School Spotlight: North View Middle School Connects Students to Goals
North View Middle School is back in session, masks and all, but school leaders are committed to improving the health of its students, despite COVID.
Assistant Principal Alex Berg knows that in order for students to do their best they need to feel their best, inside out.
“I’ve always had a lot of Knight Pride myself but the last year in particular with COVID and the many societal issues just everything has really bolstered that pride. I have seen our staff rallied together,” Berg said. “We model it, knight pride in our own actions as staff, we teach it, we reteach it, we encourage it, we recognize it and we celebrate it.”
The Knight pride spirit is bold this school year in hopes that students will be able to succeed no matter what.
Having programs that contribute to lifelong success is important at North View Middle School. Their AVID program is one of the proven school initiatives still going strong. AVID connects students from all backgrounds to brighter futures with a mindful curriculum designed to help them well beyond middle school. A handful of 8th graders who have been through the program since 6th grade, say it’s helped them with their organizational skills, note-taking skills, and has built their confidence and determination.
Benefits of AVID program
Olaide Ajala says, “I want to go to Sanford University after high school and then go to medical school.”
Her aspirations were echoed by classmate, Ayodimeji Akinrujomu, who is also interested in pursuing a lofty career after he graduates. “I want to become a doctor in family and general practice,” he said.
Kelly Mulvahille is the compassionate and influential AVID teacher leading the way to help students discover their spark.
“In our real world it’s more than just academic skills now when you go to jobs. They’re looking for executive functioning skills, so time management, organization, flexible thinking it’s not just about doing the job, the task, it’s about how you do it,” she said. “I want them to know that I truly want the best for them. I want them to see their full potential.”
While academic success is important at North View Middle School, school leaders also want them to know their value as humans first.
“It made me feel like I had a safe place to be myself and it also showed me a lot of skills that I’d probably use in the future,” Mia Nguyen said.
To keep students supported throughout their middle school journey, North View Middle School also invests in its counseling program.
Their program is one of the first to be nationally recognized. As a RAMP-recognized program, they’re demonstrating best practices to close the achievement gap. Counselors Shanna Schroeder and Kaylee Herlofsky have been championing the counseling efforts for the school.
“Our district has really invested in our K-12 programming for school counselors and not every district has that. Our students get access to a school counselor as kindergarteners, as first graders, and we’re able at each level to continue to build those skills and really make an impact. Not only on our students but on our families and our greater school community which is really important to us, especially here at North View,” Herlofsky said.
Schroeder added, “We know students can achieve at high levels with high amounts of support and we know that no significant learning happens without no significant relationship.”
