KNIGHTLY NEWS
Volume 8 - Issue 6 February, 2023
SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE
School Committee Approves FY24 Budget
I am pleased to report that the North Andover School Committee voted to adopt the FY24 recommended budget of $60,364,146 at its February 2 meeting. This represents an increase of 5.5 percent and provides the resources needed to address unfinished learning as a result of the pandemic. It also provides support services for all students, including our highest-needs students. The budget takes into consideration North Andover's Facilities Master Plan II. It is important to note that the final schedule of the school renovation/addition projects may change from one year to the next based on the final schedule that is part of Facilities Master Plan II. Again, I would like to thank the many members of the NAPS team whose work and voices are reflected in this budget and whose efforts throughout the pandemic have been extraordinary. I am equally grateful for the ongoing collaboration with Melissa Rodrigues, our Town Manager, and the commitment we both share to meet the needs of our students now and into the future.
North Andover Celebrates Black History Month
February is Black History Month, and North Andover celebrates Black History Month 2023 with several events. Banners displayed around the Town Common represent the "Black History Month Banners Project." Each banner acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of African Americans with ties to North Andover, the State, or our region. To learn about each person’s contributions and the details of the event, please visit Black History Month Banners Project. Stevens Memorial Library is featuring a Black History Month site where one can read, watch, and listen to books, audiobooks, e-books, and DVDs. We are grateful to the many organizations and individuals who contributed to this year’s celebration. This year's Black History Project added a new face to the displays on the Common-- civil rights leader and Boston Celtics star, Bill Russell. Last weekend, I had a chance to watch the Netflix documentary on the former Boston Celtic great who won 11 NBA championships in 12 years and was the first African-American coach in NBA history. It is must-watch TV for any fan of basketball or to learn about Russell's role in the civil rights movement. The documentary explores his early life, his basketball triumphs, his activism, and his lasting legacy. It includes interviews with Bill Russell, his family and friends, and a variety of people who worked with him and knew him well. It is an excellent way to learn more about Bill Russell and his significant impact on the civil rights movement.
Assistant Superintendent Lorene Marx will retire at the end of June
It is with mixed emotions that I received news of Ms. Marx's intention to retire at the end of June. We wish Lorene well as she will now have more time to travel and explore other interests. However, Lorene will be hard to replace as she is a well-respected member of our Leadership Team, and her commitment to the well-being of those with whom she works is without equal. (Please see my letter below for information on the Search for a new Assistant Superintendent).
I hope you enjoy your February break, the good weather continues in your neck of the woods and there's snow on the slopes!
Dear North Andover Public Schools Community,
I am writing to inform you of some important news. Our Assistant Superintendent, Lorene Marx, has decided to retire after 14 years of dedicated service to our school district. Lorene served as Thomson School principal, PK-12 Humanities Director, and Assistant Superintendent for the past 5 years. We are grateful for all that she has done for us, and we will miss her a great deal.
As we bid farewell to Lorene, we are also launching a search for a new Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. This is an important position within our district, and we are looking for an individual who has a passion for education and a commitment to our students, staff, and community.
The job posting is now available on our district website and on schoolspring.com, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We are committed to finding the best candidate for the job and we will be conducting a thorough review of all applicants in the coming weeks.
The linked search timeline outlines the process we will follow to recruit, interview and hire a new Assistant Superintendent. We expect to be able to introduce a new district leader to you by early April. They will start on July 1.
There are a number of ways for you to participate in the process. I encourage you to provide your input on the qualities and traits you believe are most important for a leader completing this online community survey.
In building a representative search committee, I will be looking for participation of parents, community members, teachers, and other school personnel. The search timeline outlines the commitment necessary for a role on the committee. In addition to completing the community survey, if you are interested in serving on this committee or have any questions, please email Greg Landry at landryg@nak12.com by March 3, 2023. Please provide a brief explanation of why you are interested in serving in your email. Check the dates in the timeline closely, as your attendance and participation in all scheduled meetings are critical.
During the second round of the process, each of the finalists will be visiting the district for a day. At that point, we may invite parents and the community to come in and meet each of the finalists. More information on this part of the process will be available in a few weeks.
As you can imagine, this is an extremely important hire for the North Andover Public Schools. I hope you are able to participate in some manner in this process, as we truly value your insight and input. Thank you for your continued support.
Please join me in wishing Lorene all the best in her retirement and in congratulating her on a job well done! We will miss her, but we know that she is leaving the district in a great place.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gregg T Gilligan
Superintendent of Schools
HEALTH NEWS
The North Andover Public School Nursing Department has published a Winter Newsletter with information to keep you and your family as healthy as possible during these challenging winter months! The newsletter includes an article on when to keep your child home, seasonal allergies information, February is National Dental Month and MASS Health renewal information.
The Town of North Andover is celebrating Black History Month 2023 this February with events scheduled throughout the Town. Accordingly, the contributions of individual African Americans with ties to North Andover, the State, or our region, are being celebrated with banners posted around the Town Common.
The North Andover Historical Society has scheduled five events in the Worden Theater that are FREE and open to the public. Advanced tickets are encouraged.
February 2 at 6:30 pm - North Andover Banner Kick-Off Celebration with the Choral Majority and Ralph Bledsoe’s interpretation of “I have a Dream: Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/503987749927
February 5 at 3:30 pm - Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes Lecture, African American Women and Social Change- Stages of Liberation. Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/512158147807
February 15 at 7 pm - Dr. Kerri Greenidge discusses her acclaimed new book, “The Grimkes - The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family”. Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/512191978997
February 23 at 6:30 pm -“Glory” Movie Screening sponsored by the Stevens Memorial Library.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the North Andover Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and in collaboration with the North Parish Racial Justice Team and the Stevens Memorial Library.
Registration for kindergarten opens up on the North Andover Public School website on March 1, 2023, and the information night for parents will be held on April 12, 2023, at 6:30 pm at the North Andover Middle School, 495 Main Street. Kindergarten screening dates and locations will be announced at a later date.
Town Elections take place on March 28, 2023
For information concerning voter registration, where to vote, registration deadline, etc. please click here.
Candidates for Select Board - 2 seats for a 3-year term
Laura Bates - 26 Woodbridge Road
Brian Roache - 200 Coachman's Lane
North Andover Housing Authority - 1 seat for a 5-year term
Jacqueline McGuire - 8 McCabe Court
Marsha Finkelstein - 2104 Harvest Drive
Candidates for School Committee - 2 seats for a 3-year term
David Brown - 35 Old Farm Road
Alissa Koenig - 20 Methuen Avenue
Kevin Dube - 76 Boston Hill Road
Greater Lawrence Technical School District Committee - 1 seat for a 3-William Tarbox - 205 Forest Street year term
North Andover CAM Journal
North Andover Community Access and Media, Inc. (North Andover CAM) is an independent, 501(c)(3) membership-based corporation established in 2004 to manage production facilities for community access programming on the Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Access channels of North Andover.
The North Andover CAM Journal is devoted to the latest news in North Andover featuring coverage of local events, interviews with community leaders, entertainment reviews, fitness tips, and more! If you are a parent of a North Andover school student, we know you will want to check out this January's edition of the CAM Journal. It includes highlights of the North Andover/Andover basketball game in which North Andover extended its wins to 8 games by defeating Andover by 20 points and a presentation by Superintendent Gregg Gilligan of the FY24 school budget and future plans. Also, not to be missed is the district-wide coverage of North Andover's very successful music program which has enabled North Andover to be named among the best communities for music education for five years running by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ENDEAVORS
The Seal of Biliteracy Exam is scheduled for March 14, 2023, at NAHS
The Seal of Biliteracy is offered to any student in grades 11 and 12 who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak or sign a language other than English at home or learned it at school or in the community. We will be administering the STAMP assessment on March 14 for both 11th and 12th graders. This program is designed to both motivate and recognize students who have pursued and attained biliteracy/bilingualism during their academic career in North Andover. Both Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply for this award.
We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative. Please visit our website at tinyurl.com/sealna to learn more and access an application.
If you have any further questions, please contact Jennifer Fraser or Meredith Fisco at fraserj@northandoverpublicschools.com or fiscom@northandoverpublicschools.com.
NAHS Music Program
NAHS teachers Sara Durkin and Justin Smalley announced that on Saturday, January 21, 2023, five NAHS students auditioned for the All-State Chorus and Band, and the following students from the North Andover Music program were selected:
All-State Choir:
Cole Brimmer Chorus Bass
Andrew Buchanan Chorus Tenor
Henry Wright Chorus Bass
All-State Symphonic Band:
Luke Ralph Symphonic Band Trumpet
The students will be participating in an all-day rehearsal with a nationally recognized conductor on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center in Westford, MA, and a performance on Saturday, March 4, 2023. at Symphony Hall in Boston.
NAHS Robotics Team Wins Design Award
Congratulations to the Robotics team of Jonathon Hale, Ozias Verminski, Luke Ralph, Keenan Gosselin, and Zoe Levin for winning the Design Award at last weekend's Robotics competition. They placed 9th in Qualifications and 5th in Skills out of 56 teams. NAHS had three different teams reach round 16 - a great job by our Robotics program. Special thanks to Kim Hearst and all the volunteers for making our second event a success for the participants and the fans.
DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT - Atkinson School by Erin O'Loughlin, Principal
Atkinson School is excited to be featured in this February's edition of the Knightly News. The All-Stars have been working hard on following RAISE values in all aspects of our education. We know that when we follow our RAISE values, we feel safe in school and are able to be successful academically and socially/emotionally. This year, we have a focus on #RAISINGSTARS where we work as a team to help each other to be the best we can be. Let’s look at some highlights from this school year at Atkinson School!
Wit and Wisdom
Every classroom at Atkinson School is using the new literary resource, Wit and Wisdom. Wit and Wisdom modules use engaging texts to build student knowledge of various topics. Through this resource, students have been doing deep dives on different topics such as animal features, powerful forces, seasons of change, the early American West, the sea, outer space, the heart, extreme settings, cultures in conflict, and wordplay. Students are learning to write in response to something that they are reading. During my visits to classrooms, I have seen the students collaborating with peers, and I have heard conversations in which students are using skills to identify story elements and find evidence to compose a written response. First graders are becoming experts on the wind. Second graders just started learning about the Civil Rights movement and are working on writing informative paragraphs using information from module texts. Third graders are writing their own topic statements when writing in response to reading. Fourth grade has been reading about and summarizing the different perspectives of the colonists and the British during the American Revolution, and explaining how those different perspectives could lead to conflict. Fifth graders are learning about word play and reading the book, The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster.
Math Team
The first Atkinson math team is well underway! Atkinson has joined the Continental Mathematics League, a national problem-solving competition for students in grades 2-12. Fourteen of our strongest 5th-grade mathletes participate with other 5th graders from schools all over the United States. We have been strong competitors in our first four monthly math meets. Currently, our team is in first place in the Northeast Region. We have one meet left. Attendance, focus, and commitment have been fantastic as we continue to learn and apply new problem-solving approaches. These students attend school early once per week to challenge themselves by being part of this team. These All-Star Mathletes shine bright! I want to thank Mrs. Rex for her commitment to leading this team!
RAISE Reps
Our RAISE reps are leaders throughout Atkinson School. They meet each month before school with the RAISE rep advisors, Mrs. Amisson and Ms. Rivenburg. The RAISE reps earned their positions by applying, making a poster, and giving a speech explaining why they would be a good leader for Atkinson School. Our RAISE reps have done an amazing job increasing school spirit by planning spirit days and events. Currently, the RAISE reps are involved in projects such as fixing soccer nets, a book drive for the library, a school-poll bulletin board, a talent show, a spring fling, a trade-a-teacher day, and other spirit days.
RAISE Assembly
Each month we have a whole school assembly focused on RAISE values. Our last assembly focused on empathy and achievement. We were fortunate to have guest speaker, Tommy Cox. Tommy is a North Andover High school alumni from the class of 2021 and is running a fundraiser for the Tommy Strong Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization. During the assembly, he shared his story of overcoming adversity as an elementary school student, and then he talked about the importance of helping others and shared information about his foundation. The students had the opportunity to ask Tommy about his experience. They did a wonderful job being empathetic and asking appropriate questions while they focused on the achievements that Tommy has conquered.
What's Happening at Stevens Memorial Library
February is Black History Month, and in addition to the Black History Month Banners hung around the Town Common and events being held this month at the North Andover Historical Society, the Stevens Memorial Library is hosting a site wherein one can read, watch and listen with books, audiobooks, e-books and DVDs about black history.
Attention All Bee Keepers! You will be excited to know that at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, the Stevens Memorial Library will be hosting Frank Mortimer, the author of Bee People and the Bugs They Love. His book is a about the symbiotic relationship between flower and bee, and bee and the beekeepers who are determined to protect the existence of one of the most invaluable creatures on earth.
Please note that the library will be closed on Sunday, February 19, due to unexpected circumstances. Monday, February 20 is Presidents' Day and the library will be closed along with all Town offices. The library will reopen on Tuesday, February 21.
Stevens Memorial Library is now a donation site for the YMCA Mobile Food Pantry! (Please click on the link above to see the food wishlist). Donations may be left in the library lobby.
Let us help!
If you don’t find an answer to your question, email or call the Library so we can help. Staff will respond when available.
Email: SmlRefServices@NorthAndoverMA.gov
Phone: 978-688-9505, for Children’s ext. 42010, Teens ext. 42032, Reference Desk ext. 42016.
Have a library card question or a problem? call 978-688-9505 ext. 42017, or email Stevens-Circulation@NorthAndoverMA.gov.
The Library’s hours are: Monday through Thursday 10 am – 9 pm, Friday 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm.
Don’t miss any of the fun. Sign up for Library News – scroll to and click on “Stevens Memorial Library News.” Follow the Library on Twitter @StevensMemLib, Facebook, or the Library’s website www.StevensMemLib.org
SCHOOL COMMITTEE CORNER
by Pam Pietrowski, Chair
Greetings from the North Andover School Committee,
I hope that all community members are well and thriving as we sail into the last few weeks of February and hopefully into early spring.
Below are some updates from the School Committee:
On January 19, 2023, the School Committee hosted a public hearing for the community to have the opportunity to comment and share about the proposed Superintendent’s Recommended budget.
On February 2, 2023, the Committee voted to approve the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget. The School Department’s budget will become part of the Town Manager’s budget which is submitted to the Select Board, and the final budget will be voted on during town meeting in May.
Open Meeting Law training has been provided to town municipal employees on Feb. 13 and Feb. 23 by KP Law P.C.
Community Chat: On January 28, School Committee members (Helen Picard and Pam Pietrowski) hosted the first Community Chat of the year at the Steven’s Memorial Library. The next Community Chat will be held on April 1, 2023, at the Steven’s Memorial Library from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. This is an opportunity to have informal and friendly conversations with School Committee members.
The FY 23/24 school year calendar was approved with a start date before Labor Day. I hope that families are able to make plans accordingly with sufficient notice.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that the Committee members plan to send a letter in support of Universal Free Meals to our State legislators.
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy February Vacation week!
Warmly,
Pam Pietrowski M.Ed.
North Andover School Committee Chair
Tweets of the Month
Elementary Students Celebrate the 100th Day of School
School Committee
Meeting Dates
District Calendar
Central Office Conference Room
566 Main Street
7:00 pm
February 2, 2023
February 16, 2023
