NorthStar Lights

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

Like the majority of educators, when I began working in the field, my days were spent with students. As educators we know that our careers will be filled with young people. We also know that as much as we will teach them, they will teach us too.

I became an instructional director more than a decade ago and when I did, my interactions with NSCSD students no longer happened on a daily basis. This has been one of the biggest changes and challenges of my career. I became an educator because I have a passion for working with young people. I will always consider myself an educator and I know that part of that job includes working with young people. So if the young people don't come to me, I will go to them.

This week, I asked our C-NS Executive Principal Jamie Sullivan to help me set up a meeting with the school's Umoja group. Umoja is the Swahili word for "unity" and students in the group work to unify our high school's population. My meeting with these students was educational and enlightening. We openly discussed topics such as mental health, race, culture and human rights. As a District, we are making progress but we are not yet where we need to be if we truly want to provide the best educational environment for all students. During the meeting, I listened to a young man, originally from Burma, who discussed the long journey he took to end up in North Syracuse, NY.

Every person has a story and I know that I was fortunate to hear one small part of this young man's story that day. Like the rest of us, he is a product of the circumstances that brought him to the current moment. As educators, it is our job to listen to those stories. But above that, it is our job to provide an environment in which students feel comfortable sharing their stories with us. Our students are all important and it is up to ensure they know that.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story this week. I wish you all peace and comfort as we head into a new year. Happy Holidays NorthStars!

Sincerely,

Daniel D. Bowles, Superintendent of Schools

Students in Pam Woznica's Interior Design class at Cicero-North Syracuse High School have applied their design skills in a unique…and very appropriate way this holiday season.

As part of their regular course curriculum, students are tasked with learning about different types of house styles and then choosing one to create a three-dimensional model. This year, Woznica thought it would be fun to have her students work in a new medium– gingerbread. Each student had to create an electronic mood board for their planning purposes and were then given the materials to bring their concept to life. Woznica said, “We have 8 different house styles under construction and students have all been given the same materials and ingredients to start off with.”

As an introduction to the home building, students first created miniature house ornaments and then hung them on a tree in the classroom. Students have the freedom to add their own ingredients and personal touches as they work on their project but they must accomplish certain elements and create a description. The students’ 8 Gingerbread Houses have been delivered to the school’s library where they are available for viewing & voting through December 22.

Click here to see more pictures of the gingerbread houses online.

For more than 20 years, staff in the North Syracuse Central School District have worked hard to ensure that all families in the District have food on hand to get them through the holiday recess. In 1999, the Teaching Assistant Unit put together eight food baskets. Since that time, need has increased but so has generosity.

Mindy Bristol is President of The North Syracuse Teaching Assistant Association (NSTAA) for the NSCSD and has been involved with the food drive since it began. Mindy has watched the need grow from just eight baskets that first year to overflowing bags for 152 families this year.

Click here to read the complete article online and see more pictures.

On Monday, December 6, the Cicero-North Syracuse High School (C-NS) theater team of creative directors involved with the ‘Cicero Area Student Theater’ (CAST) program and the high school’s production of an original musical in the midst of a pandemic, was honored by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) as Champions of Change. NYSSBA’s honor, which is officially called the ‘Champions of Change for Kids Recognition Program’, celebrates programs that optimize existing resources to address issues of equity, demonstrate strong student academic performance, and introduce unique learning environments that are cutting-edge and future oriented. The recognition is unsolicited and is presented to just a few select districts in NYS throughout the school year. The creative team consists of Kimberly Panek-Edwards (Director), Renee Frontale (Producer), Caryn Patterson (Music Director), and Lisa Stuart (Choreographer).

Sandra Russo, NYSSBA’s Area 4 Director and the organization’s incoming Vice President, was at the North Syracuse Central School District’s Board of Education meeting on December 6 to publicly present their Champions of Change banner to the C-NS theater’s creative team. In her remarks during the presentation, Director Ruffo spoke about the purpose of the recognition and complimented the C-NS team by saying, “Your program and what happened to your students during the pandemic and how you turned it around for them is amazing.”

Click here to read the complete article online.

If you have ever taught a young driver, you know the fear and frustration that is involved with that process. You would never just allow a 16 year-old to start driving without some instruction. In many ways, the responsible use of technology can draw parallels with learning how to drive a car but with much less crunching of metal. Both activities, if not done well, and with some forethought can cause life changing consequences.

In this installment of the Tech Happens podcast, created by the North Syracuse Central School District's wonderful team of instructional technology coaches, they discuss the importance of social emotional learning and how it applies to digital interactions. Expertise is gleaned from Lisa Goldberg, the District's Director of Social and Emotional Learning.

Click here to listen to the podcast or click here to read more online.

After a multi-year hiatus, the Optimist Club of Cicero-North Syracuse is once again sponsoring an Oratorical Contest with a top award of a $2,500 college scholarship. Students under the age of 19 who live within the boundaries of the North Syracuse Central School District are eligible to participate. This year’s contest, the topic of which is “Staying Optimistic in Challenging Times,” will take place on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at the Jerome F. Melvin Administrative Office Building (5355 West Taft Rd., N. Syracuse, NY).

Contestants will be asked to speak on the official topic for four to five minutes with timing beginning at the first spoken word. Entries must be mailed by February 1.

Click here to read the complete article online.

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.

Last month, Brigg Liberman, a 7th grade student at Gillette Road Middle School, was featured in this newsletter for his role in the ensemble of Trevor: The Musical at Broadway's Stage 42. Brigg and his mother Tracy Liberman, a teacher at North Syracuse Junior High School, were recently interviewed by Eagle Newspapers Associate Editor Ashley Casey. Click here to read the December 14 online story, North Syracuse Student stars in 'Trevor: The Musical' off-Broadway.

Congratulations to Cicero-North Syracuse High School seniors Mason Ellis, Tavores “Deuce” Flournory, Jerrod Hills, Josh Kubala, Vincenzo Lattanzio, Vinny Pisa and Anthony Testa for being selected to the 2021 All-CNY large-schools football team. In addition, sophomore Joe Main was selected for second-team offense and seniors Devin Pisa, Alec Scripa and James Cahill were selected to second-team defense. Senior Anthony Testa is also one of just four finalists to be nominated for large school Player of the Year.

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!

We love to share photos and videos from our students, families and teachers. 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.

Each year, students in the North Syracuse Early Education Program (NSEEP) celebrate the holiday season by having "Cookies with Santa." In a typical year, individual classes of students are brought into the school's cafeteria to have a snack and drink at tables while Santa visits. After the snack, Santa reads to students and they have their photo taken with him before heading back to class. This year, due to COVID protocol, Santa took time to stretch his legs and traveled around the school to individual classrooms. While visiting, students had a snack and listened to Santa read. Students who weren't able to be in class that day could participate over the computer. A big thank you to Santa for his flexibility this year!

The "Snack Pack" food pantry program at Cicero-North Syracuse High School has been a whirl of activity the past few weeks as bags and boxes are prepared for students and families across the District. C-NS Executive Principal Jamie Sullivan shared photos of students from their Principal's Cabinet and Participation in Government classes hard at work.

In accordance with CDC guidance, students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness (influenza or COVID-19), should stay home and be referred to their healthcare provider for evaluation care and testing. Individuals who are absent from school will need to provide either a medical note or proof of a negative COVID test (PCR test).

Students or staff members who develop symptoms during the school day will be sent home immediately. Parents of students will be contacted immediately to come and pick up their child.

Please remember the symptoms of COVID 19 include:

● Fever or chills

● Cough

● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

● Fatigue

● Muscle or body aches

● Headache

● New loss of taste or smell

● Sore throat

● Congestion or runny nose

● Nausea or vomiting

● Diarrhea

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are seeing nationwide disruptions to manufacturing, supply and distribution channels. You may have experienced this yourself when you’ve tried to order something online or buy something in the store and what you’re looking for isn’t available right now.

What does the shortage mean for school meals? In short, it means that we’re having trouble getting certain foods and supplies. Your student(s) may notice that we’re serving different items than we’ve served in the past or different items than were listed on the menu.

School districts across the country are experiencing these shortages and unfortunately, we cannot control the problem. We are doing our best every day to come up with solutions to these challenges.

Click here to read the full article online.

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