Northridge Middle School Update

Here are some very important dates!!!

• Tuesday, March 11th- PTO Meeting, 3:45pm

• Friday, March 14th- NO SCHOOL, Teacher Workday

• Tuesday, March 18th- Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm

• Friday, March 21st- Prize Wheel at Lunches

• Friday, March 21st- 8th grade to C-TEC, 9am to 1:30pm

• Saturday, March 22nd through Sunday, March 30th- NO SCHOOL, Spring Break

Spring has officially sprung, and we've got a blooming fantastic way to celebrate! It’s time for the Northridge PTO Spring Flower Sale, running from March 5 - March 12, and you don’t even have to leave your couch to get in on the action. Yep, you heard that right—order gorgeous flowers, hanging baskets, and fresh vegetable plants from Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse straight from your phone or computer!

Here’s the best part: Every purchase helps our school THRIVE! That’s right—your beautiful blooms are blooming for a good cause. With every order, you’re supporting the Northridge PTO and all the amazing things they do for our kids and community.

How it Works:

1. Order stunning flowers, vibrant hanging baskets, and healthy vegetable plants via the link below.
2. Delivery straight to Northridge Elementary on May 6

Click Here To Get Your Flowers: https://app.fundraiseit.org/shop.php?code=28B243

The Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration program offers middle and high school students one-week intensive academic enrichment courses intended to introduce them to new areas of study or allow them to engage in content they may already have an interest in. In-person classes meet from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and are taught by Ohio State faculty, staff, and graduate students. Teaching is active, hands-on and encourages participants to engage with the instructional team and their fellow participants. These courses are not for grade or credit and are designed for self-motivated learners.

Find the link to this program HERE

Dear Parents and Students,

We are excited to inform you that the Washington, D.C. trip will proceed as scheduled! After careful planning and preparation, everything is in place for an unforgettable experience. We are looking forward to exploring the nation’s capital with our students, and we are confident this trip will be both educational and enjoyable.

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for the hard work and effort from both students, parents and staff to make this trip a reality. Your dedication has been instrumental in ensuring the success of this adventure, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Thank you for helping make this a memorable opportunity for our students. We look forward to a great trip and can't wait to see everyone there!

Warm regards,

Sean M. Smith, Principal

Please remember the following payment due dates:

Friday, April 4, 2025: $125 due (final payment)

The official start of the filing season began on January 27, 2025! Internal Revenue Service is reaching out to taxpayers this filing season to make certain that eligible families are claiming their tax credits when including dependents on their tax returns. As in prior years, I would like to ask Ohio public-school districts to help us spread the word to eligible families in this effort.

Child Tax Credit (CTC): The CTC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $2,000 for each child who qualifies you for the credit. To qualify, the child must be a U.S. citizen under age 17; have a Social Security number; be claimed as a dependent on the taxpayer's tax return; and more. Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does my child/dependent qualify for the child tax credit or the credit for other dependents?. For more information please see: Child Tax Credit.

Other Dependent Credit (ODC): The ODC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $500 for each eligible dependent. The person is claimed as a dependent on your return; the person can’t be used by you to claim the CTC or Additional CTC; the person was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. Again, use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does my child/dependent qualify for the child tax credit or the credit for other dependents?.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): One refundable tax credit for moderate- and low-income families is the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS estimates there are millions of workers who qualify but don't claim the EITC - missing out on thousands of dollars every year. The EITC is as much as $4,213 when claiming one child, $6,960 when claiming two children, and $7,830 when claiming three or more children. Use the EITC Assistant to learn if you're eligible for the tax credit. For more detailed information see: Publication 596, Earned Income Credit and Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Child and Dependent Care Credit: Taxpayers who paid someone to care for their child, spouse or dependent so they can work, be a full-time student or look for work may be able to reduce their tax by claiming the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The total expenses that you may use to calculate the credit may not be more than $3,000 (for one qualifying individual) or $6,000 (for two or more qualifying individuals). Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool: Am I Eligible to Claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit? For more information please see: Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses or Topic no. 602, Child and Dependent Care Credit

American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC): The AOTC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $2,500 for each eligible student for the first four years of higher education. The AOTC can be claimed for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent claimed on your return. See Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education, or use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool "Am I Eligible to Claim an Education Credit?" to help you determine if your education expenses qualify for a tax benefit.

Note: The actual credit amounts will be determined by a taxpayer’s Adjusted Gross Income.

OVERVIEW: Northridge Local Schools is pleased to work with local organizations to distribute materials with students, providing the purpose of the organization completes the educational mission of Northridge Local Schools. Materials are distributed by print and digitally through digital communications, to students and families.

To ensure the appropriateness of the distributed material:

o The district may request that the material be edited

o The district may ask for the inclusion of the disclaimer ensuring recipients do not expect the district to endorse the information

o The district will distribute forms in multiple forms- but PDF is the best way to sure links work

PROCESS: Please complete the form below and submit along with a sample of the material to be distributed, at least two weeks prior to the distribution date.

APPROVAL: Status of approval will be available within seven days of request

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION: Material can also be made available in hard copy in each school office. In order to have material available in the office, the item must be bundled in groups of 25, labeled and packaged separately by school, delivered to Northridge Local Schools – District Office at lease 10 days prior to the distribution. Large manila envelopes or two-gallon ziplock bags work best for transporting and distribution.

Find the form HERE

To strengthen and foster the lines of communication between home and school, we have created a series of videos and slides that will assist students, parents and guardians in answering questions on topics that are of importance. These videos and slides were created to answer questions of “What is CPM Math?” “What does PBIS mean and how will it be used at Northridge Middle School?” “What are Units of Study?” “What is ProgressBook and how do I use it to check my student’s progress?” “My student was absent, how can I find their assignment using Google Classroom?”

Our hope is that by using this form of communication will allow families to access, engage and be an active participant in their student’s learning. These videos will be available throughout the year and published at regular intervals so parents and guardians can use and review as needed.

*Please contact people in the order they are listed.

If you have a question, problem or concern dealing with the classroom:

• Contact your child’s teacher

• Contact the principal or assistant principal

• Contact the Curriculum Director, Mrs. Amy Warren

• Contact the Superintendent, Dr. Kristine Michael

If you have a question, problem or concern dealing with the bus:

• Contact the Director of Transportation, Mr. Travis Walton

• Contact the principal of your school

• Contact the Treasurer, Mr. Britt Lewis

• Contact the Superintendent, Dr. Kristine Michael

If you have a question, problem or concern dealing the cafeteria:

• Contact the Food Service Director, Mrs. Carley Lewis

• Contact the school principal

• Contact the Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. Rowena Kyle

• Contact the Superintendent, Dr. Kristine Michael

If you have a question, problem or concern dealing with athletics:

• Contact the coach of the sport

• Contact the Athletic Director, Mr. Kevin Jarrett

• Contact the Curriculum Director, Mrs. Amy Warren

• Contact the Superintendent, Dr. Kristine Michael

*If you are unsure who to contact, start with the child’s principal and ask him or her to direct you to the correct person or click HERE to be taken to the District directory.

Order form for the 2024-2025 Middle School Yearbook can be found HERE.

The Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration Program offers middle and high school students one-week intensive academic enrichment courses intended to introduce them to new areas of study or allow them to engage in content they may already have an interest in. In-person classes meet from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and are taught by Ohio State faculty, staff, and graduate students. Teaching is active, hands-on and encourages participants to engage with the instructional team and their fellow participants. These courses are not for grade or credit and are designed for self-motivated learners.

Eligibility is based on a participant’s grade level for the 2025-2026 school year. Students entering 7th - 9th grades in the fall of 2025 are eligible for middle school courses. Students entering 10th - 12th grade in the fall of 2025 are eligible for high school courses.

If you have questions about this program, please contact ExploreASC@osu.edu or call Courtney Price at 614-292-8208.

The application portal is now open. Submit your application today!

Looking for more options? Check out other summer youth programs offered by departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Application and deadline

The application deadline is Monday, April 14, 2025. Space in each course is limited, so individual courses may fill before the April 14 deadline.

If a participant requires an accommodation such as interpretation to participate in this program, please contact the program at ExploreASC@osu.edu or 614-292-8208. Requests should be made as soon as possible. Requests made two weeks before the first day of a course will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the university will make every effort to meet requests made after this date.

Tips for submitting an application

• When you click on the Apply Now button, you will be taken to the application system.
• If this is the first time you are applying to our program, you will need to register to create a free account. This option is available on the bottom left of the log in box.
• Once registered, you can login and submit your application.
  • Please note that applications should be completed by a parent/legal guardian.
• You will receive an email confirming that your application has been submitted.
• You can submit multiple applications from the same account. After submitting the first application, click on the home icon in the upper right corner.
• All applications you have submitted will be visible from the home screen. To submit an additional application, click the carrot next to Options on the upper right corner of the application text box. Select Apply Again from the dropdown menu.

Costs and aid

The program fee for the Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration 2025 program is $550 per one-week course, which includes all course materials and activities, lunch, and snacks.

• Sibling discount: A 10% discount on the program fee will be applied to the registration of the second + child from the same household.
• Limited need-based financial assistance may be available in the form of partial support. Financial assistance can be requested on the program application.
  

Payment deadlines

Applicants have one week to accept their offer of admission to the program and pay the program fee. All payments must be made through the applicant portal. Once an offer is accepted and payment made, the parent or legal guardian must submit emergency contact and medical information, as well as signed Policy Acknowledgement and Consent forms no later than May 1, 2025.

Refund Policy

The Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration Program recognizes that sometimes plans change. Participants may request a refund of the program fee by emailing ExploreASC@osu.edu according to the following schedule:

• On or before May 1, 2025: 100% of program fee paid
• May 2 – May 15, 2025: 50% of program fee paid
• On or after May 16, 2025: No refund of program fee paid

Click here for more information regarding program details and offerings.

OWL is a residential and day camp program of challenge and enrichment for Ohio's gifted and talented school students currently (at time of application) in grades 5-8.

Campers attending OWL select four courses from an academic program that includes mathematics, logic, computing, science, humanities and creative development. Cultural, recreational and social activities round out the experience.

Residential campers reside in an air-conditioned dorm on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus, where they live in a family group atmosphere with an adult OWL counselor. Only OWL campers and counselors will occupy the dorm during our residential camp. No other individuals will share the dorm with OWL during the summer.

Day campers join us daily until 4:30pm. Campers will participate in a family group atmosphere when not in their four enrichment classes and enjoy the same cafeteria lunch that college students do.

Approximately 700 campers are selected to attend the OWL program, this includes residential and day camps, representing more than 120 schools throughout Ohio.

C-Tec will be offering a Career Exploration and STEM Summer Camps for students in grades 6 to 8. Find the informational flyer HERE.

The College of Wooster’s B-WISER Science Camp for teen girls is currently enrolling students for this summer. B-WISER is a non-profit that began in 1990. We prioritize making this unique overnight experience affordable and offer financial aid scholarships, which reduce the total cost to $160 for students who qualify for free/reduced school meals.

B-WISER (Buckeye Women in Science, Engineering, and Research) is a residential summer science camp for teen girls hosted by The College of Wooster from June 16-21, 2025. B-WISER is a team-taught, hands-on science experience. Campers stay in college dorms and participate in laboratory-based courses in state-of-the-art science facilities. Curriculum includes biology, chemistry, physics, geology, engineering, and select advanced topics. Participants will also meet with experienced and successful women working in various STEM fields.

Established in 1990, the mission of B-WISER is to encourage young women to pursue their interests in the sciences. The camp is supported by The College of Wooster, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, and the Ardelle and Theresa Glaze Foundation, Inc. B-WISER camp is a girl-centered program open to students finishing 7th or 8th grade. The application deadline is April 30. Several financial aid scholarships are available to those who qualify. For more information and to register, please visit the camp website: https://bwiser.spaces.wooster.edu/

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to introduce a new and efficient way of keeping you informed about your child’s attendance at school. Northridge has activated the School Attendance feature in ParentSquare. We believe this change will benefit you and your children.

Daily Attendance Notifications

Through ParentSquare, you will receive a prompt notification informing you of your child’s school absences. These notifications will help you stay up-to-date, ensuring you are notified if your student is not present at school. Northridge will send the notifications in both voice and text formats.

Attendance Notes from Parents and Guardians

One of the key benefits of this feature is that it allows you to send attendance notes back to the school through the Parent Square app if your student is absent. This feature significantly reduces the need for phone calls to the school and makes it more convenient for you to communicate important information about your child’s absence. Parents and guardians may still call the main office and send in a written note to notify us of an absence, but most will find using the Parent Square platform more convenient. The reason for the student’s absence must be reported to the school within two days, per district policy.

We are confident that utilizing this tool will significantly enhance communication, making it easier for you to stay informed about your student’s attendance.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kristine Michael, Superintendent

WOOO HOOOO....We are ALSO excited to announce that we will be offering FREE breakfast and lunch to all students district-wide regardless of their free or reduced... Read More

Northridge Elementary School Lunch Menu

Northridge Middle School Lunch Menu

Northridge High School Lunch Menu

Please make sure to sign-up for Parent Square which is replacing Bloomz, Remind, etc as the District's new efficient and effective communication tool.

Parent Square 2024-2025...download the Parent Square App TODAY!!! We will begin communicating and sharing school information through this tool beginning this week.

ParentSquare is the premier fully unified product that engages every family with school communications and communications-based services—all the way from the district office to the classroom teacher, and all in one place.

Please follow the letter sent to you from the Northridge school district or go to the Northridge School website and Parent Forms instructions are there.

Please click HERE for step by step directions of downloading and using Parent Square.

Why Attendance Matters

• Studies have shown that regular attendance correlates to success in school

• Regular attendance means academic learning is not interrupted, less time spent on make-up assignments, student benefits from class participation and interaction with others

Pledge to Attend- #StayInTheGame

Communication to Families about Attendance Changes in Handbooks approved by Board of Education

Are you in need of a mobile hotspot?

Licking County Library has more than great books! From board games and musical instruments to mobile hotspots and tablets, we can jumpstart your next hobby and pursue your interests. Their array of unique lending materials is listed here!

Northridge Middle School
Mohican Adventures Trip
Date: May 28, 2025 (Rain date will be May 27th)

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We are excited to announce a field trip for our seventh-grade students to Mohican Adventures on May 28, 2025! This trip will provide students with the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities, learn about nature, and build teamwork skills.

Trip Details:

• Destination: Mohican Adventures

• Date: May 28, 2025

• Departure Time: 8:00 AM

• Return Time: 6:00 PM

• Cost: $85.00 (includes transportation, all activities, and lunch)

• 1st payment of $20 is due November 15, 2024

• 2nd payment of $20 is due January 15, 2025

• 3rd payment of $20 is due March 15, 2025

• 4th payment of $25 is due May 15, 2025

Activity Options for the Day:
Students will have two options for the day:

1. Outdoor Adventure Package:

• 3-mile river trip on a raft (6 students and 1 adult per raft)

• 1-hour aerial park ticket (ropes course)

• 3 tickets to use on mini-golf or go-karts

2. Team-Building Package:

• 1-hour aerial park ticket (ropes course)

• 6 tickets to use on mini-golf or go-karts

• Other outdoor games will also be available (corn hole, frisbee, etc)

Please complete the permission slip and return it by Nov.15, 2024.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to an enjoyable and educational experience for our students.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hall
ahall@northridgevikings.org

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 20 to June 2, 2024.

“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Sergeant Landis, Ohio State Highway Patrol. “It’s not just a safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented.”

The national seat belt use rate in 2023 was 91.9%, which is good — but it can be better. The other 8.1% still need to be reminded that seatbelts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. Also, seat belt use differs among females and males. Of the males killed in crashes in 2021, more than half (54%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 42% were not buckled up.

“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our mission to be a success,” said Sergeant Landis. “If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits. Help us spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up.”

For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.

Mission: Empowering All Students To Reach Their Fullest Potential.

Viking Values: Trust, Leadership, Communication, Collaboration, Accountability, Integrity & Respect.

Safety: If You See Something, Say Something