Bulldog Blast
April 7th, 2021
Welcome back, Northwood!
We hope you had a terrific Spring Recess! As you know we are moving into our HYBRID PROGRAM the week of April 19th.
Please note this model is subject to change dependent on mitigation protocols and/ or official health department directives.
Hybrid Town Hall
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 8th we will be hosting a TOWN HALL for all Northwood Academy families to answer any additional questions at 6 pm. This virtual event is for all families in hybrid and virtual cohorts.
Webinar information to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88565527400
Hybrid Information
In preparation for our hybrid transition, NEXT WEEK will remain remote.
Please note the following changes:
Monday, April 12th, and Tuesday, April 13th we will have half days (8:15 am-12:00 pm), and Wednesday, April 14th-Friday, April 16th will be 3 asynchronous days for teacher preparation. Please note that instructional schedules will be shifting for ALL students starting April 19th.
On March 25th you should have received the schedule from Mrs.Herschberger regarding your child's cohort. If you did not receive it, please contact Mrs.Herschberger directly.
ALL in-person instruction will occur at Northwood Academy Charter School campus.
Combination of both asynchronous and synchronous learning.
Two days in person, two days virtual (school day from 7:30 am - 1:30 pm) Virtual students will attend all days remotely.
Cohorts: Monday + Tuesday OR Thursday + Friday.
Monday + Tuesday = TEMPLE
Thursday + Friday = DREXEL
Fully Virtual = LA SALLE
Wednesdays = asynchronous independent work.
CLICK below for the cohort Parent Letter:
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.
NACS Parent Hybrid Learning Handbook
Please read these documents carefully and feel free to reach out to Mrs. Carey, Mrs. Henry, or Mrs.Herschberger if you have any additional questions.
Student Corner:
You Can Code workshop Today
What? In this workshop, students will use Blockly, a drag and drop language to interface with the memory of the computer. Students will also begin to learn to code using real language with CodinGame, a free online program that allows coders at any stage to improve their coding skills by solving the World’s most challenging problems, learn new concepts, and get inspired by the best developers.
When? TODAY, April 7 @ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Where? This is a FREE. virtual workshop. Students will need access to a computer (Chromebooks OK) and the internet. Please create free accounts prior to the workshop at CodinGame and Blockly.
Email, rythama@gmail.com for any questions.
*Recommended for grades 5-8
April is National Poetry Month!
April is National Poetry Month, 30 days of celebrating the joy, expressiveness, and pure delight of poetry. The core mission is simple: to celebrate poetry in all its forms and to bring more public visibility to the art of poetry, to living poets, and to the literature of poetry.
Every Wednesday we will highlight either a poet or poem. Stay tuned!
🧘🏿♀️Wellness Wednesday tip of the week🧘🏽
Give yourself permission to LOL.
Laughing not only eases stress and promotes social bonding but may also boost your immune system. So bring some humor into your life, whether it's through friends (with a mask on, 6 feet apart) or even a new TV show.
Community Corner
Employment resources
Looking to transition careers or get back into the workforce Check out these local resources below.
Pa CareerLink: This web-based resource helps with resume advice and providing job search workshops. Several locations in Philadelphia. Go to “search for service locations” at the bottom of the home page to find the closest location.
PhilaWorks: This organization offers free assistance with training, resumes, and job placement. Located at 1617 JFK Blvd, 13th Floor.
"The Workplace": The Free Library’s job and career center. It provides library users with current information on changing careers, job search tips, and emerging employment fields.
Additional sites: Careerbuilder, Indeed.com, Ziprecruiter.com, SimplyHired, GoogleJobs, and USAJobs
*Please note, NACS is not affiliated with any of the following organizations.
Feeling Healthy at Home
Kohl's has partnered with Alliance for a Healthier Generation to create a breadth of tips and activity templates for families to engage in within their Feeling Healthy at Home resource libraries.
CLICK HERE to learn about new ways to build social-emotional skills together with your child, including managing stress, regulating emotions, and maintaining strong relationships.
**Herramientas gratuitas, recursos, recetas y más para tener un impacto positivo en la salud y el bienestar de su familia.
What is Alliance for a Healthier Generation?
Every child deserves a healthy future.
For more than a decade, Healthier Generation has worked with schools, youth-serving organizations, businesses, and communities to empower kids to develop lifelong healthy habits.
Giant Animatronic Dinosaurs Coming to the Philadelphia Zoo
This spring, the Philadelphia Zoo will host 24 life-size animatronic dinosaurs in a new and exciting experience. Big Time: Life in an Endangerous Age will take guests through the Age of Dinosaurs through to the present day, showing the powerful changes and challenges that caused them to become extinct—and how other creatures survived. Big Time opens on March 29, and tickets are on sale now.
Open from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily. Advance tickets are required due to reduced capacity. Social distancing and masks will continue to be required for guests ages 2 and older.
Parent Corner:
Picture Day Update
Please be advised, the Friday, April 9th picture retakes have been POSTPONED.
The new date will be 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.
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. A sign-up genius link will be sent out this the coming days.
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
Research shows that when parents are involved in their children's education, the children are more likely to:
- earn better grades.
- attend school regularly.
- have better social skills.
- show improved behavior.
- be more positive in their attitude toward school.
- complete homework assignments.
Email Ms. Urbano at curbano@northwoodcs.org for more information on how to get involved!
Career Day- Thursday, May 6th
Time commitment: 20-30 minutes
When: Thursday, May 6th- time slot TBD
Interested? email curbano@northwoodcs.org
REMIND APP SIGN-UP
📢 Remind App: the best way to stay in-the-know of all school updates and happenings in real-time. Parents will receive Wednesday Reminders and school-wide information via this platform.
The simplest way to sign-up is via text message through the following method:
Text @nacsnews to the number 81010
You will either be promoted to log in as normal, or you will receive a message that you are already signed up. This is not an error; it means that the user already has an active account in another class (for students).
If students have already signed up for a class on Remind they will automatically receive the school-wide Remind messages.
Bulldog spotlights:
Aiden Stevenson proudly showing off his student of the month pin!
Congrats, Aiden- keep up the great work!
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 📰
Spring Break Fun!
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.
***
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
Thursday, 4/8 - Parent Town Hall, 6:00 pm
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