NAMS Soar & Achieve Newsletter

As we enter the month of April, our focus shifts toward the upcoming state assessments in Reading, Mathematics, and Science (8th grade only). Please mark your calendars with these important testing dates:

English Language Arts OST All Grades: April 8th and 10th, 2025

Mathematics OST All Subjects and All Grades: April 22nd and 24th, 2025

8th Grade Science, Biology: April 16th, 2025

These assessments are an important measure of the progress our students have made this year, and we want every student to feel confident and ready to show what they know. One of the best ways you can support your child is by ensuring they are present each day—especially on testing days. We kindly ask that you avoid scheduling appointments, vacations, or other events that could result in absences during the testing window.

A good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast can make a big difference in how students perform. Please encourage your student to get plenty of sleep the night before each assessment. Breakfast is also available each morning here at school for any student who needs it.

Most importantly, please take a moment to encourage your student to give their very best effort. We are proud of all they’ve accomplished this year and know they are ready to shine!

Mr. Kevin L. Freeman Sr.
Principal

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we want to remind families to log into PaySchool Central and check for any outstanding school or athletic fees.

Please note: School fees do not disappear—they stay on your student’s record and will carry over year to year until they are paid.

To check your account balance and view any outstanding fees, follow the steps below:

Pay School Central

Thank you for staying on top of this and supporting our school community!

As we continue to integrate technology into daily learning, we kindly ask for your support in reinforcing the importance of responsible and respectful technology use. Please take a moment to remind your student to stay on task during school hours and use school-provided technology and resources appropriately. It’s also essential that students treat their peers with kindness, dignity, and respect—both in person and when engaging on social media or digital platforms.

Parents, please remember that you have access to tools that allow you to manage and monitor your student’s device use during the evening hours. These resources can help you set healthy boundaries, ensure devices are used appropriately at home, and support your student’s focus and well-being.

Parent IPAD Control Information

Note: If you block social media, this also blocks student access to Schoology and gmail. This could present problems for your student when completing their homework assignments in the evening.

Thank you for partnering with us to support positive digital habits!

As we get ready for upcoming assessments, we need your support to ensure your student is fully prepared each day—starting with a fully charged iPad! Please remind your student to charge their iPad each evening and take a moment to check that it’s working properly. If your student is experiencing any issues with their device, encourage them to report it to our tech department this week so we can resolve it before testing begins.

A few helpful tips for families:

• Set a regular “device charging time” each evening, such as right after dinner, or before going to bed.

• Keep chargers in a designated spot to avoid last-minute scrambling.

• Store devices outside of bedrooms overnight to encourage better sleep habits. Set your student’s book bag next to this location so that they don’t forget to pack it before leaving for school.

Thank you for partnering with us to help your child succeed during testing week and beyond!

We hope everyone enjoyed a nice Spring Break! Special thanks to our Starbucks (at Market) and Wendy's (at Hamilton Quarter) for helping us provide teachers and staff with breakfast before the break!

As we start approaching the end of the school year, we have a variety of activities and opportunities for you to get involved and help us make a difference!

Save the Date: Spring BLACKOUT! Dance

Mark your calendar for our upcoming spring dance on Friday, April 25 from 7-9 pm at our middle school gym. We've worked hard to collect feedback from students on what they want their school dance experience to be and we're excited to host an event reflective of that feedback. The dance will include a half-court basketball shot contest, blackout photo booth, student guest DJs, glow swag, concessions and Kona Ice - plus opportunities to win House points! Admission is $5 (cash only) and can be purchased during lunch times the week of the dance, or at the door. We would love to see as many volunteers on the night of the dance as possible! Sign-ups for volunteers, along with other needs, will be sent very soon!

Save the Date: 8th Grade Lunch on the Lawn and Clap-out

We'll celebrate our 8th graders during the last day of school on Thursday, May 29 with lunch and activities from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm followed by a clap-out to the high school stadium. More details will be provided soon, including how you can support and volunteer at the lunch.

Stay in Touch

Like our New Albany Middle School PTO Facebook page, follow us on Instagram at NAMS PTO and email us at namspto@napls.us with any questions. Also contact us if you're interested in learning more about our sponsorship packages or volunteering on any of our committees.

Go Eagles!

Terri Erlenbach - President

Ali Smith - Secretary
Nancy Alexander - Treasurer
Melissa Olson - Fundraising
Kristen Pietro & Sarah Mullendore - Membership
Erin Foster & Meredith Murphy - Hospitality
Krystal Sharrock & Amy Wenker - Programming
Emily Liebert - Communications

• April 8 - 7th & 8th Grade ELA OST Part 1
• April 10 - 7th & 8th Grade ELA OST Part 2
• April 11 - 13 - NAMS Theatre - Annie Jr. Performances
• April 16 - 8th Grade Science, Biology OST
• April 18 - In Lieu of Parent teacher Conferences - No School
• April 22 - Math OST - Part 1
• April 24 - Math OST - Part 2
• April 25 - NAMS Spring Dance

Early Dismissal Form

Pre Planned Absence Form

Lunch Menu

Final Forms

Pay Schools Central

NAMS Athletics Calendar

Email: news@napls.us
Website: www.napls.us/ms
Location: 6600 Dublin Granville Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054
Phone: 614-413-8500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewAlbanyMS/