Student Class Schedules

On August 25th, Skyward Family Access will be opened. Your student's school schedule, including classes and other important information, will be posted in Skyward. We will also have paper copies of schedules available on Thursday morning, August 27th, if needed.

At the middle school, teacher teams plan for and teach a common group of students in the core curriculum, or Integrated Studies, which includes Writing, Reading, Social Studies, Math, and Science. Students also receive Physical Education/Health and a performing or visual arts class. Students are grouped and assigned to a team of teachers within each grade level. The team concept and our flexible four-period day allow our teachers to know students well and provide opportunities for in-depth study of the academic areas.

In addition, each student is assigned to an Advisory and a WIN (What I Need) class.
Advisory is a small group of approximately 15 students and a teacher/advisor who meet once each week to work on common school goals and activities. The goal of Advisory is to promote a sense of belonging and community by nurturing positive relationships and working toward the common goal of having all Nooksack Valley students ready and prepared for college and successful careers.
WIN provides targeted math and literacy classes for students who need additional support, as well as enrichment classes for students who are ready for additional challenges. These classes are assigned based on student achievement data. This year, all students will be assigned to an academic WIN class and an enrichment class.

 Elective and P.E. classes are scheduled as A or B, and the first day of school is an A Day.

Staff and volunteers will help students read and understand their schedule cards and daily schedules on the first day of school. Schedules will only be available through Skyward during the week before school starts; schedules will not be mailed home. Band instruments are not required on the first day of school.
On the first day of school, all 6th grade students will meet in the gym and will be escorted to their Advisory class. 7th and 8th grade students may report directly to their Advisory class. We will begin the school year on an Advisory Schedule.

Annual Student Update and ParentSquare

Each year, we ask parents and guardians to make sure their student's information is up to date. This is done through Skyward as part of our Annual Student Update. The window for completing this update will remain open until later in October.

It is important that we have accurate mailing addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contact information. Without accurate information, you may not receive report cards or other important mailings, and we may not be able to contact you in the event of an illness or emergency. Along with updating your information, please complete the other forms and information requested each year.
Please take a few minutes to complete your Annual Student Update!

We use ParentSquare as our primary communication tool with families. Parents and guardians can choose how they would like the school and teachers to communicate with them. ParentSquare also helps us ensure that we have accurate contact information.

If you are not already signed up for ParentSquare, please contact the Middle School office and we will help you with the process. If you have a student who has moved to a new school within the district (for example, from elementary school to middle school), you may need to confirm the change in ParentSquare. Look for a pop-up notification when you log in.

ParentSquare also allows for two-way communication regarding absences, texting with teachers, email, and other school-related communication. Our goal is to provide one convenient communication tool for parents, students, teachers, and the school.

Lockers – ASB Cards – Pictures – Physicals

The school office will be open on Friday, August 21st, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During this time, you may pay fees and turn in sports clearance forms. Communication regarding clearance forms will be sent through ParentSquare by our Athletic Director, Tom Harmon. We highly encourage you to access and complete your sports forms online.

P.E. teachers will assign P.E. lockers to all students when they begin their P.E. class. Students are encouraged to label P.E. clothes and turnout clothing/equipment to reduce the risk of loss or theft. Bags and belongings can often become a storage problem due to limited space. Please encourage your child to bring only what is needed to school.

Sixth grade students are required to have proof of a varicella (chickenpox) vaccination or a history of the disease prior to the first day of school. No other physical examination is necessary unless a student is participating in the athletic program.

Associated Student Body (ASB) cards may be purchased in the school office beginning August 21st, between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. They may also be purchased during the first week of school and throughout the school year.

ASB cards are required for participation in extracurricular activities and serve as a free pass to high school home athletic events.

Middle School Athletics Program

Note:  The first day the office will be open for sports clearance is on Friday August 21st from 8am to 1 pm.  This is a change from an earlier communication. 

The first day of Middle School sports for 7th and 8th grade students is Monday, August 24th, with the exception of football.  Please make sure you have joined the ParentSquare group of the sport your child is interested in playing.  This is how coaches will communicate with parents.  

Please make sure your student-athlete is cleared before the first day of practice.

Contact the office for clearance information or if you have questions. All clearance requirements must be completed before the first practice.
All athletes must have:

• A current physical examination, which is good for two years
• An insurance waiver or school insurance
• A signed athletic code
• Completed concussion forms
• Completed cardiac forms
• Fee clearance

These forms and additional information will be sent through ParentSquare by our Athletic Director, Tom Harmon. Students may not participate in athletics if they have any outstanding fees or fines.

Family Involvement/Volunteers

We welcome and appreciate your participation at NVMS! There are many different volunteer opportunities, and we encourage families to get involved in our school community.
Please feel free to call us at 966-7561 if you have any questions. Watch the weekly NVMS Notes Home communication for opportunities to attend volunteer orientations and sign up for volunteer positions.
Here are just a few of the ways you can be involved and provide support:

• Volunteers – Parents and guardians can assist with coordinating volunteers and classroom helpers, planning and chaperoning field trips, supporting honor-level activities, tutoring, clerical work, athletic events, and serving as teacher assistants.  Please stop by the office to find out what you have to do to volunteer at NVMS.
• PTSA - we are in need of an executive board for our Middle School PTSA, as we only have 1 position filled at the moment.  The commitment is not that extensive and we would love to talk to you about the possibility of having you join our team.  Please contact the Middle School at 360-966-7561 if you are interested.  Ask for Mr. VanderYacht or Ms. Campos who will be able to fill you in on the details.