B. B. King

Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Welcome to the start of the 2025-2026 school year! I am incredibly excited to welcome both new and returning families to our school community. I hope you and your children had a restful and enjoyable summer break. The first day of school for students in Grades 1-12 is Wednesday, August 27, and Tuesday, September 2, for Kindergarten and Preschool. A special welcome to our incoming 138 kindergarteners and 40 preschoolers who are joining the district. We continue to aspire "to be a district that cares about our children, fostering an environment that is committed to equity and the success of each student."

 As we prepare for the first day of school, I want to highlight a few key things to help ensure a smooth and successful start for everyone.

This year’s thematic focus is Connect, Support, and Thrive: Building Resilience for All Students.  This focus underscores our unwavering commitment to creating an environment where every student cannot only learn but also thrive.  By deconstructing the theme into five concepts, all educators will recognize the essential elements that create an environment where students can flourish.  In such an environment, students feel they belong, receive support, and are challenged to recognize that obstacles and failures are necessary components of success.

Connect –

Support –

Thrive –

 Build –

 Resilience –

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Strategic Plan Links (English / Spanish ) Score Card Links (English / Spanish)

As we enter year two of our district's strategic plan, I am excited to share this year’s focus and priorities. In year one, we laid a strong foundation by establishing work groups, conducting surveys and researching evidence-based processes to improve students academic success, belonging, and wellness. We also began exploring the feasibility of maintaining six buildings and transforming facilities to be more environmentally green. We are committed to building upon this momentum. Our focus will be on deepening the work we've started and expanding our efforts to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive. Our key priorities for this year include:

Priority 1: Complete the PreK-12 Reading plan that shares the district’s instructional vision for literacy. Continue expanding professional development opportunities for our staff to facilitate students reading success in the adolescent years. Changes should be evident in teachers' instructional practices, the use of interventionists and paraeducators, the incorporation of MTSS and the use of data to monitor student progress.

Priority 2: Complete the District’s MTSS framework and work with staff on how to draw on the framework when identifying students who need additional support. Staff will have a uniformed understanding of what MTSS is and how it is to be implemented. Each school will have a functioning data team that focuses on the needs of students who have been identified as needing support academically or behaviorally, and a plan to assist and monitor student growth. Evidence of implementation will be an agenda and meeting notes from data teams, student qualitative/quantitative data on assessments, and notable changes in behavior evidenced by attendance and discipline records.

Priority 3: Request NESDEC to conduct enrollment projections for the next 5-10 years. Provide a variety of district models with financial analysis.

Priority 4: Develop the master facilities plan.

Priority 5: Plan pilot afterschool program at Ryan Road for the 2026-2027 school year.

 

The past year has been a period of progress and growth, and I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, staff, families, and community partners.

Northampton Public Schools provide equal access to education to all students regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or immigration status. Schools must meet this fundamental obligation and avoid policies that discourage or deny access to school on the basis of immigration or citizenship status.

If an ICE agent requests access to a student, schools will refer the agent to the district’s central office to ensure proper protocol is followed. The school or district will immediately notify the student’s parent or guardian.

In the event that an ICE agent asks to question or remove a student from their classroom, schools must obtain the specific, informed written consent of a parent or guardian or be provided with a valid, judicial warrant signed by a federal or state judge. If the agent presents a warrant, the school district will immediately consult school legal counsel and review the warrant to confirm that it is a judicial rather than administrative warrant and to determine the scope of the search or arrest authority the warrant provides.

Northampton Public Schools (NPS) may release certain "directory information" about students without prior consent, as allowed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Massachusetts regulations (603 CMR 23.00 et seq.). However, parents/guardians and eligible students (those 18 years or older) have the right to refuse the disclosure of this information. If you opt out, this information will not be shared, except as permitted by law.

To opt out please refer to the ParentSquare post which will be sent the first week of school. Caregivers who choose to opt out must submit notice annually by September 15th. If a refusal is not filed, we will assume that neither a parent/guardian nor an eligible student objects to the release of designated directory information.

 "Every day counts!" We want your children present in school. When your child is absent, they miss out on the opportunity to learn with their peers. Missing 10% or more of school for any reason impacts students' academic success in reading and numeracy. Chronically absent students may not reach grade level standards falling further and further behind. Also, there is a higher risk for falling behind in social-emotional development and executive functioning.

 

Help us help your child to be successful by sending them to school.

Please review the updated Code of Conduct and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan.

 

 As laws, protocols and procedures change, I will update as appropriate. I am looking forward to serving the community another year. 

 

The Northampton Public School District is a community of learners committed to equity and the success of each student.

New Playground at Ryan Road! The construction of a brand-new ADA-accessible playground is underway! It will be an inclusive space where all students can play, explore, and connect! Just in time for the upcoming school year, this new addition to our school will be a place where friendships grow, imaginations soar, and every child feels welcome. Get ready ... The countdown to fun has begun!  

The Northampton Public Schools Early Childhood Center provides services to young children and families in our city. All families with children ages 0-6, and a little older too, are welcome to engage with the staff and programming we offer. Here are two important links:

This registration link will stay the same for the whole school year. Please bookmark it and check back often! Programs added on a monthly and seasonal basis include parenting workshops, playgroups, family walks with Kestrel Land Trust, art events at Smith College, family Game Times at the Forbes, home visiting with Parent Child+ and so much more. 

This link will take you to the Early Childhood section of the Northampton Schools website. We provide special education services to children ages 3-5, support enrollment in the public preschool as well as provide connections to community-based child care options. We offer information and support referrals to local resources such as childcare vouchers, WIC and other perinatal to school age resources. We are a local United Way Diaper Hub for emergency needs as well as can support your connection to resources for children's clothing and winter gear. Please give us a call at 413-587-1471 or email us at earlychildhood@northampton-k12.us. Text in any language to 413-341-9158.

On behalf of the amazing staff at the Early Childhood Center, we wish you all the best in the new school year,