Amesbury Public Schools Update

Email: bartlettc@amesburyma.gov
Website: schools.amesburyma.gov
Location: 5 Highland Street, Amesbury, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 388-0507
Facebook: facebook.com/amesburyschools
Twitter: @amesburypublic1

Happy first day of April!

It is fantastic to feel the weather slowly turning warmer and the days getting longer. Spring sports and the spring musical have begun! There is a lot of talk about the end of the school year - but there is so much that will be happening between now and then. Students and staff alike are planning events and preparing for the final push. Despite the fact that the year has not quite been a "normal" one, we are working diligently to return as many things to normal as we can. However, like many people out there, as a result of the impact of COVID, we have learned some better ways to accomplish our goals - so there may be a couple of tweaks along the way!

MCAS testing has begun at all levels and will continue throughout the months of April and May. Please make sure to check the newsletters from your child's schools so that everyone is as prepared as possible. I fully anticipate requests for field trips to increase as we head into spring. The opportunity to learn outside of the classroom is so important for our students.

Every parent who chaperones a field trip must have a CORI done by Amesbury Public Schools. If you anticipate that you will be attending on a field trip or in a classroom, please reach out to Carol Bartlett at bartlettc@amesburyma.gov and she will assist you with the process.

As we turn the corner on COVID (I hope), let's focus on moving forward and working together to make the end of this school year the best possible!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth McAndrews

Superintendent

A huge congratulations to the varsity girls basketball team on their State Championship! The team worked hard and decimated their opponents along the way to the title. This is the first state title for girls' hoop and is definitely something of which to be proud!

Literature offers us the opportunity to use both eyesight and insight. The Amesbury School district will now be able to offer students the opportunity to use literature as mirrors; a reflection of the individual student, and as windows; offering expanding multicultural views and perspectives.

Thanks to a grant awarded by AEFI, Amesbury Educational Foundation Inc., each school librarian was able to examine the individual library collections, and purchase books we felt were both windows and mirrors for our students. Each school will integrate this collection into the curriculum, teaching the students the awareness they will need to live their lives in a global world facing vast differences and awesome similarities.

The grant was written as part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, headed by Learning Director, Lyn Jacques. AEFI’s main objective- “funding innovation through its competitive grant program,” chose this project as a show of the collaborative efforts between the schools to support literature as a tool for learning and discourse for the complexity of living in a diverse society.

Our deepest gratitude to AEFI for this support.

Below are some examples (not all!) of the books in each of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion collections:

Please complete the survey for the Amesbury SEPAC to better understand what would be helpful to offer the Amesbury community in support of children with disabilities. The Amesbury SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) is an independent advocacy group with the mission to work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with disabilities.

Background: Parent Advisory Councils are established by Massachusetts Special Education Law, Chapter 71B, requiring every school district to establish a PAC “to advise the school committee on matters that pertain to the education, health, and safety of children with special needs.” [603 CMR 28.07 (4)]

Fill out a survey for EACH child in your care who has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is going through the process for an IEP or 504 plan living in the Amesbury community or attending Amesbury Public Schools.

All responses collected are anonymous.

Please use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H7VLRVV

Thank you in advance for the information!

There have been some significant updates since the last report.

• The repairs to the 8th grade roof at AMS have been completed. The repairs have withstood two separate storms without a leak! The bladders are in the process of being removed as well as ceiling tiles being replaced.
• We are in the process of getting quotes to do a similar repair to the roof of the Performance Center. More information to follow at a later time.
• The Statement of Interest (SOI) was submitted to the MSBA for a complete replacement of the AMS roof.
• Continued replacement of filters and cleaning of vents.
• Additional information provided by structural engineer regarding the replacement of two HVAC units on the Cashman roof. This information will allow us to be more specific and ensure proper load in our RFP to replace those units.

The AES 4th grade Student Newspaper Club would like to present their 2022 news show! Written and recorded by the members of our 4th Grade Newspaper Club with the help and support of Mr. Bruce McBrien. We hope that you enjoy it.

https://vimeo.com/689110414/c9ef9afd0e

Please join the AHS Drama Club for their presentation of Once Upon a Mattress. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Adult admission is $15 and student admission is $10. Remaining shows include tonight (Friday) and Saturday at 7 pm. Don't miss it! They always put on a fantastic show!

At Monday's meeting, the School Committee will vote on the Superintendent's Recommended Budget. This meeting signifies an important step in the budget process as an approval sends the budget off to the Mayor prior to her submitting the entire city's budget to the City Council. Several budget workshops were held with the School Committee prior to finalizing our recommended budget as well as a Public Hearing that took place on March 21, 2022. I am so appreciative of the collaborative manner in which this process took place. I believe that the budget that we are moving forward is one that supports students and staff as we return to a more normal school experience. Please see the budget documents on our website.

The Classes of 2024 and 2025 are sponsoring a new event - the Bunny Hop Bash! This Saturday, April 2, 2022 from 10 am to noon at Amesbury High School. The $15 admission price includes a picture with the Easter Bunny as well as face painting, a peeps eating contest, coloring station, egg decorating and egg hunts! Should be a fun time!

Come join Snow White, Tinker Bell, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, and Princess Elena of Avalor!

The Class of 2022 is proud to announce the return of the Princess Tea Party! Please join them on April 10th from 10 am to 12 noon. Admission for children is $10 and for adults it is $5. Admission includes snacks, face paint, and more!

I don't usually say this, but the month of March has flown by! We are less than two weeks away from April break. This year's break is a little longer than usual as the Good Friday holiday is backed up right against vacation week. Therefore, there is no school from Friday, April 15th through Sunday, April 24th. Classes will resume on Monday, April 25th.

There have been many questions about the actual last day of school for this year. Let's clear this up!

Our last day of school is Wednesday, June 22nd. Here's why:

• Our last day of school without snow days was Friday, June 17th
• I called two snow days.
• Sunday, June 19th is the holiday, Juneteenth which must be observed on Monday, June 20.

So, there will be a three day weekend June 18, 19, and 20th which will be followed by two days of school: Tuesday, June 21st and Wednesday, June 22nd. June 22nd will be a half day for the entire district with students being dismissed on an Early Release Schedule.

• CES and AES - released at 11:30 am
• AMS, AHS, and AIHS - released at 10:50 am

Hope this helps. As a reminder, students' first day back to school will be Tuesday, September 6th.