Message to NAMS Families 01/10/25

Over the last few weeks, we have received a number of phone calls from concerned parents/guardians because they sent their child to school and then received a phone call that their child was not in school. These automated calls are made when a child is absent and a parent/guardian never reported their absence to us.

When families call, we have to treat it as if the child is missing and need to verify whether the student is in school ASAP. We often find that the student was in school but was marked absent. This can happen by the student never reporting to homeroom, never checking into the main office when tardy to school, or the student being marked absent by mistake.

Reminders

For Students - Homeroom Attendance (Please remind your child of the following.)

• Please be in their homeroom by 7:40 a.m.

• Attendance is taken promptly at 7:45 a.m.

• Any student not in their homeroom by 7:45 a.m. must check in at the main office.

For Families - 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.

• This is a full day of Professional Development for our Teachers.

Monday, January 20, 2025 - NO SCHOOL

• A Day to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Registration is now OPEN for our next event!

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Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 pm

FREE Virtual Event

REGISTER at www.NAParentResourceNetwork.org

North Andover is joining the Wait Until 8th movement!

It begins with this virtual program to empower parents.

Brooke Shannon, founder of this movement, will discuss the importance of delaying smartphones and social media.

She will help parents, already in the middle of smartphone battles with some strategies and advice to rein in their use.

Brooke works with parents and communities across the country to help families establish a healthy relationship with technology. She is a national speaker on how to parent in the digital arena and has given keynotes to the American Enterprise Institute, and numerous schools. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC National News, NPR, and CNN Headline News. Learn more at www.waituntil8th.org.

Those registered will receive an email with a link one day prior to the event.

Click here to share our post on Facebook!

Questions? NAParentResourceNetwork@gmail.com

Visit us at www.NAParentResourceNetwork.org

EventFlyer_WaitUntil8th_January2025.pdf

You may find Ms. Reusch's January NAMS Library Newsletter here. In this issue, you will be able to read about the following:

• Happy New Year!
• Nonfiction Survey
• Top Three Circulating Titles
• True Survival Stories
• Fictional Survival Stories
• Book Care Video of the Month
• Programming @ Stevens Library
• BOOK SPOTLIGHT
• DATABASE SPOTLIGHT

Be sure to check out the amazing work of our students in the Winter Edition of the NAMS Literary League found here.

After Hours Clubs/Activities - Winter Session 2025

Mondays (1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10)

• Grade 6 Basketball - Mr. Gosselin and Ms. Blaney (Gym) SIGN-UP ONLY

• Wellness Games - Mr. Abel (Wellness Room) SIGN-UP ONLY

• Puzzle Club - Ms. Hannay (Room F108)

• Art Club - Ms. Iarrobino (Room RA101)

• Mani/Pedi Club (C206) - Ms. Nightingale

Tuesdays (1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4)

• D & D / Retro Games - Ms. Reusch and Ms. Sapienza (Library) SIGN-UP ONLY

• Grade 7 Basketball - Mr. Gosselin and Ms. Blaney (Gym) SIGN-UP ONLY

• Snack and Study - Ms. Correnti (Room C212)

• Film Club - Ms. Keefe (Room S110)

• Card Games - Ms. Nightingale (C206)

• PE Plus - Ms. Pino (Wellness Room)

• Chess Club - Mr. Rafalli (Room C109)

Thursdays (1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, 3/6)

• Grade 8 Basketball - Mr. Gosselin and Ms. Blaney (Gym) SIGN-UP ONLY

• Snack and Study - Ms. Reusch (Library)

• Perler Bead Club - Ms. Hanney (Room F108)

• Cooking Club - Ms. Pino (Health Room) SIGN-UP ONLY

• Art Club - Ms. Tomkins (RA 102)

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kathleen Bodenrader,

After Hours Director, in F109 after school anytime or bodenraderk@northandoverpublicschools.com

After Hours Clubs/Activities - Fall Session 2024

Who?

• All NAMS students are welcome!

What is After Hours?

• After Hours Programs offer a variety of clubs/activities after school free-of-charge to all students. The courses are designed to give middle school students a chance to try something new, share an interest with others, or just to have a place to hang out after school in a safe, welcoming environment.

How?

• Thanks to the money we raised through our fundraiser, our NAMS PTAC is able to pay for this programming.

When?

• The Winter Session will begin on Monday, January 6th and continue through Monday March 10th. Programs are offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2:20-3:20 p.m.

Please note: All participants must make arrangements for getting home at 3:20 p.m..

How do I sign up?

• Some clubs will be SIGN-UP ONLY!!! (This is indicated above) Sign-ups will take place at lunch on Tuesday October 1st. Other clubs are drop in where students simply need to show up for whatever club they are interested in on the first day it is offered. Students will be asked to sign in and sign out of the club each day. If your student cannot make it the first day, please let me know so numbers can be adjusted.

After Hours Clubs/Activities Descriptions - Winter Session 2025 may be found here.

NAMS production of Legally Blonde is scheduled for 3 performances on the following dates and times:

• Thursday, January 23rd at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 24th at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 25th at 2:00 p.m.

You're Invited!

Join North Andover School Committee Members Joe Hicks and Ed Moscovitch

For an Informal Community Chat on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 11:00-12:00 p.m.

At the School Administrative Building Conference Room, 566 Main Street

(please enter via the back door)

You can order your NAMS 2024-2025 Yearbook now for $40 at yearbookordercenter.com

Use order number 5986 to find the NAMS Yearbook.

NAHS Robotics Teams will be competing at NAHS again on January 25th. Please consider volunteering to help at this 2025 North Andover High School Vex Robotics Event at the link below:

Knights Robotics: January 2025 Volunteers

SAVE THE DATE: North Andover High School looks forward to welcoming NAMS families on Monday, February 3rd for our 8th Grade Open House. During this event, families will have access to a building tour, learn about our academic offerings and course selection, and preview our co-curricular activities like athletics teams and clubs. The high school will send more information to families after the new year. We hope you'll join us!

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School: NAMS Presentation and Open House

Essex Tech Admissions: https://essexnorthshore.org/admissions/

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical Schools will be holding an Open House Saturday, November 23, 2024. There are 2 session offered and registration is required to attend.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-house-essex-north-shore-agricultural-technical-school-tickets-719433443797

Essex Tech will begin accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Watch for the “Apply Now” button on their admissions website. For more information please visit https://essexnorthshore.org/admissions/

Deadline for applications is Friday, January 10, 2025.

Youtube link to view the admissions video: https://youtu.be/lxQIa5tifq0

Representatives from Essex Tech will hold a presentation for all 8th grade NAMS students on Tuesday, October 22nd at 8:00 a.m.

Lottery System: This school year will be just as the previous school year, a lottery based process of admissions. If a student passes both 7th & 8th without failing or over our limit of unexcused absences they may qualify for the lottery, otherwise they may not and will be notified. North Andover is a surrounding school meaning all applicants can only participate in one of our 7 Agricultural, Animal and Science programs that we have videos and listing on our website under programs for all to see.

Greater Lawrence Admissions: https://www.glts.net/domain/25

Open House for Prospective Students & Families : November 3, 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Registration for Fall 2025 admissions will open on October 21 and applications will be reviewed after Q1/T1 of Grade 8 is complete for Class of 2029.

Priority Deadline for Class of 2029 - February 3, 2025

GLTS is excited to announce the launch of their online application portal. The online application is available on the GLTS website here: Admissions or students & parents can log in directly to our portal here: https://glts.go2cte.com/

Representatives for GLTS will hold a presentation for all 8th NAMS grade students on Monday, October 21st at 8:00 a.m.

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.

PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AnSI7hnkLJF1TDWV-ZdPB50S1zyF5ZQM-qjBl19aa1Y/edit

Please have your child fill out the information sheet and provide an electronic 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.

INFORMATION SHEET:

docs.google.com/document/d/1tTmLdhk8avjzr-dhg96Y3f3wvu3Xx6TJE3VtFQkaYaQ/edit?usp=sharing

We ask parents 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.

Please Note:

• Trimester 1 ends on December 6, 2024 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.