North Central News

September 30: PSTO Meeting 11:30am -12:30pm (Main Office)

October 5th: Picture Retakes/Make Ups (8:30am lower gym)

If you are getting your picture retaken, you need to have your original picture packet with you.

October 13: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:15 pm - 7:45 pm (In Person- Cafeteria/Gym)

October 15: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:15 pm - 7:45 pm (Virtual)- More information to come on how to sign up.

October 19: No School

October 30: School Party 6:00pm - 8:00pm (North Central Cafeteria/Gym)

Dance: Theme: Fall Fest

Cost: $5

Pizza $2

Pop $1

Spirit Days leading up to the school party:

10/26- Monday: Monochrome Day

10/27- Tuesday: Staff dress like students/students dress like staff

10/28- Wednesday: Pink Day

10/29- Thursday: Super Hero Day

10/30- Friday: College Shirt Day

Please join me in congratulating Yvonne Walters on being selected as the SHAPE Iowa Health Education Teacher of the Year! This is a fantastic and well-deserved recognition for her hard work and dedication to our students.
Congratulations, Ms. Walters

Yearbooks are on sale now for the 2026-2027 school year. Our students will be working hard to capture the events, activities, and memories at North Central, so don't miss out! Use this link to order a yearbook for your student.

We are excited to share that this fall, we will be starting Liberty Youth Basketball Club in partnership with the Liberty High School Girls Basketball Program. If you are interested, or would like more details, please click on this link to register. We look forward to having you join us. Go Bolts!

Conner Byrd made his cell phone stand in metal working class

In 7th & 8th grade STEM we started three new projects this week, all having to do with coding and engineering. One has to do with creating a speaker using a breadboard and various wires, another uses buttons and switches to create different light patterns through a breadboard, and the third uses coding to communicate through micro bits.

Welcome to the 2026-27 School Year!

The Iowa City Music Auxiliary is a parent-led, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

dedicated to supporting all performance music programs in the Iowa City Community

School District (ICCSD). The ICCSD Performance Music Programs (Music, Band,

Orchestra, and Choir) reach all students in 5th–12th grades. These programs are a vital

part of enriching students' school experiences as well as stimulating a life-long love and

appreciation of music.

What we support: The Music Auxiliary provides approximately $45,000 annually to the

District to help cover expenses. Some examples include: transportation, entry fees for

competitions and honor ensembles, cleaning fees, and direct support to all elementary,

junior high and high school directors.

How to Get Involved

Become a Parent Representative:

● Attend monthly Auxiliary meetings and bring director ideas/concerns to the board

● Participate on committees, such as fundraising, flower sales, social media and

more

● Accept donations and hand out programs at curricular concerts

Make a donation:

● https://www.myschoolbucks.com/

● https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/foundation-for-iowa-city-co

mmunity-school-district/music-auxiliary

● https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/1960755

● https://iowacitymusicauxiliary.org/donate/

Please talk to your child’s music director or email jsvaliga@gmail.com to volunteer to be

a parent representative for Music Auxiliary. We’d love for you to join us!

Sarah Valiga

ICCSD Music Auxiliary President (26-27)

Attendance Procedures for North Central Middle School:

If your student is going to be late to school, needs to leave school early or will be absent from school, please make sure you have reported this to the NCMS Attendance Office by 9:00am on the day of the absence. You may call the attendance line at 319-688-1210 (Press 1 for attendance) or enter the absence in the Attendance Request section of Infinite Campus. Please give the date(s) and reason for the absence. (**Early releases requested in Infinite Campus must be done at least 2 hours before the student is to leave NCMS)

If a student needs to leave school early, please give the time the student is to be picked up from NCMS. Your student will be given a pass to leave their class and meet parents/guardians in the main office. Students are not permitted to leave class until the parent/guardian has contacted the attendance office directly.

Communicating absences to teachers directly or texting your student is not considered a communicated absence. The attendance office must be made aware of all absences.

Please note: Parents/Guardians will now be receiving automated attendance calls at the end of each period a student has an uncommunicated absence.

All food and drink, other than water bottles, should remain in the cafeteria. You may not consume food in your classrooms unless it is provided by a specific teacher for their class (The cafeteria is considered a classroom during Studyhall time). Only water bottles may be taken in hallways and to classrooms. If a staff member sees you with food or any drinks other than water, you may be instructed to throw the item away.

North Central does not accept door dash, or other food delivery services for students. Parents may bring lunch items for students, but items brought in from delivery drivers will not be accepted

Students are not allowed access to the building before 8:30am. Students wanting to meet with teachers, must get permission from the teacher prior to the meeting, to be let in to the building before 8:30am. The office will not allow students in to the building before that time unless notification from the teacher has been given to the main office. Students will not be allowed up to meet with teachers before 8:15am unless that has also been clearly communicated with office staff.

• Cell Phone/Personal Technology Policy & Confiscation Procedures

  
  

  
  

  Cell phones: Students may use cell phones during passing time and at lunch while school is in session. All phones must be put away, and ringers silenced before entering the classroom. Phones in use or view during class time may be confiscated by staff (this includes using phones to listen to music). Students who refuse to comply will be subject to additional school consequences. Additionally, students are not allowed to have headphones/earbuds on or in their ears during class. At North Central Middle School the following steps will be used to enforce the policy:

  1. At the beginning of class all teachers/staff will say “secure your phones”

  2. Students should have their phones put away and out of sight.

  3. If the phone is out or being used, the teacher will confiscate the phone and deliver it to the main office where it will be secured until the end of the day.

  4. If a student is refusing to give up his/her cell phone a counselor or administrator will be called and escort the student to the office where the phone will be secured.

  Consequences For Policy Infractions:

  
  

  
  

  • 1st Offense: Loss of phone, earbuds, and/or headphones for day; Student signs documentation sheet to receive their device(s) at end of their school day and acknowledge their violation of the policy

  • 2nd Offense: Loss of phone, earbuds, and/or headphones for day; Student signs documentation sheet to receive their device(s) at end of their school day and acknowledge their violation of the policy and that an additional infraction will result in parent/guardian(s) being contacted

  • 3rd Offense: Loss of phone, earbuds, and/or headphones for day; Parent/Guardian contacted by administration; Student signs documentation sheet to receive their device(s) at end of their school day and to acknowledge a parent/guardian meeting will be held if another infraction occurs

  • 4th Offense: Loss of phone, earbuds, and/or headphones until parent/guardian meeting. Administration contacts parents/guardians; Student signs documentation sheet to acknowledge the policy infraction

  • 5th Offense: Technology Plan Implemented. Administration contacts parents/guardians; Technology plan created during the parent/guardian meeting.

  
  

Dear North Central Middle School Families,

Hello to new families and welcome back returning families! The PSTO committee provides meals, treats and goodies to our staff. We are currently in the process of planning the school year activities:

• Stock the Workroom with snacks and drinks- End of September
• Provide 4 conference meals- October, January and April.
• Teacher Wish List-December
• Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week- May

The PSTO committee continues to look for individuals for our Co-Hospitality group, who are available during school hours to help with our various activities. We will have a signup Genius for all our needs and donations if you wish to help.

Our PayPal account is:

North Central Jr. High PSTO

Our Venmo Verified Charity account is:

@NorthCentral-PSTO- click charities

Thank you,

NCMS PSTO

PSTO Information:https://northcentral.iowacityschools.org/students-families/psto

Email: miller.colby@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://northcentral.iowacityschools.org/

Location: 180 East Forevergreen Road, North Liberty, IA, USA
Phone: 319-688-1210
Twitter: @NCMSLIGHTNING

• It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the Student Success Office at StudentSuccess@iowacityschools.org for programming, or the Human Resources Office at HR@iowacityschools.org for employment (2255 N. Dubuque Rd, Iowa City, IA 52245, 319-688-1000). If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact the Ombuds at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or 319-688-1312.