Tips for Families

Supporting Your Student at Northshore Middle School

Middle school is a time of significant growth and transition for students and their families. The following suggestions can help support your student during their years at NMS.

Encourage Self-Advocacy
Help your student learn to advocate for themselves when they have questions or concerns. Encourage them to communicate directly with their teacher or the appropriate staff member first. If needed, you may follow up to ensure your student has shared their question or concern.

Create Strong Study Habits
Set consistent times for homework and studying and provide a quiet, distraction-free place to work. Encourage your student to use a planner or system to keep track of assignments and due dates. 

Monitor Academic Progress
Regularly check your student’s progress through ParentVUE. If you notice questions or concerns, discuss them with your student and encourage them to follow up with their teacher. If you need ParentVUE login information, please contact our registrar at 425-408-6718.

Support Responsible Technology Use
Smartphones and social media are powerful tools, but students may need guidance in using them responsibly. Be aware of your child’s online presence and talk with them about safe and appropriate use, including the risks of interacting with strangers online. If your child has their own phone, consider setting limits, including restricting access at night. Keep in mind that some students may have multiple social media accounts.

Stay Connected with the School Community
Volunteering is a great way to stay involved in your student’s school experience. The NMS PTSA and the school offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that can fit even busy schedules.

Prioritize Attendance
Regular attendance is a strong indicator of student success. Students with frequent absences are more likely to struggle academically or fall behind. If your student is having difficulty attending school, please contact a counselor or administrator so we can work together to support them.

Ensure Adequate Sleep
Sleep is essential for growing adolescents. While it can be challenging for teens to fall asleep early, aim to help your student get at least eight hours of sleep each night to support their physical and mental well-being.

Encourage Healthy Eating
Eating a nutritious breakfast, snack, and lunch helps students stay focused and energized throughout the day. You may also wish to periodically check your student’s lunch account and talk with them about making healthy food choices.

Be Aware of Vaping and E-Cigarettes
Vaping and e-cigarettes have become a concerning trend among teens. These devices are often small and difficult to detect due to odorless vapor. While some teens believe they are harmless, many contain nicotine or other harmful substances. Even those without nicotine may include chemicals not approved for inhalation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Possession or use of vaping devices at school will result in disciplinary action, including suspension, according to the district’s Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Learning from Mistakes
Adolescence is a time of learning and growth, and mistakes are part of that process. Encouraging students to reflect on their choices and learn from their experiences helps build resilience and responsibility.

Staying Connected and Supportive
Parenting adolescents often involves balancing growing independence with appropriate guidance and boundaries. Above all, students benefit most from knowing they have the love and support of the adults in their lives.

School Safety
We appreciate your partnership in helping keep our school safe. As we remind our students, “If you see something, say something.” If you have a safety concern, you can report it anonymously through the district’s Safe Schools Alert system: