NorthStar Lights

Hello North Syracuse Central School District Parents, Guardians, Teachers and Staff,

This past Wednesday evening I was invited to attend the Cicero Plank Road Chamber of Commerce Gene Harvey Student Awards Dinner. At the event, 15 Cicero-North Syracuse High School students were recognized for achievements in various areas. I was asked to have dinner with one honoree, Natalie Miles, and her family, along with the sponsor of her award, the North Syracuse Education Association (NSEA) and President John Kuryla.

Natalie was receiving the Performing Arts award so we had the chance to talk about her passion for music. Natalie plays several instruments and is part of many performing groups at C-NS. One of the common themes among all the students honored that night was involvement. Over and over as the sponsors went to the podium to talk about the students they were honoring, the stories involved activities in school and throughout the community. Our students are truly amazing and they are doing amazing things for others. The event was a wonderful celebration of our students and the amazing community we live in. It provided a reminder of how our large district can feel small and close-knit when people come together.

On Monday, our Board of Education will potentially adopt a budget proposal for the next school year so you'll be hearing more about the opportunities provided in it in the coming weeks. NSCSD residents will be asked to vote on the budget proposal on May 16. This year, we are excited to be holding a series of public meetings about the budget proposal. We're inviting staff and community members to come together to one (or more) of the public meetings from April 19 through May 9. Additionally, we'll be posting all budget materials to our budget website at www.nscsd.org/budget. Meeting dates will also be listed on our online calendar at www.calendarwiz.com/nscsd.

I hope you are enjoying this amazing weather we are having and that you have an opportunity to get outside this weekend. Take advantage of the warm weather because in Central New York it changes quickly. As we see the trees start to bloom and flowers rise up, it’s nice to watch the new season come alive. Taking time to go for a walk during the beginning of the season is helpful to re-energize us each day. Whatever you do, enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

May is National Mental Health Awareness month and the NSCSD is preparing to kick off a month-long awareness campaign around the theme. To launch the campaign, the District is designating Friday, May 5 as “It’s Okay Friday,” a day to check in with each other and ask for help if needed.

Lisa Goldberg, the District’s Director of Social Emotional Wellness is hoping the campaign encourages people to connect. She said, “We want to send the message that it is okay to ask for help.”

Click here to read the complete article online and learn how to get your t-shirt.

Allen Road Elementary decided to add a new topic during Safety Week this March. Following some building-wide brainstorming, the school decided to highlight Sports Safety this year.

“We thought a sports safety day would be informative, interactive and fun for all kids at each level” said Allen Road Elementary School Teacher Patricia Burns.

C-NS athletes, OCM BOCES, and North Syracuse CSD’s Head Trainer Katie Clark gave special presentations for the different grade levels. Athletes talked about taking part in different sports, nutrition, and the necessity of wearing appropriate safety equipment. Younger students even got the opportunity to try on equipment and took part in a contest to see who could dress in the gear the fastest.

Click here to read the complete article online and see more pictures.

On Tuesday, April 11, the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services (OCM BOCES) inducted more than 180 students from schools across Central New York into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). 38 students from the North Syracuse Central School District were among those inducted.

Students received the honor through their work in Career & Technical Education and New Vision programs at the OCM BOCES Thompson Road Campus. Students who qualify for induction into the NTHS represent the top-performing students in a wide variety of Career & Technical Education programs.

Click here to read the complete article and see more pictures online.

Leading up to the annual school budget vote and board of education member election in May, the district will present important updates and information to the board of education. To receive copies of the presentations and other budget-related news, subscribe to ParentSquare to receive notifications in this category.

NYS Schools to receive Foundation Aid in full for the first time this year by Samantha Croston | Tuesday, April 11, 2023, CNY Central: NSCSD Associate Superintendent for Business Services Don Keegan spoke with CNY Central about the budget process. Click here to view the story online.

We love to share photos and videos from our students, families and teachers. If you're willing to share, please do! We'll be using your photos in this newsletter and other publications throughout the school year. Additionally, high resolution, horizontal photos will be considered for the District website. If you'd like to share pictures, please email them to our Communications Officer, Laurie Cook at lcook@nscsd.org.

Thanks to Patience Frysinger, the President of Northstars Band Parents, for sharing some great photos from their March 31 event at which the indoor programs performed for both middle schools. The performance was designed to show the middle school students the two activities available to them for next year. Patience said, "The middle school students enjoyed the performances and our guard (Juniors, JV and Varsity) and drumline kids had a fun day showing off their respective shows."

Did you know that the North Syracuse Central School District's Athletics Department has an email newsletter? If you'd like to subscribe to the newsletter, click here to learn more.

The NSCSD produces a weekly digital newsletter, "NorthStar Lights," to share important information and good news with NSCSD families and staff. Parents and staff members automatically receive the newsletter through ParentSquare. Grandparents, community members and all friends of the NSCSD are also welcome to subscribe. Newsletters are emailed each Friday when school is in session. Help us share the good news and the great things happening in the NSCSD! Click here to learn more.

APRIL 17: Special Board of Education meeting at 6 PM at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse. If you'd like to attend the meeting in-person, you must pre-register by the Friday prior to the meeting. Please email jherrera@nscsd.org to attend.

APRIL 21: Spring Book Van-Go from 4-6 PM at the NSEA Office (210 South Main Street) in North Syracuse

APRIL 22: Festival of the Arts from 11 AM to 2 PM at Cicero-North Syracuse High School

APRIL 22: Earth Day

APRIL 24: Board of Education meeting at 6 PM at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse. If you'd like to attend the meeting in-person, you must pre-register by the Friday prior to the meeting. Please email jherrera@nscsd.org to attend.

Email: webmaster@nscsd.org
Website: www.nscsd.org
Location: 5355 West Taft Road, Syracuse, NY, USA
Phone: (315) 218-2100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NSyracuseCSD/
Twitter: @NSyracuseCSD