Bulldog Blast
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021
This week & Looking ahead:
Since Thanksgiving, Philadelphia has seen a steep increase in COVID cases. This graph shows the increase. There have been 871 reported case counts in school-age children in Philadelphia between 12/8 - 12/14/21, the highest count in the state.
Given these data trends and what we know about the spread of COVID-19 around the holidays, we have made the difficult decision to transition to remote learning from Monday, 1/3 through Monday, 1/17. Students will return to in-person learning on Tuesday, 1/18 following the Martin Luther King Jr holiday. We believe this adjustment to the calendar is an important factor in mitigating the COVID-19 spread in our school community following the winter break. If you have not done so already, please take a moment to read the enclosed letter for more details.
**For all students who were absent this week, you are permitted to come the first week of January between 8:00 am and 2:30 pm to pick up books or laptops**
🎒Please note: Tomorrow, Thursday, 12/23 will be a VIRTUAL half day. We will resume classes on Monday, January 3, 2022.
đź“ť2ND TRIMESTER extracurricular activity sign-ups! Weekday after-school clubs will begin after the New Year when we return to in-person instruction. CLICK HERE to register on FamilyID. Northwood will be using the platform called FamilyID again for club registration. If you don't already have a FamilyID account, you will be prompted to set one up. Thank you!
This will be the LAST Bulldog Blast of 2021. Wishing our entire Northwood community a safe and healthy winter break. We will see you in 2022!
NACS Virtual Family BINGO tonight! *FREE EVENT*
JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7:00 pm! Northwood Families will have a chance to play virtual bingo and win prizes.
ZOOM INFORMATION: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81819169905
Meeting ID: 818 1916 9905
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 head into Winter Break!
Happy Holidays
In the hustle and bustle of December, there is more than just Christmas Day to think about and prepare to celebrate with the ones you love. Some notable December/January holidays in addition to Christmas include:
Winter Solstice: The winter solstice marks the day of the year with the shortest period of daylight, and the longest night of the year. Winter Solstice is the beginning of winter and is celebrated by various cultures. In 2021, the Winter Solstice falls on December 21st. Astronomically, this day marks the beginning of shorter nights and longer days.
Kwanzaa: This holiday was created in 1966 to celebrate African-American heritage, and even though many people believe this holiday was meant to be a substitute for Christmas, it is not a religious holiday. Celebrated from December 26th through January 1st every year, Kwanzaa, which means “first fruit of the harvest” in Swahili, is a time to focus on traditional African family values. It is based upon the celebration of seven principles or beliefs called the Nguzo Saba.
Three Kings Day: At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5, some leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents. In France, a delicious King cake is baked. Bakers will hide a coin, jewel, or little toy inside.
New Year’s Eve. The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all recorded holidays. First observed in Ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago, this annual event has been celebrated the world over, as it marks the end of a year and the beginning of a new one.
No matter which holiday you celebrate this winter season, we wish you a happy holiday season and a safe new year filled with good things to celebrate!
5th grade students working on their Kwanzaa project!
BULLDOG SPOTLIGHT: Aurora Adamo
1st grader Aurora just finished her first semester at the Rock School of Ballet.
In their most recent performance, she was an angel in their annual production of the Nutcracker. Congratulations, Aurora.
CALLING ALL BULLDOGS: BULLDOG SPOTLIGHT!
We love receiving photos of our Bulldogs with big smiles and having fun! If you have more pictures to share that highlight a fun part of your child's day, whether it is participating in an activity or enjoying the outdoors, send them over to curbano@northwoodcs.org to be featured in our next Bulldog Blast đź“°
The Service Family enjoying a meal and activities at our DINE & DONATE Fundraiser AT EAST COAST WINGS + GRILL!
Parent Corner:
Future Technology Skills Workshop- SURVEY ATTACHED
We are in the process of organizing a FREE series for Northwood Academy CS Parents & Guardians in partnership with the non-profit, 'You're beautifully made, Inc.' for the month of February.
Parents and guardians can sign up for one, or more, 90-minute classes to learn how to better navigate the digital landscape and support their student's learning. There will be 5 classes offered in total.
We are asking parents and guardians to please complete the attached short survey so we can better serve them and their needs. Thank you!
COMMUNITY CORNER
APPLY PHILLY CHARTER: APPLY FOR SEPTEMBER 2022 BY JANUARY 24, 2022.
APPLY FOR NEXT YEAR
The application for September 2022 deadline is approaching. CLICK HERE to get started on your application.
Review our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about this year’s process.
Students can visit City recreation centers to receive free, nutritious meals on school holidays during winter, spring breaks.
Many Philadelphia students rely on their schools for free meals during the school year. School-break meal programs—including winter meals and spring meals—ensure that children and teenagers can access affordable and nutritious food when school meals are unavailable. The meal program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Select Philadelphia recreation centers and playgrounds will provide free meals for children up to 18 years old on the following days:
- December 27, 2021
- December 28, 2021
- December 29, 2021
- December 30, 2021
- January 3, 2022
- February 1, 2022
- April 11, 2022
- April 12, 2022
- April 13, 2022
- April 14, 2022
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for crisis grants. The cash grant is a one-time payment sent directly to the utility company/fuel provider to be credited to your bill. These grants range from $500 to $1,500 based on household size, income, and fuel type.
>> How to apply:
There are two ways to apply for LIHEAP:
- Online: Apply for benefits online using COMPASS, the online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for health and human service programs and manage benefit information.
- On paper: You can download a paper application, print it, fill it out, and return it to your local county assistance office.
Stewards of Children Training- FREE
In partnership with Philadelphia Children's Alliance,
St. Mark's Church, Frankford is pleased to offer this FREE evidence-informed, award-winning two-hour training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Participants will learn practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities. Registration is required.
When? TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022 AT 6:30 PM
Location: 4442 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19124
Please message St. Mark's Church, Frankford, in advance with your contact information.
Facebook: @StMarksChurchFrankford
Questions? (215) 535-0635. cristina.mancini@yahoo.com
**EVENT FLYER is attached below**
Covid-19 Corner:
Vaccine information and articles:
- FDA Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (available in multiple languages)
- FDA Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (available in multiple languages)
- Vaccine Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- CHOP COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- CHOP COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Q&A (English)
- CHOP COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Q&A (Spanish)
- New York Times Opinion: 60 Black Health Experts Urge Black Americans to Get Vaccinated
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
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
Wednesday, December 22nd, VIRTUAL Family BINGO, 7:00 pm
Thursday, December 23rd will be a virtual half-day for students (7:45-12:00)
Friday, December 24th-Sunday, January 2nd, Winter Break
Sunday, December 26- Saturday, January 1st, Kwanzaa
Saturday, January 1st, New Year's Day
Monday, January 3rd, Classes resume virtually
Monday, January 17th, School is closed due to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 18th, Students will return to in-person learning
Wednesday, January 19th, Board Meeting
Monday, February 14th, Valentine's Day
Wednesday, February 16th, Board Meeting
Monday, February 21st, Presidents Day
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