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ARCTIC Update: February 19-23, 2024

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Family Conferences Next Week
Family Conferences are next Thursday, February 29 from 7:45 AM to 8:15 PM. Emails were sent on Monday, February 12 at 7:00 AM to sign up for ARCTIC Zone conferences. If you have not signed up, please look back for that email. Thank you!
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Short Film Fest
Our trip to UW-Stout last Friday was a huge success. Students learned a lot about film production, storyboarding, and screenplays from professors and students. They are now working on screenplays (due February 28) and storyboards back here at Northstar. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask about a Catalog Project (ELA, Science, or Social Studies focus) they are working on and something new they are learning from that project. 

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ARCTIC Update: January 29-February 2, 2024

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Resource and At Home Responsibility
This week we have been talking about meeting project goals and productivity and how that cannot just be during CHILL Times. If students are behind on project deadlines or they didn't complete their Must Do's during CHILL Time, they need to use their Resource time and 20-30 minutes at home to catch up or stay on track. Thank you for your help supporting this! 
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Short Film Fest
Our annual Short Film Fest has started with some individual learning on what makes a great story and the important parts of a story. Students should have STEPs 1-5 done. They should be working on writing their short, narrative story for STEP 6. A permission slip should have come home last week about a trip to UW-Stout to work with their Film Production department. Permission Slips are due back in one week by Friday, Feburary 9
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask at their Short Film Fest story and how the planning and writing of it going. Thank you!

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ARCTIC Update: January 22-26, 2024

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Start of Semester 2 Materials Reminder
Wednesday marked the start of Semester 2 and Quarter 3 here at Northstar. A couple materials items that students are often coming unprepared with are pencils and headphones-earbuds. They need those two things everyday in the ARCTIC Zone especially with the start of our Short Film Fest. Please make sure your student consisently has those. Thank you! 
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Short Film Fest
Our annual Short Film Fest started this week! Students are really excited to review and learn about the art of cinematography and create awesome short films over the next four months! A permission slip should have come home today about a trip to UW-Stout to work with their Film Production department. Permission Slips are due back by Friday, Feburary 9
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them to see their Mastery Level and Credit Tracking Google Sheet (you have access to this too). Discuss some goals they have for Mastery Levels and Credits in Semester 2. Thank you!  

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ARCTIC Update: December 18-22, 2023

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Happy Holidays
We are very thankful in the ARCTIC Zone for all of our students growth and hard work the first four months of our school year. Whatever your family celebrates this time of year - Happy Holidays from the ARCTIC Zone! 
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Project Catalog 
Students were introduced to our Project Catalog recently. The Project Catalog offers choice projects for ELA, Science, and Social Studies to allow students to work on content skills. Working on those skills will increase Mastery Levels and earn students skill & content credits. You may view the catalog in your student's General CHILL Time Canvas course. Please let us know if you have any questions about our new Project Catalog. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them to show you some project growth in one their projects over the break. Thank you!  

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ARCTIC Update: December 11-15, 2023

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Daily Project Progress
Students are busy working on the Write to Inform Must Do Module, their Passion Projects, and a choice Catalog Project. Students are expected to use CHILL Times to make daily progress in all three project areas. Please ask about and encourage this from home. Thank you! 
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Project Catalog 
Students were introduced to our Project Catalog recently. The Project Catalog offers choice projects for ELA, Science, and Social Studies to allow students to work on content skills. Working on those skills will increase Mastery Levels and earn students skill & content credits. You may view the catalog in your student's General CHILL Time Canvas course. Please let us know if you have any questions about our new Project Catalog. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them if they have started their first choice Catalog project and what they are working on.  Thank you!  

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ARCTIC Update: November 27-December 1, 2023

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NEW Planner Expectations 
We introduced some new project planning expectations this week. For all projects (Must Do Modules, Passion Projects, and Catalog Projects) students will map out the entire project, at the beginning their project, in their planners. We expect this to be done in pencil because each week they will make adjustments to their project pacing if needed. Please check their planner throughout the week and ask them questions about their project work and progress. 
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Project Catalog 
Students were introduced to our Project Catalog recently. The Project Catalog offers choice projects for ELA, Science, and Social Studies to allow students to work on content skills. Working on those skills will increase Mastery Levels and earn students skill & content credits. You may view the catalog in your student's General CHILL Time Canvas course. Please let us know if you have any questions about our new Project Catalog. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them about all three projects and how it is planned out in their planners.  Thank you!  

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ARCTIC Update: November 13-17, 2023

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Upcoming Project Deadlines
Must Do Module: Puzzling Patterns in Data - DUE TODAY! (many students are not done with this!)
Catalog Project: What If? Mini Documentary - Friday, November 10 (past due for many!)
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
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Project Catalog 
Students were introduced to our Project Catalog this week. The Project Catalog offers choice projects for ELA, Science, and Social Studies to allow students to work on content skills. Working on those skills will increase Mastery Levels and earn students skill & content credits. Please let us know if you have any questions about our new Project Catalog. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them the following: 1) Are you done with the Puzzling Patterns Must Do Module & the What If Mini-Documentary? If not, what is their plan to get caught up? 2) What is their first choice Catalog Project going to be?  Thank you!  
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ARCTIC Update: October 30-November 3, 2023

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Upcoming Project Deadlines
Must Do Module: Puzzling Patterns in Data - Friday, November 17
Catalog Project: What If? Mini Documentary - Friday, November 10
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
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Technology Contract
Students will receive the ARCTIC Zone technology contract on Monday, November 6th, which is also the first day of Quarter 2. We will talk about it as class, have them sign the contract, and then have them take it home to have a parent/guardian sign it also. Please return this by Friday, November 10th
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them how far they are in their first Passion Project. Have they scheduled their Mid-Project meeting with an advisor yet? What are they learning so far? Thank you!  
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ARCTIC Update: October 23-27, 2023

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Upcoming Project Deadlines
Must Do Module: Nonfiction Comprehension Candy Crush - DUE TODAY!
Catalog Project: What If? Mini Documentary - Friday, November 10
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
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At Home ARCTIC Zone Work
Many families have asked what students can do at home for ARCTIC Zone work. The easiest and best thing to work on is the Must Do Modules. They will always be modules completed independently by your student. Please contact us with any questions. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week ask them about their Nonfiction Must Do Module. What did they learn? Is it fully complete? Thank you!  
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ARCTIC Update: October 16-20, 2023

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Upcoming Project Deadlines
Must Do Module: Nonfiction Comprehension Candy Crush - Friday, October 27
Catalog Project: What If? Mini Documentary - Friday, November 10
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
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Family Conferences
Thank you attending Family Conferences last Thursday, October 12. It was great connecting with you and your student. Please reach out via email with any follow up questions. Remember: Check your email for the link to the Google Sheet to view your student's Mastery Levels, Credit Tracking, and Mastery Rubrics. Canvas + Google Sheet  = Best Information on student growth & progress. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week talk about a Mastery Level or Credit from the Google Sheet that your student wants to work on next. Thank you!  
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ARCTIC Update: October 2-6, 2023

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Introducing Our New Projects
Students must complete Research & Notes Must Do Module and Operation Oreo before their next two projects are available/unlocked in Canvas. 

Must Do Module: Research & Notes - Wednesday, October 4 (past due!)

Must Do Module: Nonfiction Comprehension Candy Crush - Friday, October 27
Catalog Project: Operation Oreo - Friday, October 6 (due TODAY!)
Catalog Project: What If? Mini Documentary - Friday, November 3
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
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Family Conferences - October 12, 2023
Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 12th, 2023 from 7:45 AM to 8:15 PM. They are 10 minutes long conferences either in person, virtually via Teams, or on a phone call. Please schedule your email for scheduling instructions. Student Last Name A-N conference with Mr. Nicholson. Student Last Name P-Z conference with Mr. Brown. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week talk about reflection - Which Essential Skill (Set & Meet Deadlines, Organization, Productivity, Seek Help, Collaboration) is going well for them and which one do they need to improve? Thank you!  
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ARCTIC Update: September 25-29, 2023

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Two Deadlines Next Week! 
Research & Notes Must Do Module and Operation Oreo are due next week! Please have a conversation with your student about what is left to do for both projects. Thank you! 
Research & Notes Must Do Module: Wednesday, October 4
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
Operation Oreo Catalog Project: Friday, October 6
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Family Conferences - October 12, 2023
Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 12th, 2023 from 7:45 AM to 8:15 PM. They are 10 minutes long conferences either in person, virtually via Teams, or on a phone call. Please schedule your email for scheduling instructions. Student Last Name A-N conference with Mr. Nicholson. Student Last Name P-Z conference with Mr. Brown. 
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week talk about their upcoming deadlines - Research & Notes Must Do Module and Operation Oreo. Thank you!  
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ARCTIC Update: September 18-22, 2023

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UPDATED Project Deadlines
In the ARCTIC Zone students are working on three main projects - Must Do Modules, Passion Project and Catalog Projects. Here are some upcoming deadlines for those projects:
Research & Notes Must Do Module: Wednesday, October 4
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
Operation Oreo Catalog Project: Friday, October 6
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What is a Passion Project? 
One of the projects that students work on in the ARCTIC Zone is called a Passion Project. Passion Projects are student owned and advisor supported. To learn more about Passion Project, please CLICK HERE
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Academic Conversation of the Week
Every week have an ARCTIC Zone specific conversation with your student. This week talk about their first Passion Project of the year! What is it about? What are they working on right now for your Passion Project? How can you help them from home? 
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ARCTIC Update: September 11-15, 2023

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Laptop Use and Charging
There are some simple tasks students are asked to regularly complete to help their laptop run smoothly. Laptops should be restarted once per day. Most students will do this at the start of their first hour class during announcements. Microsoft updates should be ran once per week. To do this, on the laptop’s search bar, type “updates,” and then click “Check for system updates.” Dell updates should be ran once per month, search “Dell Command Updates,” run these when the laptop is charging.
 
Students have been asked to charge their laptop at home when they are able to do so. Please have them keep their laptop charger in their backpack in the event they need to charge during the day, classrooms do not have a class set of chargers.
  
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Project Catalog Binder ASAP
We need every ARCTIC Zone student ASAP to have a white 1.5” 3-ring binder with plastic sleeves on the outside to insert a cover page. We recommend the Avery Showcase Reference Binder which you can find on Amazon currently on sale for $4.99. Please let us know if you need help with purchasing this binder. Thank you!

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Upcoming Project Deadlines
In the ARCTIC Zone students are working on three main projects - Must Do Modules, Passion Project and Catalog Projects. Here are some upcoming deadlines for those projects:
Research & Notes Must Do Module: Wednesday, October 4
Passion Project: Students create their own task lists, calendars & deadlines. 
Operation Oreo Catalog Project: Friday, October 6
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