MSHS Tuesday Newsday

Dear NS Families,

I hope this finds everyone well and warm! The temps have dipped pretty quickly and we may have a light dusting Wednesday night, so please be safe in your travels Thursday. Remember we have parent teacher conferences and no school for students on Thursday, December 5th (the book fair is all this week) and the Harlem Wizards are in town this Friday, December 6, 2024. Check the link in the calendar below for tickets!

We are also in music season which I love - tonight at 7:30 p.m. is our Chorus Concert. Students should arrive at 6:30. See below for the details for our upcoming Band Concerts. I hope to see many there tonight.

Parents, please be sure you complete the NYSED Tech Survey which can be found on your Parent Portal account.

Our 7th grade class in Media Literacy was highlighted in a segment on CBS News Online. Click the link to see the wonderful work the students completed on learning about disinformation and misinformation.

I also hope to see many next Thursday night (12/12 @ 7pm) as we host Chad Brice the Director of Training at Cognitive & Behavior Consultants (CBC), for a basic overview on DBT concepts for parents.

Have a great week,

Mr. DiGrandi

12/2-12/6 - MSHS PTO Book Fair

12/3- High School Picture Retakes

12/3- MS Chorus Concert 7:30 pm (12/11 Snow Date)

12/5- Parent Teacher Conferences - No School for Students

12/6- Harlem Wizards Booster Club Basketball Game, 7pm

12/10- Middle School Picture Retakes

12/10- MS Band Concert 7:30 pm (12/12 Snow Date)

12/12- Parent Workshop, 7:00pm, MSHS Auditorium

12/13- MS Student Forum Holiday Movie Night, 5:30pm

12/17- HS Concert 7:30 (12/18 Snow Date)

12/18- BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

12/23-1/1 - Schools Closed - Holiday Recess

Auditions _ 12/4/24 @ 3pm

Talent Show – 1/24/25 @ 6:30pm **NEW Date

Categories:

• Best Teacher Performance
• Best Sports Team Performance
• Best MS Performance
• Best HS Performance
• Best Video

See flyer for sign up information!

On Wednesday, December 11th, Katie Koestner will present to our 11th and 12th graders. Ms. Koestner has lectured at over 5,000 schools in North America including the incoming classes at MIT, Brown University, West Point, the US Naval Academy, Amherst College, Williams College, the top 200 officers of the Department of Defense, and the American Association of School Administrators. Her testimony on Capitol Hill was instrumental in the passage of federal student safety legislation. We are welcoming back Ms. Koestner, who last presented in person to our students in 2023 and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Thank you to the Foundation for Learning, The Lions Club and our Booster Club for sponsoring the presentation.

The Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser for prom is LIVE through Thursday, 12/5!!

When you buy Double Good's award winning, ultra-premium popcorn,

50% of your purchase goes towards supporting the North Salem Junior/Senior Prom!

PARENT WORKSHOP: December 12th @ 7PM in the MSHS Library. Join Chad Brice, PhD, Director of Training at Cognitive & Behavior Consultants (CBC), for a basic overview on DBT concepts for parents. Dr. Brice is a consultant who works with our clinical teams district-wide and will provide parents with strategies for providing validation to reduce conflict at home; how to use distress tolerance (getting through tough situations without making them worse); and how to reduce vulnerabilities to experience positive outcomes (e.g. pleasant events, better sleep, etc..).

This will be the second session of a four session series for parents that will lead into a deeper discussion around reducing vulnerabilities by increasing structure and building better habits at home. The content is relevant and applicable to both those who attended any of Dr. Brice's previous sessions and those who are planning to attend for the first time. All are welcome!

November Breakfast & Lunch Menus and our new MSHS Deli Order Form

In our diverse communities, addiction is frequent topic of discussion, yet it is often seen as something that happens to "others."

However, addiction is a disease that touches many lives. By creating safe and supportive environments that increase protective factors, we can reduce the risk of substance misuse and its negative impact on individuals, families, and society.

Eduardo Torres is the founder of Pathways for Prevention and a former substance use prevention expert with Hazelden Betty Ford (Prevention Solutions). He strives to foster critical thinking skills in young people, empowering them to make informed decisions around substance use.

In this thoughtful and informative discussion, Eduardo will address:

• What is addiction?
• What happens when someone becomes addicted? (whether to drugs, alcohol, video games, etc.)
• Can addiction be prevented?
• What practical steps can you take to reduce the risks for your child?

Parents/caregivers, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission. Register here.

NOTE: Zoom link included in Eventbrite Order Confirmation under "Additional Information."

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

5:30pm – 6:30pm PT

Virtual Event (Live)

Seniors:

• The 2025-26 FAFSA form is live! The U.S. Department of Education has now expanded access to everyone during the current beta testing period prior to the official launch on Dec. 1. Students can now file and submit their FAFSA form. They are encouraged to log in to their studentaid.gov account and get started today. Students and their parents will need to create their FSA ID before completing the FAFSA; to do so, please go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
• To view available scholarship opportunities, please click here.

NY State Financial Aid Agency

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s student financial aid agency. They award nearly $1 billion in financial aid to students each year. Please click here to learn more about what programs they offer.

Sophomores:

• The PreACT exam is scheduled for January 13. Payment is due by December 10 in order to be guaranteed a spot. Please click here for details.

Hello MS/HS Families,

BMI Opt-Out Letter (English)

Optar por no participar en el IMC (Spanish)

Please click here for important information regarding Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Important Nutritional Information:

Ex-FDA Food Expert Reveals Worst Cereal In America with Link to Cancer.

Please click on the YouTube link for further information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPzjspzVpLg

Social Media:

Time To Break Our "Tik" Fever-Addictive app knows US kids at risk.

As TikTok gains more acceptance among youth, there is growing concern among parents, policymakers, and clinicians about the actual impact the platform is having on the mental health of youth. Click Here for important information.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Each household is eligible to receive four at-home test kits, which can be requested from COVIDTests.gov. They’ll be shipped for free through the US Postal Service.

FLU SEASON IS HERE! - Click here for important information

Helpful Information:

• Absence from School: Contact the attendance office at x 2165 or mshsattendance@northsalemschools.org to report your student's absence. Do not hesitate to contact me at x 2017 to discuss your child's illness. I'm happy to answer any questions and address our concerns.

• When to keep your child home from school: Please click here for information about when you should keep your child home from school.

• Immunization Requirements for Students in Grades 6-12: Click here for information regarding the "2024-2025 School Year New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance.

• Mandatory Physical Examinations: The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades: Pre-K, K 1,3,5,7,9, and 11. Students who wish to participate in interscholastic sports (Grades 7-12) and for working papers require an annual physical.

Click here to read important information and access forms pertaining to Health Examinations, Medication Administration and Allergy Action Plans.

I know this information can be confusing. Please don't hesitate to contact me, I'm happy to answer any questions and address your concerns.

Stay well,

Rita Driscoll, R.N.BSN

MSHS School Nurse / 914-669-5414 x2017 / rdriscoll@northsalemschools.org

Athletic News for Week of December 2-

Wizards are Coming to North Salem!

Friday, December 6th 7:00pm

See informational flyer in the section below.

Purchase a ticket and join in the fun!

North Salem Booster Club Basketball Tournament

SAVE THE DATE!
January 9th, 10th, and 11th.

**Stay tuned for more information.

Softball Interest Meeting for all students in grades 7-12

Tuesday, December 3rd Room W30 2:15pm
Coach Collins will be present to discuss the upcoming season and off season workouts.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Tim Collins, Head Softball Coach at: coachtcollins@gmail.com

Baseball Offseason Workouts December 2024- February 2025

The North Salem High School Baseball program will be hosting off season workouts for any student interested in baseball in grades 7-12. This is not mandatory.

Practice your throwing, fielding, pitching and hitting before the season begins on Monday, March 17th for HSigh School and Monday, April 7th for Modified.

All work outs will be held in the MS Gymnasium. Players should bring their own baseball mitts, sneakers, and water.

***If you have any questions regarding the Off Season Workouts, please contact:

Rob Gilchrist, Head Varsity Baseball Coach

rgilchrist@northsalemschools.org

December - Mondays

12/2- 6:45-8:00pm

12/9- 6:00-7:15pm

12/16- 5:00-6:15pm

January - Mondays

1/6- 6:00-7:15pm

1/13- 5:00-6:15pm

1/27- 6:30-7:45pm

February - Mondays

2/3- 6:30-7:45pm

2/10- 6:30-7:45pm

2/24- 5:00-6:15pm

March - Monday through Thursday

3/3 thru 3/6-3:00-4:30

3/10 thru 3/13-3:00-4:30

North Salem Athletic Calendar: https://northsalemcentral.tandem.co/

*All practices and games are posted on the Athletic Calendar. Subscribe for notifications regarding date/time/locations.

FITNESS CENTER- OPEN!

The fitness center will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the school year from 3:00-4:00pm for students in Grades 7-12. All students are required to sign in with the teacher and remain in the Fitness Center until the end of the session. In the event that transportation is needed, there is a late bus at 3:45pm. Sneakers and athletic attire are required.

LIVE STREAMING- Live streaming is available at both the HS Gymnasium and Tiger Stadium- Turf Field Local Live Link

TIGER STADIUM- Tiger Stadium Rules

SPORTS YOU: Please subscribe to Sports You and enter your code for the sport that you have signed up for in Family ID. All HS and MS coaching staff will be communicating to our families through this platform. Link: sportsyou.com **The codes are the same from each school year for each level of the sport.

GO TIGERS!

Sincerely,

Denise M. Kiernan, CAA

Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics

North Salem Middle / High School is looking for full-time One-to-One Paraprofessionals for the 24-25 school year. Our 1:1 Paraprofessionals work individually with students with special needs and provide assistance (academic, social, and emotional) throughout the day in specialized classrooms.

The schedule follows the school calendar (Sept - June) and the hours are 7:15 am to 2:15 pm.

If you are interested in applying for this position or would like to know more about this rewarding work experience, please contact Dr. Kathleen Murphy, Assistant Principal by email: kmurphy@northsalemschools.org.

On Tuesday, December 3rd, please consider supporting The North Salem Foundation for Learning (NSFL) with a tax-deductible contribution. NSFL fosters scholastic excellence in the North Salem Central School District by awarding scholarships, funding unique student/faculty projects and providing enhanced educational opportunities for students in grades pre-K-12, which are outside the scope of the traditional budget. Click here or copy and paste in your browser to donate: https://bit.ly/3YNHTRd. Thank you!

Register to become a PTO Member to have access to our directory, signups and store.

MSHS PTO MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT

Put on your running shoes and join us for Run of the Mills Jingle Jangle 5K, brought to you by the North Salem LIONS Club! It’s a family fun run where strollers are welcome, and festive costumes are encouraged!

When: Saturday, December 7th
Where: NS Lions Community Center
Time: 8:30 AM Check-In

What’s in Store:

• $10 Early Registration includes a cozy mug or festive T-shirt!
• Hot Chocolate and Treats waiting for you at the finish line!
• Food and Coat Drive to benefit the Local Pantry!

Let’s spread joy and community spirit together! Sign up now for a day filled with fun, laughter, and holiday cheer!

Details and Registration:
www.northsalemlions.club

Get ready to jingle all the way to the finish line!