Northland Vikings
Aspire, Achieve, Adapt! That's the Viking Way!
April 15, 2024 - April 26, 2024
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT! CONGRATULATIONS CADEN GADJIGO!!!!!!!
Caden Gadjigo, a junior at Northland High School, is on an accelerated pathway to success, all thanks to his favorite subject - mathematics. Gadjigo first discovered his joy in math as an eighth grader at Woodward Park Middle School.
“I used to not like math back in middle school,” he said. “In my eighth-grade year, math started clicking for me. It was easy.”
Nearly a year later, the then-freshman signed on to take algebra and geometry simultaneously, setting him up to take Algebra II as a sophomore in a typically junior/senior level class. As a junior, he continues to challenge himself by taking college-level math courses.
“[Math] has been a great building block for my graduation,” he said. “It started me on my advanced path.”
Now a junior, Gadjigo translates his mathematical knowledge into activities outside the classroom. He is one of many students in the prestigious Northland STEM Club. As co-president of the club, he manages the organization and its members. With tasks like maintaining inventory and setting budgets for trips and other expenses, Gadjigo’s math skills prove essential to the team.
“We do calculations with our budget to find cheaper alternatives to how we spent money last year,” he said.
When he’s not maintaining the STEM Club’s budget, Gadjigo assists with the marketing and website management of the Ten80 Racing Team. Just one part of the STEM Club, Ten80 Racing, like Nascar, engages students in the mechanics, driving, and marketing of RC cars.
Math isn’t the only way he’s accelerating his education; Design, whether print, media, or graphic, has always been a passion project for Gadjigo. When he’s not at his school, this Northland Viking can be seen on the campus of Fort Hayes Career Center taking courses in graphic design and printing.
When Gadjigo was a freshman, a friend saw his designs and encouraged him to pursue art professionally. He took the advice and launched his clothing line, C.G. Attire. He said he wanted to attend classes at Fort Hayes to learn more about expanding his brand.
“My brand was one of the leading factors of wanting to go to the career center,” said Gadjigo. “Creatively Guided Attire is all about love and authenticity with oneself and others. The goal is to build a community of creatives who uplift each other through fashionable pieces that embrace love and authenticity.”
The brand has taken off three years later but with much challenge and sacrifice.
“I used to think, ‘How hard is it to start a whole business off of just a drawing?’ It is actually pretty hard. My first two years were a lot of trial and error,” said Gadjigo
Like his favorite subject, math can also involve trial and error until the correct solution is found.
“[Math] taught me discipline,” said Gadjigo. “It showed me that if I stick with something, even when it gets rough, then I’ll be able to get the correct answer or the positive outcome from doing it.”
Since his brand’s launch, the clothing has been available across Fort Hayes and Northland campuses. He was even lucky enough to be featured in two school fashion shows.
“Just getting people to wear my brand, that’s what’s been making me happy and motivated me to do all of this,” he said.
Gadjigo has also dabbled in modeling as part of Future of Fashion with the Columbus Fashion Alliance. This internship teaches students the ins and outs of the fashion business, including fashion design, technical design, sourcing, materials, suppliers, styling, and more.
“It was inspiring for me,” he said. “It gave me more inside of what it means to own a fashion brand.”
Following his graduation from Northland in 2025, Gadjigo dreams of attending college for fashion design and retail to grow his business.
As for the near future, Gadjigo works to balance his studies, STEM Club, his brand, his internship, superintendent student ambassadors, running track and cross country, being the Northland rep for the Youth of the Year with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio, and more.
He attributes his ability to balance these items simultaneously to the discipline he’s been learning in math over the years.
“Every second counts,” he said. “I’m grateful for math.”
After School Building Sweep
After School Building Sweep!
Administrators will be conducting after-school building sweeps to safely secure the building.
At 2:40 pm a warning bell will ring indicating that it’s time for all students to report to their assigned location. The after school tardy bell will ring at 2:45 pm.
All students participating in winter sports teams, spring conditioning groups, spring sports, Stem Club, Chess club, Boys and Girls club and tutoring groups will need to be in their assigned location by 2:45 pm or they will be asked to leave the building. If a student is removed from the building, they will not be able to participate in the after-school activity or re-enter the building unless approved by a staff member.
Car riders will report to the vestibule or outside at 2:45 pm. It is strongly encouraged that car riders have their rides pick them up no later than 2:45 pm.
Students attending afterschool extracurricular activities will need to leave the building at 2:45 pm and return at 5:00 pm to be properly scanned in by safety and security.
Northland High School Graduating Class of 2024!!!!!
Our Senior Team has an FAQ to address many of your questions about year-end activities and graduation. Please visit and bookmark http://tinyurl.com/NorthFAQ to find answers to your questions. The Senior Team will send updates via Remind when things change on the FAQ.
FAFSA Updates and Information for Class of 2024
The Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA) would like to provide updated information related to the continued delay in processing 2024-25 FAFSA applications.
Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced on January 30, 2024 that processing submitted FAFSAs will not begin until the first half of March, regardless of when a form was completed and submitted. This means that colleges and state agencies will not receive processed FAFSA data until mid-March at the earliest. It also means that students will not receive their FAFSA Submission Summary until the same timeframe, when they will be sent out in batches.
With colleges not receiving FAFSA data until mid-March, it is expected that students will not begin to receive aid offers until April at the earliest. The vast majority of colleges are in the same situation and will work quickly to get aid offers out to students. Many Colleges have relaxed the May 1st commitment Deadline.
The rollout of the new FAFSA has been filled with a variety of challenges. FSA has created a webpage of "Known Issues" to help identify potential barriers, provide alerts, and give updates to known workarounds. Please continuously check the Known Issues page so that you can keep up-to-date with FAFSA challenges.
FSA Pro-Tips: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support/pro-tips
NCAN Navigating the Challenges: https://www.ncan.org/page/fafsa-challenges
Students who have not started a FAFSA, are encouraged to do so immediately. Please contact your school I Know I Can representative for assistance.
I Know I Can Grant
Exciting news! The I Know I Can Grant has been boosted from $1,200 to $2,500 this year! You may have already received a postcard in the mail urging you to take advantage of this opportunity, along with other fantastic I Know I Can Scholarships. Take advantage of this free money that could powerfully support your college journey. APPLY NOW and seize this chance to lighten the financial load of your senior year! All CCS class of 2024 graduates with at least a 2.25 qualify for the grant!
CCS News and Events
GaggleSafetyManagement-NowonCCSDevices
Dear CCS Families,
Columbus City Schools is partnering with Gaggle to enhance student safety and well-being on school-provided devices and platforms. Through the Gaggle Safety Management solution, the District will monitor the content students create with their school-issued accounts to ensure their welfare and identify those needing help.
Gaggle employs advanced technology and human insight to review students' use of online tools 24/7/365 days a week and provides real-time analysis, swiftly flagging any potentially concerning behavior or content; this includes signs of self-harm, depression, substance abuse, cyberbullying, or other harmful situations. With Gaggle's assistance, The District is better equipped to identify struggling students proactively, offer support, and maintain a secure school environment.
This added layer of safety aligns with the Columbus Board of Education's Policy –Student Education Technology Acceptable Use and Safety, Policy 7540.03 and AG 7540.03, the District’s Guide to Student Success Acceptable Use Form, and Chromebook Agreement.
For more information about our partnership with Gaggle, click here, Gaggle Safety Management Overview VIDEO, to view a video explaining this added layer of digital safety.
About Gaggle
Since 1999, Gaggle has been the leader in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology. The solution proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations by using an effective combination of artificial intelligence and trained safety experts. Most importantly, Gaggle continues to help hundreds of districts across the country avoid tragedies and save lives. Questions? Email CCSGaggleQuestions@columbus.k12.oh.us. For more information, visit www.gaggle.net and follow Gaggle on Twitter at @Gaggle_K12.
Best regards,
Columbus City Schools Office of Whole Child Supports
CCS Summer Experience is now Registering!
The 2024 Summer Experience is FREE to all Pre-K through 12 Columbus City Schools students! Summer Experience for Pre-K through 8 students kicks off June 17. We're excited to provide CCS students and families with a summer of exciting school and community-based learning experiences.
This year’s Pre-K through 8, Summer Experience includes similar project-based learning students and families have been able to enjoy through our Pathway Express focuses, including Pathways such as Health and Fitness, Visual Arts, Urban Agriculture, World Languages and Cultures, and MORE!
Questions? Contact the Office of Extended Learning: 614-365-5010 or ExtendedLearning@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Click here for a Parent Portal registration walkthrough.
Learn more by clicking the link below.
Couldn't make it to the 2024 Summer Opportunities and Engagement Fair? Still looking for summer camps and experiences for your student? Click the link below to discover local camps, programs, and adventures just right for your student.
ESL Assistance
Did you know the ESL Department has a designated call center in over seven foreign languages? Please share the document below with your staff and families in the event that they need assistance in another language.
CSCC Summer Camps for Rising 8th and 9th Grade Students
CSCC Summer Exploration Academy
Eligibility: Rising 8th and rising 9th graders, Columbus City and Southwestern City Schools.
Cost: Free
Dates:
- Session 1: June 10-14, 2024
- Session 2: June 24-28, 2024
Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Students can get early college exposure and career awareness with our fun, hands-on experiences and exploration of specific majors. Students will increase their familiarity with specific in-demand career/technical programs and pathways and learn how they can begin to work toward these careers through opportunities within College Credit Plus and Columbus State.
For more information and registration, visit the links below.
Community Updates
Elevating Parents/Caregivers, Elevating Futures!
10th Annual Midwest Regional Conference: Parent Summit
You will learn ways to: prepare your child for high-paying jobs; prevent bullying & youth suicide; increase your child's self-esteem; manage your stress. Find resources for: children with disabilities; children after-school; grandparents & guardians. Give your voice to the experts! Dr. James Moore, III (Director for STEM Education Nat'l Science Foundation); Dr. Beverly Vandiver (Editor in Chief of the Journal of Black Psychology); Special Guest DJ O-Sharp. THE FIRST 100 TO REGISTER AND ATTEND RECEIVE A $25 GIFT CARD! For more information and to register, visit www.oabse.org See you at the 10th OABSE Annual Midwest Regional Conference!
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024, 08:30 AM
Hilton Columbus/Polaris, Lyra Drive, Columbus, OH, USA
One Columbus Culture Day!
Rise Up CBUS! is partnering with the New American Program for One Columbus Culture Day! This FREE event offers international food, music, and live performances along with valuable community resources! Join the City of Columbus on April 25th, at Fedderson Community Center 3911 Dresden Street, Columbus, OH 43224 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Questions? Lindora Howard-Diawara, Community Relations Coordinator (614) 645-3284 LKDiawara@columbus.gov or Derrick Hessler, Community Relations Coordinator (614) 645-7116 DJHessler@columbus.gov
Well That Escalated Quickly.....Preparing for Spring Severe Weather in Ohio
This severe weather season has started fast, with the first tornado sirens of the year blaring in late February. In Ohio, our most active severe weather months are typically May through July, but as we all experienced in February, Mother Nature doesn't follow a calendar. Severe storms can occur during any month throughout the year and families in our schools and community may not be aware and prepared for the type of severe weather we encounter here in Ohio. Below you will find some useful tips and information to share with caregivers and families to help them prepare for all that Ohio (Spring) weather delivers.
For more information on tornadoes please visit: https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado
SIRENS: WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
Sirens are part of the Public Alert System to make the community aware of a local or national emergency. Originally designed for civil defense (air raid, curfew), sirens are now more commonly used to alert people of severe weather (tornadoes). Here in Columbus, the siren also sounds every Wednesday at 12pm to test the weather alert system. When you hear the siren at other times, it is a good idea to check local news sources and follow any directions or guidelines given depending on the reason for the siren.
WATCH VS WARNING
TORNADO WATCH:
This means that conditions are right for tornado to form. The National Weather Service is monitoring the weather and will continue to share updates on the radio, tv, and social media. Be mindful that a Tornado Watch can quickly turn into a Tornado Warning, if conditions change.
TORNADO WARNING:
This means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. People in the affected area should take immediate cover inside designated shelter areas such as basements. During a tornado warning, the warning sirens sound for 3 minutes. Be sure to have a safety kit (content recommendations are below) and do not go outside to look for the tornado.
Dermatology Clinic
Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Abraham Korman, from OSU will be taking free appointments at the Spanish Free Clinic, April 16th, starting at 6 pm.
Dr. Korman will be available answer any question regarding skin, hair and nails. No insurance or other documents needed.
Clinica Latina
2231 North High Street
Columbus, Oh 43201
614-349-1038
Please call to make a free appointment.
Ohio Family Engagement Center Newsletter Sign-Up
Greetings Families!
The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at the Ohio State University is excited to announce a new bi-monthly digital newsletter for parents and caregivers of children in kindergarten through high school.
The Family-to-Family Newsletter will have success stories to inspire you, tools to support you, and practical tips and resources to guide you. We hope that our newsletter will provide you support and guidance as you support your student’s success and connect with your child’s school and community.
March Issue topics: family literacy, celebrating fathers, and dyslexia supports. Subscribe using the link below to receive your free digital newsletter!
All the best,
Dr. Barbara Boone
Director, Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center
Looking for Something Fun to Do?
Check out Culture Passes for admission to these central Ohio organizations –FREE with your library card.
**Columbus Zoo and Aquarium passes CAN be used for entrance to the Zoo for the Eclipse Event April 8th.
For in-person checkout only; non-reservable. Click here to check availability. Supplies are limited.
BalletMet
- Pass admits two adults or children.
- Redeem at theater box office up to two hours before performance.
- Valid for 2024-2025 performances only.
CAPA
- Pass can be redeemed for one 10-pack of 2024 movie tickets.
- Each ticket admits one person to any Summer Movie Series film.
- All movies take place at the Ohio Theatre.
- Valid for 2024 Summer Movie Series only (June & July).
Columbus Children’s Theatre
- Pass admits four individuals of any age.
- Redeem at theater box office up to two hours before performance.
- Call the box office in advance to be sure the show isn’t sold out.
- Valid for 2024 performances only.
Columbus Clippers
- Pass admits up to two adults and four children.
- Passes good for bleacher seating sections.
- Valid for Sunday games only during the regular season (March – September).
Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
- Pass admits two individuals of any age.
- Redeem at theater box office up to two hours before performance.
- Call the box office in advance to be sure the show isn’t sold out.
- Valid for 2024-2025 performances only.
Columbus Museum of Art and the Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art
- Pass admits eight people of any age.
- Valid for seven days.
Columbus Symphony
- Pass admits one adult; children under 16 are free.
- Seat selection must be made before performance.
- Valid for Masterworks performances only.
**Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Pass admits up to six people of any age.
- Valid for two days.
- Pass is not valid for Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club or The Wilds.
- Pass does not include parking fees.
Dawes Arboretum
- Pass admits up to six individuals of any age.
- Valid for two weeks.
- Valid for general admission; excludes registered programs and events.
- Cannot be used for entry during member-only hour from 8-9 a.m.
Franklin Park Conservatory
- Pass admits two adults and six children.
- Valid for 30 days.
- May be used two times before pass expires.
Ohio History Center
- Pass admits up to eight adults and/or children.
- Pass also valid to Ohio Village (seasonal).
- Valid for seven days.
- Valid for 10% discount at café and gift shop.
National Veterans Memorial Museum
- Pass admits two adults and five children.
- Valid for seven days.
ProMusica
- Pass admits two adults or children.
- Redeem by calling 614-464-0066 ext. 101 in advance, or at theater
box office up to one hour before performance.
Important Jazz Academy News!
Jazz Girls Columbus Registration is OPEN! Visit www.JazzArtsGroup.org
Summer Camp Registration is OPEN! Visit www.JazzArtsGroup.org/Summer to learn more and register! Join us for 1-3 weeks of music-making, where we will play jazz together in small combos led by one of our renowned teaching artists. See our vocal and instrumental offerings today! www.JazzArtsGroup.org/summer Check out our instrumental & vocal camps!
Jazz Academy Jam Sessions Join us at the Jazz Academy to learn the ins and outs of a Jam Session! This free program is open to musicians of all skill levels and all jazz enjoyers. Held at the Jazz Academy at 769 E. Long Street, 4th Floor Parking Available for free across Long Street.
STAY CONNECTED WITH US:
Watch JAG.TV today for all your favorite concerts and more for FREE! Want to learn about our guest artists? Check out the JazzScene Podcast for an in-depth discussion from our local and touring musicians! Available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates, behind the scenes, and more @JazzArtsGroup
Learn more at www.JazzArtsGroup.org