Graduation and Looking Forward

Graduation is always a hard time of year for me.  I struggle to say goodbye to students who have been my kids for four years and release them to the world in fear that they will not have the support they have had here. I worry that they won't have an array of 2nd moms and dads asking about how they are doing, thinking about what they need and holding them in their hearts. This, I know, is irrational thinking, but every year I lay awake the week of graduation thinking of every student and what comes next for each of them.

This class has accomplished so much in a short 4 years. We have students with incredible academic skills as toted in our ACT scores, state and conference champion athletes, all state speakers, world travelers out to change their world for the better... and these are the goals they have already accomplished! I wait in anticipation of what each of them will do as they leave us.  Will they come back and make that change here in Chickasaw County?  Will they enact change on a bigger statewide, nationwide, or worldwide scale?  I don't put any of that past the class of 2018-- they always have surprised us. And I will truly miss that.

During graduation week, student were able to be a part of senior banquet, awards night and commencement. There is nothing that describes these events better than the looks on each student's face as they cross the stage.  I ask them to look me in the eye as I say his/her name and, to be honest, I have to read slowly enough that I don't shed tears through the whole ceremony.  We are so blessed to have each of our students for the time we do-- I am so excited to see how each of them will go and change the world!

From the Middle: Final Post of the Year!

School's Out For Summer!

It has been a busy past couple of weeks at the Middle School.  Students have been finishing classwork and preparing for the exciting summer!  We have ended this school year with our Award Recognition Assembly and End of Quarter Activities.  Check out several of the Facebook posts from the past couple of weeks:

May Madness Recognizing Positive Behavior!

We have done several fun activities with our students in the past month.  Students put names into a grade level bucket for a chance at a reward.  We have taken students out for ice cream, play games, eat donuts, eat pizza, and extra activity time.  Students have enjoyed the chance to take a short break from class activities and join in social time with other grade level classmates and students of different grades. 

Mark Your Calendars!

We look forward to seeing you next year at our Back to School night on August 21st.  We also have several athletic and band camps coming up this summer for students.  Please check out the school website for more details.  Also, incoming 7th graders don't forget about getting your immunizations over the summer and physicals for next school year athletics.  

Elementary

@BrendaLansing #NHwhy

Reflecting back on this school year brings lots of excitement to my heart! While I love the academic gains we accomplished at New Hampton Elementary, the truth of the matter is, what gets me at the end of the day is the hearts we touched, the relationships as staff and students we made, and the gains each child made that can't be measured by academic data. The hugs each day I get, the stories they tell :), and the excitement/energy they bring everyday makes me love my job! New programs to NHE this year that also helped build those relationships and made such a great impact #NHHS letterman and letterette mentors #rotary readers.  Relationships that we cherish every year as a faculty and students #PiePartners #parents

The next thing I think about is the wealth of knowledge in life and in education we will miss next year from some of our staff members who are retiring or moving onto different paths of life. They have been a great asset to the NHE and we will miss the laughs you have provided us, the welcoming atmosphere you created as a newcomer to New Hampton as your co-worker!

I will truly miss the kids over the summer and wish everyone a safe enjoyable time on this break! I will cherish each day the summer brings as I have one that will be heading off to college in the fall and will truly miss him being around daily.  We wish our 4th graders who will be moving on to middle school the best of luck and make sure you keep those smiles and laughter going.  #Lansingrocks@kickball

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to, Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, You never need to carry more than you can hold, And while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too, Yeah, this, is  my wish. @RascalFlatts

Spring Has Sprung/A Jump on Summer Jobs

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has certainly sprung at NHHS! This last week the National Honor Society took advantage of the beautiful weather to help clean up our community. The worked in the local parks and their adopted portion of Highway 24 to collect garbage and give back to the New Hampton Community.

Also as the weather gets nicer, Ag and FFA chapter students are working with the vineyard and chapter grapes at the field north of the high school near TriMark.  This week students were working on protecting new vines and trimming the mature vines in order to stimulate growth and production.

As part of a co-curricular collaborative project, the Global Science class and Art department focused on cleaning up New Hampton this week also.  They cleaned local parks and trails in an effort to create art from items in which people saw no value.  They had a beautiful day for clean up to create art and help our environment stay clean.

A Jump on Summer Jobs

As we look forward to summer break, many students are looking for some summer employment.  During the 2017-18 school year, we have been able to launch both Multi-Occupational Careers and Work Experience for our students, including having a number of students working off campus in diverse experiences both paid and unpaid during the school day. Student who would be interested in this programming should contact Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Lechtenberg or Ms. Kipp.

From The Middle: Week of May 14

Middle School Spring Concert A Success!

Our students had their annual Spring Concert on May 7th.  It was great to see all of the students showing what they learned over the year.  Each year I am always impressed with the growth of our students musically.  The evening began with the 5th grade band and ended with the 7/8 band.  Thanks to Mrs. Adam and Mrs. Mohling for working so hard with our kids this spring and helping to make the concert a success.  Also a big thank you to the parents and community for supporting our music program.

May Madness Is Underway!

Each year we reward students for demonstrating our PBIS TRIBE expectations.  Students earn TRIBE tickets for meeting expectations.  Students can use these tickets for weekly random drawings, Madness events, to erase a minor, or purchase a prize during May.  We have done random games, donuts, pizza, and activities with students thus far in the month of May to continue to encourage the positive behavior we are seeing from students.  This is a fun way for staff and students to end the year and celebrate the successes of the year.  New this year is the ability for students to purchase a donut, pizza, and recess time during dedicated weeks in the month of May. Let's continue to demonstrate our expectations and end on a positive note!

Elementary (2 weeks left! Kids are getting excited)

Coffeehouse/Finals

Coffeehouse

Sunday was the final music department performance of the year with our traditional Coffeehouse.  Students are dressed from prom the night before and perform their contest pieces as well as the senior choir song and traditional "In This Very Room."  Awards are also given at this event.  This year was filled with emotion, as always, and included a song dedicated to a student who is no longer with us who would be graduating with this group. Mr. Adam and Mrs. Mohling, who is subbing for Mrs. Cantu during maternity leave, pulled out all stops to engage the audience in the emotion of the music.  We even had a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Cantu with Baby Theo!

Finals

Now that we have established May 25th as the last day of school (barring any other weather issues) we can start talking about finals.  Finals for grades 9-11 are May 24th and 25th.  We will follow the schedule below:

                                              May 24                               May 25
               8:15-9:15               Period 1                              Period 6

               9:30-10:30             Period 2                              Period 7

               10:45-11:45           Period 3                              Period 8

               11:45-12:45           Lunch                                 Lunch

               1:00-2:00               Period 4                              Make Ups

               2:15-3:15               Period 5

Seniors will take finals on May 16. Students may opt out of up to two exams with grade, attendance and behavior guidelines. 

From The Middle: Week of May 7

Last Day of School!

It is hard to believe that we are already in May.  We have had our 8th graders travel to DC and we are finishing the year strong.  The school board has now set the last day of school as May 25th with a 2:15 dismissal.  Please mark your calendars.  The teaching staff will return May 29th for the last day with staff to get ready for next year and to finish getting the building ready for summer.  We have had a great year and it wouldn't be possible without the support of students, parents and staff.  We will be having a celebration at the end of the year on May 25th with our end of quarter activities.  It will be a fun day for all.  Over the summer, we will be working on scheduling for next year and students will be able to see classes and schedules when you return on August 21st for Open House.  School will begin next year on August 23rd.

Mr. Rude Gets Honored in DC!

Ford’s Theatre Society will hold its seventh-annual National Oratory Fellows Performance on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. The performance culminates a year-long partnership between Ford’s Theatre and 26 teachers chosen as Ford’s Theatre National Oratory Fellows. Jason Rude was selected by the Ford’s Theatre Education team after a competitive application process. The Ford’s Theatre National Oratory Fellows program builds and strengthens teachers’ skills to integrate speech and performance as teaching and learning strategies in the classroom. Through the use of video-conferencing, Ford’s Theatre teaching artists conduct multiple virtual classroom visits to work
with New Hampton Middle School students throughout the 2017-2018 school year. “The National Oratory Fellows retreat and performance is a wonderful opportunity to welcome our National Oratory Fellows and student delegates to Washington, D.C.” said Ford’s Theatre Director of Education and Interpretation Sarah Jencks. “Every year, I continue to be inspired by what our educators and students have accomplished.”

In September 2017, Jason attended group professional development sessions with Ford’s Theatre education staff and teaching artists in Washington, D.C., to learn how to utilize the teaching of
oratory in their classroom to develop students’ speaking, writing and leadership skills, in addition to
deepening students’ knowledge and understanding of great American orators including Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Since reopening in 1968, more than a hundred years after President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination,
Ford’s Theatre has celebrated Lincoln’s legacy and explored the American experience through theatre
and education. Under the leadership of Director Paul R. Tetreault, Ford’s Theatre has been recognized
for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the Tony-nominated Come From Away and the nationally acclaimed Big River to the world premieres of Meet John Doe, The Heavens Are Hung In Black, Liberty Smith, Necessary Sacrifices, The Widow Lincoln and The Guard, Ford’s Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape. For its accomplishments, the organization was honored in 2008 with the National Medal of Arts. For more information, visit www.fords.org.