Tips for Parents

Middle School is often a time of great transition for students and their families. Here are some ideas for supporting your student during their years at NMS.

Coach your student to be a self-advocate when there are questions or concerns first. Have them communicate their question first. At first, consider contacting the appropriate person to check to see if your student has shared their question/concern.
Set specific times for homework and study. Make sure your student has a place to study that is free from distractions. Encourage the use their planner to help your student stay organized with due dates. Students may need to access a computer for homework and information. Computers are available for student use in the library.
Regularly monitor your student’s progress by checking ParentVUE. If you have questions, ask your student and direct them to follow up with their teacher. If you need your ParentVue login information contact our registrar at 425-408-6718.
Monitor your child’s use of technology. Smartphones are powerful tools and students may struggle in using them appropriately. Be aware of their social media presence and speak with them about appropriate use and the danger of strangers on-line. If your child has their own phone, set limits and consider restricting access at night. Be aware that some kids have multiple social media accounts.
Stay connected at school by volunteering in any way you can. There is a wide range of opportunities that can be available to accommodate even a busy work schedule. Contact the NMS PTSA or the school to find ways to help.
Attendance is a key indicator of student success. Students who have poor attendance are more likely to drop out of school or not graduate on time. If you are having issues with getting your student to school, contact the counselor or administrator so we can partner with you to support your student’s attendance.
Sleep is critical. It can be difficult for teenagers to fall asleep at night. Work with them to ensure that they are getting enough sleep, eight hours minimum, to support their growing brains and bodies.
Eating a healthy breakfast, snack, and lunch are important for learning and growing. Periodically monitor your student’s lunch account to ensure they are making healthy eating choices at school.
Vapes and e-cigarettes, a problematic trend for teens over the last several years, have caused great concern among healthcare providers and educators. These devices can be difficult to detect due to their small size and odor-less vapor. While many teens may believe that they are harmless, this is simply not true. Some vapes contain nicotine or other illegal substances, and even those that don’t still have chemicals that have not been deemed safe for inhalation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Despite the fact that vapes are illegal for anyone under the age of 18, they 17 are designed and marketed to appeal to youth. Possession or use of vapes at school will result in suspension per the school District’s policy, which can be found in Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Everyone makes mistakes. Part of the growing and learning process involves mistakes and it is important for adolescents to learn how to recover from mistakes. Some of the most powerful lessons come from reflecting what we did wrong and how we can do better next time.
Adolescence can be difficult to navigate as parents, as we balance between their growing independence and setting appropriate limits. In the end, what our kids need most is our love and support.

We appreciate your support in keeping our school safe. As we tell our students, “If you see something, say something.” Please join us in erring on the side of caution and letting us know if you have a safety concern. Reports can be made anonymously through our District’s Safe Schools alert system on-line at http://1414.alert1.us or via text at 855-521-2665