Bulldog Blast

📓 Black History Month: Please note, each FRIDAY in February we will be participating in themed dress down days, see below for more information about our upcoming Unity Day this Friday, 2/16.

📓 Note, NACS will be CLOSED Monday, 2/19 in observance of President's Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, 2/20, thank you.

📓 Save the Date: We will be hosting a virtual PCO meeting (Parent Core Organization) on Monday, 2/26 at 5:30pm. Stay tuned for more details!

📓 Save the Date: 8th Grade Pictures are scheduled for Tuesday, March 12th, 2024.

Please note the following:

• Graduation gowns are provided by Lifetouch Studios. Caps are not worn in graduation pictures. Traditionally girls wear golden rod yellow and boys wear maroon.

• RETAKES will not be available for 8th-grade pictures.

• Pictures will also be available for purchase online after picture day. We will have a picture day code closer to the event. Thank you!

This week we are kicking off our new Settlement Music House after-school drumming club for grades 3-8th!

Upper School Drumming (Grades 6th-8th)

**4 slots remaining**

When? Tuesdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm

Start Date: Tuesday, February 13th

This event is on a first come first serve basis.

Lower School Drumming (Grades 3rd-5th)

** 1 slot remaining **

When? Thursdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm

Start Date: Thursday, February 15th

This event is on a first come first serve basis.

>> NACS LANDING PAGE <<

>> REGISTER HERE <<

Additional Contact:

Teacher Cody Messersmith, M.Ed. (he/they) Lower School Music Specialist, cmessersmith@northwoodcs.org

Settlement Music House Onsite Instructor: Dr. Barudin, jeffrey.barudin@settlementmusic.org

In our effort to continue NACS parent/guardian engagement with the Administrative Team, we have added another way for parents/guardians to schedule a meeting with an Administrative Team member.

You can schedule a meeting by clicking this link or scanning the QR code, to complete the Google form.

Once your request has been received, you will receive a follow-up email with confirmation of your request. An additional phone call and/or email will be sent to confirm your scheduled meeting date and time.

Welcome new 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Ashley Hackney!

Please note, Ms. Stockage will still be in the classroom in the capacity of classroom assistant.

Feel free to reach out to Ms. Hackney at, ahackney@northwoodcs.org.

Career Day is rapidly approaching and we need YOUR experiences! We are looking for parents or individuals who would be interested in sharing their career with our students. It is very important that you fill out this form completely no later than THIS FRIDAY February 16, 2024.

Northwood will be hosting its annual Career Day on Wednesday, March 20th! Students in grades K-8 will participate in Career Day. However, we can’t do it without you!

At this time we are seeking volunteers for lower school (grades K-3) to speak for 4, 15 minute-long sessions about their career. Career Day presentations will occur between from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. If you, or a family member is interested in volunteering to speak about a career, please complete the form below by February, 16th.

Volunteer selection will be on a first-come basis.

Please CLICK HERE to learn more. This is a great opportunity for you to get involved at NACS and make an impact on the student’s future!

For any additional questions please contact our Compliance Coordinator, Ms. Carmen at csantiago@northwoodcs.org or via phone at 267-876-1540.

Starting Friday February 2nd, 6:00PM it’s the ITSY BITSY SPIDERS BEGINNERS BASKETBALL LEAGUE for girls & boys ages 4-7 years old @ SIMPSON RECREATION CENTER.

You can come that night to register.

Please call Simpson with any questions and ask for Coach Ryan. 215-685-1223

Where? 1010 Arrott St, Philadelphia, PA

The Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates Black History Month with free events at libraries throughout the city all month long (no library card needed). Included among the Free Library’s dozens of Black History Month talks, concerts, food programs, film screenings and more:

• TODAY: Inaugurating the Year of James Baldwin: God’s Revolutionary Voice at Parkway Central Library: The Free Library marks the start of Philly’s year-long 100th birthday for the late author James Baldwin with a big kickoff event. On the docket: speakers, documentary screenings, and cultural performances in honor of Baldwin’s life and ideas for a new America. Refreshments will be served and RSVPs are recommended (February 17, 2024).

• NEXT TUESDAY: Community Archaeology as Black History at Parkway Central Library: What secrets can we uncover through urban archaeology? This panel discussion with Heritage West, the West Philly archaeology project, highlights artifacts and features excavated from Philadelphia’s long-gone Black Bottom neighborhood — along with the humanity and destruction of the community that once lived there (February 20, 2024).

Where: Various libraries around Philly including Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street

Smith Memorial Playground’s (SMP) Leaders and Legends Black History Month exhibit is back for its 4th year! This free, family-friendly event honors the contributions of local African American leaders across a wide range of fields, including fields whose impact has made Philly a better place to live, work, grow, and play. The exhibition is made up of educational displays focusing on each honoree’s life and achievements and includes a kid-friendly scavenger hunt.

The exhibit will be open for outdoor viewing all month long.

Location: 3500 Reservoir Drive Philadelphia, PA, 19121

Time: 10 am - 4 pm

The Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP) offers K-12 out-of-school programming in Neighborhood Libraries. This programming fosters an inclusive, informal learning environment for children, teens, and families, with accessible learning activities that build on life skills, Maker philosophies, and wellness concepts.

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/leap

Check out their upcoming event! This is a FREE event for the community and will include special performances, job resources, programs, and home repair service information available!

WHEN? April 27th, 12:00 pm- 3:30 pm

WHERE? Overington Park, 4600 Leiper Street ( 4 min. drive/ 12 min. walk from NACS)

If you have not done so already, please consider signing up to get essential weekly alerts from us via the school Remind app

Remind is a free, safe messaging app that keeps Northwood Academy families up to date with what’s happening in the classroom and school. Additionally, our weekly Bulldog Blast is sent out via Remind, along with other timely announcements throughout each week. Please sign up for our Remind notifications to stay on top of important updates from teachers and receive school-wide updates in real time.

Create a Remind account to receive Northwood's schoolwide alerts!

1. Go to remind.com/join/nacsnews (or download the free iOS or Android app)
2. Click Sign Up
   
3. Provide a full name, email address, and password
4. Choose your role
5. Follow the instructions to start using Remind

To sign up and receive alerts via text message, text @nacsnews to the number 81010 and select the appropriate role.

Note: Each teacher has a different class code for their individual classes. Please contact your child's teacher to receive this information. Take note, not all teachers have a separate Remind classroom.

If you have followed the above instructions and are still having difficulties or not receiving NACS information please reach out to the Remind Help Desk for further assistance https://remind.ada.support/chat/

Open Registration will take place Monday-Friday 3-8pm, beginning Monday 2/26/24.
When: Monday - Friday
July 1 - August 16, 2024 (no camp 7/4 & 7/5)

Time: 9AM – 3PM (Before and After camp care available)

Cost: $50 per week or $325/total encampment ($20 non-refundable registration fee required at registration)

Ages: 6-12. No child can be 13 before 7/1/24. 6 year old’s must have completed Kindergarten to attend camp.

Space is limited. Contact Heitzman for more details!
Call: 215-537-3244, e-mail heitzmanreccenter@phila.gov

If you and your family lack fixed, regular, or adequate housing (for example, living in a shelter, transitional home, or even doubled-up with other people) due to loss of housing or economic hardship, you may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which ensures educational stability for students experiencing homelessness.

To learn more about the rights of eligible families, click here for a brief video.

If you qualify for rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, contact our school social worker at dominiqueharris@northwoodcs.org for more information.

Are you or someone you know in need of housing, food, health, and safety services? Please check out these resources from Project HOME: Where To Turn Guide.

Please review Northwood's Homeless Students Policy here: McKinney-Vento Policy.

• Wednesday, 2/14, Valentine's Day Dance (K & 1st Grade)

• Friday, 2/16, BHM Dress Down Day: Day of Unity (Wear Red, Black, Green)

• Monday 2/19, President's Day (School Closed)

• Friday, 2/23, BHM Dress Down Day: HBCU or NPHC Colors

• Wednesday, 2/28, Dine & Donate NACS Night @ Castor Ave. East Coast Wings + Grill (4:30-7:30pm)

• Friday, 2/29, BHM Dress Down Day: Dress for your future career

• Friday, 3/1, First Grade Field Trip (Legoland)

• Week of 3/4: Read Across America Week

• Tuesday, 3/12: 8th Grade Pictures (during school hours)

• Wednesday, 3/20, K-8 Career Day

More events to come!

Website: northwoodcs.org
Location: 4621 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 289-5606
Facebook: facebook.com/Northwood-Academy-Charter-School-153041454730750/
Twitter: @northwoodcs