NorthStar Lights

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

I recently had a chance to visit with Mrs. Trisha Nelson, a 5th grade teacher at Roxboro Road Middle School and spent time with her and her students during a science lesson. Science is about experimentation and trial and error so it was interesting to watch the students work together, test each others' theories and come up with shared conclusions.

When I wrote this message last week, I talked about welcoming Micron to the community and the opportunities that will soon be available through the organization - among them STEM jobs and education. As I watched Mrs. Nelson's students immersed in their science lesson, I couldn't help but connect their learning to the upcoming opportunities. We are preparing our students for the future and at this historic time, it is more important than ever that we continue to do so. As a District, we are committed to ensuring that our teachers are supported on this venture.

Next week is a short one for our students. Tuesday, Nov. 8, Election Day, is a Superintendent's Conference Day and there is no school for students. Nov. 11 is Veteran's Day, a national holiday, so there is no school on Friday. America's veterans are some of our nation's bravest, hardest-working men and women and they deserve our gratitude for their service. Please join me in offering thanks and appreciation to this dedicated group of Americans.

Because of Veteran's Day, this newsletter will not be published next week. Additionally, we will be switching to an every other week format for the remainder of the school year as we work to improve our communications with families and staff. You may remember that the NSCSD is going through a voluntary communications audit through Capital Region BOCES. As part of that audit, we will be offering staff, student and community focus groups later this month. The survey attached to that audit is also open through midnight tonight. If you haven't already had a chance, please take a few minutes to complete the brief survey by clicking here.

#NSBrighterTogether

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

The North Syracuse Central School District recently launched a campaign to strategically improve its schools and classrooms over the next five years. Using the Brighter Together five-year strategic plan as a roadmap, the district is committed to the mission of educating all students to the highest levels of academic achievement while preparing them to be productive, responsible, ethical, creative and compassionate members of society.

As part of the strategic planning process, the NSCSD is conducting a districtwide survey to gather community input about the district’s communications efforts. All students, staff, parents and community members are invited to take a 17-question online communication survey. The survey will open on Monday, October 24 and remain open through Friday, November 4.

Click here for additional information and to access the survey.

The Cicero-North Syracuse High School Drama department is giving students a rewarding experience in its first-ever FULLY student-run production.

By: Alaina Sokolowski and Megan Truong

Whether they be wizards, wannabes, or somewhere in between, all children have something in common when Autumn hits. You guessed it - SCHOOL! As it nears mid-October, the ritual of getting up early and joining in the busyness of the school day has become the norm for fictitious and genuine kids alike along with the added hustling and bustling of fall sports and clubs. One such club, although existent at quite an ordinary high school, is anything but typical; and it’s not just because of the magic wands.

Click here to read the complete article online.

For the first time in 35 years, the Cicero-North Syracuse High School Marching Band has gone undefeated through their entire season AND won the National Class New York State Field Band Championship! Congratulations to our NorthStars on this amazing accomplishment. The band is currently on their way to New York City to perform in this weekend's US Bands National Championship at MetLife Stadium. Please join us in offering our support and well wishes as they take on some great bands.

As part of a new CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) curriculum at NSCSD elementary schools, Christina Palumbo, a second grade teacher at KWS Bear Road Elementary School, shared the picture above of her students learning about the Middle Ages/Medieval Times and using the lesson to design their own Coat of Arms.

Danielle Preville, a second grade teacher at Smith Road Elementary School, also shared pictures from a trip her students took across the world...while staying right in their classroom. Danielle's students had the chance to celebrate learning about Early Asian Civilizations

Danielle said that the students made lanterns, wrote their names in Chinese, used chopsticks, built the Great Wall of China and even tried Chinese food. Many thanks to both teachers for sharing their classroom experiences and photos!

The North Syracuse Central School District is asking District voters to save the date Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 for an important capital project vote. Polling on December 6 will take place at designated locations (Cicero Elementary School for residents who live north of Route 481 or the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building for residents who live south of Route 481) from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A meeting about the project will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 W. Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse.

The December referendum includes $61.2 million of work to existing facilities with the majority ($32 million) designated for safety and security improvements throughout the District. An additional $21.2 million is proposed for required infrastructure work at Gillette Road Middle School and the North Syracuse Early Education Program at Main Street. Another $8 million will be used to install a multi-purpose turf field and walking trail at Gillette Road Middle School and to reconstruct the existing parking areas.

Click here to read the complete article online.

On Tuesday, we had an invitation to Mr. Mark D'Alberto's Guitar Class at North Syracuse Junior High School. Yes...GUITAR Class. It is new this year and this group of 8th grade students have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn a new skill. Kudos to these kiddos for taking on a challenge and to our fabulous music department for this cool offering!

The North Syracuse Education Foundation has been celebrating 20 years of giving in 2022 and wants to use the final months of the year to get the word out about the importance of programs that have been made available to NSCSD students because of their grants. The NSEF serves a simple, but comprehensive purpose: to ensure that North Syracuse Central School District students benefit from a quality education to maintain and enhance the level of excellence in North Syracuse schools. With the unfortunate reality of diminishing local and federal funding, the NSEF has filled the desperate need of stretching budgets by funding projects and materials to enhance students’ education.

In its 20 years of existence, the NSEF has funded more than $200,000 worth of programs that have directly benefited all students from grades pre-k through 12. The group’s mission is to sponsor activities and projects intended to enhance the education and cultural enrichment of students of the NSCSD. Programs and materials provided through the NSEF supplement those typically funded by the regular school budget.

Scan the QR code above to make a donation to the NSEF 20K for 20 Years fundraiser.

Onondaga County will again be offering asymptomatic COVID testing for NSCSD students, families and staff. Anyone that was signed up last year will only need to make sure that the school listed as where their child attends is current. Directions to follow can be found here.

Those who did not participate last year but would like to be tested this year, will need to create an account and a testing profile for their child on https://app.clarifi-covid-19.com/register

If you are no longer interested in asymptomatic covid testing, please change your child’s testing profile to "Opt Out Of Onondaga School Testing" so that their name no longer appears on the school's list. Direction for opting out can be found here.

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.

This past Monday was Halloween and as you might imagine, we received a number of photos from various school celebrations. Many thanks to all the teachers, principals and parents who took time to share their pictures!

Thank you to Stacy Peffley from Cicero Elementary School for sharing some great photos from the school's Trunk or Treat celebration. Families really got into the event and students had an extra special "treat" with a visit from school mascot, Chipper.

Linda Congdon shared this photo of the 3rd grade teachers at Smith Road Elementary School dressed up in their Halloween Minions costumes saying "Bello" as only minions can!

Kristin Pyer, a substitute teacher and parent in the NSCSD, shared a couple pictures of staff from Roxboro Road Middle School dressed up for Halloween. The first is a group of 5th grade teachers and the second is of the incredibly CARING guidance department staff dressed appropriately as Care Bears!

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

The North Syracuse Central School District 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.

NOVEMBER 7: Board of Education meeting at 6 PM at North Syracuse Junior High School. If you'd like to attend the meeting in-person, you must pre-register by Friday, November 4. Please email jherrera@nscsd.org to attend.

NOVEMBER 8: Election Day/Superintendent's Conference Day - No School for Students.

NOVEMBER 11: Veteran's Day - No School for Students or Staff.

NOVEMBER 21: 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 Friday, November 18. Please email jherrera@nscsd.org to attend.

NOVEMBER 23-25: Thanksgiving Recess - No School for Students or Staff.

NOVEMBER 29: Public Hearing for Capital Project Referendum at 6 PM at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse.

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