NAMS - Spring 2011

The 7th Grade will be having a "7th Grade Leadership Day" on June 2, 3 and 6th. The event will focus on the values of RAISE. The event will take place outdoors, during the school day, at Hayes Stadium. Students will spend the morning participating in team building/ leadership activities that focus on the core values of RAISE. The afternoon will consist of a cookout followed by a choice of activities ranging from volleyball to Wii Sports (PEP GRANT).  The RAISErs, a team of students committed to helping establish a positive culture in the school, have designed the day and will facilitate all the events. Mr. Richard, Ms. Chute and the seventh grade teachers are spearheading this event.

For the second year in a row Mr. Gosselin and Mrs. Faucher accompanied a group of seventeen 6th Grade students to the Sargent School to speak about transition. The students, many of whom are alumnus of the Sargent, spoke on what life is like at NAMS and what the 5th graders can expect when they arrive here in the fall. The group was also trained on anti-bullying techniques. They spoke to the 5th graders about bullies, victims and bystanders. Mr. Gosselin, the reigning 6th grade guidance counselor, and Mrs. Faucher, the soon to be sixth grade counselor, will be bringing similar groups to all the fifth graders in town during the coming weeks.

The 6^th grade held an Assembly on May 6th in the auditorium.  Mr. Fabrizio and Mr. Gosselin spoke to the group about how well they had behaved and worked to this point of the year. They also discussed academic and behavior expectations for the last two months of school.  Mr. Gosselin then made an impassioned and rousing speech about getting ready and excited for the MCAS. Finally, teachers were called up to recognize students from their respective teams who had demonstrated the values of RAISE in the past month. Each teacher gave an enthusiastic, and often humorous, speech about the award winners before they came up to receive their certificate and pin.

March 2011

Middle School Week is the week of March 7 - March 11.  The NAMS Student Council announces the following theme days.  Each day connects to one of the principles of RAISE:

• Monday - Show RESPECT with:                                                                   Sports/ Hobby T-shirt day
• Tuesday - Value ACHIEVEMENT by participating in:                             Twin Day
• Wednesday - Embrace INCLUSION with:                                                  Crazy Hat Day
• Thursday - Support SERVICE with:                                                              Neon/ Bright Color Day
• Friday - Demonstrate EMPATHY with:                                                        70's Day

March 2011 - PEP Grant Commercial - THANK YOU ALEX GAMBLE!

In our continuing effort toward Building a Respectful Community in North Andover and emphasizing our values of Respect, Achievement, Inclusion, Service, and Empathy, NAMS would like to take a moment to recognize Alex Gamble, an 8^th grade student at NAMS, for his Service to our school. Alex was recruited at the beginning of January to help create a “commercial” highlighting our PEP grant and advertising a NAMS Community Night on March 9^th.  For the next 2 months, Alex undertook this project and not only showcased his training and talent for filmmaking, but his unselfish dedication to serving others. He rearranged his school day schedule to accommodate filming (with teacher permission, of course) and spent numerous hours after school and over vacation editing tape. He approached this project with a commitment and maturity well beyond his middle school years and this only helps attest to the character of this fine young man. We thank Alex for his efforts on this video and the example of unselfish service he has shown to us all.   The video has been playing on North Andover CAM television for the past few weeks.  Thanks again Alex. Great job!  

February 2011

• NAMS recently took part in the National No Name Calling Week. This event, organized by NAMS guidance, entailed daily activities focusing on our school values of RAISE. Highlights included "spirit-a-wearness day", classroom discussions surrounding good-natured teasing vs. bullying, a minute of reflective silence during lunches, and the signing of a No Name Calling Week banner and pledge. The banner and pledge will be displayed in the cafeteria for all to see.
• The quest for a BRC logo is almost over! Due to weather related school cancellations, the contest was extended until February 18th, but a number of promising entries have been submitted. A BRC selection committee hopes to, vote, announce the winner, and display a template of the logo at the beginning of March. This will be a design that the entire town can proudly display with patches, flags, stickers, etc. in universal support of the BRC initiative. Thanks to all who put their time, effort, and wonderful creativity into this contest!
• The middle school is hosting Matt Bellace on March 3rd. Mr. Bellace is a well-known comedic speaker who will talk with our 8th graders about making proper decisions regarding drugs and alcohol.
• Middle school week is coming up March 7-11. We will be celebrating with a week of activities for students and hosting a Community Night on March 9th. We encourage all to come enjoy an evening of activity, entertainment, and food with friends from the NAMS community. We will highlight student work from Related Arts classes and encourage participation in PEP grant funded initiatives. Be on the lookout for a student created "commercial" announcing the event. This is scheduled to be aired on CAM TV at the beginning of March.
• NAMS was recently awarded a $2500 state grant aimed at supporting Anti-Bullying service-learning projects at the middle school level (6-8th). The guidance department is currently working to attain additional resources and implement an exciting new program in this area.
• Students continue to bring BRC/RAISE news to NAMS via the NAM News every morning

JANUARY 2011

NAMS Students will be participating in "No Name Calling Week" during the week of January 24-28, 2011. Activities will include:

DECEMBER 2011

Coat Drive - The student council is running a coat drive to help those less fortunate.

NAMS students, led by the student council, collected over thirty box's full of donated canned goods for the Lazarus House Ministries in Lawrence. The food drive was part of The First Course Road Race, a race developed solely for the purpose of stocking Lazarus House for the winter season. Of the five schools that donated to the cause, NAMS was the biggest contributor.

Plans are being finalized for a "Community Night" to allow the public to see the programs that NAMS has developed with the PEP grant funding. This community night will run in conjunction with our "Middle School Night," more details in coming months. 

 The RAISERz - a student group that creates and acts out RAISE focused skits and messages on NAMS News. Both students and staff are Included in skits and messages.

A Wellness Department display was created and posted outside the gym. Students who demonstrate the values of RAISE during Phys Ed and/or Fitness will be recognized weekly in the display and will also be on the NAMS News.

Gift Drive - The student council in conjunction with Mrs. Chute and her Raise group are holding a Gift Drive for the holiday season.

CONGRATULATIONS TO NAMS student Adam Koulopoulos, and his DI team who won first place at the Triton Regional Competition on Saturday, March 19. His team moves on to the State tournament on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

His team also won the prestigious DaVinci Award for Outstanding Creativity. The paths we follow on our journeys were once uncharted and unknown - until someone took a bold step in a new direction and paved a way for us to follow. To solve our Challenges, imagination, creativity, originality and courage are required. We honor those individuals and teams who most clearly demonstrate that spirit of risk in their solutions - those who most creatively traveled to reach truly new and unique destinations. The DaVinci Award is named to honor one of humanity's greatest creative thinkers, Leonardo DaVinci.