• Wednesday, November 16 – Morning Forum with Brad, 8:00 am
• Friday, November 18 – Last day of 1st Trimester; Classes end at 1:30; Dress Down Day
• Saturday, November 19 – Sunday, November 27 – NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break
• Monday, November 28 – First day of 2nd Trimester
• Saturday, December 3 – NYA Holiday Craft Fair
• Thursday, December 8 – MS Celebration & Evening with the Arts:  5:00 pm (pizza), 5:30 (art show), 6:00 (concert)
• Wednesday, December 14 – Morning Forum with Brad, 8:00 am
• Friday, December 16 – Last Day of Classes before Winter Break
• Saturday, December 17 – Monday, January 3 – NO SCHOOL, Winter Break
• Tuesday, January 3 – Classes Resume
• Monday, January 16 – NO SCHOOL, MLK Day

DRESS DOWN DAYS FOR HOLIDAY FAMILIES

• In addition to the Dress Down Day this past Friday, we will have a second Dress Down Day this Friday, November 18, and a third in early December. The $3 donations from each of these days will go toward our Holiday Families program.
• Each year at NYA, we adopt several families through the Salvation Army. We receive the “wish lists” from the families and try to provide as many items from their lists as possible. In addition, we purchase a supermarket gift certificate for each family to put toward their holiday celebrations.
• It is a moving experience for our students and teachers to be able to spread some holiday cheer and give back to others in our community who are less fortunate. The appreciation from these families is touching. Thank you for helping to make the season bright!

PEER COUNCIL

• The NYA Middle School is establishing a new group entitled Peer Council. Peer Council members will first be nominated by students.  Faculty will then select the final committee from those nominations, looking at individual candidates and for a balance between genders and grades. This group will meet periodically (one to two times per month) to discuss general student issues and strategies for keeping our school a safe and inclusive community. Students also may seek out members of the Council to discuss any such concerns. In addition, Peer Council will serve a role similar to that of Judiciary Committee in the Upper School, i.e. “to engage in a discussion of the events of the misconduct,” “to make disciplinary recommendations,” and “to lead each student toward a greater sense of responsibility toward the school community” (Student & Parent Handbook, pg. 28). This is a tremendous opportunity for students who would like to have a strong voice in their school and to take on more of a leadership role.
• This concept has been presented to students both orally and via email, and the nominations have been pouring in. I think that it speaks volumes about our community that nearly half the students in the Middle School were nominated, and many were nominated multiple times. Many students also put a great deal of thought and care into their nominations, providing extensive support for their nominees. I have contacted all nominees to confirm that they are interested in taking part. Faculty will then finalize the Council, and we plan to meet for the first time this week.  We are excited about this opportunity for students to share their perspectives and to take an active role in bringing about positive change.

NEW AFTERNOON SIGN-UP PROTOCOL

• In the winter months, afternoons in the Middle School become busier than ever. With mixed practice times – early, late, and in between, drama rehearsals, etc., students are headed off in many different directions at the same time. Our goal is to help students assume some responsibility for being where they ought to be and for keeping everyone informed. To that end, we now have sign-up sheets in the same area where students do their morning sign-in for attendance.  Student names are listed alphabetically by class with space for students to write in their destination and to update this as many times as necessary each afternoon.
• For students with late practice, it is important that they have the opportunity to get some work done before heading off to practice. At the same time, it can be challenging to sit down at the end of a long day of classes and dive into homework without any break. Therefore, we have included a 25 minute “breather” after classes before the quiet study halls begin. From the end of class until 2:47, students may sign-up for playing out in the quad, going to the computer lab, relaxing in the community room, or swinging by Safford, the cafeteria, for a quick snack. They must be in study hall no later than 2:50, ready to work.
• The options for students each afternoon include:
• 2:22-2:47: quad, community room, computer lab, Safford (2:30-2:45), basketball, hockey, Nordic, drama
• 2:50-3:20: study hall (must be in by 2:50), meeting with teacher “name,” basketball, hockey, Nordic, drama
• 3:20-4:00: meeting with teacher “name,” quad, community room, computer lab, watching home game, basketball, hockey, Nordic, drama

CULTURAL LUNCHES

• Ms. O’Connor’s Spanish and French 1B classes each recently took a journey to another culture via an authentic lunch experience.

• On Thursday, November 3, the French 1B class went to the Merry Table Crêperie, located at 43 Wharf Street in Portland for an authentic and delicious French lunch. Madame O’Connor writes: “Elle est bonne la salade, et les crêpes aussi!  Students understood the owner/waiter Jean-Claude and spoke very good French.  They ordered drinks, avoided spinach in one crêpe, asked for the check and were very polite. Bien fait, mes élèves!  The weather was just perfect for this outing and we all wished we could have lingered in the Old Port. If you are interested, The Merry Table hosts two evenings per month, every first and third Thursday, of French speaking a la carte dinners with live French music.”
• On Tuesday, November 9, the Spanish 1B class went to El Rayo Taqueria, located at 101 York Street in Portland, for an authentic Mexican cultural dining experience. Señora O’Connor writes: “We were greeted by the manager, the chef visited our  l  o  n  g  table of 14 to describe the traditional Mexican foods and drink and both commented on the maturity and good manners of our NYA group. There were a few words on the menu that required a dictionary to decipher. (And we did have a few dictionaries on hand!) Ask your sons and daughters how they enjoyed the hibiscus drink and fried plantains!”
• Thank you to Mickey Haas and Patty Bright for coming along as additional chaperones!

7TH AND 8TH GRADE JUNE HISTORY TRIP

• From David Echeverria: Thank you to everyone who attended the informational meetings about the 7th & 8th grade trip to Philadelphia, Gettysburg & Washington, D.C. (June 11-16, 2012).  We are looking forward to a wonderful trip.  The deadline to sign up for the trip is November 18th.  If you haven’t done so yet, there are three ways to sign your child up:
1. Online – go to www.worldstrides.org/register. Use Trip ID#72934.
2. By phone – contact World Strides’ Customer Service team at 1-800-468-5899.
3. By mail – send in the blue Registration Form using the envelope in your child’s Invitation Packet.
• If you have any questions, please contact David (extension 435).

SPECIAL SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

• We will have a slightly altered schedule on Friday, November 18.
• 6th-8th grade Band and Mixed Chorus will not meet on Friday. 5th grade Band will meet on Friday at the regular time.
• There will be no sports practices or drama rehearsal that afternoon (though there may be a MS Ice Hockey game – stay tuned!).
• Students may be picked up at 1:30.
• 8:00-8:50 1st Period Class
• 8:54-9:44 2nd Period Class
• 9:44-10:06 Break
• 10:10-11:00 4th Period Class
• 11:04-11:54 5th Period Class
• 11:54-12:20 Lunch
• 12:20-12:38 Recess
• 12:38-1:28 Activities

CHANGES IN LIFE SKILLS AND PE CLASSES

• This is the last week for 8th grade Life Skills classes and for 6th grade PE classes.
• 6th grade Life Skills classes will meet once a week during second trimester beginning after Thanksgiving. The students in Art 6 (2) will have Life Skills first period on Wednesdays (when they had PE this trimester). The students in Art 6 (1) will have Life Skills during a music block study hall (we are fine-tuning the schedules now).
• Students will receive updated schedules at the end of the week.
• 7th graders will have Life Skills classes once a week during third trimester.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC CLASSES THIS WEEK

• There will be a slight adjustment to 6th-8th grade music classes this week. 5th grade classes will not be affected.
• Chorus: Girls = Tuesday 8:54-9:44; Mixed = Wednesday 11:04-11:54; Boys = Thursday 12:38-1:28
• Band: Wednesday 10:10-11:00 and Thursday 12:38-1:28
• Strings: Tuesday 8:54-9:44 and Wednesday 11:04-11:54

MS AFTERNOONS

• Tuesday, November 15:
  Nordic Practice: 2:30
  No Drama Rehearsal this week
  Hockey Practice: 2:50
  Boys Basketball: 2:30
  Girls Basketball: 2:30
• Wednesday, November 16:
  Nordic Practice: 2:30
  No Drama Rehearsal this week
  Hockey Practice: 2:50
  Boys Basketball: 2:30
  Girls Basketball: 2:30
• Thursday, November 17:
  Nordic Practice: 2:30
  No Drama Rehearsal this week
  Hockey Practice: 2:50
  Boys Basketball: 2:30
  Girls Basketball: 2:30
• Friday, November 18:
  NO MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS PRACTICE TODAY, students may be picked up at 1:30!!
  Stay tuned for a potential hockey game!

Marissa Markonish
Head of Middle School