Visiting Our Schools

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High School Events:

High School Visits

Northampton High School will have a variety of visiting days – some in person and some virtual for new students. Please note that we are unable to accommodate requests for visits during the school day or to shadow another student. Only enrolled students can be present in the school buildings during school hours. 

Winter 2024: 8th Grade Caregiver’s Night

JANUARY 31, 2024 / 6:30 – 8:00 PM / Northampton High School Auditorium 
Northampton High School will host 8th Grade Caregivers Night on Wednesday, January 31st at 6:30 p.m. in the Northampton High School Auditorium. Representatives from NHS Administration, the School Counseling Department, Athletics, and each of the teaching departments will attend. This session is your opportunity to learn more about what to expect with regards to students starting at Northampton High School. The presentation includes an overview of block scheduling, the typical 9th grade schedule, the scheduling process, and extracurricular activities.
The program of studies for 2024-2025 and course selection sheets will be available by February 8th, 2024. We look forward to seeing you on the 31st!

An opportunity for students and their parents/guardians to learn about the programs at NHS and to walk around the school and meet teachers and visit classrooms. Late winter in the early evening – 2024 date to be decided

Spring 2024: multiple dates will be available for in-person tours as well as virtual tours. Bonus Tour Video!  

NHS Visiting Days for students and families are scheduled throughout March, April, May, and June and these will provide an in depth discussion on transitioning to Northampton High School and the course selection process.  We will be offering a virtual option this year – May 29th.

 March 21st  ♦  April 9th  ♦  April 24th  ♦  May 2nd  ♦  May 29th 

Sessions begin at 3:00pm 

  • IN PERSON GROUP TOURS WILL BEGIN IN FRONT OF THE MAIN OFFICE AT 3:00PM.
  • THE TOUR WILL INCLUDE AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION WITH A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND THEN A GUIDED TOUR LED BY STUDENTS.
  • PRIVATE TOURS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT OTHER TIMES. 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

For the virtual sessions: NHS Guidance will send a Zoom link on the Monday prior to the session you request.

For in-person sessions:  The bus loop and areas immediately next to the school are tow zones.  Visitor parking is located in the lot down and to the right of the flagpole. 

Bonus Video Tour!   CLICK HERE
Tons more information can be found on our School Counseling page. 

 

Middle School Events:

JFK Middle School Visits

March Spotlight Event 2024 – Thursday, March 7th, 2024 from 6:00-7:30pm

Spotlight is a great opportunity for all incoming students and families to visit our building for an introduction
to our school community. The event is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about JFK.  The
evening provides an informal introduction to many JFK faculty and staff, classrooms, curriculum, samples of
student work, and extracurricular activities. Visitors will also be invited to enjoy performances by several JFK
clubs and activities

New Student & Parent/Guardian Information Session: Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 from 6:00-7:30pm

This informational session is open to all caregivers of prospective JFK students who will be entering 6 th , 7 th or 8 th grade in September. This is a great opportunity for all prospective students and families to get to know more about JFK. The evening will be hosted by Ms. Marien (Principal), Ms. Loughrey (Assoc. Principal), Mr. Napoli (Assoc. Principal) and members of the School Counseling Department. The evening provides an informal introduction to some JFK faculty, staff, students and representatives of the PTO. It will include conversations around the middle school model, scheduling, curriculum, support services  and samples of student work. Visitors will also be invited to enjoy virtual performances and presentations of JFK clubs and student activities. We hope you and your student will join us to learn more about our school community. 

Morning Field Trip Visit (resident students only) February 29, 2024

Current students in all of our four elementary schools 5th grade classes will have a fieldtrip to visit JFK during school hours in the late spring. Guidance will provide information and support for students. Students from Smith College Campus School and Lander Grinspoon Academy will be invited to participate. Students will tour the building, and be welcomed by a panel of current 7th graders who are happy to share their own experience of transitioning to JFK. There will be lots of support and new opportunities as they join their new school community.

Summer Tours  – two events in August (during the day) (tbd for fall 2024)

Families are welcome to attend a new student orientation and building tour led by our JFK Guidance Staff.  Please park in the side lot and meet in the front main lobby near the guidance offices. You will be greeted by the School Adjustment Counselor Sarah Kiritsis!  

This will be a tour of the building with tons of information for our new students and their families!  We look forward to the opportunity in assisting in making this transition to a new school as smooth as possible.

We have also put together a really fun presentation for you to view at home that will answer a lot of your questions about starting at JFK! 

Click Link Below:  JFK INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION!

 

Elementary Events:

Information Session & Tours, Wednesday January 17th, 2024 (Grown-Ups Only)

For parents/guardians of students in grades K-5

  • Where: Jackson Street School, Leeds School, Bridge Street School, RK Finn Ryan Road School
  • When:  Arrive at 5:15pm and park in the main parking lot, except for Bridge Street – park on street and the entrance is around the side of the building. Event lasts apprx. 1 hour
  • Who: Parents/guardians only (no students for this event) who have school aged children who are not attending Northampton Public Schools
  • What/Why:  Come learn about our elementary schools!  Meet in the main lobby for an introductory welcome by the school principal followed by a tour of the school to see classrooms including the cafeteria, gym, library, computer lab, art, music etc!  While there parents have the opportunity to sign-up for a future meeting and tour with their children at a later date.  Questions about enrolling your children can be directed to the Registrar (413) 587-1328

Kindergarten classroom observations (grown-ups only)

January 25, January 31, February 6, 2024 from 8:50am-10:00am during school hours by appointment only. Visit our Kindergarten Page for more information and to sign-up. 

Elementary School new student orientations (new students and their family)

  • Before the start of the new school year! Late August annually

Families are welcome to attend a new student orientation.  Please meet in the front main lobby of your school where you will be greeted by the School Principal and the Administrative Assistant who will provide information relative to your school as well as give a tour of the building and classrooms.  We look forward to the opportunity in assisting in making this transition to a new school as smooth as possible.

  • Initial Meet and Greets

Families new to Northampton who have enrolled their students to attend may contact the school principal to request a meeting and buiding tour. Please note that the school buildings are receiving a deep clean in the summer and there may be limited staff and or staff taking vacation time. Most tours/meetings during the school year will take place after school hours so as not to interrupt learning. Principals are available for phone conferences and or email exhanges of information so that they can better get to know you and your child/ren and welcome you to our schools!  For students with special education needs we ask that you please provide documentation at the time of enrollment so that special education teachers are able to review your childs needs and for planning purposes. Staff do not work in the summer so please enroll your child as soon as you are able. 

October Open Houses (students and their family)

Later in the fall, all students and families are invited to attend their schools Open House so they can visit the classroom and see the work their child has been completing.  Please review the school calendar for these dates. In late October, the schools will hold parent-teacher conferences.

Getting to Know You Visits (PK and K children Only – with parents/guardians)

Preschool and Kindergarten children and their parents/guardians have scheduled “Getting to Know You” Visits. Please contact your child’s school if you have not received information about your time slot by the 3rd week in August.  These meet-and-greets will be with your child’s classroom teacher in the classroom and take place during the first three days of the school year.  Information about the class schedule, additional clothing, day-to-day activities, weekly specials, lunch/snacks, rest and recess, parent volunteering, help in the classroom, pick-up and drop-off and a lot more!    

Bridge Street Elementary School   RK Finn Ryan Road Elementary School
2 Parsons Street, Northampton, MA 01060   498 Ryan Road, Florence, MA 01062
Phone: (413)-587-1460 FAX: (413)-587-1474   Phone: (413)-587-1550 FAX: (413)-587-1561
Principal Carol Ruyffelaert   Principal Karen Albano
Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Peterson   Administrative Assistant Vanessa Keillor
     
Jackson Street Elementary School   Leeds Elementary School
120 Jackson Street, Northampton, MA 01060   20 Florence Street, Leeds, MA 01053
Phone: (413)-587-1510 FAX: (413)-587-1524   Phone: (413)-587-1530 FAX: (413)-587-1539
Principal Ms. Lauren Brown   Principal Christine Wenz
Administrative Assistant Lauren Boyce   Administrative Assistant Sandy Bombard