MSHS Tuesday Newsday

Dear NS Families,

I hope this finds everyone well.

Our teachers and students are collaborating with their Counselors on next year's classes - recommendations and course requests are being tabulated and we are in the process of crafting our master schedule. Parents, please make sure that you are speaking with your child and their counselor as there are often, especially at the HS-level, decisions between 1 or 2 courses that need to be made due to the number of sections we offer. We always do our best to create a balanced schedule that meets the needs of the majority of students and also takes into account the varied electives we offer.

We have a 1/2 day early dismissal on Monday, March 31, 2025 for Professional Development and the end of Marking Period 3 is April 4th. Please check Parent Portal and email your child's teacher or counselor with any questions about grades, missed assignments, etc.

Congratulations to Erika Saez and Jericho Hartley, who did a great job representing North Salem at the Bowling State Championships in Syracuse NY.

All the best,

Mr. DiGrandi

3/18 - 16th Annual HS Prism Concert, 7:30pm

3/19 - BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

3/26 - BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

3/31 - Early Dismissal - Professional Development

4/4 - End of Marking Period 3

4/8 - PQ/MS/HS PTO Meeting, 9:30am

4/9 - MSHS Report Cards Posted to ParentPortal

4/9 - BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

4/14-4/18 - Schools Closed, Spring Recess

4/21 - Community Service Hours Due

4/22 - BOE Meeting, 7:30pm

4/23 - HVHRHS Holocaust Remembrance Evening, 7:00pm (more information below)

4/24 - Student Council Blood Drive, 1-6pm

4/30 - MS Honor Roll/High Honor Roll Breakfast

This is a reminder that this week our students, faculty and staff will be participating in emergency drills.

New York State Assessments for grades 3-8 in Math and ELA will be given in the next few months. Please realize, according to State guidelines, all children enrolled in grades 3-8 are expected to participate in State of New York assessments as part of their educational program.

Please read the attached letter for more information.

PARENT WORKSHOP: March 27th @ 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 third session of a four session series, which had been postponed last month, 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!

Breakfast & Lunch Menus and our new MSHS Deli Order Form

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!!

De-stress With Mindfulness

With both parents and teenagers reporting soaring rates of stress, mindfulness is a valuable practice to try. It can’t resolve all the things that are stressing you out, but it can help you feel calmer, less overwhelmed, and more able to handle whatever is on your plate.

This week at childmind.org we are talking about mindfulness — the practice of paying attention to how you feel in the moment, without judgment — and how it can help people of all ages. Mindfulness techniques can help kids with ADHD, anxiety, and other challenges when they are struggling, and they are useful for parents who are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. If your teen feels like they are on an emotional coaster, you can show them these videos on grounding and self-compassion made especially for adolescents. Teens might also explore mindfulness by trying a new journaling app created by the Child Mind Institute called Mirror.

— Michelle Shih, Managing Editor

Unleash your creativity for Mental Health Awareness Month!

Enter the Northwell School Mental Health Erase the Stigma Creative Art Contest. Theme: "Finding Your Voice." Open to all ages in participating school districts. Winning artwork will be displayed on inspirational cards & around Northwell campuses. Prizes include Amazon gift cards! Deadline: April 1, 2025. No AI-generated art.

Learn more & submit: https://redcap.link/ETS2025

#MentalHealthMatters #EraseTheStigma #ArtContest

SAVE THE DATE!! Come learn about career opportunities with Union Apprenticeships. See attached flyer for the upcoming Union Event at BOCES, taking place on Wednesday, April 2 from 5-7pm in the Walden Gym.

Students in grades 8 - 11 will be meeting with their counselors over the next few weeks to select their classes for next year. Please refer to the 2025-2026 course guide for classes offered and their descriptions.

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

Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors

On Wednesday April 30, 2025 the League of Women Voters of Westchester County and the American Association of University Women Westchester will host Running & Winning, a unique program for young women* in high school. Running & Winning is designed to give these female* students the opportunity to explore public service as a career. This workshop will bring students together from high schools in Westchester County for an active political experience. Starting off with a panel presentation of a cross-section of elected officials, student attendees will then work in small groups with students from other schools. Attendees will meet with local female elected officials to learn about their experiences seeking and holding public office. After meeting, the student groups will take on roles of a campaign team (candidate, campaign manager, etc.), produce a campaign video/speech on a campaign platform issue out of three preselected options. The event will be held at Manhattanville University in the Reid Castle’s West Ballroom, and will run from 9am-2pm. Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served to all participants. Registration form can be found here. Form must be returned by April 2, 2025.

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.

The Mercy University Business Honors Program conducts a week-long Summer Leadership Program for Rising Seniors (currently Juniors) in July 2025.

Students who come to the SLA:

• Experience college first-hand, living on campus.
• Explore potential careers in business.
• Visit Fortune 500 Companies
• Potential for up to full tuition scholarship at Mercy University (For Full Time Students)

They have a Corporate Sponsor who has allowed them to keep it subsidized to only $695 for the whole week (includes tuition, room, food/board and activities).

You can apply with this link: https://form.jotform.com/asic22/la-application-2025

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

· 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 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 March 17-

BOYS & GIRLS BOWLING NYSPHSAA State Championships

March 15th AMF Strike and Spare- Syracuse NY

Jericho Hartely- 40th in NYS

Section 1 Runner Up

Averaged 187.5 through 6 games.

Congratulations Jericho!

Erika Saez- 42nd in NYS
Erika's average for the 6 game series was a 145.

Congratulations Erika!

ATTENTION- SPRING 2025 SPORTS REGISTRATION IS OPEN for MODIFIED!

Registration for Spring 2025 Modified sports is open as of Sunday, March 9th, and will remain open through Friday, April 4th. The Season begins on Monday, April 7th.

MS Spring Sport Offerings:

Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Baseball, Boys and Girls Track and Field

Spring Sports Registration

UNIFIED BASKETBALL 2025 Players and Partners Welcome!

Boys and Girls Basketball Begins on April 8th

Family ID Registration is March 8th through March 22nd

**Students who are partners that are Jrs. and Srs. will be exempt from PE for the days that practices/games are scheduled.

Click here to access the link for Spring registration information:

Spring Sports Registration

SPRING 2025 START DATES

Varsity/JV March 17th, 2025
Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field, Boys Golf

Family ID Registration: February 10th through March 1st

**Registration will open/close on the dates listed above.

Modified Sports April 7th, 2025

Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Baseball, Track and Field

Family ID Registration: March 8th through March 22nd

**Registration will open/close on the dates listed above.

BASEBALL UPDATE as of March 17th 2025

Today, 3/18, the Somers School District BOE and Section One Athletic Council has approved the Baseball merger for Varsity, JV and Freshman for the Spring of 2025 season. As a result, all Varsity, JV and Freshman athletes for baseball will practice and play games at Somers High School for the upcoming season. All practices and games have been added to the North Salem Athletic Calendar by level.

NS Athletic Calendar

Practices for the reminder of the week 3/18- 3/21 at Somers HS are 3:30-5:30/6:00pm. Transportation will be departing from North Salem HS on or around 3:45pm daily from the bus platform. Transportation will be provided to Somers for practices and games Monday through Fridays. Families are required to pick up at Somers on these dates. On Saturdays, families will be required to provide transportation to and from Somers.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kiernan.

VOLLEYBALL OFFSEASON WORKOUTS

Mondays 3:00-4:00pm in the Fitness Center

March 17th, 24th

Thursdays 4:05-5:05pm in the Fitness Center

March 27th

***Open to all 9-12th Graders who are interested in Volleyball.
If you have any questions, please email Coach Fiore: tfiore@northsalemschools.org

FOOTBALL UPDATE :

Section One approved the Football Merger on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 for the Fall of 2025. The Taconic Youth Football League is permitting students from North Salem to participate. Registration is anticipated to open in April 2025. The coaching staff from Somers will be hosting a meeting for families and prospective players for grades 9-12 at a date/time TBD.

Stay tuned for further information.

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

ATTENTION COLLEGE BOUND STUDENT ATHLETES
If you will be playing a sport at the college level, please contact Ms. Kiernan asap.

College Bound Recognition Day is Monday, May 5th, 2025

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

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