April 2011
Important Dates:
Thursday, March 31st:
6:15p.m. New to the District Registration
Incoming 5th grade registration
WS, WA, & JF at Middle School 7:00pm
April 4-7
6th Grade State Testing
Tuesday, April 5th:
Incoming 5th grade registration
BA, WP, GR, LN, at Middle School
7:00pm
April 7
7th grade Registration at the Junior High
April 11-19
5th Grade State Testing
April 15
No School (District Music)
Wednesday, April 20th-Monday,
April 25th
No School Spring Break
Thursday, April 28th:
Dad’s Night Out 6:00-8:00pm
Tuesday, May 24th:
11:30 Dismissal
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
N O R F O L K M I D D L E S C H O O L - 1 2 2 1 N. F I R S T S T. - 4 0 2-6 4 4-2 5 6 9
From the Desk of the Principal
Welcome to 4th Quarter at the Middle
School!
While we are all looking forward to Spring, it is
important to remember that there are a lot of
events happening at the middle school. One
of them would be the state testing that begins
next week. The NeSA testing schedule is as
follows:
6th grade Math and Reading Tests: April
4th—April 7th
5th grade Math and Reading Tests: April
11th—April 14th
5th grade Science Test: April 18th—April
19th
Please encourage your student to get a good
nights sleep and eat a good breakfast before
their test. Also work on a good attitude be-
fore the test to take their time an d do their
best. We want them to demonstrate how
much they have learned and grown this school
year at the Middle School.
We look forward to a great end of the year!
Please encourage your child to keep up the
great work they have done this year!
Educationally yours,
Jennifer L. Robinson
Fundraiser Information:
Kudos to our students and par-
ents for a wonderful job on our
school fundraiser and cookie
dough sales. We sold close to
$40, 000 worth of product
which will translate to at least
11 new smart boards for our
building...maybe even more!
We should know the final
amounts soon so we can order
the boards!
We appreciate all the support
and hard work of all of our
parent and teacher volunteers.
We could not have done it with
out you.
Students will be having an as-
sembly after state testing and
final calculations of profits to
celebrate our great results!
 Dad’s Night Out
Mark your calendars for Thursday night, April 28th from 6-8 pm. The Middle School will
be working with the Norfolk YMCA to host its annual Dad’s Night Out. Of course, any
male adult role model will work if dad is not available. Much research has been done
on the importance of a male influence in the lives of our youth. We also recognize the
overwhelming importance of the mom in the lives of our young people. However, the
Middle School wants to give you (dads or male role models) an opportunity to get in-
volved in their education. On Thursday, April 28 th, from 6-8 we will be hosting our
third annual Dad’s Night Out. We had a fantastic turn out last year and anticipate and
even better turn out this year. We will be partnering with the YMCA and there will be
a wide variety of interactive booths and activities such as, archery, fishing practice,
electric drums, laser tag, snakes and much, much more. Refreshments will also be
provided. If you and your child have a particular activity that you would like to do and
want to set up a booth or display, please call and let us know. We would love to get
you involved. This can be any activity that a father or adult male could enjoy doing
with a child. Call the Middle School at 644-2569 and talk with Mr. Strong

Upcoming Middle School Band and Orchestra Events

Saturday, April 30, 2011
6-9th Grade Pierce Honor Band
th
This year we had 17 6 Grade Band students audition for the Pierce Honor Band. The Honor Band will be held at Pierce High
School on Saturday, April 30. This is an all-day event, which will be required for any student that auditioned. This is a great opportu-
nity for the top-level players to play with students from other schools. Mrs. Erickson would like to let the parents of these students
know that ALL of the students did a great job with their preparations. They have improved a great deal because of this very rigorous
process. Thank you for your help and support! Results should be sent in early April.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Middle School Instrumental Concert for
5th Orchestra, 6th Orchestra, and 6th Band

The 5th Grade Orchestra, 6th Grade Orchestra, and 6th Grade Band will be playing their final concert of the year on Tuesday,
May 10. The concert will begin at 7:00 PM at Johnny Carson Theatre. Students will be required to be at the High School by 6:15.
Concert dress will be black-and-white dress clothes for Orchestra and dress clothes for Band. More information about the concert
will be sent home at the beginning of May.

If you should have any questions about the upcoming events, please feel free to call me at school or e-mail me at Kimber-
lyErickson@npsne.org. Thanks, Mrs. Erickson

The National Standards in Music for April and May

During the year, students have been focusing on many different aspects of Music in Band and Orchestra. This month students are focus-
ing on evaluating musical performances in relation to their pieces and other famous works. We will also focus on composing and arranging in group
lessons.
Content Standard #4: Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines
Achievment Standard:
Students create and arrange music to accompany readings or dramatizations
Students create and arrange short songs and instrumental pieces within specified guidelines (e.g., a particular style, form, instru-
mentation, compositional technique)
Students use a variety of sound sources when composing
Content Standard #7: Evaluating music and music performances
Achievement Standard:
Students devise criteria for evaluating performances and compositions Students explain, using appropriate music terminology, their per-
sonal preferences for specific musical works and styles
Students will continue working with the School Fusion Blogs and on-line quizzes to enhance their knowledge of this Standard as well as the
other eight National Standards in Music.
From National Standards for Arts Education. Copyright © 1994 by Music Educators National Conference (MENC). Used by permission. The complete
National Arts Standards and additional materials relating to the Standards are available from MENC: The National Association for Music Education,
1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191; www.menc.org.
 Important!!!
th
7 Grade Registration for 2011-2012

Sixth graders will register for their 2011-2012 7th grade classes on Thursday, April
7th. The meeting will be held in the Junior High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. A
Spanish translator will be available. Students are encouraged to attend the meet-
ing with their parents. Parents and students will be given information packets and
registration forms at that time. Registration forms are due back in the Junior High
Guidance Office by Tuesday, April 12th.

If you cannot make the meeting, your student may

pick up the necessary paperwork in the Middle School
Guidance Office after April 7th.

Sixth graders will also be sharing lockers next year at the Junior High. In a few
weeks, your child will have the opportunity to pick a locker partner. Talk to your
child about the characters and qualities you would like to see in a locker partner
such as honesty, neatness, etc.

Autism is a complex, developmental disability that is usually evident within the first three years of life. It is a
behaviorally-defined disorder that is generally recognized by disturbances in communication, social interac-
tion and perceptual organization, or patterns of behavior. Autism is referred to as a "spectrum disorder,"
meaning that individuals diagnosed may have a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Individuals
with autism spectrum disorders may display a wide range of skills and deficits.
--Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network
http://www.unl.edu/asdnetwork
If you have any further questions or want to learn more about Autism, please contact Mrs. Christensen Nor-
folk Middle School
Quite the Characters at Norfolk Middle School
Congratulations to Fifth Grade Team 2
essay winner, Megan Neilsen. Megan
entered the writing contest, “What My
Mother Means to Me.” Her essay was
selected from 166 essays across the
state of Nebraska as one of the top ten
finalists! Megan and her family will be
attending an awards ceremony on April
1 at the State Capitol Building in Lin-
coln, NE, where she will be reading her
essay aloud. Out of the ten finalists,
one state winner will be announced, and
that essay will be sent to the National
Character education is making a difference at Norfolk Middle
School! Throughout this school year, fifth and sixth grade stu- competition in Salt Lake City in May.
dents have learned about several different character traits which
help them to be good students and good citizens. Trust, respect,
responsibility, and fairness have been the focus of the month al-
ready this year. Throughout the month, students may be recog-
nized by their teachers when they do something which shows
good character. Teachers may give a student a note which says
“You Made a Difference!” Everyone who receives one of these
notes is eligible to receive a prize in a drawing at the end of the
month assembly. Also at this assembly, each team of teachers
selects a student to be student of the month. A student of the
month is chosen not on the basis of academic achievement, but
because of the character they show day in and day out in the
classroom. Teachers often cite their helpfulness to all students,
the good example these students show, and the difference they
make in the school. The most recent recognition assembly fo-
cused on responsibility, and the following students were named Penny War 2011
students of the month. Fifth grade: Tessa Wright, Jacqueline This year we are competing team vs. team…
Torija, Jason Kopejtka, and Felipe Gardea. Sixth grade: Ericka every team for their own with all proceeds going to
Bixenmann, Eduardo Cuellar, and Danessa Clinch. the
American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.
Previously, the following students were recognized as students of
the month. Fifth grade: Braden Fink, Amber Fehrs, Clayton
Basic Rules
Spray, Thomas Wisnieski, Gustavo Castillo, Lillian Bernhardt, Allen
All Pennies are Positive… they count toward your
Mitchell, and Sam Reynoldson. Sixth grade: Yasmine Qattea,
team total.
Elise Ehlers, Jordan James, Sutton Tennant, Jacob Mrsny, and All silver money is negative… they count against
Moses Roemhildt. your team total.
Watch for new of future winners as the character traits of caring The team that has the highest “total” on Wednes-
and citizenship will be the focus in upcoming months. day March 30th wins.

….Bank Dates….
Pictured are February students of the month (Left to right): (Updated totals will be reported)
Felipe Gardea, Jason Kopejtka, Tessa Wright, Danessa Clinch, Monday, March 21
Ericka Bixenmann, and Eduardo Cuellar. Not pictured is Jacque- Wednesday, March 23
line Torija. Friday, March 25th
Monday, March 28th and
FINAL DAY March 30th.
 April 2011
Challenge Corner Mrs. Boche - Norfolk Middle School

The Fifth-graders began the semester with The sixth-graders started

an introduction to iMovie on the Macintosh
Computers. Students learned the basics of
creating movies with this soft-
ware. We then took those skills to
create movies based on the char-
acter trait Responsibility and ulti-
mately show these movies to the
student body at our All –School meeting in
March. Students formed groups based on
the skit they wanted to participate in for a
movie. Topics for the Responsibility movies
ranged from remembering your lunch money,
doing your homework, getting proper rest,
and wearing the proper shoes to gym class.
Time did not allow us to show all 12 movies
produced, so the four - 5th grade Challenge
classes voted on the top 4 movies to show
at the All-School Meeting. The movies were
well received by the student body and hope-
fully students realized the many ways one
can be responsible at school & home!
the semester with our
―Claymation‖ unit and are
continuing with that unit.
Claymation is the process
where the students create
clay figures and props to use in a story.
Topic ideas range from novels to historical
events. After the clay figures are created,
the storyboard and background have been
finalized; students then begin taking many,
many pictures. Those pictures are
downloaded to the computer. Students will
then use the software ―Frames‖ to create
the animation. Throughout this entire unit,
students learn to problem solve when diffi-
culties arise! Problems do happen—ranging
from computer issues, camera
issues and clay figures not co-
operating! Through clayma-
tion, our Challenge classroom is
transformed into a high touch
and high tech learning environ-
ment.

Trivia Questions

1.Before 1979, hurricanes were named only for whom?

A. Celebrities B. Women C. Scientists D. Politicians
2.Which strait connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?
A. Being Strait B. Cook Strait C. Hudson Strait D. Strait of Magellan
3. How many times per day does a person swallow?
A. 100 B. 300 C. 1,000 D. 3,000

Answers:
1. B 2. D 3. D
 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1
MENU SUBJECT Chicken Fajitas
TO CHANGE Apple juice
WITHOUT NOTICE Pineapple chunks
DANNON Yogurt
Mini carrots

4 5 6 7 8
Breaded Beef Sandwich Cheeseburger/bun Nachos Chicken Tenders Italian Dunkers
Buttered peas Baked beans Shredded Lettuce Shredded Lettuce Black Bean Salsa
Pineapple chunks Pickle Chips Fresh Apple Slices Diced pears Baked Frito Chips
Chocolate Pudding Cup Diced pears Chocolate Chip Cookie J-ELLO cup Red Applesauce
Pickle Chips Orange wedges Dill Pickle Spear Oatmeal Bar Cheese stick

11 12 13 14 15
Breaded Pork Patty/bun TONY’S Cheese Pizza Spaghetti Bake Chicken patty/bun
Very very, green beans Shredded Lettuce Cole Slaw Steamed corn K-12
Chilled Pears Cherry Crisp ½ banana Diced peaches NO SCHOOL
J-ELLO cup Carrot/Celery Sticks Chilled Mixed Fruit Frito corn chips
Holiday sugar cookie Wheat Crackers Baked Bread Stick Chocolate chip cookie

18 19 20 21 22
Breaded Beef Sandwich Creamed Turkey
Mixed vegetables Whipped potatoes K-12 K-12 K-12
Pineapple chunks Diced peaches NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL
J-ELLO cup Shortcake/topping Staff SPRING SPRING
Graham crackers Whole grain dinner roll Appreciation BREAK BREAK
Easter Dinner

25 26 27 28 29
Sloppy Joe/bun Chicken fried steak TONY’S Pepperoni Pizza Mini Corndogs
K-12 Very very, green beans Whipped potatoes Shredded Lettuce Apple juice
NO SCHOOL Mandarin Oranges Brown gravy Diced pears Pineapple chunks
SPRING Multi-grain Sun chips Diced peaches J-ELLO cup DANNON Yogurt
BREAK Cauliflower Tips ½ Banana Oatmeal Bar Mini carrots
 LUNES MARTES MÍERCOLES JUEVES VIERNES

1
MENU SUJETO Pizza Queso
A CAMBIAR Jugo naranja
SIN NOTICIA Piña trozos
DANNON Yogúr
Mini zanahorias

4 5 6 7 8
Sanwich Res empanizado Hamburgesa queso/pan Nachos Pepitas de Pollo Sanwich Italiano
Chicharros en mantequilla Frijoles dulces Lechuga rallada Lechuga rallada Frijol Negro Salsa
Piña trozos Rebanadas pepino Rebanadas manzana Peras en dados Fritos Horneados
Taza Pudin de Chocolate Peras en dados Galleta de Chocolate GELATINA taza Manzana molida
Rebanadas de pepino Naranja trozos Rebanada Pepino Barra sabor a avena Palito de queso

11 12 13 14 15
Puerco emp torta/Pan Fajitas de Pollo Espageti Horneado Pollo Empanda/bpan
muy muy, verde ejotes Lechuga rallada Col Maiz a vapor K-12
Peras enfriadas Postre de cereza ½ platano Duraznos en dados NO HAY ESCUELA
GELATINA taza Zanahoria/Apio Palitos Fruta mixta Fritos
Galleta azúcar Festivo Galletas Saladas Trigo Palito pan horneado Galleta de Chocolate

18 19 20 21 22
Sanwich Res empanizado Pavo Cremado
Vegetales mixtos Pure de papas K-12 K-12 K-12
Piña Trozos Duraznos en dados NO HAY ESCUELA NO HAY ESCUELA NO HAY ESCUELA
GELATINA taza Pastel/betun Personal PRIMAVERA PRIMAVERA
Galletas de sabor Pan cena grano entero Aprecio QUEBRADA QUEBRADA
Pascua Comida

25 26 27 28 29
Carne molida/pan Bistek Pollo frio TONY Pizza Salchicha Min Perro Calient emp
K-12 Muy muy,verde ejotes Pure papas Lechuga rallada Jugo de Manzana
NO SCHOOL Mandarin Naranjas Jugo carne café Peras en dados Piña trozos
SPRING Multi-grano Sun papitas Duraznos en dados GELATINA taza DANNON Yogúr
BREAK Cauliflor ½ Platano Barra de Avena Mini zanahorias