December 12, 2025

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Friday Focus 

I hope everyone has had a great week! This will be the last Friday Focus of 2025. 

Thank you for your work during in-service on Wednesday. This year we have been focusing on getting back to the basics. Like CIA has said, many of the strategies they have gone over have been strategies you have used in the past, but maybe didn't know the science behind it. Using the 4 power tools, Retrieval Practice, Spacing, Interleaving, and Feedback-driven Metacognition will help our students learn and remember your content better. 

We only have 2 instructional days and 3 semester test days left in this semester. As we quickly approach the end of the semester there are a few items I want to remind you about to ensure they are completed.

I don't have a lot of new information in this week's Friday Focus, so here are the reminders for the end of the semester.

1. Grades are due before you leave on December 19. You will need to verify your Semester 1 grades. Please double check a few calculations to make sure PowerSchool is doing this correctly. Steps to verify your grades: 1. Log into PowerTeacher Pro, 2. Go to 'A+ Grading' and Click 'Traditional', 3. Click 'Final Grade Status' in the bottom right-hand corner, 4. Check the box for 'S1 Final Grades are Complete' and then click 'Save'.

2. Make sure that you have turned in the PASS Plan summary form for any student that failed a class to the office and have mailed a copy home. Please notify the guidance office so they can make a note about summer school. This form needs to be filled out for each student individually. The form can be found here: PASS Plan Summary Form

3. For any student that was given an incomplete, please complete the form and turn into the office and send home to the parents. This form can be found here: Incomplete Form

4. If a student can do credit recovery, please let the guidance office and myself know. A packet should be put together and given to the success center so the student can complete the work necessary to pass the class. 

5. If you have a semester class, please make sure you collect any school/your property before they finish your class. If you have a year long class, please check with the students as some could be changing to different teachers. If they have your items, you will want to collect those. 

6. During semester tests, students are expected to be in class the entire time. The only class the students do not have to report to is study hall or resource rooms. Students in PE and Intro to Careers will need to report to class. Students that do not leave during study hall or opens, will need to be in the Commons. They will not be allowed to walk around in the hallways. Students are done testing at 2:36 on Wednesday and Thursday. Buses will run on the normal 3:30 dismissal time. Remind students they can not go to the middle school when they are done at 2:36. 

7. Students will need to take the test during their assigned period unless it has been cleared through Mr. Moss or myself. Students with advance make ups can arrange a time to take their test and that does not have to go through administration. 

8. On semester test make up day, students can move from class to class as needed to take tests 

9. If for some reason we would have a snow day on the semester test day, then we will forgo the make up day. If we have multiple snow days where we don't get tests complete, we will take those when we get back on January 5. Hopefully this doesn't happen. 

Key Dates to Remember

  • Dec. 17 - Semester Exams (Odd Periods)
  • Dec. 18 - Semester Exams (Even Periods)
  • Dec. 19 - Semester Exams (Make Up)
  • Dec. 19 - Grades due 3:30 pm
  • Dec. 19 - PASS Plan Summaries Due in the office and please mail a copy home
  • Dec. 19 - Incomplete Forms Due in the office and a please mail a copy home
  • Jan. 5 - Start of Semester 2
  • Jan. 7 - Shelter Drill
  • Jan. 15 - 8th Grade CTE Day

Semester Test Schedule

 Time                     Wednesday                Thursday

8:30 - 9:45            Period 1                     Period 2
9:50 - 11:05          Period 3                     Period 4
11:08 - 11:58        Lunch                         Lunch
12:02 - 1:17          Period 5                     Period 6
1:21 - 2:36            Period 7                    Period 8

Have a great break, but come back next week!

Mark

Assistant Principal's Happenings

Things to Know:
A "ten-day contract" is a contract that a student is put on after missing more than 10 days of a course.  Not all absences count against these 10 days.  For example, ILLx does not count against a student.  This contract aligns with board policy that requires the student to make-up time for every period beyond the 10 days.  If they do not make up this time by the end of the semester, a "NC" is entered for the semester grade of that course until that student successfully makes up the time missed. (NC=No Credit). This is something that happens at the office level and you may not always be aware of. 

Thankful for you!

Moss


Upcoming Activities


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
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
5:30 pm Swimmng vs. Carroll @ SC West

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

Monday, Jan. 19
1:00 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Bowling vs. SC East

Tuesday, Jan. 20
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball vs. SBL
5:30 pm Freshman Boy Basketball vs. SBL
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball vs. SBL
6:00 pm Varsity Girl Wrestling @ MOC
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball vs.SBL

Thursday, Jan. 22
6:30 pm Boy Swimming @ Spencer

Friday, Jan. 23
TBD - Iowa Lakes Jazz Band Contest
12:30 pm Boy/Girl Bowling @ Council Bluffs
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ SC East
5:00 pm Freshman Boy Basketball @ SC East
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ SC East
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ SC East

Saturday, Jan. 24
8:00 am District Large Group Speech @ TBD
8:00 am Varsity Boy Wrestling @ Heelan
9:30 am Boy Swimming @ Lewis Central
10:00 am Varsity Girl Wrestling @ SBL

Monday, Jan. 26
1:00 pm JV/Varsity Boy/Girl Bowling @ MRAC Tournament - Council Bluffs
4:00 pm State Jazz Band Festival - Middle School Auditorium
6:30 pm 8th grade parent registration night - Competition Gym

Tuesday, Jan. 27
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ Heelan
5:15 pm Freshman Boy Basketball @ Heelan
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ Heelan
6:00 pm Boy Wrestling @ West Sioux
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ Heelan

Wednesday, Jan. 28
8:00 am Iowa Lakes Vocal Jazz Festival

Thursday, Jan. 29
8:00 am NWI HS/MS Honor Orchestra Festival @ Northwestern
4:00 pm Boy Wrestling - MRAC Confernce Meet @ SC North

Friday, Jan. 30
TBD - High School Honor Band - USD
4:00 pm JV Boy/Girl Basketball @ CB Abe Lincoln
5:15 pm Freshman Boy Basketball @ CB Abe Lincoln
5:30 pm Varsity Girl Basketball @ CB Abe Lincoln
7:00 pm Varsity Boy Basketball @ CB Abe Lincoln
7:00 pm Girl Wrestling Regionals - TBD

Saturday, Jan. 31
TBD - USD Honor Band
TBD -  State Jazz Choir Festival - Le Mars
9:30 am Boy Wrestling @ Kinsley-Pierson
10:00 am Boy/Girl Wrestling - Le Mars Invite

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