Bulldog Blast
Wednesday, April 27th 2022
This week & Looking ahead:
đź“– Calendar Change: NACS' Board of Directors has approved the Friday of Memorial Day, May 27th as a day off for students and staff. This comes as a result of not having any snow days this year.
đź“– Health and Safety Update:
Please note, after the city of Philadelphia announced that masks are no longer required in most indoor spaces, Northwood Academy has decided that starting April 25th our mask mandate will be dropped and are optional for all staff and students. Thank you for your flexibility!
đź“– PSSAs:
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires all school districts to administer the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) in English language arts, mathematics, and science. The dates of the testing windows established by the PA Department of Education (PDE) are listed here so that you are aware of the upcoming testing. Please see below in the Bulldog Blast for more information.
Please note, that Keystone Exams for 8th-grade Algebra students will take place on May 17 & 18. You can help your children prepare for the assessments by encouraging them to get plenty of rest the night before testing and have a good breakfast on the mornings of the test. Encourage your child to have a confident and positive attitude toward the assessments. Thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions about the test or its administration, please do not hesitate to contact our testing coordinator, Mrs. Herschberger.
đź“– Staff Appreciation Week: Next Monday, May 2nd- Friday, May 6th is Northwood Academy's Staff Appreciation Week! See below for a special way you can shout out a NACS employee!
đź“– Next week will begin Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2022
Northwood Academy Staff Appreciation 5/2- 5/6
Monday, May 2nd- Friday, May 6th- Northwood Academy Staff Appreciation Week:
Staff Appreciation Week Shout Outs: Feel free to send any notes of gratitude or virtual shout-outs to any Northwood Academy employee via the GOOGLE FORM below. Don't forget to include you and your student's name. All the thoughtful messages will be shared with staff at the end of Staff Appreciation Week! https://forms.gle/hRhbbWvvVKRoWJWv5
Thank you!
The Pennsylvania State System of School Assessment (PSSA) Update:
The PSSA in English Language Arts and Mathematics will be administered to students in grades 3 through 8 on the dates listed below. Please note, there is no school on Tuesday, May 3rd.
PSSA in English Language Arts will be administered to students over 3 days:
- Tuesday, April 26, 2022
- Wednesday, April 27, 2022
- Thursday, April 28, 2022
PSSA in Mathematics will be administered to students over 2 days:
Friday, April 29, 2022
Monday, May 2, 2022
PSSA in Science will be administered to students over 2 days, for students in grades 4 and 8 only:
- Wednesday, May 4, 2022
- Thursday, May 5, 2022
It is imperative that your child attends school ON TIME during these testing periods. Students who report to school late will not be permitted to enter their classroom until the testing window is over. Classes with perfect attendance throughout the testing window will receive a prize!
Please note that whenever possible, students should bring in their own calculator as directed from Northwood Academy’s student supply list. Devices that have a primary purpose other than functioning as a calculator (i.e., smartwatches or other pocket organizers) are not permitted. We look forward to seeing your child’s academic progress from this school year.


Northwood Steppers
Muffins in the Morning & Donuts with Grown ups
We are very excited to bring back two very special in-person events this year!
On Wednesday, May 25th at 9 AM we will celebrate the important men in our 2nd-grade students’ lives with 'Donuts with Grownups.' Please note that each student may only have 1 GUEST attending the event. We appreciate your understanding! Permission slips were sent directly from the classroom teachers. Thank you!
NACS Softball Team goes on an adventure...

Thank you, Coach Carlson, for organizing such a fun outing!

Calling all 4th Grade Parents and Guardians!
We are so excited for our upcoming IN-PERSON 4th Grade Career Day on Tuesday, May 17th! Our Lower School Counselor, Ms. Lozandieu would like to invite you to share your career field with our students.
Here are the details for the presenters:
Location: Northwood Academy Charter School (in-person)
Date: Tuesday, May 17th
Time: 8:45am-10:45am
Task: Create a 15-minute Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation about:
Why did you choose this job/career?
How did you get into this career field?
What are your job functions?
What excites you about your job/career?
What advice would you give to our students?
If you are interested in being a presenter, please let Ms. Lozandieu know by Monday, April 25th. She can be reached by email at mlozandieu@northwoodcs.org. Thank you!
Check out some picture's from yesterday's baseball game!

Francisco Lassend getting ready to bat!

Earth Day fun with Linton's on Friday, 4/22!

Parent Corner:
VOLUNTEER POLICY INFORMATION
Important Volunteer/ Chaperone Information In order to volunteer in any capacity (including chaperoning trips) you must fulfill the following directives which are part of the Child Protective Law: The law requires all school employees, contractors, and volunteers to have direct contact with children to obtain clearances (child abuse history clearance and state and federal criminal history checks).
- For PA Criminal Background checks (no charge): https://epatch.state.pa.us
- For Child Abuse Clearance (no charge): https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
- For FBI fingerprinting (charge): https://uenroll.identogo.com or call #1-844-321-2101. The service code you will need is 1KG6Q9.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
- Clearances submitted within 48 hours of an impending trip will not be processed in time for that individual to chaperone that particular trip. While we encourage everyone to complete clearances, we cannot honor last-minute requests.
- ALL required documents must be submitted together at one time. We will not hold your documents until they are all complete and accounted for.
- Copies of the required clearances must be printed and handed in to the front school office or classroom teacher. We can not accept clearances forwarded to us via email. Thank you for your support of our program, safety as always is a priority for all our students and their families.
District-Wide Survey
Northwood parents that participate in the parent survey will be entered into a raffle to receive a gift card and NACS swag. Please note: Once you start the survey you must complete it all at once.
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
https://webapps1.philasd.org/parentsurvey/
**WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE RAFFLE THE WEEK OF MAY 23RD**

COMMUNITY CORNER
Work Ready: For Ages 12+ START YOUR APPLICATION TODAY
If you are 12 years old and looking for summer work experience, check out WorkReady Summer. WorkReady takes place from July-August and will include at least 3 days of safe in-person experiences each week this year. All participants receive compensation via wages or incentives depending on the program. Full completion of assigned program hours is necessary to receive the maximum amount.
HOW TO GET STARTED
1. Apply at workready.org: Tell us about yourself. If you already know which program you want to work with, enter their referral code on your application. If you aren't connected to a WorkReady program partner, you can find a code for one of our programs using our Program Locator Tool! Get Started Today!
2. Turn in paperwork: Like any job, WorkReady requires paperwork to tell us you are eligible for the program and to work. You will be asked to download and fill out some forms. Please also take pictures of your vital documents (like your birth certificate, ID, or social security card) and log back into the application to upload images of the documents. The documents you need will vary by age and your experience. Learn More About Paperwork Required to Work
3. Submit additional paperwork: If you complete Steps 1 and 2, you may be asked to submit additional paperwork before being connected with a program partner. Log back into the application and submit your documents. Please note, that vaccines may be required for WorkReady participants based on local mandates and/or worksite requirements. During this phase, you may be asked to acknowledge your vaccination status. Upload Documents
4. Ready to work: Once you've completed all other steps, then you're eligible for WorkReady Summer 2022 and will be connected with an opportunity. Apply Today!
Be one of the first 5,000 young people to complete
Steps 1 & 2 and receive
$150!
Upcoming Events:
2022 FLAVORS OF THE NORTHEAST FESTIVALThe annual event will be moved outside this year! This event is open to the general public. 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm (RAIN OR SHINE) Where? Cannstatter Volkfest Verein 9130 Academy Road, Phila PA 19114 Featuring: • Food Vendors/Food Trucks • Specialty Craft/Retail Vendors | HEALTHY KIDS DAY: 4/30, 10am-1pm The Northeast Family YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active all summer long. Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, will feature games, face painting, demonstrations, arts and crafts, community vendors, and more. This event is open to non-members! When? Saturday, April 30th, 10 am-1 pm Where? 11088 Knights Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154 | Philadelphia Arab Community Day 2022 Join Al-Bustan and Philadelphia Arabs for their annual Arab Community Day at Penn Treaty Park. The event is to start at 12 noon and run until 5 PM. There are going to be food trucks, arts and crafts activities, government resources, music, and more! When? Sat, May 7, 2022 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Where? Penn Treaty Park 1301 North Beach Street Philadelphia, PA 19125 |
2022 FLAVORS OF THE NORTHEAST FESTIVAL
The annual event will be moved outside this year! This event is open to the general public.
1:00 pm – 7:00 pm (RAIN OR SHINE)
Where? Cannstatter Volkfest Verein
9130 Academy Road, Phila PA 19114
Featuring:
• Food Vendors/Food Trucks
• Community Business Vendors
• Children’s Activity Arena
• Specialty Craft/Retail Vendors
• Live Music All Day!
HEALTHY KIDS DAY: 4/30, 10am-1pm
When? Saturday, April 30th, 10 am-1 pm
Where? 11088 Knights Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154
Philadelphia Arab Community Day 2022
When? Sat, May 7, 2022
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Where? Penn Treaty Park
1301 North Beach Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125
*FREE* classes are in session in person and virtually
Parents are best prepared for the challenges and triumphs ahead when equipped with the right tools and support. Interested in enrolling? CLICK HERE
- Custodial and noncustodial parents (Dad/Uncle/Son, Mom, etc), regardless of gender, are welcome to all classes.
- They have a virtual option available for the same dates and times listed on the flyer; parents must still be enrolled via the link or QR code provided first. Virtual class information will be provided to them once they are registered.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact jrobinson@schoolofparentedu.org.

Tarken Ice Rink & Rec. Center: FREE PROGRAM
Join them every Thursday from 6:30-8:00 PM for their brand new teen activities program. Activities include community service projects, teen building exercises, mentorship, 2K tournaments, and more! See the above flyer for more details!
**NO SIGN-UPS NECESSARY**
What is Safe2Say Something?Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies. | Here’s how it works:
| Safe2Say Something PA: Remember, Northwood students can always report important information to parents or Northwood staff at any time. Submit an anonymous tip here: |
What is Safe2Say Something?
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit an anonymous tip report through the Safe2SaySomething system
- The crisis center reviews and processes all submissions
- The crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
- If needed, the crisis center may contact the tipster anonymously through the app
Safe2Say Something PA:
Submit an anonymous tip here:
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
Friday, April 1st- Sunday, May 1st- Ramadan 2022
Sunday, May 1st- Tuesday, May 31st- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Monday, May 2nd- Friday, May 6th- Staff Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 3rd- School Closed in observance of Eid-al-Fitr
Wednesday, May 11th, Kindergarten Muffins in the Morning Event
Friday, May 13th, Kindergarten Field Trip- Elmwood Park Zoo
Tuesday, May 17th, 4th Grade Career Day
Wednesday, May 25th, 2nd Grade Donuts with Grownups Event
Friday, May 27th- Monday, May 30th, School is closed in observance of Memorial Day
Friday, June 3rd, 8th Grade Dance @ Romano’s
Monday, June 6th (June 7th = Rain Date), Field Day
Thursday, 9th, 8th Grade Graduation
This is on Northwood''s home page and includes an Instructional, Technology, and Community Hub. The Student/Parent Technology Help Desk is located within the Technology Hub.
