* February 3: 1st Day of Co-Ed Wrestling Practice

* February 4: 1st Day of Girl's Basketball Practice

* February 11: Levy Renewal Election

* February 13-14: Parent/Teacher Conferences (NO SCHOOL)

* February 17: Presidents Day (NO SCHOOL)

* February 19: NWMS PTA Mtg. 4pm

Dear Cougar community, 

As the principal of North Whidbey Middle School, I wanted to take a moment to share some important information with you about the upcoming election. Voters will consider renewing our current local levy to continue supporting our school and programs. The renewal levy is not a new tax and replaces our existing levy that expires at the end of this year. 

Did you know the levy supports the following programs and services at our school?

• Student Activities: Athletics, clubs, art, choir, band and drama

• Health & Safety: School Nurses, mental health counselors and safety enhancements to better secure our building

To learn more about the levy and how it supports our school, please visit www.ohsd.net/levy. Your voice matters come election day! Please remember to vote on February 11. There is still time to register to vote if you haven’t already! In case you didn’t know, military members and their spouses can register to vote in local elections. You can register online, by mail or in person at the Island County Elections Office in Coupeville. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school. 

Sincerely, 

Russ Peters

📅 Mark your calendars! Election day is approaching on February 11. Voters will consider renewing our current levy to provide funding for our school. Did you know the levy supports the following programs and services at NWMS?

✅ Student Activities – Athletics, Clubs, Art, Choir, Band, & Drama
✅ Health & Safety – School Nurses,Mental Health Counselors and Building Safety Enhancements

Don’t forget to vote on February 11! 

🔗 https://www.ohsd.net/levy

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/northwhidbeymiddleschool

When you walk up to the door, to the right is a camera and a lit door bell button. Please push the lit doorbell button and the office will answer "Who are you here to see?". We will then direct you with further instructions.

Pre-arranged or Extended Absences

In the case that a family knows of an absence ahead of time (travel, family celebration, etc.) that exceeds 2 school days and does not meet the criteria for an excused absence, parents can seek prior approval for an absence. Please be sure to send a note or email to the office at least 3 days before the absence to arrange for a contract. The principal reserves the right to not excuse an absence that will have a serious adverse effect on the student's educational progress. In the event of such an absence, teachers will gather assignments to be completed or communicate via google classroom, students are responsible for making up work missed during the absence.

Excused or Unexcused Absences

Parents must request that an absence be excused within 2 school days by calling, writing a note or sending an email (nwmsattendance@ohsd.net). The request must be a valid reason and must include a date of absence. Parents can also call 360-279-5503.

Please make sure to update your students Emergency contact information. This includes adding or removing people from their contact, as well as making sure phone numbers are updated.

NWMS students are thinking about the future with Xello, a career and college exploration tool. Accessible anytime through Clever, Xello is not just a tool but a key part of your child's high school and beyond plan, a requirement for graduation.

Middle school is the perfect time for students to start thinking about their future paths. Early college and career exploration helps students to identify their interests and passions, helping them make informed decisions about their educational journey. Learning about post high school pathways early on can help students be motivated to succeed and to take steps towards their goals.

Starting in February, advisory classes will complete weekly Xello lessons together, delving into topics such as Time Management, Learning Styles, and Decision Making. These lessons are not only valuable for academic success but also for personal growth.

Xello provides an interactive space for students to explore a variety of careers and colleges tailored to their unique interests and skills. We encourage students to use Xello anytime, and encourage families to talk with their students about what they have learned and are interested in pursuing!

The College Bound Scholarship is a cool opportunity for students who might need help paying for college. Students who receive free or reduced lunch in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade, or are part of state foster care are automatically enrolled. Students have to complete the College Bound Pledge by finishing high school, being a good citizen with no felony convictions, getting accepted to a participating college or university, and applying for financial aid in your senior year.

If you and your student qualify, you will receive a certificate in the mail from College Bound! If you have questions, please see the College Bound website or talk with your school counselor.

Ms. Butler: 8th Grade Counselor jbutler@ohsd.net

Ms. Codi: Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC)

Ms. Deprey: 7th Grade Counselor jdeprey@ohsd.net

Ms. Vester: Child Mental Health Counselor

Ms. Sandie: Substance Use Prevention/Intervention Counselor

The MFLC program supports service members (Active duty, Reserve, & National Guard), their families, and survivors with confidential non-medical counseling. The MFLC offers individual and group support. The group is typically 6-7 weeks and is held during school hours. This is a WONDERFUL opportunity for military students to meet and talk with others about deployment, get support and learn ways to deal with deployment. If you think your student would be interested in meeting with Ms. Codi, please feel free to stop by the front office or have your student stop by for a parental consent form.

My Title is Student Assistant Professional (SAP)

What I do:

*support students, families, and the community in making healthy life choices that are proven to prevent and decrease substance use. 

*identify and reduce mental health contributors to substance use. 

*help students learn life skills that will improve their school performance, relationships, and general well being.

*I facilitate school-wide, small groups, and one to one education, awareness, and prevention activities.

*If parents would like me to meet with their child my contact is below.

sbelli@ohsd.net

360.279.5544

If your student has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea they must be un-medicated and symptom free for 24 hours to return to school. Thank you for helping to prevent the spread of the YUK!!

https://oakharbor-wa.finalforms.com/students

Season 4:

February 3rd-March 24: Girl's Basketball

February 3rd-March 25: Co-Ed Wrestling

Yearbook sales can be done online or in the office during the dates listed below.

e-Funds

Choose optional fees to add yearbook to cart.

Dec. 2-Jan. 10

March 17-April 11

June 2-June 10

Dear Parents and Students,

We are excited to welcome the upcoming class of freshmen to Oak Harbor High School! As part of our preparation for the transition to high school, we want to provide you with important information about course selections for the 2025-2026 school year.

On February 6th and 7th, we will be visiting North Whidbey Middle School (NWMS) to meet with students and share the variety of academic opportunities available to them at the high school level. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore the courses we offer and begin selecting the classes they will take next year.

Course Recommendations & Selections
Our approach to course selection begins with teacher recommendations. Current 8th-grade teachers will be making recommendations for students in the areas of English, Science, and Math. These recommendations are based on their performance and abilities in these subjects and will guide students toward the appropriate level of coursework for their high school success.

Following the presentation, students will have the chance to submit their course requests for next year. While students are encouraged to consider their interests and future goals when making their choices, it is important to also take into account the recommendations provided by their teachers.

Courses students will be selecting during our visit
Below is a sample of the types of courses students can request:

• Physical Education
• Career Technology Education
• Art
• Music
• World Languages

We encourage students to consider a balanced schedule that includes both core subjects and electives that spark their interest and passion.

Next Steps

1. February 6-7: High School course presentation at NWMS
2. Course Selections: Students will submit their course requests following the presentation.

If you have any questions about the course selection process or if you would like to discuss your child’s academic pathway, please don’t hesitate to contact our counseling office at (360) 279-5717 or email our 9th grade counselor, Suzie Eckley, at seckley@ohsd.net.

We look forward to helping your child begin their exciting high school journey!