4 day school day announcement from Tuscaloosa City Schools

The Tuscaloosa City Schools will return to in-person instruction starting October 19, for all students who did not choose the full year virtual option. The goal of the Board of Education has been to return to daily instruction in a safe manner. Yesterday, the system confirmed a positive COVID-19 diagnosis for superintendent, Mike Daria, who is “feeling fine” and isolating at home.

The journey to the return has included opinion-gathering from many stakeholders such as local medical experts. Educators have been preparing for this moment for weeks. Teacher voice is an important part of the process for the system, just as the feedback from families has been crucial. In hearing the concerns from TCS educators, there is strong acknowledgment of the strain this places on employees to manage the effective teaching of both in-person and virtual students.

Concerns over the impact of a five-day return will have for teachers cannot be ignored, said Mike Daria, superintendent. That’s why the system will instead use a four-day week in person, in which students will devote Fridays for virtual learning asynchronously, starting October 23. Meanwhile, schools will use the time to allow for deeper cleaning of buildings to protect the safety of students and staff. This will also create the opportunity for teachers to plan and collaborate for effective teaching practices as well as connect with families on an as-needed basis. Daria says this decision will be revisited for the second semester.

“The demand this is placing on our educators is enormous,” he said. “We are doing this to allow time for their planning and preparation. We worry that the demands on them will not be sustainable as they work to balance in-person teaching, virtual, and hybrid. This day is for them to work on planning so they can be sure to provide high-quality instruction when they are with your children.”

This move was supported by not only TCS principals, but also the Board of Education which provided the superintendent the authority to set the educational model.

“The Board promised to be flexible during COVID, look out for the safety of all and listen to the needs of our educators. By moving to a four-day school week we feel that we have checked each of those boxes,” said Eric Wilson, Board chair.

Daria noted the news of this change is not ideal, but was a necessary one to make.

“While I recognize a shift at this date does pose an inconvenience to families, we must balance the well-being of our staff as we deliver instruction during a pandemic,” Daria said.

NMS HELPFUL DOCUMENTS FOR FIRST DAY- IT’S HERE!

[embeddoc url=”https://northridgemsptsa.edublogs.org/files/2020/08/FIRST-DAY-ACCESS-STEPS.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]

[embeddoc url=”https://northridgemsptsa.edublogs.org/files/2020/08/NHS2020ParentManual.pdf-Google-Drive.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]

[embeddoc url=”https://northridgemsptsa.edublogs.org/files/2020/08/NMS-Bell-Schedule-for-Parents-August-2020.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google” ]

 

 

NMS INVEST INFORMATION

INVEST to IMPROVE

Northridge Middle School    2020-2021  Invest/PTSA

The NMS PTSA has decided to postpone its Invest fundraising campaign to start the school year due to students not being on campus.  But, teachers and staff ARE at NMS and there are still some budgeted items that as a PTSA we are financially responsible for.  The following items still need to be funded, so if you feel led to donate now, we appreciate any financial help you can provide.

  • Copier lease  ($5500 to help school with its costs)
  • Liability Insurance, required ($355)
  • Teacher & Staff Professional Development Lunch ($700 for 90 teachers/staff)
  • Edublog subscription ($40)
  • Bank Charges ($50)

We hope to be able to have a modified fundraising effort once the school year begins and we have a better idea of how the PTSA will best be able to support the teachers, staff, and students at NMS.  In the past we have had a suggested donation of  $130 but any amount above $10/person (minimum amount needed to cover PTSA state/national membership dues) is appreciated for now.  Thank you!

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

  1. Credit Card via online link:  https://squareup.com/store/northridgemiddleinvest
  2. Cash
  3. Checks made payable to: NMS PTSA

If mailing in a payment with a check/cash use the following address:

Northridge Middle School PTSA 

3811 Northridge Road  Tuscaloosa, AL  35406

INVEST/PTSA Membership Co-Chairs:

Mary Virginia Best  (205) 292-6406      Katherine Heslop (205) 292-9690

 PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FORM TO SEND IN:  NMS Invest Parent Letter2020-2021

BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION

DEVICE NEEDS REQUIRED OF ALL NMS STUDENTS

Technology Update:

  • As school is approaching, we need to ensure that ALL student devices are working so that virtual learning can be a success. We NEED every (Whether you are virtual all year or up to nine weeks) Northridge Middle School family to complete the form below. This will help us determine the technology needs of our students.
  • Please complete the following form concerning your student’s Chromebook and/or hotspot: https://forms.gle/VjDLZiqvA4ov5kMk8
  • Additionally, if your student’s device is in need of repair or needs to be returned to the school, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/jkGmN8z9L2wTxmeL6
  • *Failure to complete the forms above may delay your student’s access to the technology necessary to be successful in the virtual learning environment.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

  • Students will need the listed school supplies when we return Face to Face. Here is the link to the list for each grade level. Parents should hold all school supplies at this time.
  • https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eUi_RFaTeJiKtlhSXMTLr9nP58m1xvhSy48vbe1cW9Y/edit?usp=sharing
  • Students will not use hallway lockers. They will carry backpacks from class to class.
  • If you ordered school supplies through EPI online, those supplies will be sent to your home August 10th. All cleaning supplies on the wish list will be sent in bulk to the school.

STUDENT SCHEDULES

Northridge Middle School students will attend synchronous online classes from 10:30 -1:00 each day. A detailed schedule (Time distribution between 10:30 -1:00) will be sent no later than August 18th. Students will also participate in asynchronous learning activities each day using the Schoology Learning Management System. To learn more about Schoology®, go to: www.Schoology.com. Students will pick up schedules no later than August 18th. We will send the exact date of schedule pickup through email.
Virtual Attendance is required and grades will be given during virtual learning.

Yearbooks have arrived!

The yearbooks have arrived and the school is ready to get them out to you. Students should pick up according to the following schedule:

Yearbook Pickup Schedule
Location: 
NMS Carpool Line
Tuesday, June 30

Last Name Beginning with…

Time Slots

A-D

8:00-9:00 AM

E-I

9:00-10:00 AM

J-Mc

10:00-11:00 AM

Me-R

11:00-12:00 PM

S-Z

12:30-1:30 PM

Wednesday, July 1

Last Name Beginning with…

Times

A-Z

9:00-10:00 AM

A-Z

2:00-3:00 PM

Extra yearbooks will be available to purchase between 9:00-10:00 and 2:00-3:00 on Wednesday, July 1. The cost for a yearbook is $45.00.

If you are unable to pick up your yearbook during your scheduled time slots, you may email Ms. Kruse to make other arrangements. Her email address is akruse@tusc.k12.al.us.

Yearbooks have arrived!

The yearbooks have arrived and the school is ready to get them out to you. Students should pick up according to the following schedule:

Yearbook Pickup Schedule
Location: 
NMS Carpool Line
Tuesday, June 30

Last Name Beginning with…

Time Slots

A-D

8:00-9:00 AM

E-I

9:00-10:00 AM

J-Mc

10:00-11:00 AM

Me-R

11:00-12:00 PM

S-Z

12:30-1:30 PM

Wednesday, July 1

Last Name Beginning with…

Times

A-Z

9:00-10:00 AM

A-Z

2:00-3:00 PM

Extra yearbooks will be available to purchase between 9:00-10:00 and 2:00-3:00 on Wednesday, July 1. The cost for a yearbook is $45.00.

If you are unable to pick up your yearbook during your scheduled time slots, you may email Ms. Kruse to make other arrangements. Her email address is akruse@tusc.k12.al.us.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

High School credit letters

Mrs. Thompson has not received several “High School Credit” letters from the students/parents.  You can email her a note and say whether the child will/will not take the high school credit for said class or you can scan the letter and email it to her.  Her email address is mthompson@tusc.k12.al.us


Infosnap Registration
Please do not forget to register your child for the 2020-21 school year on Infosnap  http://secure.infosnap.com/family/message?code=actionprivate.  For your child’s Snapcode, please contact Ann Cull, NMS Secretary, at acull@tusc.k12.al.us or refer to the April mailing (included with 3rd 9-week report card) or the June 2 reminder email. 

Summer – The Challenge is Issued!

Learning doesn’t end because we are out of school!  This summer, we are offering the “Jag Summer Challenge”!  This “Challenge” is designed to engage our students in the areas of reading and math while providing the social and emotional supports, through the NMS Summer Learning Team, that are necessary for success in all areas of life.  Here are the details:

Who Can Participate?  All Northridge Middle School Students
What Is It?  The Jag Summer Learning Challenge
When Does It Start and End?  July 13, 2020 – August 7, 2020
Where Does It Happen?  Online, at each student’s own pace and level, with daily teacher support for help and guidance.
Why Are We Doing This?  This opportunity will serve as a way to meet each student’s individual learning needs so that they will be successfully prepared to enter the 2020-2021 school year at Northridge Middle School.
Bonus:  As a way to encourage student participation in the “Jag Summer Challenge”, prizes will be awarded to students based on the learning levels they achieve.  Details coming soon…


Fall Planning

We are also attempting to plan and prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. The survey below can help us with our preparations. Northridge Middle School will begin calling homes Thursday for any student who has not completed the document below.

Survey:  https://forms.gle/VQQbvBM67ufpi7CP6