Bulldog Blast
Wednesday, January 4th, 2023
Welcome back, Northwood!
This Week & Looking ahead:
📓 CLICK HERE to see a recording of our 2022 Winter Concert.
📓 Our next community check-in hosted by Ms. Urbano (Community Coordinator), Ms. Lozandieu (Lower School Counselor K-4), and Mr. Whitlach (Upper School Counselor 5-8) will be on January 25th. All NACS guardians are welcome to attend. Stay tuned for more details.
📓 Smile Dentist Team will be visiting NACS on 1/6/23 for all application-approved students.
Upcoming dates:
📓 Interim reports will be sent on 1/24
📓 F&P Testing will occur 1/9-1/20
Weekday after-school clubs are here!
Weekday after-school clubs will be starting next week and sign-ups are live on FamilyID! Northwood is using a platform called FamilyID for club registration. Upon clicking on the registration links below, if you do not already have a FamilyID account, you will be prompted to set one up (this only takes a minute).
- All information for each club can be found on the 'AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS: Winter 2023' page at the following link: https://www.familyid.com/programs/after-school-clubs-winter-2023
- Links to all clubs can also be found on Northwood's FamilyID landing page at the following link: CLICK HERE to go to Northwood's Landing Page
covid- corner
Masking Update:
Upon return from Winter Recess, Northwood will be implementing a 2-week masking policy, following the district's lead. Each class was provided with a class set of KN-95 masks. There will be masks available for students upon entry to the building as well.
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.
Parent Corner:
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 to 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.
BULLDOG SPOTLIGHT: We want to hear from you!
If you have something you would like to share with our NACS community, or would like to nominate your child for our Bulldog Spotlight, please email curbano@northwoodcs.org.
Photos must be submitted no later than noon on Tuesday to be shared in the upcoming Wednesday issue.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Update:
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is handling all P-EBT inquiries and families or households should submit their inquiry via the following form link from a computer:
https://forms.juvare.com/forms/eb604f74-e01c-463e-82ea-04c416a5c9c5.
If using a mobile device, go to www.compass.state.pa.us, select “What We Offer” from the drop-down menu. Select the “2021-2022 Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer” option on the lower right side.
If families or households would prefer to call, the P-EBT Hotline Number is 1-877-343-0179. PDE, DFN is also unable to assist families and households with inquiries.
Eat Right When Money Is Tight
Are you struggling with your food budget? Are you looking for ideas for healthy, budget-friendly meals and snacks for your family?
Take a look at the SNAP-Ed Connection page of resources on the USDA's webpage, Eat Right When Money's Tight. It has meal planning and budgeting tips as well as links for food assistance resources in your area. You can also find helpful information on the Stay Safe and Healthy at Home page.
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.
Coats and Car Seats:
Winter means keeping kids warm, but did you know that babies and young children in car seats should NOT wear puffy coats or snowsuits when in their car seats? CLICK HERE for a video that shows how a coat or snowsuit can compress under the harness of a car seat, sometimes up to four inches! This compression can cause the straps of your child's car seat to not to fit correctly, leaving a dangerous situation. Sleeping bags for babies can also add extra slack under the harness, creating an unsafe ride for your baby.
How should you keep your baby or young child in the car seat warm when it's cold?
Try these tips to keep your child warm and safe while in their car seat:
- Dress your baby or young child in snug layers, like onesies and leggings. Add long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, and shoes and socks. You can even include a jacket.
- For babies, use covers specifically for car seats that are designed to give warmth. The car-seat manufacturer should approve these covers for your specific car seat.
- After securing them in the car seat for older babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners turn their coats around and put them on backward (arms through the armholes) so the coat is on top of the harness, or use a blanket in the car.
Community Corner:
Three Kings Day / Día de Reyes Friday, Jan 6th, 5:00 PM
Three Kings Day at the Kimmel Center it’s a free event that celebrates a meaningful holiday in the Hispanic community and provides an opportunity for all residents in the city to participate in this tradition. Attendees will enjoy an evening of fun activities and surprises such as Mexican hot chocolate, traditional “Rosca de Reyes” bread, the reenactment of the tale of the Three Kings, and the breaking of piñatas for the youngest family members.
Three Kings Day is the final celebration with which the 12 days of Christmas end (January 6). It is believed that on January 6, the Three Kings/Wise Men — Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar — presented baby Jesus with symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
El “Día de Reyes” en el Kimmel Center es un evento gratuito, en donde se celebra una festividad muy importante para la comunidad hispana y ofrece una buena oportunidad para que todos los residentes de la ciudad participen en esta tradición. Los asistentes disfrutan de una tarde de actividades divertidas y sorpresas como chocolate caliente mexicano, la tradicional Rosca de Reyes, recreación del cuento de los Reyes Magos y rompimiento de piñatas para los más pequeños de la familia.
El Día de Reyes es la celebración final con la que se terminan los 12 días de Navidad (el 6 de enero). Se cree que el 6 de enero, los Reyes Magos — Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar — obsequiaron regalos simbólicos de oro, incienso y mirra al niño Jesús.
morning storytime to celebrate Three Kings Day: 1/7 10am
Join TallerPR for a Saturday morning storytime to celebrate Three Kings Day! They will be reading Un Coquí de Boriquén con Los Reyes a Belén. TallerPR will have light food and coloring activities. The book will be read in Spanish by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris.
When? January 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where? 2600 N 5th, Philadelphia, PA 19133 United States215-426-3311
CLICK HERE to learn more about Taller Puertorriqueño.
Please read the below message from YouthCOR:
Although COVID-19 is slowly leaving our lives, the effects of the pandemic remain. The mental health of our youth and the growing needs of our students consumes our work every day. The CEO of CORA, AnnMarie McDowell, has developed one agency-wide CORA Holiday for CORA staff – a recognition day to rest, care for their own individual needs, and care for their family. On Monday, March 20, 2023, nearly three years from our last day of typical operations before the pandemic we are observing this CORA Mental Health Day. As a result of this holiday, all YouthCOR programs will be closed.
We will resume operation on Tuesday, March 21st, 2023.
Thank you for understanding and supporting all we do at CORA.
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.
Important Dates on the Horizon
Friday, January 6th- Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day
Monday, January 16th- School Closed - Martin Luther King Day
Sunday, January 22nd- Lunar New Year
Monday, January 23rd- Rolling Thunder Skating Center (Grades 5-6) Incentive Trip
Tuesday, January 24th- Rolling Thunder Skating Center (Grades 7-8) Incentive Trip
Friday, January 27th- Holocaust Remembrance Day
February- African American/Black History Month
Monday, February 20th- School Closed - President's Day
March- National Women’s History Month
April- National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM)
Monday, April 3rd – Monday, April 10th- School Closed - Spring Recess
May- Asian/Pacific Heritage Month
Monday, May 29th- School Closed - Memorial Day
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