NorthStar Lights

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

Last week I was asked to be the guest reader at Roxboro Road Elementary School during their kindergarten "Breakfast Club" celebration and the experience had me wanting to write about the importance of instilling a love for reading in our young people. As I was settling down at my computer to write, a new email with the subject "Thank You From a Former Student" appeared in my inbox and pulled my attention away from what I was trying to do.

The email was from a young lady who was a student at Roxboro Road Elementary School when I served as their principal. Her words clearly affirmed the message I was struggling to compose. She wrote, "I can still clearly remember how you turned reading into a fun activity for me. At the start of the school year, you played kickball with the students who completed their summer reading going into first grade. This helped increase my enjoyment of reading, and it was also the first time that I seriously thought about becoming a teacher. After having so much fun that day, I could imagine myself doing something similar with my future students."

The word 'serendipity' is defined as 'the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way' and it was one that immediately popped into my head when I read that email. The message I wanted to convey this week had just appeared in my email.

When I sat down with a book in front of those Roxboro Road Elementary School kindergarteners, my goal was to make a connection and turn reading into a fun adventure. I think (and I hope) I did that for them...but just in case my short visit with them wasn't enough, I want to encourage you to pick up a book and read to your child[ren]. The stories that are contained in the pages of the trillions of books out there should never be left folded flat and untold. It is up to us to release the words and bring them to life. You never know, you just may inspire a child to become the teacher that the next generation needs.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

Roxboro Road Elementary School students and their families have been celebrating great beginnings this spring as their school’s breakfast club made its return. Through the program, separate grade levels of students and their family members are invited to a breakfast and books celebration.

Parents/Guardians and children are invited to eat breakfast and hear a guest reader share a story. Each child then receives a copy of the shared book for their own personal library! The breakfast meals and books are paid for through a school improvement grant and the event is coordinated by the school’s AIS Team of Traci Buffa, Mike Green, Sandi Thorne, Laura Wanless and Margie Rush. Thanks also to Missy Petarca, Michelle Barone and the additional staff who pitched in and eagerly volunteered to make the in-person event possible for families.

Click here to read the complete article online and view a slideshow of event pictures.

Throughout the pandemic, nutritious school meals have contributed to student achievement, supported America’s families and provided a critical safety net during economic hardships. Thanks to federal child nutrition waivers, all students, regardless of income, have had access to free meals during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the federal waivers expire on June 30, 2022 and Congress and the USDA have opted to not continue child nutrition waivers. This means that districts will no longer be able to provide free meals for all students for the 2022-2023 school year.

What this means for NSCSD Families:

• Families must fill out free and reduced meal price applications for the 2022-2023 school year and meet income qualifications in order to receive free meals.
• Families who do not qualify for free and reduced price meals for students will need to resume paying for school lunches.

Over the summer, the NSCSD will be setting meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year and will be sending out Free and Reduced Applications and guidelines. It is important to complete an application to ensure that your child’s benefits continue. Completing a form will affect any future PEBT payments and will help with tuition and test assistance. The Food Service Department does not receive money from the General Fund and relies on meal reimbursements for our program.

As in the past, meals must be purchased only with cash or funds available on student accounts, no charging will be allowed.

On Tuesday, June 7, more than 90 Dollars for Scholars scholarship awards, totaling $50,000 were presented to graduating Cicero-North Syracuse High School students. The awards, 38 of which are memorial scholarships given in memory of loved ones, were presented during a ceremony held at C-NS High School. Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship recipients and many thanks to NS Dollars for Scholars!

Thanks to NSCSD Board of Education Member Mark Thorne for submitting event photos! Click here to see more pictures online.

On Saturday, June 4, the Roxboro Road Elementary School Community came out in full force for Roxie's Fun Fair. The carnival event featured a dunk tank, crafters, vendors and food trucks, all to help raise money for the school's new inclusive playground. Thanks to great participation, more than $6,000 was raised by the event. Many thanks to all who participated!

Click here to see more pictures online.

Heavy traffic is expected in the Cicero area and around Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 due to the school being the site for the NYS Track and Field Championships. Traffic is expected to be heaviest between 10 am and 7 pm on Friday and between 8 am and 5 pm on Saturday. If possible, please use alternate travel routes. Local law enforcement will be assisting with traffic and parking.

Students at Lakeshore Road Elementary School had the chance to show off their skills at their school's recent science fair and career night. Principal Chmielewski shared some photos from the June 9 event, which allowed parents and families members to come in and see their students work. The school's cafeteria was filled with interesting and creative exhibits showcasing a variety of student interests.

Click here to see more pictures online.

The North Syracuse Education Foundation (NSEF) is proud to announce their 2022-2023 grant award winners. Eight North Syracuse Central School District educators were recognized at the May 23 Board of Education Meeting for receiving grants from the North Syracuse Education Foundation (NSEF) in their 2022 Grant Award’s Program. NSEF resources support quality education through creative opportunities, and innovative/imaginative approaches.

Click here to read the complete article online and learn about the creative opportunities students will have thanks to the grants.

On Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Syracuse University Skytop, 6 teams representing Gillette Road Middle and Roxboro Road Middle competed in an out of this world experience: the CNY MOST Rocket Team Challenge. Teams of students worked together to assemble, paint and ultimately launch rockets.

Click here to read the complete article online.

Allen Road Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher Kathy Conese shared pictures this week of her students' field trip to the Wild Animal Park! She says that it was their first field trip in 3 years and it was a huge success! Kathy said, "The weather was perfect, the animals were playful and the little ones were all able to see the animals they had researched! It was truly a magical day of fun and learning!"

Did you know that the North Syracuse Central School District is hiring? There are a variety of positions available, both full and part-time. Learn more about employment with the District online by clicking here. Applications can also be submitted online.

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 or click here to upload them.

Congratulations to the Cicero-North Syracuse High School Girls' Golf Team for their success this season. The ladies were named Section III Champions earlier this spring and traveled to Saratoga this past week to compete in New York State Competition. Maria Borte, mom of Cicero-North Syracuse High School golfer Isabella Borte, shared some photos from the competition.

NSCSD Board of Education Member Robert Crabtree took time last weekend to have some fun at different school events last weekend. On Friday, June 3, he attended the Allen Road Elementary School Carnival where he got to see students turn Principal Emily Lafountain into a human ice cream sundae AND get dropped into the dunk tank. On Saturday, June 4, he visited Roxboro Road Elementary School's Roxie's Fun Fair and saw Principal Matt Motala also get dropped in the dunk tank. Mr. Crabtree shared his photos and commended both schools on their fantastic events as well as both principals for being such good sports.

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 fill out the necessary form.

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 SchoolMessenger.

Grandparents, community members and all friends of the NSCSD are welcome to subscribe by providing an email address by clicking here. Newsletters are emailed each Friday when school is in session. Help us share the good news and the great things happening in the NSCSD!

Email: webmaster@nscsd.org
Website: www.nscsd.org
Location: 5355 West Taft Road, Syracuse, NY, USA
Phone: (315) 218-2100
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Twitter: @NSyracuseCSD