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Hello North Syracuse Central School District parents, guardians, teachers, and staff,

Welcome to another new year and another opportunity to refresh! It was great to be back in buildings this week and see our school community abuzz once again.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting Melissa Dickens' kindergarten class at Cicero Elementary School. During my time there, I was invited to participate in their classroom' "Community Circle." The students took turns sharing their holiday break experiences and listening to their classmates with intention. Mrs. Dickens skillfully facilitated the circle, guiding the students’ interactions and helping them respond to their classmates with kindness and consideration.

Later in the week, I attended our Legislative Committee meeting, where our Director of Social Emotional Learning Lisa Goldberg provided a presentation on SEL and talked about the importance of connections. Lisa emphasized how these connections contribute significantly to the well-being and growth of our students.

After Lisa’s presentation, CNS English Teacher Sara Bambino and students Brady Gwilt and Joseph Kawola, who are involved with their school’s Positivity Project, also spoke. The students gave an overview of the Positivity Project and outlined some of the efforts the group has taken on to promote strength of character at the school. Notably, the students stressed the critical importance of connecting with others as part of a successful school experience.

Having just experienced a week with so much focus on the importance of connecting with others, I wanted to again use this article to share that message. Without a doubt, I know that our collective efforts make a significant impact on the lives of our students and this reminds me of our district motto: Brighter Together. We are all our own small lights but when we come together, the light intensifies and has the potential to light the universe.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the North Syracuse Central School District. Here's to a year filled with growth, learning, and strong connections!

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

North Syracuse Junior High School is proud to present this year's musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13.

Click here to purchase tickets through Ticket Spicket.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• $8 students/seniors, general admission
• $10 adults, general admission
• $12 reserved seats (all ages)

General admission tickets will also be sold for cash in our school starting on 1/8/24, and at the door before each performance. Reserved seats are only available online.

Click here to read the complete article online.

The Optimist Club of Cicero-North Syracuse is sponsoring an Essay Contest with a top award of a $2,500 college scholarship. Students under the age of 19 who live within the boundaries of the North Syracuse Central School District are eligible to participate. Entries for this year’s contest, “Optimism: How it Connects Us?,” are due by January 26, 2024.

Click here to read the complete article online and to download an application.

Prior to the holiday recess, 4th grade students at Allen Road Elementary School had a fun and unique opportunity thanks to a collaboration with our food service department. Director Wendy Swift arranged a farm to school day so students could learn about fresh fruits and veggies. The speaker, Sophia Dimkopoulos, an intern with us from Syracuse University, discussed where produce comes from and how it grows along with why buying local is a good idea. Students also were able to taste test vegetables and even went home with vegetables and recipes to try with their families. #NSBrighterTogether

Earlier in December, the English as a New Language (ENL) teachers at Cicero-North Syracuse High School and North Syracuse Junior High School held an information night and student celebration for ENL families and students. Parents were invited to attend and learn more about graduation requirements, parents’ rights, types of diplomas, extracurricular activities and more. Attendees also celebrated the following students who have tested out of the ENL program: Ranya AbuAlia, Gagan Adhikari, Gourav Adhikari, Aleks Atakan Gulay, Zaid Attallah, Marwan Azzam, Hadeel Azzam, Mohammad Baqaakhail, Adior Dit, Amrisha FNU, Brandon Horta Galvez, Matthew Sierra Morales, Elvine Tamba and Merisan Tusa. Congratulations to these students and thank you to all the families for attending! #NSBrighterTogether

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.

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.

Thank you to Northstar Network Commentator and CNS Senior Johnny Lisi for sending pictures from the December 28 Optimist Hockey Tournament at Twin Rinks in Cicero. Johnny is pictured with CNS English Teacher Shannon Dengos and Joe Seidman.

Thank you to Gillette Road Middle School Teacher Lee Bertone for sharing pictures of the school's Associate Principal Beth Francescotti reading The Polar Express to 5th grade students prior to the holiday recess.

Stephanie Dair shared this picture of Allen Road Elementary School student Landen Whitcomb making a Gingerbread House during the classroom holiday party for Mrs. Kermes and Mrs. Dair's students.

Junior’s milestone night propels Cicero-North Syracuse boys hoops over Fayetteville-Manlius (photos) Jan. 3, 20224 from Syracuse.com (Subscription required) CNS Junior Andrew Benedict became the boys basketball program's all-time leading 3-point shooter.

Congratulations to the following Cicero-North Syracuse High School students who were recently named to the 2023 All-Central New York Boys Volleyball team: Carter King, Josh Luce, Jack Waite. Additionally, Josh Luce is a finalist for the boys volleyball player of the year and CNS Coach Lucia was named Coach of the Year. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

Congratulations to Cicero-North Syracuse High School student Allison Navarra

who was recently named to the 2023 All-Central New York Girls Volleyball team. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

Congratulations to the following Cicero-North Syracuse High School students who were recently named as 2023 Section III Field Hockey All-Stars: Eva Farone and Gabby Wameling. Additionally, Gabby Wameling is a finalist for Player of the Year honors. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

Congratulations to North Syracuse Junior High School student Kennedy Jones who was recently named as a 2023 All-Central New York Girls Cross Country All-Star. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

Congratulations to the following Cicero-North Syracuse High School students who were recently named as 2023 All-Central New York Girls Soccer All-Stars: Katalina Lawrence and Emilee Rio. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

Congratulations to the following Cicero-North Syracuse High School students who were recently named as 2023 All-Central New York Football All-Stars (First Team): Anthony Johnson, Tristan Johnson, Joe Main, Jaxon Razmovski, Marcus Reed II and Nathan Williams. Additionally, Davine Bennett and Terrell Wright were named to Second Team and Alex D’Avirro, Owen Ellis, James Magda, Will Mann, Tommy Newton, Caleb Ormond, Jacob Purdy and Leonzo Zimmerman received Honorable Mentions. Congratulations to Jaxon Razmovski for being named a finalist for the Player of the Year honors. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

JANUARY 8: Board of Education meeting at 6 PM at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse

JANUARY 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Schools Closed

JANUARY 31: Staff Workshops - Half-Day of School for Grades Pre-K through 12

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/