NTMS NEWSLETTER Gregory Burgess, Principal

John Steckstor, Assistant Principal

1500 Vanderbilt Avenue

North Tonawanda, NY 14120

JANUARY 2017 www.ntschools.org

Critter Club hosted two guest speakers at our meetings recently. The

first was a professor from Niagara County Community College’s Animal

Management program. Careers with animals and the program at NCCC

were discussed in depth. Critter Club members had many great questions.

Also, “Wildlife Critters,” a nonprofit organization consisting of licensed wild-

life rehabilitators visited with us with two Owl Kestrels, a Barred Owl and a

Great Horned Owl. Students learned about how Wildlife Critters helps in-

jured local wildlife and how to become certified as a rehabilitation expert

if they were interested in doing so. Students were taught what to do and

not to do if they found an injured wild animal. Volunteer opportunities with-

in the organization were outlined for interested students to pursue.

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday, March 2—Evening Conferences( 5:30—8:30 pm )

Tuesday, March 14—Music In Our School Concert ( 6:30—7:30 pm )

Friday, March 17—Staff Development Day ( No School )

March 24—Marking Period 3 ends

8th Grade Math with Mrs. DiRienzo . . .

We are currently working on learning the concept of similarity. We studied what a dilation is and how to perform one, along with using a sequence of a dilation followed by a rigid motion. Now we will begin to look at linear equations and following the steps needed to solve them. Think Through Math continues to be uti-

lized and can be utilized at home as well – ask your child for their start card information or send me an email and I can provide it for you. Students must keep a journal of their work – if at home, please use a lined piece of paper to turn in. Please encourage students to complete daily assign-ments in order for skills to be practiced & learned. Thanks for your support.

8th Grade Science with Mrs. DiRienzo . . .

The students were busy learning about the cells and micro-scopes. Students completed labs and were able to view plant cells and animal cells through the microscope. We are current-

ly studying cell processes and have completed labs on diffusion, osmosis, and respiration. Our next unit of study is on genetics and heredity. Please encourage students to go on quizlet.com, search ndirienzo (look for Donald Duck), and click on the current unit being studied. Thanks for your support.

After an intense and challenging writing unit, students in Mrs. Quinn’s English class will set out on a journey across the Midwest during the Great Depression. The students will join Josh Gron-dowski, a fifteen-year-old boy, as he tries to survive with his younger brother on the road in the novel No Promises in the Wind. Students will have a reading assignment EVERY NIGHT, so please make sure that your child has a quiet place and time to accomplish this task. Reading as-signments will be posted on Mrs. Quinn’s webpage and in the OneNote online notebook. Time per-mitting; we will also be working with Mr. Becigneul on some interdisciplinary activities that connect the events in the novel to the historical period that they have been exploring in social studies.

DRACO…. Mr. Reilly's students are concluding their unit on the Reform Movement and will shortly

begin working on our next unit - Imperialism. Upcoming units of study include World

War I, the Roaring Twenties, and the Great Depression. I hope everyone enjoyed the

holiday season!

Math 8 students just finished a unit on solving multi-step linear equations. In our next unit

we will be graphing linear equations. Algebra students just finished a unit on solving sys-

tems of equations and are currently working with exponential functions.

Foreign Language News from Team Draco and Phoenix

It is hard to believe that we are already well into the 2nd semester. We are moving

along nicely, completing various tasks necessary to finish this first level of study. As you

may know, your child is pursuing one high school credit toward their graduation re-

quirement. With that being said, we would like to stress the importance of practicing

vocabulary at Quizlet every night as well as completing daily home practice (aka

homework). So far this year we have studied units on our Favorite Foods/Meals and de-

scribing our House/Home. We are currently in a unit called Community and Travel. The

students are learning how to talk about their city and places that someone would like

to visit. In addition, they are learning how to give and understand directions and to be-

come familiar with several types of transportation. In the coming weeks we will contin-

ue with other topics such as Shopping/Leisure and Health/Body. It is very exciting to

see where your child began last year, and to where they are now with their French or

Spanish language skills. We, very much, look forward to their continuing progress.

IT IS TIME FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DINNER!

Once again, NTMS will hold its annual International Dinner on Monday, February27th.

This is a potluck family style dinner and all NTMS families are invited. Get your masks

ready, as Mardi Gras will be the theme. Your child will be bringing home a flyer some-

time during the first week of February. Please call the school at 807-3700 if you have

questions. You can ask for any of the foreign language teachers… Mrs. Converso, Mrs.

Czora, Mrs. Morgan or Mrs. Stevens.

Spanish and French – Mrs. Converso

Mrs. Converso would like to thank all of the families who con-tributed to our classroom celebrations for Christmas. Spanish students enjoyed exploring customs and practices surrounding this special time of the year. This included experiencing spe-cial Mexican foods, such as torta chocolate, empandas, y gal-letas. Students also shared a well-loved Mexican tradition of making Ojo de dios, or God’s Eyes ornaments. Some parents even shared the special celebration with the classes! ¡ Gra-

cias!

French students made and decorated Santons, or “Little saints” ornaments, which is a French custom. French students enjoyed delicious French foods such as Bûche de Noël, cream

puffs, and a cream puff tree! Merci beaucoup!

In class, we have completed the Days/Months/Date, Weather, and Activities packets. The students were able to give days and dates, talk about the weather, and identify what they like and dislike to do in the target language. We are also starting to

explore Spanish/French subjects and verbs.

I would like to emphasize the need for daily vocabulary study to build a solid foundation, necessary for communication in a second language. All vocabulary lists for the year are found at Quizlet. Links for each of the packets can be found at www.ntschools.org> our schools> middle school>Teacher pages > Converso. All students can practice flashcards and

games that promote vocabulary acquisition.

Math 7 – Miss Janese

This month our class finished up their 7th grade Algebra unit. The skills that were learned this unit will help prepare the stu-dents for Algebra in high school. We just recently started Rati-os and Proportional Relationships. The topics that we discuss will be useful in everyday life especially when dealing with unit

rate.

Science 7 – Miss Janese

This month our class finished a unit on chemical reactions. The students had a lot of fun experimenting with different ob-jects transforming into new things. This month we will be fin-ishing up another chemistry unit on mixtures and solutions. Students will learn how to separate mixtures using different

tools.

Social Studies- Mr. Ladik

This month we welcome Mr. Crosby to our class. He will be our student teacher for a period of six weeks, we are looking forward to him taking the reins and introducing new strategies

and activities to our class.

ENL—Miss Bellingham

This month the students’ are focusing on writing and making connections to texts and daily life. We welcome our new stu-dent who joins us from Costa Rica! I am looking forward to continue working with these ESL students as well as students

in Mrs. Wright’s English Class.

ELA- Mr. Mulcahy

Mr. Mulcahy’s students finished up a novel with the creation of movie summaries. The students showed a lot of creativity and teamwork in completing this assignment! Next up our stu-dents are beginning a unit on short stories. They are focusing on identifying parts of the plot diagram and using the Reading

Signposts to improve their comprehension.

ELA ~Mrs. Wright

For the past month, students on Team Orion have been read-ing The Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. This two-voiced novel is based on a true story of the Lost Boys of Su-dan. The story follows two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. Both characters go through hard-ships from loneliness to rebel attacks. Through this global text, students have begun to unlock the universal themes of this hopeful story. Additionally, students have been using their close reading strategies to identify and analyze the literary elements throughout the text. The unit will culminate with a

writing and reading assessment.

MATH 7 ~ Mr. Bush

We are wrapping up our unit on proportional relationships and will begin talking about percents and their many uses in the real world. Daily practice is essential to success when learning

these new topics.

ADVANCED MATH 7 ~ Mr. Bush

We are in the midst of the proportional relationship unit and

will move on to percents when finished.

Dr. Baird ~ Science

We have recently finished a unit on Energy, Forces and Sim-ple Machines. The students designed and created a Rube Goldberg machine poster project. For extra credit, over 25 students also designed and built Rube Goldberg machines in their homes and video recorded them so they could be shown to all the classes! The unit that we just started is on Electricity and Magnetism. In this unit students will learn about Electrical Current, Batteries, Circuits, Magnets and Electromagnets. They will learn how to draw circuits, build circuits, test materi-als for conductivity, test materials for magnetism and build an

electromagnet.

Awesome Indoor Workouts to Try Before Winter’s Over

You’re not imagining it. Winter still isn’t over. There’s no daylight when your alarm clock goes off, you’ve logged more miles than you’d like to

count on the treadmill, and — duh — it’s really cold out there. It’s no surprise that any motivation to get outdoors and work up a sweat has gone

the way of the groundhog and buried itself until spring. But don’t let the season be an excuse to stray from those resolutions and lose your

workout mojo. We’ve rounded up our favorite calorie-busting workouts that can be done indoors to get through these final weeks of winter. And

who knows — you might even find a workout you’ll want to do all year long.

Ride it out. So the idea of wiping out on black ice or feeling the cold breeze freeze your face while bike riding isn’t appealing? Spin class might be for you. These intense indoor cycling classes can burn up to hundreds of calories and keep bones strong . Interval-based rides will also strengthen the butt, thighs, calves, and even the core. No helmet necessary.

Lap it up. It’s never too early to dig up that swimsuit. Head to your gym or community center’s indoor pool to get in a few solid swims before summer hits.

This low-impact exercise lets athletes exercise longer without excess muscle strain, and might even beat yoga when it comes to improving breathing tech-

nique . Bonus: An improved mood, and a leaner physique to boot .

Resistance train. No need to venture outside — a gym isn’t required for these 50 bodyweight exercises, guaranteed to improve strength and endurance

with just body resistance alone. Try this 30-minute workout, complete with high-intensity supersets, to get a heart-pumping resistance workout without any

dumbbells, machines, or plates.

Hit a wall. An indoor rock climbing wall, that is. This non-traditional cardio workout really hits the mark for those who want to exercise their mental strength

(what happens to my legs if my arms go here?). But it’s about physical prowess as well — scaling indoor walls will increase heart rates and torch up to 650

calories per hour . Not only does it work the arm muscles, it activates the legs, back, and shoulders as well. Cue the bragging rights once you’ve reach the

top!

Lace up. Ice skating isn’t just for kids. If it’s too cold for outdoor skating to be fun, head to your local indoor rink to carve up the ice. Aside from being super

fun, skating tones the legs, core, and butt, along with smaller, stabilizing muscles that assist with balance and coordination. At a moderate pace, ice skating

also burns about 500 calories per hour (and that’s not counting those bonus points for jumps and spins!).

Just dance. Though barre-based workouts hit the States in the 70s, it wasn’t until the past few years that they skyrocketed in popularity — and with good

reason. The ballet-inspired moves combine elements of yoga, Pilates, and weight training to lengthen and tone muscles. And guys, don’t be shy. While the

moves generally use just bodyweight and the barre, you’ll be surprised at just how challenging the classes can be. No studios nearby? DVDs like Physique

57 Classic 56 Minute Full Body Workout or The Bar Method’s Change Your Body Workout can be great at-home alternatives (just substitute a chair for the

barre).

Drop and give us 10. Still looking to kick-start those fitness goals? A boot camp workout might be the right fit. Inspired by military training, these booty-

busting sessions combine strength training moves with high-intensity cardio to deliver a serious full-body workout. While many boot camps are conducted at

local parks or track fields, many have indoor options, particularly in the winter.

Get your gloves up. Make like Rocky and get to a kick-butt boxing class. A few rounds in the ring provide a full-body workout as you duck, block, and throw

punches. And because the moves focus on cardio and conditioning to keep stamina up in the ring, you’ll tone muscles rather than bulking up.

Zen out. Give your mind and body a workout with yoga. Believed to reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue, yoga also improves strength and flexibility through

a variety of poses.

Dodge Ball or Shoot Hoops - Join a team and start today!

PARENTS:

Please keep in mind that the drop off for students is at the loop on the Deer-

field side of the school. Please refrain from using the teacher parking lot as

it is a safety issue with staff exiting their cars and entering the school.

Thank you for your consideration.

ATTENTION PARENTS: North Tonawanda Middle School requires

identification when picking a child up from school for any reason. Please

have picture ID with you when you enter the building. Thank you for

helping us keep our children safe.

From the Guidance Office…

School counselors, Mrs. Evarts and Mrs. Duffy are working on scheduling 8th graders for the high school at this time. Students learned about graduation requirements, elective class options, and vo-cational programs through counselor classroom presentations in January. In FACS classes, the counselors work collaboratively with Ms. Catalano and Mrs. Fry as each 8th grader completes a ca-reer interest inventory and career research project. The Future Opportunities Fair, coordinated by the school counselors, involved over 50 people spending a morning at NTMS focusing on educating our 8th graders on college, high school, and community expectations and opportunities. There will also be an evening orientation at NT High School on February 9. We are now meeting with 8th grade student to complete a 9th grade schedule and a 4 year plan that aligns with the goals, interests, and strengths of each individual. Parents are welcome to participate in this process. Please call if you have questions or concerns.

Students who are applying to an academy at the high school should have all the appropriate appli-cations and are reminded to bring completed paperwork to the guidance office as soon as possible, as they are due by spring vacation.

This is a good time of year to focus on academics, attendance and personal responsibility as a stu-dent. There are two more report card grades, along with final exam grades, to average in with the first two marking periods that will determine successfully passing on to the next grade level. A letter will be mailed home to any student who is in danger of failing any academic courses. School sup-plies need to be replenished or replaced. Binders and folders need to be organized at this time of year. Middle level students often require home support with these tasks. Thank you for your contin-ued support!

Mrs. Evarts 807-3715 Mrs. Duffy 807-3708

Save the Dates!!

_______________________________________ North Tonawanda City Schools

4th Annual 5K Run & Family Fun Walk

Date: May 6th @ 9 am NTMS

Let’s Get Up & Get Moving ___________________________________________

NT City School's Universal Pre-K and

Kindergarten Registration Information

Registration dates for the Universal Pre-K program and Kindergarten are:

February 6 (Monday) 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm February 8 (Wednesday) 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm March 7 (Tuesday) 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm March 9 (Thursday) 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Registration will take place at the NT Board of Education Building, located at 176 Walck

Road, North Tonawanda. Registration packets and requirements are available on-line at www.ntschools.org, or the Board of Education Building. Packets must be complet-ed and presented together with the proper documents in order to register.

UNIVERSAL PRE-K PROGRAM LOTTERY

(It is not necessary to feel the pressure of registering on one specific day...

we have designated four days, which include evening hours for your convenience.)

A lottery system will be used to determine your child's placement into one of the three programs offered

(full day, morning or afternoon).

To be eligible for the lottery, a fully completed and accepted registration must be received at the

Board of Education Building no later than March 14, 2017.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH—DECEMBER

EXPLORATORY Health Jessica Haynes

Physical Education Alaina Roberts

Art Emily Barnes

Technology Seenaa Aljibouri

FACS Katelyn Tober

Music Megan Orrange

PHOENIX

English Megan Orrange/Faith Clark

Math Kelsey Guido/Maggie Schwagler

Social Studies Hailey Hill

Science Chase Luly

LOTE Tobias Cruz

DRACO

English Jessica Hanes

Math Allyson Keleher

Social Studies Kailey Ludlow

Science Jillian Young

LOTE Cassie Diliberto

ARIES

Academic Excellence Arianna Bork

Outstanding Effort Nathan Ziemba

ORION

Academic Excellence Alexa Persico

Outstanding Effort Nolan Szczesniak

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION

For 8th graders and parents/guardians

NT High School

Thursday, February 9, 2017

7:00 PM