Northern News

February Sports Schedule - https://www.arbiterlive.com/School/Calendar/16473

February 14, 2025 - Teacher In-Service; No School

February 17, 2025 - Winter Break; No School

February 18, 2025 - Committee Meeting; Administration Building; 6:30 PM

February 25, 2025 - School Board Meeting; Administration Building; 6:30 PM

February 27, 2025 - Budget Committee Meeting; Administration Building, 6:30 PM

February 28, 2025 - High School Musical; NHS Auditorium

March 1, 2025 - High School Musical; NHS Auditorium

March 2, 2025 - High School Musical; NHS Auditorium

Each year, Northern creates a Holiday card featuring artwork from our very own students. At the January 28th, 2025 Board meeting, the students who had artwork featured on the card were honored and recognized by Mr. Kirkpatrick.

Featured Student Artwork

Each year, an art piece is presented to the Board in honor of their service to the district by Northern staff and students. This year's selection was Sticky Steps Forward by Gabriella Reynolds, 12th Grade. Gabriella's artwork featured a boot made entirely of tape!

The 2025 Feeding School Kids initiative is underway! From January 1 through March 31, 2025, The GIANT Company invites customers to join in supporting Feeding School Kids by rounding up at the register. The GIANT Company will directly support customers’ generosity by matching all donations up to $100,000. Northern York County School District will be included as a beneficiary of this initiative with the goal of enhancing the district’s efforts to eliminate childhood hunger. The GIANT Company looks forward to raising funds to help eliminate hunger and nourish school children in need. We can make a bigger difference when we work together.

"It is with a spirit of gratitude and reflection that I announce my retirement as Superintendent of Northern York County School District. This will take effect at the end of my current contract on June 30, 2025.

I am so glad that 22-year old me selected education as my career path, because I cannot imagine another journey that would have been more rewarding—the incredible bonds with colleagues, the outlet for creativity, and most of all the opportunity to impact and inform young lives.

While I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities for me to say thank you over the remaining few months, let me take this first moment to express how deeply grateful I am to have worked alongside so many talented, dedicated, and extraordinary people here at Northern. I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the next superintendent and will be working with the Board to provide any assistance needed." - Mr. Steve Kirkpatrick

While we were saddened by the news this week of Mr. Kirkpatrick's plans to retire at the end of the school year, the Northern Polar Bear family wishes him a wonderful retirement and thanks him for his leadership and continued dedication to our district! You may view the press release below.

Get ready for the high school musical! They will be presenting "Anastasia". Mark your calendars for February 28th, March 1st and March 2nd to come out and support our wonderful actors.

There were over 1000 entries at the regional level in this year’s Scholastic Writing competition. Approximately 20% of entries received an award with Northern HS receiving several. Students received Honorable Mention, Silver Key and Gold Key. Only about 5% of entries receive a Gold Key award. Gold Key winners move on to compete at the National level.

Gold Key

Reece Fleming for the poetry category. His piece is titled Genocide of Stars

Silver Key

Kate Jayman

Honorable Mention

Isabella Westrick

Ethan Saunders

Lily Maurer

Sydney Silbaugh

Madeline Elliott

Thanks everyone for the support!

The high school counselors are looking for guest speakers to volunteer time to present their career to high school students during their Flex Period (2:10 PM - 2:40 PM). One of the reasons Flex was added was to allow time where students could focus on career exploration. Last year, speakers included a State Trooper, the military, a real estate professional, a doctor, a registered nurse, and an engineer. Students sign up for career presentations based on interest. The presentations are given in a classroom and typically range from 10 to 20 students. The counselors would love to offer more opportunities this school year. If interested in volunteering your time to talk about your job/career, please click on this link and fill out a short form. Someone from the high school will reach out to set up a time to visit.

On Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, twelve Northern Middle School students collaborated in grade-level teams in a two-hour online competition, each team hoping to earn a place at the Future Problem Solvers State Bowl to be held in Camp Hill this spring. The Future Problem Solvers competitors have been preparing for the competition for weeks.

During the competition, each team read a future scene that addressed a potential future problem in the world. The topic for this year’s competition was Agricultural Industry. After analyzing the scene, each team identified 16 unique challenges. From those 16 challenges, the team composed a statement that identified the overall underlying problem, and in an effort to address that issue, 16 different solutions. Ultimately, the team proposed a detailed action plan in response to the underlying problem and presented it using a thoughtful and creative approach.

6th grade FPS team: Stella Brown, Elliott Bryden, Sydney Ciccocioppo, and Natalie Hershey. Jacob Lininger serves as a valuable alternate to the team.

7th grade team: Henry Brubaker, Nathan Kim, Hunter Letner, and Sean St Clair.

8th grade team: Joel Artman, Michael Kertis, Luke Pietropola, and Lila Worley.

In January, the 5th Grade band performed as the pep band at a Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball game. The students are from all 4 elementary schools and learned 3 songs. The band played in the stands and on the court at half time. They had a lot of fun playing and cheering on the teams to victory!

When weather conditions dictate that unscheduled closings, delays, or early dismissals are in the best interest of student and staff safety, the District will use several communication channels to notify parents, students, and staff as quickly as possible. Notifications for each weather-related event will specify whether extracurricular activities including athletic games and practices will be canceled for the day.

Communication:

• Blackboard Alert Messaging System – Notification will be sent via automated phone calls and emails
• District Website – Information will be posted as an on-screen alert when you visit the District website at www.northernpolarbears.com
• Social Media – Information will be shared on the District’s Twitter feed @NorthernYorkSD
• Other – Details will also be reported to local radio and television stations

School Closing Directions:

1. For the first winter-weather closing, students and staff will have a “traditional snow day” – that is, there will be no instruction and all students and staff will simply be off. This first snow day will not need to be made up by students.
2. For the second and additional winter-weather closings, we will have virtual snow days – that is, instruction will take place at home and will be provided through remote learning. Each principal will be following up with families about what instructional delivery will look like on virtual snow days.

Wishing everyone a safe and fun winter season.

Northern has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to your needs regardless of circumstance.

Care Solace has Care Companions (customer service) available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to assist. Care Solace is not a treatment provider. Alternatively, it acts as a coordinator by connecting the user with a provider. There are several ways to access Care Solace to help you find a provider:

Call 1-888-515-0595;

Visit www.caresolace.com/northernyork and click the “Search On Your Own” button, or

Visit the Care Solace link found on our District Homepage: https://www.northernpolarbears.com/Page/14714

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school counselor with any questions regarding this service.

The Polar Cares Closet collects gently used clothing, toiletries and new cleaning supplies which are shared with students and families in need. The current needs are: feminine products, sweatpants (all genders/all sizes) and socks (all genders/all sizes). Also needed are Giant or Weis brown paper bags. All donations can be dropped off in any of the Polar Cares bins located in the lobby of each school building.

Donation questions? Please reach out to donatepolarcares@gmail.com. Thank you, as always, for your support of our NYCSD families!

Northern has a discount program for Dell computers and accessories to all district staff, students and families. Look for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals listed in the Polar Bear's TechConnect.

Link to website for discount pricing: http://www.dell.com/epp/NorthernYork

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Check out the district website here for a complete list of openings!

Spanish Teacher - HS

Social Studies Teacher - HS

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) - District Wide

See the district website for a complete listing.

Apply Online

Apply Online

Apply online: https://jobs.willsubplus.com/jobs?districtIds=623

WES Intensive Instructional Aides / 8:30 - 4:00 / $140/day

NMS Intensive Instructional Support Aide / 7:15-2:45 / $140/day

SME Intensive Instructional Support Aide / 8:30 - 4:00 / $140/day

NES/SME Library Aide / 8:30 - 4:00 / $110/day

SME Instructional Aide / Building Aide / 8:30 - 4:00 / $110/day

Refer a friend and make $100!! See the below QR code for details.

Please see the below flyers for more information on our contracted transportation providers, Kauffman and Rohrer.

All community flyers are posted online. Please visit the following link to view all flyers: https://www.northernpolarbears.com/domain/11

For those who wish to volunteer in our schools, the Volunteer Information Packet is located on the district website. All new volunteers must submit a TB test result obtained within 90 days or less of the volunteer application. TB test information including locations and cost may be found on the district website. Please allow adequate time for clearance processing! TB test results may take as long as 72 hours to obtain.

Already a volunteer and not sure if your clearances are up to date?? Check with the secretary at your child’s school or contact Maureen Ross at the District Office at mross@northernyork.org, 717-432-8691, ext. 1104.

Don't miss out on the fun activities for the 2024/2025 school year!! Be sure your clearances are on file and up to date!

#BecomeBelongBeNorthern

Get all the latest Northern York County School District school news at the following Twitter handles:

https://twitter.com/DearOldNorthern (Northern High School)

https://twitter.com/NMS_PolarBears (Northern Middle School)

https://twitter.com/DESPolarBears (Dillsburg Elementary)

https://twitter.com/NESPolarBears (Northern Elementary)

https://twitter.com/SMEPolarBears (South Mountain Elementary)

https://twitter.com/WESpolarbears (Wellsville Elementary)

Email: ssentman@northernyork.org
Website: www.northernpolarbears.com
Location: 650 South Baltimore Street, Dillsburg, PA, United States
Phone: 717-432-8691