North Dorchester Middle School

School Attendance Matters at NDMS Parents, Research clearly says that children with good attendance are more likely to do well in school, develop important skills, perform better on tests, enter college and find a good job after school. It is arguably one of the most important indicators of school success. This year as well past years, we will have a concerted effort to increase our attendance percentage and reduce our tardies. Please join us in ensuring your child is on time daily, ready to learn at NDMS. What can you do to help us? · Make sure your child is on the bus or in the car each day on time · Reinforce the attendance policies and its importance · Talk about school in a positive manner that allows them to develop positive attitudes about being here · Make sure they get plenty of rest · Communicate with us as if problems arise with daily attendance · When your child needs to be absent, send a note Chronic tardiness can cause students to fall behind academically and lead to increased stress levels for you and your child Below are the procedures we will be following for tardies. Please review with you child… NDMS Tardy Policy 2024/2025 Accumulation will reset each Quarter · 2 Tardies – Verbal warning from grade level administrator to student and parent. · 3 Tardies – Phone call home from School Counselor explaining the next steps in the tardy policy. Communication logged in PowerSchool. · 5 Tardies – Written warning mailed home. Mandatory parent conference. · 6- 9 Tardies – Mandatory Tuesday After school detention to recoup lost instructional time. · 10 Tardies - Activity Ban for the remainder of the quarter. Saturday Detention to Recoup lost instructional time. MTSS Tier 3 meeting to address attendance concerns. · Over 10 Tardies – Home visit from PPW and Community School Liaison and Saturday Detention for each accumulated tardy over 10. Note: This policy also applies for students who accumulate excessive unexcused early dismissals.

NDMS will be providing clear bookbags and water bottles for all students, on the first day of school.

We are excited to welcome back this year, Mrs. Joan Brooks. This school year, she will be working directly with students in our behavioral interventional room, helping mentor students to be Responsible, Accountable and Prepared. "Throughout my 30-year career, I have been involved with community engagement. I worked for ten years at City Lights School as a Youth Project Director and 15 years as a Recreation Manager. As a single mother, my number one goal was to ensure that both of my daughters attended the college of their choice. Interesting fact: I am originally from Railroad Hill in Hurlock, MD. I graduated from Easton High School and received my bachelor's in biblical studies and a Master's in Counseling from Chesapeake Bible College. I am a Pastor who believes that the Community is my Church. One of my strongest beliefs is diversity and inclusion. I also believe that the village is essential. Fun Facts: I love the beach. I love watching the Walton's and talking to my daughters EVERY DAY."

I am Evan Nibblett from Seaford, DE - Received my bachelors degree in Sociology from University of Maryland Eastern Shore -Received my masters degree in school counseling from UMES as well, while also pitching for the Hawks baseball team - This is my first full year in education however I have spent time interning at both Delmar Elementary and Seaford High School. -In my spare time I enjoy coaching and watching baseball, snowboarding, and playing guitar -I am looking forward to helping students reach their full academic and socioemotional potential! Welcome to NDMS, Mr. Nibblett. While you have been a HAWK, we are excited o make you an OWL.

NDMS Administrative Team enjoyed their professional development provided by Dr. Douglas Reeves. We are looking forward to continuing their efforts for positive change at NDMS.

Save the date!!!!! August 22 4 pm - 5 pm. Find your homeroom, cool off with a popsicle and meet your Administrative Team!

Mr. Lee will be joining our team at NDMS as our new Art and Spanish Teacher. Mr. Lee previously taught, for 3 years, at Maple Elementary School. He was previously an OWL and an EAGLE, having been born and raised in Dorchester County. He has an extensive educational background, completing his student teaching experience in New York City. Welcome home, Mr. Lee.

7th grade families., do we have a real treat for you in the upcoming school year! Introducing Mr. Sean Reincke, 7th grade Social Studies. Entering his 28th year as a social studies teacher. Previously, he spent 27 at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School. NDMS is thankful that Reincke needed a change and chose North Dorchester Middle School. He believes becoming an NDMS Owl will reinvigorate his love of teaching, and he is extremely motivated and excited to get started. Reincke is also a previous Teacher of the Year Finalist for DCPS, an avid runner, a fitness coach and member at Heirloom Athletics in Cambridge. He enjoys camping and boating. His son, Thomas, who is a current junior at the University of Maryland, is a former Owl himself. We are excited to add Reincke and his vast experience to the NDMS Nest. Welcome home, Mr. Reincke!!

Summer Band Program

Yearbooks will be on sale tomorrow during the 6th and 7th grade awards assembly and will continue through Friday. The cost is $30.00. Please bring exact cash or check if you want to buy one.

Yearbooks will be on sale tomorrow during the 8th grade promotion. The cost is $30.00. Please bring cash or check if you want to buy one.

Hello fellow parents of the NDMS band/chorus. What a great year for the students, under the direction of Mr. Bragg and Ms. Griffin. I could hardly believe how much better they all sounded during their Spring concerts, compared to the beginning of this year. They have put in a lot of practice and effort into becoming a Trophy winning band and choir!! They became award winning at the Music in the Parks held in Pennsylvania this year. What an accomplishment! I think we can all agree that Mr. Bragg and Ms. Griffin spent countless personal hours working on making the students successful this year, and giving them a trip to look forward to. They met after school hours to coordinate several fundraisers, attended fundraisers, and continued to work behind the scenes without much recognition. While I'm sure they felt joy and pride, watching their investment multiply through these students, I cannot help but feel they deserve so much more. Personally, I would love to "bless their socks off" with a gift of appreciation, but I cannot do that alone. I would love to present Mr. Bragg and Ms. Griffin with a generous gift certificate to the Hyatt in Cambridge, so they can enjoy some much needed down- time and dinner with their significant other (and possibly some pool time for Mr. Bragg's little one). If you feel so inclined, I am looking for each member of the band/chorus to donate just $5-$20, depending on your current abilities, by this Friday June 7th, no later than Monday June 10th please. You can venmo me at @kelcan242 My phone number is 443-521-2640. Feel free to reach out to me by phone or text, to arrange other options. IF you trust your child, feel free to send to school in an envelope, and give to Trinity Lewis, to return to me at home. I will take care of obtaining the Gift cards, and Cards of appreciation, and sign them from the Band and Chorus students and their families. Thank you all for your continued support of the NDMS Music Boosters. It has been a great year! Kelley Travers NDMS parent

Hello fellow parents of the NDMS band/chorus. What a great year for the students, under the direction of Mr. Bragg and Ms. Griffin. I could hardly believe how much better they all sounded during their Spring concerts, compared to the beginning of this year. They have put in a lot of practice and effort into becoming a Trophy winning band and choir!! They became award winning at the Music in the Parks held in Pennsylvania this year. What an accomplishment! I think we can all agree that Mr. Bragg and Ms. Griffin spent countless personal hours working on making the students successful this year, and giving them a trip to look forward to. They met after school hours to coordinate several fundraisers, attended fundraisers, and continued to work behind the scenes without much recognition. While I'm sure they felt joy and pride, watching their investment multiply through these students, I cannot help but feel they deserve so much more. Personally, I would love to "bless their socks off" with a gift of appreciation, but I cannot do that alone. I would love to present Mr. Bragg and Ms. Griffin with a generous gift certificate to the Hyatt in Cambridge, so they can enjoy some much needed down- time and dinner with their significant other (and possibly some pool time for Mr. Bragg's little one). If you feel so inclined, I am looking for each member of the band/chorus to donate just $5-$20, depending on your current abilities, by this Friday June 7th, no later than Monday June 10th please. You can venmo me at @kelcan242 My phone number is 443-521-2640. Feel free to reach out to me by phone or text, to arrange other options. IF you trust your child, feel free to send to school in an envelope, and give to Trinity Lewis, to return to me at home. I will take care of obtaining the Gift cards, and Cards of appreciation, and sign them from the Band and Chorus students and their families. Thank you all for your continued support of the NDMS Music Boosters. It has been a great year! Kelley Travers NDMS parent

Mrs. Knoepfel science classes with their goat visitor from the University of Maryland Dorchester Extension and Ms. Erica Willing. The students learned about raising goats, what they eat, showing them, tagging them, and even giving them haircuts! The student loved learning about the goats and getting to pet her. I think the goat liked out students as well!

To purchase a yearbook, please send $27.00 check or cash to the attention Ms. South, Media Specialist prior to June 5th. Any yearbook purchased after June 5th, will cost $30.00.

Yearbooks are being shipped and we still have some to sell. They are $27.00 each, but the price will go up to $30.00 once they are in the building. If you want this keepsake for you and your student get your money in soon.

NDMS 6th Graders Experience Junior Achievement's Biztown On Wednesday, 125 sixth graders visited JA Biztown to experience important aspects of work readiness, entrepreneurship, civics, and financial literacy This experience provided students with a solid foundation of business, economics, and free enterprise education within the context of a community. Students ran a business as producers, used banking skills with their payroll and made financial decisions as consumers with their earned income. You can tell by their smiles that the students had a great educational experience.

North Dorchester Middle School Save the Date June 12th for end of year awards. Grade 6th 8:30 AM and Grade 7th 10:00AM. Parent are welcome. Assembly in the gym.

North Dorchester Middle School presents April Student's of the Month. These students were selected by their grade level teachers. These student showed RAP, Respect, Accountability, Preparedness ! All goals of PBIS! Way to go students!

Please join us: North Dorchester Middle School Presents its Spring Concert 2024 Let's Celebrate the Joy Music Brings Wednesday May 15th at 6PM NDMS Gym Ms. Najee Griffin-Choir Director Mr. Stephen Bragg- Band Director