Published in the August 31, 2017 edition
EAGER to begin the 2017–18 school year as members of the faculty in the North Reading Public Schools are, from left: NRHS teachers Jonathan Hudson and Matt Costello, NRMS school psychologist Rebecca Skobe, and NRMS teachers Wendy Galante, Katie Bray and Jessica Murdock. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
NORTH READING — The days of staying up late and sleeping in during the week are going to end for local students when a new school year begins next week.
The lazy days of summer will be ending for North Reading children on Wednesday, September 6, when students in grades 1-12 return to the classroom. Pre-school and kindergarten orientation will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, September 6 and 7, and the first day of school for preschoolers and kindergarteners is Friday, September 8.
“We are well on our way to being fully prepared to welcoming back students and staff next week,” said Superintendent of Schools Jon Bernard during Monday’s School Committee meeting. “It’s hard to believe it’s here already, but it is. It’s great to see the kids outside running around and practicing for fall sports. I had the opportunity to visit the three elementary schools on two different days last week. We are in the middle and high school every day, so we have certainly been abreast as to what is going on.”
School officials, teachers and staff members are headed into the home stretch and are making sure everything is ready to rock and roll for students’ return next week. School administrators have spent the final days of summer setting their agendas and teachers are working to get their classrooms ready for the 2017–18 school year.
Additionally, custodians are making a final push to make sure each of the town’s five schools are in pristine condition when students return.
“I am very thankful to all of the staff who worked diligently to clean our schools, make necessary repairs and upgrades, inventory and set up new technology, and for all of the work that takes place in the summer so that students and staff can enjoy a smooth opening to the new school year,” said Bernard.
School schedule
School hours for the school year are as follows:
North Reading High School: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
North Reading Middle School: 7:55 a.m. to 2:21 p.m.
Batchelder School: 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Hood School: 8:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Little School: 8:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Preschool morning session (Little School): 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Preschool afternoon session (Little School): 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Preschool full-day (Little School): 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Half-day kindergarten morning session (Little and Hood): 8:55 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
Half-day kindergarten afternoon session (Little and Hood): 12:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Half-day kindergarten morning session (Batchelder School): 8:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Half-day kindergarten afternoon session (Batchelder School): 12:05 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
School initiatives
The school system will be undertaking several different initiatives this year, including several pertaining to school security.
Bernard said the School Department will continue implementing the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) protocols. He also said school officials and first responders have been “participating in a comprehensive review of the current safety and security protocols in place in our schools.”
“The ALICE program is used widely in school districts across the nation,” said Bernard. “Unfortunately, this is due to the increase in violent episodes that have taken place in schools and other public arenas. Several communities in our immediate area join North Reading in utilizing the ALICE program.”
Bernard said annual training sessions and drills with students and staff will take place in order to “maximize preparedness for a response to an emergency event.”
“Families and the community will be kept informed as to the dates and nature of training dates so as to alleviate any unnecessary concerns,” said Bernard.
Bernard said the district has been undertaking several capital improvement projects. He said each school’s interior has been painted, and the Batchelder School’s Peabody Street entrance is being repaired after the project was improved as part of the town’s capital improvements plan at June Town Meeting.
Chromebook rollout
The town’s capital improvement plan also enabled the school system to purchase Chromebooks, which Bernard said will be used to implement the first year of the one-to-one computer device initiative.
“Following a pilot of this program in 2016–2017, all students in grade 7 at North Reading Middle School will receive their own, district-assigned Chromebook for educational use at the middle school orientation day on August 31,” said Bernard. “The plan is to advance this program with one full grade of students each academic year, with the end goal being that all students in grades seven through 12 will have their own, district-issued Chromebook. This in an exciting endeavor and serves to substantially supplement and advance our digital learning goals.”
The School Department will also be implementing the second year of the district’s NRPS 2021 strategic plan.
“The 2017–2018 school year marks year two of this five-year strategic plan that will serve as the framework for guiding decision-making and budget development for our school district with the goal of maximizing student performance through three overarching strategies: Teaching and learning, technology integration, and student support services,” said Bernard.
New program: Parent University
Bernard said the School Department will be hosting its inaugural Parent University program on Saturday, April 7. He said a recently formed committee will be help develop “informational programs for parents to further strengthen the partnership that exists with the North Reading Public Schools and to provide parents with greater insight into their child’s education and other useful information.”
“The vision for Parent University is that it be an innovative educational model that promotes learning for parents, taking families’ challenges, needs and educational goals into account for maximum impact on student success,” said Bernard.
“Parent University will strive to teach valuable skills and provide knowledge that benefits both families and children and promotes an inclusive school culture, helping participants to feel even more valued in their school community, which is crucial in empowering them to become a partner in their children’s education,” the superintendent added.
