NBHS PARENT NEWS DECEMBER 2014

CALENDAR OF UP- FROM THE PRINCIPALS DESK COMING EVENTS: JANUARY Dear NBHS Family: The December issue of the will observe winter break on  1st-4th No School – Winter Break newsletter contains infor- December 22 –January 2, and  5th School Resumes The 2014-2015 school year mation about weather- classes will resume Monday, is progressing rapidly. The  8th NHS Blood Drive related school closings. Par- January 5. On behalf of the fac- arrival of December signals ents and students are en-  14th ACT Testing Day ulty and staff, I want to wish that we have completed one couraged to keep this infor- you a happy and safe holiday  23rd-25th One-Act Plays -third of the academic year. and competition mation available at home, season! So you can plan further, we especially during the winter February ask that you monitor the months. The radio and tele- GO BRONCOS!  3rd – 7th Snowcoming Dance academic progress of your vision stations listed are the Ticket Sales/Snowcoming SPIRIT sons and daughters via Sky- Mark Hiltunen Week first parties to be notified ward Parent Access. Our when school delays or clos- Principal  Guest Dance Forms Due to the teachers will be contacting ings are announced, and the Main Office by 3 p.m. Thursday, Parents via e-mail or phone February 5th, 2015 school community should call when students begin monitor those outlets for the  8th ACT Testing Day (7 showing academic difficul- am) / Snowcoming Dance (7 – earliest available infor- 10:00 pm) ties. Parent conferences mation. with individual teachers  9th –12th Class Registration Week for 2015 – 2016 school year may be arranged by contact- December also signals the ing the teacher or the stu- arrival of our winter break.  11th Parent/Teacher Confer- ences (3-5:00 pm) dent’s counselor. All North Branch schools Happy Holidays from our family to yours!  12th Parent/Teacher Confer- ences (4-6:00 pm)

 13th No School

 19th Pre-Festival Band Con- cert – 7:00 pm

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

COUNSELORS 3 Collegiate Breakfast CORNER

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS 5 If your 2012, 2013or 2014 North Branch graduate is attending college or in the military, we cordially invite them to participate in the 2014 Colle- TRIMESTER I HONOR 6 giate Breakfast, at 7 a.m., Friday, December 19, 2014 in the high school ROLL cafeteria. There is no cost to the event. We would like them to come RED WINGS 3.0 CLUB 7 and share their college or military experiences with current juniors and seniors. Breakfast starts promptly at 7 a.m., followed by the forum at 8 CLASSROOM NEWS 8 a.m. Please RSVP to Mrs. Leann Kerr at 810.688.3001 by December 17, 2014. This event is hosted by the NBHS Student Council. ATHLETIC BOOSTERS 12

CALENDARS (ACADEMIC 14-17 & DECEMBER SPORTS)

Parents: Please Be Aware of Inappropriate Social Media App

Parents,

It has come to our attention that students from North Branch and surrounding high schools are accessing a new and very inappropriate social media application called afterschoolapp.com. The app is described as “an anonymous and private message board for your school” and can be downloaded to an iPhone, iPod or through Safari (a web browser developed by Apple) and accessed via Facebook. The district has received several calls about this site from parents who are outraged – and rightly so – regarding the content on this site. It appears that graphic and sexually explicit vid- eos are being posted and then students are posting inappropriate comments, sometimes about fellow students in their own or neighboring school districts. As you can imagine, this is dis- tressing for students, some of whom are following this disgusting site just to make sure no one is making comments about them. Unfortunately, since posts are made anonymously, there is little the district can do if a student is being bullied or harassed if the person posting the comments cannot be identified. We also wanted to make it clear that even though this app is called “After School – Funny Anonymous Schools News ForConfessions and Compliments,” it is in NO way affiliated, en- dorsed or organized through the school district. Police Liason Officer Jim Wampler would also like to remind students and parents that pos- sessing child pornography (which would include anyone 18 or younger) or creating, manufac- turing or delivering child pornography is a felony offense, punishable up to 15 years in pris- on. We would encourage you to talk with your student about this site and responsible use of so- cial media. If you want to check to see if your child has downloaded the app to his/her iPhone and/or iPod, look for an icon of a tiger wearing yellow striped sunglasses. The app is free and rated for ages 12 and over. It is developed by Ambient and their contact information is:[email protected]. As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact High School principal Mark Hiltunen. Ed-Tech Visit for Sophomores On December 10th, the Lapeer County Education and Technology Center (Ed-Tech) will host our 10th grade students. Students who sign up in the counseling office for the visit, will get the chance to preview the 3 Ed- Tech programs that interest them the most. The Ed-Tech programs are: Agriscience/Horticulture, Automotive Mechanics, Careers in Education, Collision Repair, Computer Aid-ed Design, Computer Networking, Construction Trades, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Diesel Technology, Dig-ital Media Arts, Electronics, Health Occupations, Health Science Professions, Mar- keting & Entrepreneurship, Public Safety, Recreational Vehicle Repair, Residential/Plumbing/HVAC, and Welding & Machining Technol-ogy. These programs are available for students during 11th and 12th grade.

Parent and Student Presentation On December 17th at 6:30 PM. our counseling department will hold a parent meeting in the High School Au- ditorium to explain all of the education options that will be available next school year for students going into their Junior year. Topics that will be discussed at this meeting will include:  The new STEMM Academy (see info below).  The Lapeer County Educational Technology Center  Dual Enrollment  Online Courses

Earn Free College Credit in High School

The STEMM Academy—which stands for Science, Technology, Engineer- ing, Mathematics, and Medical—is a five-year high school program, some- times called Early/Middle College. It provides the opportunity for high school students to earn substantial college credit along with their high school diploma. Upon completion of their fifth year, students will graduate high school with one of the following:  An Associate Degree  The Michigan Early/Middle College Association (MEMCA) Technical Certification  Up to 60 Transferrable College Credits The STEMM Academy was formed in partnership with Baker College of Flint and North Branch Area Schools. For more information, contact NBHS Counselors (810-688-3564) or go to the following website, www.stemacademy.com BAKER COLLEGE OF FLINT ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE PROGRAM WITH LAPEER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS TO OFFER COLLEGE EDU- CATION AT NO COST TO STUDENTS

FLINT, Mich., November 17, 2014 — Baker College of Flint and four constituent districts within the Lapeer County Intermediate School District (ISD) have partnered to provide the opportunity for students to graduate from high school with up to 60 transfera- ble college credits, a college associate degree or a technical certificate at no cost to the students or their families. The program pays for all tuition, books and fees.

This Early/Middle College program, called STEMM Academy, is approved by the Michigan Department of Education and will launch fall 2015 with the four partner school districts: Almont Community Schools, Dryden Community Schools, Imlay City Community Schools and North Branch Area Schools.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to gain a higher education with no cost to the students or their parents,” said Wen Hemingway, Baker College of Flint president. “They can graduate with a significant number of college credits. Those who choose to earn associ- ate degrees will be job ready at graduation. You can’t beat that.”

STEMM Academy is based on students taking college classes along with high school curriculum their junior and senior years and then focusing on college coursework during an optional fifth year. The additional year of free college classes allows time for stu- dents to complete associate degrees or acquire a substantial amount of transferable college credit.

“Some type of higher education is necessary for students to succeed in today’s job market,” said Steven A. Zott, Lapeer County ISD superintendent. “Our goal is to make higher education more affordable and more attractive to our students. This opportunity will be extremely valuable for most any student, and with Baker College’s broad range of career programs and a 97 percent employ- ment rate for available graduates, it makes great sense, too.”

A student can earn 24 college credits as a junior, 36 credits as a senior and 48 credits during a fifth year of high school. Those who elect to take fifth-year coursework may walk with their class at graduation but will receive their high school diploma at the comple- tion of their STEMM Academy program.

STEMM Academy students are eligible to participate in high school sports and other extracurricular activities through their senior year.

Juniors and seniors will take the college courses at the Lapeer County ISD Education Technology Center, 690 Lake Pleasant Road, Attica. During the fifth year of high school, students will attend classes at Baker College of Flint’s main campus, 1050 W.Bristol Road, Flint, or at the Baker College Center for Transportation Technology, 1717 S. Dort Highway, Flint, depending upon the area of study.

STEMM Academy offers more than 60 programs of study:

The 23 programs of study in technology and engineering include civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering, architectur- al technology, photonics and lasers, computer programming, information technology: computer networking technology, cyber de- fense, computer aided design (CAD) and agriculture technology.

The 40 programs of study in health sciences include physical therapist assistant, surgical technology, diagnostic medical sonogra- phy, polysomnographic technology, orthotic/prosthetics technology, veterinary technology, several nursing options and an occupa- tional therapy program of study that leads to bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Enrollment for the 2015-2016 academic year is now open for high school sophomores who attend one of the four partner school districts. Entry into the program will be determined by performance on a placement test.

For more information about STEMM Academy, including frequently asked questions and a complete list of programs of study, visit www.stemmacademy.com. Students and parents can also contact the student’s high school counselor.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learn- ing Commission. It serves more than 28,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 150 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker is a pioneer in online education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege. Scholarship Information Each year, the North Branch High School Counseling Office is informed of various local scholar- ships for North Branch senior students. At this time, we have received a few local scholarships that you may apply for. They are: The North Branch Masonic Lodge Scholarship with a deadline of January 9th. The Maynard Degrow Scholarship with a deadline of March 13th. These applications are available online at the NBHS Counseling Website, in the counseling office or as an attachment to this email. As always, pay close attention to the deadline and requirements for each one. If you have any questions, you may contact the counseling office at 688-3564 or you can stop in. We will continue to update the website and send notificatinos out as more scholarships come in. Any questions stop by the counseling office or call 688-3564. February ACT Test dates The deadline to sign up for the February 7th ACT test is on January 9, 2015. If you are interested in taking the ACT, please go to www.actstudent.org to register and pay online. The test fee costs are: ACT No Writing cost of $38 and the ACT Plus Writing cost is $54.50. Fee waivers are available to those students who may qualify. Please stop by the counseling office for details. High School News Welcome New NHS Members On Monday, November 10th, the newest members were inducted into the North Branch Chapter of the National Honor Society. To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher. Additionally, potentioal members must meet high standards of leadership, service and character. Juniors and Seniors that met the criteria were evaluated by the faculty Council which consist of members of the high school faculty. Those inducted into the NHS this year were: Erin Andersen, Tara Ash, Jacob Bader, Dena Bartel, Cameron Buike, Alexis Caringi, Erin Dickenson, Kirk Donaldson, Simon English, Angel Fink, Samantha Gowan, Daniel Hagopi- an, Lauren Haight, Reece Jolicoeur, Maria Kaluk, Trevor Kelly, Autumn Kirby, Stephanie Knudsen, Julia Kropp, Hunter Laur, Jodee Maybery, Loree Maybery, Kaylee Martin, Mikala McMullen, Hailey Miller, Elizabeth Moore, Ashley Orebaugh, Ansley Orr, James Parker, Jacob Peralta, Caleb reamer, Megan Schank, Jacob Schlaud, Samantha Schlaud, Elizabeth Anne Shifflett, Julia Van Wagoner, Alyssa Ventura, Kaitlin Walker, Jenna Youngert. Con- gratulations to all our newest members. Students listed below are also part of the Detroit Red Wings 3.0 Club and are entitled to order a complimentary Red Wings Ticket (See form on NBHS PARENT NEWS next page). Additional dates will be released at a latter date. Those dates PAGE 6 TRIMESTER ONE will be published on the NBHS website under the Honor Roll page. The students below are also eligible for the addition dates posted.

SENIORS: Belavek, Kayla; Coulter, Morgan; Johnson, Sarah; Severance, Victoria; Sweeney, Hannah; Walters, Brianna; Dufort, Jilliann; Baker, Cade; Caringi, Niquole; Eisele, Stephanie; Fish, Zachary; Hunt, Heather; McNulty, Calla; Ferrier, Zachary; Atkins, Connor; Gormley, Kelci; Van- wagoner, McKenna; Gray, Brittany; Butterfield, Zachary D. Duty, Sierra; Morgan, Madison; Ruhlman, Madelynn; Shaw, Megan; Owens, Chris- tian; Andrews, Quentin; Ekstrom, Madison; Skovran, Madison; Ankley, Jonathan; Simpson, Garth; Skalski, Shane; Bickel, Lauren; Fike, Travis; Skalski, Sydney; Stevens, Marlo; Innes, Sara; Brzezinski, Hannah; Greschaw, Lauren; Brusie, Abigail; Burhans, Trevor; Robinson, Madelyn; Simpson, Dakota; Yelland, Jason; Reeves, Skyler; Haight, Landon; Seaman, Tyler; Sherrieb, Talon; Snoblen, Kolen; Brewer, Emily; Doering, Sara; Skouson, Gunner; Terry, Jessica Ajlouni, Thomas; Conley, Katrina; Da Silva, Matheus; DeMeyers, Alyssa; Gregor, Michael; Rosseau, Reil- ly; Skinner, Aerial; Kronz, Darius; Wells, Gabriel; Gombar, Kyle; Neff, Jessica; Tumblin, Jeremy; Parton, Fox; Brandt, Emma; Thibodeau, Angel- ica; Dutcher, Kyla; Huffaker, Jacob; Campbell, Emily; Draper, Brittney; Kohler, Tyler; Seeley, Brandon; Willson, Laura; Opperman, Ryan; Roach, Brannon; Hancock, Kailey; Lopucki, Benjamin; Reeser, Taylor; Tuinei, Noah; Good, Emily; Burhans, Tyler; Balzer, Alexander; Franks, Kourtney; Hodges, Christopher; King, Zachary; Miller, Alexis; Olson, Brendan; Schaudt, Robert; Teichow, Jazlyn; Garza, Curtis; Clemens, Shai- anne; Cheney, Hannah; Collins, Steven; McCaslin, Branden; Miller, Jordan; Bowman, Amanda; Brandt, Seth;Brooks, Tyler; Coville, Julia; Dudas, Bailey; Fusero, Caylin; Gibbs, Emerson; Martinez, Anthony; Roge, Jessie; Varner, Faith; Woidan, Logan; Wadley, Derek; Laur, Jessica; Max- well, Hunter; Topper, Gabriella; Winkleman, Brittany; Violet, Jeremiah; Honicutt, Terry; Kempa, Maddison; Boockhoff, Alicia; Friend, Adam; Jones, Jacquelyn; Richmond, Taylor; Turner, Raymond; Edwards, Jacquline; Kirby, Destiny; Schlaud, Blake; Huffman, Haley; Karpovich, Cassi; Bates, Bradley; Bennett, Austin; Zender, David; Skalski, Shanna; Conner, Molly; Albrecht, Hayley; Bowling, Austin; Lewis, Duncan; Swadling, Jared; Albrecht, Julius; Coulter, Shane; Garwold, Cheyenne; Knepfler, Jordan; Slesinski, Julia; Deshetsky, Levi; Dean, Brianna; Brace, Daniel; Costa, Ashley; Curtis, Mitchell; Myers, Jessica; Pace, Donovan; Zimmerman, Brennen G.

JUNIORS: Galpin, Samantha; Martin, Kaylee; Donaldson, Kirk; English, Simon; Gowan, Samantha; Kaluk, Maria; Kelly, Trevor; Knudsen, Stephanie; Kropp, Julia; Palozolo, Kyle; Shifflett, Elizabeth Anne; Ash, Tara; Fink, Angel; Orr, Ansley; Walker, Brandon; Caringi, Alexis; Cary, Haley; Howard, Gavin; Mabery, Loree; McGough, Mackenzie; Jolicoeur, Reece; Parker, James; Yakes, Kayla; Ankley, Mary; Lovasz, Mariah; Schlaud, Samantha; VanWagoner, Julia; Waldorf, Samuel; Andersen, Erin; Jones, Michael; Laur, Hunter; Mabery, Jodee; Martinez - Mateos, So- fia; O'Rourke, Lucas; Ostrum, Zachary; Schank, Megan; Youngert, Jenna; Buckel, Raymond; Miglio, Jack; Orebaugh, Ashley; Schlaud, Jacob; Scott, Lauren; Walker, Kaitlin; Zeabari, Maddison; Kirby, Autumn; Moore, Elizabeth; Ross, Jordyn; Clemens, Ciara; Bader, Jacob; Hardwick, Amber; Stratton, Lauren; Ventura, Alyssa;Calvert, Mariah; Haight, Lauren; Hagopian, Daniel; Dean, Logan; Farnsworth, Jacob; Ross, Peyton; Roth, Logun; Ruth, Jade; VanWormer, Zachary; Wilson, Nickee; Bell, Alexander; Miller, Hailey; Hatfield, Brycen; Shelton, Brandon; Friday, Davin; Lane, Keenan; Howe, Zane; Huffman, Katelyn; King, Ricki; Ross, David; Ruhlman, Erika; Armstrong, Jordan; Bartel, Dena; Jackson, Haille’ Lucik, Justin; Peralta, Jacob; Hayes, Brooklyn; Miller, Mitchell; Pollard, Shayanna; Rea, Todd; Reamer, Caleb; Robbins, Marina; St. Onge, Lee; Steele, Dakota; Wilson, Monica; Yacks, Andrew; McMullen, Mikala; Mosher, David; Escalante Molina, Ana; Hernandez, Alexas; Howay, Brienna; Potrykus, Tyler; Thomas, Katherine; Tran, Caytlyng; Burgess, Hayley; Coulter, Eric; Davis, Jacob; Kollman-Thrasher, Ashley; Murphy, William; Racine, Zoie; Rose, Gabriel; Schulz, Brenden; Tallieu, Marc; Xaypachanh, Kyle; Bennetts, Gage; Bartel, Donald; Coulter, Anna; Coulter, Kimberly; Linder, Daniel

SOPHOMORES: Beatley, Kyle; Bonner, Mitchell; Brandt, Trevor; Gormley, Marybeth; Haynes, Jinger; Hodgkinson, Hannah; McIntosh, Aus- tin; Meier, Ciera; Newsome, Frank; Reffey, Morgan; Britt, Aleah; Hodgkinson, Jordan[ Kempa, Carson; Manthei, Janelle; Osborne, Laura; Ruhlman, Emily; Schlaud, Alexis; Bower, Brennan; Gray, Joshua; Tedesco, Samantha; Purdy, Samantha; Fifield, Samantha; Fusero, Autumn; Goldthwaite, Lydia; Miner, Alyssa; VanWagoner, Emma; Batchelor, Kaili; Hurley, Olivia; Jones, Chanelle; Keeling, TessAnn; Smith, Austin; Swope, Joseph; Bartel, Mary; Esperanza-Medina, Paula; Grossbauer, Sevanah; Kile, Taylor; Miner, Madison; Palozolo, Anthony; Dorner, Reece; English, Sydnee; Fifield, Sydney; Howell, Amanda; Oliver, Hunter; Palmer, Alicia; Redick, Chad; Thompson, Angela; Bartold, Michael; Green, Shaylynn; Gregor, Kara; Hodgkinson, Riley; Pasek, Joshua; Skouson, Porter; Thomson, Isaac; Wolf, Hayden; Duty, Christopher; Fifield, Stepha- ney; Forster, Brenden; Wadley, Adam; Ronne, Darin; Brooks, Alexis; Dickenson, Jenna; Garza, Salina; Hofert, Allison; Ostrum, Wyatt; Young, Scott; Zender, Kevin; Albrecht, Claudia; Avendt, Nicole; Karpovich, Jordin; Kee, Isabella; Stack, Hannah; Deaton, Candy; Humphries, Jacob; Millerschin, Jack; Ruhlman, Mariah; Ruth, Samantha; Kipp, Hannah; Haack, Austin; Hillaker, Branden ; Gormley, Kaila; Guzman, Donnellon; Knowles, Ashley; McNees, Ernest; Reamer, Madison; Swan, Matthew; Fielding, Ashley; Buckner, Jennifer; Castillo, Ketzalli; DeLong, Macken- zie; McCaslin, Dustin; Miller, Travis; Bowling, Tyler; Calvert, Chance; Hurd, Hunter; Stone, Anna; Duckert, Olivia; Richmond, Joseph; Sutton, Emily; Hosner, Jennifer; Trombley, Shawna; Warren, Alexis

FRESHMEN: Good, Brady; Pung, Austin; Schank, Alexis; Youngert, Elaine; Sass, Kerstyn; Howard, Stephaniel Kaldahl, Lucca; Beatley, Ryan; Bryant, Keyahna; Huffman, Sara; Mears, Brielle; Mohr, Gavin; Newton, Kaytlin; Ruhlman, Janel; Schlaud, Brenna; Schwartz, Rachel; Sweeney, Olivia; Fike, Cole; Klutts, Tharon; Hohman, Hunter; Peralta, Britany; Barrows, Adam; Bertram, Elizabeth; Helm, Zachary; Parton, Benjamin; Robinette, Hannah; May, Avery; Vogeli, Cameron; Fromwiller, Caleigh; Armstrong, Jacqueline; Lince, Cody; Major, Madison; Friday, Dylan; Bryan, Leeanna; Jordan, Hunter; Maher, Montana; Rodriguez, Marcos; Shaw, Krystal; Rutledge, Luke; DeMeyers, Brianna; Duty, Michael; Fike, Jillian; Lipka, Frank; Nadolski, Christopher; Ottenbacher, Gracie; Shook, Logan; Swoish, Wylie; Vauter, Mikenzi; Carter, David; Havermale, Mikayla; Kreiner, Alex; Primeau, Logan; Ronne, Sara; Slater, Tyler; Floyd, Leah; Smith, Ashlynn; Orlando, Savannah; Truax, Amanda; Verkest, Nicole; Myers, Tina; McPhee, Jade; Dorner, Quinten; Schank, Leah; Vogeli, Christian; Fuller, Madison; Phouvone, Adrianna; Charbeneau, Brooke; Downes, Michael; Clemens, Marisol; Miner, Alexandra; Ruhlman, Julianna; Freeland, Dylon; Kronz, Braden; O'Dell, Alyssa; Dotson, Leigh; McKenney, Shelby; Pfromm, Grace; Tallent, James; Asaro, Hunter; Hall, Ashley; Guerrero, Guadalupe; Bowman, Nathaniel; Charlebois, Claudia; House, Caleb; Rutledge, Logan; Bartkowiak, Tyler; Colby, David; DeWitte, Chelsey; Murphy, Hunter; Schaefer, Kaylee; Soto, Carlos; Mabery, Hayden; Leon, Aaliyah; Maloczewski, Francine; Ragatz, Lily; Shinaberry, Drake Congratulations students on your hard work and academic success!!

Classroom news

10th Graders Revisit NBES

It was a fabulous week of reading fun in Mrs. Kerr’s AP Prep English 10 class as the students got to go visit the elementary school to share their Native American legends they adapted into children’s books. This group of students was the inaugural fourth grade class in the beautiful new elementary school, so they were looking forward to visiting the building in which they only spent a year. They had the pleasure of visiting Mrs. Friday’s 1st grade, Mrs. Gormley’s 3rd grade, and Mrs. Hyde and Mrs. Nowak’s Multi-age 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms.

When they visited Mrs. Friday’s first graders, after the 10th graders shared their pieces, the first graders read them some of their favorite stories from class. Almost everyone in the tenth grade commented on what excellent readers first graders were. They had no idea how much they already knew!

Mrs. Kerr’s AP Prep English 10 Class and Mrs. Friday’s first grade

The next stop was Mrs. Gormley’s. The high schoolers got an awesome experience because the third graders also published books. The 10th graders were able to share their stories and hear some great originals from the third grade. They also got to see how much the 3rd graders already know that gets covered in high school. It was very impressive to see the poetry picnic notebooks and see that in the 3rd grade kids are learning some of the literary terms the high school students use in college prep reading and writing.

Mrs. Gormley’s 3rd Grade and Mrs. Kerr’s AP Prep 10th Grade The last visit was with the multi-age classroom, full of second and third graders. The Native American stories were perfect because they are currently in their Native American unit of study and have studied all facets of Native American culture. After the children’s book legends were shared, the MAC got out their chrome books and showed the 10th graders their research project about Native Americans on their blogs. This was a great experience because the AP Prep students were also working on their own research pro- ject at the high school and they got to discuss how they used technology to create and publish their work in their respective grade levels. The 10th graders were impressed by what the MAC was doing and were a little jealous of their chrome books.

Pictured below: Mrs. Hyde’s and Nowak’s MAC students and Mrs. Kerr’s AP Prep English 10

When asked what the best part of the high schoolers coming to visit, 3rd grader Regan Healy said, “Getting visitors in the classroom and sharing the story I made with them.”

Shockingly enough, the most common answer high schoolers gave about the experience was not that they loved to get out of the classroom. Almost everyone’s favorite part was getting to see what the younger kids were doing and how much they knew.

Wyatt Ostrum said, “I couldn’t believe how good the kids were at reading!”

“I can’t believe that kids are making a blog in second grade,” said Morgan Reffey.

It was a wonderful experience for all grades involved. It was very inspiring to everyone to see the types of work being done at different grade levels in reading and writing. It’s useful to both students and teachers to see upper and lower grade levels of work to make sure that we are on a continuum and the growth that has been and will be achieved. It was also nice to build cohesion amongst the two buildings and let the 10th graders have a visit in the building in which they were the first 4th grade class ever. Quizbowl News The NBHS Quiz Bowl Team is currently completing its fall season. NBHS Quiz Bowl has some returning faces, but also many new faces behind the buzzers. Some returning faces include Captains: Senior Brianna Walters and junior Stephanie Knudsen, as well as Kevin Zender, Erin Andersen, Alyssa Ventura, Kyle Beat- ley, Kayla Belavek, Stephanie Mruzek. New faces include Jacob Peralta, Faith Varner, Sarah Johnson, Brit- nay Peralta, Dennis Jones, Sofia Martinez-Mateos and Austin Pung. Coaches are Mrs. Wagner and Ms. Stover-Lange. All high school students are welcome to compete for the winter season.

Reading Rocks: Library’s Book Circulation is on the Rise at NBHS! AP Prep 10th graders and other students in the high school are using the library quite a bit more these days. According to Mrs. Shaver, High School librarian, “circulation is up by more than 150 books than at this time last year.” Something that is becoming more common is allowing students to choose books to read in addition to what is mandated through the English-Language Arts curriculum at NBHS. This book is read out of school, in stu- dents’ free time. The assessment for the students is then a specialized project that illustrates their knowledge of the book. Project based learning is definitely a buzz word in education, but it’s something that certainly showcases knowledge and growth. It allows students choice in picking an assessment while showcasing talent. Below you will see some noteworthy projects from these hard working high schoolers. This project has begun to spark an interest in reading and book check out at the high school level, which is encouraging. Our library has an abundance of books here for students and it’s wonderful to see them utilizing the resources in the building more than ever. Keep up the good work and keep reading!

Kaila Gormley- Heaven is for Real Diorama Marybeth Gormley- The Hobbit diorama STUDENTS WANT AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN More than 28 students helped the beginning stage of the transformation of the courtyard at the high school. Students helped to create eight small gardens in the courtyard under the leadership of environmental science teacher Carrie Wenta. The courtyard was created when the addition at the high school was added off to the north east. “This is the first step in creating a usable outdoor classroom. It is the first year that students have had a real passion for the project,” Wenta said. “I did a survey about learning in an inquiry-based manner. It was hands- on learning and the students enjoyed that opportunity.” Students replaced the clay soil with more viable soils so that perennials and annuals will grow. Students added mulch and white marble to help the enclosed space be more environmentally friendly by conserving water and improving the aesthetic landscape. Donations of hostas and other perennials by staff members Rick and Cindy Stevens, science and English teach- ers in the building helped to round out the shaded areas. Other staff members donated perennials, tools, and some of their students to help make the project a success. “Also, significant discounts were provided by Campbell’s Greenhouses of North Branch for plants, shrubbery and soils for use in the project,” Wenta said. “Betty, the owner, also educated the students on the best plants to use in certain conditions to maintain the beauty of the area all year with relatively low maintenance.” The Environmental Science Club, which is also under the direction of Mrs. Wenta, raised all the money for the project. The club also picks up trash along M-90 and has for the past five years. As an offshoot of the courtyard project, four advanced environmental students chose to do their service-learning project by labeling the plants with permanent signs so that the gardens can be maintained and all can benefit from the information. “Our hope for the spring is to build a pergola with the help of a local builder and picnic tables with the help of student and community resources, including a Boy Scout Eagle project so that it can be used as a classroom on fair weather days,” Wenta said. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! BECOME A NORTH BRANCH ATHLETIC BOOSTER

The Boosters raise funds for things like athletic equipment, field improvements, etc. CLICK HERE for a membership application and return it to the High School office, another booster member, or the BOOSTER table at the Homecoming game. Also include your annual membership fee: $5 Individual, $10 Family, or $20 Corporate.

The next Boosters meeting is December 15th at 7pm in the High School Media Center. EVERYONE WELCOME!

North Branch High School Important Dates for 2014-2015

December 1st 1st day of 2nd Trimester 3rd- 4th Talent Show Tryouts after school 16th High School Band – Christmas Concert – 7:00 pm 11th-18th Talent Show Ticket Sales during 6th Hour 19th Collegiate Breakfast for Juniors and Seniors who register (Registration in Rm. 115 by 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12) 19th Talent Show during 5th – 6th Hours (only those who purchased tickets) Last day before Winter Break 22nd - 31st No School - Winter Break

January 1st-4th No School – Winter Break 5th School Resumes 14th NHS Blood Drive 29th – 31st One-Act Plays and competition

February 2nd – 6th Class Registration Week for 2015 – 2016 school year 2nd – 6th Class Registrations /Snowcoming Dance Ticket Sales/Snowcoming SPIRIT Week Guest Dance Forms Due to the Main Office by 3 p.m. Thursday, February 5th, 2015 6th Snowcoming Assembly 7th Snowcoming Dance (7 – 10:00 pm) 11th Parent/Teacher Conferences (4-6:00 pm) 12th Parent/Teacher Conferences (3-5:00 pm) 19th Pre-Festival Band Concert – 7:00 pm 13th No School

March 3rd ACT-MME 4th ACT-MME 11th NHS Blood Drive 11th 2nd Trimester Exams (1, 2, 3 periods) 12th 2nd Trimester Exams (4, 5, 6 periods) Graduation Activities 17th ACT-MME Make-up Baccalaureate: May 17, 2015 th 18 ACT-MME Make-up Swing Out/Grad Practice: May 19, 2015 th st 18 -21 Senior Class Trip to New York Class Night: May 21, 2015 th 13 No School (Students); Teachers Report PLC Commencement: May 27, 2015 th st rd 16 1 day of 3 Trimester Project Graduation: May 27 - 28, 2015 16th Winter Sports Banquet (6:00 pm) th th 26 - 28 Drama - Spring Play in Gleeson Auditorium

April 1st Parent/Teacher Conferences (4-6:00 pm) nd 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences (3-5:00 pm) rd ACT Testing Dates at NBHS 3 Good Friday (No School) 6th- 10th SPRING BREAK December 13, February 7, April 18, June 13 13th School Resumes

May 9th Prom – Marysville, MI “Alexander’s” 4th - 8th Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week 5th Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day 7th NHS Blood Drive 13th Photographer Round-up 14th NBHS Collage Concert – 7:00 pm 15th Last Day for Seniors 25th Memorial Day - No school - Band plays in Parade downtown

June 1st Grand Collage Band Concert (7 pm) 2nd Spring Sports Banquet (6:00 pm) 11th 3rd Trimester Exams 12th 3rd Trimester Exams - ½ day for students; full day for teachers - End of 3rd Trimester - tentative last day of school, pending snow day make ups

*Dates and events subject to change without notice NORTH BRANCH ATHLETIC EVENTS FOR 12/1/14-12/31/14

MONDAY 12/1:

First Day of Second Trimester

7th Girls’ Basketball vs. Lakeville (home) 4:30 p.m.

8th Girls’ Basketball vs. Lakeville (home) 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 12/2:

Middle School Wrestling @ Millington w/Carrollton 4:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:15 p.m.

JV Girls’ Basketball @ Yale 6:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:15 p.m.

Varsity Girls’ Basketball @ Yale 7:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 12/3:

7th Girls’ Basketball @ Bridgeport 4:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.

8th Girls’ Basketball @ Bridgeport 5:30 p.m. – Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) @ Lapeer 7:15 p.m. (Polar Palace)

THURSDAY 12/4:

Freshman Boys’ Basketball Scrimmage at Lapeer 4:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 2:45 p.m.

JV Boys’ Basketball Scrimmage at Lapeer 5:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 2:45 p.m.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball Scrimmage at Lapeer 7:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 5:00 p.m.

FRIDAY 12/5:

Scholar-Athlete Applications Due

JV Girls’ Basketball vs. Imlay City (home) 6:00 p.m.

Varsity Girls’ Basketball vs. Imlay City (home) 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 12/6:

MSBOA Middle School Solo Ensemble hosted by North Branch

Middle School Wrestling @ Caro Invitational 9:00 a.m.

Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Bowling @ Frankenmuth 12:00 p.m. (Candlelite Lanes)

(North Branch vs. Swan Valley 12 p.m. /North Branch vs. Breckenridge 2:00 p.m.)

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) vs. Crestwood 5:45 p.m. (Polar Palace)_

MONDAY 12/8:

7th Girls’ Basketball @ Caro 4:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:15 p.m.

8th Girls’ Basketball @ Caro 5:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:15 p.m.

JV Girls’ Basketball @ Capac 4:30 p.m.- Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.

Freshman Boys’ Basketball @ Capac 6:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:30 p.m.

JV Boys’ Basketball @ Capac 7:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:30 p.m.

Board of Education Meeting at Jefferson Educational Services Center 7:00 p.m. TUESDAY 12/9:

Middle School Wrestling vs. Lakeville/Mayville (home) 4:30 p.m. (Ruth Fox Gym)

Freshman Boys’ Basketball @ Imlay City 4:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:30 p.m.

JV Boys’ Basketball @ Imlay City 6:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:30 p.m.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball @ Imlay City 7:30 p.m.- Bus leaves at 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 12/10:

7th Girls’ Basketball vs. Millington (home) 4:30 p.m.

8th Girls’ Basketball vs. Millington (home) 5:30 p.m.

Varsity Wrestling @ Millington 6:00 p.m. (vs. Cass City and Bad Axe)-Bus leaves at 4:30 p.m.

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) vs. Fenton 7:15 p.m. (Polar Palace)

THURSDAY 12/11:

JV Girls’ Basketball @ Garber 6:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:15 p.m.

Varsity Girls’ Basketball @ Garber 7:30 p.m. – Bus leaves at 4:15 p.m.

FRIDAY 12/12:

Middle School TVC Division Wrestling Meet @ Millington TBA-Bus Time TBD

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) @ KBH 4:00 p.m. (Perani Arena)

Freshman Boys’ Basketball vs. Yale (home) 4:30 p.m.

JV Boys’ Basketball vs. Yale (home) 6:00 p.m.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball vs. Yale (home) 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 12/13:

Varsity Wrestling @ Marlette Invite 8:00 a.m.

Competitive Cheer @ Chesaning Christmas Cheer 9:00 a.m.

Varsity Boys’ and Girls’Bowling @ Garber 1:00 p.m. (Bay Lanes)

(North Branch vs. Garber 1:00 p.m./North Branch vs. Frankenmuth 3:00 p.m.)

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) vs. Dewitt 5:45 p.m. (Polar Palace)

MONDAY 12/15:

7th Girls’ Basketball vs. Garber (home) 4:30 p.m.

8th Girls’ Basketball vs. Garber (home) 5:30 p.m.

Athletic Booster Meeting in High School Media Center 7:00 p.m.

TUESDAY 12/16:

High School Band Christmas Concert 7 p.m.

JV Girls’ Basketball vs. Frankenmuth (home) 6:00 p.m.

Varsity Girls’ Basketball vs. Frankenmuth (home) 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY 12/17:

7th Girls’ Basketball @ Birch Run 4:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.

8th Girls’ Basketball @ Birch Run 5:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) @ Flushing TBA (Iceland Arena)

Varsity Wrestling @ Fenton w/Yale & Trenton 5:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m.

Freshman Boys’ Basketball @ Frankenmuth 4:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 2:45 p.m.

JV Boys’ Basketball @ Frankenmuth 6:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 2:45 p.m.

Varsity Basketball @ Frankenmuth 7:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 5:00 p.m.

THURSDAY 12/18:

JV Girls’ Basketball @ Birch Run 6:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:30 p.m.

Varsity Girls’ Basketball @ Birch Run 7:30 p.m.-Bus leaves at 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY 12/19: Last Day of School before Winter Break

Collegiate Breakfast in High School Cafeteria

Talent Show 5/6 Hours

JV Boys’ Basketball vs. Birch Run (home) 6:00 p.m.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball vs. Birch Run (home) 7:30 p.m.

Alliance Hockey (NB Co-op) vs. Bishop Foley 7:00 p.m. (Polar Palace)

SATURDAY 12/20:

Varsity Wrestling @ Caro Invitational 8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY 12/27:

Varsity Wrestling @ Mayville Tournament TBA

MONDAY 12/29:

HC Moore Varsity Girls’ Basketball Tournament @ Brown City: North Branch vs. Kingston 12:00 p.m.-Bus leaves at 11 a.m.

HC Moore Varsity Boys’ Basketball Tournament @ North Branch: Kingston vs. North Branch 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 12/30:

HC Moore Varsity Girls’ Basketball Tournament @ Brown City: BUS TIME TO BE DETERMINED

Varsity Girls’ Consolation Game 12:00 p.m.

Varsity Girls’ Championship Game 1:30 p.m.

HC Moore Varsity Boys’ Basketball Tournament @ North Branch:

Varsity Boys’ Consolation Game 6:00 p.m.

Varsity Boys’ Championship Game 7:30 p.m. SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION

North Branch Area Schools has implemented the InTouch Parent Notification Service offered by EduLink Systems. With Intouch, we can now launch and deliver critical and urgent phone messages in just minutes to all parents and guardians. All guardians are auto- matically registered for this service provided we have the correct phone number on file. If you are not a guardian or staff member, text messages are available through the abc12.com website. For the most detailed infor- mation, tune in to the following radio and television stations. WMPC 1230 AM WQUS 103.1 FM WCRZ 107.9 FM WJRT (Channel 12) WEYI (Channel 25) WDIV (Channel 4) Other radio and television stations may pick up the announcements through the Michigan State Police Lien Net- work. Or visit: www.cancellations.com

The decision to cancel the regular school day program is usually made about 5:30 am/no later than 6:00 a.m. if possible. Only in unusually severe weather conditions is a decision made the night before. Occasionally school is dismissed early because of weather or afternoon kindergarten classes may be cancelled. These announce- ments will be made on the same stations indicated above. It is very important that all parents talk with their children about the procedure to be followed in the event of early release. The school must be notified in advance of any special arrangements or transportation. Planning in advance reduces stress and anxiety for your children and saves many last minute phone calls to the school. In the event of a tornado or severe thunderstorm watches/warnings it may be necessary to extend the school day rather than send children home in threatening weather. Generally, decisions or information about athletic events and other extracurricular activities on days when school is cancelled will be made after 10:30 a.m. Elementary students are returned to the school if the bus driver determines they cannot be left at home. Parents and students are also asked to avoid calling the bus garage on snowy mornings to inquire about school closings. Decisions about school cancellation or early dismissal are made in the best interest of student safety.

NBHS Yearbooks can still be ordered during all lunches through Dec. 8-12 with a special “gift certificate” for under the tree. Cost is $70 for the all-color, whole-year coverage. ($75 with engraved name plate.) These make a great gift from Grandma, Santa, Mom, Dad, whoever! Make checks payable to NBHS Yearbook. You can also order on-line via credit card at www.yearbookordercenter.com with the school number of 12285 OR through with credit card/debit card through PaySchools on the NBAS homepage. If you want to mail a check, please do so to NBHS BRONCONIAN Yearbook; P.O. Box 3620; North Branch, MI 48461. Please refer questions to advisor Ruth Stover-Lange 810-688-3001 x 2156 or [email protected]. The ties to North Branch are uNBreakable! Forensics & Model UN Team Fundraiser If you looking for gift ideas for the holidays? If you like the convenience of shopping right from your computer and helping a fundraising program then we have an opportunity for you. The forensic team is selling gift cards through the Great Lakes Scrip program. Simply choose from the attached list of businesses, the amount of gift card amount, and e-mail Forensics Team Sponsor, Cindy Stevens [[email protected]]. Please place your order by Tuesday, December 9th. This will ensure that you will receive all of your gift cards prior to leaving for the holiday break. The % by each card means that's how much you will earn for the team, but please note if you order a $25.00 Gift card to Kohl's, you will receive a $25.00 gift card. If you have any questions please e-mail Cindy Stevens [[email protected]].