All Around APS

Dear APS families and staff,

At the School Committee meeting on February 6th, DillingerRAD presented an initial overview of middle school scenarios as part of the ongoing K-8 redistricting process. They also introduced a revised version of the elementary school scenario, now referred to as Scenario 5. This version reflects community feedback from earlier scenarios . At this meeting, the School Committee requested a refinement of this scenario based on community feedback they have received. I encourage everyone to review DillingerRAD’s latest presentation to stay informed about the options under consideration in the coming weeks. Please visit the APS redistricting webpage for complete information on the process.

In line with our ongoing commitment to community engagement, the district and DillingerRAD will host a virtual “Let’s Talk! Redistricting” community forum on Thursday, February 13th, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. You can join the forum through the link provided here.

The School Committee is expected to vote on the redistricting plan in March, with the approved plan set to be implemented in the 2026-27 school year. This timeline provides the district with ample time to plan for the new school zones. Thank you to the community for your thoughtful involvement throughout this process.

Dr. Magda Parvey

Superintendent

Please join us in congratulating grade three, West Elementary student, Aryansh Kaul. Aryansh was one of hundreds of students who entered a writing contest sponsored by the non-profit ‘Leap for Literacy’. Aryansh and nine other students will attend a recognition ceremony in Georgia this May. His piece, “Stubborn to Strong” will also be published via Amazon books following his recognition. We can't wait to read it!

In recent weeks, families across the district celebrated Lunar New Year and the beginning of the Year of the Snake!

On January 25, 38 Andover High School students in Ms. Wu’s Chinese class performed two songs in Mandarin at the Lunar New Year Gala, organized by the Andover Chinese Association at Wood Hill Middle School. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for students to immerse themselves in authentic Chinese culture and actively engage with the community.

Throughout the past week, students have been celebrating the Lunar New Year in various ways during class. They created intricate paper-cuttings of the Zodiac, practiced Chinese calligraphy by writing New Year wishes, crafted paper-folded snakes, and received red envelopes, among other festive activities.

Wishing everyone and their families a Happy Lunar New Year! May the Year of the Snake bring happiness, health, and success!

Merrimack College Men’s Basketball team visited Doherty Middle School last week to motivate and encourage students to stay in school to graduation. The Merrimack coaches and players shared the message that success in education is fundamental to success in life. They also took some time to shoot some hoops! Thank you to the team for sharing their time and wisdom!

Five key points from the Stay In To Win Program

• Key #1 - Players Achieve their goals by Staying In The Game. Students achieve their goals by staying in school.
• Key #2 - Players can't win games on their own; they need their teams. Students can't succeed on their own; they need their success teams.
• Key #3 - When players make good decisions, they score points and win games. When students make good decisions, they get better grades and succeed in school.
• Key #4: Players who work hard achieve high numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. Students who work hard achieve high scores in reading, writing, and math.
• Key #5 - Successful players practice to perfect their basketball skills. Successful students get involved to perfect their personal development skills.

• Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21, 2025 - Presidents’ Day/ Winter Recess - NO SCHOOL

• Friday, February 28, 2025 – Ramadan (begins at sundown the previous day)

Black History Month

February 1st - 28th is Black History Month in the U.S. Black History Month is an important time for reflection, celebration, and education about the contributions, achievements, and experiences of Black people throughout history. The month-long observance serves as an opportunity to explore the rich and diverse history that has helped shape our society.

The printable 2025-26 school year calendar is available on our website.

The Wood Hill Drama Club is performing Seussical Jr. this weekend! Come see one of the performances Friday, February 7th at 7 p.m. or two showings on Saturday, February 8th at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 by using the QR code to the right, or $12 at the door. We hope you’ll join us!

Join Andover High School for Curriculum Night, a special event for 8th-grade parents and caregivers! Andover High School is excited to invite you to an informative evening where Program Coordinators will share an overview of the courses and academic opportunities available at Andover High School. This event will provide valuable insights to help you and your child prepare for the course selection process, which will take place in March with School Counselors. Don't miss this opportunity to gain important information and ensure a smooth transition to high school!

Event Information:

"Curriculum Night" for 8th Grade Parents/Caregivers

When? Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 6:30-8:15

Where? Collins Center, Andover High School, Shawsheen Road, Andover, MA

Kindly RSVP to this event by filling out this form.

The Town of Andover’s Permanent Town Building Advisory Committee (PTBAC) will host a series of three public forums regarding the proposed Andover High School improvement project. The forums will provide members of the community with an opportunity to learn about the status of the project and to help shape the design priorities. Input received by the community through these forums will be used to develop the project's goals and scope.

Upcoming Forum Dates and Locations:

• February 13 at 7:00 PM – Select Board Room, Town Offices, 36 Bartlet Street
• February 20 at 7:00 PM – Virtual Meeting on Zoom

These forums will be broadcast live on AndoverTV and available to stream online at andovertv.org.

The Andover High School (AHS) improvement project aims to enhance the existing AHS facility and address its most significant deficiencies. An appropriation of $500,000 was approved at a Special Town Meeting in November 2023 to fund the design of this renovation project.

The PTBAC, in collaboration with the School Committee and other stakeholders, is committed to ensuring that the Andover High School improvement project reflects the priorities of the community. Community input is crucial in shaping the future of this important project.

For more information, visit the Andover High School Improvement Project webpage.

The School Committee met on February 6, 2025. Items on the agenda included the annual presentation by AHS administrators of the Program of Studies and the AHS Class Enrollment Analysis report. DillingerRAD also presented an update on the redistricting process.

Meetings are held in the School Committee Room at Central Office, 30 Whittier Court – 2nd floor and are broadcast live by AndoverTV via Andover public access television (Comcast Channel 6 and Verizon Channel 43) or by streaming from www.andovertv.org. Please visit the School Committee Meeting – Agendas, Presentations, and Videos webpage for more information.

The next School Committee meeting will be held on February 27, 2025. Agendas are posted up to 48 hours in advance on the district’s website.

The Andover School Committee recently launched the Staff Shout Out, which seeks to engage the community in recognizing our outstanding staff. We noticed that our crossing guards have been praised repeatedly on social media by various members of our community for braving the cold weather to help keep students safe.

A sampling of quotes:

"We have the best crossing guards in our town!!! They’re all amazing people and they work hard to keep our kids safe! Thank you for braving the cold!!!"

"They are amazing people!"

"Thanks for all you do to keep our children safe. Rain, snow or sleet you are out there keeping the kids safe."

The School Committee agrees! Congratulations and thanks to all our crossing guards for their hard work!

The School Committee is seeking nominations for the APS Staff Shout Out. This is an effort to recognize our extraordinary staff who embody the mission, values, and vision of the Andover Public Schools. Please share your nominations here. Selected staff will be announced at each School Committee meeting. We look forward to hearing how our staff have made a meaningful impact on your student(s).

Much like “office hours,” School Committee informal forums allow for an interactive dialogue with the Andover community. These meetings have no set agenda and are attended by two members of the Committee. All members of the Andover community are welcome and encourage to attend to discuss any item under the purview of the School Committee.

The next School Committee Informal Forum will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Hall Library (2 N. Main Street). More information on upcoming Informal Forums can be found here.

The School Committee recognizes their responsibility to reflect and represent the diverse needs of the community. There are a number of ways to provide input and feedback on issues under the purview of the School Committee. Please visit this page to learn more about the different ways you can connect with the School Committee.