Principal's Message
Dear Northridge Knights,
We welcome you back to Northridge Middle School -- home to the Medical & Health Careers Magnet and the Arts Media Entertainment (AMEM) Academy for 2020-21. We are busy at work planning for the start of the school year. Our focus remains steadfast, and we continue our commitment in helping your children (scholars) take the next step towards college. We are working to ensure that every one of our scholars are finding ways to feel connected, be challenged by new experiences, and know that they have a champion they can turn to at our school.
During the past three years, we have been working to improve instructional preparation, planning, and content. Our School Plan for Student Improvement serves as a roadmap to ensure that we provide a quality instructional program to our scholars. This year, we will continue to use the research of John Hattie, integrating the following focus areas in our distance learning:
- Collaborative Discussion
- Teacher Clarity
- Formative Assessments
What is new or on the horizon for the NMS learning community? For 2020-21, our school welcomes the following new teachers: Ms. Dulcinea Garcia-Gagnier (PE), Ms. Danielle Klein (Math), Ms. Laura Byun (Science), Mr. Zachary Groll (Mariachi & Drumline), Ms. Ivania Ortiz (Special Education Resource), and Ms. Stephanie Garcia (Special Education). As part of our Verizon Grant program, all student will be issued an iPad at the start of the new year. Ms. Kaiser, our Verizon Innovative Learning Coach will be sending out more information to parents and students in the coming weeks.
How do you get information and stay informed? At the beginning of the week, NMS will send out the Northridge Knights' Family Newsletter via Blackboard Connect messaging system. It is imperative to have your current cell number to facilitate a free flow of communication. Please ensure that we have your updated contact information by the calling the main office at (818) 678-5100. The Family Newsletter is your "one-stop-shop" to stay informed about the happening of our school community. The NMS website is another source of information for news and events, resources and general school information. We also encourage you to engage in conversations related to NMS by attending monthly PTSA meetings. Northridge is a dynamic community. If you want to be involved, but don't know how to, please ask. WE can connect you to a cause, action, or person to that will help you. We want to the families of NMS to be connected to our community.
In Unity,
Richard Ramos, Principal