Bulldog Blast
Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
Happy December!
Dear Northwood Families,
Please find our *NEW* COVID-19 Mitigation Plan documents below. These links were sent via the REMIND app. on Monday, 11/29/21. Thank you!
- Haitian Creole Updated COVID Mitigation Letter
- Haitian Creole - COVID-19 Student Testing Consent Form
This week & Looking ahead:
💻Report Card Conferences will be held Wednesday, December 15th, and Thursday, December 16th, VIRTUALLY. Additional information will be shared via email from your child's classroom teacher.
🗓️ December Calendar Change:
As of the November 17th board meeting, please note the below board-approved calendar adjustment:
Wednesday, December 22nd will be a regular half day.
Thursday, December 23rd will be a virtual half-day for students (7:45-12:00).
Hanukkah 2021
Hanukkah 2021 began on the evening of Sunday, 11/28, and ends on the evening of Monday, 12/6.
"Hanukkah" means dedication in Hebrew, and the Jewish holiday, also known as The Festival of Lights, represents joy. It's punctuated by an eight-night display of dancing flames atop candles held in intricate menorahs, conveying warmth, comfort, and in Hanukkah's case, a miracle.
Latkes, anyone? Here are menorah lightings around town, and much more! Check out this article on Kid-Friendly Hanukkah Events Around Philly.
Below find Hanukkah videos and read alouds to enjoy with your children:
Find activities, recipes, gift guides, and more on PJ Library's Hanukkah page.
Girls 🏀Basketball 🏀Team UPDATE 🏀
To family members of the Girls Northwood Basketball Team, please see the below link for our Spectator policy for our basketball season. Thank you!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c4zJ5GFWmADetYmg7rM2cpc2Gwx9bJ1OJdrQEtBBxic/edit?usp=sharing
DINE & DONATE WITH NORTHWOOD AT EAST COAST WINGS + GRILL!
Join EAST COAST WINGS + GRILL along with Northwood Academy Charter School at a 'Dine & Donate' Fundraiser!
When? Wednesday, December 15th from 5 pm-8 pm
Where? 2539 CASTOR AVE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19134
What is a Dine & Donate event? Wednesday, 12/15 from 5 pm-8 pm Northwood Academy will receive 15% of the sales from all Northwood friends & families that came in to dine at the Castor Avenue East Coast and Wings & Grill. Make sure to mention Northwood Academy when you order! Help us reach our goal of $100!
Not only can kids eat for $1.99 (with an adult entree) on Wednesday nights but they will be playing holidays movies in the restaurant for your entertainment! We hope to see you there!
Parent Corner:
School Picture Retakes, 12/17/21
School picture retakes will be Friday, December 17th, 2021. Students will need to be dressed in their Northwood polo and khaki pants.
Picture Day forms can be downloaded online here, https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/. Picture Day ID: EVT3QPNQ7. Picture Day packages from the original day are expected to arrive sometime on Friday, 12/03 via UPS. They will be available for pick up from the front school office.
Still interested in ordering a package from the original picture day?
The Event ID from the original day has been deactivated. If anyone wishes to purchase from their original image the easiest way to do so is with the student-specific Portrait ID that comes on all the sample packets included with Friday's shipment.
YOU'RE INVITED- NACS Virtual Family BINGO!
Mark your calendars! Wednesday, December 22nd at 7:00 pm, we will virtually host a Northwood Family Fun Bingo Night!
Families will have a chance to play bingo and win prizes.
This is a free event - RSVP to curbano@northwoodcs.org by 12/20. Zoom link information will be sent closer to the event date.
Make sure to download your BINGO card(s) ahead of time. You can use as many boards as you’d like, as long as you can keep up with the numbers being called. CLICK HERE can generate your own electronic bingo boards. Let's have a fun night of BINGO before we are all head into Winter Break next week.
SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE
To promote our school’s Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) program:
Additionally, on Friday, 12/3, students and staff may wear a red shirt to school. Red Shirt Day is a state-wide event to recognize children and youth homelessness. Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Lozandieu (mlozandieu@northwoodcs.org) with any questions. If you or a family member are in need of housing, food, health, and safety services, please check out these resources from Project HOME: Where To Turn Guide.**
Keeping Families Healthy
Staying updated with information to keep your family safe and healthy can be confusing and overwhelming. These reliable resources can help!
Coronavirus (COVID-19) from KidsHealth: Information about the signs and symptoms, how Coronavirus spreads, how it can be dangerous to children, and more.
Navigating Flu Season: Resources to keep kids safe and healthy from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: What you should know about the flu, why it's important to get a flu shot, how to get vaccinated, and more.
Influenza Vaccine Clinics from the Pennsylvania Department of Health: The flu vaccine is offered statewide throughout flu season at many locations, including your doctor's office, pharmacies, grocery stores with pharmacies, and also at numerous Department of Health facilities. Find an upcoming flu vaccine clinic near you.
COVID-19 Printables from Conscious Discipline: ABC's for Parents of Little Ones, Adult Weekly Commitment Calendar, At Home Brain Breaks and Active Calming, and more.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Introducing: The Tacony LAB Community Arts Center
*FREE* December Kids Club - Christmas Ornaments, 12/04
The Tacony LAB’s classes are unique in Philadelphia: They do not charge tuition or any sort of fees for any of their classes.
Their classes are popular and often have wait-lists. If you enroll in a class, please commit to attending it.
How to enroll in a Tacony LAB class:
• You may enroll IN PERSON at the LAB beginning 3 weeks before a class first meets. Please check the “About” section of the LAB’s Facebook page for open hours or call the LAB at 267-686-7420 to hear the hours.
• You may enroll online using Eventbrite beginning one week before a class first meets (provided there are still spaces) by visiting their Eventbrite page.
• You may come to the first class and enroll at that time, **providing space is available.** For same-day enrollment, please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the class.
Location:
The Tacony LAB Community Arts Center
6918 Torresdale Ave., Phila., PA 19135
*FREE* December Kids Club -Winter Cityscape, 12/11
One-day workshop! Choose Morning or afternoon.
Make a winter cityscape to decorate for the holidays.
The Tacony LAB’s classes are unique, they do not charge tuition or any sort of fees for any of their classes.
Their classes are popular and often have wait-lists. If you enroll in a class, please commit to attending it.
(MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSIONS OFFERED)
Location:
The Tacony LAB Community Arts Center
6918 Torresdale Ave., Phila., PA 19135
*FREE* December Kids Club -Cardboard Gingerbread Houses, 12/18
About this event:
FREE one-day workshop!
Make a gingerbread house out of cardboard!
(MORNING & AFTERNOON SESSIONS OFFERED)
Location:
The Tacony LAB Community Arts Center 6918 Torresdale Ave., Phila., PA 19135
All current COVID-19 policies required by the City, State and CDC must be followed by all attendees.
A Day of Support: For families who has been affected by gun violence
A mental health event catered to families who have been affected by gun violence.
About this event:
Our mission is to provide a day of support to victims and survivors of the gun violence that has plagued our city.
Have you secured your free tickets to a day of support? Akeas Heart Inc. and Luxe Event space have partnered and put together an event to help support families and friends of victims of gun violence.
They have over 10 qualified clinicians who will be able to support and provide community resources to help press through the pain! Please see more information below.
Goals for a Day of Support:
-To help families feel supported by their community
-Encourage victims/survivors to seek out therapy resources
- Help enhance the client's ability to cope with their trauma and understand that they are not alone.
Location:
LUXE Event Space
7812 Castor Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19152
Date and time:
Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 3:00 PM EST
Introducing the Philly Herb Hub, a free community apothecary
Check out this article in the Germantown Info Hub all about it, https://germantowninfohub.org/introducing-the-philly-herb-hub-a-free-community-apothecary/.
First ever Visit Philly holiday parade
Philadelphia adds new parade to city's traditional holiday festivities.
The city has a new way to celebrate the season this year: the inaugural Visit Philly Holiday Parade. Set for Saturday, Dec. 4, the march down Market Street will feature marching bands, giant balloons, and floats representing Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, and Christmas.
WHEN? December 04, 2021
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
LOCATION: 2nd & Market to City Hall
Check out more information HERE.
Additional Resources:
www.211.org - 211 provides callers with information about and referrals to social services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Phone: 211
Foodfinder.us - a nonprofit website and app (for iOS or Android) that offers the location and contact information of more than 40,000 food pantries and similar food programs across the country.
CALLING ALL FUTURE SUBS!
BioDiversity Winter Institute Student Recruitment: Grades 3-8
Please see the flyer below for more information about this 12-week afterschool program beginning January 13th.
New Student Application Link: https://forms.office.com/r/7ssjscjjhS
Returning Student Application Link: https://forms.office.com/r/FzePNPTWez
**APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 17TH**
News & Notes: COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Edition
The CHOP Vaccine Education Center (VEC) has created a new series of short videos, "Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids," that feature personal points of view related to COVID-19 vaccination of young children.
Each group has a unique perspective that may be helpful for parents contemplating whether to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19:
- Clinicians — Some of our colleagues at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia described what it has been like caring for children hospitalized with COVID-19.
- Families affected by influenza (“flu”) — Partnering with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), the VEC appreciated the opportunity to talk with some of their members whose lives were changed when someone in their family, most often a child, became severely ill or died from influenza, a virus that, like COVID-19, is often considered to be so minor that it does not warrant vaccination. Many of the families who work with FFF say the same thing — they didn’t think influenza was that bad or that anyone in their family would be affected by it.
- Polio survivors — Partnering with the PA Polio Survivors Network, the VEC was grateful for the opportunity to talk with some of their members whose lives continue to be affected by the lingering effects of childhood polio infections. As they understand what it is like to live with the long-term effects of a viral infection, this group identifies with those experiencing “long COVID” and want people to hear their stories at a time when they can protect their children from the long-term effects of COVID-19.
Vaccine Clinics:
Children vaccine appointments are available to schedule now at city clinics held at rec centers, parks, and community centers over the next couple of weeks.
Where kids can get vaccinated against COVID in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has ordered tens of thousands of kid-size doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. It's not the same as the adult dose, so you can't just take 5 to 11-year-olds to any clinic.
- Some pediatricians are actively reaching out to parents to offer the shot, local health officials said — but what if they haven't? Options in Philly include pharmacies, city health clinics, and pop-ups at various schools.
Rolling Thunder Skating Center Lessons
Looking for family skate lessons?
Check out Rolling Thunder EVERY Saturday!
*Please see the attached flyer for more information*
FREE 1-act musical: Step Kids
STEP KIDS is free to stream (until 12/5) on-demand on First Stage’s YouTube channel and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9R_Es4t4Z0&t=5s (about 30 minutes long).
A one-act musical by Tyrone L. Robinson and Postell Pringle Directed by Christopher Gilbert
"A group of seemingly unconnected high school students find common ground in the most unlikely of places – the audition for their school’s competitive step dance team. As the students become unified through the power of rhythm and dance, experience the joy of finding your tribe in this energetic performance. Suggested for families with young people ages 10+."
Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays
At NACS, we are grateful to have families and staff who have embraced and respected our comprehensive health and safety protocols. To continue doing so, we need your help to keep everyone safe.
Throughout the holiday season, we ask that you keep reinforcing the same safety measures we are using inside of the school to help stop the spread of COVID. This includes watching your distance, wearing a mask, and washing your hands frequently. For more information and guidance about how to celebrate the holidays during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC has guidance available by clicking here: Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Exhibit Opens at Please Touch Museum!
Enjoy the Please Touch Museum (PTM) The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibit while reliving the story (or perhaps learning about it for the first time), kids can travel from Dorothy’s farm to the Land of Oz with activities, lessons, and imaginative play.
In this exhibit, visitors can:
- Learn about how tornados form and create your own tornado
- Discover the storyline and characters of The Wizard of Oz, and even view a pair of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers
- Make your way through a tunnel on the Cowardly Lion’s “Courage Crawl”
- Test your brainpower like the Scarecrow with brainteasers and a cornfield maze
- Climb a bouldering wall to capture the Wicked Witch’s broomstick
- Ride Miss Gulch’s bicycle to reveal the hidden picture on a praxinoscope
- Manipulate light to recreate some of the special effects used by the “great and powerful Oz”
Located at 4231 Avenue of the Republic in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park now until January 16, 2022. In order to keep the PTM experience safe, online reservations are required. The museum is open Wednesdays – Sundays from 9 am –4:30 pm.
MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT: NORTHWOOD IS HERE TO HELP
If you believe you may be eligible, contact Lower School Counselor (K-4) Ms. Lozandieu at mlozandieu@northwoodcs.org or Upper School Counselor (5-8) Mr. Whitlatch at awhitlatch@northwoodcs.org to find out what services and supports may be available!
CLICK HERE to watch a video (created by Kevin Lofton) for families in Philadelphia to understand their rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for students experiencing homelessness. Check it out now!
If you or a family member are in need of housing, food, health, and safety services, please check out these resources from Project HOME: Where To Turn Guide.
Important Dates on the Horizon
Sunday, November 28- Monday, December 6th, Hanukkah
Monday, 11/29- Friday, 12/3 Northwood Food Drive
Wednesday, December 15th, Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 15th and Thursday, 12/16, VIRTUAL Report Card Conferences
Friday, December 17th, School Picture Retakes
Wednesday, December 22nd, VIRTUAL Family BINGO, 7:00 pm
Thursday, December 23rd will be a virtual half-day for students (7:45-12:00)
Connect with Northwood
Website: northwoodcs.org
Location: 4621 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 289-5606
Facebook: facebook.com/Northwood-Academy-Charter-School-153041454730750/
Twitter: @northwoodcs