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Message to NAMS Families - 10/8/21

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Message to NAMS Families - 10/8/21
Message to NAMS Families - 10/8/21

Good afternoon NAMS Families,

Prior to the weekend preceding Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I would like to make a land acknowledgement that we are teaching and learning on former indigenous land. According to the North Andover Historical Society, the Pennacook people were the people who stewarded this land before we did. I want to honor and acknowledge, with gratitude, the land itself and the people who have stewarded it through the generations. For more information on the Native American history in the Andovers, please visit the North Andover Historical Society website. The site has an interactive map and a timeline that could also be used with students.

 

Below you will find important updates and information.

 

Grade 8 Students Perform Tonight at NAHS Football Game

Our 8th Grade Band and Full Year Chorus students are performing with the NAHS Band/Choir tonight, Friday, October 8th during the NAHS football game vs. Chelmsford at 7 p.m. Our students have not performed together for a live audience since January of 2020 in 6th grade. 

 

COVID Vaccine Clinic

North Andover will be partnering with Greater Lawrence Family Health Center to offer a convenient option for your child to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination right after school. You may read about this opportunity, including how to register, here.

 

Private School & Technical High School Applications

If your child will be applying to private school(s), please be sure to review the information at the bottom of this message. There is information regarding the process and timelines below.

 

Spring 2021 MCAS results

Students will be receiving their Spring 2021 MCAS results at the end of the day on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. Along with the results will be copies of letters from the district and the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please be sure to ask for the envelopes they should be bringing home that afternoon.

 

MAP Testing (Measured of Academic Progress)

Students K-8 will be completing a Math and Reading Assessment in October. NAMS students are scheduled to complete MAP testing with their team teachers on the following dates:

  • Math MAP Testing - Thursday, October 14, 2021

  • Reading MAP Testing - Friday, October 15, 2021

Makeup Testing will be administered the following week for any student who was unable to complete the testing on the above dates.

 

General Reminders for Parents/Guardians

 

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

If you are dropping off or picking up your child from school, please be sure to drop off or pick up in the blue areas identified on the maps found here. 

 

Reporting Absences 

If a student will be absent or tardy, a parent/guardian must call the school at 978-794-1870 then press 2 and provide the student’s name, grade, and reason for the absence or tardiness. The voice mailbox is available 24 hours per day. This call should take place before 7:10 a.m. on the day of the absence or tardiness. Please do not email your child’s teacher as a means of reporting the absence. 

 

Tardiness 

Any student arriving at school at 7:45 a.m. or later should report directly to the main office. Students should not report to homeroom or class at 7:45 a.m. but the office instead. 

 

Dismissal

When it is necessary to be dismissed early the student must bring a note from the parent/guardian stating the reason and the time for early dismissal.  This note must be brought to the office before homeroom. Parents/Guardians may also email Lisa Hunter and Melissa Barron by 8:00 a.m. with the name of the student being dismissed, the reason for the dismissal, and the time of dismissal. Their emails are as follows: hunterl@northandoverpublicschools.com & barronm@northandoverpublicschools.com  

If neither a note is brought to the main office or a dismissal email is sent, a parent/guardian must pick his/her/their child up at the office and fill out a dismissal form. Unexpected dismissals may take additional time due to students being outside away from the building for lunch or outside classes.

Due to bus line ups and congested traffic, we strongly discourage parents/guardians from dismissing their child after 1:45 p.m.

 

For much more information, please refer to the NAMS Parent/Guardian Guide 2021-2022.

 

Be well,

Jorge Goncalves

Principal

 

Private High School or Technical High School Application Process

We understand the importance of finding the right school for your child and will support them throughout this process. If your child is planning on applying to a private high school or technical high school we ask that you reference the following link to download all necessary documents as well as to familiarize yourself with our process and requirements here.

Please have your child fill out the activity sheet and provide a copy to your child's guidance counselor as well as any teacher who is writing a recommendation.  This information is incredibly helpful as our wish is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of your child's strengths, accomplishments and overall skill set.

We ask parents/guardians and students to research private high schools on their own.  The guidance department does not provide information or applications regarding private high schools, however, we will assist your child by writing recommendations and sending all supporting documents.  For "on-line" recommendations, the guidance department completes the "school report" (i.e. "principal/counselor recommendation" and "transcript" form).  "Personal"  and "Special Interest" recommendations are generally completed by someone other than the guidance counselor.

Greater Lawrence Technical High School and Essex Tech applications are now generated online.  Here are the links for those schools:

Please note that trimester 1 ends on December 3, 2021 which means that transcripts cannot be uploaded prior to this date. All private/technical school applications that have been given to Mr. Gosselin will be uploaded when transcripts are available.  We will make every effort to upload your child's applications by the identified due date.