Welcome Back Message

Dear North Andover Community,  

I hope you are all relaxing and enjoying the summer break. I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of our students, staff, and families to the 2021-2022 school year and provide some important updates and information. 

The first day of school is right around the corner; and as much as we all hoped that we would be done with COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, we will need to continue to be vigilant in order to ensure that we do not just open schools this fall, but do everything we can to keep our students and staff safe so our students can stay in school five days a week full time!

Please review the Back to School presentation from the August 24th School Committee meeting for more information on the Health and Operational plans for our return to school.

Commissioner Jeff Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) have mandated that all public K-12 students, educators, and staff be required to wear masks in school buildings through October 1. Masks are required on buses per federal mandate. As a result of the Commissioner’s Mask Mandate, the School Committee voted on August 24, 2021, to approve a district face-covering policy.  

The attached 2021-2022 District Reference Guide provides essential health and safety information for all students, staff, and families. This document will be updated regularly if conditions and circumstances change. 

Principals will be sending out a communication to families with school-specific information in the coming days. 

We will continue to work together in the best interest of all students.  It is important that we continue to live by our RAISE values and demonstrate compassion and kindness toward each other as we all navigate the school year together. 

If your child has not yet participated in the Superintendent’s Summer Reading Challenge, please encourage them to do so.  We have extended  the submission deadline for the Challenge to September 10.  I cannot wait to see all of the students and staff again!! It’s going to be a fantastic school year!

Best, 

Dr. Gregg T Gilligan
Superintendent of Schools