December 8, 2016

Dear Families,

As we approach the end of the first semester, I felt it necessary to reflect on our first five months together. Our glows as a family offer cause for much celebration. Our grows allow us to push ourselves to contemplate my favorite Neil Gaiman quote. “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. If your are making mistakes then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.”

In celebration of our glows, I thought it would be fun to play a game of Did You Know.

Did you know…the pizza and movie night hosted by the leadership classes raised $400 to purchase canvas bags for Project Night Night?  As a result, we are able to provide 150 care packages for homeless children in Denver. Our goal was 50!

Did you know…students sold hot chocolate and donuts to help with Project Night Night?

Did you know…that 6th-grade leadership not only helped with the pizza and movie night, sold hot chocolate, but also worked on literacy skills and reading with our SVA kindies?

Did you know…that our 7th-grade leadership class started an affirmation locker and advocated for a donation from Home Depot and with it built 2 Corn Hole sets for lunch recess?

Did you know…that our 8th-grade leadership class is in the process of planning, organizing, and facilitating Hawks for Haiti? Their capstone project will reach across the ocean and provide support to orphans of the recent hurricanes.

Did you know…our NJHS students are planning to help the NHS students “Stuff the Bus” with coats for Denver families?

Did you know…that our student council planned, organized and carried out Spirit Week and a pep assembly?

Did you know…that the students did all of this with little to no help from adults?

What has been the impact on our school culture? Well…

Did you know…academically 86% of our student population are performing at or above grade level in all seven of their classes?

Did you know…detentions dropped by 38% over last year? Additionally, detentions for behavior related to social contract violations dropped by 63%. The majority of the detentions being served are for tardies.

While our celebrations are amazing, we also need to reflect on our grows.

We need to continue to work toward consistent focus in class.

We need to ensure that we are constantly encouraging each other.

We need to look for opportunities to demonstrate life-long learning by going the extra mile.

We need to work toward choices that consistently show effort toward honorable leadership.  

Thank you for allowing the middle school team the opportunity to serve your family on your academic journey. We do not take this privilege lightly.

With just slightly more than a week left before our break, consider sending your student with more protein. The halls and the cafetorium have been a bit more exciting lately…

Stay warm! It’s freezing out there…literally…

Honored to Serve You All,

Janet Worley

Food For Thought: 15 Things Your Middle Schooler Wishes You Knew

IMPORTANT:

Traffic Safety Reminder: The leadership team would like to remind all families that it is of utmost importance that you drive safely while entering and exiting the parking lot. Please refrain from using your cell phone while in the parking lot. Aggressive or unsafe driving will be addressed immediately with the driver and reported to Officer Rodrigue. When necessary the camera footage of the parking lot will be reviewed. Of particular concern is the speed of cars as they enter the parking lot via the two entrances nearest the roundabout. Our students’ safety will always take priority over everything else.

Items that are MIA: Please remember items dropped off for middle school students will be placed on the student drop table in the East Entrance Atrium. You are welcome to email your student’s teacher or text your student when you place items on that table. However, in an effort to help students grow, items will not be delivered to students. I would much rather they learn this lesson before high school and college. If you have questions or concerns, please direct them to me. The ladies at the front are simply honoring the direction of the leadership team.