October 2008

NAMS is in full swing and it is well over due to introduce our new staff.  Please welcome:  David Fabrizio,  our 6th & 7th grade Assistant Principal. World language teachers are Holly Gudaitis and Robin Hjembo,  Spanish and Wendy Foster and Karen Ruecker, French/German.  Craig Richard, 7th grade science, and Susan Francoeur 8th grade algebra, and Andrea Liacos,  music.  Aaron Drosdek, Dawn Chouinard, Heather Wilhite, and MaryCay Richard are new to our special education department, and Lindsay Shellbach, school psychologist and Charina Lynn, reading are schoolwide specialists.   Our new paraprofessionals and Instruction Support Staff (substitute program) are : Tallie Abernathy, Linda Curtin, Jean Donovan, Seema Gupte, Julie  McAloon, and Shawna Bernard, Kathleen Bennett, Richard O’Brien,  Annette Quartarone,  Brian Quirk. 

We have two significant changes this year at NAMS for our students.  Our 7th and 8th graders are experiencing daily world languages in Spanish, French or German, which they were able to choose last spring.  The school district has also implemented new substitute teacher program, which we are calling, our instructional support staff.  This will enable us to retain consistency with staff, curriculum and instructional practice when our faculty members are out. 

We are continuing to work on building our website, so please bear with us.  Many of our teachers are still waiting for passwords and access in order to communicate more effectively with our NAMS community.  Please look under our guidance section for information concerning cyber bullying and what parents can do to monitor their children’s computer use at home, as well as if your child is a victim.  If home cyber bullying is brought to our attention, our standard procedure is to notify the NAPD who assist us in validating cyber claims as well as working with all involved families and students.
 
We have two new programs coming in October.  Our sixth graders will be experiencing the ropes course in connection with the North Andover Youth Center.  This is a wonderful team building opportunity for our sixth graders to continue to come together as a NAMS grade level rather than five separate elementary schools.  Also, towards the end of October Rachel’s Challenge will be coming to NAMS for our 7th and 8th graders.  This is a national anti-bullying program. Please watch for more detailed information on both programs, which will be given to your child.     
 
As always, please call your child’s teacher(s), guidance counselor or administration with any questions, comments or concerns.
 
Joan McQuade
Principal