Bulldog Blast
Wednesday, April 20th 2022
Welcome Back, Northwood Academy!
Dear Northwood Families,
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Please take a moment to read the enclosed letter from NACS Interim Principal Mrs. Henry regarding a Lockdown Drill for Monday, April 25th. This letter was shared yesterday, April 19th via the Remind app. Thank you! LOCKDOWN DRILL LETTER
Health and Safety Update:
Effective April 18, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has re-instituted Philadelphia’s mask mandate. The City is implementing Level 2: Mask Precautions, which requires masks in all public indoor spaces, including schools, businesses, museums, restaurants, offices, and government buildings. More information from the City regarding this update can be found HERE. Additionally, please note, that the indoor mask mandate will be reinstated for ALL Northwood Academy students and staff started yesterday, 4/19. Although hospitalizations remain low, Covid-19 cases are rising in the Philadelphia area and as always our number one priority remains safely keeping our students in school, full time, and in-person where we know they learn best.
It is also critical that our families continue to follow all other health and safety measures such as: keeping your child home if they are sick; getting them tested if they are showing COVID-like symptoms; quarantining them if they’ve tested positive for coronavirus, and promptly reporting positive COVID-19 test results to covidresponseteam@northwoodcs.org. Symptomatic students will continue to be tested in school upon request. We thank you for your continued support!
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.
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.
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!
7th Grade students from Ms. Sperock's class dressed up as characters from The Outsiders- a Novel by S. E. Hinton!
Ms. Hiestand’s class in 3rd grade working on 'text feature surgery' in reading! 🩺🩺🩺
2nd grade recess fun!
Students have been having fun in STEAM!
Our 5th & 6th-grade students finished 3D printing and went on to 2 STEAM Challenges - a stacking challenge and a March Madness-themed challenge, building a basketball hoop and a catapult.
Our 7th & 8th graders have been working on programming created ramps and programmed the sphero for a long jump competition.
In enrichment, the lower grades, after finishing a few lessons experimenting with water properties, started using Robot Mice. The students created mazes and programmed the mice to complete the maze using beginner coding skills of sequencing. Check out some of the photos of our students collaborating and working in teams to get the job done! Thank you Ms. Hamilton for sharing!
Parent Corner:
Virtual #RingTheAlarm Meeting TONIGHT
Philadelphia Home and School Council, Parents United, OCOS, West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools, CM Brooks, CM Gym are excited to invite ALL local parents, care providers, and communities, to this year's virtual #RingTheAlarm: Regional Parent listening Sessions!
The goal of these sessions is to provide a space for caregivers and parents to:
- Get information on current concerns and problems from this school year,
- Connect with parents and community members within your neighborhoods,
- Hear from various parent organizing groups on what issues are most pressing for the coming 2022- 2023 school year.
There will be facilitated breakout rooms on a variety of topics including opt-out, school facilities, and budgets, as well as space for parents from various regions of the city to connect.
To Register: https://bit.ly/RingTheAlarm22
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.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2022 locally:
When: Friday, April 22nd @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Celebrate life on Earth and the systems that support it with a wild night of science programming and conservation conversations. Meet Academy scientists as well as local sustainability experts from around the city to talk about how to get involved at home and afar. Explore the stories of rare Academy specimens and take part in hands-on activities. Get inspired to take action to make the world a better place, one drop of water at a time. Admission: Advance admission $3-$12
2. Earth Day Clothing Swap by The Fashion Circular
When: Sunday, April 24th @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: The Discovery Center, 341 Reservoir Dr.
Bring up to 5 items; take home up to 5 items! To be eligible for the swap, clothing & accessories must be clean and in perfect condition with holes and/or stains.
3. Earth Day 2022 at THE INSECTARIUM
When: Saturday, April 23rd from 11 am to 4 pm (8046 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136)
Where: Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion! Jam-packed with fun games, book readings, crafts, live animals, and more! You won’t need to celebrate hungrily, food will be available at an additional cost.
4. Access to Science Earth Day Celebration:
When: Saturday, April 30th, 9 am to 11 am
Where? The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Families with children on the autism spectrum are invited to experience the Academy of Natural Science's exhibits without the crowds. Visitors can expect to explore the children's discovery center, meet live animals, and view the dioramas. Pre-registration is required--contact the Visitor Services Department at 215-299-1060 or AccessToScience@ansp.org.
Frankford Neighborhood Spring Clean Up & Resource Fair: 4/23
Saturday, April 23rd (10 AM- 12 PM) PCA (Philadelphia Children's Alliance) is partnering with the Frankford Schools Coalition to host a Spring Clean Up & Resource Fair in the Frankford community this weekend!
Thanks to their dedicated partners, they will have free groceries, schools supplies, and other fun giveaways! All are welcome! **Please mask up and social distance**
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:
Earth Day Event @ Cherry Street Pier 4/22
Join the Office of Sustainability as they celebrate another year of sustainable progress with the release of the 2022 Greenworks Review!
About this event:
The Office of Sustainability is hosting an Earth Day event to celebrate the release of the latest edition of the Greenworks Review at the Cherry Street Pier! Featuring storytelling, interactive activities, vendors, and more join us as we celebrate another year of sustainable progress while getting the first look at the latest edition of our Greenworks Review magazine. The Greenworks Review features the voices of residents, students, teachers, activists, artists, and everyone in between. Combined, their efforts make our city a better place by keeping our communities safe, healthy, and inspired!
Join GreenWorks Phila. on April 22nd from 5:00 – 7:00 PM to reflect on the many ways Philadelphians are working towards a more just and environmentally friendly future.
Tookany Creek Trail Fest
When? Sunday, April 24th, 10 am-2 pm
Where? Tookany Creek Pkwy & Central Ave
Cheltenham 19012
On Earth Day Sunday, Sustainable Cheltenham and Friends of Tookany Creek Trail will host the first Tookany Creek Trail Fest! Join the trail cleanup at 9 am, trail beautification activities (invasive removals, plantings, mulching), BioBlitz, walks, hikes, birding activities, and more.
HEALTHY KIDS DAY: 4/27, 10am-1pm
When? Saturday, April 27th, 10 am-1 pm
Where? 11088 Knights Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154
*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**
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.
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
Friday, April 15th- Saturday, April 23rd- Passover 2022
Wednesday, April 20th- Board Meeting
Friday, April 22nd- Earth Day
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 with Mom Event
Tuesday, May 17th, 4th Grade Career Day
Wednesday, May 25th, 2nd Grade Donuts with Dads Event
Monday, May 30th- School is closed in observance of Memorial 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