NorthStar Lights

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

This week I want to introduce you to an outstanding member of the NSCSD community: Angel Cuencas. Angel is not only a valued staff member as a security guard at Roxboro Road Middle School, he is a parent in the district and a truly altruistic member of our community. In October, Angel was honored by The Salvation Army at their Civic Celebration. The event was an incredible gathering of around 800 people, during which Angel's inspiring story was shared as an example of resilience and perseverance.

Angel's journey of seeking shelter and safety as a young person at Booth House, a Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter, to becoming a dedicated member of our school district's security team, is a reminder of the incredible potential for change and the positive impact we can have on one another.

We are grateful to Angel for sharing his very personal story at the Civic Celebration, and he has our full support and admiration. I encourage you to watch Angel's video and when you do consider the fact that we never really know what someone else is going through. For years I've walked through the doors at Roxboro Road Middle School and have been greeted by Angel, the upbeat, friendly security guard. Never would I have imagined that upbeat man had gone through years of personal and family struggles.

I want to personally thank Angel for his courage in sharing his journey. His story reminds us that kindness and empathy are essential in our community. Let's take this opportunity to learn about each other, be kind, and extend a helping hand whenever we can. Together, we can make a positive impact and create a more supportive and compassionate environment for everyone in our North Syracuse Central School District community.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication.

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

This Sunday, November 5, don't forget to move your clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. This annual tradition, which typically occurs in the early hours of the morning, provides an extra hour of sleep and marks the shift towards shorter daylight hours as we transition into the winter season. It's a reminder to adjust our clocks and enjoy a slightly longer night's rest, as we prepare for the cozier, darker days ahead.

Kevin Toms, now a junior at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, continues his heartfelt dedication to honor the memory of his childhood best friend, Griffin Engle this weekend.

The can and bottle drive holds special significance as Kevin dedicates it to his close friends who have steadfastly supported him in this annual effort despite never having known Griffin.

• Can Crush Cancer
• November 4 and 5 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Location: Griffin's Guardians (8116 Brewerton Rd, Cicero)

Click here to read the complete article online.

Congratulations to the Cicero-North Syracuse High Schoool marching band for securing their position as the National division champion at the New York State Field Band Conference state meet, for the second consecutive year.

CNS delivered a near-perfect performance, earning a remarkable score of 96.3. Their dedication and passion shone brightly, enabling them to outshine season-long rival Liverpool, who performed "Ascend."

Click here to read the complete article online.

The Cicero-North Syracuse High School Girls' Soccer Team has won the 2023 Class AAA Section 3 Championship! Congratulations!

The Cicero-North Syracuse High School fall play, Arsenic and Old Lace, will take place at North Syracuse Junior High School on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18.

You can buy tickets here.

The show stars CNS students Lucy Barrera, Lily Bero, Isabella Borte, Natalie Brushell, Evan Brzostek, Joe Calveric, Joey Cox, Halia Dice, Annalisa Emmi, Abby Gonçalves, Aiden Ketchum, Ethan Meives, Gabriella Pinoargotte and Noah Seitz.

Arsenic and Old Lace is a student run production - directed by Danielle Rausa and John Nadler; and produced by Senior Mady Mohat. Set design and construction is by 4-D Productions and Mr. Nadler’s Fundamentals of Design in Theater class.

Click here to read more about the play.

Congratulations to North Syracuse Early Education Program Speech Therapist Wendy Tracy

Click here to read the article online.

The North Syracuse Central School District is celebrating Kindness Month this November and is asking students, staff and families to get on board. November 13th is designated as World Kindness Day so we're using the opportunity to kick off a week-long kindness campaign. For the kindness spirit week, students will see the following themes:

Monday, November 13 - Kindness shirts (any shirt/sweatshirt that has a kind message on it)

Tuesday, November 14 - Blue (stand up against bullying)

Wednesday, November 15 - Positive vibes - wear them, share them, and spread them

Thursday, November 16 - Yellow or neon colors (wear yellow or neon to brighten up someone's day)

Friday, November 17 - North Syracuse clothing (united together in North Syracuse)

Don't have a kindness shirt? Here's a list of vendors who sell them. Interested in spreading more kindness? Here are some resources. Thank you for helping to make kindness the norm.

The CNS Star Shop is running an L2Brands Apparel Holiday Sale. In order to receive your apparel in time for the holidays, you must place your order by Friday, November 3. After you place your order, please call Linda Dwyer on 315 218-4150 to process the payment. All orders can be picked up at CNS High School. If you are unable to come in during the school day, you can make arrangements to pick up your order at CNS High School security. Click the following link to complete an order form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSwH1_xg_Gf9R6o_ASxzhTbDsTb42MlrKOr4brN4iMKU4v_g/viewform

Every year, the North Syracuse Education Foundation (NSEF) celebrates the dedication and creativity of educators in the NSCSD by awarding grants that bring innovative educational concepts to life. One such grant that has captured the imagination of many is the "Inchy Worm Book Vending Machine." This clever initiative was made possible by a grant to Peggy Parker at KWS Bear Road Elementary School. When Peggy retired, Debbie Gavin worked to bring Peggy’s vision to life and their combined work promises to transform the educational experience for students in grades K-4.

Rewarding and Recognizing Excellence
The primary goal of the Inchy Worm Book Vending Machine is to recognize and reward students for their outstanding achievements and positive character traits. It's no secret that when students are motivated and feel appreciated, their academic performance and behavior tend to improve. This innovative project aims to do just that by creating an enticing incentive: free books!

Click here to read the complete article online and find out how you can contribute.

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.

Despite the unpleasantly premature dose of winter weather on November 1, our amazing CNS Business Club students got out to make a difference in their community by heading to Heritage Park for a park clean-up. They worked to help Tony Burkinshaw and his staff get the park ready for the winter. Many thanks to Mike Lucia and Rick Mancabelli, CNS Business Club Advisors, for sharing these pictures (above and to the right) and great news...but especially for making a connection with our community and giving our students a chance to give back to the people who support them!

CNS Business Club students participating today included: Justin Asch, Mirella Borte, Rhen Byrnes, Thomas Christou, Angel Cuencas, Andrew Davis, Dylan Fournier, Ryan Hill, Bryan Krishock, Ryan Leahey, Nathan Luangaphay, Amon Mangar, Alyssa Marko, Nick Marullo, Lal Mawi, Abigail Neely, Brian Pham, Michael San, David Schmidt, Adara Seyer, Tyler Sisco, Lucas Thelen, Urguen Tamang, Nhi Tran, Maddisyn Uon, Maria Vastakis, Gabrielle Heater and Shaun Tuper.

We're excited to share some news from North Syracuse Junior High School Band Director Jen MacDerment. Jen shares that her talented 9th-grade student, Abigail Gable, will be participating in the NYSSMA Area All-State Festival on November 4th-5th, 2023, at Homer High School!

Jen says, "Abbi is a phenomenal French horn player right here at North Syracuse Junior High School, and we couldn't be more proud of her dedication and hard work. Her musical prowess has earned her a well-deserved spot at this prestigious event!"

Mark your calendars to see Abbi and other outstanding musicians performing at the band concert on Saturday, November 5th, at 4:00 pm at Homer High School.

Many thanks to Speech Therapist Jennifer Thayer for sharing pictures (right and below) of students in the North Syracuse Early Education Program having fun and learning through play.

Just wondering...have you heard of the Community Builder’s Club at North Syracuse Junior High School? It has been around for decades.

The co-educational service club provides students with opportunities to serve their school and community. This year, members will be working on a variety of projects within the school district as well as the larger community. Advisor Kathy Carr says they work closely with local groups like North Area Meals on Wheels, the Town of Cicero, the Village of North Syracuse, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and more.

Earlier this school year, Kathy and her daughter Courtney Lepore (who also works at the junior high) helped recruit new students for the club during the school's Club Fair.

For example, the club just made 300 decorative candy brooms out of lollipops, straws, and tissue paper to be handed out by Meals on Wheels. They’ve also been out in the community. Students recently helped out at a fall festival at the Bridgeport Fire Department. There are currently 60 members in the club, but new members can join at any time. To learn more about the club, you can reach out to Advisory Kathy Carr at kcarr2@nscsd.org. You can also see all their projects by following the club on Facebook. Check out their page here.

Congratulations to the following Cicero-North Syracuse High School students who were recently named as Section III Salt City Athletic Conference boys’ soccer all-stars: Hunter Lawless, Jackson Petzoldt and Nikolas Servider were named to the First Team; Gagan Adhikari, Adam Bonnier, Titus Dimitroff and Dante Melfi were named to Second Team; and Gourav Adhikari, Vincent Edwards, Colt Hiltz, Jacob Klasen and Max Klasen received Honorable Mention. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

Congratulations to the following Cicero-North Syracuse High School students who were recently named as Section III Salt City Athletic Conference girls’ tennis all-stars: Meghan Meives and Lilly Misco were named to the First Team; Andrea Iqbal, Lauren Malec, MacKenzie Prentice and Kathleen Taru were named to Second Team; and Jaila Killingbeck received Honorable Mention. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

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 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 every other 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 5: Daylight Saving Time Ends (move clocks back 1 hour)

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

NOVEMBER 7: Election Day/Superintendent's Conference Day - No School for Students

NOVEMBER 10: Veteran's Day Observed - Schools Closed

NOVEMBER 17: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' CNS fall play at 7 PM at North Syracuse Junior High School

NOVEMBER 18: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' CNS fall play at 7 PM at North Syracuse Junior High School

NOVEMBER 20: Board of Education meeting 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