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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
A Message from Northwood's Leadership
Dear Northwood Parents/Guardians, Families, and Community Members,
We are off to a great start at Northwood Academy Charter School! It has been wonderful to see our students return with energy, enthusiasm, and a readiness to learn. Thank you to our families, staff, and community for helping us begin the school year on such a positive note.
As we build on this strong start, we are focused on one important goal: elevating expectations for every student.
At Northwood, we believe our students are capable of high achievement and strong academic growth. High expectations, however, must be matched with the time, support, instruction, and encouragement students need to meet demanding expectations. Our responsibility is not simply to ask more of our students—it is to provide them with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
Attendance is imperative to that success. Every school day matters. When students attend school consistently and arrive on time, they benefit from daily instruction, participate fully in classroom learning, develop strong routines, and remain connected to their teachers and classmates. Missing school means missing valuable learning opportunities that can be difficult to replace. We ask every family to make regular, on-time attendance a priority throughout the school year.
Elevating expectations also extends beyond academics. Good behavior is expected at Northwood. Our students deserve classrooms and common spaces that are safe, respectful, orderly, and focused on learning. We expect students to demonstrate respect for themselves and others, follow school and classroom expectations, take responsibility for their choices, and contribute positively to our school community.
Our message to students is clear: We believe in you, we expect your best, and we will support you in reaching it.
This work requires all of us. When school and home work together—with consistent expectations for attendance, academics, effort, and behavior—we create the conditions in which students can thrive.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for entrusting Northwood with the education and development of your children. We are excited about the year ahead and look forward to seeing how much our students will learn, grow, and accomplish.
Together, we will continue elevating expectations and creating opportunities for every Northwood student to succeed!
Sincerely,
Dr. Steve Yanni, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Jason Hamer, Principal
Let's Celebrate Our Bulldogs of the Month
Join us in acknowledging our first group of distinguished Northwood students to be honored with our new “Bulldog of the Month” recognition for the month of September. The students listed below are role models who embody our Northwood Northstar, having demonstrated excellence in either their academic performance; attendance; behavior; and/or leadership and effort.
Elementary School Students
Kindergarten - Yexsiel Cruz in Mrs. Licsauer’s Class
1st Grade - Nevaeh Lloyd in Mrs. Donohue’s Class
2nd Grade - Isaiah Toney in Ms. Micken’s Class
3rd Grade - Noah Kemp in Ms. Kelly’s Class
4th Grade - Kayden Simmons-Greene in Miss Liz’s Class
Middle School Students
5th Grade - Ma’Kayla Azard in Mr. Penn’s Class
6th Grade - Emmaneil Perez in Ms. Militello’s Class
7th Grade - Genesis Cordero-Perez in Ms. Glover’s Class
8th Grade - Bryson Turner in Mr. Bartholomew's Class
Our Kids Are Hard at Work - Stay Up to Date with Their Grades!
We are now entering the time of year when the routines and expectations of the school year are fully underway. Your child will begin bringing home homework folders, school communications, quizzes, tests, and assignments for you to review.
Please continue to log in to Focus regularly to monitor your child’s grades and progress. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher. If you have any Focus-related questions, please contact Ms. Carmen (csantiago@northwoodcs.org).
Technology Use & Device Reminders
Technology Use & Device Reminders
While students have access to technology during the school day, students will not routinely bring school computers home. As we continue to focus on using technology meaningfully and purposefully, we are also mindful of the amount of time students spend on devices.
Our goal is to ensure that technology is used when it enhances learning, while maintaining a healthy balance with hands-on learning, collaboration, reading, writing, and other important experiences.
On occasions when students do bring a school device home, they will be reminded about:
Device Care: Handle and transport the device carefully to and from school.
Responsible Use: Use the device only for appropriate, school-related purposes.
Safe Storage: Keep the device in a safe location and away from food, drinks, pets, and other potential hazards.
Returning Devices: Bring the device back to school as directed and ready for continued use.
Thank you for partnering with us as we help students develop healthy, responsible, and purposeful technology habits.
Application Process - All applications for admission to Northwood Academy Charter School for the 2027–2028 school year must be submitted online through Apply Philly Charter. Families who apply by the lottery deadline will be notified on February 8, 2027, if their child has been selected for admission. Applications received after February 22, 2027 will be placed on the waitlist. Beginning in late March 2027, families on the waitlist may be contacted on a rolling basis if seats become available. Students will be offered available seats according to their placement on the waitlist established through the Apply Philly Charter process.
Current Northwood Students - Students who are currently enrolled at Northwood Academy Charter School do not need to participate in the Apply Philly Charter lottery process to remain enrolled for the 2027–2028 school year. In December, we will ask all families of our current students to complete an intent to re-enroll form.
Eligibility and Application Requirements - The following requirements must be satisfied:
A completed application for the 2027–2028 school year must be submitted online through Apply Philly Charter.
Families seeking sibling or catchment preference must provide any required documentation. Applicants will be notified electronically if additional documentation is needed. If the required documentation is not provided, the application will be moved to the general lottery.
Students entering kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2027.
Students who do not reside in Philadelphia may be admitted only when there are no Philadelphia residents applying for the grade in question. Tuition for a non-resident student must be paid by the school district in which the student resides.
Lottery Preferences - When applicable, admissions preferences are considered in the following categories:
Currently Enrolled Students: Students who are currently enrolled and attending Northwood Academy Charter School.
Sibling Preference: Siblings of students who are currently enrolled and attending Northwood Academy Charter School may receive preference when applying for admission, provided space is available in the requested grade. To qualify for sibling preference, the sibling applying for admission must be a Philadelphia resident.For admissions purposes, a sibling is defined as a biological brother or sister who shares at least one parent with the currently enrolled student, or a legally adopted brother or sister. Cousins, nieces, nephews, and unrelated children living in the same household are not considered siblings for purposes of sibling preference.
Kindergarten Catchment Preference: Incoming kindergarten students who reside within the Laura H. Carnell or Henry R. Edmunds catchment zones.
Employee Preference: Children of current Northwood Academy Charter School employees who are applying for admission for the upcoming school year, provided space is available in the requested grade.
Many Individuals - Many Beliefs - One NACS
At Northwood Academy Charter School, our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Throughout September, our community recognizes a variety of cultural, religious, historical, and national observances that reflect the many identities, traditions, and experiences represented within our school family.
From Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to Hispanic/Latin American Heritage Month, the International Day of Peace, and other meaningful observances, these moments provide opportunities for our students to learn about one another, broaden their perspectives, and practice the respect and empathy that help make our community stronger.
At NACS, recognizing different traditions does not mean that we all share the same beliefs. It means we value the people who hold them. By creating a school where every student and family can feel seen, respected, and welcomed, we continue building a culture grounded in community, learning, and belonging.
Educate - Elevate - Innovate
Important Reminders for Our NACS Families
Important High School Info
The 2026 K–12 Philly School Fair will be held on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Admission is free, and more than 150 District, charter, private, and Catholic schools are expected.
It is important to know that the School District of Philadelphia has revised its timeline for students applying to high school for the 2027–28 school year.
District School Selection: Applications open Monday, October 5 at 4:00 p.m. and close Tuesday, November 24 at 11:59 p.m.
Apply Philly Charter: Applications open Friday, September 18 and close Friday, January 15.
Please note that not all charter schools participate in Apply Philly Charter. Families should visit the website of each school their child is interested in to verify application requirements and deadlines. This includes charter, private, independent, and Archdiocesan high schools, as their application timelines may vary.
Visit philasd.org/findyourfit for District schools or applyphillycharter.org for participating charter schools.
High School Selection Support
Representatives from the SDP’s Office of Student Enrollment and Placement will be on site for our NACS 8th grade students and their families on Tuesday, October 6 from 4:00-7:00pm to:
Share important school-selection information
Answer questions about the application process
Help families navigate District high school applications
Stop by anytime during the event to receive assistance and prepare for your student’s transition to high school!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in a student's success. Every school day provides valuable opportunities to learn new skills, build friendships, and participate in classroom experiences that are difficult to replace. Pennsylvania law requires all school-age students to attend school every day unless they have a valid, documented excuse. If your child is absent, please help us by:
● Notifying the school as soon as possible.
● Submitting a written or electronic excuse within three (3) school days of your child's return.
● Scheduling medical, dental, and other appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
EXCUSED ABSENCES
Please note that absences without proper documentation will be recorded as unexcused.
Examples of excused absences include:
Illness
Medical or dental appointments
Family emergencies
Religious observances
Approved educational trips
Other reasons permitted by PA law
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
State law establishes the following attendance thresholds:
3 unexcused absences: The school issues a First Official Notice of Truancy.
6 unexcused absences: Your child is considered Habitually Truant.
10 or more unexcused absences: Your child is considered habitually truant.
When these thresholds are reached, schools are required to follow Pennsylvania attendance laws. This may include attendance conferences, the development of a School Attendance Improvement Plan (SAIP), referrals to community support services, and other interventions designed to improve attendance and support student success.
If your family is experiencing difficulty with getting your child/children to school on time, please contact Northwood Academy as soon as possible. We are always happy to help support our families.
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