Dear NAMS Families,

Welcome to North Andover Middle School and the start of the 2019-2020 school year. I hope that your summer has been healthy, safe, and relaxing. On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I am delighted to greet our incoming grade 6 students and our returning grades 7 & 8 students. Additionally, I would like to extend a very special welcome to students and families new to our community.

The entire NAMS community is looking forward to a great year of academic and personal growth, challenges, and accomplishments.  The middle school provides an environment that allows transition for the students as they move from elementary into high school years.  Our learning approach is to offer a balanced instructional program in a team setting that nurtures the development of responsible, thoughtful citizens for life in an increasingly interdependent global society.  By creating environments in which students are challenged to explore, to create, to make decisions, and to actively participate in and be accountable for their learning they will be better prepared for high school and beyond.

The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 3, 2019.  Typically, traffic is heavy on the first day, so please leave extra time and carpool if possible. You may find the UPDATED Drop Off & Pick Up map on our website or you may access the map directly here. We ask that every parent/guardian exercise utmost care and patience in the drop-off and pick-up areas. 

If your child walks or rides a bike to school, please be sure to review the safety tips found here. If your child rides the bus to or from school, please be sure that your child knows his/her bus number prior to the first day of school.

Where do students report on the first day of school?

• Grade 6 students should report to the auditorium where the 6th grade teachers will meet with teams and bring them to homerooms.

• Grade 7 students should report to the 7th grade cafeteria, where homerooms will be listed.

• Grade 8 students should report to the 8th grade cafeteria, where homerooms will be listed.

The custodial staff continues to do an outstanding job preparing the building for the upcoming year. Our building and grounds will be ready thanks to the great work of our custodial staff: Tod Workman, Kevin Foster, Paul Quintal, Josh Hood, Michael Belisle, and Kathy Giard. In addition, I would like to also thank our Supervisor of Maintenance, John Mullen, and all of our maintenance crews for the time and energy preparing the inside and outside of NAMS for the first day of school with painting projects and more. Special thanks to Melissa Barron, Lisa Hunter, Gail Sheldon, Kathy DiTroia, and Francene Mailloux for overseeing the numerous tasks associated with beginning a new school year.

It is my pleasure to welcome the new staff members to NAMS.  Although some of our talented educators may have moved on, I am excited about the addition of these new colleagues:

• Jennifer Pino - Physical Education Teacher

• Ellen Reusch - Library Media Specialist

• Kelly Bradley - Grade 7 Science Teacher (Team 7B)

• Susannah Parker - Special Education Teacher

• Rachel Rosenbaum - Teaching Assistant

• Jordan Raffalli - Teaching Assistant

• Danielle Huggins - Teaching Assistant

• Stephanie Silk - Teaching Assistant

A collaborative effort amongst all team players – administration, teachers, students, and parents/guardians – is necessary to ensure a successful middle school experience for your child.  We are glad you and your child are members of the NAMS community and we are looking forward to a wonderful year together.

You may find important information related to the first day of school and much more in the year’s first Principal’s Post on our website or here.

Sincerely,

Jorge Goncalves

Pronounced (George Gone+Solves)