North Star Team, Northside Middle School
North Star News:
Family Edition
Open House Night Sets High Standard
Save the date!
In the weeks since the
open house, we’ve received numerous emails
and text messages inquiring about student
performance. Our favorite messages are the
ones where caring adults
are simply letting us
know how and when to
contact them.
The standard for parent involvement in this
school year has been set.
And we like where you’ve
placed the bar!
In our nearly 60 years
of combined middle
school teaching experience, this team of teachers has come to believe
that parents make the
difference.
changes in your child’s
behavior at home, please
make us aware. We may
be seeing similar
changes here.
In this issue:
We’ll do our best to
do the same.
Photo Gallery
Some of you have a lot
of experience with young
teens, some of you are
learning for the first
time...kids in the 8th
grade want to be independent. They want to
“do” school without you.
Thanks for sharing
your kids with us this
year. We know we’re
going to see great things
from everyone!
“What did you do at
school today?”
Dinner and a Conference
Student
Perspectives
Curriculum updates
First Day of School!
Submitted by
Ms. Calfee—On behalf of
the North Star Team, I’d
like to thank everyone
who attended the back to
school open house night.
Your support is valued
more than you may realize.
September 2011
“Nothing.”
Sound familiar?
KEEP TALKING. Your
kids WANT to share, it
just takes more work to
get it out of them!
If you notice extreme
Dinner and a Conference: October 27th 5:30-7:30
The North Star team
is proud to present the
first annual Dinner and a
Conference on October
27th in the Northside
cafeteria.
ily’s favorite side dish or
dessert to share. The
teachers will be competing in a chili cook-off.
Interested families may
participate as well!
We’ve searched for a
creative way to reach out
to families and we think
we’ve hit on it…
After dinner, students
will share student work
with parents and teachers in table conferences.
As students share
strengths, weaknesses
“Dinner” will be a team
pitch-in. Bring your fam-
and goals, teachers will
be circulating to answer
questions and offer feedback. Students who do
not attend will do their
conferences with parents
at home.
We’re excited about
this evening. We hope
you’ll make plans to attend with the whole
family!
Sierra Burton’s first
day of school.
Page 2
North Star News:
North Star Curriculum Updates...
ENGLISH/NEWSPAPER
US HISTORY
Currently in U.S. history class,
we are taking a closer look at
Native American cultures
and creating a painting that
represents a legend, story or
cultural aspect of a specific
Native American tribe.
Students should be studying
geography terms and
landforms so that we may see
some various landscapes as
we take a ride in the helium
filled balloon on our field trip
later this month!!
ACCOLADES* to all NorthStars
(above) Mrs.
O’Dell plans
feverishly for the
field trip to
Connor Prairie.
Don't let them FINAGLE* you
into thinking the first few weeks
have been easy. They have
been busy determining how they
can create a school newspaper
that will inform and engage
Northside's entire learning community.
The first issue of Northside's
school newspaper (they've yet
to determine a name) will hit the
newsstands the middle of September. Ask your child how his
or her first article is coming
along!
Field Trip
September
22!
Math & Algebra
During the first three weeks of math
class, the North Stars have been
introduced to many of the
main idea, supporting details,
and writing a lead for a
newspaper article.
for their hard work in English
class these first few weeks!
big
ideas that we will be working
with throughout the school year.
We are becoming familiar with our
study teams and learning appropriate ways to explain and
communicate our thinking to others.
Homework note: I realize some of
the homework assignments are impossibly challenging...that’s by design. The most important factor in
your child’s success is his or her desire to TRY. Never give up!
*Words of the Week: See if
your child remembers what they
mean. THEY SHOULD!
Students have been focusing on
the steps to the writing process,
writing for a specific audience,
Literacy Lab/Yearbook
Community Service is the name of the game
as students participate in Super Kids/Super
Service programs in conjunction with the 2012
Super Bowl Committee. Locally, students
submitted proposals to the Columbus Area Visitors Center pitching their ideas for fun activities
to do in Columbus during Super Bowl weekend
in January. Writing for a specific audience and
purpose are important skills in Literacy Lab.
The Yearbook class is busy working on graphic
design skills while secretly developing the
theme for the
NMS 2012 yearbook.
(above) Ms. Phillips chooses
the next Word of the Week.
SCIENCE
Mr. Putney is...
...encouraging the students to
use all senses to take in
information.
(right) Mrs.
White looks for
hands-on ways
to reinforce
math concepts.
...explaining that in science, it is
OK to make a wrong hypothesis if
the reasoning is right.
...demonstrating that scientific method is
simply the steps all of us take every day
to work through problems...it’s not just
‘scientific,’ it’s a life skill.
(above) Ms. Calfee and
Mr. Putney “Mojo Up” at the
school wide convocation last
week.
Page 3
Student Perspectives
“Bam! North Star power! My first two weeks have been star-tastic. A
few things I learned are that we are going to take a lot of field trips. In
social studies I’m learning about my ancestors—the Blackfoot Indians.
All my teachers are nice. I’m totally looking forward to the D.C. trip.”
-Zack Anderson
Artistic photos in
the courtyard.
“The North Star team is unique. The teachers make us feel equal & help us
out a lot. We expand our minds every day and achieve more each class
period. We learn about the U. S. history, five step writing process, Habits of
Mind, observing & inferring and coordinate planes. We all get along and the
teachers really teach!”
—McKenna Whipker
Nick Cull
Blaine Allman
First day of
school on
the track...
“I’ve learned a lot in the few short weeks. I have already completed a
project for Literacy Lab and am currently working on one for social
studies. I am looking forward to learning more and having fun in
class.” —Morgan Dosterglick
“I’m looking forward to
the Washington, D.C.
trip!”
—Aironn Williams
Laurin, Spencer,
Bruce, Cole and Colin
create a human sculpture in the court yard.
Kyra works on
yearbook themes.
North Star
Team
Exclusive
Activity!!
Thursday, October
27 from 5:30-7:30
Dinner and a Conference
Early Registration
(return to Ms. Calfee!)
Student name: _______________________
Family members attending:______________
Bringing (circle all that apply)
Side dish (For example: cole slaw, mac & cheese,
salad, Aunt Ethel’s famous potato salad)
Dessert (For example: brownies, cake, cookies, Uncle Nelson’s famous chocolate pudding)
Chili Cook Off entry (Sky’s the limit here! Bring
your “A” game! The teachers are quite competitive!)
We’ll send more info in October!
Contact Julie Calfee if you’d like to help! 390-9522 voice or text