NMS Parent & Family Update

1. This week is HEROES WEEK as we will celebrate our Veterans on Tuesday! See the flyer below for the colors to wear each day as we highlight different military branches. No face paint this week, please. Dress code rules still apply.
2. Check out the sections below for info about NMS! There is a lot of info in this newsletter, so please take note😃

- Mandy Bryan, Principal

NMS will host Study Buddy sessions afterschool on Tuesdays (Reading), Wednesdays (Science & Social Studies), and Thursdays (Math) for students to come and get help from teachers at each grade level! If your child stays, please have a ride for them promptly at 4:30pm.

Some teachers may share an invite to encourage your child to attend, but all students are welcome if they need additional help or have missing assignments to make up!

Take a look at the attached FREE parent coaching event for parents and caregivers of children with autism!

Needville Middle School

U.I.L. Participation

We are preparing for our annual U.I..L. contests. This year the academic contest will be held at Columbia High School on Friday, February 6th, 2026. The speaking events contest is currently scheduled for February 12th, 2026 at Needville Middle School. The writing events will be held at school during the week of February 2nd – February 6th . Below is a list and description of the contests offered at each grade level. By signing up for an event, your child will go through a try-out for that event. The normal practice for these events is listed in the descriptions. Students must have their own transportation to school for morning practices and home for afternoon practices. Please be aware that your child must make a true commitment. Please discuss the event with your child. Try-Outs will begin the week of November 17th . Teams will be set and we will start practicing the week of December 8th. Students may try out for several events but please check practice times to ensure the student is able to attend the practices/try-outs for the teams they sign up for. Students can compete in any combination 2 of the 3 events-Academic, Writing, Speaking, however they may only make the team for one per category (1 Academic and 1 Writing, 1 Academic and 1 Speaking, 1 Writing and 1 Speaking). If there are any questions, please feel free to contact the event sponsor or the principal.

Art Smart – 4th, 5th and 6th grade – (5 students and an alternate are chosen). He/She compete as individuals. Students work to identify the names of 15 selected artists and titles of pictures from a group of 40 pictures. They will answer 30 questions about art history and art element characteristics of the 40 art selections. Sponsor – Mrs. Gobar: PRACTICE: Tuesday after school until 4:30.

Calculator Applications – 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate chosen). This 30 minute fill in the blank test with 80 problems is an individual event that stimulates the development of mathematical and calculator skills. It develops mathematical reasoning and knowledge and requires the application of problem-solving skills toward realistic problems. Requires an understanding of order of operations and how to use a scientific calculator. Sponsor – Mrs. Dibala: PRACTICE: Wednesday during Jay Time.

Chess-4th, 5th and 6th grade-(3 students and 1 alternate chosen for each grade level)-This even teaches problem solving, hones concentration and encourages analytical and strategic thinking. Introduces students to the study of the game of chess. They will not be playing chess. It is a multiple choice test over the game and moves. Sponsor-Mrs. Kubena: PRACTICE: Tuesday and/or Thursday after school until 4:30.

Dictionary Skills – 5th and 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate chosen). This individual event works on ways to increase a student’s ability to find the information that is needed for classwork as well as everyday living. Students are given 20 minutes to answer 40 objective questions.

Sponsor – 5TH Grade-Mrs. Warncke PRACTICE: Thursday until 4:30 6th Grade- Ms. Duncan: PRACTICE: on Tuesday at 7:10 AM.

Editorial Writing-6th grade-(3 students and 1 alternate choses)-Stresses writing and higher order thinking skills and teaches students basics of communication necessary in life. They will develop an editorial from a fact sheet of information.-Sponsor-Mrs. Tielke: PRACTICE: Tuesday before school at 7:20AM.

Listening – 5th and 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate chosen). This is an individual event that helps students recognize the importance of effective listening skills. Students listen to a 7-10 minute script and then must answer objective and short answer questions.

Sponsor – 5TH Grade -Mrs. Sargent, 6th Grade-Mrs. Janecek: 5th Practice and 6th PRACTICE: Tuesday after school until 4:15.

Maps, Graphs, and Charts – 5th and 6th grade– (3 students and 1 alternate chosen). This individual event is designed to help students learn to get information from world maps, pie charts, bar graphs and local area maps. The 75 question objective test must be completed in 45 minutes by using maps, graphs, and charts, as well as a world atlas. Sponsor – 5TH Grade-Ms. Jahn Practice: Tuesday after school until 4:30 6th Grade Mrs. Kolkmeier Practice: Tuesday during Jay Time.

Mathematics – 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate chosen). This is an individual event which focuses on learning to quickly complete math problems. Students have 30 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions that cover everything from algebra to geometry, as appropriate for the grade level. Sponsor – Mrs. Martinez PRACTICE: Wednesday after school until 4:30.

Music Memory – 4th, 5th and 6th grade – (5 students and an alternate per grade level). He/She compete as an individual. Students complete in a in-depth study of fine pieces of music literature taken from a wide spectrum of music genres. This will expose them to great composers, their lives and their music. The students will listen to 20 seconds each of up to 20 selections of music. They will either answer the matching portion of the test or write the name of each major work according to their grade level. Sponsor – 4th Mrs. Aguilar/Mrs. Torres Practice: Tuesday 7:00 AM and Tuesday after school until 4:30. 5th Grade- Parr Practice: Tuesday 7:15 AM. 6th- Mrs. Reiser-PRACTICE: Thursday after school until 4:30.

Number Sense – 4th, 5th and 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate chosen). This is an individual event. The students will demonstrate quick mental mathematical calculations. They will be given 10 minutes to complete a fill-in-the-blank test. Sponsor – 4TH Grade-Mrs. Anderson PRACTICE: Tuesday after school until 4:30. 5th Grade- Couey PRACTICE: After school on Monday until 4:30 6th Grade- Martinez PRACTICE: Tuesday after school until 4:30.

Oral Reading – 4th, 5th and 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate will be chosen). Students have a maximum of 6 minutes to read a selection of prose or poetry to a panel of judges. Each contestant will communicate a message to this audience and perform an artistic creation. Sponsor –4th Grade Mrs. Lounder and Mrs. Kulcak PRACTICE: Friday during Jay Time 5TH and 6th Grade-Mrs. Legendre PRACTICE: Friday during Jay Time

Modern Oratory-6th grade-(3 students and 1 alternate will be chosen). Students will select one of the topics, determine the critical issues in the topic, and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in their research. Students will choose a side to defend and support that side with additional evidence. Sponsor- Mrs. Lindsey: PRACTICE: Monday before school 7:15-7:50.

Impromptu Speaking-6th grade-(3 students and 1 alternate will be chosen). Impromptu speaking provides opportunities for students to explore the use of the voice and body in speaking situations, to examine the different purposed for speaking, to organize ideas, to prepare and deliver various speeches and to develop self-confidence. Sponsor-Mrs. Kalkomey: PRACTICE: Wednesday before school 7:20 AM.

Ready Writing –4th, 5th and 6th grade – (3 students and 1 alternate will be chosen). Each student is given a choice of two prompts in which he/she will choose one to write on.. Winners will be announced at the January meet. Sponsor –4th- Mrs. Lollar: PRACTICE: Wednesday after school until 4:45. 5th Grade-Sponsor- Ciaccio PRACTICE: Thursday before school at 7:20 AM. 6th Grade- Kolkmeier PRACTICE: Monday during Jay Time

Science- 6th Grade- (3 students and 1 alternate will be chosen). Emphasis for the Science contest will be placed on knowledge of scientific fact, understanding the scientific principles, and the ability to think through scientific problems. The contest was designed to test not only memory but the ability to critically think about science and scientific processes and concepts. Each test will consist of approximately 50 multiple choice questions which will be taken from the current state-adopted science textbooks and curriculum. There will be approximately 15 questions for each grade level and five wild card or general questions on the test. Students will be given forty-five minutes to take test. Sponsor- Mrs. Miller PRACTICE: Wednesday during Jay time.

Social Studies-5th and 6th grade- (3 students and 1 alternate will be chosen). Students take an objective test centered on their knowledge of social studies, particularly in the areas of history, geography, government systems, economics and citizenship. This is a 40 question test which must be answered in 30 minutes. Sponsor-5th and 6th Grade Practice Together: Thursday before school at 7:00 AM.

Spelling –4th, 5th and 6th grade – Students will write down 80 words given and a 30 word tie breaker by the pronouncer. This activity will take 30-60 minutes to complete. Sponsor –4TH Grade-Mrs. Judy/Mrs. Kulcak PRACTICE: Tuesday during Jay Time 5th Grade-Beth Wleczyk 6th Grade-Mrs. Waters 5th and 6th PRACTICE: Thursday before school 7:10 or Thursday after school until 4:30.

You are welcome to come to NMS during the week of your Blue Jay's birthday and have lunch with them! Be sure to bring your ID and check in at the office first.

Regarding Birthday Celebrations and Birthday Lunches:

• Students may have up to 4 visitors during the week of their birthday (no small children, please)

• Visitors may bring lunch for themselves and their birthday student, only

• Students may have 1 friend sit with them and the friend must provide their own lunch

• One treat may be allowed to be shared with the class.

• All treats MUST be approved by the teacher BEFORE they are brought to campus

4th Grade Lunch: 11:35-12:05

5th Grade Lunch: 12:25-12:55

6th Grade Lunch: 10:45-11:15

Thank you in advance for following these procedures for birthday visits!

https://family.schoolcafe.com/NISD

Please help your Blue Jay maximize their learning by having them at school on time! Students are counted tardy after 7:55am, and parents must exit their vehicle and sign students in starting at 8am.

Go to https://classroom.google.com/ to log in. Students will enter their username and password:

Username: 6digitID@needvilleisd.com

Password: 8 digit numeric password

If anyone in the household is already logged into a Google account, be sure to click on the circle icon in the upper right and add another account

Click HERE for the NMS Dress Code

Each time you visit NMS, you must present a valid ID, whether you are signing in to visit or picking up your child!

All student IDs that were turned in last year have been returned to current students. New NMS students (all of 4th grade, and new 5th & 6th graders) will get their first ID free. If you need to purchase a new ID or an extra, please visit the REVTRAK store link below. If ordered after 10am, your student might not receive until the next school day.

Needville Middle School

Asst. Principal: Clacie Ciaccio

Asst. Principal: Jamie Valentine

Attendance Clerk: Kasey Bownds

Secretary: Felisha Clack

Link to our NMS Student Handbook

Website: Needville Middle School
Location: 16411 Fritzella Needville, TX 77461

Phone: (979)793-3027