law now requires all students in grades 6 through 12 to show proof of the following immunizations: Tdap, Meningitis, and 2 doses of Varicella or parent statement of chickenpox disease. Kindergarten students are also required to have 2 doses of varicella. Anytime your child receives an immunization please remember to submit documentation to the school to update our records. All athletic events start at 4:30 P.M. unless otherwise noted. Athletic Schedule

GIRLS BASKETBALL January 21 7th B-team Lincoln Tourney T @ 9:00 A.M. WRESTLING 21 8th Wawasee Tourney T @ 9:00 A.M. January 24 B-team vs. Elkhart Christian H 24 Grissom H @ 4:45 P.M. 24 A-team vs. Virgil Grissom T @ 4:45 A.M. 26 Goshen H @ 5:00 P.M. 26 A-team vs. Goshen T @ 5:00 P.M. 30 Lincoln H @ 5:00 P.M. 26 B-team vs. Goshen T @ 5:00 P.M. 31 Pierre Moran T 28 Brad Eby Classic 7th & 8th grade H @ 9:00 A.M. 31 A-team vs. Pierre Moran H February 31 B-team vs. John Young H @ 5:00 P.M. 6 Wawasee H 7 Schmucker H @ 5:00 P.M. February 14 John Young T @ 5:00 P.M. 4 8th B-team Lincoln Tourney T @ 9:00 A.M. 16 Lakeview H 6 A-team vs. Edgewood H @ 4:45 P.M. 21 West Side T 7 A-team vs. Schmucker T @ 5:00 P.M. 25 Super Dual @ Fairfield T @ 9:00 A.M. 9 8th grades vs. Northridge H @ 5:00 P.M. 28 Discovery T @ 5:00 P.M. 9 7th grades vs. Northridge T @ 5:00 P.M. 11 8th grades Willow Creek Invtl T @ 8:30 A.M. March 14 A-team vs. John Young H @ 5:00 P.M. 4 Big 11 Varisty Finals 14 B-team vs. John Young H @ 5:00 P.M. 8:00 A.M. @ Mishawaka High School 16 A-team vs. Jimtown T 7 Big 11 JV Finals H @ 5:00 P.M. 16 B-team vs. Goshen H @ 5:00 P.M. 21 A-team vs. West Side H 21 B-team vs. Bethany Christian T 23 A-team vs. Concord H Local celebrity Cody Collier, co-host 23 B-team vs. Concord H of the WFRN morning show, will be 28 A-team vs. Discovery H @ 5:00 P.M. the guest announcer at the bee! 28 B-team vs. Bremen H @ 5:00 P.M. Date and time listed below.

March 2 A-team vs. North Side H 2 B-team Big 11 Tourney begins H Dates to Remember: 6 A-team Big 11 round 1—BYE T @ TBA 7 A-team Big 11 round 2 T @ TBA January 3 Return to School 16 No School—MLK Jr. Day (Snow Make-up Day) 28 ISSMA Vocal Solo & Ensemble @ Fairfield Jr/Sr High School Delays and Closings 31 Spelling Bee @ 3:05 in the NWMS LGI with special announcer Cody Collier In the event of severe, inclement weather school may be closed or delayed. The same conditions may also necessitate early dismissal. School closings, delays, or early dismissals February will be announced over these radio and/or television stations: 4 ISSMA Band Solo & Ensemble @ Penn High School WSJV-TV Fox 28, WPTA-TV 21, WRSW FM 107.3 or AM 148.0, 6 Freshmen Registration, 6:30 P.M. @ NWHS WNDU-TV 16, WAWC 103.5, WAJI FM 95.1 or AM 101.7, 9-10 NWHS counselors visit 8th grade Language Arts WTRC AM 1340, WFRN FM 104.7 or AM 127.0, WKAM AM, classes regarding Freshmen scheduling WSBT-TV 22, or FM 101.5, and WBTU FM 93.3. There is now 13 8th grade parent Q&A, 3:30-6:00 @ NWHS a web site that anyone can access to find out the latest 20 No School—Presidents’ Day (Snow Make-up Day) weather related cancellations or delays: http:// www.cancellations.com. Just enter Nappanee’s zip code, *Report cards will be emailed to parents 2-3 days after Christmas break. 46550, to bring up Wa-Nee Community School’s information. If a parent does not have email the report card will be sent home with the student. Boys’ Basketball Review

7th Grade JV ~ Coach Holdeman The 7th grade boys B basketball team had a great season this year. They finished 2nd in the regular season and made it to the semi final game in the Big 11 Tournament. They finished the year with a 10-6 record. Members of the team consist of: Isaac Roberts, Clayton Martin, Lance Royster, Nic Wilson, Andrew Miller, Drew Callander, Aiden Schrock, Luke Tice, Brady Chupp, Noah Blosser, Kaleb Elliot, Victor Arvizu, and manager Matthew Birk. I look forward to seeing you all on the court next year.

8th Grade JV ~ Coach Nine

The 8th grade B team finished with a hard earned 10-5 overall record. They battled in their final game, but came up short against a very good North Side team. This particular team had many big wins this season that proved just how hard they worked each week. Wins over Bethany Christian and Concord were among those big wins! Perhaps the greatest victory of this season was watching these 8th grade young men learn how to respond when things didn’t go their way. I’m very proud to have coached this team of great character. Team members include: Kayden Newcomer, Andre Freitas, Cole Reser, Deacon Hartman, Cam Iwema, Ryne Flickinger, Caleb Schwartz, Trever Klotz, Kaiden Mikel, Ryan Blosser, and manager Tyler Plank.

7th Grade Varsity ~ Coach Bowser

The Northwood 7th Grade varsity basketball team finished their season at 9-7 with a tough loss to Pierre Moran in the conference tournament. The Panthers started the season strong at 4-0 with wins over a variety of conference opponents. The middle and latter parts of the season were met with tough challenges from good conference and nonconference opponents. Each game the boys worked hard to improve as individuals and as a team. Their efforts were best represented in their come from behind win at John Young. Down 10 in the fourth quarter, the Panthers picked up their defense and battled back to win 24-23. Players on this year’s varsity team include: Cooper Wiens, Jamarr Jackson, Tyree Rife, Aidan Wolfe, Chaz Yoder, Jaxon Miller, Joey Eshelman, Brady Hunsberger, Cole Davis and Gage Gongwer. The manager for the A team was Austin Miller.

Thank you to all of the parents and fans that came out to support and make this season a success.

8th Grade Varsity ~ Coach Bilinski

The 8th Grade A basketball team completed one of the most successful seasons in school history in 2016! The team finished with an outstanding 17-2 record, winning the Big 11 Conference and runner-in the Big 11 Tourney. The team was also the NorthWood Shootout Champions and had great wins against Discovery, Northridge, Edgewood, Plymouth, and Concord! The team got better each week, working very hard to improve their skills and knowledge of the game. The team members are Chandler Bontrager, Jon Cripe, Tanner Feenstra, Colin Glick, Landon Kemp, Nick Lechlitner, Nate Newcomer, Kyle Sellers, Ben Vincent, and manager Beau Stankovich. Great Season! Dear NWMS Parents, Counselors’ Corner As you plan family vacations and appointments please keep in mind our ISTEP testing windows: February 29—March 10 and April 17—May 5. During these dates the whole school works together to create a quiet and focused environment that will help your student do his/her best while testing. Although missed sections can be made up, the setting is less ideal because regular classes will be in session. Please make sure that your student is present on the school-wide testing dates, this will ensure that they complete the ISTEP in the best possible environment and eliminate the possibility of receiving a “Did Not Pass” score due to missed sections. The ISTEP+ “Experience” opportunity is now available through Pearson. The purpose of Experience is for students, educators, parents, and community members to see how test items similar to those on the ISTEP+ Part 2 assessment are presented in the online system. Pearson provides Electronic Practice Assessment Tests (referred to as “ePATs”) for Indiana’s Experience opportunity. ePATs make it possible for students, educators, parents, and community members to experience various technology-enhanced item types that will appear on the ISTEP+ Part 2 assessment as often as they like from home, at school, or on mobile devices. ePATs use the same TestNav 8 tools, navigation, interface, and infrastructure as the online ISTEP+ assessments, providing students with a more authentic, low-stakes way to practice and become familiar with online testing and technology-enhanced items. Practice opportunities such as these enable students to become comfortable with the technology used for online testing before they take ISTEP+, allowing them to better demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have gained in the classroom. To access the Experience TestNav 8 forms simply click on the following link or enter the URL into your browser’s address bar: https://support.assessment.pearson.com/display/TN/TestNav The Experience Answer Keys will be posted on the IDOE website. ISTEP+ Practice Tests are coming in early January. These will occur at school.

Best regards, Amber Lawmaster (Counselor for students with last names A-L) Abigail Zahner (Counselor for students with last names M-Z)

*****Important Dates for 8th Graders*****

Monday, February 6 @ 6:30 P.M.—Student/Parent Freshmen information meeting at NWHS Thursday, Feb 9—Friday, Feb 10—NWHS counselors at the middle school for scheduling presentations during LA classes Monday, February 13 @ 3:30-6:00 P.M.—Q&A session for 8th grade parents and students at NWHS; these are individual sessions on a first come, first serve basis

Note from the cafeteria….. Parents, please make sure you date your checks correctly. This is very important with the new year starting.

Mr. Rice-Principal, Mr. Martin-Assistant Principal/Athletic Director QR code for Mrs. Lawmaster-Guidance (A-L), Mrs. Zahner-Guidance (M-Z) Plus Portal page: NORTHWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL - P.O BOX 367 - WAKARUSA, IN 46573 Phone (574)862-2710, Fax (574)862-2327, Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.wanee.org/northwoodmiddleschool_home.aspx Parent Portal Link: https://www.plusportals.com/NorthwoodMiddleSchool