It was truly gratifying to tour the school classrooms on opening day with Dr. Mealey, Ms. Marx, and Mrs. Boccuzzi and feel the excitement of both students and teachers now that everyone is back to in-person learning. As we make every effort to keep our students in school full time, my Letter to the Community of August 26, which can be accessed here, provides essential information on keeping our students and staff safe.

Rick Gorman of Youth Services, Rick Galante of Community Programs, and Marci Boccuzzi, Director of Special Education worked hard this summer to provide a wide array of enrichment programs and activities for North Andover students. In addition, a number of K-12 students got a jump on the 2021/22 school year by attending the Acceleration Academy during the last two weeks of August. Organized by Assistant Superintendent, Lorene Marx, NAHS math teacher Caitlin Flanagan,  

and Atkinson 4th grade teacher, Jill Rivenburg, teachers and students expressed their enthusiasm for a learning experience that was both fun and stress-free. 

Aso, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the retirement of my amazingly efficient administrative assistant, Bev Zagarri, who left her full-time position this summer after almost 20 years of service to a total of nine interim or appointed district superintendents.

We hope you take the opportunity to be involved in your child's education, whether it be as a volunteer, serving on the PTO Board of your child's school, or attending school committee meetings. 

Best wishes for a successful school year!

NAPS Website Undergoes Extensive Facelift! 

Our webmaster, Hillary Stasonis, has had a very busy summer revamping the North Andover Public School website to make it more user-friendly. In addition to all things school-related, you will find links to the Youth Center, Town Offices and Stevens Memorial Library, among many others. We hope you get a chance to explore all of the information that is now at your fingertips!

 Of particular interest, now that the Delta variant of COVID has emerged, is the Covid 19 page with the most current information on testing sites, town resources, mask-wearing, cases of Covid at each school, etc., and if you are concerned about your child's behavioral health, there is a link to handhold.org 

Parents Make the Difference Newsletter

We are excited to announce that the Parents Make A Difference newsletter, available in both Spanish and English, can be found here and in the Academics section of the North Andover Public Schools' website. It is published by The Parent Institute for all grade levels from PreK through high school. 

You will find many practical ideas for helping your children, from increasing your child's attention span during early childhood, to how performing chores can build responsibility and confidence in elementary grades, and how parents can be involved in their child's education at all levels.

What's Happening at Stevens Memorial Library

School’s open and so is the Library!  Visit us anytime, visit us often, no appointment necessary. Fall hours are: Monday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm; Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 -5:00 pm.

September is the perfect time to get or renew a Stevens’ library card. First-time library cards always are free, replacement cards are free during September. Have a card with a question or a problem? Visit the Library’s Circulation Desk so we can help!

Your Stevens Library Card gets you thousands of books and e-books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and music. Enjoy all the digital services, like e-books, e-music, and more in the E-Library all the time, or a storytime anytime with Miss Rhonda’s Story Room.  Many area museums are resuming their hours; use the Library’s museum pass system to find about times and plan a visit.

School papers and projects? Click on www.StevensMemLib.org E-Library’s for 30+ online resources in History or Current Events; Languages and Literature; Encyclopedias & Reference; Science & Technology; Health/Medical; Test Preparation & E-Learning.

Teen Librarian Miss Amy has three monthly programs starting: the Teen Book Chat (grades 6-12, Sept. 15th), the Teen Online Anime Viewing Party (grades 6-12, Sept. 21st), and the Tween Book Chat (grades 4-8, Sept. 28th).   Use the Library Calendar for full details and to sign up.

What else is coming? Here are a few events planned:

 ·         Sept. 22, virtual, join the National Book Festival’s program with author Isabel

          Wilkerson, author of Caste: the Origins of our Discontent.

·         Oct. 7, virtual, join Annawon Weeden, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe,

           as he presents Understanding Indigenous Culture

·         Oct. 14, virtual, join flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq for some Afro-Cuban Jazz and learn

          about its roots and instrumentations (drums and timbales, claves and cajon).

·         Oct. 28, virtual, join author John Forti, the Heirloom Gardener.

·         And, in November we kick off a Culturally Curious art series with Jane Oneail.

Use the Library Calendar for full details and to sign up.

Don’t miss out on regular programs and other special events at the Library. Follow the Library on Twitter @StevensMemLib, Facebook, or the Library’s website www.StevensMemLib.org

Online Services Continue

·         No Library card, or it needs an update? Email Stevens-Circulation

          @NorthAndoverMA.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.

·         Support is available via email SmlRefServices@NorthAndoverMA.gov or phone 978-

          688-9505. Staff will respond as they are available.

by Andrew McDevitt, Chair

Greetings,

Back to school is always an exciting time at our house.  There's plenty to do and accomplish with anticipation for the year ahead.  This year was a bit more special as the bus stops are filled with eager children, and the traffic into the middle and high schools was much greater than last year.  It's great to return to five in-person days/week.  On behalf of the NA School Committee, I want to welcome our faculty, staff, and most importantly our students back into the buildings.  

There is much work to be done in the next months and year.  We are going to need your help and support as we review the School Capacity Subcommittee's report to the Facilities Master Plan II Committee.  I hope you will tune in on September 23rd as we plan for the future of our schools and community.  It's sure to be exciting moving forward, together.

All the best for the school year to everyone!  

Andrew