Bulldog Blast
April 14th, 2021
Hybrid Information
Hello Northwood Academy,
Thank you to all who attended our 4/8 Town Hall and 4/13 Q+A session in Spanish. We are in full swing of our hybrid transition. We thank you all for your flexibility and resilience.
Countdown until Monday, April 19 when we will start our Hybrid/Virtual learning model. Please be advised that the daily schedule has changed for ALL students, regardless of whether they are in person or remaining fully virtual. We suggest making a copy for your child to keep next to their desk or work table at home so they will see the different times they need to be online.
In-person students begin their day at 7:30 am. Virtual students join their class via Zoom at 7:45 am. Anyone coming in or on Zoom after 7:46 am will be marked late. Breakfast will be served to in-person students in their classroom from 7:30 - 7:45 am. Lunch will be served to in-person students in their classrooms from 1:00 - 1:30 pm.
Wednesdays will now follow the asynchronous schedule previously held on Fridays. Everyone will stay home on Wednesdays so the classrooms and school can be given a good cleaning.
Specials will take place virtually while students remain with their homeroom teacher.
TEMPLE - Monday / Tuesday
DREXEL- Thursday / Friday
LA SALLE - fully virtual every day
If anyone would like to opt into a hybrid model at this date, please email Mrs. Herschberger and we will attempt to accommodate this request. Please note, NO requests to join hybrid instruction will be honored after today, April 14.
Click on the link below to access the Parent Hybrid Handbook. Important information from the handbook is included, including schedules and other specifics.
Uniform Expectations:
Northwood polo shirt, t-shirt
Khakis or sweatpants
Sneakers
Northwood sweatshirt
Masks must be worn at all times
Necessary supplies to bring to school:
Any textbooks or novels distributed during the school year
Notebooks
Writing utensils
REMINDERS:
- Ruvna health screenings must be completed daily. Parents will be receiving daily notifications via REMIND with the link.
- Students must report on the day they were assigned
- Please leave any laptops, Chromebooks, or other electronic devices at home, even if a device was borrowed from Northwood
Thank you, as always, for your support of our program!
Weekly COVID testing for students and staff
Parents, you will receive an email to sign a waiver for their child to be tested. No child will be tested without a parent waiver. This testing is only for students IN THE BUILDING. Thank you!
urgent Transportation Update
Due to a bus driver shortage in Philadelphia and a number of schools returning to in-person learning, Northwood will NOT have bus transportation for any student the week of April 19th. Please be prepared to drop off and pick up your students next week. (Reminder school hours are 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM) Transportation is anticipated to begin on April 26th. Mrs. Dugan will provide updates as they become available.
We apologize for this inconvenience. Please contact Mrs. Dugan with any questions or concerns.
Student Corner:
TechGirlz: Introduction To JavaScript
Join TechGirlz on SATURDAY, April 24 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm for a virtual Introduction to javaScript!
JavaScript is what makes the web move. JavaScript is used to make apps, interactive websites, responsive animations, web games...pretty much whatever you can think up. In this course, you will learn the basic concepts of JavaScript, learn to talk directly to your website, and create your own JavaScript program using Repl.it! This session is suggested for grades 5th and up.
Students must have access to a computer (Chromebooks OK!) and the internet. Please create a free Repl.it account prior to the event. All Virtual Events are Scheduled/Run in Eastern Time.
Interested? CLICK HERE to sign up!
Questions? alexriz@comcast.net
April is National Poetry Month!
April is National Poetry Month, every Wednesday we will highlight either a poet or poem.
Meet A. A. Milne! He was an English author. He was best known for his books about the delightful teddy bear Winnie the Pooh and for many poems.
DID YOU KNOW: Milne's son, Christopher Robin, was the inspiration of the character that had the same name in his Winnie the Pooh books.
🧘🏿♀️Wellness Wednesday tip of the week🧘🏽
Stay Hydrated!
Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids. Your body is about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
DID YOU KNOW: Children should drink the number of 8-ounce cups of water equal to their age, with a maximum of 64 ounces of water for children over the age of 8.
Parent Corner:
Picture Day Update
Please be advised, the Friday, April 9th picture retakes day was POSTPONED.
The new date is Wednesday, 4/28/21.
8th-grade pictures will be 9:00-10:00 am. Please note, this is not a traditional RE-TAKE but for students who could not attend the original date. Northwood graduation gowns will be provided for the photo. SIGN UP HERE
10:30 AM will start K-7th grade picture re-takes. Please wear your Northwood uniform for the photo. Pictures will be taking place 10:30 am-1:00 pm.
Join the PCO and make a difference in your child's education!
We are looking for new members of our Parent Core Organization (PCO)!
Who can join the PCO?
Parents
Teachers
Students
Community Members
Grandparents
Email Ms. Urbano at curbano@northwoodcs.org for more information on how to get involved!
8th-grade picture pick-up
You may stop by the school and check in at the front desk for pick up Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. Thank you!
REMIND APP SIGN-UP
Sign Up for Remind Alert- Remind is a free, safe messaging app that keeps families up to date with what’s happening in the classroom and school. Our weekly Bulldog Blast is sent out via Remind, along with other timely announcements throughout each week.
if you have not done so already please sign up for our Remind notifications to stay on top of important updates from teachers and receive schoolwide updates in real-time.
Community Corner:
Community Spotlight- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF)
As we continue to celebrate EARTH MONTH, check out some of these upcoming events (virtual and in-person) with our friends at Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF).
> Outdoors Online: Black Girls Run with Jay Ell with Natural Lands: Wednesday, April 14, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Black Girls Run is a nationwide community organization that motivates women to take charge of their own health by training together. Join us on Zoom to learn more about this movement from owner and CEO, Jay Ell.
> Bilingual Birdwalks in Tacony Creek Park: Saturday, April 17
Join TTF for a FREE bird walk in English and Spanish! Bring your friends and family. Binoculars provided.
Choose a time:
Register here: 8:30am-10:00am
Register here: 10:30am-12pm
> Outdoors Online: Latino Outdoors with Natural Lands: Thursday, April 22, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
During this virtual discussion, Latino Outdoors speakers will share stories of building communities, discuss challenges, and provide insights for our communities and our allies. They’ll showcase how conservation roots have been ingrained in la cultura Latina for generations. REGISTER HERE
What is Latino Outdoors? Latino Outdoors seeks to create a community of national leaders in conservation and outdoor education by connecting to and engaging with Latino communities and embracing cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative. This ensures our history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented. We focus on expanding and amplifying the Latinx experience in the outdoors locally and abroad.
It's also the perfect time to install a rain barrel! Sign up here to get one for FREE.
Bulldog spotlights:
Fun, Fun @ Hershey Park!
Pictured:
Northwood siblings Shawn 1st grade, Niylah 2nd grade, Samarah 8th grade
Hershey Park posing!
We are so excited for our newest bulldog in 2022, Seymone!
Calling all Bulldogs: Bulldog Spotlight!
We love receiving photos of our Bulldogs with big smiles and having fun!
Please send any photos to curbano@northwoodcs.org to be featured in our next Bulldog Blast 📰
WHAT IS 143K RISING?
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS) formed 143K Rising as a way for lawmakers in Harrisburg to hear directly from charter school families. The goal is to give charter school families a voice in policy decisions that otherwise could have disastrous consequences for the education and future of their children.
Northwood parents and guardians, it is recommended to sign up here. You will receive email updates from the 143K Rising movement on the latest efforts to protect public education options. You also will have the opportunity to contact your state lawmakers and let them know you support public charter schools.
Free Meals Pickup 🍽️🥪🥣
We are continuing to give out frozen meals that last up to a month in the freezer, so extra meals can be stocked and saved for the weekends or a much later date! Pickup for multiple meals traditionally takes place at our cafeteria (Adams Ave. entrance) on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
We hope families continue to take advantage of this cost-saving and nutritional convenience.
GoGuardian Software Information
To summarize, GoGuardian provides the following benefits to students and teachers:
Helps in protecting students against harmful and inappropriate online material
Helps students stay “scholarly” and more focused when learning online
Helps in assessing students’ progress towards class assignments
Facilitates communication between teachers and students during class time
Please reach out to our Technology Coordinator with any questions at dleimer@northwoodcs.org.
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!
Materials & Chromebook Pick-up
For those who were not able to come by the school during previous months' pickup windows, you may stop by and check-in at the front desk on Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 2:00pm to do so.
Please wear a mask and practice social distancing as you wait. All items will be prepared in advance and ready to go in a Northwood canvas bag.
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Chromebooks are also still available for pickup during these days/times.
*Please note*: This is only for students who have not yet received a school-issued Chromebook or if your school-issued Chromebook is not working. If your child has received an iPad from us, exchanges must be made in order to receive your Chromebook. If you are planning to swap a device, you must also bring the charger in order to do the exchange.
Important Dates on the Horizon
Wednesday, April 21- The front office will be closed for cleaning
Thursday, April 22 - First day of in-person learning for Drexel cohort
Friday, April 30 - Asynchronous Day for all students (No in-person learning for the Drexel cohort)
Thursday, May 13 - Eid al-Fitr - School Closed
Monday, May 31 - Memorial Day - School Closed
Tuesday, June 8 - Last day of in-person learning for Temple cohort
Friday, June 11 - Last day of in-person learning for Drexel cohort / Last day of school for all students
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