Northside
 

A Note About NCP Activities During the Strike & Next Sunday's Open House

Events and meetings listed below may be rescheduled or canceled due to the CPS strike.

Please consider signing up to help at next Sunday's Open House, which will go on as planned if the strike ends beforehand, as volunteers are a crucial part of this event. We need more parents/guardians to help out in order to have it run smoothly.

Additionally, please be mindful of important upcoming dates and deadlines, particularly the rescheduled PSAT/SAT.

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NCP Open house

Next Sunday - Northside's Selective Enrollment Open House

Student and Parent Volunteers Still Needed

Sunday, October 27
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Please encourage your students to sign up to help with the Open House. Student volunteers are needed from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. There will be a training session on Wednesday, October 23. Students will be able to pick from flex 2 and flex 4 sessions. On the day of the Open House, students will show families around, answer questions, and have the opportunity to share what they love about Northside. Food and snacks will be provided and students will earn service learning hours. Please encourage students to fill out this FORM to sign up.

We also need 100 adult volunteers to work this busy but super-fun event. Parents help answer questions and direct crowds in the gym, outside and all over the building. You will need to be registered as a Level II volunteer if you have not done so already. It very easy to do - you must complete a form and turn in an ID. Please see details below under CPS Volunteer Requirements.

Sign up HERE to volunteer.
Sign up HERE to donate snacks for the students.

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FON-Annual-Appeal-logo4-300x79

The 2019-2020 Annual Appeal is Underway

With your help, Friends of Northside has been able to pay for:

▪ Staffing for college counseling
▪ Uniforms and equipment for our athletic teams
▪ Wellness Center support
▪ School security
▪ Transportation for field trips
▪ Funding for student clubs
▪ New copiers for the school
▪ Professional development for teachers
Staffing for college counseling
Uniforms and equipment for our athletic teams
Wellness Center support
School security
Transportation for field trips
Funding for student clubs
New copiers for the school
Professional development for teachers

The funding NCP receives from CPS does not cover these important items. Friends of Northside needs your support more than ever to allow our school to continue offering these essential programs and services to your 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? Click HERE to contact Friends of Northside.

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

thank-you-lettering-with-curls 1262-6964

We greatly appreciate the assistance of the volunteers who helped stuff the annual appeal letters. This team cranked out all the letters in record time and made life easier for everyone. THANK YOU!

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FON logo 2017

Friends of Northside Meeting

Tuesday, October 22
7:00 pm
Faculty Lounge

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.

To find out more about Friends of Northside, please visit their website HERE.

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costa rica 2

Travel this Spring with Northside

Informational Meeting - Spring Break 2020 Trip to Costa Rica

Thursday, October 24
6:00 pm
Room 233

Want to zip line through beautiful Costa Rica and learn about sustainable projects? Parents and students are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, October 24 at 6:00 pm in room 233. Please contact Ms. Torres prior to the meeting. Space is limited! Click HERE for more information.

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Halloween Dance

Halloween Dance

Friday, October 25
7:00-10:00 pm

Please volunteer to chaperone this annual dance. Students love it and without our parent chaperones, it wouldn't be possible. All volunteers must be CPS Level II Volunteer certified. Sign up HERE.

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Halloween

Halloween Concert

Tuesday, October 29
7:00 pm
Auditorium

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PSAT deadline

New Date for PSAT/SATs

Wednesday, October 30

Please note, the PSAT/SATs for sophomores and juniors is Wednesday, October 30. All students should report to school by 8:00 am.

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athletic jacket 2

Athletic Jackets for Sale

Orders Due by Thursday, October 31

If you are interested in purchasing an Athletic Jacket, fill out the form and return it to Mr. Pagani by Thursday, October 31. You can choose from either vinyl sleeves or leather sleeves. Please see the attached order forms (jacket with leather sleeves or jacket with vinyl sleeves) for additional information.

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AP exam

AP Exam Registration Deadline Approaching

Register by Friday, November 15

Students taking AP exams at Northside College Prep must register HERE and pay by 4:00 pm on Friday, November 15, 2019.

For the 2020 AP Exams, the cost is $110 per exam and $15 if your student qualifies for a free/reduced lunch. Please adhere to the November 15 deadline as there will be a mandatory College Board late fee of $40.00 charged in addition to the exam fee. Please contact Mr. Alexander Hughes if you have any additional questions.

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FASA app

Financial Aid Information

Financial Workshop Follow-up: Thank You!

Hello Class of 2020 Students and Parents,

On behalf of Northside College Prep and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, thank you for attending the Financial Aid Workshop on Tuesday, October 15! I hope the information that was provided was useful and assisted your family with successfully navigating the FAFSA Application.

One more FAFSA workshop will be offered this month. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any additional questions about the FAFSA application. At the end of this month, I will facilitate a College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile Overview to discuss the best practices for navigating need-based financial aid.

~ Ms. Moore

Upcoming Workshops

FAFSA Workshop
Wednesday, October 23
2:10 pm
Room 224

CSS Profile Overview
Wednesday, October 30
Two sessions: 1:25 pm & 2:10 pm
Room 224

ISAC Student Financial Aid Follow-up
Wednesday, November 20
Two sessions: 1:25-2:10 pm and 2:15-3:00 pm
Room 224

Additional Financial Aid Resources

In addition to the FAFSA Completion Workshops, the counseling department has shared some useful resources that may assist you and your family with navigating the next steps in the financial aid process. Click on the titles below to access the FAFSA resources:

▪ The FAFSA Process Graphic by the Federal Student Aid.
▪ 7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the 2020–21 FAFSA® Form, (2019) by the Federal Student Aid.
▪ FAFSA Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid (2018) by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
▪ 8 Things to Do After Filing Your FAFSA Form (2019) by Chicago Public Schools Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising and the Office of College and Career Success.
The FAFSA Process Graphic by the Federal Student Aid.
7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the 2020–21 FAFSA® Form, (2019) by the Federal Student Aid.
FAFSA Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid (2018) by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
8 Things to Do After Filing Your FAFSA Form (2019) by Chicago Public Schools Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising and the Office of College and Career Success.
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Sculpture Class Looking for Unwanted Chairs

Sculpture II & III students will be transforming chairs into sculptural objects. We are looking for donations of unwanted chairs of any type. Please note, chairs will not be returned. Donations should be left outside of room 111. Chairs are needed as soon as possible. Thanks!

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Life Lessons

Guest Speakers Needed for Life Lessons Colloquium

Mr. Madia is looking for parents who would like to be a guest speaker for his life lessons colloquium.

He's looking for people in the field of finance, cooking, fashion, travel, hiring manager, auto, housing, life skills, etc. Please contact Mr. Madia directly to help.

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Donate-now-button

Donations Needed for Student Resource Closet

Friends of Northside has a resource closet available to NCP students. Currently, we are in need of:

▪ Individual snacks such as granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit
▪ Toothpaste and dental floss
▪ Hair conditioner
▪ Men’s and women’s underwear and socks
▪ Loose leaf and graph paper
▪ Spiral notebooks and binders
▪ Colored pencils
▪ Sanitizing wipes (Clorox type)
▪ Bath towels
Individual snacks such as granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit
Toothpaste and dental floss
Hair conditioner
Men’s and women’s underwear and socks
Loose leaf and graph paper
Spiral notebooks and binders
Colored pencils
Sanitizing wipes (Clorox type)
Bath towels

All items must be new and unopened. No used clothing will be accepted. Please bring all items to the Counseling Office and set outside of Ms. Matthews' office.

Contact Nancy Liljedahl with any questions.

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griefsupport

If parents are interested in learning more about how to support their children through grief, they can reach out to Willow House for support.

Last school year, Willow House provided grief support at Northside for students and staff and also offered staff training. They can provide expert guidance for parents on what to expect for adolescent grief, how to support your child, and when to seek out additional help. All services are free of charge. Contact Willow House or Anne Cooper, NCP social worker, with any questions.

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Upcoming events fall

Important October & November Dates

▪ Tuesday, October 22 - FON Meeting
▪ Wednesday, October 23 - FAFSA Workshop
▪ Friday, October 25 - Halloween Dance (sponsored by the Latin Club)
▪ Sunday, October 27 - NCP Open House
▪ Tuesday, October 29 - Halloween Concert
▪ Wednesday, October 30 - PSATs (new date) & CSS Profile overview
▪ Friday, November 8 - No school - Teacher Improvement Day
▪ Monday, November 11 - No school - Veterans Day
▪ Thursday, November 14 - No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
▪ Friday, November 15 - Deadline to register for AP exams
▪ Wednesday, November 20 - ISAC Student Financial Aid follow-up
Tuesday, October 22 - FON Meeting
Wednesday, October 23 - FAFSA Workshop
Friday, October 25 - Halloween Dance (sponsored by the Latin Club)
Sunday, October 27 - NCP Open House
Tuesday, October 29 - Halloween Concert
Wednesday, October 30 - PSATs (new date) & CSS Profile overview
Friday, November 8 - No school - Teacher Improvement Day
Monday, November 11 - No school - Veterans Day
Thursday, November 14 - No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, November 15 - Deadline to register for AP exams
Wednesday, November 20 - ISAC Student Financial Aid follow-up
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spring-sports-300x239

This Week in Sports

Come out and support our student athletes!

Women's & Men's Cross Country

▪ Saturday, October 26, IHSA Regional, details TBD
Saturday, October 26, IHSA Regional, details TBD

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

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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.

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?
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!

Email Debra Swan, Event Chair, 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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college corner

October College Visits at Northside

When classes resume, the counseling department will reach out to post-secondary representatives to reschedule visits that were unable to take place.

Monday, October 21
Rice University, 9:48 am
Vassar College, 9:48 am
Olin College of Engineering, 9:48 am
Babson College, 9:48 am
Transylvania University, 11:36 am
Stonehill College, 11:36 am
Coe College, 12:26 pm
Simmons University, 3:15 pm

Tuesday, October 22
The New School - All Divisions, 9:48 am
ArtCenter College of Design, 10:38 am

Wednesday, October 23
Colorado State University, 10:40 am
Smith College, 10:40 am
Dartmouth College, 11:20 am
Valparaiso University, 11:20 am
Bennington College, 12:40 pm
Claremont McKenna College, 12:40 pm and 1:25 pm
The Catholic University of America, 3:15 pm

Thursday, October 24
The Ohio State University, 9:48 am
Princeton University, 9:48 am
DePaul University, 12:26 pm
Skidmore College, 12:26 pm
Franklin & Marshall College, 12:26 pm
The George Washington University, 12:26 pm
Washington and Lee University, 12:26 pm
Colorado College, 3:15 pm

Friday, October 25
Wellesley College, 9:48 am and 10:38 am
University of East London, 9:48 am
Carleton College, 9:48 am
Rochester Institute of Technology, 11:36 am
Union College (New York), 3:15 pm

Monday, October 28
Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences, 9:48 am
Colby College, 9:48 am
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, 10:15 am
Lawrence Technological University, 10:15 am
Lincoln College (Lincoln), 10:15 am
Augustana College, 10:15 am
Northern Michigan University, 10:15 am

Wednesday, October 30
Lake Forest College, 10:40 am
Clark University, 12:40 pm
Northern Illinois University, 12:40 pm

Thursday, October 31
Franklin College of Indiana, 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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scholarships

CPS Scholarship Notifications and College Events Around the City

For more details about the upcoming events and to access the most recent updates, view the College Calendar on the Northside Prep Counseling Website HERE.

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Choices

CHOICES College Fair: Post High School Educational Options for Students with IEPs & 504s

Tuesday, October 22
6:00-8:45 pm
New Trier High School Northfield campus

The CHOICES Program is a postsecondary planning evening for college-bound students with an IEP, 504 plan, official accommodations plan, or history of a disability.

Approximately 60 colleges, universities, and college transition programs have signed up for the CHOICES college fair on Tuesday, October 22 to meet with students and discuss the support services available at their institutions. Two breakout sessions will be offered, one at 6:00 pm and another at 6:50 pm. Topics for each session are listed below. The college fair will take place from 7:00-8:45 pm.

6:00-6:40 pm Breakout Session Topics

▪ Successfully and Sanely Navigating College Admission Tests - Compass Education Group
▪ Why Consider a Community College - Oakton Community College
Successfully and Sanely Navigating College Admission Tests - Compass Education Group
Why Consider a Community College - Oakton Community College

6:50-7:30 pm Breakout Session Topics

▪ Successfully and Sanely Navigating College Admission Tests - Compass Education Group
▪ The Nuts and Bolts of the Application Process - Counselors from Maine South and Stevenson High School
Successfully and Sanely Navigating College Admission Tests - Compass Education Group
The Nuts and Bolts of the Application Process - Counselors from Maine South and Stevenson High School

Click HERE for an event flyer.

Additional College Events

Monday, October 21
5:30 pm - Southern Methodist University: Information Session

Thursday, October 24
7:00 pm - Chicago Performing and Visual Arts College Fair

Friday, October 25
App Closes: Horatio Alger Association - State & National Scholarships

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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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Copy of Volunteer Vertical

Volunteering with CPS Update: Attention Parents & Guardians Who Had Their IDs Scanned on Back-to-School Night

Ms. O'Hare has 30 scanned IDs from Back-to-School Night that do not have corresponding volunteer applications in the system. In order to approve them, she needs those parents who forgot and/or missed the step of also filling out the online application to submit their application 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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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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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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blog-87

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.

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Attention, Parents of CTA Commuters

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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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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