We are excited to introduce the unique Tiger Academy at South, a before-school enrichment class that offers a range of exciting activities. Please explore our diverse offerings below.

As a reminder, our first Early Release Day is this Wednesday, October 2nd. We will dismiss at 12:15. Bagged lunch is provided for students who order.

Warmly,

Brenda Lee, Principal

Olivia Goodrich, Assistant Principal

Last week, students discussed A for "I am Accepting." Students read "Red - A Crayon's Story." Kindergarten through second-grade classes answered the questions: What do people see about them on the outside? What do they want people to know about them based on their feelings inside? Third-grade through fifth-grade classes discussed the question: What happens when we make judgments or assumptions about someone or something? This coming week, students will work on what it means to be Respectful at school.

S- I am Safe

O- I take Ownership

A- I am Accepting

R- I am Respectful

S- I am Successful

MANDATORY 3rd GRADE PHYSICALS:

The State of Massachusetts and the Andover Public Schools require all students in 3rd grade to have a current physical on file. If you have not yet submitted a physical to the clinic, please send in a physical that has been completed on/after April 1, 2024.

You may send the physical in with your child, fax it to 978-247-9891 or scan it to the email listed below. If our child is due for a physical later this school year, please let me know.

COLD/FLU SEASON:

With the cold and flu season coming upon us, please refer to the following:

WHEN TO STAY HOME?

· Fever of 100* or higher, chills or shaking chills

· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

· New loss of taste or smell

· Muscle or body aches

· Cough not due to other known causes

· Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms

· Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

· Headache when in combination with other symptoms

· Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms

· Nasal congestion (not due to known allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

· If your student is staying home due to illness, please call the attendance line (978) 247-9802 to report the absence

· Please do not return before being symptom free (without medicine) for at least 24 hours

CRITERIA FOR SENDING A STUDENT BACK TO SCHOOL FOLLOWING ILLNESS:

· Fever free for 24 hours with no analgesics.

· Diarrhea free for 24 hours

· Vomiting free for 24 hours

· When medication for a contagious infection is prescribed, the student must have taken the first dose at least 24 hours prior to return to school.

· Head Lice - the nurse/designee in the clinic must check the student’s head before a student can return to school.
Please click link for lice information: Lice

CLOTHING:

Please remember to send in your child with appropriate clothing, and a change of clothing in case they do get wet. Many students do not like the limited clothing selection I have in the clinic.

FOOTWEAR: Please make sure your child wears sneakers or a supportive shoe for outdoor recess as they need to have safe footwear for running around in the playground and climbing on the playground structures.

ATTENDANCE:

Please remember to always call or email the absentee line if your child will be tardy, ill or not in school for the day(s). We need to make sure that all students are accounted for at the beginning of the school day. Please do not solely tell the teacher. If you receive the automated call informing you that your child is absent, please call the school.

Absentee Line: 978-247-9801
Absentee Email: Attendance.South@andoverma.us

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Christina Lemonias, RN
ChristinaLemonias@andoverma.us

Tel: 978-247-9802
Fax: 978-247-9891

South School is pleased to offer the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students a before-school enrichment program, Mathematical Olympiads, for Elementary and Middle Schools. Math Olympiad helps students learn problem-solving and develops their reasoning and logical thinking skills. This program is for students who enjoy math and are looking for extra challenges. Any student who is willing to work on hard math problems is welcome to try the program.

The Math Olympiad Team meets weekly on Tuesday mornings in the Library from 8:00am - 8:45am. Please do not drop your student off before 7:55am as there is no supervision before this time. Students should enter the building through the front doors.

The weekly practice sessions prepare students for five monthly math contests which take place from November to March. These five-question, 30-minute tests are held at South School during the regular meeting time. To learn more about the Math Olympiad program and see sample questions, please visit their website at moems.org.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, October 8th and the program will continue weekly until spring. Students are expected to attend weekly to get the most benefit from the program. We will not meet on days when school is canceled or there is a delayed opening.

The Math Olympiad program at South School is run by parent volunteers - Yonet Eracar and Liang Jin. This is the 10th year for the Math Olympiad program at South School. If you have any questions about the Math Olympiad program at South School, please email southschoolmath@gmail.com to reach our parent volunteers.

To register your student for the Math Olympiad program at South School, please fill out the form below. There is no registration fee for the program but the number of seats are limited, so please respond at your earliest convenience.

SIGN UP HERE

We are looking for new members of our South School School Council!

As mandated by the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (June, 1993) South School established a School Council that is a representative, school building-based committee composed of an equal number of parents and staff and a community member. The Council is an advisory body to the principal and its purpose is to assist the principal in reviewing the school building budget, in developing a school improvement plan, and in identifying educational needs and goals for our students at South School. The council will meet four times this year.

We have vacancies here at South School for Council representation. If you feel you are able to share your time and energy in this capacity, please let Brenda Lee know to place your name in nomination. Please be assured that the only criterion for eligibility is a love of children and a willingness to serve! In your email, state your desire to serve, any life experiences that may support Council work, and the number of years you are willing to serve (one or two). Please deliver it or email it to Brenda Lee (brenda.lee@andoverma.us) by Friday, October 11. If ballots are necessary, they will be sent home through the PTO. Details to follow.

We need your help and assistance since our school will be stronger as a result of our working together on behalf of the children. If you have any question, please reach out to Brenda.

Want to stay up to date with all the latest PTO news?

Visit www.SouthPTO.com

A kind reminder to our families that cell phones must be turned off and in students’ backpacks at the start of the school day. Smartwatches may be worn as regular watches, however, students are not allowed to text, communicate with others, use applications, take pictures or videos, or access social media services and websites.

Should parents/guardians urgently need to reach their child during the school day, we ask that you call the main office. Students are also allowed to come to the main office if they need to contact someone at home. If a cell phone or watch becomes a significant distraction, school administrators will reach out to parents/guardians. The Andover Public Schools is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or broken devices.

To promote healthy digital habits during the school day, the resources below may be helpful to use. We appreciate your partnership as we work to keep interruptions to the school day at a minimum.

Resource for Apple Watches:

How to set a Schooltime schedule

• Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap All Watches, then tap your child's watch.

• Tap Done, then tap Schooltime.

• Turn on Schooltime, then tap Edit Schedule.

• Choose the days and times when you want Schooltime to be active.

• Tap Add Time if you want to set up more than one schedule in a day.

Resource for Gizmo Watches:

How to set up Schoolmode

• Open the. GizmoHub app.

• Tap the. School mode switch. turn on or off. If necessary, set up a School Mode schedule.

All students are able to receive 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch daily during the 2024-2025 school year. Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 8:45 - 9:00 and does not need to be ordered ahead of time.

Lunches will need be preordered. It is very important that our cafeteria has an accurate lunch count each day. Please review with your children each morning what you have ordered for them.

Please click below for the monthly menu and more information about Andover's Nutrition Program including how to sign up.

• Mon., Sept 30: Bus evacuation practice @ 9:10am

• Tues, Oct 1: Fourth Grade Field Trip - Archeological Dig

• Wed, October 2: Early Release ~ Dismissal @ 12:15pm

• Wed, Oct 9: Booster Fun Run (9:20am-10:20am - Grades K-2, 10:30am-11:30am - Grades 3-5)

• Thurs, Oct 10: Ball in The House visits South

• Mon, Oct 14: NO SCHOOL ~ Indigenous People Day

• Wed, Oct 16: School Photos

Email: brenda.lee@andoverma.us
Website: https://www.aps1.net/405/South-Elementary-School
Location: 55 Woburn Street, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: 978-247-9800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southschoolaps