NAMS Message to Families 10/25/26

It’s time! You can register your student for our NAMS Challenge Fundraiser!

Our goal is to raise $36,000 for after school extracurricular activities (fall, winter, & spring), enrichment programming for students, staff recognitions and support, field trip support, supporting hands-on in class experiences for our students, and end-of-year activities.

Our school is working toward a BIG goal and Great Wolf Lodge wants to celebrate with us! Registered families will have the chance to earn some awesome rewards. Log in to mybooster.com today and share your student’s donation page with your whole pack.

⭐️ Enter to win our first prize giveaway! ⭐️

Family Sweepstakes: Register your student before kickoff day to earn entry into a raffle for a $100 Gift Card for each 6th and 7th grade, three Graduation Packages for 8th grade. (NAMS PTAC Sponsored)

Sign Up Challenge: If 40% of NAMS students sign up on mybooster.com by event day, the WHOLE school will have a Popsicle Day! If 50% of students sign up, we will Pie the Booster Team in the face!

School Wide Goal Challenge: If we reach our $36,000 goal, every registered student will earn a digital day pass to Great Wolf Lodge! (emailed to their adult at the end of the program)

Start getting entries to be our first giveaway prize winner for a Gummy Bear Phone Holder! One winner per grade! Earn entries by...

• Signing up on MyBooster.com

• Sharing with friends and family

• Start getting donations!

Thank you for being a part of our NAMS community and helping us make a difference for our students. We are grateful for your support!

Key Dates to Remember:

🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 11/6/26

👟 Event Day – 11/20/26

*Need help signing up? View video instructions.

The last day of school before Halloween this year is Friday, October 30th.

Each year, many of our students and staff dress up for Halloween. If your child is considering dressing up for Halloween this year, we ask that you review the following information with your child.

Purpose

• To allow students to have fun and celebrate Halloween in a safe, respectful way.

• To ensure that no student feels bullied, mocked, or singled out because of their costume choice. This aligns to our RAISE values.

• To keep the school a focused learning environment for everyone.

Halloween Costume Expectations for Students

• No masks

• No weapons

• No messes

• You must be able to sit in your seats in classrooms and during lunch.

• Cannot create a disruption to the learning environment.

• Must adhere to our Personal Appearance Policy

• Please remember that someone’s identity is NOT your Halloween Costume.

• If your costume idea is something someone else would identify with including religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sex, or sexual orientation, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board and start brainstorming new ideas.

Personal attire should…

• not be destructive to school property

• comply with health and safety requirements

• should not substantially disrupt the school environment

School Rules Regarding Personal Appearance

• Clothing depicting references to alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco/smoking products, profanity, violence, hate groups, other harassing categories, or evidencing inappropriate or discriminatory language or visual references is prohibited.

• Attire, including shoes, should ensure safe navigation of rooms, hallways, and stairwells and safe participation in classes, such as physical education and science labs.

• Students’ attire must completely cover undergarments (undergarment shoulder straps excluded).

• Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible (specific religious headwear excepted) and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff.

These rules apply to the school day and all school-sponsored events. All questions of personal appearance are under the discretion of the administration.

Picture Retake Day - Friday, October 30th

• Cameras will be set up in the main lobby of the school.

• Retake photos automatically replace original photos in PowerSchool and our yearbook.

• If a student chooses to retake their photo, please have them return the original picture package to the photographer on picture day. We will replace it at no additional cost.

• If this is the first time being photographed, just have the student/staff go to the camera and give their name.

Picture Retake Schedule (2 Cameras are in the Main Lobby):

• Grade 6 (7:55-8:44)

• Grade 7 (8:46-9:35)

• Grade 8 (9:37-10:26)

Staff members can have their pictures taken any time they wish.

NAMS Private School/Technical 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.

PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS

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.

School Counselors 2025-2026

• Grade 6 - nightingalej@northandoverpublicschools.com

• Grade 7 - gosselinj@northandoverpublicschools.com

• Grade 8 - chuteg@northandoverpublicschools.com

INFORMATION SHEET

We ask parents and students to research private high schools on their own. The counseling 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 school counselor.

Please Note:

• Trimester 1 ends on December 4, 2026 which means that transcripts cannot be uploaded prior to this date.

• All private/technical school applications that have been given to Ms. Chute will be uploaded when transcripts are available. We will make every effort to upload your child's applications by the identified due date.

MCAS Dates

ELA

• Grade 8 - March 23rd & 24th
• Grade 7 - March 30th & 31st
• Grade 6 - April 6th & 7th

Math

• Grade 8 - April 29th & 30th
• Grade 7 - May 5th & 6th
• Grade 6 - May 11th & 12th

STE

• Grade 8 - May 18th

Civics

• Grade 8- May 25th

School Committee Meetings

October 22

• Superintendent's Report
• Special Education Updates
• Financial Report
• Enrollment

October 8, 2026

• Superintendent's Report -10-8-26
• Superintendent's Draft Goals

September 24, 2026

September 10, 2026

August 27, 2026

Past Meetings

Patriots Pen Essay Contest

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.

Who?

• Students in Grades 5-8

This year’s theme?

• “What a Veteran Taught Me About America”

Essay Requirements?

• Essay must be 300-500 words, typed

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

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

• Essay must be the student’s original work

Deadline?

• Friday, October 30, 2026.

How do I submit?

• You may find the Official Student Entry Form and detailed information here and also attached.

• Essays can be submitted by emailing them to post2104@vfwma.org, or they can be dropped off at the VFW located at 32 Park Street, North Andover, MA 01845.

Questions?

• Please contact Commander Jeffrey Clark at Jeffrey.j.clark@hotmail.com

Care Solace - Free Resource for Families!

Care Solace is a complimentary, confidential care coordination service partnered with the Town of North Andover and North Andover Public Schools to help students, staff, families, and residents connect with local mental health care providers, substance use treatment, and basic social support services (such as food or housing assistance).