NorthStar Lights

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

During my visits to schools last year, I was introduced to an young student named Jah’niel and our meeting had an impact on me. Jah'niel happened to be frustrated with something and I could tell it was impacting his ability to focus on learning.

I asked the teacher if it would be OK for me to talk to Jah’niel and see if I could help lessen his frustration. The teacher mentioned that Jah’niel is a fan of Marvel movies and since I also am, I asked him a question about the series. I immediately saw Jah’niel’s eyes light up and knew I had piqued his interest. We took a few minutes to discuss our favorite things about the movies. At the end of our conversation, Jah’niel stumped me on a Marvel question and he was delighted to hear that. After our conversation, Jah’niel rejoined his class with newfound energy and a clear mind, ready to participate and learn.

The encounter was one that stuck with me, so when school started again this year, I wanted to reconnect with Jah’niel. I made my way through the school and knocked on the door of his classroom. Now when the Superintendent of Schools knocks on the door of your classroom, there are definitely looks of concern and nervousness on the occupants’ faces – except for Jah’niel. I have to say, I wasn’t sure if my interaction with Jah’niel last year stuck with him as much as it did with me but when I saw his face, I knew it had. We had a short conversation about Jah’niel’s summer and I heard about a trip he took to the beach. And of course, we quickly caught up on the latest happenings in the Marvel universe.

I asked Jah’niel if he would take a picture with me and he happily obliged. I can’t help but smile when I look at it and I hope it makes you smile, too. As I look at it, I am reminded of a core value in our Strategic Plan, “Positive relationships are the foundation of trust, open communication, mutual respect and support.” I’m proud to have started that foundation with Jah’niel and I will strive to do the same with others throughout the school year. #NSBrighterTogether

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

The Cicero-North Syracuse High School Marching Band home show will take place this Saturday, September 17 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Doors for the event open at 4:30 p.m. and the C-NS Marching Band takes to the field at 7:09 to perform their Zodiac show at the lead of Karen Seamans.

For more information: https://nysfbc.org/cns-2022/

Performing Bands (listed in order of performance):
SS3: Marcus Whitman
SS3: Jordan-Elbridge
SS3: Leroy
LS3: Rome Free Academy
LS3: Indian River
SS2: Phoenix
SS2: Westomoreland
LS2: Webster
INTERMISSION
SS1: East Syracuse Minoa
SS1: Horseheads
Nat: Liverpool
Nat: Cicero-North Syracuse
Nat: Victor
Nat: Baldwinsville
Nat: West Genesee

Marching band photo courtesy of Let's Link Media.

Next week schools in the North Syracuse Central School District will be participating in the annual Chalk the Walk and Have a Talk project. The project is a mental health awareness campaign to bring attention to suicide prevention through the Onondaga County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Last year the NSCSD had the highest participation out of any school district we'd love to see that happen again!

If families are interested in participating in the project at home and sharing their artwork, please send your pictures to Laurie Cook at lcook@nscsd.org or share them on social media.

The School Mental Health Resource Training Center is offering a FREE webinar for families and caregivers on “Suicide Prevention Strategies for Families and Caregivers” on September 20th at 7pm.

https://www.mentalhealthednys.org/9-20-2022-suicide-prevention-strategies-for-families-caregivers/

School breakfast and lunch meals are offered to all students in the North Syracuse Central School District through the District’s Food Service Program. The Board of Education, the legal sponsor of the program, is committed to ensuring that every child has access to healthy and nutritious meals.

Meal prices are set according to by the United States Department of Agriculture program guidelines. The North Syracuse Central School District offers healthy meals at reasonable prices every school day.

Breakfast $2.25 for all grade-level students

Lunch
$3.25 for elementary students
$3.50 for middle school students
$3.50 for junior/senior high students.

While school meals are reasonably priced, some families may still need assistance. Families are encouraged to fill out an application for free/reduced price meals. Applications are now available online by clicking here.

Students at the following schools will receive free meals regardless of family income, through the USDA’s CEP program:

• Roxboro Road Elementary
• Roxboro Middle School
• Smith Road Elementary
• North Syracuse Early Education Program at Main Street
• OCM BOCES Thompson Road Campus

Click here to read more in a letter to parents.

Click here to view the Food Services Department website.

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.

The North Syracuse Central School District is hiring! There are a variety of positions available, both full and part-time. The District is holding its first-ever substitute teacher/teaching assistant job fair on Wednesday, September 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. The event will take place at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd.) in North Syracuse.

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.

Below are a few additional back-to school photos that were not included in the video. If you haven't seen the video, please visit our YouTube Channel and go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHBeAV6LdfU&feature=share&si=ELPmzJkDCLju2KnD5oyZMQ.

Karen Calkins, mom to Cicero-North Syracuse High School Senior Courtney Calkins, shared photos of the school's Marching Band performance at last Friday's Varsity Football home game. The band's show for the year is entitled "Zodiac" and will be performed again at the Starburst home show at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. More information about the show is available in the article above or on the District website. Karen's photos also included a shot of one of the football players doing double-duty and playing with the band in addition to the football game!

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.

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