Northwest Middle School Newsletter

Greetings NWMS Families!

It's the end of our second week and we are off to an amazing start! Thank you for helping to prepare NWMS students for the best school year yet! September is a busy month so be sure your calendars are updated and you read the whole newsletter.

Back to School Night is Next Thursday 9/10!

Make sure that you have your student's schedule because you're going to have a chance to be your student for the evening. We will run a short bell schedule that will allow you to meet your student's teachers, see the building, and meet other support staff. In order to accommodate every parent/guardian we ask that children wait outside the classrooms during class times. You will not need to stop be the cafeteria for lunch and we will run an "A Day" schedule. Hope to see you soon!

Picking Up Students During Lunch Time

Please understand that locating a student during the lunch period can be very difficult with the large number of students in each lunch period, it may take considerable time to find a student who has not been notified in advance.

If you need to pick up your student during their lunch period, please contact the Attendance Office before 9:00 a.m. This will allow us time to provide your student with a pass to leave lunch to meet you. Thank you for helping us make the student pick-up process as smooth and efficient as possible!

PSTO Needs You!

Our first PSTO meeting is Wednesday September 16th @Noon. We would love to have you and we have a few officer positions open. Click HERE to join us.

7/8 School Dance Friday September 25th

We have our first 7th and 8th Grade dance. In order for students to attend they cannot have any major behavior referrals, no more than 3 unexcused tardies. The dance begins at 6pm and ends at 8pm. We will NOT admit anyone after 6:30pm, and ONLY current NWMS students may attend. All 7/8 students MUST have their school student ID and $5 to enter the dance.

Have an amazing holiday weekend!

No School: Monday, September 7th

No School: Monday, September 21st

If your student has books checked out from last school year, please encourage them to get them returned. If your 6th grade student has books from elementary school, they can return them to NWMS, and we will send the books to their elementary school. Students can return books before school or with their Literacy 6, Literary 7, LA8, or ELL teachers. Happy reading!

Hello Northwest!!

‘Tis the season to purchase yearbooks! This year will be filled with countless memories for your students. Don’t wait until it’s too late to secure your copy of this year’s memories. Last year, we sold out of the 25-26 yearbook! Let’s do it again!!

Here’s what you need to know:

📘Pricing Schedule:

• Now until January 31st- $35

• Increased pricing starting February 1st - $40

• Increased pricing starting March 1st - $45

Get your book before prices increase!

****Processing fees are not included in the yearbook price.****

💻Online Purchases Only:
All yearbooks must be purchased online. There will be no in-person sales when books are delivered, so make sure to order ahead!

Link

💳Payment Plans Available:
Need flexibility? Payment plans are available at checkout! Just remember — payment plans must be fully paid off before students can receive their yearbook.

✨Don’t miss your chance to capture the moments, memories, and milestones of this school year. Order yours today before they’re gone!

Let’s make it a year to remember, Northwest!

Illnesses

-Keep your student home from school when they have a fever of 100.4 (F) or greater and for 24 hours after the fever has gone away, without taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

-Keep your student home from school when they have diarrhea and/or vomiting and for 24 hours after these symptoms have occurred.

-When your student returns to school after an illness they should be able to participate in the total school program including physical education. Your student will be excused from physical education after an illness or injury only by a written recommendation from your family doctor or primary health care provider.

-Please be sure the school has a telephone number where you can be reached in case your student becomes ill at school. Update your contact information in Infinite Campus.

-Call the main office at 319-688-1060 to report an absence, if your student will not be attending school because of illness.

-If your student is not feeling well while at school please have them come to the health office so they can be assessed before calling home.

-Students will be sent home if they are vomiting at school or if they have a temperature 100.4 or greater.

Medication Administration at School

-Medications are administered to a student in school by trained school staff in the school health office. -Parent/guardian must provide the medication to the school in a labeled bottle as well as a signed consent form. --Medications may not be carried around by students and must remain in the health office.

-A consent form must be signed by a parent/guardian for prescription and non-prescription medications to be given to students at school. These forms can be found on the district website under Health Services. We also have copies of these forms at school readily available.

-All medications should be taken at home before or after school hours whenever possible. However, it is understood that certain medications may be required during the school day.

-Over the counter/non- prescription medications are to be provided by the parent/guardian and sent to school in the original medication container with the student’s name attached. The medication will be given according to package instructions unless otherwise directed in writing by the student’s health care provider/prescriber.

-The parent/guardian is responsible for notifying the school when a medication has been discontinued or changed.

Specific Health Concerns

If your student has a specific health concern that the school needs to be aware of (allergies, asthma, seizure disorder, etc) make sure it is added during registration or please reach out to me if you have not yet. Be prepared to provide supportive documentation from your student's physician. Specific forms for asthma, allergies, diet modifications, and seizures need to be filled out EVERY YEAR.

Andrea DeLarm, MSN, RN

Northwest Middle School Nurse

delarm.andrea@iowacityschools.org

• Please adhere to the following procedures to ensure the safety of all our students:

• Appointments are required to enter the building. Please call (319) 688-1060 to schedule an appointment.

• For early student dismissal: (Please call ahead at least two hours prior to pick up time.)

• Press the intercom button at the main entrance and state your name along with the name of the student you are picking up.

• Wait in your car or outside as we call your student down to meet you.

• Ensure that anyone picking up your student is listed in Infinite Campus.

• Do not enter behind others when the door opens for security purposes.

• Do not open the door for anyone.

Northwest does not accept door dash, or any other food delivery services for students.

8th Street Entrance: (Front of the Building)

The bus lane is for buses only. This lane is the closest to the school building. No driving, pausing, or stopping for any reason.

The middle lane and lane closest to the street are for car line drop off/pick up. Please be mindful of other vehicles, buses, and pedestrians.

9th Street Entrance: (Back of the Building)

At the back of the building, the lower parking lot may be used for student drop off/pick up. Please do not block buses. The upper parking lot is reserved for staff parking and construction vehicles, and it is not to be used for student drop off/pick up. Please be mindful of other vehicles, buses, and pedestrians.

You may also utilize the Coralville Rec Center parking lot as well as the churches on the corners.

• Office hours are 8:00 AM-4:30 PM on school days.

• Phone calls to the main office may go to voicemail when office staff are helping people in the office or on another call, please leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible.

• Access to teachers during the school day is limited, please use email to communicate with teachers when possible. Teacher email addresses can be found on our website.

• Our phone system now offers a menu. For your convenience the following options are available for you:

• Attendance press 1

• Guidance office press 2

• Athletics press 3

• Health office press 4

• Main office press 5

• Please note: Please use option 1 for all attendance calls. Voicemails are checked often throughout the day.

• All items brought to the office intended for your student should have a detailed label with the student's first and last name. Items may be left on the table in the entry by the office door. Students will be called to retrieve items during passing time.

• Appointments: appointments are required to speak to an administrator, counselor, or teacher.

• Northwest is responsible for cleaning the NORTH end zone of Kinnick Stadium on Sunday, September 20th, 2026, Sunday, November 15th, 2026, and Saturday, November 28, 2026.

• We need all athletes, parents, and coaches on hand to get this done promptly. Gates open at 7:00 AM.

• This is a major fundraiser for our schools, helping with equipment and uniforms. Attendance is not mandatory, but the more people on hand, the quicker everything goes.

Iowa law requires all students entering 7th grade to have proof of two additional vaccines before they can start school in the fall. They will need a tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster (Tdap) and their first dose of the meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccine. These doses must be received on or after the students 10th birthday in order to be a valid dose for 7th grade.

Please check your child’s immunization record or call their healthcare provider to determine if they have received these vaccines, and make an appointment if necessary. Additional resources:

• Johnson County Public Health provides immunizations to children with or without health insurance, please call 319-356-6042 to make an appointment.

• If your child does not have insurance, they may qualify for an appointment at Healthy Kids School-Based Clinic. Call or text 319-631-3204 to see if you qualify for an appointment.

According to state law, students will not be able to start school on the first day of 7th grade without proof of having received these vaccines or a qualifying medical or religious exemption. It is important to contact your healthcare provider soon, as summer appointments fill up quickly.

Please contact the school nurse if you have questions regarding immunizations, or contact your student’s physician or healthcare provider to make sure they are updated on these and all required immunizations.

Andrea DeLarm, MSN, RN
Northwest Middle School Nurse
delarm.andrea@iowacityschools.org

Email: fitten.kimberly@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Domain/1106
Location: 1507 8th Street, Coralville, IA, USA
Phone: 319-688-1060

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.