STEAM Day 2015

STEAM Day 2015 was a huge success at Northside! Parents, community members, and volunteers joined us to fill this day with meaningful and engaging experiences for students relating to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Each class saw four different demonstrations facilitated by NASA employees, geologists, chemists, Moseley architects, Fifth Season, NES staff, and more! They also participated in a time of self-selected exploration involving designing roller coasters, exploring surface tension, building bridges, etc. Students left with plans to be chemists and an excitement to explore more about the world surrounding them.

-Submitted by Diana Lisle

CLICK HERE to check out another slide show of the events of the day.

Northside Elementary Wins Gold Stewardship Development Award

In the fifth annual awards cycle for the Greater Triangle Stewardship Development Awards Program (GTSDA), three local land development projects received awards.  An awards ceremony was held at the Power Plant at the American Tobacco Campus on April 29.

Developer Roger Perry of East-West Partners provided by brief keynote address, followed by presentation of awards to recipients by local Meteorologist Chris Hohmann of WTVD ABC11.  

Northside Elementary School in Chapel Hill was one of three innovative winning projects (the others were Park West Village in Cary and the Saxapahaw Rivermill Project). This redevelopment project was awarded a Gold Stewardship Development Award, the program’s highest-level award. Northside Elementary School was originally home to the African-American Orange County Training School, built in 1924, most of which had been abandoned. By redeveloping this site, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, with Timmons Group and Mosely Architects, realized a great opportunity to revitalize the Northside neighborhood while avoiding the ecological impacts that come from building on a new site. Careful deconstruction of the existing buildings permitted high rates of material reuse and recycling. The project enhanced a local greenway, a resource conservation area, and a community garden.

The project did an outstanding job of protecting water quality through use of porous pavers, porous playgrounds, green roofs, and an underground stormwater detention basin. A 60,000-gallon underground cistern supplies provides water for toilet fixtures and a cooling tower. A second 5,000-gallon cistern irrigates the school garden. The redevelopment project preserved trees and removed invasive species. The project recently became the first LEED Platinum elementary school in North Carolina, and is one of only four LEED Platinum elementary schools in the entire country.

An interdisciplinary expert panel of judges evaluated the projects for achievement in multiple areas of sustainability:

1. Natural Resource Assessment
2. Water Quality Protection
3. Wildlife Habitat Protection
4. Vegetation Protection and Enhancement
5. Green Building
6. Integration with the Community
7. Long-Term Management and Maintenance
8. Community Outreach and Education

Modeled after a sister program in the Coastal NC area, the Greater Triangle Stewardship Development Awards Program is a partnership established in 2010 among local businesses, academia, state agencies and local governments. The program incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2014. Applications for recognition in the 2016 cycle will be solicited in fall 2015.

-Submitted by the CHCCS Office of Community Relations

Northside Named Cool School

Northside Elementary School has been named this week's Cool School by WNCN.

WNCN Meteorologist Alyssa Corfont will broadcast live from the school on WNCN Today Friday (5/8)  morning at 11 AM as she speaks with the 2nd grade students who are currently studying weather.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

WNCN: News, Weather, Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

International Navigator Night 2015

There was an incredible turn out at the second annual International Navigator Night held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.  It was great to see so many Northside families, students, and staff out to celebrate their cultures through song, dance, exhibits, and food.  The sights and smells from all of the world brought us all a little bit closer.  We hope you had a great time getting your passport stamped at exhibits, watching the amazing performances, and eating the delicious food.  We're looking forward to next year already!

-Submitted by Nan Lujan, ESL Teacher

Ms. Sharpless Named District Assistant Principal of the Year

Northside Assistant Principal, Coretta Sharpless, has been named the CHCCS Assistant Principal of the year. Assistant Superintendents Dr. Magda Parvey and Dr. Todd LoFrese attended the after school staff meeting on April 15, 2015 to make the announcement.

Congratulations to Ms. Sharpless for being an outstanding leader at Northside and throughout the district!

NES School Improvement Team (SIT) Nominations Open

The NES SIT is seeking nominations of parents to fill three (3) parent representatives positions for the 2015-17 term (beginning fall 2015).  The nomination process is by self-nomination. Nomination forms were sent home in student's Wednesday folders on March 25. You may also CLICK HERE to access an electronic copy of the nomination form. Additional copies are also available in the school's main office.

Completed nomination forms should returned to school with your child or sent via email to Tiki Gwynne at gwynne@email.unc.edu.

Nomination forms are due by Friday, April 10, 2015.

Voting ballots to select the parent SIT representatives will be sent home with 3rd quarter report cards.

The SIT is a focused, advisory, support team charged with providing input and guidance to the NES school administration for the purpose of continuous school improvement. Parent representatives on the SIT are elected by secret ballot vote and serve for two consecutive years. The SIT parent nominees consist of parents of NES students and the NES PTA facilitates the election each year. The time commitment will be once a month meetings and other functions/programs as a representative of NES.  Please consider nominating yourself for this important role!

Digital Learning Day 2015 Celebrated at Northside

On Friday, March 13, Northside Elementary School participated in Digital Learning Day by holding and Open House from 8 AM - 10 AM. During the open house parents, school district staff, and community members visited in classrooms across the school to experience how digital tools are used on a daily basis for teaching and learning at Northside.

Digital Learning Day is an annual nationwide celebration of innovative teachers and common-sense, effective applications of digital learning in America’s schools that support teachers, improve learning, and provide options for students to achieve at their highest potential.