Info Below:

School CNXT: Parent-NCP Communication

NCP will be using SchoolCNXT to communicate important information to parents and the school community. All families should have received a text message and/or email communication about signing up. If you did not receive that communication or need access to your student's account, you can gain access by using this tool on Northside's website.

NCP Counseling Updates

Senior Update: School Day SAT with Essay

Seniors,

In preparation for the SAT with Essay administration next week Wednesday, September 23rd, we ask that you read the information below carefully. Please be sure to fill out the official CPS survey to indicate your participation in the SAT administration. The link can be found in the passage below (the link is also HERE). Information will be sent out on Monday, September 21st, with room assignments, administration time, and procedures for the day of the test. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Ms. Marina Medina.
Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Dear CPS Family,

As we begin this new school year facing unique challenges, we remain focused on providing our students with opportunities that will prepare them for success after high school. As part of that commitment, CPS will offer our 12th-grade students the opportunity to take the SAT with Essay in person at Northside College Prep on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

Illinois requires that students take a statewide assessment in order to graduate, and this testing opportunity will allow your child to not only meet this requirement but also use their score for college applications and National Merit Scholarship eligibility. If your child chooses not to participate in SAT testing on September 23rd, he or she will have a normal day of remote learning and will have the opportunity to take the SAT in Spring 2021.

In order to prepare for a safe in-person test day, we need to identify all students who are planning to take the SAT in our school building. Please let us know if your child will participate by completing the SAT Fall Test Administration Survey by Monday, September 21, 2020.

To ensure the health and safety of our students and staff during in-person testing, we will implement the following protocols at our school:
* We will fully sanitize all rooms, before and after testing, in line with the district’s enhanced cleaning procedures.
* Students and staff members will be required to pass an online health screener and temperature check prior to entering the building.
* Everyone who enters our school will be required to clean their hands either by washing with soap and water or by using hand sanitizer.
* All students and staff will be required to wear a cloth face covering while inside the building, including during the test and during testing breaks.
* Students will be seated six feet apart with no more than 25 percent of the room’s capacity being utilized and no more than 50 people per room.
* Masks can be removed for eating and drinking, and strict social distancing will be required when masks are removed.
* During testing breaks, students will remain in their testing room and maintain strict social distancing.
* We will implement procedures for restroom breaks that maintain the requirements to socially distance, wear cloth face coverings, and clean hands.
* We will establish and communicate clear arrival and dismissal procedures, taking advantage of the College Board’s flexible, staggered start time policy.

We are glad we are able to provide your child with an opportunity to begin planning for their future. Please remember to complete the above survey by Monday, September 21, 2020, and please feel free to reach out to Ms. Marina Medina at mmedina1@cps.edu with any questions.

Thank you,
Kelly Mest, Principal

Financial Aid Presentation: Seniors and Juniors

On Monday, September 28, from 6:00-8:00 pm, the Northside College Prep Counseling Department will be hosting a virtual financial aid presentation for students and parents and/or guardians. This presentation is being offered to assist your family with successfully navigating the financial aid and college application process this year. During the presentation, the presenters will outline the financial aid process for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), R.I.S.E. Application for undocumented and transgendered students, and need-based financial aid.

To ensure we are meeting the needs of the Northside Prep community, we are offering the presentations in English and Spanish. Click HERE to register for the virtual financial aid presentation. Once we receive your registration, you will receive a Google Meeting invitation by Friday, September 25.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Ms. Moore at mcmoore6@cps.edu.

Senior Self-Assessment, Parent Survey, and College Conference

The Class of 2021 Self-Assessment and Parent Recommendation Survey plays an integral role in your College Conference and the letter of recommendation your respective school counselor will write. As a result, all rising seniors are required to submit their Self-Assessment prior to scheduling a College Conference or obtaining a letter of recommendation. The Parent Recommendation Survey is recommended but not required. If your student has not completed their self-assessment or scheduled a College conference, please click HERE to complete the assessment as soon as possible and encourage your students to contact their respective school counselor to schedule their conference.

Parents, if you are unable to access your Naviance Account, contact Ms. Fernandez at safernandez@cps.edu. Please note, College Conferences are not required but highly recommended to ensure your student has the necessary resources and support as they prepare to pursue their postsecondary goals. For more information about the college planning process at Northside College Prep, visit the College Planning Hand Book or the Counseling website.

NCP Virtual Postsecondary 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 Block 1:00-4:00 pm 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. Check your Naviance account today and periodically to register for the upcoming virtual postsecondary visits!

Follow the directions below to access the Naviance Postsecondary Visits:
* Log in to the Student Naviance homepage.
* On the Naviance home page, scroll down to the College Visits section and click on the “Show More” button
* You will see an active "Virtual Visit" hyperlink that will provide you with access to the visit. However, for additional security measures, a Google Meeting invitation will be sent to all registered participants in Naviance at least one day before the scheduled virtual visit.

*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.

Family Income Information Form

The purpose of this form is for CPS to determine school funding. CPS and Northside Prep may receive additional funding based on your family’s responses to the questions. Your responses on this form will also determine if your family qualifies for other CPS waiver benefits (i.e., the following fees could potentially be waived: school fees, testing payment, etc).

Answer all of the questions on the form, print and sign it, and return it to the school registrar, Ms. Fernandez, at safernandez@cps.edu, by September 30, 2020. Please note: the form must have an original signature, not an electronic signature, or the form will not be processed.

Free Test Prep Resources

There are a number of free test prep options available for students who would like to prepare for the upcoming SAT Test.
* Naviance offers free PSAT and SAT Prep resources such as Kaplan and Naviance Test Prep. Click here to view the instructional video if you need assistance with accessing the Naviance Test Prep resources.
* Students can log in to their College Board account to access practice tests through Khan Academy.

NCP Back-to-School Backpack

Please click HERE for information about:

SPANISH / ESPAÑOL

POLISH / POLSKA

KOREAN / 한국어

CHINESE / 漢語

VIETNAMESE/ TIẾNG VIỆT