Cougar Connections

After eight intense rounds of competition, a fourth grader at North Rose-Wolcott Elementary claimed the top spot at the fourth annual NRW Spelling Bee!

Mabel Cahoon outlasted eight other contestants at the February 9 event and won by correctly spelling the word "grimace." She's earned a nomination to represent NRW at the Wayne-Finger Lakes Regional Spelling Bee this month. Fifth grader Jason Chapin was the runner up.

Students in fourth through eighth grades were invited to participate and put their spelling skills to the test. Each participant received a list of words to study in advance. Spelling bee participation builds not only spelling skills, but public speaking and confidence as well. We applaud everyone who participated for showing great courage and effort during the event!

Registration is now open for North Rose-Wolcott's 3PK, 4PK and Kindergarten programs for the 2026-2027 school year! Children who are district residents are eligible to register if they will be 3 years old (3PK), 4 years old (UPK) or 5 years old (Kindergarten) by December 1, 2026.

Registration packets can be obtained by calling the District Office at (315) 594-3141 or NRWE at (315) 587-4005. Registration information is also available on our website at www.nrwcs.org/register.

Packets must be returned by Friday, March 27 for your child to be included in the April 6 UPK/K lottery. Spaces for 3PK and UPK are limited. Any spaces open after the lottery will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Gratitude is the quality of expressing thankfulness and appreciation. Grateful Cougars are aware of and thankful for the good things that happen to them. They thank others for their help and find the good in all situations, even those that are difficult.

This year, we are recognizing staff members who go above and beyond and make a positive impact with Cougar Kudos! Anyone who is part of the NRW community may nominate any staff member. Whether it’s a teacher who motivates their students, a bus driver who shows kindness, or a staff member who lends a helping hand – we want our entire community to hear about it!

Read more about the wonderful staff members who received Kudos this month on our website -- and if you want to nominate someone for a future edition of Cougar Kudos, fill out our form at www.nrwcs.org/kudos!

The North Rose-Wolcott Central School District is committed to fostering effective communication between schools, families and the community. We have established a process for working through questions and concerns so that we may come to solutions quickly and effectively. Please visit our website or see the graphic below for more information on who to contact with a question or concern.

Our North Rose-Wolcott faculty and staff play a crucial role in helping to ensure each student leaves the NRW family with pride and preparedness for their future path. Check out our current job openings at www.nrwcs.org/employment.

The North Rose-Wolcott Strategic Action Plan adopted in 2025 features seven components that make up the Portrait of an NRW Graduate. These characteristics represent a clear vision for what it means to be a graduate of the North Rose-Wolcott Central School District. They guide our daily work to prepare our students to thrive beyond NRW as lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and compassionate leaders.

An effective communicator conveys their thoughts thoroughly and is receptive and responsive to the thoughts of others. An NRW graduate listens with intent and speaks with clarity. They express their ideas thoughtfully and respectfully while being open and responsive to the viewpoints of others -- skills that foster collaboration and build strong relationships.

Friday, March 6: 25 Week Progress Reports

Tuesday, March 10: Fifth Grade Field Trip to RPO

Thursday, March 12: 100 Days to Graduation Breakfast, 7:40 a.m., High School Cafeteria

Thursday, March 12: Board of Education Meeting, 5 p.m., District Office LGI

Friday, March 13: Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL for Students

Monday, March 16: Varsity and JV Spring Sports Start

Thursday, March 19: District Concert and Art Show, 6 p.m., High School Auditorium

Friday, March 20: Middle School Musical, 6 p.m., Auditorium

Saturday, March 21: Middle School Musical, 6 p.m., Auditorium

Monday, March 23: Modified Spring Sports Start

Monday, March 23: Cougar Pride Parent Group Meeting, 6 p.m., Elementary School

Thursday, March 26: NRWE Cubby Club, 1:30 p.m., Auditorium

Thursday, March 26: Board of Education Meeting, 5 p.m., District Office LGI

Friday, March 27: Early Release Day (grades UPK-4), 12:45 p.m.

Friday, March 27: Top Ten Senior Breakfast, 8 a.m.

Friday, March 27: Middle School Cougar Pride Assembly, 1:30 p.m.

March 30-April 3: Spring Recess - NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 6: UPK/K Lottery

Wednesday, April 8: Early Release Day (grades UPK-4), 12:45 p.m.

Wednesday, April 8: Parent Teacher Conferences, 1-7:30 p.m. (NRWE), 3:30-7:30 p.m. (MS/HS)

Wednesday, April 8: NRWE Literacy Night and Parent Community Fair, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 9: Board of Education Meeting, 5 p.m., District Office LGI

Friday, April 10: Early Release Day (grades UPK-4), 12:45 p.m.

Friday, April 10: Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences, 1-3:40 p.m.

Friday, April 10: End of Quarter 3

For the most up-to-date event information, visit www.nrwcs.org/calendar.

March is National Reading Month! This is a great time for NRWE and our community to celebrate the power of books and the joy of reading together. Reading is more than a school skill, it helps students develop imagination, curiosity, and connections with others. When children read each day, they also build vocabulary, connect with others through stories, and develop the confidence needed to communicate and share their ideas.

Across the country, schools celebrate National Reading Month to inspire lifelong learners and strengthen communities. Here at NRWE, our students will be completing a March Madness Book Bracket! Classes will read two different books a day and vote, as a class, on their favorite book. The winner will move on, and at the end, there will be one book selected as the 2025-26 Winner!

Families also play an important role in developing a love of reading. Reading together at home, even for just 10–15 minutes a day, helps students develop routines and important skills, strengthens relationships, and shows children that reading matters. Something as simple as talking about your favorite characters, making predictions about what might happen next, or sharing what surprised you helps kids understand and makes reading more meaningful.

It is also important to remember that every child’s reading interests may looks different. Some children love chapter books, some prefer graphic novels, and others enjoy nonfiction or even audiobooks. What matters most is finding stories that spark interest and excitement. Together, we can create a community at NRWE where reading is celebrated, encouraged, and enjoyed.

Congratulations to our February Cubby Club Award Winners! We are so proud of your accomplishments.

Pawsome Readers

UPK - Nezha Miranda, Ari Ackermann, Nora Webster

K - Charlie Green, Aydyn Sloan, Haizley LaBounty, Luke Humbert

1st - Emelia Hayes, Matthew Denk, Layla Kaiser, Mila Magnani

2nd - Jeramiah Ellis, Brandon Benjamin, Ayva Patchen LaRue, Charlotte Keeton

3rd - Autumn Devlin, Amari Shaw, Gia Stringfellow, Dixon Powell, Styles VanHorn

4th - Eleanor Coene, Mikayaliah Hodges, Ellanor Burns, Joseph Connelly

Mathletes

UPK - Ronnie Penta, Lahkaavia Taylor, Azula Maisonet-Maroney

K - Olivia Caldwell, Skye Pike, Isabella Walker, Saylor Donk

1st - Bennett Mathes, Diego Santos Cruz, Zoren Marks, Avengeline Norton

2nd - Liam Kline, Layla Francis, Carson Hogan, Gannon Caster

3rd - Bailey Mein, Kayson Mirch, Sawyer Brown, Scott Hanshaw Jr.

4th - Joseph Cornelius, Nicholas Lyman, Marin Pickering, Ezekial Sloan, Lilliana Campfield

Special Area Awards

UPK - Grady Ayers

K - Aiden Shove

1 - Levi Finch-Blevins

2 - Jeramiah Ellis

3 - Kayson Mirch

4 - Neva Wright

Student of the Month - Do My Best

UPK - Levi Jarrett, Charleigh Abrams, Addison Fleming

K - Maple LaChappelle, Myles Metzger, Chayse-Lynn Durgan, Aria Humbert

1st - Leo Drock, Bailey Grinnell, Carter Gallup, Emmett Keene

2nd - Madeline Hokanson, Silas Jackson, Caleb Metzger, Violet Pentycofe, Ivory Shoults

3rd - Raegan Ferguson, Jacob Youells, Sadie Smith, Dessa Zwolinski

4th - Reilly Green, Nina Duncan, Brayden Drock, Elias Brown

Backpacks are a great way to carry stuff: books, homework, and other items for school, sports gear, or general belongings. But backpacks can also pose problems if they aren’t used and worn correctly.

Backpacks that are too heavy, aren’t worn properly or have uneven weight distribution can cause muscle and joint aches and pains, posture problems, and even injuries. Let’s focus on the “Dos and Don’ts of Backpacks” so that young people can fix current problems and prevent future ones.

DON’T let your backpack weigh more than 15 percent of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, your backpack should not weigh more than 18 pounds. Most backpack injuries happen because the bag is too heavy.

DON’T let your backpack be too heavy; you might start to arch your back, lean forward, or lean to one side. This can cause discomfort or pain to your neck, upper back, shoulders, lower hips, and knees.

DO go through your backpack weekly. Look to see what kinds of things young people carry in their backpacks and whether they are necessary or not. No need to carry extra items if you don’t have to.

DO wear both straps. They should fit comfortably on your shoulders and under your arms.

Adjust the straps so the bottom of the backpack rests in the contour of your lower back. Don’t let it sag down toward your buttock. Make sure you adjust the straps, so the backpack is centered evenly in the middle of your back. If you have a waist strap, use it. This helps distribute some of the weight onto your pelvis, which relieves pressure on neck, shoulders and back.

As the instructional coach at NRWE, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the exciting learning happening in our classrooms recently.

In third grade, students have been exploring weather and atmospheric science through a hands-on “Cloud in a Bottle” experiment. This engaging activity allows students to observe how changes in pressure and temperature help form clouds. Students practice making predictions, recording observations, and discussing results using scientific vocabulary. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity grow as they connect real-world weather patterns to classroom learning. All third-grade students will have completed “Cloud in a Bottle” by the end of March.

In both third and fourth grade, we are also preparing for our upcoming spring state assessments. Our focus is not just on test readiness, but on strengthening the skills students use every day — close reading, problem-solving, explaining their thinking, and applying strategies independently. Teachers are incorporating practice opportunities into regular instruction to help students feel confident and prepared. Our goal is to continue to align our classrooms practices with the science of reading and the science of learning. We are proud of the growth our students are showing and appreciate your continued partnership in supporting their learning.

In second grade, our classes will be receiving classroom books as a gift from Cornell Cooperative Extension as we celebrate Literacy Week on March 20. Volunteers from Cornell will be visiting classrooms to read aloud the books.

Finally, be sure to ask your child about our March Madness Book Bracket starting March 2 to celebrate Read Across America! We will read two new picture books a day and vote on our favorites.

Students in counseling intervention for quarter 3 have received an intervention letter home. They are learning what empathy is, how it is connected to kindness, and ways they can use empathy and kindness to understand others and solve interpersonal problems. Students learn that having empathy means feeling or understanding what someone else is feeling. Toward the end of the unit, they practice using empathy to think of kind acts they can do for others at school or elsewhere and problem solving.

Why is it important? Research shows that children who learn the skills in this unit are more likely to:

-Build stronger relationships

-Engage in positive behaviors

-Avoid aggressive behaviors

-Be more connected and compassionate

Practice at Home: Notice and praise your child when they notice how others are feeling and respond with kindness and empathy. You can say, You saw that your brother was sad because he didn’t have any crayons, so you gave him some of yours. Good job having empathy and doing a kind act to help him feel better!

Try This! Discuss: When reading books or watching a show, help your child practice having empathy for the characters. Ask, How do you think that person feels? or What’s a kind act that would help them feel good?

Practice: After your child has practiced using empathy, think of a kind act to do for others at school or have them think of a kind act they can do for someone they know. For example, an elderly relative, a neighbor who lives alone, or a friend who isn’t feeling well.

In Kindergarten, the students are learning about non-fiction stories and how to write facts during their writing block. Our Science unit is based on the concept of pushing and pulling. The students are making connections from texts during our making meaning time. They have learned vocabulary terms such as warn and signal that correspond with the non-fiction texts we are reading. In Social Studies, the students will be discussing civic ideals and learning about community helpers. The Fundations program continues to work on uppercase letter recognition and handwriting. The students are also writing CVC words, recognizing rhyming words and are just beginning to learn about long vowel sounds. During math, the students have just been introduced to a new program, called I-ready. This month, the unit will focus on comparing numbers to ten, shape recognition, number bonds, greater than, less than and equal to. We also have a program for ELA called Heggerty. This program primarily focuses on phonics instruction. The students listen for beginning, middle and ending sounds, read simple cvc words and clapping out syllables. In both ELA and Math, the students have independent time learning on their chromebooks. They are using the I-ready program that gives each student a pathway to complete, based on what they need academically.

In March, we celebrate Read Across America Week. We have spirit week and engage in fun, schoolwide activities throughout the month. This is a great time to complete the monthly reading log that is sent home encouraging students to read for 20 minutes a day! When students return (with a parent's signature), they are allowed to get a free book to keep from our special book selection. Many of these books have been donated by the Wayne County Literacy Volunteers Association. Thank you for your continued support with this.

Our third and fourth grade students will participate in the NYS Math and ELA assessments in April and May. Here are the specific dates of these assessments for your information and awareness:

April 21st & 22nd - NYS ELA Assessment

May 5th & 6th - NYS Math Assessment

Students in grades three and four will also complete Science Investigations in class by the end of the year. These Investigations will move to fifth grade with them and count toward their NYS Science Test Score. These include

Grade 3

Weather and Climate: Cloud in a Bottle

Life Cycles and Traits: Circle of Life

Grade 4

Energy: Light it Up

Thank you for attending our UPK/K Information Night! We shared information about the registration and lottery process and what our amazing early intervention programs entail. Registration packets were sent home with current 3PK/UPK families and/or mailed to incoming students. If you need another registration form, please let us know!

Please be aware that this year’s 3PK/UPK lottery will happen on 4/6/26 at the district office. Families are invited to come and watch the process.

Please call the elementary main office if you have any questions about the registration process.

It is hard to believe that March is already here and spring is just around the corner! We are looking forward to warmer weather and sunny days ahead. This time of year is especially exciting in schools, as students often make some of their greatest academic and social growth. We are proud to watch our students continue to learn, develop, and succeed each day.

Families will receive 25-week progress reports during the week of March 16th. Please take time to review your child’s grades and teacher comments together. There are still five weeks remaining in the quarter, and it is important for students to stay focused, complete their assignments, and ask for support when needed.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on April 8th from 3:30–7:30 p.m. Conference sign-up letters will be sent home soon. If your child’s teacher recommends a conference, you will also receive additional communication to schedule a time. As in previous conferences, these will be student-led, giving students an opportunity to reflect on their progress and share their learning.

We also ask families to continue reinforcing the importance of kindness and respect. Building a supportive and positive school community remains a priority for us. We are proud of the many students who consistently model our expectations and help create a welcoming environment for everyone.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school community!

We understand illness and emergencies happen, but we love to see our students each and every day!

As we move into March, we are entering a time of transition in the school year. The days are getting longer, spring is around the corner, and students are continuing to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. This part of the year can bring both excitement and challenges as students manage schoolwork, friendships, activities, and expectations.

March is also a great time for students to check in with themselves and set small goals for the remainder of the school year. Checking in with yourself means asking simple questions like:

• How am I feeling today?

• Is something stressing me out?

• What is going well right now?

• Is there something I need help with?

  
  

Remember!
Being at school every day helps students stay connected to learning, friendships, and activities. Even missing 1–2 days a month can add up over time. Let’s continue working together to build strong attendance habits! Quarter 3 there is an on-going attendance challenge against all grade levels with a mystery prize at the end! Every day counts!

Our Middle School Musical - Frozen will be held Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21st at 6 p.m. Our talented middle school students have been working incredibly hard to prepare for this performance, and we are excited to showcase their dedication, creativity, and teamwork on stage.

This production will feature wonderful music, impressive stage design, and outstanding performances from our students. We invite families, friends, and community members to come out and support our students as they bring this magical story to life. It is sure to be a fun and memorable evening for all!

We hope to see you there as we celebrate the hard work and talents of our students. ❄️

We had 38 fifth graders selected to have their original short stories featured in the Young Writers USA anthology "Spook Squad - Whispers in the Moonlight." This publication will feature stories from students across the country! Great job, fifth graders!

Our students will participate in the NYS Math, Science and ELA in April and May. Here are the specific dates of these assessments for your information and awareness. We are so excited for students to show what they know!

ELA: April 21 and April 22

Science: Grades 5 and 8 only - April 28th

Math: May 5th and 6th

Grade 5: In Science, we are continuing on our work with space. We have been using lots of lightbulbs and flashlights to simulate moon phases, day and night and other patterns we see in the sky. Our Social Studies classes are continuing to work on our Explorers unit. We had many students bring in furs from home, which was a great way to learn about how different animals were worth more money because of their characteristics, especially the waterproof ones! We are currently discussing relationships and perspectives of Native Americans and the Explorers. In ELA, students will be continuing to practice writing four paragraph essays and reading "I Survived the American Revolution" by Lauren Tarshis. Students will be focusing on topics such as theme, main idea, cause & effect, plot and descriptive writing.

Grade 6: 6th grade social studies is exploring the world of the Ancient Greeks! We are learning a lot about how democracy started and the customs and traditions of the Greeks. In science we are learning all about weather and will be studying different types of storms. In ELA, students have started a new book called An Elephant in the Garden, which takes place in Dresden during WWII. Math is still working our way through algebra and moving on to solving equations and working with inequalities.

Grade 7: Mr. Treasure’s classes are diving into the world of energy types and transformations! To put their new knowledge to the test, 7th graders will tackle the "Cool It!" NYS Lab Investigation as their final mission before spring break. Stay tuned to see how they apply the laws of thermodynamics to beat the heat! In ELA 7 we have made it to the halfway mark in our current novel. The students are enjoying the plotline and are excited to see how it ends! We will also begin practicing for the NYS ELA test coming up in April.

Grade 8: Social Studies students are going to be reflecting on our unit on The Great Depression. In addition, our transition to our World War II unit will be starting as well. Students will be focusing on a great deal of content that ranges from Pearl Harbor, The Holocaust, major battles, and Atomic Bomb. We will be utilizing our time with a student choice research project, as well as a Harvard Style debate. In science class we have been focusing on the human body and students enjoyed looking at sheep hearts. In Spanish class students have been listening to music and learning about various Spanish speaking singers. We will continue with vocabulary surrounding the city and community as well.

Please join us for our District Concert during Music in Our Schools Month on Thursday, March 19, at the High School at 6 p.m. Come celebrate our students’ hard work and the importance of music in our schools with an evening of outstanding performances.

Please use this link to order your yearbook today! https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1052504/North-Rose-Wolcott-Middle-School/2026-Yearbook/20250903042318987101/CATALOG_SHOP

The Cougar Store will be open April 16th and 17th!! The store is going to be loaded with great stuff we KNOW our students will love! Please remind students to bring their Cougar Cash in to use on these days!

A BIG thanks to Sam Gardner & Yvonne Bishop for all of their help with making the Cougar Store a big hit!

Principal Yarnes and Assistant Principal Canori will join students each week to call home together and share good news about something that happened at school. Cougar Pride calls help recognize students for doing a good deed, brightening someone else’s day, helping a friend, mastering a goal, or overcoming an obstacle!

Check out the North Rose-Wolcott Central School District Facebook page to see which students are chosen each week! Mrs. Yarnes and Mr. Canori are grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge students each week who are demonstrating Cougar Values each day!

Spring is in the air, and our High School is bustling with activities! The month kicked off with the amazing performance of Legally Blonde. Kudos to all involved in this year’s musical production — your hard work and talent truly shined on stage!

As we move further into the semester, please be on the lookout for 25-week progress reports, which will be sent home in the next few weeks. We encourage you to review grades and teacher comments carefully with your student. This is a great opportunity to celebrate successes and set goals for the final stretch of the school year. If you have any questions or concerns, our teachers are always available to provide extra support and assistance.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for April 8th from 3:30–7:30 p.m. You will receive more information in the coming weeks regarding scheduling a conference. Working together ensures we make the last 15 weeks as successful as possible for all of our NRW High School students.

A few important reminders:

• Students are welcome and encouraged to stay after during Activity Period to meet with teachers for extra help, make up work, or receive additional support.

• Please remind students to check Google Classroom daily for assignments, updates, and important announcements from their teachers.

• SchoolTool should also be reviewed regularly to monitor grades and stay informed about academic progress.

• Students must bring their charged Chromebooks to school each and every day. Being prepared and ready for class is essential for success.

  
  

We also continue to reinforce our NRW High School Expectations each day: Be Safe, Be Where I Belong, Do My Best, and Be Kind. These core values guide our work and help create a positive, respectful, and productive learning environment for everyone. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations at home.

Your partnership makes a tremendous difference. Together, we can help our students finish the year strong. The lines of communication are always open, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued support!

Welcoming March means turning the clock ahead, spring, and hopefully warmer weather.

We will be doing physicals here at school for any student who did not turn one in to the nurse. Physicals are required/State Mandated for any new student, students in 9th and 11th grade, and any student who wants to play a sport. If your child has had a physical please send a copy in to the nurse. If you have any questions please contact the school nurse.

With 15 weeks remaining in the school year, the Class of 2026 is working hard to make sure they have earned all their credits. For the seniors enrolled in Cougar OPS credit recovery, time is going by quickly to make sure they have recovered all their credits and are ready to walk that stage.

If you have a child in credit recovery and would like a progress update, please give us a call at 315-594-5559, or send an email to mmathews@nrwcs.org, aplowe@nrwcs.org, or scasini@nrwcs.org.

The last 15 weeks before graduation are a mad scramble for many students, but they don’t have to be. Encourage your child to focus on their recovery and stay current in their live classes! Reach out to us in Cougar OPS with any questions.

• Seniors applying to college, please ensure you have contacted your counselor for a letter of recommendation and midyear transcript.

• NRW students are invited to attend the Red Creek Career and College Fair on Thursday, March 12th from 5:30 pm-7:30pm. Transportation will be provided from NRW High School, departing at 5:10 p.m. Over 20 local businesses will be there to connect and recruit future members of their workforce. Twelve different colleges will also be in attendance to answer questions and provide more information about their programs and campus. This is a great opportunity for students to explore post secondary options. Some of the businesses and colleges that will be attending:

• Optimax, Westbury Lumbers, Fari HAven HVAC, GW LIsk, SC Technologies, Colloca Winery, Gregg Construction and more!

• Oswego State, Alfred State, Geneseo, Nazareth, MCC, Delhi, Cobleskill and more

  For a complete list of businesses and colleges, or other questions about the event, please see your school counselor. Students may sign up to attend and pick up a permission slip in the counseling center.
  

• NRW counselors will accompany interested students to the Fingerlakes Works Medical and Health Care Exploration event at Fingerlakes Community College on Thursday, March 26th. This expo connects students with exciting opportunities in the medical field where they can hear directly from professionals in the community who will share their expertise.

• The course selection process for the 2026-2027 school year continues this month. Students in grades 9-11 will meet individually with their school counselor to discuss options and ensure that graduation requirements are met as they progress through high school. If you as a parent/guardian would like to be a part of the conversation in person, please contact the counseling office at 315-594-3106 and we will make sure you are invited to the meeting. Feel free to contact your student’s counselor with any questions you have.

Students with last names beginning with A-K contact Miranda Merton at mmerton@nrwcs.org or 315-594-3106.

Students with last names beginning with L-Z contact Lori Purcell at lpurcell@nrwcs.org or 315-594-3106

• A College Application Workshop will be held for any interested juniors during the activity period, 2:30 -3:10, beginning on Wednesday, March 11th. This workshop will run every Wednesday through April 8th. Students may sign up in the counseling office. Ms. Purcell will cover all aspects of the college application process including an introduction to the common application, letters of recommendation, deadlines, the college essay/personal statement and some financial aid basics. In addition, we will discuss factors to consider when determining where you want to go to college.
  

The Senior Class is sponsoring the Winter Craft Fair. Please come out and get some great deals!

Students in Mrs. Ragan’s ENL Program have created wonderful academic and personal goals for the spring semester. Some of their goals include becoming more independent, communicating more with teachers, tracking their work better and one student is trying a new sport! Please ask your students what goals they are working towards. Thus far they are doing an awesome job.

Juniors and seniors are thinking about their futures beyond NRW! Please help your students to begin researching areas of study, possible careers and what colleges and universities they would like to attend upon graduation. There are many scholarships and opportunities available. It is very important that families work together at this time to plan.

If your family has any affiliations with our local farms, please contact Mrs. Ragan at this email: eragan@nrwcs.org for more information on a current college opportunity for your student(s).

Mark your calendars for the District Concert on Thursday, March 19 at 6:00 in the High School Auditorium. Come see and hear student musicians from across the District perform for you!

March is music in our schools month! Please come celebrate our students and show your support by attending our District Concert on March 19th at 6:00pm in the HS Auditorium!

Additionally, congratulations to our students who will be participating in the Wayne County Music Educators Association's All-County Jr.High/Sr. High Band Festival. These students must audition and receive a high score to be considered for the ensemble. Upon selection, they are part of an ensemble composed of the best players in the county and will attend a weekend long festival resulting in a concert on March 21st. Congratulations to:

• Grey Masten (Trumpet)

• Kit Wanek (Trumpet)

• Anna Madison (French Horn)

• Theo Grady (French Horn)
  
• Ryan Adams (Percussion)
  

Art students had the opportunity in February to visit the George Eastman House and see the Scholastic Student Art Show.

The home of George Eastman is now the world's oldest photography museum in Rochester. Art students explored the evolution of photography and film as well as the development of the Kodak camera.

The Scholastic student show is held annually in Syracuse and showcases student art work from the Central NY region.

Save the date - April 10th, 2026 - 6pm - Interact Club presents the NRW Talent Showcase. More details to follow.

Students in the Caring Cougars class each month create wonderful projects to share with the Finger Lakes Center for the Living and with friends from the ARC program in Cayuga and Wayne County. The students read books, create informational slide show presentations, and prepare crafts to share with our friends who reside at the Laurel House. For example, this month the residents were able to make a fun penguin project that we put together. This is such a unique opportunity to show our Cougar Kindness!

February was LOVE-ly in the library! Students were able to participate in the “Love Your Library Games,” which included a series of “minute-to-win-it” style challenges, a knowledge search, a community service activity, and a “tweet” crafting project! Prizes were awarded based on participation and enthusiasm!

The first week in March is Return Borrowed Books Week - but we’re celebrating all month!

Return Borrowed Books Week was founded in 1953 to prompt the public to return borrowed library books so that they may be available for others to enjoy. Please, use this opportunity to look at home for any library books that might be hiding out - we will welcome them back home to the library with open arms and no judgment! It doesn’t matter how overdue - we will still happily take them off your hands! And yes, that includes books taken out in earlier school years - there are still some students with books that were checked out pre-COVID! Any book can be returned to the High School - let us help you get those books back into the hands of other students!

Regents Earth and Space Science (ESS): This year NYS has changed our standards and curriculum from Earth Science to Earth and Space Sciences. We are following the New York State Science Learning Standards which are an adaptation from the NGSS national standards. With this new curriculum comes a more intense focus on reading comprehension and application of knowledge. ESS students have been working on increasing their knowledge of the curriculum and familiarity with the vocabulary to increase their confidence in attacking this new style of questions on the Regents exam. Students can benefit from working on their reading skills outside of class as it will give them a great advantage not only in ESS but in all of their courses.

Regents Chemistry: This is the last year with the previous NYS standards ("Physical Setting / Chemistry"), so we're going out with a bang! All year, we've been building on knowledge. First, we started with elements & atoms, followed by bonding between atoms, and now we are focusing on reactions (chemical changes between molecules). Our most recent lab explored how factors like temperature and surface area affect reaction rates using Alka Seltzer reacting with water.

Forensic Science: Students in this course have been working through various types of evidence all year. Most recently, we covered blood spatter, and now we're also moving onto toxicology (the analysis of bodily fluids to identify and quantify drugs). Toward the end of the year, we will do at least one mock crime scene in the high school & hopefully a field trip to a nearby crime laboratory.

Gemini Biology: Students are in their second semester and will earn another 4 college credits at the end of the year. The class will wrap up their unit on evolution to start the month of March & will begin a short unit on plant form & function. We will be visiting the FLCC campus in April to utilize their anatomage ( interactive, life-size virtual dissection table used primarily in anatomy and medical education) table and enhance our learning of human body systems & how they interact together.

Living Environment: This year students are preparing for the new Regents exam for Biology: Life Science. The curriculum is completely new & based on the NGSS. There is a much greater emphasis on reading skills as well as critical thinking. Our curriculum emphasizes more independent & collaborative investigating of science phenomena. Through the month of March, classes will be working through a storyline on melanin as well as a storyline focused on disease.

The NRW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be inducted in a ceremony on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 2 p.m. in the NRW High School Auditorium.

Congratulations to this year's inductees:

• Shane Frey (Athlete)
• Jason Burgess (Athlete)
• Brenda Ball-Zeborowski (Athlete)
• Peter Treasure (Coach)
• Brian Hoyt (Coach)
• Bruce McIntyre (Contributor)

• JV & Varsity Softball

• JV & Varsity Baseball

• Girls Varsity Track & Field

• Boys Varsity Track & Field

• Boys Varsity Tennis

  
  

  Spring Sports Registration will begin on February 9, 2026.

  Registration Link: Spring Sports Registration
  

Week 1: 3/9/26 - 3/13/26

• JV & Varsity Baseball: 5:00pm-7:00pm High School Gym

• JV & Varsity Softball: 3:00pm-5:00pm High School Gym

• Varsity Track& Field: 3:00pm-5:00pm High School Hallway

(Meet in the HS Large Cafeteria) Have clothes for outside

• B. Varsity Tennis:

Monday/Tuesday/Friday @ HIgh School 3:00-4:45pm

Wednesday/Thursday Practice @ CFL Auburn.

Wednesday - Bus @ 2:30pm Practice 3-4:30pm

Thursday - Bus @ 3:00pm Practice 3:30-5:30pm

Fall:

• All JV & Varsity Teams: August 24, 2026

• All Modified Teams: September 2, 2026

Winter:

• Modified Swim: October 26, 2026

• Modified Boys’ Basketball: October 26, 2026

• All JV & Varsity Teams: November 16, 2026

• Modified Wrestling: January 4, 2027

• Modified Girls’ Basketball: January 7, 2027

Spring:

• All JV & Varsity Teams: March 9, 2027

• All Modified Teams: March 23, 2027
  

1. Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Positive!

2. Accept all decisions of the officials and event staff.

3. Display positive cheering. Derogatory chants/gestures, heckling, profanity and attempts to antagonize others will not be tolerated.

4. Demonstrate genuine concern for an injured student-athlete, regardless of team.

5. Encourage surrounding spectators to display conduct that aligns to these expectations.

6. Applaud at the end of the contest for the effort by all participants.

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