Northside
 

Welcome!

From Principal Mest

Dear NCP Mustangs and Parents,

Welcome back for the 2019-2020 school year! And I would like to extend a special welcome to the NCP Class of 2023!

I look forward to the start of school on Tuesday and having the building full of the people that make Northside the special place that it is.

I am excited to announce several new faculty members who bring with them a passion for teaching and learning, expertise in their content areas, and a love for our students.

▪ Timothy Coukart, English
▪ Elizabeth Eakin, Computer Science
▪ Chris Mourtokokis, Counseling
▪ Amy Wagner, Diverse Learners
Timothy Coukart, English
Elizabeth Eakin, Computer Science
Chris Mourtokokis, Counseling
Amy Wagner, Diverse Learners

Please join me in giving them a warm Northside welcome.

Over the last few weeks, our faculty, staff, and parent volunteers have been working hard to ensure the start of a great year. In preparation for a successful first day of school, please review the following information:

First Day of School
School begins at 8:00 am and ends at 3:15 pm. We will be running a modified schedule on Tuesday, September 3, so all students should report to their advisory by 8:00 am. Please see below for the schedule for the day.

Programming
Our programmer and counselors have been working very hard to resolve any outstanding issues with schedules. Each student will receive an updated schedule during advisory on Tuesday morning. Students may visit the counseling office during lunch periods or after school for schedule changes only if their schedule contains one of the following three issues:

1. Missing class: The schedule has less than seven classes. If this is the case, students may visit the Counseling Office during the class period that is missing from their schedule.
2. Double booked: Two classes are scheduled at the same time. Students should visit Counseling during lunch or after school.
3. Missing graduation requirement: Your student is a senior and missing a graduation requirement. Students should visit Counseling during lunch or after school.

Students may visit Counseling on Wednesday for all of the reasons listed above, as well as if they did not get their 1st OR 2nd choice for a class.

Please also be aware that there may be some changes made to schedules due to leveling of classes during the first two days of school. All schedule changes must be made by Friday, September 6th.

Finally, I want to give a special thank you to all of our amazing parent volunteers who helped with Freshman Parent Night, orientation, and back to school communication. The time and talents that you give to our school community are greatly appreciated.

From students, to faculty and staff, administration, and parents, it is the people who make Northside a truly wonderful and unique place.

Have a great Labor Day weekend and I look forward to the start of another amazing year of learning and growth for the Northside community.

Go Mustangs!
Kelly Mest, Principal

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First Day of School Schedule

Tuesday, September 3 is a Modified Schedule.

Students should report to their advisories at 8:00 am. The schedule for the day is as follows:

8:00 - 8:24 = Advisory
8:27 - 10:03 = Block 1
10:10 - 11:46 = Block 2
* 2A = 10:10 - 10:58
* 6A = 10:58 - 11:46
11:53 - 1:29 = Block 3
* 3A = 11:53 - 12:41
* 7A = 12:41 - 1:29
1:36 - 3:12 = Block 4
3:15 Dismissal

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Parking lot safety

Parking Lot Safety

Our NCP school parking lot is a bustling place before and after school. Families dropping off and picking up students are asked to be mindful of both safety and courtesy. Please assist us by ensuring that traffic lanes stay clear during drop-off and pick-up times and by following the parking lot procedures.

Parking Lot Procedures

ALL vehicles MUST exit onto Kedzie. You may enter the parking lot from Kedzie or Bryn Mawr, but regardless of where you enter, all cars must exit onto Kedzie. For the safety of our students and the rest of the Northside community, please do not exit onto Bryn Mawr.

The first few days will be busy at drop-off and pick-up. Please, for the safety of all involved, plan to give yourself enough time for drop-off and pick-up and please be patient while in the parking lot. Pulling over to the curb on the right as your student enters or exits your vehicle keeps students safe and traffic flow efficient. Our safety team will be actively working to ensure that students arrive and depart safely each day and that vehicles in school lots remain damage free.

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Chromebook

Chromebook/Technology

Northside is a one-to-one school. Only CPS-issued devices are supported on our school network.

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volunteers

Volunteers Needed

First Days Book Distribution

Volunteers are still needed to assist with final book distribution on the 1st and 2nd day of school. Parent volunteers are needed before school from 7:00 - 8:00 am, during the lunch blocks from 9:45 am - 1:15 pm and after school from 3:00 - 4:00 pm. Sign up HERE.

Back to School Night

Volunteers needed to pick up coffee & cookies, to set up the refreshment serving tables, and to clean up afterward. Coffee & cookie purchases can be reimbursed or considered charitable donations to Friends of Northside. Sign up HERE.

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CPS Volunteer Requirements**

According to CPS policy, anybody who is going to be in contact with students must be approved as a CPS volunteer. There are two levels of volunteers, Level 1 and Level 2.

Level I Volunteers

(Please allow 8-12 weeks for the entire process)
A fingerprint criminal background check is required for all Level I Volunteers.

A Level I volunteer is:

1. A parent providing volunteer service in their child’s school or classroom for 10 or more hours/week;
2. An individual providing volunteer service for 5 or more hours/week at a school where s/he does not have a child enrolled;
3. Any individual chaperoning an overnight school-sponsored trip, regardless of the hours/week that the volunteer serves (See also the Student Travel Policy).
1. A parent providing volunteer service in their child’s school or classroom for 10 or more hours/week;
2. An individual providing volunteer service for 5 or more hours/week at a school where s/he does not have a child enrolled;
3. Any individual chaperoning an overnight school-sponsored trip, regardless of the hours/week that the volunteer serves (See also the Student Travel Policy).

Level II Volunteers

(This process can be completed in a day & is required even of volunteers for Friends of Northside events)
A fingerprint criminal background check is not required for Level II Volunteers.

A Level II Volunteer is:

1. A parent providing supervised volunteer service in their child’s school or classroom for less than 10 hours/week;
2. Any individual providing volunteer service for less than 5 hours/week at a school where s/he does not have a child enrolled;
3. An individual providing incidental volunteer service with no ongoing individualized interaction with a student(s) including those who speak at a class/assembly, judge academic competitions, give musical performance, participate in the “Principal for a Day” program, job shadowing event or other one-time event provided where there is direct supervision of the activity/event by regular school employees;
4. A parent accompanying his/her child’s class on a one-day field trip or another type of extracurricular activity that does not involve an overnight stay;
5. An individual providing volunteer service on projects/activities involving no or nominal contact with children (home-based volunteer activities, volunteers serving at Central or Network office).
1. A parent providing supervised volunteer service in their child’s school or classroom for less than 10 hours/week;
2. Any individual providing volunteer service for less than 5 hours/week at a school where s/he does not have a child enrolled;
3. An individual providing incidental volunteer service with no ongoing individualized interaction with a student(s) including those who speak at a class/assembly, judge academic competitions, give musical performance, participate in the “Principal for a Day” program, job shadowing event or other one-time event provided where there is direct supervision of the activity/event by regular school employees;
4. A parent accompanying his/her child’s class on a one-day field trip or another type of extracurricular activity that does not involve an overnight stay;
5. An individual providing volunteer service on projects/activities involving no or nominal contact with children (home-based volunteer activities, volunteers serving at Central or Network office).

To become a volunteer, please visit CPS' Volunteer website and follow the instructions. There is also a link on Northside's website on the Parents page Northside Volunteers.

Assistant Principal, Kaitlin O'Hare is Northside's Volunteer Coordinator. After applying to become a volunteer, you must visit the school and show Ms. O'Hare your ID, so she can approve you to move forward in the volunteer process. For Level II volunteers, that is the only step you must take. For Level 1, you will receive further instructions from CPS.

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This Week in Sports

Fall sports have begun. Come out and support our student athletes!

Women's Tennis

▪ Thursday, September 5, 5:00 pm vs. Lane Tech at McFedridge Park (V)
Thursday, September 5, 5:00 pm vs. Lane Tech at McFedridge Park (V)

Men's Soccer

▪ Tuesday, September 3, 4:30 pm (V) and 6:00 pm (JV) vs. Lake View at Lane Stadium
▪ Thursday, September 5, 4:30 pm (S) vs. Ridgewood at Ridgewood *Friday, September 6, 6:00 pm (JV) vs. Marine Military Academy at Marine Military Academy
Tuesday, September 3, 4:30 pm (V) and 6:00 pm (JV) vs. Lake View at Lane Stadium
Thursday, September 5, 4:30 pm (S) vs. Ridgewood at Ridgewood *Friday, September 6, 6:00 pm (JV) vs. Marine Military Academy at Marine Military Academy

Women's Volleyball

▪ Wednesday, September 4, 4:30 pm (JV) and 5:00 pm (V) vs. Francis Parker at NCP
▪ Thursday, September 5, 5:00 pm (JV) and 6:00 pm (V) vs. Taft at Taft High School
▪ Thursday, September 5, 5:00 pm (F-A) and 6:00 pm (F-B) vs. Taft at NCP
▪ Friday, September 5, 4:30 pm (F) vs. Latin at NCP
Wednesday, September 4, 4:30 pm (JV) and 5:00 pm (V) vs. Francis Parker at NCP
Thursday, September 5, 5:00 pm (JV) and 6:00 pm (V) vs. Taft at Taft High School
Thursday, September 5, 5:00 pm (F-A) and 6:00 pm (F-B) vs. Taft at NCP
Friday, September 5, 4:30 pm (F) vs. Latin at NCP

Women's Golf

▪ Wednesday, September 4, 4:00 pm vs. Lake View, Whitney Young at Marovitz Golf Course
Wednesday, September 4, 4:00 pm vs. Lake View, Whitney Young at Marovitz Golf Course

Men's Golf

▪ Thursday, September 5, 4:00 pm vs. Taft, Disney II Magnet at Billy Caldwell Golf Course
Thursday, September 5, 4:00 pm vs. Taft, Disney II Magnet at Billy Caldwell Golf Course

Men's Cross Country

▪ Wednesday, September 4, 4:30 pm, Varsity Invitational vs. St. Patrick at Schiller Woods
Wednesday, September 4, 4:30 pm, Varsity Invitational vs. St. Patrick at Schiller Woods

Visit the NCP Athletics website for additional information about Northside teams.

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First Friday logo

Friday, September 6
8:00 - 10:00 am
Panera Bread, 6059 N. Lincoln Ave

Friends of Northside gathers on the First Friday morning of every month for coffee and conversation. This casual get-together gives you a chance to meet and network with other parents. Feel free to come and go as it suits your schedule.

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Back to school night

Back to School Night

Tuesday, September 10
6:30 - 8:40 pm

Back to School Night is a great opportunity for you to follow your child's schedule, meet your child's teachers and learn about teacher expectations, and classroom activities.

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PNO web

Fall Parents Night Out

Thursday, September 26
6:00 pm
Via Veneto
6340 N. Lincoln Ave

Join us for a Parents' Night Out at Via Veneto. There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Catch up with old friends and make new ones! Please sign up HERE so we can let the restaurant know how many people to expect.

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Get Involved!

We encourage parents to be an active part of the Northside community. All are welcome to attend Friends of Northside and Local School Council meetings. Monthly meeting dates are posted on the home page of the school website under Upcoming Events.

Friends of Northside

Friends of Northside (FON) is the “one stop shop” for NCP families to get involved. FON facilitates communication between parents and the school, organizes parent volunteers, plans and sponsors social/educational events, and raises much-needed funds to bridge the gap due to CPS budget cuts. FON supports the school’s mission to maintain and enhance the learning experience for all students of Northside College Prep High School. The next FON meeting will be Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge.

To find out more about Friends of Northside, please visit the webpage HERE.

Local School Council (LSC)

The Local School Council (LSC) - the voice in the continuing evolution of Northside - is an elected body that plays an important role in the decision-making that affects our school. The LSC is responsible for approving the Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP), principal selection and evaluation, and allocating discretionary funds to school programs. The next LSC meeting is Tuesday, September 17 at 6:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge.

You can learn more about the Local School Council HERE.

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volunteersneeded-BLrdBp-clipart

No Experience Necessary

Make a commitment to Northside by offering your time for any of these rewarding on-going volunteer positions. Email Friends of Northside to indicate your interest or ask questions.

Graphic Designer

Provide professional guidance and materials for various design needs throughout the year.

Volunteer Coordinator

Manage and update our online volunteer system as needed throughout the year.

Spring Benefit Committee

The Spring Benefit is NCP’s major spring fundraiser. Get involved, get to know NCP staff and parents, and make a profound impact on Northside College Prep.

When is the Spring Benefit?
Tentatively Friday, March 13, 2020

What’s the time commitment for the team?
Meetings begin in the middle of September. The time commitment depends on your role. There is something for everyone. Please join us!

What roles are available?
* Entertainment Chair--one or two people to determine and arrange the entertainment for the Spring Benefit.
* Auction Item Solicitors--at least five people to solicit auction items.
* Printed Materials Chair--one or two people to design and produce all the printed materials.

Email debra@theswans.net for more information or to join the team!

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Bragging Rights

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

Click HERE to submit information.

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New to Parent Portal?

Three easy steps to sign up!

1. Obtain your student's PIN, which should be on your acceptance letter or school welcome letter.
2. Create an account HERE.
3. Link a student to your account.
1. Obtain your student's PIN, which should be on your acceptance letter or school welcome letter.
2. Create an account HERE.
3. Link a student to your account.

PINs can only be provided to the parent/guardian in person or by mail to the address on file. They cannot be provided by phone or email, or to a student. To request your PIN, please contact Sonia Fernandez in the Counseling Office.

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FON Connect

Friends of Northside uses a customer/constituent relationship management (CRM) system known as FON Connect that allows our parent volunteer organization to work from one database for events. It is not a CPS database and is completely different and separate from the CPS Parent Portal and Northside's EPay website.

FON Connect also serves as the NCP Family Directory and allows users to review their donation history, update their contact information, register for upcoming events, and more. Each parent has a separate account. Transactions, including donations, are recorded in the account of the parent who initiated the transaction or donation.

If you’re new to FON Connect, you'll need to set up a login and password. To do so:

▪ Click HERE.
▪ Click on “Forgot Password?”
▪ Enter your email address.
▪ Check your email for the link to create a login name and password.
Click HERE.
Click on “Forgot Password?”
Enter your email address.
Check your email for the link to create a login name and password.

Once you have set up your FON Connect account, keep your login and password in a safe, convenient place because they will be your keys to the database throughout your years at Northside.

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NCP Carpool Connection!

If you're interested in carpooling to school, add your address to the 2019-2020 NCP Carpool map and reach out to contact a potential carpool family on the map. Find the map HERE or on the Welcome page of FON Connect.

Attention, Parents of CTA Commuters

Free CTA Transportation on Tues, Sept. 3!

Did you know that the #82 and #92 buses pick up students in front of Northside at the end of the school day? The Kimball Brown line station is also close to school at Kimball and Lawrence.

These are just a few of the ways students can use public transportation to commute to school. More information on routes for your student can be found at the CTA website HERE.

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Navigating Northside

Navigating Northside

Navigating Northside, our parent handbook, is available on the school website under the "Parents" tab. Click HERE to access it directly.

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OfficeDepotOfficeMax

Give Back to Northside

Purchase school and office supplies at Office Depot and OfficeMax and Northside can receive 5% back in credits or FREE supplies. Simply provide our school ID 70031171 at checkout, online, or in stores. There’s no cost to you!

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Support Northside - Shop AmazonSmile

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way to support Northside every time you shop.

Click HERE to read about AmazonSmile. Click HERE for detailed sign-up instructions or skip the instructions and sign up HERE.

Please note that our AmazonSmile name is Friends of "North" "Side" (North Side - two words at AmazonSmile).

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college corner

September College Visits at Northside

Monday, September 9
CCC, Harold Washington College, 10:38 am
Antioch College, 11:36 am
Kent State University, 11:36 am

Tuesday, September 10
Bucknell University, 9:48 am
Gettysburg College, 9:48 am
University of San Francisco, 9:48 am
California Polytechnic State Univ, San Luis Obispo, 10:38 am
Cornell College, 11:36 am

Wednesday, September 11
Johns Hopkins University, 10:40 am
Purdue University Northwest, 10:40 am
Tulane University, 11:20 am
Yale University, 1:25 pm
Bentley University, 3:15 pm

Thursday, September 12
North Park University, 11:36 am
Carnegie Mellon University, 3:15 pm

Friday, September 13
Eureka College, 11:36 am
Holy Cross College, 3:15 pm

Monday, September 16
University of California, Santa Cruz, 9:48 am
University of St. Francis, 9:48 am
Syracuse University, 9:48 am
Sarah Lawrence College, 11:36 am
Stetson University, 11:36 am
Case Western Reserve University, 12:26 pm
Emory University, 12:26 pm
University of Michigan, 3:15 pm

Tuesday, September 17
Columbia College Chicago, 9:48 am
Hillsdale College, 9:48 am
College of the Holy Cross, 9:48 am
Saint Mary's College, 9:48 am
Columbia University International Dual BA Programs, 11:36 am
Tufts University, 11:36 am
University of Aberdeen, 12:26 pm
University of Southern California, 3:15 pm

Wednesday, September 18
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 10:40 am
IE University - Segovia
Chicago State University, 12:40 pm
Louisiana State University, 12:40 pm
The College of Wooster, 12:40 pm
John Carroll University, 3:15 pm

Thursday, September 19
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 9:48 am
Washington University in St. Louis, 9:48 am
Knox College, 10:38 am
Temple University Japan, 12:26 pm
Michigan State University, 3:15 pm

Friday, September 20
Rollins College, 9:48 am
Boston University, 11:36 am
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 12:26 pm

Monday, September 23
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 3:15 pm

Tuesday, September 24
St. John's University, 10:38 am
Saint Louis University, 12:26 pm

Wednesday, September 25
Suffolk University, 11:20 am
Kalamazoo College, 1:25 pm
Indiana University at Bloomington, 3:15 pm

Thursday, September 26
DePauw University, 9:48 am
Missouri State University, 12:26 pm
American University, 3:15 pm

Monday, September 30
Barnard College, 9:48 am
University of California, Berkeley, 9:48 am
Middlebury College, 9:48 am
Wesleyan University, 10:38 am
Lehigh University, 11:36 am
Temple University, 3:15 pm

The list of college visits is updated frequently. For the most current information, parents of juniors and seniors should log into their parent account for Naviance.

Students are highly encouraged to meet with the reps who take the time to visit Northside. Oftentimes these are the same regional reps who will be reading your child's application! Students may ask a teacher to be briefly excused from class to meet a college representative.

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Follow Us on Social Media

▪ NCP's Official Facebook Page
▪ Northside Prep Parents Facebook Page, a closed group for parents, by parents, to share their knowledge of Northside
▪ NCP's Twitter Page
▪ Friends of Northside Facebook Page, for news everyone can view
NCP's Official Facebook Page
Northside Prep Parents Facebook Page, a closed group for parents, by parents, to share their knowledge of Northside
NCP's Twitter Page
Friends of Northside Facebook Page, for news everyone can view
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To view this message in your browser, click HERE.

Seniors, click HERE for the Class of 2020 web page.

Northside’s website can be found HERE.

Friends of Northside's website can be found HERE.

To see all volunteer opportunities on one page, click HERE.

To ensure delivery of This Week at Northside, please add Thisweek@friendsofnorthside.org to your address book.

Please do not reply to this e-mail. Send your questions or comments to Friends of Northside.

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

Click HERE to submit information.

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