Bulldog Bulletin

Our students have done an amazing job with both ACCESS and benchmark testing this week. We are proud of their hard work and focus!

Mindful Listening
For the rest of the month, we’ll continue emphasizing mindful listening. This week, students practiced mindful listening by tuning into new sounds in the hallways and discovering a "secret sound." They demonstrated outstanding listening skills, with many receiving shoutouts during the morning announcements!

Mindful listening helps students build stronger connections, stay focused, and feel more engaged in learning. At school, we encourage students to practice being fully present when listening to their teachers and classmates.

Supporting Mindful Listening at Home

Parents, you can help reinforce this skill at home by:

• Modeling active listening: Pause what you're doing, make eye contact, and repeat back what you hear to show understanding.
• Encouraging thoughtful responses: Ask your child to take a moment to think before responding.

Special Guests and Events

• Author Visit with Jerry Pallotta
  This week, we were thrilled to welcome Jerry Pallotta, who shared his creative process for generating book ideas and writing stories. This inspiring event was made possible through the district-wide Cummings Grant

• Discovery Museum Workshop
  On Friday, our second graders participated in an engaging workshop from the Discovery Museum, exploring the Physical Changes of Matter. This hands-on science experience captivated students’ curiosity! Additional resources are available on the Discovery Museum's website. A big thank you to the Sanborn PTO and your Fun Run contributions for making this event possible.

We have Sheila Zeder helping in the office on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to cover for Deborah’s lunch. She is completing Volunteer hours through the town. Please be patient as she learns the new routines.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering an environment of growth and engagement for our students. Let’s keep the momentum going as we move forward!

We want to share these dates in advance as we prepare for the upcoming.

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing.

Grade 3 April 7, 8 (ELA) and May 6, 8 (Math)

Grade 4 April 10, 11 (ELA) and May 13, 15 (Math)

Grade 5 April 10, 11 (ELA) May 13, 15 (Math) and May 19, 20 (Science)

More information will be shared closer to testing time.

As district continues its work on the K-8 redistricting process in partnership with DillingerRAD, we are pleased to offer a virtual "Let's Talk!" community forum on the APS Redistricting Process on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. The community is welcome to join the conversation with DillingerRAD at any time using this link.

This session will review the information provided to the School Committee at their January 9th meeting and solicit community input and feedback around one revised scenario. DillingerRAD will be available to answer any questions. The link to join is available here.

The approved redistricting plan will be implemented in the 2026-27 school year. This allows the district sufficient time to operationally plan for the new school zones. We appreciate the continued participation from the community during this process.

Between January 6th and January 17th, Grades 2-8 students will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on the computer during the school day. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth in math and reading. (NOTE: This will be the first time students in Grade 2 will be taking MAP Reading.)

Each testing session lasts from 45-60 minutes. Testing days are at the discretion of individual schools, within the testing window. The results of these tests assist teachers in informing instruction, personalizing learning, and monitoring the growth of individual students. Principals and administrators can use the data to assess performance and progress at each grade level, school, and district. It will help us learn more about where students may need interventions and identify what those supports might be at the classroom, school, and district level.

MAP Growth tests are responsive and adapt to your child’s answers to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey. Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores in similar skills and topics and then plan instruction accordingly.

MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students in the same grade and subject with the same starting performance level.

We look forward to supporting you with information about your child’s progress. In early February, parents and guardians will receive a Family Report summarizing each child’s winter benchmark results. Results will be sent home with your child. Principals will communicate a reminder about results in their school newsletters.

For more information about MAP Growth, visit NWEA.org/familytoolkit or NWEA MAP Assessment | Andover Public Schools

Dates for the calendar:

January 22: Winter Chorus/Orff Concert 7:00pm

January 23: 3rd Grade Lexington Symphony Field Trip (permission forms went home this week)

February 12: 5th grade chorus performs at the Collins Center 7:30pm

Wednesday, January 15th: Coffee and Conversation (Multi-Lingual Learner Coffee)

Monday, January 20th: No School

Wednesday, January 22nd: Winter Chorus/Orff Concert 7:00pm

Thursday, January 23rd: 3rd Grade Lexington Symphony Field Trip

Tuesday, January 28th, at 7p Special PTO Meeting with Superintendent Dr. Parvey.

Wednesday, January 29th: Early Release

Wednesday, February 12th: 5th grade chorus performs at the Collins Center 7:30pm

Communication with our families is essential to the success and wellness of our students. To assist our families and help them connect with the appropriate staff who is best suited to answer questions, we have updated our “Who We Are” page on our website. The information will guide families to resources on how to reach staff with concerns and how to stay connected to news and events across the district.

• Winter Explorations will begin on Monday, January 6th. Please note the day of your child's activity and keep an eye on the PTO calendar for any changes.
• Join us on Thursday, January 16th at 6p for Top Secret Science Night! The cost for this event is $15 per child, which includes the materials for the science experiments and pizza. Please register in advance here.
• Mark your calendars! Join us on Tuesday, January 28th, at 7p in the Sanborn Library for a special PTO Meeting featuring Superintendent Dr. Parvey. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear updates, ask questions, and engage with our school leadership. Don’t miss it!
• Did you know that several spots on our PTO Board will be up for grabs this spring? This is your chance to step up, bring your ideas, and make a real difference in shaping the future of our school community. (Spoiler alert: It’s actually super fun!) Ready to jump in? Let’s make it happen together! Information on the positions that will be open for 2025-26/2026-27 is listed here - reach out to us with any questions at pto@sanbornpto.net.
• A few ways to stay up to date on the latest news and offerings from the PTO:
• The Bulldog Spirit is the monthly newsletter from the Sanborn PTO where they communicate about our school events, fundraisers, enrichment activities, etc. Sign up here.
• Bookmark the PTO website!
• For real-time updates during the school year, follow the Sanborn Community on social media: Facebook, Instagram
• Join your child's grade-level Facebook group - this group is just for kids in your child’s grade. Here you can connect, ask grade-specific questions, etc.