Did you know Philadelphia is home to one of the largest Chinatowns on the East Coast?
Every year, the City of Philadelphia comes alive in celebration of the Lunar New Year. From authentic Chinese cuisine, traditional lion dances, family-friendly festivals, and a parade, the city has it all.
The Year of the Rabbit:
In Chinese culture, the rabbit symbolizes longevity, peace, and prosperity. Anyone born during the year of the rabbit is said to be vigilant, witty, and quick-minded. The kind and resilient animal is also a representation of patience and treating others with respect.
CULTUREFEST: Lunar New Year, 1/21/23
A pop-up marketplace in the museum’s Asia galleries features paper art and crafting activities to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Lunar New Year events and festivities are included in regular museum admission.
When? Saturday, January 21, 2023, | 10 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
15th Police District PSA1 Community Safety Meeting: THURSDAY, 1/26, 7 PM:
Stay informed and stay alert!
Text "ReadyPhila" to 888-777 to receive free text updates about excessive cold advisories from the City, including info on public safety and municipal services.
More tips on how to #StayWarmPHL https://bit.ly/2NsDP8a
VOLUNTEER POLICY INFORMATION
Important Volunteer/ Chaperone Information In order to volunteer in any capacity (including chaperoning trips) you must fulfill the following directives which are part of the Child Protective Law: The law requires all school employees, contractors, and volunteers who have direct contact with children to obtain clearances (child abuse history clearance and state and federal criminal history checks).
- For PA Criminal Background checks (no charge)
- For Child Abuse Clearance (no charge)
- For FBI fingerprinting (charge): or call #1-844-321-2101 The service code you will need is 1KG6Q9.
If interested, reach out to Ms. Urbano (curbano@northwoodcs.org) for a step-by-step guide to completing your clearances.
NACS is encouraged to GO RED on 2/14!
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools has partnered with the American Heart Association to bring awareness of heart to this critical topic for our students, staff, families, and leaders. Northwood is registered to participate by dressing down in the color red on February 14, 2023. This month, we encourage you to BE WELL and STRESS LESS! Regular physical activity, such as brisk walking, can improve your quality of life and relieve stress, tension, anxiety, and depression. Starting the week of 1/6 Ms. Urbano will be sharing tips and additional online resources for wellness in the Bulldog Blast for NACS families. In addition, one school will be selected by random drawing to receive Dr. Clark's Candy Store. The PCPCS Team will come to the winning school with a candy store for all students and staff. The drawing will be held on February 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. live on Zoom.
Saturday Literacy Experience Program with Read to Succeed!
Register today! This is a great FREE resource for Kindergarten-3rd grade students. CHECK IT OUT!
Read to Succeed Philadelphia 2022-2023 Saturday Literacy Experience Interest Form
Literacy instruction and literacy experiences are facilitated by experienced, certified teachers. Each registered student receives a R2S kit that includes books, literacy activities, and supplies.
The Read 2 Succeed Philly Program will start on January 21st.
Check out the below tips from the American Heart Association:
Try these tips to get out of stress fast-
- Count to 10 before you speak or react.
- Take a few slow, deep breaths until you feel your body unclench a bit.
- Go for a walk, even if it’s just to the restroom and back. It can help break the tension and give you a chance to think things through.
- Try a quick meditation or prayer to get some perspective.
- If it’s not urgent, sleep on it and respond tomorrow. This works especially well for stressful emails and social media trolls.
- Walk away from the situation for a while, and handle it later once things have calmed down.
- Break down big problems into smaller parts. Take one step at a time instead of trying to tackle everything at once.
- Chill out with music or an inspirational podcast to help you rage less on the road.
- Take a break to pet a dog, hug a loved one or help someone out.
- Work out or do something active. Exercise is one of the best antidotes for stress.
Physical & Mental Health for children from the American Heart Association:
See below for tips on prioritizing healthy routines to help your child feel better now and get on the right track for years to come.
Healthy Behaviors:
Set small, achievable, short-term goals to re-prioritize three key areas:
Physical Activity
- Preschool-age children about 3 hours per day of a variety of activities
- School-age kids and teens at least 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity
Nutrition:
- Consume a variety of foods daily, increase intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairies, lean vegetable or animal protein, and fish
- Minimizes the intake of trans fats, processed meats, refined carbohydrates, and sweetened beverages
Screen Time:
- Less is better
- No more than 1 to 2 hours of TV/computer/video games a day; separating leisure screen time and school screen time.
For more information visit heart.org/kids.
DYK? Did you know...
Did you know that on Character Education Day (the first Wednesday of each month), 2 selected Upper School (5th-8th grade) homerooms facilitate assemblies to teach the character trait of the month?
One selected Upper School homeroom will facilitate an assembly in the cafeteria, and the other Upper School homeroom will facilitate an assembly in the gym. Shout out to Ms. Glover and Ms. Howard's homeroom for hosting this month! The trait for the month of January is Citizenship.
Please Touch Museum: Pixar’s Inside Out Exhibit January 27 – May 7, 2023
The first-ever museum exhibition based on Disney and Pixar’s movie Inside Out comes to Please Touch Museum! Explore emotions including Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear through hands-on interactives, including glowing memory spheres, a train of thought, emotion blocks and mirrors, and more. Access to Emotions at Play is included with museum admission. The exhibition visits the Please Touch Museum through May 7, 2023, and was developed by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios. CLICK HERE for more information.
About Inside Out:
Pixar’s hit animated feature Inside Out is the story of 11-year-old Riley, who like all of us, is guided by her emotions — Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco as Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive. Inside Out was released in 2015.
Location: Please Touch Museum 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA
Calling all K-6 Students! Submit to the Litter Hawk Youth Award Program
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is announcing its Litter Hawk Youth Award Program, a recognition program for students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade to share their hope, optimism, and concerns about litter and inspire others to care for their communities through art, words, or video.
In response to Pennsylvania’s new anti-littering education campaign, PA Fights Dirty: Every Litter Bit Matters, 2023's theme is: Show Us How Every Litter Bit Matters to You.
Projects include:
Kindergarten through 4 – Poster
Grades 5 and 6 – Essay or video
Two entries will be selected as winners
in each grade level.
The first place will receive a $50 gift card.
The first runner-up will receive $25 gift card.
All participants will be recognized with certificates.
Deadline: January 31. Winners will be announced in April. STUDENTS APPLY HERE
Power Kids: Pennsylvania's Electronic Library
Do you know about Power Kids, Pennsylvania's electronic library? With Power Kids, you and your child can access things like:
- BookFlix: Watch videos and read books
- CyberSmarts: Learn how to be a safe, responsible, and smart citizen with eBooks
- TrueFlix: Learn about people, places, nature, history, and science from videos and eBooks
- Chat with a Librarian
In addition, many libraries throughout Pennsylvania offer their members access to downloadable or streaming eBooks and audiobooks through Axis 360 and Hoopla. Enjoy new bestsellers and old favorites on your compatible digital device! Check with your library for additional info.
FREE FOOD ON YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY
BIRTHDAY FREEBIES:
1. Applebee's: The restaurant offers a freebie for the birthday kid. Because the chain operates as a franchise, the freebie varies from location to location. Expect to nab a free appetizer, entree, or (most likely) dessert.
2. Denny's: Denny's Rewards members get "a delicious birthday gift" when they sign up to be a member. Free drinks and kids eat free rewards also apply throughout the year
3. Red Robin: Add your child's ages 17 and under to your Red Robin Royalty account to receive a free gourmet burger on their birthday. You get one on yours, too!
4. Baskin Robbins: An adult must register and then add additional family members. But this one's not just for kids—family members receive free ice cream coupons on their birthdays.
5. Auntie Anne's: Does your child have a smartphone? They can get a free pretzel their birthday month by signing up with the Pretzel Perks rewards program.
6. Dunkin' Donuts: It's time to eat the donuts. Kids 13 and up can get a free beverage on their birthday for registering with the rewards program.
Philly Zoos and Gardens with Free Admission:
Brandywine Zoo—Wilmington, DE: The Brandywine Zoo offers free admission from January through mid-March because fewer animals are visible. However, kids can still see over 20 different animals that don't mind coming out in the cold.
Awbury Arboretum—Germantown
Always free and open to the public, the Awbury Arboretum offers nature lovers a chance to explore the outdoors with their families. Take an awe-inspiring walk through its grounds, open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Bartram's Gardens—South Philadelphia
There is no cost to visit Bartram’s independently, and it’s open 365 days a year from sunup to sundown.
Philly Science Museums with Free Admission :
Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion - Northeast Philadelphia: The first Saturday of every month is pay what you wish at this unique museum full of exotic fish, fluttering butterflies, and cascading waterfalls.
The Science History Institute—Old City: Budding scientists will love the always-free Science History Institute, where visitors can take in historical artifacts highlighting milestones in scientific breakthroughs. In addition to the exhibition spaces and interactives, the Institute regularly hosts family days for kids.
Wagner Free Institute of Science—North Philadelphia
Here's another one of the few museums in Philly that's always free to visitors of any age. On Saturdays, Wagner runs special programming with activities like scavenger hunts and crafts, with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for college students and children.
On the first Sunday of the month, the Barnes Foundation offers free admission to all visitors, plus tons of family activities. Photo courtesy of the museum
Philly History Museums with Free Admission:
Ryerss Museum—This Northeast Philly gem once served as the home of the wealthy Ryerss family. The museum preserves the family's huge collection of international artifacts and art, with an adjoining library that bookworms will love. Parking is free as well. Ryerss is conveniently situated within the 65-acre Burholme Park, which has ball fields, a playground, miniature golf courses, and picnic areas to enjoy after exploring the museum.
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site (Old City): Your kids may or may not read Poe in school, but they can definitely see where the literary great lived. Poe’s former home has been converted into a free museum that shows how the city impacted his work.
Fireman’s Hall Museum (Old City): This free museum is a must-see if your little one is fascinated by fire trucks. One of the city's most kid-friendly spots, Fireman's Hall has an array of historic equipment from the Philadelphia Fire Department and encourages visitors to play dress-up with firefighter gear.
United States Mint( Old City): Money, money, and more money! Learn how coins are made at the United States Mint located in Philadelphia. Visitors can expect to see the factory, view the first coin press, and meet Peter the Mint Eagle during free tours.
Bounce Back Philly: Nutrition Tips
CLICK HERE for a booklet covering four tips for healthy eating that can be practiced in isolation or quarantine.
Food Banks & Other Resources:
Next to the map, you will find a list of addresses, food pick-up times, phone numbers, and requirements for each food bank.
January 2023 Creek Care Days: Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed
Let’s clean Tacony Creek Park and its gateways! Join your neighbors and TCP Keepers for weekly Wednesday cleanups and more this month:
Wednesday Creek Care Days (3pm to 5pm)
January 11 - I St. & Ramona Ave., Phila, 19124
January 18 - Garland St. & E Tabor Rd., Phila, 19124
January 25 - Whitaker Ave. and Loudon St., Phila, 19120
Saturday Creek Care Day: Philly (10am to 12pm)
January 14 - Garland St. & E Tabor Rd., Phila, 19124
MLK Day Cleanup (10am to 12pm)
Monday, January 16 - Whitaker Ave. and Loudon St., Phila, 19120
All tools and supplies will be provided, including work gloves, snacks, and water. Restrooms are not available. Please bring a reusable water bottle if you have one.
TTF Watershed. follows Philadelphia guidelines & will provide masks. Pre-registration required.
Contact Alex Rosario at Alex@ttfwatershed.org or 215-744-1853.
Northwood Academy Charter School Child Find Policy and Procedures (Annual Notice)
Hello Northwood Families,
You will find a copy of our Annual Child Find Notice here outlining the procedures and protocols for Northwood's monitoring of all of our students and identification of students with special needs. This will also be able to be referenced on our website, via social media, and in local news publications. For further information, please contact the Director of Special Education, Kate Crossett at 215-289-5606.
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The Child Find Policy (Annual Notice) Policy and Procedures for Students with Disabilities at Northwood Academy Charter School aim to ensure that all students with disabilities who are eligible to enroll in the school will have available to them a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. CLICK HERE for the complete policy.
FAMILIES IN TRANSITION: NORTHWOOD IS HERE TO HELP
If you and your family lack fixed, regular, or adequate housing (for example, living in a shelter, transitional home, or even doubled-up with other people) due to loss of housing or economic hardship, you may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which ensures educational stability for students experiencing homelessness.
To learn more about the rights of eligible families, click here for a brief video.
If you qualify for rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, contact Lower School Counselor and Northwood's Homelessness Liaison Ms. Lozandieu at mlozandieu@northwoodcs.org for more information.
Are you or someone you know in need of housing, food, health, and safety services? Please check out these resources from Project HOME: Where To Turn Guide.
What is Safe2Say Something?
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With 'Safe2Say Something', it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit an anonymous tip report through the Safe2SaySomething system
- The crisis center reviews and processes all submissions
- The crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
- If needed, the crisis center may contact the tipster anonymously through the app
Safe2Say Something PA:
Submit an anonymous tip here.
Connect with Northwood
Website: northwoodcs.org
Location: 4621 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 289-5606
Facebook: facebook.com/Northwood-Academy-Charter-School-153041454730750/
Twitter: @northwoodcs