December 2011

Issue 2

Nishnabotna Middle School Newsletter

Happy Holidays from our family

to yours!

Veteran’s Day

Some of our area heroes who honored us with a

special program on Veterans Day

Individual Highlights:

Veteran’s Day Page 1

Principal’s News Page 2

Advisory News Page 4

Algebra News Page 4

Math News Page 5

Keyboarding Page 5

Science News Page 6

English News Page 7

Social Studies Page 8

Language Arts Page 9

Student Council Page 10

MS Dance Page 11

New Wall Page 11

For Christmas Page 12

Thanksgiving Page 13

Meet the Staff Page 14

Hat Day Page 15

Coach’s News Page 16

Dec Birthdays Page 16

Band News Page 16

Smokefree News Page 17

Grant Awarded Page 18

1

Special events in our school month: - Music Concerts

- Basketball Games

- Attending “Christmas

Carol” at Omaha

Playhouse

Area veterans presented American flags to

our students as they left the program

On November 3rd

we unveiled a new and exciting

method of conferencing with parents. The „Student

Led‟ conferencing process was introduced to the

parents of Nishnabotna middle school students. In

this conferencing process, the individual student(s)

leads the conversation/conference with their

parents, sharing highlights, personal reflections, and

academic data. Each student has created an

individual portfolio containing artifacts and

information from each of their academic subjects.

This information is then used to assist the students

as they explain and reflect on what they are

studying and learning in school. The teachers are

also available to conference/communicate with the

parents after the student has completed their

presentation. This dual process of communication

allows for the „Educational Triangle‟ (Home –

School – Student) to be fully operational. Over 90%

of the middle school students and their parents

attended and participate in „Student Led‟

conferences! We are excited about the future

opportunities this process creates for consistent and

meaningful communication.

Mrs. Hall (Algebra 1) and Mrs. Emberton (Music)

were welcomed back to our middle school team on

November 1st. As recently retired teachers, both are

back teaching, mentoring, and guiding our students

on a part time basis. We are excited to have these

magnificent educators back on the team.

In the last month our students have been introduced

to the „Skills Iowa‟ educational program. This is a

supplementary educational program designed to

assist teachers and students by offering a vast array

of lessons and tutorials via a computer program to

reinforce the regular classroom instruction.

Currently „Skills Iowa‟ focuses on the subject areas

of Reading and Math.

When you visit our middle school and the

elementary gym, you will notice beautiful new

„Nishnabotna Blue Devils‟ murals. These murals

were designed and painted by Mr. Gene Kirk. Each

mural brings a heightened sense of pride and unity

to our students and school community. We invite

you to stop by any time to view these new murals.

We have been blessed with very moderate fall

weather so far. However, we all know when living

in Iowa the weather can change in a moment‟s

notice. I/we would like to encourage the students to

dress appropriately for colder temperatures and at

times, in-climate weather. (Especially when

walking to school or on the bus rides.)

The winter sports season is in full swing for our

junior high basketball teams. We have excellent

participation numbers which indicates the

commitment our students are making to the ideals

of experiencing a well-rounded education. The

junior high wrestling program will be shared with

Shenandoah this year. The wrestling season will

start for our junior high the third week of January.

I invite you to come visit our school and see some

of the wonderful things our students are

experiencing and learning. You will see a variety of

things, but you will consistently observe students

and teachers interacting and communicating in

relation to educational opportunities.

“Never lose sight of your goals, your dreams. Let them guide and motivate you every day.”

“Thoughts and Happenings” – Jan Harris, Middle School Principal/7-12 A.D.

Happy holidays!! The year is flying by and everyone is gearing up for the holidays. We have been working very hard on our portfolios to have them completed by winter break. I have designated Tuesdays and Thursdays as “computer lab” days for the students to work on their projects. All of the students are taking great pride in the portfolios and they are starting to come together beautifully. Several of the sections are allowing the students to free write about various projects giving reinforcement to our English department. Upon completion of the portfolios, the students will be given the opportunity to present them to their classmates. The students will be bringing home the completed portfolios over winter break to share with family and friends. Mrs. S. Ward May you have a beautiful Holiday wrapped in warmth, touched with wonder, and filled with love!

Advisory – from Mrs. Ward

After doing operations on sign numbers, the Algebra I students completed a unit

on solving equations. These equations ranged from easy (one step) to hard, with

several steps needed to solve them. Students also used their equation-solving

techniques to do word problems. Several of these word problems required

organizing information into a chart before they could write an equation. Most

recently, they had to take an equation with several variables and solve for a

particular variable.

In addition to solving equations, Algebra I students have added,

subtracted, and multiplied monomials, binomials, and trinomials. They should

be able to tell you what “FOIL” stands for in Algebra class. Students have

learned the laws of exponents when multiplying or taking powers of monomials.

Right before Thanksgiving break, we played a game of Math Jeopardy to see if

the students remembered all of the concepts so far – the results were interesting!

After Thanksgiving, we will divide monomials and begin to factor

polynomials. Right before Christmas, we will review concepts from first

semester and have a semester test.

Algebra – from Mrs. Hall

Hat Day Mrs. S Ward & Mrs. Lenhart

SWIBA Honor Band

Matthew Stenzel made SWIBA Honor Band on his Alto Sax. He traveled to Lewis Central, practiced all day and performed during the evening concert. This is a BIG honor for Matt, he was chosen out of the 40 trying out, and they only took 5!!

Way to go, MATT

The students have been working really hard in math the past few weeks. With the

challenging assignments and class work I really feel as though there is a lot of

learning happening. The 8th

graders just finished their unit on equation and starting a

unit on word problems and inequalities. The 7th

graders just started a big unit on

fractions. This unit will be split into two sections so that they have a better chance

of remember the material for the tests. The 6th

graders are about to finish their unit

on decimals and begin fractions.

I would like to remind the parents about the students weekly homework quizzes.

Unless the students did not have much homework the week before or a test lands on

a Tuesday we will have a quiz every Tuesday. During these quizzes the students are

allowed to use their homework and notes to answer the problems. All of the

problems come straight from the homework assigned the week before. When we do

check homework in class the students are always encouraged to correct their

homework or ask questions in hopes to do well on their quiz. There are still students

who are not correcting their homework assignments in class or not asking question.

I would like ask parents to encourage your student to check their homework and ask

any questions they need.

-Tommie Lenhart

Keyboarding Hex 2 The past 6 weeks have been full of fun and learning. Switching Hexes has allowed me to get to know even more of the students. It has been interesting to see the difference in abilities between the 8th graders, who have had some experience in Keyboarding, and the 7th graders, who have had limited experience. We took it a little slower and it was wonderful to see the improvement from them. In class we set up their school based e-mail accounts and went over many of the features. It is important to remind them that these are not personal accounts and can be checked on by the staff and administration at the school if we believe there is a need. We have also done some holiday based activities to get the students in the holiday mood. I am looking forward to the next Hex to get to know even more of the students!!

It’s time

to get

the

winter

clothes

out!

Please

make

sure

your

child is

dressed

warm

and

cozy

before

leaving

for

school.

Math with Mrs. Lenhart

Keyboarding with Mr. Sparrgrove

Happy Holidays to everyone! It’s hard to believe that we are almost half way done with the school year. 8th Grade: We have very busy learning about different minerals which are found on Earth. We have learned that minerals have general characteristics to help with identification. Some other ways we learned to identify minerals included looking at the color, streak, and hardness based on Moh’s scale, crystal structure, and what type of bonds hold the minerals together. We also learned about the rock cycle and the different types of rocks which are involved in the rock cycle and how rocks are never created or destroyed. The students did an excellent job learning the rock cycle and the different steps included. Currently we are finishing up the chapter related to energy resources. We have learned about non-renewable and inexhaustible resources and different ways in which we can conserve energy. 7th Grade: We have been studying and learning that all organisms go through cell division to grow, develop, and repair. We have been learning about two processes that work with cell division, mitosis and meiosis. The students definitely amazed me with how quickly they understood the different phases of each and what specifically happened in each phase. Currently the students have been learning about different patterns of heredity and how some traits are inherited and others are acquired. The students have also been using Punnett squares to show possible outcomes of offspring, which are either expressed as a percentage or as a ratio. For our next lesson, we will be going into the student’s past and determine disorders or characteristics by using a pedigree. I very excited for this lesson and the students in the past seem to enjoy learning about some of their genetic history. 6th Grade: We have been learning about different biomes on Earth. We specifically looked at what type of plants and animals live in each, how much precipitation each receives yearly, what type of adaptations that plants and animals must have in order to survive. Recently we began learning about how multi-celled organisms are organized and the different organelles of the cell. The students did a hands-on-activity making cells with Jell-o and candy to represent the different organelles. In addition to learning the different organelles the students also have been learning about the different functions of each organelle in order for a cell to function properly.

Science with Mrs. Wynia

English Class with Mrs. Madison

Linking, state of being, and

helping

Those are the verbs, verbs, verbs

You can find them alone

You can find them in phrases

You will find them in sentences

In all different places

We've learned about direct objects

And indirect objects too

They answer the questions

Who or what

To whom and for whom

We are getting ready for predicate

nominatives

And predicate adjectives as well

Nominatives rename the subject

While the predicate adjective tells

We also practice spelling words

Hundreds to practice and learn

Centipede, subdivision

Scenery and lantern

Much more to learn

Much more to come

Including indefinite pronouns

Much, more, many and one

We love grammar!

Mrs. Lueth, Mrs. Madison & Mrs. Kuhr

Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Lueth & Mrs. Barrett

Mrs. Lenhart, Ms. Leiding & Mrs. Rogers

6th and 7th Grades These students continue to work on map skills and the map challenge. Recently we have been learning about culture, ethnic groups, population patterns, and trade. We will soon start exploring different regions of the world, completing a variety of projects and activities designed to help us better understand the physical features, history, current issues, and people of the these areas. 8th Grade We have been learning about the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. As we discussed the actions and ideals of the colonists we compared them to people and events of today, such as the recent uprisings in Egypt. After we finish the discussion of the Revolutionary War we will spend a great deal of time on our government, the Constitution, significant Supreme Court cases, and our rights and responsibilities as American citizens. All Classes In honor of Veterans Day this month, we spent a great deal of time learning about the history of this special

day and why we should recognize it. We learned about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a few of the memorials in Washington D.C. We also practiced the proper procedure for folding an American flag. Finally, we made holiday cards for our troops. Students designed over 80 cards that were sent to a group who will distribute them to members of the American military stationed all around the world. These activities, combined with the Veterans Day Program, have given us a better understanding and appreciation of our military heroes – past and present. We are all in the process of collecting information on family members who have served or are currently serving in the military. We are going to have a special “family heroes wall” in the back of the classroom where the names of those family members will be on display. Watch for more information about other ways we will be honoring our families and friends in the military throughout this school year.

Social Studies with Ms. Leiding

This semester has gone by so quickly, we need more school

hours to get all the work done. :) The 6th graders have been

reading about mythological gods. The students did

some research and found that many gods' names have

connections with items today, such as Geo, the goddess of Earth,

geology!

The 7th graders will begin reading a book together, "Call of the

Wild". We will use a teaching strategy called reciprocal reading.

Reciprocal reading is about predicting, questioning, clarifying, and

summarizing while you read.

The 8th graders have finished reading and viewing "Brian's

Song", not a dry eye in the room.

Auditions for the school play "Trouble at the Talent Show"

are going on until December 9th. 24 students needed, with

extras. Lots of talent in these classes, casting won't be an easy

job. The show will be March 21, put it on the calendar now!

Everyone enjoyed attending The Christmas Carol in Omaha

on December 4th. A huge thank you to the Fremont County

Community Foundation for the grant to help defray the cost of the

tickets. They want to go next year as well.

Beth Lueth

Food Drive a Huge Success! The Nishnabotna Middle School Student Council sponsored a food drive during the week of November 14-18, 2011. This group received an invitation from the student council at Rockford Senior High to participate in a statewide challenge. Their goal was to get schools across the state of Iowa to help restock local food pantries. To encourage participation in the event, Nishnabotna Middle School Student Council members issued a challenge between the six sections of 6th-8th grades. Members of the winning class each received a prize bag with items donated by some of the teachers and staff at the middle school. In addition, students who donated food got their name put in a drawing for prizes. These items were donated by Mrs. Lueth, who had to move out of her home during the flood this summer. Instead of moving all of it back home, she thought it would be an additional incentive for students to help with the food drive. Community members and students at Marnie Simons Elementary also assisted with the food drive. Mrs. Duncan rewarded her students with an extra recess for bringing a certain number of items for the collection. Students in 7th Grade, Section B, won the class challenge. At least 25 different students won prizes in the drawing. But the real winner in this challenge was the community, as approximately 650 items were collected for the Community Food Pantry in Hamburg. The school that sponsored this statewide challenge will be publishing an article in the Des Moines Register and will mention all the schools who participated.

Nishnabotna Middle School Student Council with some items collected in the Food Drive. Not pictured: Christine Rost

Student Council (continued)

Dance Fever Hits the Middle School

Fifty-eight students “got their groove on” during the fall dance at Nishnabotna Middle School on Friday, November 18.

The dance was sponsored by Nishnabotna Middle School Student Council. Music was provided by Tommie Thompson.

Chaperones for the evening included Ms. Leiding, Mr. Sparrgrove, Coach Koenig, Coach Holman, Suzanne Scheib, Kari

Foster, Chris Perkins, Steve and Wendi Stenzel, Jeff and Kelly Malmberg, and Dee Owen. Snacks were donated by the

families of Bryson D., Blu O., Austin M., Raechel H., Ben P., Alexis M., Megan ., Treyton G., Maryn P., Matt S.,

Elayna M., and Jared W.

The students all had a really good time and are anxiously awaiting word on another dance. The student council is working on

plans for a potential dance/lock-in to be held sometime in February or March.

__________________________________________________________________ Our new wall, located in the hallway near the library, was created by SIGNED BY GENE! Come check it out!

Patrick B. Lego City, Cargo Train, Semi-Trucks

Liz L. IPod

Jon A. Bike

Kathleen C. A camera

Logan L. Toy Plane

Mrs. Fichter Win the lottery

John S. Puppy

Ashley R. Some books by Sara Jessen

Josh L. Money

Esmeralda G. Justin Bieber's "Someday"

Raechel H. Cookie Monster Hat

Zoe M. Contacts

Garth S. IPod Touch

Emily W. Laptop

Kylie S. Hair Straightener

Makayla O. Cowboy boots!

Maryn P. A Facebook

Mrs. Wynia Gold jewelry & Just Dance 3

Mr. Formhals I have everything I want!

Jared W. XBOX 360 Elite

Cody H. A job for my dad

Hannah B. Perfume

Mrs. Peeler Jewelry

Chad B. "Beats" by Dre

Ana O. A silver letter "A" necklace

Josh H. "Beats" by Dre

Bruce S. XBOX 360

Mrs. Lenhart A whole day at the SPA

Mason P. IPod Touch

Eric C. IPod

Kevin T. Ripstick skateboard

Alexis M. Iphone :)

Mrs. Kuhr Bling - Lots & Big Bling!

Kota L. A dog

Elayna M. ITunes card or headphones (the good kind)

Ben P. Gibson Les Paul electric guitar

Anastasia H. New IPod

Jacob W. 2012 KX100 dirtbike

Seth L. 4 x 4 truck

Deb T. A puppy

Brittney S. Cooking stuff

Cary L. T-shirts, IPod, Hoodie

Sean S. 50" Flat screen TV

Kristina B. Pink touch screen IPod

Mr. Sparrgrove Winning lottery ticket

Mrs. Barrett Company of family & friends

Zoey W. IPod, sweatpants

Dylon S. XBOX 360

Colton P. A Iowa Hawkeyes sweatshirt

Mrs. Dow XBOX 360 Kinect and Dance Central

Braxton L. No homework for three weeks

Megan P. New Phone

Mason H. I don't know yet

Autumn H. Just Dance 3 for Wii

Mrs. Lueth New countertops (anyone want sand?)

RJ H. Clothes & money

Austin M. Dirtbike

Mrs. Rogers Good health for me & my family!!:)

Cailee K. Computer

Daniel W. Rem. 223 30-round ext clip

Kenna V. A new phone

John M. COO MW3

Logan M. Money so I can get a 9mm semi-auto pistol

Madi M. Paintball machine gun :)

Drew M. A new phone

Zeke P. A motorcycle

Max M. BMX Bike & money

Brenna R. New IPod touch

Faith C. Iphone

Bryce M. Ipad 2

Josh B. IPod Touch

Zachary G. A Game-Cube controller

Laura S. A small laptop

Jon L. Bow

Thomas H. Play station, 2 games and scary cartoon shows

Victoria J. Watching niece open presents.

Christine R. Nail polish

Mrs. Linke Time with family, friends & FOOD!

Bryson D. Thompson-Center Muzzle Loader, 2012 Spring Goose/Duck Hunting License

Mrs. S Ward All of our students & staff to have a warm place to stay surrounded by friends

Zoey J. ITunes card, money, clothes, Sims 3 Pets & Starbucks gift card

Austin T. New gun, Texas hog, Texas sweatpants & Texas sweatshirt

Mrs. McComb Lights on the tree, gifts under it, food on the table & my family all together & family and plenty of food to eat :)

Brandi Everyone to have a wonderful Christmas & a new laptop ;)

Mrs. Madison Fun-colorful socks, my own published children's book, butterflies and rainbows for all the world-peace

The students and staff were asked: “What do you want for Christmas?”

The staff decorated the tables with

tablecloths, pumpkins & gourds. The

cooks served a beautiful seasoned turkey

lunch with mashed potatoes & gravy,

green beans, pumpkin bar and a fluffy hot

roll.

Mrs. Sara Ward asked all the students and

staff to write what they are thankful for on

a leaf that she posted on the windows in

the breezeway.

Top photo: Cary L., Makayla O., &

Zoey W.

Middle photo: group shot

Bottom photo: Andy C., Jonathan A.,

Kevin T., Mason H. and Cody H.,

Bryce M.

Meet the Staff! By Ms. Leiding Each month we will feature a few of the staff members here at Nishnabotna Middle School so you can learn a little more about the people who devote so much time and energy to providing a great educational experience for our students. This month we are introducing three more new members to our team.

Our first staff member is shared between Nishnabotna Middle School and High School this year. Mr. Gordon Roberts teaches 6-12 Vocal Music and Music Theory at the high school. He

comes to us from Nebraska where he taught for six years - including 5-12 band, 7th grade music exploratory, middle school band, and 5th/6th grade general music. This is his first teaching experience in Iowa but this is not unfamiliar territory to him. Mr. Roberts grew up on a family farm outside of Sidney. He said that the lessons and skills he learned growing up on the farm (running machinery, taking care of livestock, and understanding real work) are part of who he is. He added that he is thrilled to be teaching in this area as it feels like home. Mr. Roberts currently lives in Nebraska City with his wife, Sarah, who is a music teacher in Bellevue. He has a degree in English Literature and a K-12 Music Education Certification. He is working on a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Outside of school Mr. Roberts is a worship leader at church and a leader for junior high/high school youth group. He enjoys reading, music, and some do-it-yourself home remodeling. He is also an Iowa State fan and says “Go Cyclones!” He would like the people of this area to know that he and the students greatly appreciate the support their families and communities show for music at Nishnabotna. “By supporting and

encouraging their students to develop as musicians, they are giving them a skill and knowledge that lasts a lifetime.” Welcome back to Southwest Iowa, Mr. Roberts! We hope you are enjoying your first teaching experience in Iowa and we also hope that it truly does feel like home to you here!

The next addition to our team has certainly gone through a lot of changes in the past few months. In addition to leaving a job in Lincoln where she taught 6th grade math and social studies, Miss Powers became

Mrs. Lenhart when she got married this summer. With her home being in Nebraska City, Mrs. Lenhart thought the commute to Hamburg would be a little shorter and faster than the one to Lincoln. But we all know how that turned out for the first 3 months of the school year! (Sorry, Mrs. Lenhart!) Now that the commute is indeed shorter and faster, Mrs. Lenhart actually gets to spend time on some of the things she enjoys – like cooking and reading. She also likes to go hunting with her husband, John, and her “spoiled rotten” dog, Jax. She lists the Missouri Tigers as her favorite team – and we all saw evidence of her support for them on hat day! It probably comes as no surprise that Mrs. Lenhart attended the University of Missouri, where she received a degree in Middle School Math Education and Middle School Social Studies Education. She also earned a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. While at Missouri she was a member of the track team - and that is where she met her future husband. He was a sprinter and she pole vaulted for the team. (She had 10 years total experience as a pole vaulter!) Mrs. Lenhart lists her hometown as North Richland Hills, Texas. In addition to her teaching job in Lincoln, she also taught 8th

grade math and 7th grade special education math at Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Here at Nishnabotna she teaches middle school math and coaches high school cross country and middle school girls track. She wants everyone to know that you can check out her class website through nishbd.org. Follow the middle school staff links and it will take you to her site.

Welcome to Nishnabotna Mrs. Lenhart! We hope that this change has been a positive one and that you are enjoying your experience here! We also hope that you will not have to go through any more long commutes in the future!

Our final featured staff person this month is our new business manager, Gloria McComb. She just joined our team in July of this year, but she is certainly fitting in with all of us here at Nishnabotna Middle School!

Gloria makes her home in Essex but says she usually lists Riverton as her hometown. Prior to joining our team she was the Board Secretary at Essex for 8 years, then Board Secretary at Nishna Valley for 3 years. Her husband retired from Eaton Corporation and now owns and operates Essex Plumbing. She has three sons and one daughter who are all grown and on their own. She says they have a white cat named Mike who allows them to stay as long as they feed him.

In her spare time, Gloria loves to fish. She also has a big flower garden and does a little vegetable gardening. She enjoys playing golf, but according to her she does not play well. (Her words, not mine!) She like pro football but does not really have a favorite team. Gloria is the current president of the Essex Child Care Center Board and recently has been appointed to Essex City Council. She has been active in the American Cancer Society. Of special note is the fact that Gloria is a cancer survivor! Her last battle with cancer was a year and a half ago. We truly hope that is the last time she has to face that battle! Gloria says, “It’s great to work with good people here. I enjoy everyone.” We enjoy you, too, Gloria – and we welcome you to our team! You certainly have been a positive addition and we appreciate all your hard work!

Members of the 7th and 8th Grade Chorus

perform a patriotic medley during the

Veterans Day

Program

Huskers, Hawkeyes, and Hat Day! Bianca Patel, 2011 graduate of Hamburg High School and current University of Iowa student, approached Ms. Leiding about holding a “hat day” at the middle school to help her raise money for the American Cancer Society. By raising $400 she will be able to participate in the annual dance marathon held in February at the University. When discussing plans for this event, Bianca and Ms. Leiding decided it would be fun to promote the Nebraska-Iowa rivalry and hold it on our last day of school before break – two days before the Heroes Game. Students and staff were asked to show support for their favorite team, especially the Huskers or Hawkeyes. Included in the pictures are some of the students and staff members who participated in the hat day. Nishnabotna Middle School raised $50 for Bianca to give to the American Cancer Society. (Take note of Mrs. Sara Ward. It looks like she is well on the way to being converted from an OSU Cowboy to an Iowa Hawkeye!)

Handbook Highlights Student Attendance Students who know they will be absent must notify the office prior to the absence. If advance notification is not possible; parents must notify their child’s building office the day of the absence prior to 9:00 a.m. If notification is not received, the office attempts to contact the parents at their emergency number. If no school/parent contact was made on the day of the absence, upon their return, the student must bring a note signed by the student's parents to the office explaining the reason for the absence. Hall Passes Middle School Students must have a hall pass to be in the halls when classes are in session. Students may obtain a hall pass from their teacher or the principal using the forms in the back of their planners. (Also, the student

may use the teacher’s pass)

The 6th, 7

th & 8

th grade PE classes have

started the first annual Nishnabotna

Middle School Badminton Tournament. We

have three courts in the gym and will be

paying this tournament out until two

champions are crowned. Long live

champions.

Coach Koenig

The 7th & 8th grade band had their first

outing marching, and I thought they did

a wonderful job. The bands are now

currently working on their Christmas

music for our concert on Dec 19th, in

Hamburg at 7pm. It has been very

exciting working with both bands, there

is a lot of talent from both schools, and

putting them together has been

amazing. Hope you can come to our

concert! Also, Matthew Stenzel made

SWIBA Honor Band, and performed at a

concert on Nov 11th. It was a wonderful

concert and the 7th grade band received

a standing ovation. Hopefully next

year, we will have more students try

out because it is an amazing

experience. After the Christmas

concert, the students will pick out

contest solos, so watch for that event

2nd semester, along with another

concert. I love teaching here!

A special message from Mrs. McCall

Season’s Greetings from “COACH”! Nishnabotna Middle

School 105 E Street Hamburg, IA 51640 Phone: (712) 382-2703 Fax: (712) 382-1211 E-Mail: boakes@hamburg.k12.ia.us

We’re on the Web! Visit us at: www.nishbd.org

Winter is here! Students need to dress appropriately -winter coat, gloves, warm shoes and long pants. It’s also a great idea to keep cough drops, Kleenex, and hand sanitizer in their lockers.

Dec 2 – Brett

Dec 21 – Es

Dec 23 – Emily

Dec 27 – Austin T.

Dec 29 – Kenna

Dec 31 – Josh L.

Nishnabotna Middle School Grade Scale A+ 100

A 97-99 A- 94-96

B+ 92-93 B 89-91

B- 87-88 C+ 84-86

C 79-83 C- 76-78

D+ 74-75 D 71-73

D- 69-70 F Below 69 I Incomplete

W Withdrawal

Music Concerts

12/6 Marnie Simons

Elementary at 7pm

12/6 Farragut

Elementary at

1:30pm

12/8 Nishnabotna

High School at

7:30pm

12/19 Nishnabotna

Middle School at

7pm

NISHNABOTNA

BLUE DEVIL

JUNIOR HIGH

BASKETBALL

PLAYERS:

GIRLS-

Hannah B. 1

Cailee K. 2

Autumn H. 3

Katy H. 4

Madison M. 5

Alexis M. 10

Elayna M. 12

Kylie S. 13

Kenna V. 20

Anna H. 21

Makayla O. 23

Maryn P. 25

Christine R. 26

Coach Holman

BOYS –

Austin T. 1

Josh H. 2

Chad B. 3

Dylon S. 4

Eric C. 5

Daniel W. 10

Drew M. 11

Ben P. 13

Johnathan M. 14

Brett S. 15

Seth L. 20

Jared W. 21

Bryce M. 22

Josh B. 23

Carter J. 24

Matt S. 32

Cary L. 33

Coach Ward

Partners 4 Families

(800) 425-0051

www.taylorcountyhealth.com

One number to call to find out about local programs that serve

young children and families.

Partnering with:

Fremont County Extension – Growing Strong Families

Page County Extension – Growing Strong Families

Southwest Iowa Families, Inc.

-Positive Family

-Stork‟s Nest

Taylor County Public Health

-Maternal Child Health of SW Iowa

-1st Five Health Mental Development

West Central Community Action

-Early HeadStart

-Family Development for Self Sufficiency (FaDSS)

Supported by Corner Counties Early Childhood Area

The perfect gift for everyone on your list: a Smoke-Free Home

Or

The Perfect Resolution for 2012: a Smoke Free Home Take our Quiz!!

1. Secondhand smoke contains which of these chemicals?

a. Carbon Monoxide b. Ammonia c. Formaldehyde d. All

2. Secondhand smoke causes what common health problems in

children?

a. Flu b. Up to 1.6 million doctor visits for ear infections c.

Tummy aches

3. Opening a window in your home or car protects your family from

secondhand smoke? True or False

4. What could YOU say to someone who visits you that wants to smoke

in your home?

a. “We care about you, but we don‟t want our family exposed to

secondhand smoke.”

b. “We don‟t want to stink!”

c. “We choose a smoke free home for our family.”

d. Your answer?????

(Answer key to this quiz is located on the last page)

Brought to you by: Free People From Tobacco 712-246-2332

5. Is third hand smoke for real?

Yes or No

Answer key:

1. d. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4, 000 chemicals. More than 200 are poisons and 60 are

known to cause cancer.

2. b. Ear Infections are the most common but secondhand smoke also causes bronchitis and pneumonia,

and new cases of asthma

3. False - the harmful particles of secondhand smoke stay in the air, dust and upholstery for weeks and

months

4. All

Grant Schaaf, Chair of the Fremont County Community Foundation, is pleased to announce that

$14,100 in grants was awarded to Fremont County nonprofit agencies. This total included $600 for

the Hamburg Arts Endowed Fund; which provided funds to take Nishnabotna Middle School students

to see A Christmas Carol at Omaha Community Theater on December 4th

.

Fremont County agency representatives received their checks November 14th

. During brief check

distribution activities, Schaaf commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to

provide a better quality of life for the residents of Fremont County.

The Fremont County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes

grants to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations. “This has grown from an annual event to twice

a year, with one grant cycle in the spring and another in the fall,” said Schaaf.

Board members of the Fremont County Community Foundation are: Chair, Grant Schaaf of Tabor;

Vice Chair, Steve Lorimor of Farragut; Secretary/Treasurer, Erika Graham of Sidney; Kristin

Blackburn of Tabor; Danielle Loewe of Sidney; and John Sheldon of Hamburg.