Our final day of #StartWithHello Week may be tomorrow (Friday), but we encourage welcoming school communities all year long! Let's "Celebrate Kindness" together!
Dress Up:
Wear yellow or green—the colors of inclusion
Act of Kindness:
Community Welcome Day!
Daily Ice Breaker:
Say hi to someone who likes to dance
Dress Up:
Wear pink for compassion and care
Act of Kindness:
Eat with a new friend!
Daily Ice Breaker:
Say hi to someone whose favorite season is different than yours
Dress Up:
Wear neon, shiny, or brightly-colored clothing
Act of Kindness:
Compliment day—give one, get one!
Daily Ice Breaker:
Say hi to someone who goes by a nickname
Starting Monday, North Adams Public Schools will celebrate #StartWithHello Week! This special week is all about creating a welcoming community through connection, kindness, and inclusion — empowering all learners to reach out and make new friends.
We encourage everyone in our community to participate!
Monday is "Hey Day!"
Dress Up:
Wear your favorite shirt
Act of Kindness:
Say hi to someone new!
Daily Ice Breaker:
Say hi to someone with the same favorite animal as you
Milham Planetarium Shows
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
shows at 6 pm and 7 pm, approx. 45 minutes long
Hopkins Observatory, 829 Main Street, Williamstown 01267
"Launching into STEM Week - A Planetarium show"
The show will cover all that the night sky has to offer, from mythology to astrophysics. Your guide is a Williams College student studying Astrophysics.
Please RSVP https://tinyurl.com/StarShowOct2025 to reserve seats.
Hopkins Memorial Forest
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
4:00-5:30 pm
Hopkins Forest Rosenberg Center, 271 NW Hill Road, Williamstown 01267
"STEM in Hopkins Memorial Forest - Salamanders, Goldenrod, and Weather Stations, Oh My!"
Join Elise Leduc-Fleming, the HMF Manager, for an inside look at the flora, fauna and research in the forest. Participants will explore the forest for signs of animals of all sizes, delve into the world of plants by investigating a long-term pollinator experiment, and learn about the long term weather stations and stream data collection that happen in the forest.
STEAM Challenge Night
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025
5:00 to 7:00 pm
Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Ave, Pittsfield MA
Flying Cloud Institute is hosting an evening of hands-on science, art and engineering challenges.
Free for all youth in Grades K-8 and their families.
From Oct. 20–24, let’s celebrate kindness, connection, and inclusion with daily dress-up themes and fun acts of kindness:
👕 Mon: Wear your favorite shirt + say hi to someone new
🎨 Tue: Rock your school colors + create a new handshake
✨ Wed: Bright neon day + give and get compliments
💗 Thu: Wear pink + eat with a new friend
💛💚 Fri: Yellow & green for inclusion + Community Welcome Day
Let’s make new friends and spread kindness all week long!
Superintendent Tim Callahan invites NAPS families, students, teachers, staff, community partner representatives, and North Adams residents to take our quick 5-10 minute survey (16 questions). The survey will allow you to share your thoughts on our schools and the new Code of Conduct, Character, and Support as part of his Superintendent Entry Plan. Your responses are confidential and will help shape our future improvements!
🗓️ Deadline: Monday, October 27th
👉 Fill it out here: www.napsk12.org/improvementsurvey
Thank you for your participation!
Youth Center Inc, Winter Fun Weeks at the North Adams Rec Center (December 22 - 26 and December 29 - January2).
See Flyer for details and registration information.
Family Night: After Hours at MASS MoCA is coming on Thursday, October 16th!
Families with children of all ages are invited to Family Night at MASS MoCA on Thursday, October 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. This free event will feature after-hours access to select exhibitions in the museum, performances, artmaking, food, giveaways, and fun!
Free; RSVPs encouraged but not required.
Exhibits on view will include Vincent Valdez, Sol LeWitt, Carly Glovinski, Jeffrey Gibson, and Spencer Finch. Read more about the artists and preview their work here: https://massmoca.org/exhibitions/
Performances and Activities Include:
+ Museum of Mysteries Quest - There are so many curious artworks at MASS MoCA! Join us on a quest to explore, discover clues, and uncover the mysteries in our galleries. Work together as a family to solve at least half of the mysteries and receive your own art kit!
+ Live Jazz Music Presented by BAAMS - The Berkshires’ Academy for Advanced Musical Studies presents a special night of world-class jazz featuring four extraordinary musicians, each bringing decades of experience, artistry, and heart to the stage — brought to you by the faculty from North Adams-based BAAMS. Experience a performance where virtuosity meets soul, tradition meets innovation, and every note tells a story. Special young musician guests from among BAAMS’ students will also be invited to sit in during the evening.
+ Face Painting - Offered by Hannah True & Western Mass Face Painting by Emily Gwynn
+ Artmaking - Individual and collaborative artmaking projects offered in two locations.
More details and link to RSVP at https://massmoca.org/event/family-night-after-hours/
📢 We're HIRING Teaching Assistants! Join North Adams Public Schools and empower all learners! 🌟
✨ Multiple positions available, including Kindergarten! ✨ Enjoy leave and sick day accrual ✨ School-day hours with a school-year calendar ✨ Health insurance & retirement plan benefits ✨ Union membership and collective bargaining eligible
Ready to make a difference?
1️⃣ Review the job description: www.napsk12.org/HumanResources
2️⃣ Fill out the easy application form: napsk12.org/apply
3️⃣ Email your application to cvolff@napsk12.org
Scan the flyer QR code to apply now! Let's work together to support our students' success! 💙📚
You can find more artwork from our Drury High School visual art students on Drury's Artsonia page: https://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=31989
Flu Vaccine Clinic
Friday, Oct. 3rd
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Brayton Elementary School cafeteria at 20 Brayton Hill Terrace, North Adams, MA
Nurses will follow the appointment schedule as best as possible, but walk-ins are welcome as supplies allow. Remember to wear short sleeves for a quick and easy vaccination.
Please pre-register here: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/berkshiresite=brayton-elementary-school
Or scan the QR code on the flyer.
Find all clinic locations at GetVaccinatedBerkshires.org.
From project-based and transformational learning to our Early College and Innovation Pathways programs, Drury is designed to prepare students for post-graduate success. 💡💼 Our robust internship program, Portrait of a Graduate focus, and daily Crew and flex blocks create a supportive and dynamic learning environment.
Drury graduates are ready for life beyond the classroom! 🌍💙
#discoverdrury #WeAreDrury
Over several powerful days of learning, participants explored:
✨ Adolescent Literacy
✨ Reciprocal Teaching Strategies
✨ Foundational Literacy
✨ Strategies to Support Writing
The energy, collaboration, and commitment to strengthening literacy instruction for every student were inspiring. Thank you to all who joined us on this journey — your dedication is laying the foundation for a stronger, more literate future for our community! 💡✏️📖
Here’s to building on this momentum and making literacy a shared success story across NAPS!
This summer, Drury educators took part in a three-day Springpoint training at Babson College, where they collaborated to practice designing transformational learning experiences for students.
Through hands-on workshops and deep discussions, teachers and leaders explored innovative approaches to instruction that center student voice, engagement, and real-world application. The work at Babson reflects our commitment to reimagining learning so every Drury student is prepared to thrive in the future.
👏 A huge thank you to our educators for bringing curiosity, creativity, and dedication to this important work!
