NVMS--Notes Home January 21, 2025

NVMS Notes Home

January 21, 2025

Monday, January 20th                               Martin Luther King Day, No School

Tuesday, January 21st                              A Day

Wednesday, January 22nd                      Treaty Day, No School

Thursday, January 23rd                             B Day

Friday, January 24th                                  B Day

Friday, January 24th                                  BELONG Assembly

Monday, January 27th                              A Day

Tuesday, January 28th                              A Day

Tuesday, January 28th                              Band Concert, 6 PM

Tuesday, January 28th                              Winter Ride Ski Bus meeting @ HS library, 6pm

Wednesday, January 29th                       B Day

Wednesday, January 29th                       7th grade History Night (see attached)

Thursday, January 30th                            B Day

Thursday, January 30th                            End of Semester 1

Friday, January 31st                                  No school

Treaty Day information:

This year we will be taking a day off school to recognize Treaty Day, a day set aside to honor the history, culture, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples in our region. Treaty Day commemorates the signing of treaties between Coast Salish tribes and the Washington State Territory on January 22, 1855. The treaties established agreements that guaranteed certain rights to the tribes, including fishing, hunting, and land use, while also ceding large portions of ancestral lands. We will take some time in Advisory on Tuesday January 21 to learn more about Treaty Day and the reasons why the Nooksack Valley School District has chosen to take the day off to honor and pay respect to our friends, families and students who are members of the Nooksack Tribe.

In recognition of this important history, there will be no school on Wednesday, January 22. This day provides an opportunity to reflect on the deep connection between the Coast Salish peoples and this region, as well as their significant contributions to the cultural and ecological fabric of the Pacific Northwest. We encourage families to use this time to learn more about the history of the treaties, attend local events, or engage in activities that celebrate and honor the Native peoples who have stewarded this land for generations. Thank you for joining us in recognizing this meaningful day and its ongoing importance to our community.

Here is a link to a video produced by the Ferndale School district and the Lummi Tribe that explains a bit more about the Treaty of Point Elliot and the impact on Whatcom County and the people who currently reside in this area.  We have also included other links to information about Treaty Day.

Ferndale Schools & Lummi Nation - Treaty Day - 2021

Suquamish Tribal Code

Ratified Indian Treaty 283: Dwamish, Suquamish, et al. - Point Elliott, Washington Territory, January 22, 1855

Dear Nooksack Valley Middle School Families,

We are excited to invite you to our Belonging Assembly on Friday, January 24th, as we come together to foster a sense of inclusion and community within our school. The goal of this event is to create an atmosphere where every student feels that Nooksack Valley Middle School is truly their school and a place where they belong.

Through this assembly, we aim to help students:

• Recognize the importance of fostering connections in their classes, sports teams, lunch groups, and clubs.
• Reflect on their interactions with peers and how they can contribute to a caring and loving school community.
• Build a stronger sense of family, respect, and mutual support within our school.

The assembly will include inspirational speakers, student-led discussions, and activities designed to empower students to take an active role in creating a positive and inclusive environment for all.

We believe that every student plays a vital role in shaping our school’s culture, and we hope this assembly will spark meaningful changes in how they interact with one another.

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us make Nooksack Valley Middle School a place where everyone feels valued and cared for.

We look forward to sharing this important event with our students and seeing the positive impact it will bring to our school and community beyond NVMS.

The assembly will begin at 7:45.

Winter Ride Ski Bus!!!

Winter Ride Ski Bus informational meeting Tuesday, January 28th @ 6 pm in the high school library. Questions? Contact mason.weathers@nv.k12.wa.us

This is an awesome opportunity to get your middle school student up on the hill skiing or snowboarding!!  Please come to the meeting to find out the information and dates.

Lacrosse!!

North county Lacrosse is based out of Lynden and has players from all of the county schools, including Nooksack! We are looking for new k-8th players for the coming Spring season. For all players interested, you can email info@nclacrosse.org for more information or with any questions. We also will have an informational meeting for the upcoming Spring season on Sunday, January 26th, at Christ Fellowship in Everson @ 4:00pm.

Registration is open now and can be found at www.nclacrosse.org. We have scholarships available, as well as fundraising opportunities, and an exclusive Nooksack discount for new players! Use NOOKSACK100 for $100 off registration cost.   Attached flier with information.

Rugby!!

Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club has new teams forming.  Please see the attached flier for information on this exciting opportunity.

Soccer for 6th graders:

Nooksack Valley Soccer Club now has registration open until March15th. We welcome kindergarten through 6th grade as well as boys and girls. Practices will be local and games will be played on the Phillip 66 fields on the Smith road in Bellingham. Games start on April 19th and run every Saturday until June 14th with the exception of the holiday in May. You can sign up your child though whatcomsoccer.com and this is the same website to sign up to coach. Thank you and we will see you on the field! 

Drop off/Pick up reminder:

• Please respect the drop off/pick up areas.  No cars in the bus areas until after 4:15. Buses are coming and going through that time.
• In front of the school, be sure to pull ahead as far as you can when you are waiting to pick up your student.  We cannot have traffic back up on the road or block our bus entrance.  
• Leave the left lane open for passing by.

Annual Student Updates needed:

If you have not already done so, please log onto Skyward and complete your student’s Annual Student Update.  This is where you can update emails, phone number and emergency contacts, verify other information as well as complete the annual forms we are required to ask for (Military, Opt Out, etc.).  Please complete this ASAP.

Cell phone policy change:

This year we will be making a few changes to our school handbook.  One of those changes will be that cellphones will not be allowed out on campus until the end of the school day at 2:15. This change is being made for several reasons as research is showing the many harmful effects of cellphones, social media, and the constant pressures those bring on our youth.  We have had several incidents of students using their cellphones to post pictures (without permission), bully and harass other students while at school.  With our focus on ensuring NVMS is a safe place for our students to grow and learn, we have made the decision to not have cell phones available during the school day.  We hope you as parents will support us in this change as the intent is to make it easier for our teachers to teach and our students to learn.  

A suggested book for any parent of a middle school student: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness