Cougar Connections

On April 9, North Rose-Wolcott High School hosted a commemorative ceremony honoring the 200th anniversary of the towns of Butler, Huron and Rose and the creation of new borders for their parent town of Wolcott. Students and local leaders joined forces to honor the rich history of our area during this hour-long assembly. Thank you to all who helped to make this event a success! Read more about it on our website, www.nrwcs.org.

We recently talked to seniors Liliana and Marcus, our student Board of Education representatives, about getting involved at school, the importance of student perspectives, and their plans for after graduation.

"Just being at the forums where they discuss the direction that they want the district to go, future growth plans, capital project plans – I’ve learned a lot more about the day-to-day work of keeping a school district going and what that takes,” Marcus said.

Check out the video below or visit our website for more!

North Rose-Wolcott Central School District is partnering with The Social Institute (TSI) to bring digital literacy education to its middle and high school students. TSI's interactive platform, #WinAtSocial, teaches practical skills around social media, screen time, device use, and AI — with a focus on smart, intentional engagement rather than abstinence from technology.

The curriculum addresses real situations students already face, from group chat dynamics to privacy to online behavior, encouraging critical thinking and value-aligned decision-making. Lessons are regularly updated to stay current and relevant, and teachers can tailor content to their students' specific needs. The goal is to help students become responsible, well-informed digital citizens who use technology in ways that protect their privacy, maintain real-world balance, and positively influence their peers.

View the video below for more information on The Social Institute!

North Rose-Wolcott High School senior Mikenzie Shear has been named NRW's 2026 recipient of the Wayne-Finger Lakes Superintendent Award! Mikenzie was recognized at an awards program held March 5 at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES in Newark.

Superintendent Award recipients must have a GPA of 80 or higher at the end of their junior year; demonstrate leadership qualities including honesty, compassion, perseverance, responsibility, kindness, resiliency and industriousness; and have a history of service to their schools, families and communities. Nominees must also fill out an application and wirte an essay.

Congratulations to Mikenzie on this well-deserved recognition!

Being kind means treating others with respect and showing consideration and concern for others. Kind Cougars use positive words and actions, include their peers, stand up against bullying, and celebrate others' differences. They treat others how they want to be treated and are polite and supportive.

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 Board of Education has had a busy last few weeks! In March, members attended a meeting of the Four County School Boards Association featuring Wade Norwood, a member of the New York State Board of Regents. The BOE also toured the PTECH and New Vision programs at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES in Newark to see how these programs benefit students at NRW and throughout the entire region. Lastly, the board held two workshops -- one focused on curriculum and the other on the proposed 2026-27 budget. More information on the budget will be shared in the weeks prior to the annual vote on May 19, 2026.

Our board meetings are open to the public and held in the Large Group Instruction room at the District Office. Visit www.nrwcs.org/boe for a meeting schedule or to view meeting live streams and recordings.

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.

A global citizen understands the wider world and their place in it, as a citizen of the world. NRW graduates understand their role in an interconnected world. They demonstrate responsibility, empathy, and a sense of purpose as they contribute to local and global communities, embodying what it means to be citizens of the world.

Friday, April 10: Early Release Day (grades UPK-4), 12:30 p.m.

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

Friday, April 10: End of Quarter 3

Tuesday, April 14: High School Counselor Information Session for 8th Graders, 12-12:45 p.m.

Tuesday, April 14: High School Information Session for Parents of Incoming Freshmen, 6 p.m., NRWHS

April 21-22: New York State ELA Exam, Grades 3-8

Wednesday, April 22: Elementary Report Cards Go Home

Wednesday, April 22: Board of Education Meeting, 5 p.m., District Office LGI

Friday, April 24: Middle School Quarter 3 Awards Assemblies, 12:45 p.m. (grades 5-6) and 1:30 p.m. (grades 7-8)

Tuesday, April 28: New York State Science Exam, Grades 5 and 8

Thursday, April 30: NRWE Cubby Club, 1:30 p.m. (grades 2-4) and 2:20 p.m. (grades UPK-1)

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

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

Each month, NRWE highlights an important Cougar Pride trait or building expectation. This month we are focusing on being kind. Kindness is an essential trait in elementary schools, shaping not only how students treat one another but also how they view themselves and their role within the school community. Children can show kindness in many ways. Simple acts like sharing, including others, offering help, or using encouraging words help build strong relationships and create a positive, safe learning environment. These actions also help students develop empathy, respect, and a sense of responsibility for others.

Families and schools play an important role in developing kindness together. At home, parents can model kind behavior, talk about the importance of treating others with respect, and recognize when their children show kindness. Simple conversations about feelings, fairness, and problem-solving help children carry those values into the classroom.

At NRWE, teachers reinforce kindness through daily routines, classroom expectations, and other social-emotional learning activities. Children are recognized and celebrated with things like Cougar Pride Awards, Gotcha stickers, and other public praise in the hopes that such celebrations encourage students to continue to demonstrate those behaviors.

Research clearly shows that good things happen when schools and communities work together. Sharing strategies, expectations, and celebrating successes together helps create consistency for children. By working together, we hope our students at NRWE come to understand that kindness is not just an occasional act, but a way of being that makes our school and our community a better place!

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

Pawsome Readers

UPK - Noah Fox, Aubree Freer & Harrison VanVleck

K - Asher Milliman, Skye Pike, Adalee Vendel & Jeremy Lopez-Ochoa

1st - Bennett Mathes, Mylah Ackermann, Scotlyn Smith & Mason Fleming

2nd - Jaxstyn Crocker, Avery VanVleck, Lincoln Parker & Xavier Lamica

3rd - Claire Smolinski, Nevaeh Stevens, Lollah Fisher & Amy Gomez-Ochoa

4th - Sadie Murphy, McKenzie Leonard, Asa Zwolinski, Jemma DeMaio & Lilliana Campfield

Mathletes

UPK - Noah Stockmeister, Eli Keene & Phoenix Webber

K - Robinlynn Clarke, Linkin LaBounty, Mia Henner & Braxton Pentycofe

1st - De’jiAnah Williams, Harmoni Cona, Eros Grey, Giavada Carciofolo & Braelynn Kuhlmann

2nd - Olivia Compton, Graham Nash, Gavin Munger & Mason Holbrook

3rd - Raegan Ferguson, Jaxon Mackey, Kenneth Martin & Kingston Kimbrough Whitcomb

4th - Eligh Luther, Jacob Norton, Timoteo Lopez DeLeon & Adam Aumick

Special Area Awards

UPK -Brynnleigh Paddock

K - Kolton Kellam

1 - Jaxton Waterman

2 - Finley Stanley

3 - Raegan Ferguson

4 - Marlayna Terrien-Pettinato

Students of the Month - Grateful

UPK - Gwen Milliman, Bjorn Winsor & Grady Ayers

K - Paisley Clark, Timothy Skeels, Cooper Wright & Melany Diaz Chavez

1st - Brynlee Frazer, Francisco Jose Juarez-Cruz, Clot Glerum & Ava Shoults

2nd - Carson Pare, Drystan Covert, Ayva Patchen LaRue & Macey Rose Benjamin

3rd -Makenzie Alward, Korbin Hollier, Everleigh Brantley, Kane Angelo & Adryana Kellar

4th - Kylynn Hanshaw, Madison Gorall, Eliana Johnson & Eleanor Burnett

As parents and guardians, we do a lot for our kids – the lunch packing, the laundry folding, the homework help, the bedtime stories – all while trying to teach them how to be good, self-sufficient people one day. Personal hygiene is just one lesson of many that becomes important as your child gets older, especially as they are near puberty. Why is personal hygiene so important? Personal hygiene is at the root of our overall health. By taking care of your body in small ways every day, you can prevent many health conditions that are related to poor hygiene.

April is National Stress Awareness Month, an annual campaign since 1992 designed to increase public awareness about the causes, effects, and management of stress. That is why it is important to use coping skills, these are tools that help people manage emotions like anger, sadness, or worry, leading to calmer, better decisions. Here are some ways to cope with tough situations.

3PK and UPK have had an exciting year so far! We have been working on building social skills, mastering school routines, and learning to play co-operatively with partners. We have learned all of the letters of the alphabet and have been practicing how to print them. So far, we have learned to identify numbers 1-10 and we are practicing counting to 20 and beyond. Students are able to identify their names and are working on writing their names independently. Coming up, we will be learning about community workers in and around our community. We will be learning about animals and their babies and will be getting a visit from Seneca Park zoo-to-you where they bring animals to us at school! We are looking forward to spring, playing outside, and going on our field trips at the end of the year. We will also have the chance to experience our first performance on stage at the Festival of the Arts Night in May. Don't forget about our graduation! UPK students are looking forward to this big milestone in June and moving up to Kindergarten!

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

NRWE had a great turn out for parent-teacher conferences in April. Our students and teachers always collaborate with the instructional coach to make sure that those meetings focus on the growth of students. The students are aware of their areas of strength and their areas to continue working on - their glows and grows! We are so proud of our students continuing to set goals for themselves and reflect on those goals throughout the year, especially with their i-Ready diagnostic and pathway data. Our school is also working hard to prepare for upcoming third and fourth grade state assessments. Students are fully engaged in their progress, completing self-assessments on their written responses, and practicing multiple choice question strategies. We are confident that our third and fourth graders will shine!

Spring is finally here! 🌸 We are hopeful that the sunshine is right around the corner as we head into one of the most exciting times of the school year.

As a reminder, Friday, April 10 marks the end of the third quarter. This is an important time for students to ensure they are caught up in all of their classes. We encourage students to take full advantage of activity period to connect with their teachers, get extra support, and finish the quarter strong.

Looking ahead, we will be administering the NYS ELA Assessment on April 21 and April 22. Our students have been working incredibly hard to prepare, and we are so proud of their efforts. We understand that testing can sometimes bring feelings of stress or anxiety, and we are committed to making this a positive experience. We will be offering fun incentives and opportunities to celebrate student effort and success along the way.

We also want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the amazing success of our musical, Frozen Jr.! A heartfelt thank you goes out to our talented students, dedicated staff, and the many volunteers who made this production possible. The time, effort, and passion that went into this show truly shined on stage. We are so grateful for the incredible support from our community and are already looking forward to another fantastic production next year!

Thank you for your continued support as we head into a strong finish to the school year!

As we head into the spring season, I wanted to share a few quick reminders to help keep our students feeling their best!

With the change in weather, we tend to see an increase in seasonal allergies. If your child is experiencing symptoms like sneezing, congestion, or itchy eyes, it may be helpful to connect with your healthcare provider. If your child needs medication during the school day, please remember it must be brought in by a parent or guardian along with a doctor’s order.

We are also continuing to encourage good handwashing habits to help prevent the spread of illness. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.

As the weather gets warmer, please remind your child to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated and to dress in layers for those cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.

With more outdoor time, it’s also a good idea to check your child for ticks after being outside and consider using insect repellent when appropriate.

If you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out, I am always happy to help! 💚

As we move into April, there is so much to look forward to, including the arrival of some much-anticipated spring weather! This is a wonderful time of year to focus on growth, new beginnings, and preparing for the exciting transitions ahead. Throughout the month, we will continue working closely with students to support both their social-emotional well-being and their academic planning for the future.

We hosted our “4 Go 5” Information Night on April 8th for incoming fifth grade students and families. This event was a great opportunity to learn more about what to expect next year at the middle school, ask questions, and begin building confidence around this important transition.

Additionally, our 8th grade students will visit the high school on Wednesday, April 15th. During this experience, students will tour the building, explore classrooms, and become more familiar with their future environment. This visit is designed to ease any nerves while also building excitement for the next step in their journey.

Later this month, course selection letters will be sent home to all students. We encourage families to review these together and have meaningful conversations about interests, goals, and the courses that will best support each student’s future plans.

As always, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Finn with any questions or concerns. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way. Wishing you a positive and productive April!

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 ELA, we have completed our book, "I Survived the American Revolution" and have moved onto understanding text structures. Students will be looking at various informational texts and identifying different parts within such as the glossary, index, illustrations, captions and more. This month in math we are finishing up operations and word problems and moving into the basics of geometry. In April, we will also be reviewing the content we have learned this year in preparation for the math state test. The math state test will be May 5th and 6th. In Science, we are continuing on our Earth and Space Explorers unit. We have moved on to talking about stars, constellations and space explorers now! We have been using models to show our understanding and thinking. In Social Studies, we are starting out a new unit on the Colonies. We will be learning about the 13 original colonies, the economies in each region, and important people and events during that time.

Grade 6: In math we have been working on coordinate graphing and finishing up our unit for expressions and equations in preparation for state testing. Our next unit will also focus on ratios and proportions, as well as percentages. In Science we will be exploring extreme weather and students will be completing a project where they will become a meteorologist! In Social Studies, we will be finishing up our unit on Greece and turning our attention to Rome. In ELA we will be finishing Elephant in the Garden, writing an essay, and preparing for the NYS Test.

Grade 7: ELA classes are finishing up our novel and completing final essays. Over the next 2 weeks, we will be practicing answering multiple choice and written responses using released NYS ELA Test Questions. This practice ensures students will come to school on those testing days feeling supported and confident! In Health class we will be doing the Tobacco and Vaping, Alcohol, and Medications and Drugs chapters. In Spanish class students will be making food trucks and menus while learning about foods from different Spanish speaking countries. In Social Studies, we will be working on understanding the Constitution and how the government works.

Grade 8: Social Studies students are all in on World War II for the month of April, and likely into May. We are looking closely at the events of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. What followed in the US with Japanese-American Internment Camps is something that is always of interest. In addition to our Arsenal of Democracy (citizen soldier) project, we will be looking forward to learning much more about major events of this time, including the Holocaust, and D-Day. In Spanish class students will be making food trucks and menus while learning about foods from different Spanish speaking countries.

The application for the 2026 Spring Induction is here. Students interested in applying have had the tail end of March and early April to get these applications started. We look forward to and welcome all applicants, as well as our faculty and community required letters of recommendation. Our induction ceremony and reception will be taking place on May 27th. In addition, formal dates are all but confirmed for our students to begin our very first mentoring trip with the Elementary School. We look forward to working with our younger students for the annual Memorial Day parade, as well as enhancing literacy skills. More details to follow from NJHS!

The next 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 Samantha Gardner for all of her 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!

As we enter the spring season, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the progress our students have made and share some updates for the coming weeks.

We are proud of the hard work and dedication our students have shown since the start of the school year. Many of our students have excelled in academics, extracurricular activities, and community service. Their perseverance and commitment have been inspiring.

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, Regents exams and final exams are quickly approaching. We encourage all students to begin preparing now by reviewing materials, seeking extra help when needed, and staying organized. Students are encouraged to take advantage of our Activity Period, held Tuesday through Thursday from 2:30–3:10 PM, for additional support and enrichment.

To ensure success each day, please remind students to arrive to class on time and come prepared with a fully charged Chromebook.

Please be on the lookout for additional information regarding Regents Week, including transportation details and the exam schedule.

We are also excited to celebrate the Class of 2026. Graduation will take place on Saturday, June 20th at 1:00 PM. More details will be shared with families as the date approaches.

Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring the success of our students. Wishing you and your family a wonderful spring!

April showers bring May flowers and hopefully some sunshine. Remember that when you are outside enjoying the sun, remember to use sunscreen to prevent sunburns.

As a reminder, we will be starting the physicals here at school the first part of April, any student that does not have a current mandated physical, they will be scheduled to get one done here at school. If you would like to attend the physical please notify the school nurse.

Upcoming Field Trips and Events

🎭Empower Me 4/15– BOCES Newark Conference Center: there will be interactive workshops with local health and wellness professionals. Please sign up in the counseling office.

🙌Elevating Student Voices Youth Summit 4/23– BOCES Newark Conference Center: NRW students have been creating projects around the school and will present to the community at the annual youth summit. All are welcome!

🎓 College Fair at Brockport 4/29—explore different SUNY colleges, ask questions, and start thinking about your future plans. Sign up in the counseling office by 4/20. See the flyer below for more information!

School events, assemblies, and volunteering—stay engaged and be part of the community. Keep track of your volunteer hours.

A Few Reminders:

🧠 Mental health matters—talk to someone you trust if you’re feeling stressed.

📅 Stay organized—use a planner or binder to keep track of deadlines.

📚 Exams and Regents are coming up—start studying early, even if it’s just 20 minutes a day. Teachers will be scheduling review sessions soon.Please see your counselor if you have questions about upcoming Regents exams.

FREE Regents review classes are offered on-line through CITI Distance Learning -review on-line at home; if you can’t attend at the time of the class, sessions will be recorded so you may view at a time that is convenient for you! Please see your school counselor for details.

✨ You’ve got this✨ Don’t forget to enjoy this time. High school is more than deadlines and tests—it’s also about memories, growth, and figuring out who you are. Don’t forget to reach out to your school counselor to see how we can support you—we’re here to help you succeed.

Warm Regards,

Miranda Merton (Last Names A-K) MMerton@nrwcs.org

Lori Purcell (Last Names L-Z) LPurcell@nrwcs.org

April is a busy month filled with valuable learning opportunities for families and students. The Parent Workshops will take place on April 9, 16, and 23, covering important topics such as adolescent brain development, youth substance use trends, digital health and wellness, and community resources.

In addition, the Substance Use Family Summit will be held on Saturday, April 18, offering essential information on what every family should know about substance use. Key themes will include current drug information and trends, overdose prevention, recovery, and powerful stories of hope, grief, and loss.

Another exciting event this month is It’s Real: Teens and Mental Health for High School, a 45-minute virtual workshop scheduled for Monday, April 20. This session will explore what mental health is, how it relates to and differs from physical health, how to recognize signs that someone may need help, and the importance of self-care, among other key topics.

ParentSquare and emails will be sent this week with important information about Prom, Camping Trip, and end of the year activities!! As always if you have any questions, please feel free to stop by to see your senior class advisers or email them (mbartholomew@nrwcs.org or jenniferjudge@nrwcs.org)

FBLA students will be competing in their state level competitions on April 16. Good luck!

12th Grade Economics: During Quarter 3, the students have been studying the Fundamentals of Economics including scarcity & choice, economic decision making & opportunity cost, resource allocation and the role of incentives in economics. The culmination of this unit was The Island Game, where they were challenged to create a new society's government and Economic plan. The students created a poster presentation demonstrating their decision making with factors of production and challenges faced by their new society.

Global II History & Geography: Students just finished studying a major unit that is heavily tested on the NYS Regents Exam: The Cold War. Students will now be writing a practice Enduring Issues Essay in order to prepare them for the Part III on the NYS Global Regents.

Regents U.S. History & Government: As of now, we are just starting our new unit covering World War II and the impacts that it had on the country. Specifically, we are taking an in-depth look into historical context that led up to the war such as the rise of power-hungry dictators, aggressive territorial expansion, and extreme nationalism. This course balances student-led discussions with the analysis of primary resources such as political cartoons, speeches, and other documents. Overall, we are ensuring that students are developing their critical-thinking and communication skills.

World History 9: This year we have taken an in-depth look into how Geography has impacted the way people live around the world and have studied the basics of the major belief systems: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity and are currently learning about Islam. Historicially we cover Ancient World History up to the 1600's so we will finish the year learning about the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Exploration, the Protestant Reformation, and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Interested in taking Physics or American Sign Language? Stop by the Computer Lab or Counselling office to get signed up for the fall classes!

Several ENL Junior class students will travel to SUNY Oneonta in April as prospective students for an overnight college visit through the Keys to Success Program. Students will meet current college students and professors at SUNY Oneonta and have the chance to visit an academic class. They will learn about the campus, available clubs, resources and sports to join. They will also have fun meeting new friends and making contacts for any future college applications!

Congratulations to Hannah Howig on receiving a National Silver Medal at the Scholastic Art Awards for her Experimental Photography piece. Marcus Haffner. Mya Miller, Vivian Bishop and Emily Fenton all were selected to display their ceramic projects at the Everson Museum in Syracuse.

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)

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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