The May edition of the Healthy Happenings Newsletter provides new information concerning modified quarantine in schools. Also included is advice on sun safety and prevention of tick bites now that the warm weather is here.  If your child is 16 years or older, they are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. There is a link in the

Healthy Happenings Newsletter you may use to schedule your appointment. Vaccine data for North Andover teaching staff and students have been provided, and you will want to become familiar with the new guidance issued by the CDC for activities outside of the school setting. 

DESE Press Release Regarding MCAS Testing

2021 MCAS Testing Dates by School

These proposed modifications to the 2021 MCAS include:

• Postponing testing until later this spring.

• Shortening MCAS testing for grades 3 through 8, administering only a portion of each MCAS assessment in each subject.

• Modifying the competency determination for the Class of 2021 by allowing students to receive their CD by passing an approved course and demonstrating competency in that subject.

• Providing accountability relief for school districts, the Commissioner will not name any new underperforming or chronically underperforming districts or schools in the upcoming school year.

The Department also extended the testing window for ACCESS testing for English language proficiency from February until May 20, 2021.

While recognizing the need for adjustments and flexibility, the Department maintains that the MCAS test is a crucial diagnostic tool to promote student success and educational equity.

The MCAS tests will provide Massachusetts educators and families critical insight into academic losses that must be addressed, as well as data on which students and districts have been most impacted by the disruptions in schooling. Administering the MCAS will make it possible to reliably assess students’ progress in relation to curriculum standards.

NAPS 2021 Summer Programs

We are excited to announce a comprehensive selection of summer programming for North Andover students provided by North Andover Public Schools and our Community Partners. 

• Extended School Year Special Education Program will run from July 6 through August 13.

• NAHS Summer School/Credit Recovery - tailored to NAHS academic curriculum standards and students' needs for those who have failed a class that is a graduation requirement.

• North Andover Acceleration Academy will run two sessions - August 16 - 20 and August 23 - 27. The focus will be on the following: Rising Grade K-2 Literacy;  Rising Grades 3-5 Math; Grades 6-8 primarily Math; HS Math - Grades 9 and 10; and targeted instruction, progress monitored.

• Online Learning will be available all summer and will include ST Math, Lexia, etc.

Community Programs will once again provide an exciting selection of Excel Enrichment Programming from June 28 through August 27 for students from elementary grades through high school.

Stevens Memorial Library is prepared to keep your student engaged with Story times, Tales and Tails, performances, reading logs and beads, and summer reading lists.

North Andover Youth Center has a variety of full season or weekly programs, including recreation, sports and athletics, community service, and summer fun with SpEd Partnership.

Please monitor our District's website as we pursue new opportunities to work with our community partners. 

What's Happening at Stevens Memorial Library

You may have heard the proverb “April showers bring May flowers.”  More importantly, this April brought many students back into their schools and continued improved health in the wider North Andover community.  The Library is looking forward, too, to resuming different services as health standards permit.  Miss Rhonda’s Outdoor Story Time starts on Wednesday mornings in May, weather permitting, on the Carriage House lawn at the Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill. (Check the Library’s website, Facebook, or Twitter for changes due to the weather.) 

We are excited to see more people as they use Visit-by-Appointment to come in and browse. We are so happy to be delivering bags of books, dvds, and more through the Curbside Pickup service. And, we are busy planning for Summer with the Stevens where we hope to see even more of the community.

New on the Library website this month: an online storytime “room” with links to Miss Rhonda’s storytimes (click on Virtual Children’s Room) and the May Digital Display, which celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Visit the display for book and movie suggestions, links to other organizations recognizing the month, and a link to the North Andover Youth Center’s 21.10 podcast: A Conversation with the Asian Pacific Islanders Club at North Andover High School.

The Library website has the latest Library news and links to its many services. All online services are available through the website; support is available via email, SmlRefServices@NorthAndoverMA.gov, or phone 978-688-9505. Staff will respond as they are available. For remote support hours, visit the Library’s Hours & Directions.

Online Services:

• No Library card, or it needs an update? Email SmlRefServicesNorthAndoverMA.gov or call the Library 978-688-9505 to get started.

• Not sure what to read? Fill out a Reader Request for personalized recommendations or browse our Digital Book Displays. Look for more reading recommendations on the StevensMemLib Youtube channel.

• Term- and year-end papers and projects? Click on E-Library for 30+ online resources in Education; Health/Medical; History; Languages and Literature; Encyclopedias & Reference; Science & Technology; Test Preparation & E-Learning.  Teen Librarian Amy would love to help, email her at APopoloski@NorthAndoverMA.gov.

by Helen Pickard, Chair

Dear North Andover Community,

We join the whole community in celebrating School Employee Appreciation Week May 3-7, 2021.  THANK YOU!

We seek community input as we plan the future of our school buildings and programs.  Thanks to the School Capacity Subcommittee for presenting options.  Thus far, they received more than 750 responses to the survey.  We encourage all community members (with or without students in school) to complete the survey and participate in the public forums online or by phone (recordings will be available for the public as well): 

• Tues, May 11,1pm [meet.google.com/jic-hgia-xso] 1 515-518-4851‬ PIN: ‪703 778 042‬#

• Tues, May 18, 6pm meet.google.com/jma-sjyc-upx] 1 470-242-8659‬ PIN: ‪732 815 692‬#

Congratulations to NAHS for the successful proposal of the new Schedule that received unanimous school committee support.  We also appreciated the continued presentation of Elementary Data.  In May, we will review additional K-2 data and discuss the FY22 Separately Budgeted Recovery Services Plan for all levels - Elementary, MS, HS.  

We are pleased that NAPS K-12 returned to full in-person learning in April.  We unanimously approved a Memorandum of Agreement.  We are very grateful to the

NATA leadership and the administration for their diligent work.  Our gratitude extends to all who support these efforts and make choices that keep our schools open.

Our last Community Chat was on April 28.  Topics included school capacity and start times.  We received positive feedback about these online, daytime chats that allow people to listen and engage informally without needing to commit time away from work or home.  

Educator Hall of Fame nominations closed on April 30.  The Selection Committee will review eligible nominees.  If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Amy Mabley by May 10th.

The Committee welcomes public input on all school committee business.  To send a group email to all members of the Committee, please use this link for the School Committee page, then click on "All Members" on the left-hand side of the page. Please note, to comply with Open Meeting Laws, group emails sent to all committee members will be answered only by the Chair or the Superintendent of Schools. 

 Please follow this link for additional information about school committee practices on email, public comment, agenda-setting and social media.

Appreciatively, Helen Pickard, Chair