Cellist Matthew Sharp Conducts Master Class

Matthew Sharp is professional cellist from London who performs all over the world with orchestras and operas. Thanks to the generous support of the Newburyport Chamber Music Festival and the coordination of orchestra teacher Jamie Sokolowski, Mr. Sharp came to the Nock Middle School today. 

He facilitated a workshop with our 7th-grade orchestra--providing students with tips, coaching and inspiration. He closed the class with an engaging and spirited performance. Students were excited to have the opportunity to meet and learn from a professional musician. 

Mr. Sharp will be performing this Saturday, May 13th at  6:30 in St. Anna's Chapel, Newburyport. For show information, visit Newburyport Chamber Music Festival

Happy Ukes!

Orchestra and chorus teacher Jamie Sokolowski has been incorporating ukuleles into her chorus classes.

Students at all grade levels are loving the instrument and we have heard many wonderful renditions of songs come from the program.

Join us tomorrow, May 10 for a live performance (at 6:30 in the Nock Auditorium).

19 Students Participate in Project Bread's Walk for Hunger

On Sunday, May 7th eighth grade teachers Jen Groskin and Bridget Lesage continued a Nock tradition of bringing a group of students to Boston for Project Bread's annual Walk for Hunger. It is a 20 mile walk designed to raise awareness and support for local issues around hunger. 

With a small but mighty group of 19 students (10 from the Nock and 9 from Newburyport High School) the Nock team raised over $5000 for Project Bread. 


Congratulations to our student participants! And many thanks to our teaching staff for spending a Sunday sharing important lessons with our students. 

Nock Students Support another Water Well in Sudan

We recently received confirmation from the Water for South Sudan Project that a second Rupert A. Nock Middle School water well has been drilled.

Many thanks go out to Nock students and staff whose community service and curriculum projects have explored issues of water, geography and the history of Sudan. It is exciting to see students and families in Sudan benefiting from our studies.

Shoe Collection Still Open!

We are still collecting gently used shoes for the Shoeman Water Project...

make our work easier by tying the shoes together in a pair with an elastic band 😊

It's Duck Season in the Courtyard

Our mallard family enjoying a sunny afternoon

Literature Circles

Grade 6 Literature Circle Choices

In a literature circle students choose to read a book from a collection that has been selected to address a theme. This teaching strategy allows teachers to provide reader choice and address the varied interests and abilities of students in their class. Beyond the skills associated with reading and analyzing a text, the big goal is to create a passion for reading.

Students meet in small groups with peers who have chosen the same book. They set a reading schedule, explore themes, discuss characters, and share their experience with the novels.

Grade 7 students explore themes

Many of the Nock literature circles culminate with a writing assignment.

Right now we have literature circles happening at all three grade levels. The 6th grade theme is self-awareness, 7th grade is human resiliency, and in 8th grade it is social injustice.