Message to NAMS Families 10/04/24

NAMS PTAC Meeting (Virtual)

Tuesday, October 8th at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting link will be shared with families on Tuesday, October 8th.

You can learn more about PTAC on their website here.

NAMS Open House Dates

Our NAMS Open House schedule begins in the auditorium.

• Grade 8 - Wednesday, October 9, 2024 @ 6:00 p.m.

When it is necessary to be dismissed early for a doctor’s appointment or other personal business, 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 send an email to namsattendance@northandoverpublicschools.com by 8:00 a.m. with the name of the student being dismissed, the reason for the dismissal, and the time of dismissal.

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.

All students must be seen by the school nurse prior to being dismissed for an illness or an injury. Students should not contact their parents/guardians directly to be dismissed. Our nurses will evaluate the student first and support the child as needed. If dismissal or follow up is necessary, parents/guardians will be contacted.

Cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices are not allowed to be used during the instruction day (7:40-2:20 p.m.). Student use of electronic devices for texting, talking, using applications, accessing social media services and websites, and accessing the internet during the school day serves as a significant distraction/disruption to academics.

The expectation is that cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices are turned off and put away in their locker. Lockers must be locked with a school issued lock. If a student is found to be in possession of or using their cell phone or other non-academic electronics the following policy will be followed:

1st offense:

• The cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where the student can get the item back at the end of the day with a warning.

2nd offense:

• The cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick up the item

3rd offense:

• The cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick up the item and the student will be issued an office detention.

4th offense:

• The cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick up the item. A meeting with an Assistant Principal will take place in order to establish a contract where the item can either be dropped off at arrival time and picked up at dismissal, or the item is not allowed in school. The student will be issued 1-3 office detentions.

We respectfully ask for your support in reinforcing the cell phones and other non-academic electronic devices rules. If there is ever a reason for a student to call home, they are allowed to utilize a classroom or office phone with permission. If you have to get in touch with your student, we would ask that you please contact the main office during school hours.

North Andover Public Schools are not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or broken devices.

You may find information about student dismissals and much more in our NAMS Parent/Guardian Guide 2024-2025.

This Year’s Theme is:

COMMUNITY...

Together We Can Achieve Greatness!

Being an active member of your community means you care about others and helping one another. Unity means joining together to achieve great things. Together you can make a positive impact in your school, neighborhood and community. Together, we can achieve greatness!

The POSTER submission deadline is Friday, January 24, 2025. The PSA submission deadline is Friday, April 25, 2025. For additional information, please contact MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels, at margie@mpyinc.org or Wendy Leone at wendy@mpyinc.org.

Each participant must complete the student application form signed by a parent/guardian consenting to the student's involvement in the Poster/PSA Project. The form is available to download below and can also be found on MPY’s website. School staff are responsible for collecting the permission slip and keeping them on file. When uploading a student’s project, please check the box acknowledging receipt of the signed permission slip.

Each year, the VFW offers scholarships called Patriots Pen which is a VFW sponsored youth essay competition that gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual theme.

On behalf of our Post, I would like to extend this opportunity to your students. This scholarship is open to any students in grades 5 through 8. This year’s theme is “My Voice in America’s Democracy?”. The requirements for this essay are attached, but a quick summary of the rules are as follows:

• Essay must be 300-500 words, typed

• Students should not put the name, or any identify information, into the essay. The entry form is the cover sheet.

• Secure the Official Student Entry From with a staple on the top of the essay

• Essay must be student’s original work

The student essays are due by October 31, 2024. The Official Student Entry Form and detailed information may be found below. Essays can be submitted by emailing them to post2104@vfwma.org or they can be dropped at the VFW located at 32 Park Street North Andover, MA 01845.

If you have any questions please reach out to Commander Clark at Jeffrey.j.clark@hotmail.com

As part of the NAMS Addition & Renovation Project, the science classrooms in the Grade 6 Wing (Symmes Wing) are scheduled to have plumbing renovations. That means that we need to move some classrooms to another wing of the building from October 2nd through November 2nd. Teams 6B & 6D will remain in the Grade 6 Wing and Teams 6A & 6C will be relocating to the Carrier Wing.

Grade 6 students moving to the Carrier Wing will be issued new lockers for the month. Teachers have already begun preparing for the temporary move.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has published guidelines for respiratory illnesses, including flu, RSV, and COVID.

This guidance includes:

• Staying home when you are sick to prevent the spread of illness
• Not returning to work/school/activities until your symptoms have improved, and you are fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medication such as Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Preventative activities such as hand-washing, covering your cough,
• masks and vaccinations