MSHS Tuesday Newsday

Dear NS Families,

I hope this finds everyone well and drying out a bit. The rain has been relentless these past few days, Please travel safely.

It is Teacher Appreciation Week here in the District. I know one of the things I cherished most, and still read from time to time, are handwritten notes, cards, and/or emails from parents and students. I know Kate and I appreciate our staff as do many of our students and parents. Teachers are the backbone of our District and the work, care, and commitment they bring each and everyday is outstanding. Parents - if you have a minute - please send a quick note, email, etc. to your child's teacher just reminding them of how impactful the work they do is for our students and community. It will be greatly appreciated.

We have both our Advanced Placement (APs) and NY State Math Assessments this week so I wish our students the best on these as well and next week for more AP's. You will be fine!

Salem Fest was a success despite some challenging weather and our teams did an outstanding job! Go Tigers! Thanks to our Athletic Department and Facilities Department who coordinated and organized a lot for the day to be a success.

Thank you for all those who signed up for the Color Run, if you are still interested, the QR code and online registration should still be open.

All the best,

Mr. DiGrandi

5/6 - Thespian Induction Ceremony and Showcase, 7pm *new date*

5/6 - Incoming 6th Grade Parent Zoom Meeting, 6pm (more info will be emailed separately)

5/7-5/9 - NYS Math Assessments

5/7 - BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

5/8 - Foundation for Learning Awards

5/9 - MS Drama Production, 7pm

5/14 - Grade 8 NYS Science Test

5/20 - MS Band Concert, 7:30pm

5/20 - Annual Budget Vote & BOE Election, 7am-9pm

5/21 - Science Symposium

5/21 - BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

5/22 - Mental Health and Wellness Fair with Color Run (more info below)

5/22 - MS Chorus Concert, 7:30pm

5/26 - Schools Closed - Memorial Day

5/27-5/30 - MSHS Art Show

5/27 - High School Awards Night, Grades 9-11

5/28 - Senior Awards Night

5/29 - HS Concert, 7:30pm

5/30 - 7th & 8th Grade Dance (more info below)

One night only! This Friday, May 9, at 7:00pm, the Middle School Drama Club will present Twelve Angry Pigs, the gripping story of the Big Bad Wolf as he fights for his freedom. He is on trial for huffing, puffing, and blowing down the straw house and the stick house. Twelve pig jurors deliberate his guilt or innocence, revisiting the witness testimony of such characters as the Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Simple Simon.

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission. Don't miss this cast of 20 hilarious 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, and the crew behind the scenes!

The internet is a powerful tool that can be perilous to navigate without consideration. This presentation will encourage critical thinking in online activity, with an emphasis on protecting children from uninformed choices.

Join us for a FREE VIRTUAL EVENT on May 6. Register HERE!

Breakfast & Lunch Menus and our new MSHS Deli Order Form

Parents of Seniors-

Can you believe it? It’s almost the end of the school year!

Class of 2025 Lawn Sign -
Attached you will find information on how to purchase your seniors Lawn Sign. Proceeds will go to fund the Class of 2025 Senior Trip and the NS MSHS PTO!

Senior Trip to Lake Compounce-
Our Senior Trip will take place on Thursday, June 12th at Lake Compounce. Completed permission forms are due by Tuesday, June 4th.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Doherty (kdoherty@northsalemschools.org).

The North Salem Jr/Sr prom is scheduled for Thursday June 5, 2025. As costs have risen for the venue, food, and entertainment the Jr/Sr class has increased its fundraising efforts to defray costs as much as possible. Even the smallest donation can make a difference!

• Premier Plus: $1000+
• Platinum Sponsor: $500
• Gold sponsor: $250
• Silver sponsor $100
• Friends of North Salem (any denomination up to $100)

Please contact Allie Bratt, albratt@northsalemschools.org or Anne Bratt, abratt@northsalemschools.org to support our junior/senior prom.

Thank You to those who are able to donate to support our students and bring the price of the prom down! As prices continue to rise for the venue, the entertainment, and decorations, your support is so appreciated!!

Platinum Sponsor:

North Salem Teacher's Association (NSTA)

North Salem Athletic Booster Club

Silver Sponsor:

Linda Newman

Anonymous Donor

Vanessa Moreira

Friends of North Salem:

Anonymous Donor

North Salem Junior, Joey Centofanti, hopes to make a positive impact on the community by helping fundraise for Northern Westchester Hospital's construction of a Behavioral Health Center, providing essential care for students who are in immediate need of medical attention for mental health purposes.

Please see his letter below with more information.

Click HERE to donate.

The NSHS Business Club Needs Your Help!

The NSHS Business Club, which was founded last year, is officially launching their first student-led business! Help support the club by purchasing their new product: the customizable snack bundle! This is a great way to treat your child, whether it be they're preparing for long sports practices or they deserve a reward after a difficult test. Each bundle will be $5, which includes your child's choice of a drink, chips, cookies, and candy!

To pre-order a snack bundle, send your child in with CASH or a CHECK and they can customize their bundle at the Business Club booth during a free period/lunch! The booth will be open Tuesdays starting April 1st.

If there are any further questions, feel free to reach out to us through our socials or email our advisor, Ms. Willis, at mwillis@northsalemschools.org:

Instagram: nsbusinessclub

Facebook: Search "NS Business Club"

Sincerely,

Sean Canellos and Samantha Tello

NSHS Business Club Co-Presidents

ODD and Other Behavior Disorders

“Oppositional” and “defiant” are two words that describe most kids at one point or another, so it’s no surprise that parents who are experiencing a lot of conflict with their kids often wonder if they might have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The diagnosis only applies to kids whose behavioral issues are extreme and ongoing — if they are unusually angry, irritable, or annoyed, and have a pattern of challenging authority figures, refusing to follow rules, and purposefully causing harm.

This week we’re looking at how ODD develops, often when a child’s behavior pushes parents to extremes. Parents might become permissive, letting the child have their way to keep the peace, or punitive — both responses can perpetuate a negative cycle. Treatment for ODD includes parent training to reset the relationship. We also offer insight on why children with ADHD frequently develop ODD, and how anxiety, depression, and difficulty managing emotions can all lead to behavior that looks like ODD. Finally, we look at conduct disorder (CD), a more serious disorder that can develop in the teenage years if behavior problems go untreated.

— Caroline Miller, Editorial Director

The MSHS PTO and the MSHS Mental Health & Wellness Fair are teaming up to bring graded 6-12 their first color-run!

REGISTER HERE!

College Essay Writing Workshops will be held at Somers High School during the summer. They have decided to offer students outside of their district the opportunity to participate. Please see attached flyer for details if you are interested. Click here.

College Acceptances are rolling in! To see a list of Acceptances please click here. Seniors, don’t forget to update your college outcomes on SCOIR.

Summer Opportunities: Looking for something to do this summer? Check out some options by clicking here.

Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors

The Southern Westchester College Fair will be held at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Tuesday, April 29 from 6-8:30 pm. This event is hosted by Westchester-Putnam College Conferences, Inc. For information please email wpccfairs@att.net or call 914-739-2313.

The Northern Westchester College & Career Fair will be held at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES in Yorktown on Wednesday, April 30 from 9am-12 noon and 5:30pm to 8 pm. For more information please email dlividini@pnwboces.org or call 914-248-2450.

For a list of attending colleges for both dates, please click here.

Juniors:

Which SUNY are you?

You and your family are invited to join SUNY for an online group information session. You will have the opportunity to explore The State University of New York -- the campuses, academic programs, application and admissions process, financial assistance, the Excelsior Scholarship and more! During the session, you will be able to send your questions via live chat. Links to various dates can be found here.

Seniors:

· Scholarship Opportunities - Lots of updates have been made! To view available scholarship opportunities, please click here.

· The 2025-26 FAFSA form is live! The U.S. Department of Education has now expanded access to everyone during the current beta testing period prior to the official launch on Dec. 1. Students can now file and submit their FAFSA form. They are encouraged to log in to their studentaid.gov account and get started today. Students and their parents will need to create their FSA ID before completing the FAFSA; to do so, please go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch . The deadline to file is June 30, 2025.

· NY State Financial Aid Agency

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s student financial aid agency. They award nearly $1 billion in financial aid to students each year. Please click here to learn more about what programs they offer.

Hello MS/HS Families,

Important information regarding ticks and seasonal allergies is just a click away. Please take a moment to click on the link: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON TICKS AND SEASONAL ALLERGIES

WHAT'S IN YOUR FOOD WHEN YOU HEAT IT IN PLASTIC? MICROPLASTICS!

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in size, originating from the breakdown of larger plastic items and found in various environments, including water, soil, and even our bodies.

Microplastics in humans may lead to serious health issues, including various cancers, respiratory disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Please click on the link for important information :

"Parenting in the age of Microplastics"

Important Nutritional Information:

Ex-FDA Food Expert Reveals Worst Cereal In America with Link to Cancer.

Please click on the YouTube link for further information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPzjspzVpLg

Social Media:

Time To Break Our "Tik" Fever-Addictive app knows US kids at risk.

As TikTok gains more acceptance among youth, there is growing concern among parents, policymakers, and clinicians about the actual impact the platform is having on the mental health of youth. Click Here for important information.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Each household is eligible to receive four at-home test kits, which can be requested from COVIDTests.gov. They’ll be shipped for free through the US Postal Service.

FLU SEASON IS HERE! - Click here for important information

Helpful Information:

• Absence from School: Contact the attendance office at x 2165 or mshsattendance@northsalemschools.org to report your student's absence. Do not hesitate to contact me at x 2017 to discuss your child's illness. I'm happy to answer any questions and address our concerns.

• When to keep your child home from school: Please click here for information about when you should keep your child home from school.

• Immunization Requirements for Students in Grades 6-12: Click here for information regarding the "2024-2025 School Year New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance.

• Mandatory Physical Examinations: The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades: Pre-K, K 1,3,5,7,9, and 11. Students who wish to participate in interscholastic sports (Grades 7-12) and for working papers require an annual physical.

Click here to read important information and access forms pertaining to Health Examinations, Medication Administration and Allergy Action Plans.

I know this information can be confusing. Please don't hesitate to contact me, I'm happy to answer any questions and address your concerns.

Stay well,

Rita Driscoll, R.N.BSN

MSHS School Nurse / 914-669-5414 x2017 / rdriscoll@northsalemschools.org

Athletic News for Week of May 5-

College Bound- Malachi Andrews Men's Lacrosse SUNY Cobleskill

Malachi Andrews will be playing Division 3 Men's Lacrosse at SUNY Cobleskill.

A small celebration with his family and friends took place in the HS gym on Monday, May 5th. Congratulations Malachi! Once a TIGER always a TIGER!

UNIFIED BASKETBALL HOME GAME !

Come out and support the TIGERS in their home game this week at the NSHS

Tuesday May 6th vs Brewster 4:00pm

SALEM FEST RECAP 20025

Thank you to the North Salem Booster Club for all of their efforts this year in coordinating the different events/activities. Thank you to the North Salem Police Department and EMS for their support throughout the day!

MADRIGAL CHOIR SINGS AT SALEM FEST
Special Thanks to Katie Chan Chee who brought the Madrigal Choir to the Boys Lacrosse game to sing the National Anthem. Amazing!

McKenna Gallagher Gr. 9

Katherine Mendez Giron Gr. 9

Quenna Li Gr. 9

Gabriella Nicoletti Gr. 11

Special Thanks to Gabriella Nicoletti who sang acapella at the Girls Game!!!

Varsity Boys Lacrosse WINS 18-0 vs. Port Chester
Congratulations to the Team and the Seniors!

Malachi Andrews

Michael Bonelli

Dillon Coughlan

Jack Fryer

John Gogo

Justin Major

George Naber

Nick Naber

Ryan Vorfi

Track and Field @ Somers Big Red

Congratulations Team!

Girls 4x200 relay 10th Place

(Emma Gautier, Shailey Ray , Jen Killeen, Grace Barbarossa)

Boys 4x200 relay 8th Place

(Tyler Spar , Dylan Sheridan , Skyler Smith, Jack Proctor)

100M

Leah Nissman 32nd

400M

Shailey Ray 17th

Veronica Benvenuto 22nd

Dylan Sheridan 36th

Jack Proctor 38th

Mile

Skyler Smith 26th

Tyler Spar 32nd

Pentathlon

Freyja Smith 4th Pentathlon 800M

and 5th Class C Pentathlon

200M

Veronica Benvenuto 10th

Sean Canellos 43rd

Shailey Ray 41st F-S

Leah Nissman 45th F-S

800M

Tyler Spar 26th

DISCUS

Jennifer Killeen 6th

High Jump

Grace Barbarossa 5th

Shailey Ray 6th

Long Jump

Leah Nissman 18th

Varsity Softball WINS 13-1 vs. Pawling

Congratulations to the team and the Seniors!

Ana Brewster

Chloe Matt

Avery Schoenberg

Thank you to the NS Youth Softball Players Grades 3/4 Scorchers who attended the pre game activities and Senior Recognition.

NS Youth Girls Lacrosse Gr. 5/6 vs. John Jay

This game was moved to Volunteer's Park so that the Varsity Girls Game could play earlier. Thank you for your support!

Girls Lacrosse vs. Pawling

This game was suspended due to inclement weather and is tentatively scheduled for 5/13th at North Salem HS. The score was 1-0 in the first quarter.

Congratulations Seniors!

Sophia Aversano

Nicky Berganza

Taylor Fogle

Ruby Molina

Samantha Yoel

2025-2026 TENTATIVE START DATES

Fall Season 2025

Football August 23, 2025 Section One Approved to start 8/23rd

High School August 25, 2025 Section One Approved to start 8/25th

Modified September 8th, 2025

Winter Season 2025-2026

High School November 17th,2025

Modified December 1, 2025

Modified Ice Hockey TBA

Unified Sports 2026
Bowling March 3rd, 2026

Basketball April 7th, 2026

Spring Season 2026

March 16th, 2026 ***Pending NYSPHSAA and Section One Approval 3/9/25

Modified April 6th, 2026

North Salem Athletic Calendar: https://northsalemcentral.tandem.co/

*All practices and games are posted on the Athletic Calendar. Subscribe for notifications regarding date/time/locations.

FITNESS CENTER- OPEN!

The fitness center will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the school year from 3:00-4:00pm for students in Grades 7-12. All students are required to sign in with the teacher and remain in the Fitness Center until the end of the session. In the event that transportation is needed, there is a late bus at 3:45pm. Sneakers and athletic attire are required.

LIVE STREAMING- Live streaming is available at both the HS Gymnasium and Tiger Stadium- Turf Field Local Live Link

TIGER STADIUM- Tiger Stadium Rules

SPORTS YOU: Please subscribe to Sports You and enter your code for the sport that you have signed up for in Family ID. All HS and MS coaching staff will be communicating to our families through this platform. Link: sportsyou.com **The codes are the same from each school year for each level of the sport.

GO TIGERS!

Sincerely,

Denise M. Kiernan, CAA

Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics

Register to become a PTO Member to have access to our directory, signups and store.

MSHS PTO MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT

The North Salem Farmers Market returns May 10 and runs every second Saturday through October. With 30+ vendors, live music curated by Ian Hendrickson-Smith (The Roots, Uncle Cheef), lunch options, seating, and kids activities. This is more than a market—it’s a monthly celebration of food, farming, and community. Shop local organic produce, fruit, meat, fish, poultry, mushrooms, bagels, breads & pastries, wild-fermented cider, spirits, pickles, mustards, honey, dumplings, flowers & native plants, and more. Easy parking, ADA accessible with public transportation via the Metro North. More at northsalemfarmersmarket.org, follow @northsalemnyfarmersmarket for updates & announcements.

Friends of the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library is in need of bakers! The bake sale at the Library Fair is one of our largest fundraisers of the year and it kicks off on May 10th. We truly appreciate your incredible contributions; your baking always helps make these events a great success.

Please note that baked goods can be dropped off at the library on Friday, May 9th, during regular hours. If that isn’t convenient, drop-off on the day of the fair is available starting at 9 a.m.

To make signing up easier, I’ve included a link to our SignUpGenius page where you can indicate your participation.

Thank you for your continued support of our library and community.

Best,
Jennifer Gileno, Sae Ortiz, and Fran Havard

(have questions, send me an email franceshavard@outlook.com)

⚽Memorial Day 5v5 Soccer Tournament ⚽

To Benefit Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Join us this Memorial Day as we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation. After the parade and hot dogs, lace up your cleats for a fun and meaningful 5v5 short-sided soccer tournament— all in support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which assists military heroes and their families.

📆 Date: Memorial Day
⏰ Kickoff: 12:00 PM (after the parade and hot dogs)
📍 Location: Purdys Field

💵Entry Fee: $25 per team
👥Team Size: 5v5 (up to 20 teams)
🎯All proceeds go directly to Tunnel to Towers

🏆 Prizes:

• First Place Team: Free Pizza!🍕 AND BRAGGING RIGHTS
  
• Best Costume: Box of Donuts! 🍩
  

HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/W3TZKADE