Notable November Dates

▪ Sunday, November 15 - NCP Virtual Open House
▪ Tuesday, November 17 - LSC meeting and Friends of Northside meeting (online)
▪ Thursday, November 19 - LSC elections
▪ Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27 - No School - Thanksgiving break

Dates for NCP, ISAC, University of Michigan, and Illinois State's financial aid workshops and presentations are listed below in the financial aid article.

Additional Info Below:

The 2020-2021 Annual Appeal is Under Way

Dear Parents,

We hope that your family is doing well.

You should have received a letter from Principal Mest a couple of weeks ago. Even though Covid has changed learning from in-school to virtual, Friends of Northside's fundraising goal has not changed. Northside still has crucial needs not covered by the CPS budget.

During the summer and fall months, Friends of Northside has provided funding for the wellness center, assistant coaches for sports teams, athletic uniforms, and technology for the school. Over the remainder of this school year, we expect to help fund athletics, clubs, counselors’ office activities, and teachers’ professional development.

Our goal for this campaign is to raise $500,000. If your family can give, we need your help to make it happen. A donation of $10, $100, $1,000, $10,000, or whatever you can afford can help bridge the gap between what CPS provides and what Northside needs to continue to be the great school it is.

Your support will make a real impact on the high school experience of each Northside student.

Click HERE to read the appeal letter from Principal Mest.

Click HERE (English) or HERE (Español) to download a paper form to return to the main office with payment.

Questions? Email info@friendsofnorthside.org to contact Friends of Northside.

Want to donate now? Click HERE. All donations are tax-deductible, and any amount is greatly appreciated!

Northside's Virtual Open House

Sunday, November 15
12:00 pm
This year, NCP's open house will be virtual! Click HERE any time after 12:00 pm on November 15 for a tour!

Be a Part of NCP's Virtual Open House!

Why did YOU Choose Northside?
We are finalizing the content for our virtual open house, and we need your help.

As prospective families learn more about Northside, it is important that they hear from our parent community. If you would like to help, please use this form to submit one of the following to share with prospective families by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 11:

Your submissions may be used for our Virtual Open House, which will be available to the public through our NCP school website. For questions, please contact Assistant Principal Barry Smith at brsmith6@cps.edu.

AP Exam and Payment Information

AP Exams will take place May 3-7 and May 10-14. AP Exam fee payments will be due by Friday, December 4 at 3:00 pm.

There is currently a technical issue with the collection of AP Exam fees, which are completely separate from your school fees. The counseling department asks for your patience as they continue to work through the problem. If you have any further questions regarding payment, please contact Mr. Hughes at Achughes2@cps.edu.

College Application and Essay Resources

Hello, Class of 2021 Parents,

Time is moving at light speed and the November college application deadlines are quickly approaching. New York University has you covered with helpful tips and best practices as your students prepare to hit submit on their college applications!

Here are a few articles that will assist you in supporting your students as they tackle their college applications and essays.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Ms. Moore at mcmoore6@cps.edu or email your student’s respective school counselor. We are here to support your family with navigating the next steps in the college admissions process.

▪ From Parent to College Counselor: Helping Your Child Apply to College (click here)
▪ 3 Tips to Choose the Right Common App Essay Prompt (click here)
▪ 6 Proofreading Habits for Your College Essay and Beyond (click here)
▪ Working with Your Counselor to Prepare a Great Application (click here)
▪ Advice: Application Tips (click here)
▪ Is Early Decision Right for Me? (click here)
▪ How to Narrow Down Your College List (click here)
▪ What I Wish I Knew Before Applying to College (click here)

College Representative Visits

The NCP Counseling Department is offering virtual postsecondary visits for Northside Prep students and parents. We are offering virtual postsecondary visits to ensure all families have the opportunity to explore various postsecondary pathways, engage with the postsecondary representatives, and obtain answers to pertinent questions or concerns. Virtual postsecondary visits are offered after school from 3:15-4:00 pm, and during Flex Blocks 1-4 on Wednesdays.

To date, college, military, and GAP Year representatives are scheduled to connect with NCP students virtually and the list is growing every day. Click HERE to view the list of upcoming and past postsecondary visits. Also, check out the messages from the admissions representatives and the additional resources they shared during their visits.

*Please note, all virtual visits will be conducted via CPS Google Meets and no email addresses outside CPS will be permitted into the virtual postsecondary visits. To protect the privacy and safety of students, parents will only be permitted to access virtual visits if their respective student is present and the student will be required to log in via their CPS Gmail account. All postsecondary visits will be managed and monitored by an NCP staff member.

Gettysburg College Presentation

From a Liberal Arts & Sciences College to the Executive Suite

Thursday, November 12
4:00 pm

Register HERE

Students and parents should join this upcoming virtual event with Gettysburg College to explore how & why the liberal arts and sciences college experience can help students achieve their dream job & reach their potential!

Guest Speakers:
* Troy Datcher, Clorox, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer
* Dr. Darrien Davenport, Assistant VP of College Life & Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Gettysburg College
* Darryl Jones, Sr. Associate Director of Admissions, Gettysburg College
* Tyra Crosbie, Admission Counselor, Gettysburg College

Verto Education Virtual Open House and College Fair

Verto Education provides an affordable and innovative way for students to incorporate travel into their four year college experience. Spending a few months abroad before diving into the typical college grind allows students to show up on campus rejuvenated with a better understanding of themselves and what they want to do with their lives.

Open House
Tuesday, November 10, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Register HERE

With Verto Education, you know what the future holds. Verto students become global citizens and start college by finding clarity, meaning, and purpose that will guide them to become the leaders our world needs. Get the answers to all of your questions about Verto during a Virtual Open House.

College Fair
Tuesday, November 17, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Register HERE

Verto is extremely proud to partner with a quickly growing consortium of forward-thinking colleges and universities — enabling students to see the world, gain academic knowledge, and meaningful life experience while receiving college credit.

Change the World International Honors Program: Two semesters, a year of international immersion, full-time credits for honors-level academics, and one transformative capstone project. Tuition is offered on a sliding scale and is based on household income.

Verto Opportunity Grant: For qualifying families, students can receive up to $10,000 in grant funding to attend a Verto semester in Latin America or Hawaii.

For more questions about the Verto Education view the Frequently Asked Questions (click HERE).

Upcoming Virtual Financial Aid Presentations

ISAC Virtual Financial Aid Events (click here)
▪ Saturday, November 14, 10:00 am-12:00 pm CT
▪ Tuesday, November 17, 6:00-8:00 pm CT

University of Michigan Weekly Financial Aid Sessions (click here)
▪ Wednesday, November 11, 6:30-7:30 pm
▪ Thursday, November 12, 4:00-5:00 pm
▪ Wednesday, November 18, 4:00-5:00 pm
▪ Thursday, November 19, 6:30-7:30 pm

Illinois State University Virtual Financial Aid Session (click here)
▪ Thursday, November 12 at 12:00 pm

Additional Financial Aid Resources

Presentations
▪ ISAC English Financial Aid Presentation (click here)
▪ Northwestern Virtual Financial Aid Presentation (click here)

Net Price Calculators
▪ FAFSA4Caster (click here)
▪ Net Price Calculators (click here)
▪ National Center for Education Statistics: College Navigator (click here)

FAFSA and RISE Application Checklists: English and Spanish (click here)
▪ FAFSA Website (click here)
▪ Create FAFSA ID (click here)
▪ FAFSA 2021-2022 Worksheet (click here)
▪ The FAFSA Process (click here)
▪ 8 Things to Do After Filing the FAFSA (click here)
▪ FAFSA Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid (click here)

RISE Application Website (click here)
▪ RISE Alternative Application User Guide (click here)

CSS Profile Website (click here)
▪ CSS Profile Tips & Resources (click here)
▪ CSS Profile Checklist (click here)

Avoid Student Scams (click here)
Tax Benefits for Higher Education (click here)

Update: Recursos de presentación en Español

CPS Scholarship Notifications and College Events Around the City

For more details about upcoming events and to access the most recent updates, (click HERE) to view the College Calendar on the Northside Prep Counseling Website. Also, for additional scholarship opportunities visit the Northside College Prep Counseling page (click HERE).

Tuesday, November 10
1:00 pm - Verto Education Virtual Open House
4:00 pm - Gettysburg College Presentation

Thursday, November 12
App Closes: Regeneron Science Talent Search: STEM Competition

Tuesday, November 17
1:00 pm - Verto Education Virtual College Fair

Tuesday, December 1
App Closes: Act Six Leadership Scholarship

Sunday, December 6
App Closes: Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Youth Awards

Photo Submissions Requested for NCP Stampede!

Do you have news or team results to share with the Northside parent community?

Click HERE to submit information.

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