North Highlights

Hello,

We're excited to say that we're truly "hitting our stride" at North! By now, your child should be settling into the new school routines. Our goal is to foster independent thinkers who are committed and put in their best effort in their studies.

Please encourage your student to give their all in their coursework. If you have any concerns or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher as your first point of contact. We aim for every student to be in the most challenging courses suited to their abilities, and it's natural for high school coursework to become more demanding as they progress.

Featured in my video this week is Zelda Abramovich, who along with fellow her students from the Spring 2023 SUPA Animation Class, created a film entitled "DMV". Their film was invited to be shown at the Buffalo International Film Festival at the Tri-Main Building (please note the correct time and date is (2 pm on October 12). Check out their film in the "Spartan Spotlight" section of this newsletter.

I encourage our students to strive for excellence every day—after all, nothing less is worth their time or effort!

Go Spartans!

Proudly Your Principal,

Andrew Bowen

"Thank you to everyone who stopped by the cafeteria with the PTSA. If you were not able to attend or did not have a chance to visit, please consider joining our PTSA and signing up to volunteer and support us through the Chiavetta's BBQ. We appreciate the partnership and look forward to the year ahead."

Shannon Hennessey

Laura Beth Malkowski

North PTSA Co-Presidents

Support North's PTSA by purchasing a chicken for $15. Please click here to purchase in advance . We will also be able to sell tickets at the door, but it's first come first serve! All proceeds go directly to our students.

Everyone is encouraged to join Williamsville North's PTSA. Click here to purchase a membership. This link may also be used to purchase Spartan Spirit Wear as well as tickets for the Chicken Barbeque.

We recognize that your time is valuable so we keep our meetings brief, yet informational. We hear monthly reports from WNHS Principal, Andrew Bowen, North’s teacher and student representatives, our WCSD Board of Education liaison, SEPTSA, PTSA Council and various PTSA committees.

Meetings are held on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in the library as follows:

October 7, 2024

November 4, 2024

January 6, 2025

February 3, 2025 (Tri-High At North)

March 3, 2025

April 7, 2025

May 5, 2025

June 2, 2025

The school store is our PTSA’s main source of income for all the student programs, events and scholarships that we support each year. The store sells healthy snacks & beverages, and is a student favorite! It is open the full school day, three shifts per day, throughout the year and requires many volunteers to keep it open. If you’re able to work weekly or monthly, our volunteer coordinator will work with your schedule. You will receive emails periodically thru WITS and thru our PTSA memberhub to sign up for available shifts. It is a great way to serve our students and be a small part of your student’s day. Consider volunteering with a friend (or grandparent)…make it a team effort! Please email: snackerrs@yahoo.com for more information.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW !!!

"The Snack Shack is my favorite part of the day! The volunteers are always so nice, I feel like I could have a conversation with any of them and I love that they are volunteers. Also, it's so great if you forgot to have breakfast to grab something." ~A Grateful Spartan 🙂

In addition to our school store, we have many events during the year for which we need volunteers – some daytime, some evening. Please keep an eye out for emails regarding these volunteer opportunities. Typically we will send them out via WITSMail or Memberhub. Look for more opportunities to help out the students and to engage with the school.

Please also consider joining SEPTSA!! The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, from 5:30pm - 7:00 pm at Maple West Elementary. More information can be found under the SEPTSA section of this newsletter.

Please click here to access our North Athletics page:

Please CLICK HERE to access our attendance office procedures and bell schedule. Parents/guardians should contact the attendance office via WITSmail or by calling 716-626-8555 to report any student absence. If your child needs to leave school prior to the end of the scheduled school day, please call the Attendance Office and send a WITSmail so proper notification/dismissal can be accommodated. If you have any additional questions regarding attendance, absences, or dismissal, please call the Williamsville North High School Attendance Office.

"The Williamsville Board of Education will host a Community Forum on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Williamsville East High School Commons (151 Paradise Road, East Amherst, NY 14051).

This townhall style meeting will give parents, residents, and staff members a chance to talk about any education-related issue they wish. There is no agenda or set topic.

School Board members and the Superintendent will be on hand to listen to concerns, answer questions, and discuss the latest topics impacting Williamsville schools and public education.

We look forward to seeing you there!"

Please CLICK HERE to access our September Calendar.

Please CLICK HERE to access our October Calendar.

It's not too late to order your school pictures. To order go to: https://www.upstate-images.com/ . The code is would be W and then your student's school ID number (W###########). Your child's student ID number can be found in WITS.

• CHICKEN BBQ - PTSA FUNDRAISER, 9/25/24
  

• SENIOR PICTURE RETAKES: 9/26/24 AND 9/27/24

• NO SCHOOL - SUPT. CONFERENCE DAY: 10/3/24

• COMMUNITY FORUM AT WILLIAMSVILLE EAST: 10/5/24

• NO SCHOOL - INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' /ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY: 10/14/24

• SCHOOL PICTURE RETAKES: 10/17/24

• HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK: Monday, 10/21/24 - Saturday, 10/26/24

  Homecoming – Powder Puff Game - 10/22/24 (Tuesday) - 7:00 – 9:00 pm

  Homecoming – Outside Dance/Bonfire - 10/24/24 (Thursday) - 7:00 – 9:00 pm

  Homecoming - Football Game vs Niagara Wheatfield (Friday) - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

  Homecoming – Semi-Formal Dance - 10/26/24 (Saturday) - 7:00 – 10:00 pm

• PSAT EXAMS IN NORTH GYMNASIUM: 10/30/24

• FALL CHORUS CONCERT: 10/30/24

• FAMILY CONFERENCES: Wednesday, 11/13/24 and Thursday, 12/12/24

Williamsville North HIgh School

Graduation Ceremony

10:00 a.m. - Saturday, June 28, 2025

North High School Athletic Turf

Rain Date:

10:00 a.m. - Sunday, June 29, 2025

For information on how to order your Cap/Gown/Tassel for graduation, please click HERE.

Please click here for information on Colleges that will be visiting our Career Center this week.

Attn-Parents/Guardians of current 9th Grade Students: The NYS Testing Reports now are available to parents/guardians in WITS. If your child participated in these assessments as an 8th grader last year, you will find link(s) to the assessment letters on the home page of WITS. Results may also be found on the assessment tab in WITS.

The Digital PSAT will be administered on Wednesday, October 30th at 8:00 am (during the school day). Please arrive by 7:45 am. This will be a regular school day for all non-test takers. After the PSAT has been completed, students will have an opportunity to go to the cafeteria to eat lunch and then must attend the rest of their classes.

The registration period for the PSATs is September 20 – October 4, 2024.

Due to College Board deadlines, we will not be able to accommodate ANY LATE REGISTRATIONS

Only registered students will have exams ordered for them.

What is the test fee and how do I register?

The test fee for the PSAT/NMSQT is $21.00 (Fee Waivers may be available for eligible juniors, contact the Guidance Office prior to registration to review eligibility). Students can register and pay for the exams on the Community Education Website at https://williamsville.augusoft.net

Once you have logged in, go to the “Youth Programs” drop down and then to the “Teens” link. There you will register for the PSAT exams at your school – Williamsville North High School.

Make sure to log in to the community ed website and if you have any issues logging on, you can contact the community ed office at 716-626-8080

Once you register for the PSAT through Community Ed, you will need to download the College Board’s Bluebook app onto a personal device to access the study materials for the PSAT.

Most devices are compatible with the app with the exception of a personal chromebook.

More information can be found on North’s Student Services website

If you have any questions, please see your school counselor!

The District’s application to offer the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Seal of Civic Readiness program at each of our high schools was approved for the 2024-2025 school year. The Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal distinction on a student’s high school transcript and diploma that they have attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, skills, mindset, and civic experiences. It can also be used as a graduation pathway. In order to obtain the Seal of Civic Readiness, a student must complete all the requirements for a New York State local or Regents diploma and earn a total of six points with at least two points in Civic Knowledge and at least two points in Civic Participation (Chart is on p.7 of the SCR Handbook). Additional information on the Seal of Civic Readiness program may also be found by clicking on this link: https://north.williamsvillek12.org/parents-students/guidance-department/seal-of-civic-readiness

Please use this link to access our Student Services / Guidance Office website to learn about the services available and find out who your child's school counselor is:

https://sites.google.com/williamsvillek12.org/north-student-services/home

If you are dropping off an item for your student, please bring it to the main entrance on Dodge Road. Please ensure the item is labeled with the student’s name. For your convenience, post-it notes are available in our attendance lobby. For sanitary reasons, we ask that any clothing items or shoes be placed in a bag before dropping these items off. Your cooperation is appreciated.

If you are interested in requesting an early dismissal or late arrival for your child, and haven’t already done so, please WITSmail your child's guidance counselor from your PARENT account and let them know you would like to request early dismissal or late arrival . Include your student's name, grade level and the time you are requesting release. Approval is contingent up on your student having a free period at the end of the day.

You will receive a WITS mail confirmation from your child's administrator once they have been approved and that their "Early Release Card" is ready to be picked up from the main office. Students may not leave the building until they have received the confirmation WITSmail and their early release card.

Parents are asked to please drop their students off in the morning and pick their students up in the afternoon via the Hopkins Road parking lot. Please see below for a diagram. Thank you!

All District Buildings, including North, are using the RAPTOR system to sign visitors in/out. All visitors (including volunteers at our Snack Shack) must enter the building at the entrance on Dodge Road. Please be prepared to show Government ID, such as a valid driver's license, upon entering North. We will scan your ID and issue a visitors badge to be worn for the duration of your visit.

The Required Parent Program video must be viewed in its entirety by parents/guardians prior to any student (grades 9-12) attending any North High School dances/events. This includes Homecoming activities/dances taking place in October. Please note that your completion of the Required Parent Program is valid for 4 years. For example, if you have already viewed the program anytime in the last 4 years (Spring 2020-Spring 2024) on behalf of an older sibling, you will not be asked to view the program again this year. The program should be viewed on a desktop/laptop, and cannot be paused or fast-forwarded to receive credit. If you have any questions about this program, or your current status with regard to viewing it, please reach out to the North Main Office at 626-8504.

All medication, including non-prescription medication, must have a written order from the student's physician or licensed prescriber.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION must be in the container prepared by the pharmacist with the original label specifying the name and strength of the medication. (Note: the pharmacy label does not constitute a written order and cannot be used in lieu of a written order from a licensed prescriber.)

NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION must be in the original and sealed manufacturer's container with the student's name affixed to the container. ALL medication must be delivered directly to the school nurse by the parent or guardian. No student is permitted to carry non-emergency medication on the bus. Medication orders must be renewed annually and whenever there is any change.

For more information about North's Health Office, please click here.

Please click here to view a copy of the SEPTSA Newsletter for September 2024!

A SEPTSA Meet Up Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, from 5:30pm - 7:00 pm at Maple West Elementary.

The The Parent Network of WNY and the Midwest Family and Communities Engagement Center offer several training opportunities. Please click on the photos below for further information:

It is our pleasure to announce that the following students have been named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, putting them in an elite group of the nation’s best and brightest students.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, students must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar Title. Finalists will be announced sometime in the Spring.

Congratulations and best of luck in the 2025 National Merit Competition. — We are extremely proud of you.

The following Williamsville North students have been named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program:

Zelda Abramovich

Ananya Chandra

Adam Gelband

Tejaswi Kandarpa

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2025 competition for Merit Scholarship Awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Each of these students has received a Letter of Commendation from North and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program.

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Congratulations to Zelda Abramovich and her fellow students from the Spring 2023 SUPA Animation Class. Their film, “DMV” was invited to be shown at the Buffalo International Film Festival at 2 pm on October 12 in the Tri-Main Building. We are so proud of our Spartans! Check out the video here!

North Students took AP Examinations in May of 2024 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high school. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement-based student performance on AP exams. At Williamsville North High School:

● 40 of our current students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with grades of 3 or higher.

● 22 of our current students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

● 34 of our current students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

A complete list of current North students named as AP Scholars can be seen by clicking here.