NPS Superintendent Monthly
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“It was one of those March days, when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it was summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
Charles Dickens
"A wish that every day for you will be happy from the start and may you always have good luck and a song within your heart."
Irish Blessing
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Happy Spring!
This school year is quickly wrapping up as we enter the last 10 weeks of school. If there are no other inclement weather days, the last day of school is Monday, June 16. I have some updates to share.
Budget
To ensure that caregivers are informed about school district spending, please take time to review the FY2026 preliminary operation budget posted on the district’s website. School budgets directly influence resources available for instruction, class size, programs and facilities, all of which impact student learnings and well-being.
To meet objectives in Strategic Planning and the District Improvement Plan – we will need to maintain current staffing, interventionists and coaching. This is imperative to meet the growing needs of our learners. New requests of positions enhances our focus on literacy and mathematics at all grade levels. Also we will continue to provide professional development for staff to strengthen reading and math instruction, transition to the Science of Reading and incorporating foundational skills in the contact area specifically ELA classrooms at the upper grades.
Other important areas in the budget to consider:
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Instruction: largest expense is covering teacher salaries and instructional materials. We are currently in negotiations with our teachers union to determine what their wage increase will be for the upcoming school year.
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Energy Cost: Electricity and fuel to power buildings.
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Transportation: costs associated with student transportation, special education transportation and athletic programs (costs are offset by student fees).
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Special Education: costs associated with providing services for students with disabilities including potential out-of-district placements.
On March 13, the district’s Business Manager and I presented three (3) preliminary views of the budget. Please take a look at the summary below. The full budget presentation and individual school budgets are available online. There is a public hearing scheduled on Thursday, March 27, to share your comments.
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Executive Order to Dismantle the Department of Education
As I keep an eye on the Department of Education on the Federal front as more executive changes are released, the most recent executive order is to close the Department of Education. What does this mean at the local level? The goal is to return education authority to the states. This executive order aims to minimize the federal government’s role in education. Critical functions such as IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding will be reassigned to other agencies. IDEA is a federal law that guarantees eligible children with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education.
MCAS
MCAS assessments will occur soon. Check your school’s calendar for scheduled dates as they are different for each school. No matter how you feel about MCAS, these assessments are important in gauging how the district is doing in meeting state standards in ELA, Math, and Science. As students prepare for upcoming MCAS, caregivers can help by ensuring they understand what students are being tested on and what they are being tested for. Please make sure your child is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast during these days.
Strategic Plan Working Groups for Literacy and Multi-Tiered System of Supports
Northampton Public Schools has created working groups to support the implementation of the district's strategic plan. If you are interested in joining any of the following working groups, please send an email expressing your interest to Kate Messmer, the district's Director of Curriculum and Instruction. All of the meetings will take place virtually on Google Meet.
The Secondary Literacy Working Group will meet on the second Tuesday of the month between 8:30 AM and 10 AM. This group's spring meeting dates are April 8, May 13, and June 10.
The Elementary Literacy Working Group will meet on the second Tuesday of the month between 1 PM and 2 PM. This group's spring meeting dates are April 8, May 13, and June 10.
The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Working Group will meet on the second Friday of the month from 1:15 PM to 2:15 PM. This group's spring meeting dates are April 11, May 9, and June 13.
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District's Reading Challenge (Grades K-8)
Spring Literacy Challenge
Encourage your child to join in the reading challenge! The District’s goal is to read 10,000 books by June 1, 2025. We can do it! This challenge is in partnership with Forbes Library to encourage Northampton children to read. The purpose is to build:
- A community of readers
- Students’ fluency
- Students’ vocabulary
- Students’ background knowledge
- Students’ comprehension
- Students’ skills in understanding complex text
- A love for reading
Students will be asked to keep a log of the books they are reading and drop them off in the school library. All class read-alouds also count! Students, classes and schools can participate. To be included in the chance for prizes, a log must be submitted.
Current Numbers:
Spring Challenge counts for March:
- Leeds - 243 books
- Ryan Rd - 117 books
Fall Challenge total: 9,954
Prizes for the spring semester (February 1, to May 31, 2025) are as follows:
- All students participating in the challenge receive a certificate of participation.
- Student who reads the most in the district -- $50 gift card for Broadside Bookshop
- Student who reads the most at the Primary Level (PreK-2) - $10 gift card
- Student who reads the most at the Intermediate Level (3-5) - $10 gift card
- Student who reads the most at the Middle School Level - $15 gift card
- School that reads the most -- Bragging rights for the 2025-26 school year
- Class that reads the most at the Primary Level (PreK-2) -- Teacher will receive a gift card to purchase something for their room
- Class that reads the most at the Intermediate Level (3-5) -- Teacher will receive a gift card to purchase something for their room
- Class that reads the most at the Middle School Level -- Teacher will receive a gift card to purchase something for their room
Did you know that reading aloud stimulates different areas of the brain? Reading out loud helps to create a more meaningful experience with the words on the page, improves retention and creates distinctive memories. It’s multisensory! Add reading to your family time and encourage your child(ren) to read aloud to you. Take the challenge!
Keep Reading! We hope that more students will join the challenge.
Peace, Unity and Joy
Dr. Portia S. Bonner
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HALF DAY:
March 31 - Work Day
May 8 - Professional Development for staff
Schools dismiss according to the following schedule:
- Elementary 8:00-11:30AM
- Middle School 8:30AM-12:25PM
- High School 9:00AM-12:50PM
NO SCHOOL:
April 21-25 - April Vacation
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View the Freshampton website for menus and additional information about the Nutrition Department.
Additionally, our program was featured here:
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We'd love your feedback to improve the Freshampton School Meals Program
As part of the NPS Strategic Plan, the Freshampton Department has been working on improving many aspects of our programming over the past year. As part of that work, we'd like to get your feedback on how and what we can improve. Please respond to this short survey. Thank you!
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BRANDON CASTOR - NEW TEACHER AWARD:
Brandon Castor is the physical education teacher at Bridge Street Elementary. Brandon was nominated for teaching physical and social emotional development through games, activities and obstacle courses and for providing activities for students with different needs (sensory, temperature). He brings a smile to kids and staff alike with a kindness and humor that is infectious.
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HEATHER FULLER, NHS:
Heather Fuller is a Math Teacher at Northampton High School. She was nominated for meeting students in 9th grade IM and AP classes where they are and challenging them to stretch their math skills no matter where they start. Heather engages students to learn the course material by putting thinking tasks onto whiteboards and having students work on them in groups of 3. This innovation spread throughout the math department, and now it is a consistent practice across all 9 NHS math teachers.
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JO-ANNE INTRATOR, LEEDS:
Jo-Anne Intrator is a Special Education Teacher at Leeds Elementary. Jo-Anne was nominated because of her exceptional ability to teach our most vulnerable students. Jo-Anne is deeply committed to the science of reading, and her belief that children only have one chance to be a first grader and that we should make this experience as rich and productive as possible has shaped many successful initiatives, such as the first-grade reading centers that have had a lasting positive impact. Jo-Anne piloted a reading program with Smith College and Leeds Kindergarteners around the Science of Reading called, “Ready, Set Read”.
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TRINA RAUCHER, JFK:
Trina Raucher is a 6th grade Special Education Teacher at JFK Middle School. Trina was nominated because of her commitment to relationship building and the academic advancement of all students. She starts the year off considering each child’s needs and finds the student’s access point to move that student forward in their learning. The work is scaffolded in such a way that students feel appropriately challenged and valued for their growth as learners.
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Congratulations to NPS Transportation Supervisor Tammy Lieber, who recently took and passed the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Director's exam.
NAPT Director Certification is available to those individuals who are qualified to serve as the top administration of a pupil transportation system. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate they are capable of handling a position that involves establishing programs and policies, setting standards, developing materials and providing leadership to achieve designated goals.
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Thank you to the JFK Principal Search committee for participating in the process to choose the next JFK Principal.
Keddie Loughrey was selected to continue serving JFK Middle School as the Principal, beginning July 1, 2025.
Keddie holds a Masters of Education and has been with NPS in various roles since August 2016. Keddie has over 15 years of experience as special education teacher, interventionist, instructional leader, educational team leader, associate principal and is currently serving as the interim principal at JFK Middle School.
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The RKFRR Music Concert took place on Tuesday, March 11th!
Here are 5th graders Naomi and Richard leading the entire school, along with a photo of the 4th and 5th graders performing.
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Northampton Public Schools has been awarded the Playful Learning Institute Grant. The goal of this $175,000 grant is to create playful, engaging environments for students at the early childhood and elementary grade levels (PK-3) that are intentionally designed to meet grade-level learning standards.
The Playful Learning Institute's approach to learning supports deep dives into content, creates equitable access to learning for all children, and creates many varied opportunities for authentic assessment.
The grant commits the teachers and administrators who are participating in the DESE-sponsored 18-month Institute to attending asynchronous professional development, a total of 15–20 hours of in-person professional development, creation of an action plan, participation in in-classroom and leadership-level coaching, and participation in an evaluation of the Institute.
The grade-level action plans will focus on implementation at each grade level of:
- Implementation of two or more of the playful learning instructional practices inspired by Boston Public School's Early Childhood Department (Community Meetings; Read Alouds, Center/Studios, Writing, Storytelling/Story Acting, and Thinking and Feedback); and/or
- other playful learning strategies learned through professional development.
Additionally, coaches will be assigned to work with educators, PK–3, for 3–5 hours per month, as well as to coach district/school leaders for 1–2 hours per month; monthly coaching will begin in the fall of the 2025-2026 school year. This in-classroom/school coaching model will be aligned with and support implementation of the action plan created by the district/school team.
Based on application requirements and limitations, the grant was submitted for the PK teachers from the Bridge Street School and the K-3 teachers from Jackson Street School. These institute-trained educators will become the district's trainers for the implementation of play-based learning practices for their PK-3 colleagues across the district.
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The March engagement and English Learner Education update from Lauren Barry is linked below.
Missed updates ? That’s ok, they are listed below.
Interested in learning more about family engagement and ELE learning opportunities?
Please reach out to:
Lauren-Lee Barry
Family-Student Engagement
& English Learner Education Coordinator
Northampton Public Schools
Phone: 413.587.1481
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Our NPS Early Childhood Center’s Week of the Young Child Celebration is back! Check out our week-long calendar of FREE events for families with young children from April 5-12.
The Gallery Walk features artwork from local community preschools and Northampton Public School students. Celebrate our young artists by dropping into the Artist Reception at Spill the Tea Sis Apothecary on Sunday, April 6th from 12-3 pm for treats and art, and to pick up your Gallery Walk Map!
Or En Español at:
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We are grateful to the Pyramid Model Consortium for generously funding a Pyramid Model series for our community. This one will be geared to participants with some proficiency in Spanish and English. Deepen your language skills while learning about the impact of implementing the Pyramid Model's Big 5 foundational practices!
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Are you looking for a family outing that is free, fun and supportive for both the children and adults in your family? This one's for you!! Pizza, childcare and adult conversation for families with children ages 0-8/9 years of age is held monthly at the NPS Early Childhood Center at Jackson Street School. |
Cultural experiences for you and your children is what you are seeking? Wahoo - this one's for you! Guided play and gallery tours meet the needs of young children and the adults in the family. Sign up for the Caregiver Cafes, Play Dates at Smith College and so much more at:
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It is budget season as well as negotiations with all units in the Northampton Association of School Employees, keeping us very busy and focused on how best to meet the needs of our students, staff, and families. Some of our business is done through the Subcommittee structure: Negotiations (Emily Szerafy Cox, chair), Curriculum and instruction (Gwen Agna, chair), Budget and Property, (Michael Stein, chair Rules and Policy, (Holly Ghazey, chair) and Superintendent Evaluation (Gwen Agna, chair). We encourage interested members of the staff and the caregivers to either tune in or watch the posted video of these meetings.
We stand with our students, staff, and caregivers as we navigate the national and state landscape regarding education and support and safety for al in our schools. We will draft a statement regarding this, similar to that which the City of Northampton has already. We recognize the challenges limited funds, reductions, and reorganization of departments mean for our community of learners and work to mitigate negative effects on the educational environment for all students. Please email us with your concerns in this process. And we thank you for your ongoing participation on behalf of your children.
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For over forty years, hundreds of Northampton community members have been volunteering their time supporting education in city public schools through Volunteers in Northampton Schools (VINS). These volunteers are active in each of the schools helping out in many different ways. They read and play math games with elementary students, join classes for field trips or weekly outdoor nature studies, decorate hallways with student art, and visit classes to share a particular interest, expertise, or cultural background.
The program is managed by Coordinator, Andres Cucalon, who recruits, interviews, and places volunteers to match requests from teachers and school staff.
You are invited to join this effort in any of the following ways:
Become a VINS Volunteer or encourage a friend, neighbor or family member. Contact Andres Cucalon to fill out a form indicating your own interests and availability. Some volunteers contribute weekly or even daily while others come in once a year.
If you expect to join a class for a field trip, classroom activity, or field day, plan ahead by completing the state required CORI check. You can obtain a form from the VINS Coordinator or through your school office. The CORI is in effect for three years, and each school office maintains a list of eligible volunteers.
Support VINS through a donation. VINS is a non-profit organization separate from the school district with a modest yearly budget that covers coordination. Donations of any amount are welcome with a check to
Volunteers in Northampton Schools, Inc.
c/o RK Finn Ryan Road School
498 Ryan Road, Florence, MA 01062
Volunteer to join the VINS Board of Directors.
The Board meets once a month to advise and plan fund-raising like the ever-popular fun, free and not entirely serious Dog Show the first Saturday in March. Your ideas are always welcome.
Contact VINS at vinsvolunteer@gmail.com
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Rotary clubs throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts will be giving back to their communities as part of the fourth annual Rotary Day of Service.
As part of a Rotary International focus on protecting the environment, the Northampton Rotary Club is working with the Northampton’s Department of Public Works (DPW), the Urban Forestry Commission, the non-profit Tree Northampton, and Northampton Public Schools to organize a tree planting event at JFK Middle School from 9 AM to 12 Noon on Saturday, April 12, 2025, with April 13 as a rain date.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help plant trees is invited to contact Day of Service Chair Barbara Devlin at bdevlinmn@gmail.com. Monetary contributions to support the tree planting project may be directed to the Northampton Rotary Foundation, Inc., PO Box 505, Northampton, MA 01061.
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Please refer to Friday's Community Events Post for more local events. |
The Massachusetts Attorney General recently released a new Flyer on the Rights of Immigrant Students to Attend School for Parents & Families, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and Mandarin (all linked at the bottom of this email).
This Flyer accompanies the previously issued Guidance for K-12 Schools on Protecting Students and their Information and Flyer for K-12 Schools on Protecting Students and Their Information. This flyer was created in response to requests for a flyer specifically tailored for families and translated into multiple languages.
- Open PDF file, 312.61 KB, Immigrant Students’ Right to Attend School A Guide for Families
- Open PDF file, 350.54 KB, Derecho de los alumnos inmigrantes a asistir a la escuela Guía para las familias
- Open PDF file, 175.45 KB, Dwa Elèv Imigran yo pou Ale Lekòl Yon Gid pou Fanmi yo
- Open PDF file, 223.01 KB, Direito dos Estudantes Imigrantes de Frequentar a Escola Um Guia para as Famílias
- Open PDF file, 280.97 KB, 移民学生入学权 家庭手册
- Open PDF file, 311.55 KB, Quyền Được Đến Trường của Học Sinh Nhập Cư Hướng Dẫn cho Gia Đình
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Northampton Public Schools is currently hiring for the following positions:
- Paraprofessionals
- Substitutes
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