2023 NACS Fall Festival: 10/25
SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, 10/25- Open to all Northwood Families! 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Northwood will celebrate a Fall Festival at the Simpson Recreational Center (outside)
There will be games, snacks, and more!
Make sure you WEAR PINK in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness
Additional activities include but are not limited to:
Petting Zoo, Basketball, Bounce houses, Ax-Throwing, Skee Ball, Pumpkin Painting, Fall-Themed Bean Bag Toss.
Welcome, Edwen Leite, new Senior Director of Special Education!
Dear Families,
My name is Edwena Leite, I am the new Senior Director of Special Education at Northwood Academy Charter!
For the past 24 years, I have dedicated my life to educating students in the Philadelphia area. My interest in serving my community started at a very young age, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of students. I enjoy working with children, especially with students who have disabilities.
I graduated from LaSalle University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a dual Certification in Special Education and Regular Education. I immediately was hired as a Special Education Teacher working in Philadelphia. A few years later, I decided to get my first Masters Degree in Regular Education at Gratz College and went on to get my second Masters Degree in Educational Leadership at The University of Pennsylvania and received my Certification in Educational Leadership. For close to ten years, I proudly supervised Special Education in my school. Currently I am a doctoral student in the process of earning my Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
As a lifelong learner myself I strive to expand opportunities for all students and foster an inclusive culture, built on understanding, compassion, and respect. My goal is to help students and their families reach their goals. A lens on the strengths of students is equally as important as a focus on their areas in need of improvement.
Please know that you are supported and that your school community and I are committed to you and ready to assist. Enriching, educating, and inspiring the lives of children are the most important goals of education. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to me, please do not hesitate to contact me through email.
I look forward to serving our students and staff at Northwood Academy Charter.
Edwen Leite
Welcome, Audrey Powell, our new Lower School Assistant Principal!
Dear Northwood Families,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity to join the Northwood community as the new Lower School Assistant Principal. I am overjoyed to be here with you and your students, and I am committed to supporting our Lower School community of learners, educators, and families.
My unwavering belief is that education is the key to freedom. It's not merely a means to an end but a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of a just and equitable society. High-quality education enriches the mind and spirit of all individuals, opening doors to a life filled with opportunities. Throughout my career in education, my focus has remained steadfast on broadening horizons for elementary-aged students and positively shaping their development.
My educational journey has been rich and varied. I've had the privilege of teaching in a wide range of educational environments, including private, public, charter, and Montessori schools. My teaching experience has included leading classrooms with multi-age groupings, as well as those focused on students of the same grade. In 2014, I attained my Elementary 1 Montessori credential, and in 2019, I successfully completed my Masters in Educational Leadership. In 2020, my husband and I made the decision to relocate to Philadelphia, and for the past two years, I had the honor of serving as the Principal of a charter school in SW Philadelphia.
I am a staunch believer in the power of collaboration among staff, students, parents, and the broader community to foster educational excellence. I am eager to work in close partnership with you, our dedicated staff, and the Northwood community to continue building upon the great achievements already realized and to explore innovative ways to enhance the educational experiences of our students.
I am genuinely thrilled about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and am fully prepared to hit the ground running. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email (apowell@northwoodcs.org) or by phone (267-721-2461) if you have any questions or specific areas you would like me to focus on as I transition into this role.
Once again, I am delighted to be a part of this community and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet and collaborate with all of you in our shared mission to support NACS students and our community.
Best,
Audrey Powell
Looking Ahead:
- Friday, 10/27, Shady Brook Farm - Grade 2
- Tuesday, 10/31, Shady Brook Farm - Grade 1
- Thursday, 11/2- Please Touch Museum- Kindergarten
- Tuesday, 11/07, The Franklin Institute - Grade 5
- Thursday, 11/16, The Philadelphia Zoo- Behavioral Support Students
Tuesday, 11/21, Adventure Aquarium- Grade 2
Friday, 2/9, Please Touch Museum- Grade 1
Stay tuned for more trips in the coming weeks!
For PA Criminal Background checks (no charge): https://epatch.state.pa.us
For Child Abuse Clearance (no charge): https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
For FBI fingerprinting (charge): https://uenroll.identogo.com or call #1-844-321-2101. The service code you will need is 1KG6Q9.
All 3 clearances must be obtained and are valid for 5 years.
REMINDERS:
ALL required documents must be submitted together at one time. We will not hold your documents until they are all complete and accounted for.
Copies of the required clearances must be printed and handed to the front school office or classroom teacher. We can not accept clearances forwarded to us via email. Thank you for your support of our program, safety as always is a priority for all our students and their families.
Clearances submitted within 48 hours of an impending trip will not be processed in time for that individual to chaperone that particular trip. While we encourage everyone to complete clearances, we cannot honor last-minute requests.
Reach out to Ms. Urbano for a step-by-step guide for completing your clearances, at curbano@northwoodcs.org.
Room 121 Spotlight:
STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
Miss Chocolate
Please note, today is the last day for online sales for our NACS Fall fundraiser with Miss Chocolate/ Ashley Farms. Northwood's Organizational ID#605108
Estimated Delivery: November 6th
Thank you for your support!
School Picture Day (Tuesday, 11/7)
Quick Facts:
- Picture Day will be in the school gym on Tuesday, November 7th
- The Northwood uniform polo is required
- Picture Day ID: EVTSM6RW3
- All order forms were sent home with your child the week of 10/16. Additional picture day forms can be downloaded HERE.
Picture Day retakes will take place in DECEMBER (12/12) and 8th-grade graduation pictures will be held in the SPRING (3/12).
For any questions or concerns please reach out.
REMIND APP SIGN-UP
If you have not done so already, sign up to get essential weekly alerts from us via the school Remind app
Remind is a free, safe messaging app that keeps Northwood Academy families up to date with what’s happening in the classroom and school. Additionally, our weekly Bulldog Blast is sent out via Remind, along with other timely announcements throughout each week. Please sign up for our Remind notifications to stay on top of important updates from teachers and receive schoolwide updates in real time.
Create a Remind account to receive Northwood's schoolwide alerts!
- Go to remind.com/join/nacsnews (or download the free iOS or Android app)
- Click Sign Up
- Provide a full name, email address, and password
- Choose your role
- Follow the instructions to start using Remind
To sign up and receive alerts via text message, text @nacsnews to the number 81010 and select the appropriate role.
Note: Each teacher has a different class code for their individual classes. Please contact your child's teacher to receive this information.
If you have followed the above instructions and are still having difficulties or not receiving NACS information please reach out to the Remind Help Desk for further assistance https://remind.ada.support/chat/
NORTHWOOD PARENT ASSOCIATION:
Are you eager to stay in the know about all the exciting events happening at your child's school? Do you want to lend a helping hand and get involved in the school community as a parent volunteer? Look no further! Our Parent Association is here to help you stay informed and engaged.
By filling out our simple form, you'll be sure to receive all the latest updates on school events, volunteer opportunities, and more. **Please note, if you completed this form last year you do not need to complete it again**
Don't miss out on any of the action - sign up today and stay in the loop with our Parent Association!
🎃 Save the Date 🎃
Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards
Visitors to Linvilla Orchards can purchase the perfect pumpkin, pick apples, run through the corn maze or straw bale maze, try an apple slingshot, play pumpkin toss, see the barnyard animals, and take a hayride. Most activities are limited to weekends only, so be sure to reference the website for details. Parking and admission are free of charge; however, activities are pay-as-you-go. Hours vary by day of the week.
When? September 16th - November 5th
Where? Linvilla Orchards 137 Knowlton Rd, Media, PA, 19063
Philadelphia Zoo's Boo at the Zoo
Lions & tigers & bears, oh my! The Zoo’s annual Halloween extravaganza, Boo at the Zoo, is back for three fun-filled weekends of costumes, festive fall treats, and ghoulish fun.
Gather your ghosts and goblins, put on your favorite costume, bring a bag, and trick-or-treat throughout the Zoo. Be sure to visit all the animal exhibits to see who might be munching on pumpkins or playing with Halloween-themed enrichment! Enjoy seasonal décor, photo opportunities, festive fall offerings, fun children’s activities, and more. Boo at the Zoo is included in the general admission ticket. Add more fun to your Boo at the Zoo day by experiencing a NEW Halloween-themed Nature Blazers scavenger hunt!
Halloween costumes with toy guns and weapons and adult masks are prohibited.
Special Member Hours: Trick-or-treat before the Zoo opens to the general public! This year, members get access to exclusive Boo at the Zoo hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the following dates:
Sunday, October 22
Saturday, October 28
Location: The Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
Elmwood Park Zoo's Boo at the Zoo
Bring your little ghouls and ghosts to the annual Halloween haunt, where the entire zoo is transformed for a kooky, spooky Halloween celebration! Come dressed in your most creative costume and march in our costume parade (2:30 PM at the Stony Creek Pavilion). Adults are encouraged to dress up, too! And don’t forget to bring your trick-or-treat bag, as treat and activity stations will be located throughout the zoo. Boo at the Zoo is free to attend with zoo admission.
When? Weekends Only – October 7th through October 29th – 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Where? Elmwood Park Zoo: 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, PA, 19401
Save the date for the Friends of Northwood PARK Fall Clean and Green. 11/11/23 from 1-3pm
Address: Castor Ave and Foulkrod St Philadelphia, PA 19124
MORE DETAILS TO COME
What is Safe2Say Something?
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.
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 our school social worker at dominiqueharris@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.
Please review Northwood's Homeless Students Policy here: McKinney-Vento Policy.
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