NRPS Updates

 Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

At last evening's school committee meeting the North Reading School Committee approved the school year calendar for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. This document is now posted on our websites under School Year Calendar and can also be found here.

Also, this month our School Safety team and building leaders will present all staff a refresher on the emergency protocols and our district is once again planning a tabletop (discussion-based) exercise with all students and staff where we will engage in a conversation around a developmentally appropriate scenario that would utilize our safety protocols.

For example, younger students would be alerted that there is a “stranger” while older students may discuss more specific details of the danger/threat and engage with their teachers about what they would do with the information that they have at that moment. Students and staff may also come away with questions from the exercise and so our school safety team will collect and review these questions and comments from staff and respond as appropriate as a part of our ongoing safety plan.

If a teacher is absent, they will speak with the students upon their return.

This exercise will take place at each school in the district on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. By design, the exact time is not being shared so that the educators will be able to respond in the moment to the scenario and so everyone may consider what they would do in that particular place and in that specific moment. 

As we have done in the past we are providing advance notice of this exercise to parents, guardians, and caregivers so that they may reach out to their building principal with any questions or concerns and, if necessary, to opt out. This exercise will not involve any drills, evacuations, or simulations and is only a conversation with the classroom teacher or educator. We are well aware of the trauma that can be associated with these discussions and our educators are prepared and will be approaching this in a careful and developmentally appropriate manner.

Caregivers interested in having a discussion with their child(ren) prior to the date of the exercise may find this link to resources from the National Association of School Psychologists useful: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-parents-and-teachers

In addition to the efforts of our educators, school administrators, and School Resource Officer (SRO) we are very thankful for the cooperation of the North Reading Police and Fire Departments who are key members of our safety team and who were instrumental in the development of these exercises.

Thank you,

Dr. Daly

Engaging with the North Reading Public Schools in 2026

 At this time of year it is always my pleasure to welcome our students and staff back to our buildings and to share exciting ways for our community can become even more involved with our schools.

Stay Connected

This year we have refreshed our district website: https://www.north-reading.k12.ma.us to make it more accessible and interactive. This is a great place to learn more about upcoming events, see photos and stories of student success, and to follow communications from the schools and central office. 

Our Community Bulletin Board is where you’ll find updates on important events and registrations in the community: https://www.north-reading.k12.ma.us/cbb and you can subscribe to receive email update notifications from this page by clicking on the bell in the upper right hand corner.

There is also a page for the North Reading School Committee with information and links to upcoming meetings, recordings of recent meetings, agendas, and minutes. The School Committee can be followed across social media platforms @NRPSSC.

On social media we are also active on X, and following the Superintendent's account @nrschools is a great way to stay up to date. You should also follow the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations @nrpsfinance; the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning @NRPSlearning; and our Director of Athletics and Student Activities @NRHSHornets. 

Join the PreK-12 Action Team

As a part of the Town of North Reading’s Community Impact Team the North Reading Public Schools invites families and community members to engage with us on our PreK-12 Action Team. We meet four times a year as a large group to hear updates from the sub-groups, which for the 2025-26 school year include: Equity and Belonging; Health and Wellness; Recess and Outdoor Time; and Social Media and Cell Phone Use. 

For more information please visit us here: https://www.north-reading.k12.ma.us/students-families/prek-12-action-team

Opportunities for Community Learning through Family University

We are committed to provide an ongoing series of interactive workshops, webinars, and learning opportunities through the North Reading Family University. Our first offering, a welcome event for new families, was held in August and was well attended both in-person and online. 

In the past we have offered Family University workshops on a variety of topics and we plan to continue these programs this year so please stay tuned for more updates by visiting our website: https://shorturl.at/r4d8T.

Learn more about NRPS 2030, our district strategy

As we finalize our five year plan for continuous improvement, NRPS 2030, you can learn more about our initiatives here: https://www.north-reading.k12.ma.us/our-district/nrps-2030

Our strategy is divided into two areas: Community, Culture, and Connection and Student Success and Growth. In the coming weeks each of the elements will be clickable and will reveal details about the specific objectives for each school year. 

Join Us!

Looking for the best way to spend an evening? Come join us! Whether you’re attending a hit musical or a high-stakes game, our events are a fantastic way to get involved and support our incredible students. You can find all upcoming dates and ticket links on our website and social media pages. We are committed to keeping North Reading informed and engaged, as strong communication makes our district stronger. We can’t wait to see you in the stands or the theater—let’s make 2026 a standout year for our Hornets!