Despite an impressive number of votes, the Konkrete Kids were unable to advance to the finals in the USA TODAY contest for the most unique high school mascot.

The K-Kids were nominated as one of the five most unusual mascots in Pennsylvania and easily won the state round, advancing to regionals where they earned 277,977 votes.

If you're interested in seeing who did make it to the finals, visit http://contest.usatodayhss.com/.

Early dismissal: Elementary students will be dismissed at noon Friday, March 22, for parent-teacher conferences. No lunch will be served.

Reminder: Thursday, March 28, is now an Instructional make-up day and school will be open.

Spring break runs March 29-April 1. Schools reopen Tuesday, April 2.

School board meeting: The next meeting for the Northampton Area School Board is scheduled for Monday, March 25.

Meetings are held starting at 6:30 p.m. in the administration offices on Laubach Avenue.

The public is invited.

George Wolf PTA meeting: The George Wolf PTA group will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at the school.

Marking period ending: The third marking period ends Thursday, April 4. This means report cards are coming right around the corner.

Bus trip: Northampton PAGE (Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education) is sponsoring a bus trip May 11 to New York City to the Tenement Museum and 911 Memorial.

The bus departs at 7 a.m. from the Northampton Area High School and returns at 7 p.m.

Ticket price includes bus transportation, two tours at the Tenement Museum and admission to the 911 Memorial.

At the Tenement Museum, visitors can take an outdoor walking tour of the lower east side of New York and one of two indoor tours.

For more information, contact Chuck Longacre at 610-837-8365 or Stephanie Test at 610-462-1109.

Do you have any school news? This is a column of upcoming events in the Northampton Area School District.

Teachers, administrators, parents, students, coaches, PTAs and club advisors and community members are invited to share news of activities.

Email me at jamb87@hotmail.com with the subject "Northampton Press" at least a week before an event.