NorthStar Lights

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

This past week members of the Cicero-North Syracuse High School Class of 2021 had the opportunity to visit the schools where their history with the NSCSD began. Hundreds of students returned to their elementary schools wearing their caps and gowns to be greeted by their old school’s new youngest students and school staff. It was heartwarming to see the hugs, smiles and tears as students interacted with the teachers and building staff that helped them get to that moment. These young people are succeeding because of all of the great PEOPLE in their lives and we should all be proud to have been a part of their journeys. An album of photos from the event is available on the District's Facebook page by clicking here.

Earlier this week I sent a letter about updated masking requirements for outdoor activities. I am happy to let you know that effective immediately, students, staff and visitors will no longer be required to wear face coverings during outdoor activities while on school grounds. It has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces because of this change. If you didn't have a chance to read the letter, please click here to review it now.

Now that we're well into the month of June, I anticipate that the rest of the school year will move very quickly. We will be sending out weekly graduation updates next week. Please remember to enjoy the moments and appreciate the people around you. Stay well!

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

As we rapidly approach the end of the school year, we’ll be taking time to feature multiple Shining Stars each week.

For June 11 we are featuring Courtney Sprague, an occupational therapist at KWS Bear Road Elementary School, as Shining Star #1. Courtney has been a part of the North Syracuse Central School District and Bear Road Elementary School communities for the past four years. When Courtney was doing her college placements, she began working in a school environment and immediately fell in love with working with children in schools. Courtney’s sister happened to be working at KWS Bear Road Elementary School at the time and mentioned there was an opening. Courtney applied and was hired and knew then that she had “found her home” at Bear Road.

Click here to read more about Courtney Sprague.

For June 11 we are featuring Meghan Stasko a kindergarten teacher at Smith Road Elementary School, as Shining Star #2. When Smith Road Elementary School Principal Lyndsey Maloney heard that Meghan was being recognized as a Shining Star, she chimed in with her support. Mrs. Maloney wrote, “I’m not surprised to hear this! Meghan is a rock star teacher and mother, she definitely goes above and beyond to provide the very best for her students!”

Click here to read more about Meghan Stasko.

For three Cicero-North Syracuse High School Class of 2021 students, the steps they take when they cross the graduation stage this June will be the final ones in a journey of refuge and realization. C-NS Seniors Dimi Mu, Lydia Par and Van Bik are all Burmese refugees whose families came to the United States in search of better lives when they were just children. The three young people are also the first ones in their respective families planning their next journeys as college students.

The three students are from the Chin State in Myanmar where members of ethnic communities have often been mistreated by the government. The Chin people suffered torture, rape, forced labor, and restrictions on expression and religious freedom among other abuses. Due to these dangerous conditions, the families of the students fled their country seeking refuge in the United States.

Click here to read more online.

Two films created by Cicero-North Syracuse High School students and advisors were among the hundreds submitted from across the globe selected to be shown at the first International Global Water Dance Online Film Festival from June 9 11, 2021. Filmed at the beautiful Oneida Lake with original music by local artist Shane Patterson, the video includes 17students from the C-NS Musical Club and Tri M Music Honor Society. Global Water Dances is a world-wide initiate using art for activism! As part of the movement, the C-NS Musical Club produced two small films to bring awareness to water issues.

Click here to read the complete story online and to link to the videos.

McKenzie Cramer, an account manager at Pinckney Hugo Group recently visited Mrs. Ciarico’s Introduction to Marketing classes at North Syracuse Junior High School. Ms. Cramer, a 2014 graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School, returned to her former school to discuss the career path she followed from being a student at the junior high school through her current profession.

Cramer has been with Pinckney Hugo Group for the last two years and shared with students what it is like to work at a Syracuse-based marketing agency. The former NSJH student also talked about companies the agency works with and specifically the projects she works on. Click here to read the complete article online.

Congratulations to the inductees of the National Junior Honor Society from North Syracuse Junior High School. Click here to watch the video on Google.

Roxboro Road Elementary School 4th grade student Josiah Stott was featured on CNY Central on June 10 for his efforts to raise money for his father's gravesite headstone by opening a lemonade stand. Click here to see the story online. The June 10 story was a follow-up to an original story run on June 6. Click here for the original story.

Cicero-North Syracuse High School senior Brooke Segars is finalist for the All CNY High School awards girls volleyball Player of the Year. The winner will be announced at the group''s virtual awards ceremony on June 24. Click here to read the article on Syracuse.com.

The North Syracuse Central School District provides busing for students based on their home address. Students requiring transportation to and/or from an alternate location within the District must have a Change of Transportation form on file. The form must be updated annually.

Change of Transportation Forms should be completed and returned to the Transportation Office by June 18. Transportation arrangements not updated before the deadline will revert back to students' home address for pick up and drop off.

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.

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!

Because this school year has been so different, it has been challenging to get new photos for our District website at www.nscsd.org and other publications. So...we need your help! We would love to share your photos of at home school environments. If you're willing to share, please send your high quality images using the link below. 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.

Liz Forth, mom of Juliet DeSalvo (2nd Grade) and Liliana DeSalvo (4th Grade), both students at Roxboro Road Elementary School, shared the above photos of her daughters' unique school year experiences from virtual pajama day to Halloween STEM fun from the Salina Library and back to enjoying the school's playground. The 2020-2021 school year has had it all!

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