January 5, 2024

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great start to the new year. As we begin 2nd semester, we are also starting the registration process for the 2024-2025 school year. On January 17, we will be hosting the 8th graders up here for CTE day. 

I am working on identifying the 9th grade students, who are currently eligible, for the honors program. I will be sending a letter home to those students explaining what the honors program is and why they should register for those classes. 

As we start second semester, it is important to get students started in the right direction. For those students who struggled first semester, please don't wait too long to reach out to their parents to make arrangements to get extra help. We do have room in the success center during a few periods, so also don't be afraid to refer students to Adam or I to be placed in the success center. PASS Plans for Trimester 2 classes need to be completed by 1/26 and PASS Plans for S2 and Trimester 3 courses need to be completed by 4/15.

Some formalities to go through as we start the semester. Please go over the lockdown/lockout/shelter/evac info with your students. Remind them of the ALICE procedures that we should use if ever the need shall arise. Also I want to take the time to remind you of FERPA. This article was in the SAI newsletter last year that discusses FERPA and who has rights to student educational records, starts on page 4. If you would ever accidently disclose something about another student to someone else, please inform Adam or I about the incident. When we acknowledge a mistake has been made and come up with a remedy we can avoid other issues especially if there was an attempt to cover it up.

Also, take the time to go over classroom expectations, even if you have year long classes. This is a good reminder for the students on what you expect from them in the classroom. 

Have a great weekend,

Mark

Assistant Principal's Happenings

It's been great to see all of our staff and students back after a well-deserved break.  Thanks for all you do for our kids and each other.  Let's make this a great semester.

Announcements:
*Coaches and sponsors, be sure to look over the ineligibility spreadsheet sent out earlier this week.  Also, let me know if a student serves their ineligibility period so I can take them off the list.  As always, if you have questions, please ask and we will work through it together.

*Watch for an email regarding IEP accommodations now available on PowerSchool.  I'm super excited about this -- it should make your job easier and improve communication regarding accommodations needed for students.  Thank a special ed teacher the next time you see them -- they have done a TON of work to make this happen. 

*Watch for an email reminder to review Semester 2 Test protocols with students during Advisory on Monday (p.14 in handbook).

Thought of the week:  Kids want someone to notice.

Brandi and I have close friends whose family has fostered several teenagers over the past few years.  We are in awe of their selflessness and the love that they show these kids.

One thing that they told us was, "A lot of these kids that have gone through trauma just want an adult to notice them."  

This struck a chord and is something I think about often with the kids that come through my office.  One thing that is true for most of these kids is that they have poor relationships with adults: with their own parents, with teachers, with authority figures, etc.  Sometimes I wonder how many of these kids are either withdrawing or acting out just to see if an adult will "notice" them.  It has challenged me to try and make sure I "see them" and "hear them" when I speak with them.  Be on the lookout for kids that need to be noticed.  Sometimes the first clue is withdrawn and quiet behavior, which is the opposite of what we usually expect.  Let me know how it goes so we can encourage one another.



Upcoming Activities

Friday, January 5
4:00 pm JV Girl/Boy Basketball vs. Storm Lake
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Storm Lake
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Storm Lake

Saturday, January 6
TBD - NWI HS Honor Band
9:00 am Girl Freshmen Basketball vs. MOC
9:00 am Boy Wrestling @ Linn-Marr
10:00 am Girl Wrestling @ Ogden
10:15 am Boy Freshmen Basketball vs. MOC
12:00 pm Varsity Boy Swimming @ Linn Mar

Monday, January 8
1:00 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs. CB TJ @ Thunderbowl, CB
5:30 pm Girl Wrestling vs. Humboldt, Spencer, & Ridge View
6:00 pm Girl Freshmen Basketball vs Gehlen
6:30 pm Boy Swimming @ Spencer
7:15 pm Boy Freshmen Baseketball vs. Gehlen

Tuesday, January 9
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. SC West
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. SC West
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. SC West

Thursday, January 11
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. CB TJ
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. CB TJ
5:30 pm Boy/Girl Wrestling @ SC West
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. CB TJ

Friday, January 12
4:00 pm Girl Wrestling - LeMars Invite

Saturday, January 13
9:00 am Freshman Girl Basketball @ Hinton
10:00 am Boy Swimming @ Fort Dodge
10:00 am Boy Wrestling - LeMars Invite
7:30 pm Show Choir Showcase

Monday, January 15
3:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs. SC East
6:00 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ Unity

Tuesday, January 16
4:00 pm Boy/Girl Basketball vs. SBL
5:30 pm Boy Swimming @ Atlantic
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. SBL
5:30 pm Boy/Girl Wrestling @ MOC
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. SBL

Wednesday, January 17
8th Grade CTE Day at HS

Thursday, January 18
6:00 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball vs. SC East
7:15 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. SC East

Friday, January 19
TBD - Iowa Lakes Jazz Festival
4:00 pm Boy/Girl Basketball @ SC East
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ SC East
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SC East

Saturday, January 20
TBD - Large Group Speech
9:00 am Girl Freshmen Basketball vs. SBL
9:00 am Boy Wrestling @ Heelan Invite
10:00 pm Girl Wrestling @ SBL Invite
10:15 am Boy Freshmen Basketball vs. SBL
1:30 pm Boy Swimming @ Lewis Central

Monday, January 22
TBD - State Jazz Band Festival - Le Mars
3:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs. CB AL
6:00 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Storm Lake

Tuesday, January 23
4:00 pm Boy/Girl Basketball @ Heelan
5:00 pm Boy Swimming @ South Sioux City - Norm Waitt YMCA
5:30 pm Boy Wrestling vs. Adrian Ellsworth, MN & West Sioux
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Heelan
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Heelan

Thursday, January 25
TBD - NWI HS Honor Orchestra @ Orange City
TBD - HS Northern Festival of Band - UNI
4:00 pm Boy Wrestling @ CB AL
7:15 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Western Christian

Friday, January 26
TBD - HS Northern Festival of Band - UNI
4:00 pm Boy/Girl Basketball @ CB AL
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ CB AL
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ CB AL

Saturday, January 27
TBD - HS Northern Festival of Band - UNI
9:30 am Boy Wrestling @ KP
10:00 am Boy/Girl Bowling - Le Mars Invite

Sunday, January 28
2:00 pm Large Group Speech State Performer Showcase

Monday, January 29
TBD - State Show Choir
3:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling - Sweet 16 Lanes
5:00 pm JV Boy Wrestling @ MOC
6:00 pm Freshmen Girl Basketball vs. Hinton

Tuesday, January 30
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. SC North
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. SC North
7:15 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. SC North








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