Planning
Planning makes sense. Whether it is strategic, financial, estate, business, family, architectural, health, urban, facilities, or planning for success, it helps to have a plan. There are daily lesson plans which take thoughtful preparation each day and then there are two year plans resulting in a new block schedule for students. Both take initiative and planning. There are countless articles, quotes, and cheers determined to get individuals to plan and I would like to add to this as NKHS continues its plans towards growth and being the best we can be; we must stay humble, know there is always new learning, and plan and prepare to be ready for opportunities as they arrive. As the new year is upon us reflection is a natural response. For me, it is always followed with excitement on what the new year can bring. There are so many opportunities for us to support and help one another. Plan for it and it will happen...try it and you shall see.
Good News
Congratulations to Janice Strain, who helped the NK Town Council brighten their offices with NKHS students’ artwork. She began the process last spring with Mr. Kevin Maloney and it came to fruition this past Thursday evening at the Town Hall on 100 Fairway. Our Jazz students provided musical entertainment and wowed the crowd. Next, our art students were recognized in a ceremony by both Mr. Maloney and our Town Manager, Ralph Mollis. It was a great community event to showcase public service and student talents.
School Community in Action
Our Life Skills students have been retail magnets over the last couple of months. They began at the high school and realized there was a market outside of our four walls. The students, with the help from their teachers and teacher assistants, created a plan to help the staff and faculty at our schools in the district with their Christmas shopping. They have taken their scarf “pop-up shop” to multiple schools with a resounding success in sales. Pictured here is Brandon and Cassidy, who have been friends for years, using their skills from class to plan for success.
Health & Wellness.
From Jonathan Quinn--PE
Healthy Holiday Tips
- Set Reasonable Expectations
- Do your best to stick to your regular schedule
- Try to keep bedtime and mealtime the same
- Let people know of your expectations
- You can’t do everything – choose the activities you enjoy the most
- When shoveling, lift with your legs. Help those neighbors who cannot.
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
December--Diversity
11-12 URI Pharmacy students working with 9th grade PE Health students in Media Center--Closed to outside classes.
12 School Committee Meeting, 7 pm, SEL Presentation
13 Skipper Block--CTE Mentor Meeting/STEP-The documentary presentation (advisory and Block 6, Day 2) Email Denise if you would like to bring your class.
13 Evening encore presentation of STEP-The documentary. (Students, grades 6-12, parents, community invited)
13 (Notice Date Change) PTSO Meeting, 7 pm, Media Center
18 Faculty Meeting--2 pm. Off campus.
19 Chorus Winter Concert
20 Band Winter Concert
21 Fine Arts Expo for our 8th grade sending schools
Teaching and Learning
From Susan Graham--English
My AP seniors helped Paul Fanning's freshmen with The Odyssey theme topics and statements this
morning after Elizabeth Fusco recited Hamlet's "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy for them. Then the seniors shared advice for high school and answered any questions the freshmen had. Finally, we modeled some analysis on another passage from Hamlet. We also enjoyed some hot chocolate courtesy of the Transition Academy! The seniors loved it; most of them felt like the freshmen taught them more about The Odyssey than they ever knew. They were also honored and touched that the freshmen entrusted them with their concerns and experiences. The seniors are dying to work with them again, so we're going to do at least one writing workshop. Teaching is learning, after all!
From Deb Hammersley-Careers
Tech Tip
From Mark DeLucia
Week Ending December 8
Many of you have written to me concerning an issue where students are being pulled onto the “Guest” network on their Chromebooks, and then being prompted for a password to rejoin NKSD-Chromebook. In working with many of you, I have also seen that your Chromebooks are intolerably slow. The first defense against both of these issues is to ensure that your Chromebook is up-to-date. Do you see this little arrow in the bottom right of your Chromebook? Then it’s time to update. You would be surprised how many issues this can solve. Simply click the arrow and “restart to update”. Sign back in and you’re done.
The second solution, is to “powerwash” your Chromebook. If this is happening on a student Chromebook, feel free to do this for them, as well. If you aren’t sure, you’re welcome to bring it to me. This is akin to doing a “hard reset” on your phone. Here’s how to do it:
With the Chromebook turned on…
Press ESC + 
+ Power - A yellow exclamation point (!) is displayed.
+ Power - A yellow exclamation point (!) is displayed.
Press Ctrl + Alt+ D – To turn on OS verification… (no need to read further :) )
Press Enter – Screen will go black and then you will see a red (!)
Press Space and then Press Enter
Chromebook will restart and then it will need to be enrolled (just like signing into the device) and then the device will be ready for use (the log in screen will appear once the device is enrolled)
This should solve the issue of student Chromebooks not joining the correct network.
Hope this helps! -Mark
Videos Worth Watching
There is a quick 15 sec commercial first. It is worth the wait. Video itself is less than three minutes.
STEP YouTube Video
The award-winning documentary, STEP, which tells the story of an all-girls high-school step dancing team in the heart of Baltimore is coming to NKHS. Empowered by their teachers, teammates, counselors, coaches, and families, they chase their ultimate dreams: to win a step dancing championship and to be accepted into college.
STEP has already inspired audiences in theaters all around the country, We were able to request a copy and now we can share it with our students and community. It’s the perfect story to spark conversations around self-confidence, teamwork and overcoming challenges in the most difficult circumstances. This Wednesday, December 13, email me if you want to be a part of this great opportunity to inspire our students. All grades and classes welcome.
The evening of December 13, we will have an encore presentation, open to all students and their families in grades 6-12 to show the documentary at 6:30 pm in the auditorium.
Food for Thought
“I will prepare and someday my chance will come.” Abraham Lincoln
Until next time, Think, Create, Innovate...Denise
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