Dear Parents and Guardians:
The 2026-2027 school year is almost here! We are looking forward to welcoming your child(ren) back to the middle school in just a few days. As we get ready for the start of school, we wanted to share some important information with the families.
Also, it was good to see all of the families that came out for the new student orientation earlier this week. For your reference, the slide show can be found HERE.
Mark Your Calendars for Important Dates:
Thursday, Aug. 27: PowerSchool Opens after 4 pm for Student Schedules and Bus Information–See Important Note Below.
Sept. 3: First day of school for ALL students
Sept. 3: Free and Reduced Lunch Application HERE
Sept. 4: All Fall Sports meetings after school
Sept. 4: 2026/2027 Annual Consent Emergency Information & Trip/Activity Medical
Clearance Form(Annual)due in PowerSchool
Sept. 7: School Closed for Labor Day
Sept. 9: MS Back to School Night - in person, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Thursday, September 3: ALL Students Report to School: The first day for ALL STUDENTS is Thursday, September 4th. School begins promptly at 7:30 am and dismisses at 2:38 pm. 7th grade students will report to the cafetorium and eighth grade students will report to the gymnasium.
For middle school students scheduled to start their day in the high school, primarily students who are enrolled in the JROTC program, they should report to the middle school on the first day of school. Those students with a high school class on B day should plan to report to the high school on Friday, September 4, and then A day students will report there on Tuesday, September 8, and continue that every other day pattern for the rest of the school year.
Cell Phones and Smart Watches: As per New Jersey Law (P.L.2025, c.195), students may not access cell phones, smart watches, or other non-school issued internet-enabled devices during the regular school day. Accordingly, all students who bring personal internet enabled devices to school will be expected to turn them off and store them in their school locker before the start of homeroom and may only retrieve them after dismissal from school. Students may not have their device on their person during the school day (such as in a pocket or purse). Students may not use wireless headphones during the school day.
In rare cases, a student will be permitted to use their cell phone or other internet-enabled devices during the school day if there is a documented need to fulfill accommodations in the IEP/504, to monitor healthcare, or for translation services. Students who qualify will receive written permission from a school administrator to carry their cell phone on their person.
Students who are in violation of the expectations for non-school issued internet-enabled devices will be expected to turn their device over to a staff member. The student will have the device confiscated and be subject to disciplinary consequences as outlined in the student handbook.
Student Schedules and Opening of School Forms: PowerSchool, our student management program, will be available to parents and students on August 27 after 4:00 pm. Both opening of school forms and student schedules will become available at that time.
Please note that every effort was made to schedule students based on their requests. At this point, electives and schedule assignments are not able to be changed.
Before students will be able to access their schedules, parents will need to log into PowerSchool using their parent account and complete the Opening of School form. Please log on to your Parent PowerSchool account and complete the following electronic annual form:
2026/2027 Annual Consent Emergency Information & Trip/Activity Medical Clearance Form(Annual)
Free and Reduced Lunch Form (as needed) here: LINK
These forms need to be completed no later than Friday, September 4th. If you cannot access your Parent Portal account, please contact your child’s counselor for assistance.
Chromebooks: Students should plan to bring their charged Chromebooks with them on the first day of school. Those seventh graders and new eighth graders who did not pick up their Chromebook at the orientation program will receive it on the first day of school.
Please be aware of our Chromebook protocol:
Students are expected to bring their school issued Chromebook & charger to school
every day.
Please make sure that the student logs into their Chromebook prior to the first day of school so that all system updates are completed prior to their arrival.
Students are required to use the Chromebook case issued to them.
It is the students’ responsibility to have their Chromebook charged every day.
If a student does not have their Chromebook/charger, they will be sent to the main office to call a parent/guardian to bring what they are missing.
Students who have non-working Chromebooks should report to the main office for a loaner(if available). When students receive their repaired Chromebook, it is expected that they return the loaner.
The cost to replace a charger is $35.
Students will be responsible to pay for damages to their Chromebook.
Please see below about the Chromebook Protection Plan that parents may purchase to cover the cost of accidental damages to Chromebooks.
Chromebook Repair & Protection Plan
We are pleased to continue our 1:1 Chromebook program at Northern Burlington to support your students’ learning. Please remember that families are responsible for care, maintenance, and potential repair or replacement costs for district-issued Chromebooks.
Optional Protection Plan:
For just $40 per year, the Chromebook Protection Plan covers accidental damage—such as drops, spills, and screen breaks—eliminating most repair costs for up to three incidents per device.
Sample Cost Comparison:
Item | Without Plan | With Plan (Up to 3 incidents) |
Screen | $50 | $0 |
Keyboard/Touch Pad | $40 | $0 |
Chromebook Replacement (Yr 1) | $250 | $0 (theft requires police report) |
A full list of items, coverage details, exclusions, and FAQ is available in the complete Chromebook Repair Agreement on the district website – Chromebook Repair Agreement and Protection Plan.
Here is the link to the web store and choose the "Chromebook Protection Plan.” You will need the barcode from the base of your student’s chromebook to complete purchase.
https://nburlington.revtrak.net/
Fall Sports: If your student would like to participate in a fall sport - soccer, field hockey, or cross country - please make sure you register online and follow the directions to upload the sports physical if you haven't done so already. Students may not attend practices until Northern Burlington school doctor clears the student for participation. The link to register can be found HERE.
Dress Code: Please be reminded that there is a dress code. Please review the following with your children and reference pages 18-19 of the student handbook for the following information:
NO sheer clothing
Undergarments may NOT be exposed
Back must be covered
Bottoms MUST touch tops
Bottoms MUST extend to finger length
Students in violation of the dress code will be asked to change their clothing. If they have nothing in their locker, they will call a parent/guardian to bring them appropriate clothing. If the student refuses to change their clothing, they will be placed in In School Suspension.
Student IDs: All students will receive an ID card and lanyard the first day of school. It is the expectation that students will wear their school ID at all times while in the building (there are exceptions, such as PE class, where students do not need to wear their school ID). This is part of our school safety and security measures. Students who are not wearing their school ID may have their privileges limited and may be subject to disciplinary consequences. Replacement school IDs are $5 and may be purchased at the school counseling office.
District Expectations: How we treat one another at Northern Burlington is important and we want all of our students to feel welcome. We want to create a safe and orderly environment to promote the best opportunity for learning. To that end, we have three key expectations in our school community. At Northern, our students will:
Be Ready
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
As school begins we will be talking to the students about how those expectations apply across the building. Throughout the year we plan to revisit these concepts and reinforce them. In addition, eliminating bullying is another key part of our expectations for student conduct. We will be setting up a variety of student activities throughout the school year to better educate our students on how to stop bullying.
Finally, our school has been recognized as a No Place for Hate school by the Anti-Defamation League. We look forward to continuing to earn this distinction through organizing different activities related to No Place for Hate throughout the school year. Look for updates in the weekly parent message that comes out every Friday via email.
Parent Email: Parent Messages from the principal are sent regularly at the end of every week.
The school uses email communications on a regular basis so it is essential that the school has an accurate email address. Parents should log into PowerSchool to review the email address shown and update as necessary. Parents may enter more than one email address. Please note that adding an email address in the Parent/Student Portal does not change the email address on file in PowerSchool demographics - to do this, you must email the school registrar your request.
Bus Assignments: Bus Assignments can be found in PowerSchool under Transportation and these will be made available by Thursday, August 27. Please be aware that students must ride their assigned bus. Temporary requests for a student to ride a different bus will be considered only for emergency situations and only with the Principal’s approval. Such a request must be submitted in writing from both the parent of the child and the parent who will be receiving the child, along with phone numbers to confirm the request at least 24 hours in advance. Please review the expectations for buses found in the student handbook.
School Food Services:
Breakfast
Breakfast will be served daily from 7:00 am to 7:30 am.
The cost for breakfast is $2.75 for a breakfast bundle which will include a grain and/ or protein, a fruit, and a milk. This will be the free/reduced option and will also be available for purchase. Ala Carte items are available for purchase as well.
Lunch
Every day there are two lunch periods and each is 30 minutes long.
We encourage all parents and guardians to complete a new 2026-2027 Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals prior to the first day of school. The application can be found on our webpage under parent/student resources and at this LINK.
The cost for a regular school lunch is $3.75, and a premium lunch is $4.00. Students will use their school ID to move through the lunch line. Parents are welcome to establish an online lunch account through the lunchtime parent portal found under Food Services on the parent/student page and at this Lunchtime Parent Portal.
Students are welcome to pack their lunch, but no glass bottles.
Other Important Information: Several important pieces of information are available on our district website at www.nburlington.com please be sure to check out the tabs for Student Resources, Parent/Guardian Resources, and Middle School Important Information for the following:
District Calendar
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Student Handbook
Athletics*
Parent Teacher Student Connection (PTSC): This is the parent group for the school district.
Medication at School Form: Must be completed in order for a child to take any medication at school.
Acceptable Use of Technology Policy
Anti-Bullying Policy (HIB)
Asbestos Abatement Notification (AHERA)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan
Health Insurance Brochure/Application
Finally, please enjoy these final days of summer with your friends and family. We look forward to seeing your children return. Best wishes as we embark on another exciting school year.
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal