Northwestern School District • 100 Harthan Way, Albion PA 16401 • 814.756.9400
Home of the Wildcats • Mr. Greg Lehman, Superintendent
Embedded Files
NWSD Board Meetings
NWSD Board Meetings
Reminders to the public:
Reminders to the public:
All agendas for study session and voting meetings are available for viewing on BoardDocs (click icon to the left), the Friday before the scheduled meetings, typically posted around 4pm.
Minutes are posted in BoardDocs once approved at the next month's voting meeting.
When joining meetings via the Zoom link below for view & listen only access, technology issues may arise that may be beyond the district's control, or the Board may be in an executive session.
Recordings of the study session and voting meetings are always available the following day via BoardDocs. The recordings remain posted until the following month's meeting.
ZOOM Information for VIEW only:
If you wish to address the Board as a scheduled visitor, please contact the Superintendent's office by 1:30pm on the day of the meeting at 814-756-9400. Unscheduled visitors may sign in upon arrival at the meeting and will be called on by the Board President at the appropriate time. Anyone wishing to address the Board is asked to attend in-person.
The agendas are available the Friday afternoon (by 4pm) before each meeting and can be viewed by clicking on the BoardDocs link to the left or in the Quick Access Links below (red section).
The Northwestern School District Board of Directors will hold the following meetings in July.
The Northwestern School District Board of Directors will hold the following meetings in July.
Please note, there will be NO committee meetings in July.
-Monday, July 14, 2025 at 7:00pm Board Study Session Meeting in the District Office conference room
-Monday, July 21, 2025 at 7:00pm Board Voting Meeting in the District Office conference room
PAWSForward Winners
PAWSForward Winners
The Northwestern High School principal’s cabinet, administration and teachers have selected the final group of #PAWSForward winners.
9th Grade- representing the (Strong) trait: This student is "Strong" in mind and motivation, this student is intrinsically motivated to do the right thing in and outside of school. Congratulations to Elora Baumgardner!
10th Grade- representing the (Positive) Trait: This student is respectful to classmates and teachers. Congratulations to Alexander Lincoln!
11th Grade- representing the (Active) Trait: This student is active in clubs and after school activities, as well as, putting in the extra time to care about others. Congratulations to Brody Bickenheuser!
12th Grade- representing the (Willing) Trait: This student is willing to go above and beyond to help others while putting in the extra effort in every circumstance they are faced with. Congratulations to Amanda Hoch! (Not Pictured)
All winners received a free lunch of their choice from a local establishment congratulations to all!
Attendance Award Winners
Attendance Award Winners
The final May Principal's Cabinet Attendance Award sponsored by Bethesda Lutheran Services was presented by our Bethesda Truancy Officer Alexis Canfield on May 29th to our final round of winners. In order to be a selected for the final contest you had to be a student who had the best attendance in their respective grade levels. In our school, we had one student with perfect attendance. The five selected students will received a $25 dollar gift card of their choice. The school-wide winner will also receive 4 free passes to Waldameer Water Park this summer.
School-Wide Perfect Attendance Winner: Blake Lahnan
9th Grader- Jazmine Osborne
10th Grader- David Bretz
11th Grader- Rachel Sharp-Drury
12th Grader- Faith Giannamore (Not Pictured)
Congratulations to all of the winners Northwestern is proud of you!
Congratulations to all of our high school honor roll recipients! A special thank you to our Ag Productions & Communications class for this student-created video project.
Congratulations to all of our high school honor roll recipients! A special thank you to our Ag Productions & Communications class for this student-created video project.
Northwestern High School was selected by PennWest-Edinboro to host Dr. Jon Anderson, President of PennWest University.
Today Dr. Anderson, Dr. Stevenson (Dean of Education, Arts & Humanities), Amanda Sissem and Rena McCartney all of PennWest University spent a few hours on the Northwestern campus. Our visit with PennWest University consisted of a roundtable discussion on future planning with a panel of students from the Class of 2026 and a building tour of select classrooms and programs that Northwestern HS offers to our school community.
The visit concluded with both of our leadership teams collaborating and brainstorming new ideas with our closest higher education partner in the county. Northwestern was proud to have PennWest University's President on campus today, and looks forward to enhancing our already strong partnership with our higher education neighbor just 11 short miles away. Thank you to Dr. Anderson and his team for coming to visit the Northwestern Wildcats.
Middle School Honors Program was held on Thursday, May 22nd, congratulations to all of our students!
Middle School Honors Program was held on Thursday, May 22nd, congratulations to all of our students!
8th Grade Award Winners for 2025
Art- Layla Baker & Bogdan Garkushov
Band- Lydia Kirsch & Aiden Daniel
Choral- Lydia Kirsch
English Language Arts- Lilian Comeau & Brock Patrick
Mathematics- Ciera Silman & Matthew Prenatt
Music- Chelsea Mooney & Akshan Kumar
Physical Education- Alexa Ruland & Andrew Heher
Science- Mackenzie Pazmino & Blake Nine
Social Studies- Alexa Ruland & Akshan Kumar
Technology- Ciera Silman & Brock Patrick
Family and Consumer Science- Audrey Reynolds & Daniel Sipes
Outstanding 8th Graders- Alexa Ruland & Akshan Kumar
McDonald's Youth Achievement Award- Alexa Ruland
Middle School Awesome Readers
Middle School Awesome Readers
Northwestern Middle School students celebrate hard work and dedication in becoming awesome readers! Great work and job well done to all those pictured above.
Perfect Attendance Weekly Raffle at Northwestern Middle School
Perfect Attendance Weekly Raffle at Northwestern Middle School
Our truancy coordinator Ms Canfield, from Bethesda Lutheran Services, will be raffling off 25.00 gift cards to those students that have had perfect weekly attendance. All drawings will be at the end of each month in April, May and June. Perfect attendance each week enters your name into the drawing, 9 chances to win.
The month of April winners: Brooke Rogers, Avrianna Gehring, Franklin Kutterna, Ms. Canfield, and Brock Patrick (not pictured)
The NWSD Board of Directors approved the 2025-2026 Final Budget on June 16, 2025. The 2025-2026 millage rate was also set at 12.7421.
2025-2026 Proposed Final full.pdfHave you wondered what exactly is a mil? How is my tax bill calculated? How much more will I pay if the millage rate is increased? Take a look at the slides below for some great information.
What is a mil?
What is a mil?
What is a mil.pdfWhat is the impact on local revenue for the district when the millage rate is increased?
What is the impact on local revenue for the district when the millage rate is increased?
Millage Rate Impact.pdfThis chart shows the impact on the local revenue for the district at the current millage rate and then shows the potential increases at various millage rates.
If the Board were to decide to implement the current full Act 1 index increase of 5.8%, it would generate an additional $322,651 in local revenue for the district.
How much more will you pay in taxes if the millage rate is increased?
How much more will you pay in taxes if the millage rate is increased?
Tax Scenario Impact.pdfFind the value of your property and follow the chart across to see how your tax bill would be impacted.
The 2nd column represents a 0% increase keeping the millage rate at the current rate of 12.0436. Each column thereafter shows the annual impact on your tax bill with various scenarios, ranging from 1% to the full Act 1 Index increase of 5.8%.
Tamarack Wildlife Center Visits 3rd Graders
Tamarack Wildlife Center Visits 3rd Graders
Our Northwestern Elementary 3rd Graders had a hoot of a time with the Tamarack Wildlife Rehab Center! An expert recently visited our students to teach them all about Pennsylvania’s native owls, including the tiny Eastern Screech Owl and the powerful Great Horned Owl.
Students learned about owl adaptations, their role in the ecosystem, and even got to see these amazing birds up close! Thank you, Tamarack Wildlife, for an unforgettable experience that brought science to life!
Middle School Students Take a Maple Tour
Middle School Students Take a Maple Tour
Middle school science classes took a tour with our very own Melissa Mattocks on Friday. Melissa serves as the NW PA Maple Syrup Ambassador. She showed the students how maple syrup sap is collected, refined, boiled and bottled at the sugar shack behind the high school with Mr. Honeycutt. Mr. Honeycutt also talked about the FFA, agricultural sciences and how these link to the sugar shack and other high school classes.
FBLA State Competition Results
FBLA State Competition Results
We are proud to share the results from the Future Business Leaders of America State Competition...congratulations to our Wildcats!
Finishing in the top 20:
Jack Williams -- Sport and Entertainment Management -- 4th Place
Jase Hutchison -- Networking Design -- 5th Place
Lauren Salisbury -- Client Service -- 6th Place
Jarek Smith -- Cybersecurity -- 8th Place
Brennan Saxton -- Organizational Leadership -- 12th Place
Brodie Mikovch & Paxton Bachelder -- Banking and Finance -- 12th Place
Jordyn Barzano -- Spreadsheet Applications -- 16th Place
Ben McCrory -- Agribusiness -- 20th Place
AND...4 National Business Honor Society Members!
Bryce Miller
Carter Rea
Brennan Saxton
Jack Williams
NHS Principal's Cabinet
NHS Principal's Cabinet
Attendance Award
Attendance Award
The April Principal's Cabinet Attendance Award sponsored by Bethesda Lutheran Services was presented by our Bethesda Truancy Officer Alexis Canfield and Assistant Principal Mr. Stauffer on May 1st to our second round of winners. In order to be a selected contestant you had to be a student who had perfect attendance in the month of April. In our school, we had 193 students with perfect attendance for this month. These four students were drawn and received a $25 dollar gift card of their choice.
9th Grader- Walker Williams
10th Grader- Avery Feldman (Not Pictured)
11th Grader- Addison Stout
12th Grader- Tyler Carr
Congratulations to the winners!
Congratulations to our very own, Mr. Honeycutt, for being nominated for the Outstanding Service Award through the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators! Also, our NHS Agricultural Education program has been nominated for the Outstanding Agricultural Education Program Award. According to the letter received by the district, "this honor is a testament to their dedication, excellence in agricultural education, and commitment to student success."
Congratulations to our very own, Mr. Honeycutt, for being nominated for the Outstanding Service Award through the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators! Also, our NHS Agricultural Education program has been nominated for the Outstanding Agricultural Education Program Award. According to the letter received by the district, "this honor is a testament to their dedication, excellence in agricultural education, and commitment to student success."
We are so very fortunate to offer these educational opportunities to our Wildcats!
We are so very fortunate to offer these educational opportunities to our Wildcats!
Class of 2025....it's time to start thinking about scholarship opportunities. Please check out the available scholarships at this link, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1muLsq0praHWX6gcVfAvgUIGd7wwRHeUi?usp=drive_link. Also, the guidance office has information available in their office.
AmeriCorps Week
AmeriCorps Week
March 9-15 is AmeriCorps Awareness Week. Northwestern Middle School wants to thank Ms. Howells for all her help supporting academics for our Wildcats!
Congratulations to the nine students who attended the Northwest PA ESports Regional Championship held by IU5 at Penn West Edinboro on Friday, February 28th. (Dalton Stevens, Noah Prest, Alexander Lincoln, James Clark, Corbin Bouley, Joseph Warren, Aidan Kreider, John Sargent, Jack Brown, and Advisor Andy Canfield)
The Wildcats swept both competitions: James Clark was the Super Smash Bros champion, and Joseph, Aidan, Corbin, John, and Jack were the Rocket League champions. Though it was their first day playing together, the Wildcats came together to overcome Cochranton, North East, Erie High, Corry, and McDowell.
Great job, Wildcats!
Juniors Attend Ethics Symposium
Juniors Attend Ethics Symposium
On Tuesday, Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Wolford took a group of Northwestern juniors to represent our school district at the 2025 Ethics Symposium hosted by the Rotary Club of Erie and Mercyhurst University. Throughout the day, these students had many opportunities to engage with their peers from across other county schools and critically think about different ethical scenarios.Northwestern was well-represented - these juniors were extremely respectful and engaged the entire day! Go, Cats!
Northwestern Elementary Holds Family Math Night
Northwestern Elementary Holds Family Math Night
Northwestern Elementary hosted a family fun math night with Nifty Numbers! Families came to explore fractions, counting, expressions, patterns, and more. Each station had different difficulty levels to match every child's needs. Parents loved spending time learning with their children and everyone got a take home kit with math games to play with the whole family.
Flexible Instruction Day - Student (2).pdfFlexible Instruction Days
Flexible Instruction Days
Our administration and Board of Directors have researched and decided to incorporate the use of Flexible Instruction Days as an option when inclement weather occurs in our area. These days will not replace our traditional process of cancelling due to weather, but will simply allow the district another option for meeting the day/hour requirement for our students’ education.
The calendar will continue to have built-in snow makeup days, and it will be at the discretion of district administration as to the use of either option. The selection of a regular cancellation or Flexible Instruction Day will be clearly indicated in the notification that you receive.
The document to the left outlines the expectations of our students if a Flexible Instruction Day is the better suited option. The document will be placed on our district website so you can reference it at any time. Thank you.
Our after school MELIA students have been enjoying their new Makerspace! Their project for the month of January was, "I Am Not A Sock." Check out a few of their creations!
PMEA District 2 Band Festival Participants
PMEA District 2 Band Festival Participants
1.27.2025--The following students participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 2 Band Festival over the weekend. Four of the six students received chair placements and one student, Bryce Miller, will represent Northwestern at the Region 2 Band Festival at United High School in March. Congratulations to all of our Wildcat musicians!
Bryce Miller - Alto 1, First Chair and Advancing
Carli Swyers - Trumpet 2, First Chair
Hallie Johnson - Flute 2, Second Chair
Bryce Burtt - Alto 1, Third Chair
Madalyn Prenatt - Euphonium
Daniel Peppers - Trombone 1
Regional PJAS Competition Winners!
Regional PJAS Competition Winners!
Congratulations to the following students for their accomplishments at the Regional PJAS competition this past Saturday. Sanjana Kumar - first place, Emerson Swanson- first place, Dolan Feltenberger- first place, Hannah Adams- second place, Jordyn Barzano, second place, and Faith Giannamore- second place. The first place finishers will be moving on to the state competition in May.
New School Police Officer
New School Police Officer
Officer Fox was approved at the January 21, 2025 Board voting meeting. He brings over 30 years of experience in law enforcement to our district. If you see him out and about in the buildings and at upcoming events, please be sure to introduce yourself and welcome him to our district!
Here's a sneak peek of the proposed Outdoor Events Facility. Thank you to all of the community who attended in-person on January 16th! We appreciate your support and feedback. More information will be shared as the Board progresses in the decision-making process.
Here's a sneak peek of the proposed Outdoor Events Facility. Thank you to all of the community who attended in-person on January 16th! We appreciate your support and feedback. More information will be shared as the Board progresses in the decision-making process.
Middle School Chess Tournament
Middle School Chess Tournament
Thirty-two students recently competed in the Middle School Chess Tournament. We wish congratulations to the finalists: In second place, winning a $15 gift card to Valenza was Dylan Zappitella (L). In third place, winning home-baked cookies was Lucian Ogorkiewicz (C). And this year's chess champion, winning a beautiful new chess set, is Roland Howells (R).
And a huge thank you to Valenza Restaurant for donating a gift card!
The AP Seminar students will be writing a seven-page, evidence-based argument in the coming weeks, and their writing must cite one of the AP's challenging 'stimulus sources.' With that in mind, the Seminar class attended a field trip to Gannon University with Seminar students from Fairview, General McLane, and McDowell. Our students collaborated with 100 of their peers to deeply analyze these sources and generate topics for research.
Middle School Geography Bee
Middle School Geography Bee
Congratulations to the finalists of this year's Middle School Geography Bee! From left to right: Benny Zimmer (2nd), Vivian Baumgardner (1st), and Trevor Start (3rd). And a HUGE thank you to Big Irene's Little Diner for donating a $20 gift card!
The Landscape Construction & Greenhouse Management classes have been hard at work here on the high school campus. Mr. Mattocks is helping his students learn the process of laying pavers the proper way. This activity involves real-world mathematical applicability, as well as service to the school. The front entrance is looking better every day. We are proud to be "paving the way" in Agricultural education within our region. Nice work Mr. Mattocks and students!
Northwestern Elementary Kicks Off One Book, One School.mp4One Book, One School Kickoff
One Book, One School Kickoff
Northwestern Elementary kicked off another One School, One Book event on Friday. Students gathered together and received clues about their next book. They saw farm animals, a barn, a spider, a silly rat at the county fair, and a real live pig! After getting all the clues, the students unwrapped their books and the title was revealed: Charlotte's Web! The students were so excited, some of them even opened their books and wanted to start reading right there in the assembly! We can't wait to experience this book together as a whole school.
Thank you to every teacher and parent that helped put this all together!
2024-2025 School Calendar
2024-2025 School Calendar
REVISION 2 Approved 7.15.2024-REVISED 2024-2025 Calendar Board Revised 4.15.2024.pdfReminder-Indoor Walking Permitted
Reminder-Indoor Walking Permitted
From November 5th through April 1st, residents are permitted to walk in the hallways of the middle/high school.
Approved Comprehensive Plan (10.16.2023)
Approved Comprehensive Plan (10.16.2023)
Below are several links to the various components of the proposed NWSD Comprehensive Plan. The plan as presented below was Board approved on October 16, 2023.
Northwestern is excited to announce that we have been selected as a recipient of grant funding to support our dual credit program. Read all about it here, https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/education-details.aspx?newsid=1381
Northwestern is excited to announce that we have been selected as a recipient of grant funding to support our dual credit program. Read all about it here, https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/education-details.aspx?newsid=1381
Menus are available via this link.
NW At A Glance
For more information on COVID, please click on the COVID Information tab above.
Check out the latest Facebook post from NWSD
Check out the latest Facebook post from NWSD
Mission
Mission
The Northwestern School District, in partnership with its parents, seeks to instill in its students, high standards for academic scholarship, integrity, leadership, and responsible citizenship.
Vision
Vision
Northwestern School District, in partnership with parents and community, will empower students to be successful, responsible citizens whose work ethic and academic skills will prepare them for a continually changing global society.
Shared Values
Shared Values
We believe
...all students can learn, given the appropriate amount of time and instruction.
...a safe and secure environment must be provided for our students and staff.
...lifelong learning is crucial for success.
...students, parents, community, and staff are partners in the educational process.
...students benefit from diverse learning opportunities.
...the Northwestern School District is a community of learners that values every individual.
...utilizing current technology is fundamental and an integral part of learning.
...a comprehensive curriculum is vital for meeting the needs of all students.
...students learn best when they are actively engaged in learning.
...open communication between all members of the Northwestern community is essential.
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