NorthStar Lights

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

The month of November seems to be ending as soon as it began. It is hard to believe that we are about to go into our Thanksgiving break. With this newsletter now coming out every other week, there are a few things I want to mention since we will be in December the next time this publication hits. On Nov. 29 we are holding a public hearing for our Dec. 6 Capital Project Referendum. If you haven't already had a chance to familiarize yourself with the project, please check out our website and newsletter.

Also that week, we are looking for community input about communications through our focus groups. Please take a moment to read more by clicking here.

This afternoon, you may have received a message from the NSCSD asking you to help us welcome Micron to our community. I cannot begin to express how excited I am about the potential that lies in this incredible new partnership. We have a think tank of great minds working together on this and I know that our initial discussions have only scratched the surface of what is possible. We are currently planning a Chip Camp for NSCSD students and will be sharing details as plans are fully developed.

Because we are approaching Thanksgiving, as I've visited the schools this week, I've asked students and staff to tell me what they're thankful for. As you might expect, elementary students largely expressed being thankful for moms, dads, siblings, relatives, friends and family pets. At the secondary level, students talked about sports teams, extra-curricular activities and friends. The answers from the adults definitely focused on health and family. What I took away, even from the one student that responded with, "My cell phone," was that the majority of answers focused on relationships. Life is about the people and connections we make along the way. So this year, when I think about the things I'm thankful for, I know those things are actually people. I'm thankful for all of the people that make up the North Syracuse Central School District.

Have a wonderful holiday!

#NSBrighterTogether

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

Members of the North Syracuse Central School District community are invited to provide feedback on district communications through focus groups during the month of November. The focus groups are part of the District’s voluntary communications audit, which began earlier this school year.

Through the communications audit, communication specialists from Capital Region BOCES are reviewing the district’s communication processes and practices and will provide recommendations for improvement. The audit process includes a review of print and online communications, interviews with key employees and focus groups with various stakeholders.

Focus groups will be facilitated by staff from Capital Region BOCES. Responses will be anonymous so participants are encouraged to be open and honest with their feedback.

Community Focus Groups
Three community focus groups are scheduled. The first community focus group meeting will take place in-person on Monday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. The in-person meeting will be held at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building Additional virtual community focus group meetings are taking place on Nov. 28 at 11 a.m. and Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.

Community members interested in participating in one of the community groups should RSVP at this link by Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.

The Cicero-North Syracuse High School Drama department is giving students a rewarding experience in its first-ever FULLY student-run production.

By: Alaina Sokolowski and Megan Truong

Whether they be wizards, wannabes, or somewhere in between, all children have something in common when Autumn hits. You guessed it - SCHOOL! As it nears mid-October, the ritual of getting up early and joining in the busyness of the school day has become the norm for fictitious and genuine kids alike along with the added hustling and bustling of fall sports and clubs. One such club, although existent at quite an ordinary high school, is anything but typical; and it’s not just because of the magic wands.

Click here to read the complete article online.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, Cicero-North Syracuse High School Music Teacher and Band Director Karen Seamans, had a surprise visit from staff of WCNY Classic FM Radio for a special presentation. The media representatives had come to the school to announce in front of Karen's band class that she had been selected as the station's Music Educator of the Month for November.

The Station's Music Educator Awards Program began this September as part of their 50th Anniversary celebration. Of the award program, Ron Lombard, the station manager for WCNY Radio Classic FM, said, "We felt strongly that it’s our place as Central NY’s only classical music station to lead the market in drawing more attention to the hard and wonderful work being done every day by music teachers throughout our coverage area."

Click here to read the complete article online.

The Cicero-North Syracuse High School Optimist Club is collecting nonperishable food items and hats, mittens and scarves for children. The Club is asking for the community's help by bringing these items to the high school and asking that they be brought to the school's Career Center so that children have food and winter hats, mittens and scarves for the holidays.

The C-NS High School Optimist Club recently held its first meeting since March of 2020. At the meeting, they discussed projects for the next month including Salvation Army Ringing of the Bells, collecting nonperishable food items for needy families, collecting scarves, mittens, and hats for children, and participating in the Christmas Bureau. Any students interested in joining are welcome to come to the next meeting on December 6 in Room B246 at 2 p.m.

The North Syracuse Central School District is asking District voters to save the date Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 for an important capital project vote. Polling on December 6 will take place at designated locations (Cicero Elementary School for residents who live north of Route 481 or the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building for residents who live south of Route 481) from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A meeting about the project will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 W. Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse.

The December referendum includes $61.2 million of work to existing facilities with the majority ($32 million) designated for safety and security improvements throughout the District. An additional $21.2 million is proposed for required infrastructure work at Gillette Road Middle School and the North Syracuse Early Education Program at Main Street. Another $8 million will be used to install a multi-purpose turf field and walking trail at Gillette Road Middle School and to reconstruct the existing parking areas.

Click here to read the complete article online.

Winter weather is sure to arrive in Central New York soon and the North Syracuse Central School District wants to remind our families and community members of some important snow day, delay and early closing information.

ParentSquare - The District uses ParentSquare to notify parents, guardians and staff of emergency school closings, delays and early dismissals. The system sends automated notifications based on user preferences. If parents or guardians need to update an email address or phone number, they should contact the Main Office of their child’s school.

Click here to read the complete article online.

Secondary students in the North Syracuse Central School District recently had the chance to participate in some unique Francophone activities as part of National French Week, which was Nov. 3-9. Jessica Keane, a French Teacher at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, shared photos from the District’s four secondary buildings, along with a list of activities students enjoyed during individual school celebrations.

Language teachers from each building, Lisa Ryder (Gillette and Roxboro Road middle schools), Maureen Scoville and Elise Brown (North Syracuse Junior High) and Lyssa Newport and Jessica Keane (C-NS High School) worked together to plan their school’s activities and encouraged students to learn more about the French language and culture. Among the various activities, schools promoted daily trivia questions and French Wordles on their announcements, set up posters and displays for students and staff, held French-themed Chalk-the-Walk artwork and even held cheese tastings and discussions on French agriculture.

Click here to read the complete article online.

The latest buzz for Cicero-North Syracuse marching band: Shaved heads are payoff for title - Nov. 15 By Lindsay Kramer | lkramer@syracuse.comSyracuse.com. Click here to view the article online.

The North Syracuse Education Foundation has been celebrating 20 years of giving in 2022 and wants to use the final months of the year to get the word out about the importance of programs that have been made available to NSCSD students because of their grants. The NSEF serves a simple, but comprehensive purpose: to ensure that North Syracuse Central School District students benefit from a quality education to maintain and enhance the level of excellence in North Syracuse schools. With the unfortunate reality of diminishing local and federal funding, the NSEF has filled the desperate need of stretching budgets by funding projects and materials to enhance students’ education.

In its 20 years of existence, the NSEF has funded more than $200,000 worth of programs that have directly benefited all students from grades pre-k through 12. The group’s mission is to sponsor activities and projects intended to enhance the education and cultural enrichment of students of the NSCSD. Programs and materials provided through the NSEF supplement those typically funded by the regular school budget.

Scan the QR code above to make a donation to the NSEF 20K for 20 Years fundraiser.

Onondaga County will again be offering asymptomatic COVID testing for NSCSD students, families and staff. Anyone that was signed up last year will only need to make sure that the school listed as where their child attends is current. Directions to follow can be found here.

Those who did not participate last year but would like to be tested this year, will need to create an account and a testing profile for their child on https://app.clarifi-covid-19.com/register

If you are no longer interested in asymptomatic covid testing, please change your child’s testing profile to "Opt Out Of Onondaga School Testing" so that their name no longer appears on the school's list. Direction for opting out can be found here.

We love to share photos and videos from our students, families and teachers. If you're willing to share, please do! 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.

Congratulations to North Syracuse Junior High School 9th graders Ian Cosgrove and Sophia Gabrielli for having been selected for the Area All-State Festival held at Fayetteville Manlius High School the weekend of November 5.

Ian, who plays alto saxophone, is under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer MacDerment and Sophia, a violinist, is under the direction of Mrs. Darcie Bowden.

The students did a fantastic job representing the North Syracuse Central School District in the prestigious festival.

This week, we have a CKLA Celebration Spotlight from Roxboro Road Elementary School. Teachers Stephanie Gagnon and Erin Wallace and their first grade class enjoyed drawing the middle of Little Red Riding Hood, fishing for Digraphs and drawing the body systems.

Great job making the curriculum come alive! Thanks so much to Instructional Coach Jennifer Kondrk for sharing these photos.

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 learn more.

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 ParentSquare. Grandparents, community members and all friends of the NSCSD are also welcome to subscribe. Newsletters are emailed each Friday when school is in session. Help us share the good news and the great things happening in the NSCSD! Click here to learn more.

NOVEMBER 21: Board of Education meeting at 6 PM at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse. If you'd like to attend the meeting in-person, you must pre-register by Friday, November 18. Please email jherrera@nscsd.org to attend.

NOVEMBER 21: In-Person Community Focus Group at 5:30 p.m. at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse. RSVP here.

NOVEMBER 23-25: Thanksgiving Recess - No School for Students or Staff.

NOVEMBER 28: Virtual Community Focus Group at 11 a.m. RSVP here.

NOVEMBER 29: Virtual Employee Focus Group at 2:15 p.m. RSVP here.

NOVEMBER 29: Virtual Community Focus Group at 6 p.m. RSVP here.

NOVEMBER 29: Public Hearing for Capital Project Referendum at 6 PM at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse.

NOVEMBER 30: Virtual Employee Focus Group at 3:45 p.m. RSVP here.

NOVEMBER 30: District-Wide Spelling Bee at 2 p.m. at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse.

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