Learning and Living As BRAVES

I hope you all have had a great summer with plenty of sunny days and fun memories with family and friends. We have certainly missed everyone and cannot wait to see what great things our BRAVES will do in 2026-27.

Some things we are proud of and excited for include:

• Starting all-day Pre-K! Pre-schoolers will receive a longer opportunity for early reading preparation and a daily specialty class (art, music, library, PE, etc.) in addition to a two-hour nap, lunch, and free play time. We are quickly closing in on a waiting list, so if you haven't signed up your 3, 4, or 5 year old please contact us soon!
• Two years in a row, ALL our third graders were promoted to fourth grade! ZERO retentions from IREAD! Way to go teachers, but, even more, way to go students. For some of them, that mountain seemed insurmountable, but they dug deep, did the work, and never gave up. We are super-proud of all them!
• Already, 62% of second graders have passed IREAD. Our primary team is PHENOMENAL, and our summer school staff and programming made a HUGE difference.
• In middle school, we saw some impressive ILEARN growth.
• Bellmont High School SAT scores yet again surpassed State average.
• The Bellmont Wrestling legacy is adding a new milestone with a girls' team this year.
• Our Indiana 3A State Champion Bellmont BRAVES girls' basketball team will bring back all but one player to defend their title this year.

Again, these are just a couple things we are celebrating and looking forward to this year. Please remember the following key happenings coming up:

• BES Back-To-School Night, Monday, August 10th, Last Name A-M 5-6 p.m.; N-Z 6-7 p.m.
• BHS Open House, Monday, August 10th, 2:00-6 p.m.
• BMS Back-To-School Night, Tuesday, August 11th, 4-6 p.m.
• First Student Day, Wednesday, August 12th, 7:55 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (We WILL have Early Release)

• Picture Days

• BHS—Aug 14th
• BES—Aug 18th
• BMS—Aug 19th

If you haven't registered your student yet, please go to our registration site below. Help registering your child will also be available at all the back-to-school events. We look forward to seeing you there!

- Kim Hiatt, Superintendent

Our priorities under this area include improving the overall the quality of our communications, increasing our presence on all platforms, increasing our acknowledgement of students/staff/alumni, and providing more opportunities for our families. There are multiple ways you can receive and request information here at North Adams. Click this links below to follow or find out more:

1. Social Media--Search and follow North Adams Community Schools on Facebook and Instagram platforms. These are the most frequently updated locations to get the most current information and coverage of your student(s).

2. Athletic Schedules--If you are interested in the most current athletic schedules and coverage, bookmark bellmontbraves.com.

3. SchoolMessenger--Many communications are sent via SchoolMessenger, which sends information in either a voicemail, text, or email depending upon what methods you request to receive that information. The contact information is pulled from PowerSchool, so make sure you have supplied us correct contact information. This will be the quickest way to receive information on school delays, cancellations, safety issues, and/or eLearning. Please be on the look out in a couple days after school starts for a message from our Communications Director, Justin Ayres, that will ask you into text messages from us, if you haven't already. In order to receive texts, you must complete the quick opt-in process.

4. Email--Many staff are best reached at their email. For most staff in NACS, that is their last name with their first initial followed by @nadams.k12.in.us. The Staff Directory on the North Adams website contains the current staff emails. Any general questions can be directed to pr@nadams.k12.in.us.

5. PowerSchool Portal--As a parent, please make sure you have access to your student's PowerSchool and are checking it regularly. From here, you can check their grades, attendance, fees, and bus information. If you need help getting your login-in, please contact Julie Schueler at BHS (schuelerj@nadams.k12.in.us) or email Sarah Mihm (mihms@nadams.k12.in.us), Marnie Shaffer (shafferm@nadams.k12.in.us), or Kari Butcher (butcherk@nadams.k12.in.us) at BES/BMS for help.

6. CANVAS--Our Student Management System (SMS) is CANVAS. This is where teachers post assignments. Again, at BHS, Julie Schueler can help you. At BES/BMS, please contact your child's teacher for help with log-in information.

7. Website--Our website has a lot of helpful information. Additionally, it will contain announcements and other up-to-date information about the happenings of the district.

8. Teacher Communication Apps--Most elementary teachers use Class Dojo or Remind to communicate with their parents. If you do notify your student's teacher of an appointment, absence, or change in transportation, please call or email the front office, too. Teachers manage their classrooms remarkably well, but with the activity that 15-20 students bring they may not get the chance to let the office know this information where it must be logged.

9. Phones--If you need to call the buildings, these are the main numbers. Listen carefully to the options after calling.

• District Office--260-724-7146
• BHS--260-724-7121
• BMS/BES--260-724-3137

Our priorities under High Impact Teaching and Learning include offering expansive, evidence-based programming from quality teachers. Here at North Adams, we have extensive options for our students, including:

• Cutting-edge approaches in reading instruction. We are firmly rooted in OG (Orton-Gillingham) phonics instruction and added the reading comprehension program of Wit and Wisdom in K-4 and Amplify in 5-8 last year.
• Progressive math instruction approaches in middle and high school, which evidences our strong growth and achievement in these areas.
• The new State focus on math instruction and intervention starts this year, and you will be hearing a lot about math instruction and intervention. Students in K-8 will be given regular interventions when they demonstrate need in math, similar to how we have been providing reading interventions for some time. High School Algebra I and Geometry students will be receiving similar interventions.
• Strong programming and supports, like our own behavior coach, autism teacher, job coach, and sensory room, for special education students. Staff were trained in a new resiliency- and engagement-building program, WhyTry, this summer and several staff have taken certification courses through PESI on a variety of different conditions and disorders in the last few months.
• Hosting 3/4 of the Career Technical Education courses (Welding, Construction Trades, Criminal Justice, Digital Arts, Pre-Engineering, Human Services, Early Childhood Education, Education Professionals, Business and Accounting, Health Science Education, Radio/TV, Manufacturing, Transportation, Culinary Arts, Marketing) available in our county,
• Having a Paths to Quality Level 3 certified Pre-K and accepting vouchers so that many families receive free or reduced cost Pre-K from certified Early Childhood teachers,
• Being one of the first and most successful early college high schools in the State, boasting some of the highest SAT scores, number of transferrable dual credits, and rates of students receiving the Indiana College Core certificate in our area.

Want to know more? Check out a couple of our programs below.

Bellmont Elementary is in its fifth year of using OG. The OG approach is a universally accepted best-practice in teaching phonics and early reading, teaching reading and spelling using sight, sound, touch, and movement. Each skill learned builds toward the next skill. It was originally designed to help children with dyslexia learn to read but was found to be effective for all children. We created a video series few years ago that walked parents through the concepts in more depth. The first episode is linked below!

In meeting the Science of Reading requirements legislated by our State, schools had to choose literacy curricula from an approved list. As part of our selection for this coming year, we will be continuing with Orton Gillingham, or OG, in our K-3 grades to provide instruction in phonics.

However, there are other parts of reading instruction, like building vocabulary, comprehension (understanding what we read), fluency (how quickly and smoothly we read), writing, and speaking/listening, that must also be addressed. Enter Wit and Wisdom. Wit and Wisdom teaches these other elements of reading instruction through the reading of multiple short novellas around a variety of themes or topics in history, science, or fine arts in a year. For example, in second grade, students may have a theme of Good Eating. They will read multiple stories, some fiction and some non-fiction, about food, nutrition, the digestive system, healthy choices, etc. This approach helps build academic vocabulary, teaches students the different strategies to reading fiction and non-fiction, provides opportunities for different types of writing practice, and teaches them strategies for comprehending what they read.

Under this priority, we focus on striving to use our resources wisely and responsibly so to sustain and grow our opportunities to best serve our students and community.

Every budget seems to be getting tighter. At work. At home. A trip to the grocery store is all it takes to remind me how much more it costs for the basics!

Our expenses at North Adams have increased tremendously, too, in the last few years. But, one of our priorities is to try to assist our families where we can to help bridge the gap. Here are some highlights of things that may help our students and families:

1. North Adams Food Service Department worked to make sure ALL our elementary and middle school students will again get FREE breakfast and lunch. Students must understand that by federal guidelines, each of these meals must meet certain requirements to allow us to continue to qualify for these free meals. This year, Food Service will also offer extras and a la carte items which may be purchased for an additional fee. This year, elementary students will be able to purchase ice cream, if they wish, for $1.75 beginning the week of August 24th.

While the high school does not qualify for free breakfast or lunch, families who may need help covering these costs may still apply for free/reduced lunch rates. If you need more information, please call your child's school or email Penny Henkenius, henkeniusp@nadams.k12.in.us, for more information.

2. McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act is a federal law that provides important educational rights and services to Pre-K-12 grade children and youth experiencing homelessness. Homelessness for these purposes is defined in multiple ways: a)Sharing of housing between multiple families (doubled-up); b) Living in motels/hotels or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations; c) Living in a shelter; or d) Living in a car, park, abandoned buildings, on the street, etc. If a student meets any of these definitions of homelessness, we may be able to help through monies given to us to support homeless students. These monies and services may be used to make sure students are in and can get to school, are able to participate in school activities, have needed school and activity supplies and equipment, have access to Pre-K, and receive help entering the workforce or post-secondary schools. If you feel your student may qualify for this help, please talk to their guidance counselor or our McKinney-Vento liaison, Taylor Oliver (olivert@nadams.k12.in.us).

3. Behavior and Mental Health Supports--North Adams has relationships with Adams Behavioral Health, Park Center, and Bowen Health to provide skills coaches, therapy, or referrals when there is a desire for students to receive these types of supports. Certain eligibilities must be met depending upon the service, and parental consent must always be provided to receive these services.

4. Other Opportunities for Help:

a. Bellmont Collective--Last year, some of our high school students wanted to provide support for their classmates who may have a need. So, they along with our guidance department have started the Bellmont Collective, offering access to gently used clothing and other school-related items.

b. Coat Closet--Our elementary/middle school also keep a closet for coats, shoes, and other items if your child has a need. Please contact Taylor Oliver or Becca Vanderkolk if your child has a need.

c. Student Fund--For needs that may not fall under anything already listed, we at times receive generous donations from community and staff members to help support specific needs. Reach out to your child's guidance counselor or building administrator.

In this category, our strategies are centered around providing students opportunities, experiences, and programming to grow their resiliency, citizenship, work ethic, literacies, and post-secondary readiness.

In this edition, I will clarify the newttendance policies of the high school as well as the new State-required cell phone policies.

Please review the infographic below for information about the new high school limited attendance policy. Some highlights of this new policy are:

• Applies to HIGH SCHOOL ONLY
• Many students may have extenuating circumstances which impact their attendance, such as chronic illnesses, frequent doctor/dentist appointments, injury, surgery, crisis center placement, etc.
• If you have questions, call Mark Pranger at BHS, prangerm@nadams.k12.in.us

On July 1, 2026, SEA 78 went into effect, expanding upon the 2024 law restricting the use of cell phones by students during instructional time. At North Adams, the only buildings will change actual practice for will be the high school. BES and BMS have always required cell phones to remain all day in their lockers.

This strategic priority involves the things that go into positive teaching and learning: facilities, transportation, food service, technology, procedures, safety, etc. In this edition, we will briefly visit some of the things that have been happening around campus this summer as well as give you some key reminders about parking and traffic on campus. For those of you who are new to Bellmont, below is a video below that goes over the District drop-off and pick-up procedures. It is important that these are followed to allow for a safe and efficient process.

We ask anyone picking up high school students to NOT park along Stadium Drive by the west end of the pool at the high school. The pick up line for high school is in the front of the building and lining up there creates a danger for busses and other traffic as they enter and leave campus. Similarly, we ask drivers NOT to cut through the student parking lot to get to Stadium Drive. This has created several close calls with student pedestrians. Citations will be issued by our SRO if unsafe driving and/or parking is observed.

The only pick-ups that may happen in the circle drive off Piqua Road are by Pre-K parents. Parents picking up their elementary or middle school parent must either go through the pick up line or wait for their student to walk to them in the parking lot.

In working with law enforcement on safety measures at dismissal, also note that when busses are dismissed to leave campus at the end of the day, they will continue moving nose-to-tail until they reach the stoplight on 224. This is to keep drivers from trying to slip between the busses, which is more likely to cause an accident. This also means if you have parked in the softball lot (again, not the pick up protocol) to wait for your student, he/she should NOT cross Stadium Drive when busses are exiting campus. Our coaches hold middle school cross country runners by the high school until busses have exited.

Again this year, we have enough bus drivers to have one dismissal time for all students! We are always looking for bus drivers as several of our county route drivers will be retiring in the next couple years. This job is perfect for a retired person who wants a little extra income; someone looking for a second job to flex around another job with flexible hours; or for a parent who wants a job that will work with their children's school schedule. These jobs have a competitive hourly rate ($34.30-$43.75/hour) and offer insurance. Contact our district office at 724-7146 to learn more!

In October, we will also be rolling out WAYFINDER, a system that tracks students upon getting on and exiting the bus. This will provide us a means of making sure ONLY those students who are scheduled to be on a bus may get on, which should help diminish students getting on the wrong bus. It also provides a ready roster at any given time in case of a bus emergency. Finally, parents will be able to track their child's bus trip from an app. We will let you know more as we install the hardware and roll out the software.