NorthStar Lights

Hello North Syracuse Central School District Parents, Guardians, Teachers and Staff,

My message this week is short and sweet - Happy Holidays! We are heading into an extended break week and I hope you all have time to rest and relax while enjoying time with family and friends. Our newsletter will take a break next week to get ready for the new year. Please stay safe and healthy and we'll see you next year!

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

Last week students at North Syracuse Junior High School took part in an important letter writing campaign to a very influential figure - Santa. As part of Macy's Believe Campaign to support Make-A-Wish, NSJH students wrote their own letters to Santa. Make-A-Wish is an organization that provides life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and through the Believe partnership, Macy's donates $1 to the organization up to $1 million.

Shannon Brown, a junior at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, also contacted the District to encourage families to write their own letters to Santa and help Make-A-Wish. Shannon wrote, "As a NorthStar Nation, let's show our support and shine. Together we can make a wish or more come true!" and sent the link to write a letter online: Macy's Believe 2021.

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, the topic of which is “How Does an Optimistic Mindset Change My Tomorrow?,” are due by February 4, 2022.

Click here to view and print the required application form which should be mailed to:
Mr. Crabtree
102 Baxton St.
North Syracuse, NY 13212

Students at Roxboro Road Elementary School had a special visitor when they arrived at school on Monday, December 20. The school's Instructional Coach and Administrative Intern Jennifer Kondrk shared these photos of students arriving at school and being greeted by the holiday's "grinchiest" character. Students enjoyed the green greeting and had fun having their pictures taken with him. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the holiday spirit!

Cicero Elementary School Counselor Molly Murphy recently completed a project with her students to create personalized gifts for people they care about. Murphy used the book Scribble Stones by Diane Alber, which tells the story of a happy little stone on a mission to spread happiness, to talk to students about bringing joy to others. The students then selected their own stones and used materials to create colorful and unique gifts for people in their lives.

Did you know that the North Syracuse Central School District is hiring? There are a variety of positions available, both full and part-time. Learn more about employment with the District online by clicking here. Applications can also be submitted online.

Congratulations to Cicero-North Syracuse High School junior Madeline Howell for being named a finalist for Player of the Year for the All-CNY Girls Volleyball team. Madeline was also named to the All-State Volleyball 5th Team.

Did you know that the North Syracuse Central School District's Athletics Department has a weekly email newsletter? If you'd like to subscribe to the newsletter, click here to fill out the necessary form.

The North Syracuse Central School District produces a weekly 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 SchoolMessenger.

Grandparents, community members and all friends of the NSCSD are welcome to subscribe by providing an email address by clicking here. Newsletters are emailed each Friday when school is in session. Help us share the good news and the great things happening in the NSCSD!

We love to share photos and videos from our students, families and teachers. If you're willing to share, please send your high quality images using the link below. 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 or click here to upload them.

Jill Millias, a teacher at Roxboro Road Middle School and coach for one of the Girls' Modified Volleyball teams, shared this photo of the girls from the players from the two girls teams with items they collected to be given to families in the District this holiday season. In conjunction with Melanie Stonebarger and Jonathan June, the coaches for the District's second modified volleyball team, the players collected different board games so that students in need could have something fun to do over their holiday break.

Thank you to Stacy Peffley for sharing these adorable pictures of this year's holiday celebration at Cicero Elementary School. It is nice to see our students, staff and families taking part in fun activities.

In accordance with CDC guidance, students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness (influenza or COVID-19), should stay home and be referred to their healthcare provider for evaluation care and testing. Individuals who are absent from school will need to provide either a medical note or proof of a negative COVID test (PCR test).

Students or staff members who develop symptoms during the school day will be sent home immediately. Parents of students will be contacted immediately to come and pick up their child.

Please remember the symptoms of COVID 19 include:

● Fever or chills

● Cough

● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

● Fatigue

● Muscle or body aches

● Headache

● New loss of taste or smell

● Sore throat

● Congestion or runny nose

● Nausea or vomiting

● Diarrhea

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are seeing nationwide disruptions to manufacturing, supply and distribution channels. You may have experienced this yourself when you’ve tried to order something online or buy something in the store and what you’re looking for isn’t available right now.

What does the shortage mean for school meals? In short, it means that we’re having trouble getting certain foods and supplies. Your student(s) may notice that we’re serving different items than we’ve served in the past or different items than were listed on the menu.

School districts across the country are experiencing these shortages and unfortunately, we cannot control the problem. We are doing our best every day to come up with solutions to these challenges.

Click here to read the full article online.

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