Bulldog Blast
January 20, 2021
TODAY: Celebrate Inauguration Day!
New Website Coming Soon!
We cannot wait to unveil Northood's brand new website in the coming weeks! 🎉 A Remind alert will be sent out once we go live so you can get a lay of the land as soon as it is launched. In the meantime, enjoy this little teaser of our adorable bulldog mascot making an appearance. 🐾
School Photos: 2/5 & 2/12
PARENT REMOTE LEARNING SURVEY: DUE 1/24
Please help to better serve our children by giving us your feedback at the following link: Parent Remote Learning Survey.
School Lottery Application Deadline: 1/25
Family Activity at The Franklin Institute
This vibrant exhibition is premiering on Saturday, February 13th for its exclusive, limited run in Philadelphia. Each interactive activity invokes elements of imagination, ingenuity, inspiration, and expressiveness for all ages.
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 takes place at our cafeteria (Adams Ave. entrance) on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
We hope families continue to take advantage of this cost-saving and nutritional convenience.
Tracking COVID-19 in Pennsylvania / Philadelphia
While we recognize that the Pennsylvania Department of Education recommendation now includes the option of Full Remote or Hybrid Model for elementary schools, in keeping with the current recommendations, we remain steadfast in our direction to remain remote until we see 3 consecutive weeks of data in the Low or Moderate category in the COVID-19 Dashboard, accompanied by 3 weeks of the CHOP PolicyLab projections on a steady decline. We will continue to share these data points with you through this newsletter each week.
Click on each of the charts below to go to the data tracking pages compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab.
It is worthy of note that the most recent documented 7-day period has a marked decrease in cases where Philadelphia County has moved below a 10% PCR positivity rate; however, the incidence rate is still greater than 100 people per 100,000 residents. We will not consider the level of community transmission to be in the Moderate/Low category until both the incidence rate and PCR percent positivity rate are at the recommended levels.
Still seeking Bulldogs for our January Spotlight!
With this first month of the New Year adding a sense of rejuvenation to our spirits, we have been thinking about the tradition of making New Year's Resolutions. 🗓️ Though rather than placing a focus on doing or being better, we like to think of it as a chance to set positive intentions, and to be more mindful of setting expansive goals that excite us! 🌟
With this in mind, this month we want to know 💭:
What is one positive intention your child is embracing for 2021? 💡
Do they want to make a point to lead with kindness, each and every day? 🧑🤝🧑 Or maybe they want to tap into their creativity in some way? 🎭 Send their answer and a photo of their smiling face (feel free to get creative here to incorporate the theme) to Mrs. Smith at jsmith@northwoodcs.org. The most stand-out submissions will be featured in the Bulldog Blast sent out during the last week in January.
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!
Reminder: Updated Remote Learning Schedule
The day begins 15 minutes earlier at 8:15am.
Reading and math blocks are longer in K-3 (45 mins rather than 30 mins) and in 5-8 (60 mins rather than 45 mins).
The school-wide lunch period was shifted to 12:00-12:30pm. This allows K-3 teachers to pull a small group before lunch, and for upper school students to have an additional cycle complete before lunch.
We hope that this increases participation in small groups for students who have not been logging back on after lunch and specials.
Specialists will see one grade at-a-time rather than two.
The full schedule for each grade can be viewed at the following link:
Materials & Chromebook Pick-up
For those who were not able to come by the school during last month's 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, January 20 - Board Meeting
Monday, January 25 - School Lottery Application Deadline
Wednesday, February 3 - Parent Town Hall Meeting
Friday, February 5 and Friday, February 12 - School Photo / Heath Screening Days
Wednesday, February 10 - Common Lottery Date
Friday, February 12 - Common Notification Date
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