November 14, 2025

       

Friday Focus

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope everyone had a great week. Thank you for your work during in-service on Wednesday. When I was walking around the library, I heard some good conversations taking place on how you are incorporating the Science of Learning. This will have a positive effect on our student learning! 

Today is the last day of the 1st trimester and it is also midterm of the 2nd quarter. It is hard to believe we are already to this point. The rest of this semester will fly by with Thanksgiving break in a week and a half. When we come back from break, we will only have 12 days of class before semester tests. That means after today, we have 19 class days left before semester tests. 

On Tuesday, a team of us went to the AEA to develop our action plan for being on the target list. We spent the day looking at our Iowa School Performance Profile and identifying what areas we wanted to focus on. Then we worked on our SAMI (Self-Assessment of MTSS Implementation) which digs deeper into 5 areas. Those areas are Leadership, Infrastructure, Assessment & Data Based Decision Making, Universal Tier, and Supplemental-Intensive Tier(s). We only had to focus on 2 of these since we did complete this activity in 2023. We picked Universal Tier and Supplemental-Intensive Tier(s). Once this was done we developed the Action Plan. This is what we identified as our 3 priorities. 1. Increase Growth in ELA and Math, 2. Reduce the number of students that are chronically absent, and 3. Increase the number of students proficient in ELA and Math. 

We then came up with these goals: 

By 2027, the building will increase literacy proficiency for students with IEPs in grades 9-11 from 24% to 30% by increasing students' exposure to Tier 1 instruction by using HQIM with evidence-based instructional practices and professional development.

By 2027, the building will increase math proficiency for students with IEPs in grades 9-11 from 27% to 33% by increasing Tier 1 instruction by using HQIM with evidence-based instructional practices and professional development.

We had excellent conversations and reflections during the day. We also had many things we could celebrate. I shared with them the 2025 and the 2024 profiles and showed how much growth we have already made. What we are asking you to help do, is very achievable and when we hit this goal, we can all be very proud of what we accomplished!

Have a restful weekend, and thank you for all you do for our students!

Mark

Key Dates to Remember

• Nov. 14 - End of Trimester 1
• Nov. 14 - Midterm of Q2
• Nov. 14 - Last day to do a PASS Plan for S1.
• Nov. 17 - Midterm and Trimester 1 grades are due by 8:30 am.
• Nov. 26-28 - No School
• Dec. 3 - Shelter Drill @ 2:50 pm
• Dec. 10 - Inservice
• Dec. 17-19 - Semester Exams
• Dec. 19 - Grades due 3:30 pm

Assistant Principal's Happenings

Things to Update:

For those keeping score at home, office referral numbers for 9/17-10/30:

108 total referrals: 50 detentions, 7 ISS, 7 OSS, 3 loss of privilege, 37 conference w/ student; 4 other.  The conference with student is primarily first strike warnings for missing class, but can include other warnings as well.

We are starting to see some more defiant behavior out of some students as the weather turns colder.  Let me know if I can support you through brainstorming, support, or backing you up.  You have done an excellent job following Boys Town protocols.  Keep up the great work.

Things I'm Thinking About:

“When you lack discernment, manipulators run your life,” says Dan Rockwell in Leadership Freak. “Discernment navigates the tension between change and stability. It chooses the right move at the right time.” Here’s what it looks like day to day:

- Pause before acting.

- Listen beneath the noise.

- Anchor decisions to purpose.

- Match pace to people’s readiness.

“Discernment or Gullibility” by Dan Rockwell in Leadership Freak, November 6, 2025; Rockwell can be reached at dan@leadershipfreak.com.

**I am gone today for a Special Ed Law conference in Omaha.  I will be back on Monday.

Thankful for you!

Moss

Upcoming Activities

Tuesday, Nov. 18

4:00 pm Girl Wrestling @ Western Christian

Thursday, Nov. 20

TBD - All State Music Festival

3:30 pm Girl Bowling vs. SBL, West Sioux, and MMCRU

Friday, Nov. 21

TBD - All State Music Festival

Saturday, Nov. 22

TBD - All State Music Festival

10:00 am Girl Wrestling @ West Monona

Monday, Nov. 24

3:00 pm Boy/Girl Bowling vs. Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln

Tuesday, Nov. 25

5:00 pm Boy Swimming vs. Spencer @ SC West

5:30 pm JV Girl Basektball vs. Lewis Central

7:00 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Lewis Central

Monday, Dec. 1

3:30 pm Bowling vs. Sioux City West

Tuesday, Dec. 2

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Spirit Lake

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Spirit Lake

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basektball vs. Spirit Lake

Thursday, Dec. 3

5:30 pm Boy/Girl Wrestling vs. SC East & Council Bluffs Lincoln

6:30 pm Swimming @ Spencer

Friday, Dec. 5

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ SBL

5:15 pm Freshman Boy Basketball @ SBL

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basektball @ SBL

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Wrestling @ Viborg-Hurley (South Dakota)

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SBL

7:30 pm Madrigal Dinner

Saturday, Dec. 6

10:00 am Varsity Boy Wrestling @ Long Lines

10:00 am JV Boy/Girl Wrestling @ SC North

7:30 pm Madrigal Dinner

Monday, Dec. 8

5:00 pm JV Girl Wrestling @ Long Lines Sioux City

5:00 pm JV Boy Wrestling @ MOC

Tuesday, Dec. 9

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. SC East

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. SC East

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. SC East

Thursday, Dec. 11

3:30 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Bowling vs OABCIG

6:30 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Wrestling vs. Okoboji and Sioux Center

Friday, Dec. 12

11:00 am Varsity Boy/Girl Wrestling @ Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs

12:30 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Bowling @ Bowlero Bowl, Council Bluffs

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Heelan

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Heelan

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Heelan

Saturday, Dec. 13

9:30 am Varsity Boy/Girl Wrestling @ Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs

Monday, Dec. 15

1:30 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Bowling vs. SBL

4:30 pm JV Boy Wrestling @ SBL

5:30 pm Swimmng vs. Carroll @ SC West

7:30 pm HS Holiday Concert

Tuesday, Dec. 16

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. CB Lincoln

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. CB Lincoln

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. CB Lincoln

5:30 pm JV/Varsity Boy Wrestling @ MVAOCOU

Thursday, Dec. 18

6:00 pm JV/Varsity Boy Wrestling vs. Heelan

Friday, Dec. 19

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ SC North (Boys @ North Middle School)

5:00 pm JV Boy Wrestling @ Spencer

5:00 pm Varsity Girl Wrestling @ Fort Dodge

5:30 pm Freshman Boy Basketball @ SC North (North Middle School)

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ SC North

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SC North

Saturday, Dec. 20

10:00 am Varsity Boy Wrestling @ Spencer

11:00 am Swimming @ Ames

Saturday, Jan. 3

11:00 am Swimming @ Cedar Falls

1:00 pm JV Boy Baskeball vs. Pocahontas Area

2:30 pm Varsity Boy vs. Pocahontas Area

Monday, Jan. 5

1:00 pm Bowling vs. SC North @ Plaza Bowl, Sioux City

4:30 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Sioux Center

6:00 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ Sioux Center

6:00 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Sioux Center

7:30 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Sioux Center

Thursday, Jan. 8

4:30 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ MOC

5:00 pm Swimming @ Lewis Central

5:30 pm Wrestling @ SC North vs North and SBL

5:45 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball @ MOC

6:00 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ MOC

7:30 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ MOC

Friday, Jan. 9

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Storm Lake

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Storm Lake

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Storm Lake

Saturday, Jan. 10

TBD - NWI HS Honor Band

9:00 am Boy Wrestling @ Linn-Mar

9:30 am Girl Wrestling @ North Mahaska

12:00 pm Swimming @ Linn-Mar

Monday, Jan. 12

TBD - Morningside Vocal Arts Festival

3:30 pm Bowling @ Council Bluffs TJ - Bowlero Bowl

5:00 pm Girl Wrestling @ North High - MRAC Conference Tournament

Tuesday, Jan. 13

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Sioux City West

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Sioux City West

5:30 pm Swimming @ Atlantic vs. Atlantic and Waukee

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Sioux City West

Thursday, Jan. 15

4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. Council Bluffs TJ

5:30 pm Freshmen Boy Basketball vs. Council Bluffs TJ

5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. Council Bluffs TJ

5:30 m Wrestling @ Council Bluffs TJ vs. TJ and SC West

7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs. Council Bluffs TJ

Friday, Jan. 16

4:00 pm Girl Wrestling - Le Mars Invite

Saturday, Jan. 17

8:00 am HS Show Choir Clinic and Showcase

8:00 am JV Boy Wreslting vs. Sioux Center

10:00 am Boy Wrestling - Le Mars Invite

10:00 am Swimming @ Fort Dodge