DĂŤA DE MUERTOS: NOVEMBER 1ST AND 2ND
WHAT IS DĂŤA DE MUERTOS?
Day of the Dead is a celebration in Mexico and some other Latin American countries. It’s a special day to honor and remember family members who have passed away.
WHEN IS IT?
Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Even though it’s close to October and Halloween, don’t get them mixed up– they are two different holidays!
It does have the same dates as All Souls Day and All Saints Day.
HOW DO FAMILIES CELEBRATE?
Many families visit cemeteries, to place flowers in the graves. It’s an especially festive day in Mexico. There might be parades, with people wearing costumes and faces painted like skulls. Children can paint their faces too! One of the most cherished rituals is creating a homemade altar. Some people believe that once a year, souls from the afterlife come and visit their families, at midnight. The altar welcomes them after their long journey to earth.
11 ELEMENTS YOU MIGHT SEE ON AN ALTAR:
- Candles (velas)
Symbol of light and life, lights the way - Papel picado (decorative papers)
Represents union between earth and the arterlife - Pan de muerto (a sweet bread)
Element of earth, hospitality - Marigolds (flores de cempasĂşchil)
Orange is the color most easily seen, scent guides the spirits to the altar - Plates of Food
Favorite foods to welcome hungry souls - Sugar skulls (calaveras), and skeletons (calacas)
- Symbolizes death as part of life
- A Glass of Water
To welcome thirsty souls after a long journey - A Photograph of the Family Member(s)
To remember relatives and loved ones - Favorite objects
To make visiting souls feel happy and honor them - Religious Symbols
A cross, rosary, pictures of saints, or others - Incense
The smell wards off bad spirits and welcome good ones
Altars can be simple or very elaborate. Families want to make the visiting souls feel happy. They often put things on the table that their relatives enjoyed. Even though Day of the Dead has some things that might look scary, it is supposed to be happy holiday that celebrates the circle of life. This is why people use bright colors for the decorations. Skeletons are arranged doing fun things and looking silly, and there are yummy things to eat as well.
Looking Ahead:
- Tomorrow, 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.
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. Take note, not all teachers have a separate Remind classroom.
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!
Wyoming Library - Free Library of Philadelphia Presents:
Family Wreath-Making Craft Event at Tacony Branch - Free Library of Philadelphia Thursday November 16th from 3-4:30 PM. There will be snacks, music and more fun!
See flyer for registration info, registration is required!
Location: 231 E Wyoming Ave, Philadelphia, PA
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
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
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