Dear North Andover Community,

Here we are in November already, and this has certainly been one of the warmest falls we’ve had in a long time.  I hope you were able to take advantage of the good weather. 

It's been a busy few months here in the school department, and I am reflecting with gratitude on the privilege of being a part of the North Andover public school community. It was with great pride that I watched the NAHS marching band perform the National Anthem in the Veteran’s Day Ceremony and the students and staff at the Pvt. Albert E. Thomson School celebrate Veterans in their annual “Salute to Veterans” program. And how gratifying it was this week to see so many people participate in North Andover’s SEPAC Awareness events as part of a month-long campaign to promote inclusion and highlight the resources available to families in our district.

I am happy to report that the Town of North Andover, in partnership with Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, will be hosting a COVID-19 booster clinic for anyone 

over the age of 5 on November 22, 2022, from 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm at the North Andover High School Cafeteria.

Our building projects continue to move forward.  On November 16, Dr. Mealey, the architects (MVG), and I met with middle school staff to review the project thus far and to solicit their feedback regarding the needs of the school. Their feedback, along with that of the students, will be critical in determining the final design of the project.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, the annual football game that North Andover will host this year, and spending time with my family.

I wish you and your family a healthy, happy Thanksgiving.

All my best,

Gregg Gilligan

Andover/North Andover Community-Wide Needs Assessment Survey 

The Andover/North Andover Community-Wide Needs Assessment Survey will be used to gain a greater understanding of the issues impacting the health and well-being of residents and will be used to inform future programming and services in Andover and North Andover.

The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please click on this link to access the survey.

Snow Days - Inclement Weather

NAPS will send a notice out via voice recording, a Tweet, add a  post on our district website’s homepage and share with local Boston television channels 4-WBZ, 5-WCVB, 7-WHDH, and 10-NBC Boston/NECN.  

Power Outages

As always, we have to contend with the possibility of canceling school due to power outages this year. The number of North Andover households without power will determine whether or not we cancel school. If the school itself and a majority of households within the school are without power, we will cancel school. These decisions will be made in collaboration with North Andover’s DPW, Public Safety, and National Grid. Typically, these decisions are made in the early morning hours and communicated in the same manner as snow days.

Two-hour delayed start  

If a two-hour delay is called, we will use the process below: 

As in previous years, road and traffic conditions may warrant a two-hour delayed start time, which will be announced in the same manner as a “no-school day.” 

• Schools will begin 2 hours later. School buses and vans will pick up students two hours later than a typical school day. 

• Schools will dismiss at their regular dismissal times. 

• The NAPS Website and the voicemail NAPS families and staff receive will have accurate information on whether the district is participating in a “no school day” or a “two-hour delayed start”.

MA State Senator Diana DiZoglio worked with the students to revise the bill and introduced it in the state senate in the spring of 2021. The bill stalled in the Senate despite the efforts of the new fall class of eighth graders who had been writing letters to lawmakers on Johnson's behalf.  Students thought the bill was dead, but thanks to the efforts of Senator DiZoglio, who included the bill as an amendment to a budget bill making its way through the legislature, it was signed into law by the Governor in July 2022.

Along with the satisfaction of being instrumental in exonerating Elizabeth Johnson Jr., Ms. LaPierre and her students have enjoyed extraordinary recognition, from appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show to being featured in an article in Junior Scholastic as well as in articles on websites including CNN, the NY Times, the Guardian, NPR, People, the Washington Post, Mirror.co.uk to name just a few. Recently, the quiz show Jeopardy even included a question relating to the accomplishment of the determined NAMS students. 

It took an innovative civics teacher, a determined student body, and a supportive state senator to undo a miscarriage of justice that has existed for the past 329 years. Elizabeth Johnson Jr. was only 22 when she was convicted of witchcraft in January 1693. Although she was sentenced to death, the then-governor of MA halted Johnson's execution. However, unlike her accused peers, her conviction for witchcraft was never vacated. 

Carrie LaPierre, a NAMS eighth-grade civics teacher, first learned about the nonfeasance concerning Elizabeth Johnson in 2019. She presented the case to her civics class at North Andover Middle School, which subsequently embarked on an extended project to research Johnson’s story and petition lawmakers to clear her name. LaPierre said,  “They spent most of the year working on getting this set for the legislature—actually writing a bill, writing letters to legislators, creating presentations, doing all the research, looking at the actual testimony of Elizabeth Johnson, learning more about the Salem witch trials.”  

In library with Mrs. Ahearn, our first graders talked about how we are all part of the Sargent community. We greeted each other with a friendly hello! We discussed how we stay safe in our online community by only going to websites that are just right for us, and only talking to people we know.  

What's Happening at Stevens Memorial Library

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest -- you can see all the award winners on our Facebook page! Earlier this month our teens had a lot of fun learning Dungeons & Dragons. There is still space in our December 3 Learn-To-Play program. Please visit our events calendar for more information and register here if you are interested.

We hope you will check out the other programs happening this month: 

• New - We are adding a Family Movie to our Sunday Movie lineup;

• New - Drop-In Tech help, now on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm;

• Monthly Cookbook Club is reading Snackable Bakes. Join us on December 7 at 7 pm for some baked treats; 

• Virtual programs are happening all month long like local true crime author Don Stradley discussing his latest book Boston Tabloid: The Killing of Robin Benedict or History of the Nutcracker with art historian Mary Woodward. 

Need more books in your home library? If you missed The Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale, you can always stop by the library and see what’s for sale on the bookshelf in the lower-level lobby.

It’s always the right time to get a library card or to update your old one. First-time library cards are always free. Have a card with a question or a problem? We can help! Visit the Library’s Circulation Desk, call 978-688-9505 ext. 42017, or email Stevens-Circulation @NorthAndoverMA.gov.

 Explore all Stevens has waiting for you: 1,000s of books, manga and graphic novels, magazines, DVDs, music, even musical instruments, a telescope, and STEM kits. Books and magazines come in lots of formats today: print, audio-CD, and digital online through OverDrive, TumbleBooks, TumbleMath, and TeenBookCloud; your choice.

Join us for activities like story times and book groups, programs like Crazy 8s Math, or technology help.  Dates, times, and places are on the Library Calendar.

School papers and projects?  Use Stevens E-Library’s 40+ online resources: health/medical; history; world languages; literature; encyclopedias & reference; science & technology; test preparation & E-learning. You can search by keyword, subject or name. Ask a librarian for more tips on how to find answers and information.

What to read next?

•  Visit our digital book displays. Coming this month: 2022 Award Winners. Earlier digital displays stay online so you can look back at ones you may not have seen yet.

•  Or try our Reader Request form for personalized book recommendations, for all ages. Indicate your preferred format: print and audiobooks, e-books, and e-audiobooks. You should receive a follow-up within 2 days and provide you with at least 3 titles.

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

Find out more on www.StevensMemLib.org, Facebook and Twitter @StevensMemLib, or sign up for Stevens Memorial Library News on our website or via the Town News:

https://www.northandoverma.gov/home/pages/connect-us

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.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE CORNER

by Pam Pietrowski, Chair

Greetings from the NA School Committee,

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.   Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays– even though it can feel stressful sometimes, I truly appreciate spending time with our families and breaking bread together.  I hope that everyone is able to spend some quality time with families and loved ones. 

Below are some highlights from the last few school committee meetings: 

• We had the pleasure of recognizing our 8th-grade students and their teacher for their groundbreaking work that led to the exoneration of the last accused witch.  Ms. LaPierre and her students were recognized on the Kelly Clarkson show and also highlighted in Scholastic News.  Congratulations to them for their dedication and hard work.  

• Students at NAHS are able to take an American Sign Language and Braille class.  Students in this class not only learn new skills, but also engage in activities that foster deep empathy and awareness for our community members with special needs and disabilities.  

• Greater Lawrence Technical School is partnering with NAHS for the “Afterdark Program” that will allow students at NAHS to participate in vocational and technical programs at the vocational school in Andover.  

• The NA Cross Country team has a new course!  I haven’t been out to run the course yet, but I hear it’s a challenging course and I know our athletes will benefit from having this home course advantage.  

• NA SEPAC has grown and developed a comprehensive committee board.  The SEPAC is an invaluable resource for all families and especially for our families of students with high learning needs.  

Wishing everyone a safe and healthy holiday season.

Warmly,

Pam Pietrowski M.Ed.

North Andover School Committee Chair