July/August 2016

Dear Parents,

Ryan Rich
Principal
Vicki Rardin
Assistant Principal
Robert Williamson
Assistant Principal
Lisa Lain
6th School Counselor
7th

Jenn Schott
School Counselor

Lizette Baumann/Drinan George

8th School Counselors

I am excited to welcome you to the 2016-17 school year at

Noblesville East Middle School. I look forward to partnering
with you to insure your child has a fun, engaging, and
successful experience at NEMS! In this back-to-school
edition of Miller Matters you'll find important information to
help you prepare for the start of school. Please also do not
hesitate to contact our office if you have any other questions
or needs. Our goal at the start of the year is always to make it
smooth and easy for our families.
Look for Miller Matters to come at least once per month to
inform you of important happenings at school. We will also
continue to post daily student announcements and important
information on our NEMS webpage. I also encourage you to
follow me on Twitter @NEMSprincipal.
I am proud of our entire NEMS school community and want to
be sure we are always improving to best meet the needs of
all our students and families. Please feel free to contact me at
any time this year with any needs you may have. Together I
know we will provide a great experience for your child!
Go Millers!

Rick Fields
Athletic Director

Ryan Rich
Principal

1625 Field Dr.

Noblesville, IN 46060
Ph: 317-773-0782
Fax: 317-776-6261
Attendance:
317-776-6258
www.noblesvilleschools.org

News from the nurse

Meet @ the Middle 6th grade orientation July 26th

The State of Indiana requires additional

immunizations as students enter sixth grade; a
tetanus booster and the meningococcal
vaccine. Updated immunization records must
be on file in our nurses office by the first day of
school on August 1. The records may be
mailed or turned into our nurse at either Meet
@ the Middle or the first day of school. If your
child has an exemption on file, it must be
renewed each school year.

Meet @ the Middle is a required orientation session held for all incoming 6 th
graders. At least one parent must attend with their child. On July 22, 2016,
you will receive an email of your childs schedule and team assignment. You
and your child will attend one of two scheduled sessions, based upon this
team assignment. The schedule is as follows:

Click here for information on health services at

Noblesville schools including the forms needed
to administer medication at school.

During this session, we will provide students the opportunity to tour the
school, try out their locker, and learn more about all the different
opportunities and programs at NEMS. Most important, students will meet
their team teachers and participate in some fun activities to help them get to
know their new teammates.

Our nurse will be in her office on July 28 and

July 29 from 7:30 11:30 am and 1:00 3:00
pm to assist parents with medical needs for the
upcoming school year.

Bus routes

Parents will be able to access information

regarding bus stops, bus numbers, and
approximate pick-up and drop-off times
for their children by visiting the districts web
page at www.noblesvilleschools.org and
clicking bus routes" under the parent section.
This information will be posted late July. The
NEMS bus zone is located on the west side of
the building.

Car riders, walkers, & bike riders

The student drop-off and pick-up area is on the

southeast side of the building at door #15 near
the football field. Parents should enter the
parking lot from Field Drive and follow the sign
to the circle drive. Drop-off time is no earlier
than 7:00 am. Students arriving before 7:20 am
should report to the cafeteria until the 7:20 am
bell rings.
Students who walk or ride bikes to school
should use Gate #19, near the bus zone on the
west side of the building.

NEMS Parent Information Nights

Please plan to join us for our annual Parent

Information Nights at 6:30 pm on Tuesday
August 9 for seventh & eights grade parents,
and Wednesday,
aaaaaa August 10 for sixth grade
parents. Our teachers will be sharing what your
child will experience at NEMS this year.

July 26, 2016

4:30 5:45 pm
Team DePauw
Team Wisconsin

July 26, 2016

6:30 7:45 pm
Team Stanford
Team West Point

While students are participating in these activities with their team teachers,
parents will be participating in a detailed and informative session on learning
at NEMS and student iPads (iPads will be provided to 6th grade students
during the first week of school).

Team assignments and first day of school meeting locations

We will be emailing student schedules to parents on July 22, 2016. The
schedule will include the student's classes, teachers, and team assignment.
We will also provide directions for where students are to report on the first
day of school. Students will receive their iPads during the first week of
school.
On the first day of school students should go directly to their team meeting
locations. Teachers will be posted throughout the building and at all car and
bus zone entrances to help all students find these locations as they enter
the building. Team meeting locations on the first day of school are as
follows:
6th Grade

Stanford-Period 1
DePauw-Period 1
West Point-Period 1
Wisconsin-Period 1

7th Grade

Butler-LGI Room
Franklin-Main Gym
Hanover-East Gym

New 7th & 8th grade student orientation

8th Grade

Ball State-Room 1303

Northwestern-Media Center
Wake Forest-Cafeteria

NEMS will have a special student and parent orientation night for any 7th or
8th grader new to NEMS this year on July 25 beginning at 6:30 pm. We will
provide information about our school, answer questions, and give tours of
the school. The goal of this event is to make the transition to NEMS for our
new families as smooth as possible. 6th grade students and parents new to
Noblesville should plan to attend the orientation on July 26 scheduled for
ALL 6th grade students

NEMS important dates

July 22
Student schedules emailed to parents

July 25
New 7th & 8th grade student orientation (6:30 pm)
July 26
Meet @ the Middle for 6th grade students/parents
(4:30 5:45 pm or 6:30 7:45 pm)
July 29
Back to School Bash downtown Noblesville
(5:00 8:00 pm)
August 1
First day of school (7:35 2:35)
August 9
7th & 8th grade Parent Information Night (6:30 pm)
August 10
Early Release Day (2:05 pm dismissal)
Fall Sports parent meeting (5:00 pm)
6th grade Parent Information Night (6:30 pm)
August 15
PTO meeting in LGI Room (6:30 pm)
August 24
eLearning Day (12:25 pm)
August 31
School Pictures
September 5
Labor Day NO SCHOOL

Daily announcements

Student announcements will occur at the end of

each school day. Students should pay close
attention as they will learn about sports tryouts,
meetings, cancellations, upcoming events, and
other information. The announcements are also
posted daily on the NEMS webpage.

NEMS athletics information

Please click the Athletics tab on the NEMS

webpage for information on specific sports
offered and the required participation paperwork.
This paperwork includes an athletic physical
signed by a licensed physician dated after April 1,
2016. Information on the transportation fee may
also be found on the webpage.

eLearning and Early Release Days

Noblesville East and West Middle School students will participate in eight
eLearning days during the school year. They are scheduled on August 24,
September 14, October 26, November 9, January 25, February 8, March
8, and May 3. On these days, students will attend school through the last
lunch period, and then be dismissed at 12:25 to go home to continue their
learning by participating in learning activities electronically through their
school device and Canvas. These eLearning days will allow teachers to
participate in professional development focused on teaching and
technology in the classroom. See the attachment for frequently asked
questions regarding eLearning Days.
In addition to the eLearning days, our middle schools will also continue to
participate in our traditional early release days. They are scheduled for
August 10, September 23 (Homecoming Friday), November 30, February
22, March 22, and April 21 (Prom Friday). On these days, students will be
dismissed at 2:05 and a supervised study hall will be provided for those
students who must remain at school for after school activities.

Attendance procedures

If your child will be absent from school, please call our 24-hour attendance
line at 776-6258 before 9:00 am on the day of the absence and follow the
prompts. If no reason for the absence is given, the absence must be
recorded as unexcused.
When your child needs to leave for an appointment during the day, please
send a note stating the time you would like to pick up your child from
school and the reason. Your child should take this note to the Student
Services Office between 7:20 and 7:35 am to secure a pass to leave
school. At the designated time, your child should show the pass to the
teacher and will be dismissed to meet you. You must come in the building
to sign your child out and provide identification. When your child returns
from the appointment, he or she must check back in with a doctors
excuse before returning to class.
Pre-arranged absence request forms are to be completed should your
family have an activity or event that will force your child to miss school.
Please submit the form at least 5 days prior to the absence.

Cafeteria information

The cost of lunch at NEMS is $2. Our schools cafeteria utilizes a

prepay/debit system. This system will allow you to prepay for meals by
depositing money into your childs account.
We also use PayPams, a parent account management system. You may
check your childs lunch account balances, monitor daily purchases, and
set up automated notifications regarding account balances for no charge.
There is a nominal fee only when you make deposits to the account.
Students are not allowed to charge a lunch at the middle school level. If a
student does not have money, they will receive an alternate meal. An
alternate meal consists of either a cheese sandwich or a soy butter
sandwich with fruit or veggie and milk. We do not charge for these
alternate meals.

Noblesville East Middle School

6th Grade Supply List 2016-17
Pencilsmechanical or regular (20) & individual sharpener
Large pink eraser
Red Pens
Highlighters (pack of assorted colors)
3 spiral notebooks

Organizational tool to be shared between all classes (binder, accordion, or 3 two-pocket folders)

Earbuds & Stylus to use with iPad

Package of colored pencils
Pencil pouch
Students in Wellness class will need a two-pocket folder, plain black school appropriate
athletic shorts, a plain or Noblesville Millers yellow, grey, or black crew neck t-shirt (no V
neck or Scoop neck), tennis shoes & socks. If your child has Wellness 2nd semester, please
buy the uniform in August, it can be difficult to find inexpensive shorts in the Winter.

*It is possible that individual teachers may have other items to be picked up after school begins.
Teachers will notify students/parents as needed.

Revised 6/16

Noblesville East Middle School

7th Grade Supply List 2016-17
Pencilsmechanical or regular (20) & individual sharpener
Pens (black, blue, and red)
Highlighters (pack of assorted colors)
Loose-leaf college ruled paper
1 binder for math with 5 tab dividers
Personal calculator
Several 2-pocket folders with clips (at least 4)
Earbuds & Stylus to use with iPad
Composition Notebook for science (college ruled, 100 pages)
Composition Notebook for social studies
Journal/Composition notebook for Language Arts
Package of colored pencils
Glue sticks (3)
Art supply box
Students in Wellness class will need a two-pocket folder, plain black school appropriate
athletic shorts, a plain or Noblesville Millers yellow, grey, or black crew neck t-shirt (no
V neck or Scoop neck), tennis shoes & socks. If your child has Wellness 2nd
semester, please buy the uniform in August, it can be difficult to find inexpensive shorts
in the Winter.

* It is possible that individual teachers may have other items to be picked up after school begins.
Teachers will notify students/parents as needed.
Revised 6/16

Noblesville East Middle School

8th Grade Supply List 2016-17

Pencilsmechanical or regular (20) & individual sharpener

Pens (black, blue, and red)
Highlighters (pack of assorted colors)
Loose-leaf college ruled paper
Notebook & scientific calculator for math
Several 2-pocket folders (at least 6)
3 Composition Notebooks Spanish, Science, and Social Studies
Earbuds & Stylus to use with iPad
Post it notes
Glue stick
Students in Wellness class will need a two-pocket folder, plain black school appropriate
athletic shorts, a plain or Noblesville Millers yellow, grey, or black crew neck t-shirt (no
V neck or Scoop neck), tennis shoes & socks. If your child has Wellness 2nd
semester, please buy the uniform in August, it can be difficult to find inexpensive shorts
in the Winter.

*It is possible that individual teachers may have other items to be picked up after school begins.
Teachers will notify students/parents as needed.

Revised 6/16

Middle School eLearning Days and Early Release Days

Noblesville East and West Middle School students will participate in eight eLearning
days during this school year. They are scheduled on August 24, September 14, October
26, November 9, January 25, February 8, March 8, and May 3. On these days, students
will attend school through the last lunch period, then be dismissed at 12:25 to go home
to continue their learning by participating in learning activities electronically through
their school device and Canvas. These eLearning days will allow teachers to participate
in professional development focused on teaching and technology in the classroom.
Parent feedback provided through surveys and the parent technology night was very
helpful to the middle schools in their planning for these days. As a result of this
feedback, the middle schools were able to develop a plan that included:

serving lunch to all students prior to dismissal

using extended early release as opposed to full or half days for eLearning
providing a supervised location for eLearning for students to remain at school
when needed
providing transportation for our students.

In addition to these eLearning days, East and West Middle Schools will also continue to
participate in our traditional early release days. They are scheduled for August 10,
September 23 (Homecoming Friday), November 30, February 22, March 22, and April 21
(Prom Friday). On these days, students will be dismissed at 2:05, and a supervised study
hall will be provided for those students who must remain at school for after school
activities.
For more information regarding eLearning days, please see the frequently asked
questions below, or contact the school office at 317-773-0782.

Middle School eLearning Days Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are eLearning days?
eLearning days offer students access to online instruction provided by their middle school
teachers. Teachers create learning activities in Canvas, the schools learning
management system accessible anywhere from the internet. These activities are aligned
to the curriculum of specific middle school classes. If students do not have internet at
home, they may attend either a supervised study hall hosted by the middle school where
internet access is available, or with the permission of a parent use a location where
internet is available such as the public library.
What will these days look like for students?
A school issued device, Canvas online learning management system, and access to the
internet together allow for anytime, anywhere learning opportunities. Middle school
teachers will use these resources to provide instruction to students in place of traditional
classroom instruction on eLearning days. Students will be responsible for accessing
Canvas on their school issued iPad or through a computer to complete learning activities
created by their teachers in Canvas. These activities will be a continuation of in class
instruction. There will not be a rigid schedule for students to follow, but they will be
expected to complete all learning activities by the next school day.
What will these days look like for teachers?
Teachers will participate in professional development activities during eLearning time.
This professional development will focus on teaching and technology to further improve
the learning experiences of our students.
Why do we have eLearning days?
Noblesville Schools has committed to providing the most relevant learning experiences
possible to help engage, inspire, and empower our students and prepare them for
success in the 21st century. Technology and technology-based learning are becoming an
increasingly important part of post-secondary experiences and careers. Below are some
facts to consider:

According to a study completed in 2011, 32% of college students take at least

one online course.
Even face-to-face courses in college require work to be submitted electronically.
An article in the Indianapolis Recorder reports that employers feel that 35% of
new hires/applicants do not have adequate computer skills.
Corporations are using eLearning for training purposes
Most companies require online applications
eLearning provides new opportunity for teachers to collaborate and engage in
professional development, which are central to improving teaching and learning

How will attendance be taken?

Teachers will take attendance by recording the online participation of the students when
they complete learning activities in Canvas, which records each students amount of
activity. Teachers and administrators have access to these analytics. If a student is too
sick to complete the work, parents will need to call the office and report this as they
would for a student who misses school for illness. Just as with traditional sick time, a
student is still responsible for the work and will need to complete it by the class period
following their return to school as outlined in the student handbook.
Will transportation be provided during dismissal on eLearning days?
The students regular bus transportation routes will run at dismissal at 12:25 on
eLearning days. Students expected travel times to their bus drop off locations will be the
same as on a normal day. Parents may also pick up students, or allow their child to walk
home just as on any other normal school day. Bus transportation will only be provided at
the 12:25 dismissal. Bus transportation will not be provided to students who stay at
school for a supervised study hall until normal 2:35 dismissal time.

NOBLESVILLE STUDENTS
For your convenience and in an effort to expedite inputting deposits on the first day of school, you may prepay
for your lunches by returning the deposit slip below, along with your check, to Noblesville Schools - Lunch.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CAFETERIA DEPOSIT

Student's Name: __________________________________

Student ID#: ______________________________________
School Name: _____________________________________
Amount Enclosed: $________________________________

A SEPARATE CHECK FOR EACH STUDENT

MUST BE MADE OUT PAYABLE TO
"NOBLESVILLE SCHOOLS - LUNCH"
CHECKS MUST BE WRITTEN FOR LUNCH DEPOSITS ONLY.
DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER AMOUNTS ON THIS CHECK!