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Weekly Newsletter

WEEKLY NEWS - OCTOBER 14th, 2024 - Day 2

MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT GROUP CONFERENCE MEALS

The Middle School Parent Group is looking for families to donate food to our amazing staff during conference week. If you're able to help, please click here to sign up. The staff truly appreciates all the support and kindness shown to them during this busy week! Thank you in advance for your generosity!

7/8 MIDDLE SCHOOL GLOW DANCE

The North Polk High School Student council is hosting a 7th & 8th grade Middle School Glow Dance. Please see the details below:

WHO: 7th & 8th graders that attend NPMS

WHEN: Friday, October 25th from 8:15-10:15pm.

WHERE: NP High School Commons.

COST: $5 per student, 1 glowstick included with admission.

Important Notes:

  • No readmittance if you leave

  • Students may be held at the door until released to an adult ride

Cookies and water bottles will be provided (while supplies last).  Get ready to glow and have a blast!

NPMS FALL CONFERENCES 2024

Fall conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 22nd and Thursday, October 24th from 2:00pm to 8:00pm, with an early dismissal at 1:15pm on both days.  Please note there there will be no school on Friday, October 25th due to Teacher Professional Development.  Conference sign-ups are now available at https://www.myconferencetime.com/northpolk. Each conference will be limited to 10 minutes and will take place in the teacher's classroom.

We encourage all families to meet with their student’s teachers; however, please don’t feel obligated to visit with each teacher unless you have specific needs or concerns. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jill Frey at jill.frey@northpolk.org or 515-98-3400 x2200.

MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARBOOK - HELP NEEDED!

The middle school yearbook is looking for your help in capturing memories from outside school activities. We’d love to include photos of middle school students participating in activities such as swimming, hockey, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, competitive leagues, and more! Please submit your photos using this link: Outside School Activities Photo

We are also collecting Kindergarten photos of our current 8th graders. Whether they are group shots or individual portraits, we’d love to see them! Please share those photos here: Kindergarten Photo

Thank you for your support in making this yearbook memorable!

WINTER ACTIVITY START DATES

Information for the first day of practices:

  • 7/8 Girls Basketball: Monday, October 21st

  • 7/8 Boys Wrestling & 7/8 Cheer for Girls Basketball: Monday, October 28th

  • 7/8 Boys Basketball, 7/8 Girls Wrestling, & 7/8 Cheer for Boys Basketball - Thursday, January 2nd

There will be no practices held on Tuesday, October 22nd or Thursday, October 24th for girls basketball due to conferences.

Please note that basketball practice will be held from 3:30pm - 5:20pm. Practices will mostly be held at the middle school, with a few dates at Big Creek Elementary for the 8th grade girls/boys basketball teams. Coaches will relay the locations of practice to families during the season.

WINTER SPORTS REGISTRATION FOR 7th & 8th GRADE STUDENTS

As we gear up for the winter sports season, we want to remind you to register your child for winter sports through our online registration system, Bound. Please ensure your student is signed up promptly to participate in their chosen sport.  We encourage families to register each of their students for all the sports they want to participate in at the beginning of the year, even if it's not in season yet.  

To register your student for an additional sport or to check if they are already signed up for a sport:

  • Sign in to your Bound family account.

  • Click the three dots above the students name and select North Polk Student Dashboard.

  • Scroll to the sport that you would like to register for.

  • If your student is already registered, there will be a green box that says registered.

  • If your student is not registered, select the sports you would like to register them in. Scroll to the bottom, click begin registration and follow the instructions.

For any questions, please reach out to Ryan Eberly at ryan.eberly@northpolk.org or Amanda Hupp at amanda.hupp@northpolk.org.

7th GRADE SERVICE LEARNING TRIP TO JESTER PARK

As part of our efforts to promote service learning, we have scheduled a 7th grade service learning trip to Jester Park.  We are coordinating activities with Polk County Conservation to provide opportunities for our students to help make a difference in our community. We are dividing the class into two groups to lessen the numbers of students going each day.  

  • Ms. Seligman’s/Ms. Twedt’s Literacy classes will go Wednesday, October 16th 

  • Mrs. Evan's Literacy classes will go Friday, October 18

Students need to make sure to dress in appropriate layers, with old work clothes and closed toe shoes as well as bringing work gloves. The class will be divided into smaller groups and work around the park on projects such as seed harvesting, cutting honeysuckle, and more.

Students that want a sack lunch will sign up in their respective Literacy classes.  For those who do not sign up, please have them bring their sack lunch & water on the day they will be at Jester Park.

COMET VOLLEYBALL REGISTRATION (4th - 8th GRADE)

Sign-up for Comet Volleyball today!  The season will take place from January-March. Sign-up is needed now to create teams, order and receive jerseys, and reserve gym space.  The links are below. Sign-up by November 1, 2024 to receive a discount. The official deadline is November 8, 2024. 

COMET BASKETBALL CLUB FALL SKILL SIGN-UPS

We are excited to announce a BIG change to our Comet Basketball Club.  We will be focusing more on skills with 8 sessions of ball handling, passing, shooting, cutting, etc.  There will be lots to learn whether this is your child's first year or has been playing for many years!  We will still need volunteers, please don't hesitate to sign up as a coach! Sign up by Sunday, October 13th guarantee a basketball, bag, and shirt.

Sign up today and we look forward to growing the love of basketball for your child! Click here to sign up!

ABSENCES

Just a reminder that your student must be in school by 11:45am in order to participate in competition held after school. If your student misses class for a medical appointment or illness, they need to provide a note from the medical office in order to be eligible to practice or participate that day.

TEXTBOOK RENTAL FEES AND CLASS DUES

All 2024-2025 Class Dues and Book Rentals are due at this time.  Payments can be made online through Infinite Campus or dropped off at the middle school office.  

Grades 6-8: $45 Book Rental

Grades 6-8: $5 Class Dues

YEARBOOK

Order your 2024-2025 North Polk Middle School Yearbook today for $32. The deadline to order a yearbook will be Friday, December 27th. Click here to get started. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Seligman at sarah.seligman@northpolk.org.

 

FALL COMET VOLLEYBALL SKILLS SESSION: 4th, 5th, 6th Grades

The Comet Volleyball will be hosting fall skills sessions for all 4th, 5th, and 6th graders! These skills sessions will be available for five weeks and will allow your child to learn the basic skills and fundamentals of volleyball. The skills sessions are a great way to help get your child prepared for the opportunity to play for the Comet Volleyball Club in January-March! Here are the details for fall skills sessions:

  • Dates:  Monday, October 14th

  • Location: North Polk Middle School

  • Time: 

            -4th graders 6:30-7:30 p.m. 

            -5th/6th graders 7:30-8:30 p.m.

  • 4th and 5th graders: Please bring a VOLLEY LITE BALL. This is the ball your age level will compete with.

  • These skills sessions are FREE of charge! Come and learn the game while having fun with your friends! There is NO sign-up for the fall skills sessions. Feel free to come to as many sessions as you can!

Parents and Families: We are encouraging you to join us during these skills sessions! Once teams are created in late November, we will need volunteers to help coach in January. Joining us during the skills sessions will allow the opportunity to learn skills, volleyball vocabulary, and drills to coach the players during practices. Haven’t coached volleyball before? No worries! We want you to participate in the drills to learn too!

Note: Players in 5th grade or above, will have the opportunity to be evaluated to be divided into teams. Skill evaluations will be held later in November. More detailed information is coming soon. All 4th graders will play in the Recreational league, therefore evaluations will not take place for 4th grade. Be on the lookout to sign-up for Comet Volleyball season soon! 


** If you have any questions regarding Fall Skills Sessions, please email cometvolleyballclub@gmail.com or follow the “Comet Volleyball Club” Facebook page.

STUDENTS ILL OR INJURED AT SCHOOL

A student who becomes ill or injured at school must notify a teacher or other staff member and then visit the school nurse as soon as possible. Students should not contact parents on their own. In the case of serious illness or injury, the school nurse will attempt to notify the parents/guardians according to the information on Infinite Campus. If the student is too ill or injured to remain in school, the student will be released to a parent/guardian. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in a range of behavior consequences.

SCHOOL MEALS

Utilize Infinite Campus to manage your student’s lunch account and access the daily menu listed on our website. Be sure to add funds to your student’s lunch account today! The updated meal prices may be found here.  If you qualify for free and reduced meals, you will need to complete the 2024-2025 application. For further questions please contact Anita Turczynski at anita.turczynski@northpolk.org.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

For the latest community events please visit Community Events & Activities.

WEEKLY CALENDAR 

(For the most current events, updates, and cancellations please visit the Activity Calendar)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14th - DAY 2 - LATE START

  • 8th Football Practice - after school

  • 7th Football Game @ R-S Sports Complex - Event Time: 4:30pm

  • 7/8 Cross Country Practice - after school

  • 7/8 Cheer Practice - after school

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15th - DAY 1

  • 8th Football Game @ Carroll High School - Event Time: 4:15pm

  • 7th Football Game @ Home vs. Carroll - Event Time: 4:15pm

  • 7/8 Cross Country Meet @ Winterset (Lakeview Country Club)  - Event Time: 4:00pm 

  • 7/8 Cheer @ 7th Football Game - Event Time: 4:15pm

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th - DAY 2

  • 7th Jester Service Trip (Seligman & Twedt’s Literacy Class)

  • 7/8 Football Practice - after school

  • 7/8 Cheer - No Practice

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17th - DAY 1

  • 7/8 Football Practice - after school

  • 7/8 Cheer Practice - after school

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18th - DAY 2

  • 7th Jester Service Trip (Evans's Literacy Class)

  • 5th - 12th Band Extravaganza @ NPHS Football Stadium

  • 7/8 Football Practice - after school

  • 7/8 Cheer Practice - after school