Northern News

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

December 23, 2024 - January 1, 2025 - No School, Winter Break

This picture was taken on December 6th, 2024, of the sunrise over the high school as a parent was driving her students to school for the day.

Photo Credit: Michelle Myers

The School Board Social was held on December 17th, 2024. This social allows employees to come together to celebrate the winter holidays. Thank you to Scott Shedlock and staff for making the delicious food that was served and enjoyed by all. Thank you to Laura Bissell and the Bear Singers for providing wonderful entertainment during the social.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2024, Northern High School DECA students (pictured below) attended the District 5 Competition at York College. DECA’s competitive events are grouped into broad categories that include role plays, case studies, prepared events, and online simulations. Each event offers a variety of options in each of their four career clusters – marketing, finance, hospitality and management, entrepreneurship, and personal finance. The competition was fierce, and the following students are headed on to the State competition held in Hershey in February 2025.

Placing 4th:

Sean D'Alessio

Leslie Schreffler

Avery Yoder

Placing 3rd:

Maura Pandya

Betiel Tekeste

Finnley McCarty and Grady Bonin (Team)

Placing 2nd:

Sierra Bruce

Dylan Duncan

Alexa Rank

Kyra Urick

Brogan Baublitz and Ambrose Depasqua (Team)

Placing 1st:

Abigail Freese and Noah Hayes (Team)

Aiden Eppley and Ben Lightner (Team)

The National Honor Society collected toys for Toys for Tots this December. Excellent job showing how Northern students contribute to our community!

National Honor Roll Students: Kendall Beck, Maddie Zarate, Anna Lehman, Abby Freese (President), Noah Hayes, Collin McDonald (Treasurer), Nick Humpert, Karly Anderson, Christian Smacher (Secretary), and Crystal Krebs

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 November 16th, 2024, one elementary student and six middle school students participated in the PMEA Youth Honors Band Festival held at Hempfield High School. NYCSD students joined with 180 other 5th & 6th graders for a day of band rehearsals concluding with 2 amazing concerts.

The 8th Grade Common Hour concept centers on creating consistent opportunities throughout the school year for inquiry, discussion, & reflection for our eighth graders with the expressed purpose of helping students develop the skills and dispositions laid out in our new NMS mission statement. These target career exploration, the development of practical skills, and 21st century skills.

On Friday, December 13th, 2024, our 8th graders had the chance to meet Mr. Jay Dusold. Mr. Dusold is the author of Know Before You Go: Nine Things You Must Discover About a Job of Interest to Avoid a Regrettable Choice. He is a “next-gen career guide” who helps “…guide teens and young 20s to a True Job Fit that will prove to be successful, motivating, and fulfilling.” He does this through various methods including virtual coaching, student talks, professional development workshops, and consulting. 8th graders got just a glimpse of what Mr. Dusold has to offer by sharing his insights on overcoming negative false beliefs about themselves. Mr. Dusold presented these insights in a thoughtful and creative way that related well to a middle school audience by comparing these negative thoughts and feelings to a computer virus, explaining that we need to “detect, delete, and defend” against them to grow and thrive. Mr. Dusold’s visit to Northern Middle School is his first foray into the school setting and speaking in front of a large group of students. We were lucky to have him bring his unique and practical ideas to us here at Northern. For more information about Mr. Dusold, please visit his website: https://lifeafter12th.com/.

The four elementary schools came together to put on their winter concert on December 17th, 2024. The concert included 5th graders performing in the band, orchestra and chorus. A fantastic show was put on for family and friends. Great job!

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!

Tech. Ed. Teacher - HS

Spanish Teacher - HS

See the district website for a complete listing.

Apply Online

Apply Online

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

NHS Intensive Instructional Aide/ 7:15 - 2:15 / $140/day

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

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

NHS Learning Support Aide / 7:15-2:45 / $110/day

NMS Learning Support Aide / 7:15-2:45 / $110/day

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

WES Instructional 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