MSHS Tuesday Newsday

Dear NS Families,

Happy Tuesday!

A lot of folks to thank this week. First and foremost, thank you to all of the parents who were able to attend our Parent Teacher Conferences last Thursday. There were definitely more families throughout the building and we all appreciate the ongoing conversations and collaboration. The PTO sponsored our staff dinner that night and it was excellent - thank you to all the families who donated money to make that happen, it was truly appreciated.

We had a great Friday night with the Harlem Wizards - a packed house and tons of energy and smiles. The best news was all staff were healthy and returned to work on Monday!

A great night last Tuesday at the MS Choral Concert and tonight will be our MS Band Concert starting at 7:30, students please be here no later than 7:00 p.m.

I also hope to see parents Thursday night (12/12 @ 7pm) as we host Chad Brice the Director of Training at Cognitive & Behavior Consultants (CBC), for a basic overview on DBT concepts for parents.

Have a great week,

Mr. DiGrandi

12/10- Middle School Picture Retakes

12/10- MS Band Concert 7:30 pm (12/12 Snow Date)

12/12- Parent Workshop, 7:00pm, MSHS Auditorium

12/13- MS Student Forum Holiday Movie Night, 5:30pm

12/17- HS Concert 7:30 (12/18 Snow Date)

12/18- BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

12/23-1/1 - Schools Closed - Holiday Recess

On Wednesday, December 11th, Katie Koestner will present to our 11th and 12th graders. Ms. Koestner has lectured at over 5,000 schools in North America including the incoming classes at MIT, Brown University, West Point, the US Naval Academy, Amherst College, Williams College, the top 200 officers of the Department of Defense, and the American Association of School Administrators. Her testimony on Capitol Hill was instrumental in the passage of federal student safety legislation. We are welcoming back Ms. Koestner, who last presented in person to our students in 2023 and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Thank you to the Foundation for Learning, The Lions Club and our Booster Club for sponsoring the presentation.

PARENT WORKSHOP: December 12th @ 7PM in the MSHS Library. Join Chad Brice, PhD, Director of Training at Cognitive & Behavior Consultants (CBC), for a basic overview on DBT concepts for parents. Dr. Brice is a consultant who works with our clinical teams district-wide and will provide parents with strategies for providing validation to reduce conflict at home; how to use distress tolerance (getting through tough situations without making them worse); and how to reduce vulnerabilities to experience positive outcomes (e.g. pleasant events, better sleep, etc..).

This will be the second session of a four session series for parents that will lead into a deeper discussion around reducing vulnerabilities by increasing structure and building better habits at home. The content is relevant and applicable to both those who attended any of Dr. Brice's previous sessions and those who are planning to attend for the first time. All are welcome!

November Breakfast & Lunch Menus and our new MSHS Deli Order Form

Best New Kids’ Books About Mental Health

In the last few years, there’s been a boom in children’s books about mental health and learning challenges. This year’s crop includes imaginative and sympathetic takes on emotional issues, from picture books for young children to a graphic novel for middle schoolers. We asked our experts to review them and recommend the best.

Some of the books tackle difficult experiences like losing a friend, moving to a new place, or dealing with disappointment. Others demystify mental health and developmental disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and autism. Many of the picks are about big emotions — helping kids learn to talk about them, cope with them, and feel assured that they can be sad or mad or cranky and they will still be loved. This week we’re also offering our earlier roundup of 77 kids’ books, along with resources on why reading to kids is so important and how kids best learn to read, including those with dyslexia.

— Caroline Miller, Editorial Director

Sophomores:

• The PreACT exam is scheduled for January 13. Payment is due by December 10 in order to be guaranteed a spot. Please click here for details.

Seniors:

• 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
• To view available scholarship opportunities, please click here.

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,

BMI Opt-Out Letter (English)

Optar por no participar en el IMC (Spanish)

Please click here for important information regarding Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

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 December 9-

CONGRATULATIONS!
Junior Adeline Moia NAMED ALL STATE-6th Team Volleyball

Coach Toni Fiore Conference 3 Coach of the Year-Volleyball!

CLICK here for the photo.

December 18th BOE Meeting- FALL 2024 Recognition

The following Teams and Individuals will be recognized at the BOE meeting. Senator Harckam will present a proclamation/certificates to the following teams, and individuals.

State Champions Class C Boys Soccer- Team

Ryan Vorfi and Max Cotrone, All State

Volleyball All State 6th Team

Adeline Moia

Cross Country State Qualifiers

Jack Fryer, Drew Karam, Marissa Ferrara, and Freyja Smith

North Salem Booster Club Basketball Tournament

SAVE THE DATE!
January 9th, 10th, and 11th.

**Stay tuned for more information.

Baseball Offseason Workouts December 2024- February 2025

The North Salem High School Baseball program will be hosting off season workouts for any student interested in baseball in grades 7-12. This is not mandatory.

Practice your throwing, fielding, pitching and hitting before the season begins on Monday, March 17th for HSigh School and Monday, April 7th for Modified.

All work outs will be held in the MS Gymnasium. Players should bring their own baseball mitts, sneakers, and water.

***If you have any questions regarding the Off Season Workouts, please contact:

Rob Gilchrist, Head Varsity Baseball Coach

rgilchrist@northsalemschools.org

December - Mondays

12/2- 6:45-8:00pm

12/9- 6:00-7:15pm

12/16- 5:00-6:15pm

January - Mondays

1/6- 6:00-7:15pm

1/13- 5:00-6:15pm

1/27- 6:30-7:45pm

February - Mondays

2/3- 6:30-7:45pm

2/10- 6:30-7:45pm

2/24- 5:00-6:15pm

March - Monday through Thursday

3/3 thru 3/6-3:00-4:30

3/10 thru 3/13-3:00-4:30

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

North Salem Middle / High School is looking for full-time One-to-One Paraprofessionals for the 24-25 school year. Our 1:1 Paraprofessionals work individually with students with special needs and provide assistance (academic, social, and emotional) throughout the day in specialized classrooms.

The schedule follows the school calendar (Sept - June) and the hours are 7:15 am to 2:15 pm.

If you are interested in applying for this position or would like to know more about this rewarding work experience, please contact Dr. Kathleen Murphy, Assistant Principal by email: kmurphy@northsalemschools.org.

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

MSHS PTO MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT