Principal's Message
Hello Jack Northrop Explorers:
Welcome to our 21st year of learning! Our Explorers are blessed to have such a warm and inviting learning environment of which we encourage respect, responsibility, and safety. We appreciate you taking the time to navigate our new website to learn more about our learning community.
This year, our Jack Northrop Staff has improved processes to increase safety - which include our dismissal processes, increased awareness of healthy foods, as well as the ways in which we move around the campus. To learn more about our processes, we encourage our families to get involved in the various committees and meetings created to involve our community. These include our PTO, School Site Council (SSC), African American Advisory Committee (AAAC), English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC), and / or come in for our Coffee with the Principal: Harmony Time.
Through Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), the Jack Northrop Explorers focus on being respectful, responsible and safe. Systems include using a site monetary system - our B-2 bucks, that allow students to purchase various items from our B-2 Cart. In addition, we promote positive behavior with whole class incentives through Brilliant B-2s, good behavior in the cafeteria with the Golden Spoon, and staff and student recognitions of our Excellent Explorers.
Our teachers design instruction that challenges students with a high level of rigor. Using the instructional strategies designed through Teacher Clarity, students have a clear understanding of their learning intentions (what is being taught) as well as the success criteria (how they know they are being successful). This year, we are increasing our instructional practices with common master schedules that promote predictability in the classroom, as well as using common formative assessments to design instructional opportunities. We have also developed a Learning Center for students that need support through academic interventions.
This year, information will be reported to families through a Standards Based Grading and Reporting Format. This will provide families with a clearer understanding of what their students are able to do. This will be changed from traditional grading and reporting practices. Please take the opportunity to read the literature and attend parent information sessions regarding what this new system of information means.
Our Jack Northrop teachers have a long standing tradition in using educational strategies that promote learning for all students. This is why I wanted to come back as the principal. I had the pleasure of starting my teaching career in Lancaster as a JN Explorer! My own children were students here, and I credit their continuous love of learning from the high quality teachers and all support staff they were lucky to have in their tenure here. It is great to reconnect with families that are holding on the tradition of multi-generational Jack Northrop students and alumni.
Looking forward to meeting you and participating in your students’ education journey!
Mrs. Harmon
