DINE & DONATE: 10/19
Join EAST COAST WINGS + GRILL along with Northwood Academy Charter School at a 'Dine & Donate' Fundraiser!
When? Wednesday, October 19th from 4:45 pm-8:00 pm
Where? 2539 CASTOR AVE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19134
What is a Dine & Donate event? Wednesday, 10/19 from 5 pm-8 pm Northwood Academy will receive 15% of the sales from all Northwood friends & families that come in to dine at the Castor Avenue East Coast and Wings & Grill. Make sure to mention Northwood Academy when you order! Help us reach our goal of $300! Not only can kids eat for $1.99 (with an adult entree) on Wednesday nights but they will be playing movies in the restaurant for your entertainment! We hope to see you there!
Unity Day Orange Shirt Design Contest
We are excited to host a school-wide Unity Day, a national day of bullying education and prevention, TODAY, Wednesday, October 19th.
Students and staff in schools across the country wear orange on Unity Day to show kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. At Northwood, we will recognize Unity Day with in-class activities and an assembly. Also, we are having a Unity Day Orange Shirt Design Contest to promote family engagement.
Today, students will wear the customized orange shirt to school. The top 2 winners from Lower School and the top 2 winners from Upper School will each receive a $50 Target gift card. Winners will be selected on Thursday, 10/20. REMINDER: The deadline for contest submissions was Tuesday, 10/18 via email.
next wednesday, 10/26, we will have our K-3 Book Character Day Parade
This year Northwood Academy Charter will be having a Book Character Parade for students in grades K- 3 on Wednesday, October 26th. Students will be allowed to dress up as a character from a favorite book.
Please be advised masks, fake blood, and weapon replicas are prohibited. The parade will take place in the Northwood GYM. Staff and Families are invited to attend.
The following is a tentative schedule per grade:
9:30 am - 9:50 am - 3rd grade
9:55 am - 10:15 am - 2nd grade
10:20 am - 10:40 am - 1st grade
10:45 am - 11:05 am - Kindergarten
Each grade level will do 2 laps around the gym during their time slot.
More details to follow from your child's classroom teacher.
DÍA DE MUERTOS: November 1st and 2nd
WHAT IS DÍA DE MUERTOS?
Day of the Dead is a celebration in Mexico and some other Latin American countries. It’s a special day to honor and remember family members who have passed away.
WHEN IS IT?
Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Even though it’s close to October and Halloween, don’t get them mixed up– they are two different holidays!
It does have the same dates as All Souls Day and All Saints Day.
HOW DO FAMILIES CELEBRATE?
Many families visit cemeteries, to place flowers in the graves. It’s an especially festive day in Mexico. There might be parades, with people wearing costumes and faces painted like skulls. Children can paint their faces too! One of the most cherished rituals is creating a homemade altar. Some people believe that once a year, souls from the afterlife come and visit their families, at midnight. The altar welcomes them after their long journey to earth.
11 ELEMENTS YOU MIGHT SEE ON AN ALTAR:
- Candles (velas)
Symbol of light and life, lights the way - Papel picado (decorative papers)
Represents union between earth and the arterlife - Pan de muerto (a sweet bread)
Element of earth, hospitality - Marigolds (flores de cempasúchil)
Orange is the color most easily seen, scent guides the spirits to the altar - Plates of Food
Favorite foods to welcome hungry souls - Sugar skulls (calaveras), and skeletons (calacas)
- Symbolizes death as part of life
- A Glass of Water
To welcome thirsty souls after a long journey - A Photograph of the Family Member(s)
To remember relatives and loved ones - Favorite objects
To make visiting souls feel happy and honor them - Religious Symbols
A cross, rosary, pictures of saints, or others - Incense
The smell wards off bad spirits and welcome good ones
Altars can be simple or very elaborate. Families want to make the visiting souls feel happy. They often put things on the table that their relatives enjoyed. Even though Day of the Dead has some things that might look scary, it is supposed to be happy holiday that celebrates the circle of life. This is why people use bright colors for the decorations. Skeletons are arranged doing fun things and looking silly, and there are yummy things to eat as well.
Some questions for kids to think about:
- What is similar and different about Halloween and Day of the Dead?
- What smells would you experience?
- What parts of the altar would make people feel happy?
If appropriate:
- How does our family remember people we miss?
Miss Chocolate School Fundraiser: ONLINE SALES WILL RUN UNTIL TODAY, 10/19
Thank you to all who have participated in our fundraiser thus far! Please note, the fundraiser ended on Monday, October 17th so please hand in any last-minute orders ASAP- we can only guarantee NOVEMBER shipment for paper orders before 10/17.
**ONLINE SALES WILL RUN UNTIL TODAY, 10/19**
Northwood's Organizational ID#605108
School delivery will be: Monday, November 7th (details to follow)
Checks or money orders payable to Northwood Academy Charter School
Friends of Northwood PARK: Saturday, November 12th
Get ready for Love Your Park Week, Northwood Neighbors! Northwood Park needs YOU on Saturday, November 12th.
Sign up to clean and green your neighborhood park during Love Your Park Fall Service Day HERE.
Where? Castor Ave and Foulkrod St, Philadelphia, PA 19124
Boo at the Philadelphia Zoo: Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 15- Oct. 30
The Philadelphia Zoo is celebrating Halloween this October with the return of Boo at the Zoo on Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 15 through Oct. 30. Dress in your favorite costume and go trick-or-treating through the 42-acre zoo campus. Visit the Zoo's extinction graveyard, where people can find out what animals the Zoo is trying to save from extinction.
The annual not-so-scary extinction graveyard will provide educational opportunities for children and families, showcasing and exhibiting animals the Zoo is trying to save from extinction. Fall food and drink offerings include hot apple cider, and plenty of sweets and treats, including those for people with food allergies. Tickets are free with general admission. Tickets are included in the price of admission, which is $24 for adults, or $19 for kids up to 12 years old.
Philadelphia Zoo: 3400 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia PA 19104
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)
- For Child Abuse Clearance (no charge)
- For FBI fingerprinting (charge): or call #1-844-321-2101 The service code you will need is 1KG6Q9.
Join the Eastern State for some fall-themed family fun!
Family Fall Festival: Sunday, October 30, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Free for kids in costume and their families. No reservations are necessary. Trick-or-treat inside the penitentiary, then explore Eastern State's history and legacy with the help of a special scavenger hunt designed with children ages 8-13 and their caregivers in mind. Plus, enjoy art activities, music, games, relay races, and more!
(215) 236-3300
Northwood Academy Charter School Child Find Policy and Procedures (Annual Notice)
Hello Northwood Families,
You will find a copy of our Annual Child Find Notice here outlining the procedures and protocols for Northwood's monitoring of all of our students and identification of students with special needs. This will also be able to be referenced on our website, via social media, and in local news publications. For further information, please contact the Director of Special Education, Kate Crossett at 215-289-5606.
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The Child Find Policy (Annual Notice) Policy and Procedures for Students with Disabilities at Northwood Academy Charter School aim to ensure that all students with disabilities who are eligible to enroll in the school will have available to them a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. CLICK HERE for the complete policy.
FAMILIES IN TRANSITION: NORTHWOOD IS HERE TO HELP
If you and your family lack fixed, regular, or adequate housing (for example, living in a shelter, transitional home, or even doubled-up with other people) due to loss of housing or economic hardship, you may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which ensures educational stability for students experiencing homelessness.
To learn more about the rights of eligible families, click here for a brief video.
If you qualify for rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, contact Lower School Counselor and Northwood's Homelessness Liaison Ms. Lozandieu at mlozandieu@northwoodcs.org for more information.
Are you or someone you know in need of housing, food, health, and safety services? Please check out these resources from Project HOME: Where To Turn Guide.
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.
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