Doherty Family Update 10.06.2024

Our new foyer bulletin board is up at Doherty Middle School. Our Hispanic Heritage Month Bulletin Board proudly connects to our theme of belonging - because everyone belongs. At our opening staff meeting, we discussed how belonging doesn't mean fitting in; it means accepting each other.

The bulletin board was created by students and teachers. "The board has a map of central and south America (and Spain) in the center of the board. We have several famous Hispanic people with brief bios from different countries highlighted. The real beauty is our latino students put their name on a heart and we connect the heart with a string to their country(ies) of origin." Ms. Maienza 6th Grade Teacher.

💞If your student would like to add a heart to the board please see Ms. Maienza or Ms. Perry.

Hispanic Heritage Month initially began as a weeklong celebration in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson who, at the time said, “The people of Hispanic descent are the heirs of missionaries, captains, soldiers, and farmers who were motivated by a young spirit of adventure, and a desire to settle freely in a free land.”

In the 1980’s
It wasn’t until 1988 that President Ronald Reagan extended the week to a full month — keeping the Sept. 15 start date because it coincides with national independence day of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Similarly, Mexico celebrates on the 16th, Chile on the 18th and Belize on the 21st.

The National Museum of the American Latino, Smithsonian gives extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

Thank you to all who attended our first principal's coffee. As mentioned in previous communications, another coffee will be held, with each session having a specific topic of conversation. During our last coffee, we discussed the transition to middle school and what makes it special. The next coffee will take place on Monday, November 4th at 9:15 AM, and the topic will be the transition to high school. We are excited to announce that our special guest for this coffee will be our Andover High School Principal, James D'Andrea. Principal D'Andrea and I have held administrative positions at middle and high schools, and we look forward to sharing some talking points with you. However, there will also be time for questions and open conversation. All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP here.

Student Leadership Opportunity: We are excited to be bringing back the DMS Values Challenge this year where each month DMS will focus on a different value! This year, Ms. Thero is also looking for 7th and 8th grade students who would like to be Values Ambassadors! This would be a great leadership opportunity for our students. The application closes on October 7th. Please reach out to Ms. Thero with any questions. DMS Values Ambassador Flyer.pdf

🚑Flu Clinic October 22

Doherty Middle 9:15-10:15 am

Sign Up Deadline October 18, 2024 at 12 p.m.

We are pleased to offer the flu vaccination to both students (grades 4 through 12) and staff in each school building.

This opportunity is being provided by Remedium Pharmacy and their staff. All insurance paperwork and vaccine administration is provided by Remedium.

If you would like to participate in this opportunity – please follow the link below to fill out the information for each child or staff member receiving the vaccine. Insurance information must be completed as requested and this information will be used by Remedium pharmacy for insurance billing.

Students must be signed up at the school where they attend classes and they must be present in school on the day of the clinic. We are not able to let your child come to another location to receive a vaccine.

1. Click on the web link to sign up - one registration per person. https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/13574DB0FA1CEE9C0A90-andover4
2. Enter the Access code: ANDOVER (all caps)
3. Complete the registration information – please enter the name of the person receiving the vaccination

Has your student lost or misplaced something? Ask your student to check the lost and found. Here is a current photo of our lost and found.

It's time to remind your student about proper use of electronic devices. This is an excerpt from our handbook.

CELL PHONES, IPODS, ELECTRONICS, ETC… Cell phones, iPods, and other personal electronic devices are not to be worn or carried in or around the school. If you bring such items to school, they must be turned off and put in lockers at the start of the school day. The Andover Public Schools is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or broken devices. Student use of CELL PHONES for texting, talking, using applications, accessing social media services and websites, and accessing the internet during the school day serves as a significant distraction/disruption to academics.

If parents or guardians need to urgently reach their student during the school day, they should call the main office and leave a message for the student. If your student needs to contact you during the school day, they can seek assistance from the main office or clinic. Students are not allowed to send or receive texts during the school day unless they have specific staff permission.

YEARBOOK

Simply scan this QR code and follow the prompts. Yearbooks will be delivered to homerooms the last week of school

You may also call 866-287-3096 or go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com and use order number 13395

Join iWalk 2024 (International Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day) on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Come together with schools across the Commonwealth to celebrate students’ active commutes to school.

https://www.dohertypac.org/

PAC Meeting - Public

DMS Library

October 16

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

To be completed if your student will participate in after school Extracurricular clubs. Click here for the form. The form is also available on our website.

Completed form can be dropped off at the Main Office.

List of Clubs and Activities can be found on our website under INFORMATION and RESOURCES

Last month, students attended the Handbook Presentation with our administration team to learn Doherty's school specific policy on bullying and cyberbullying. This month we are beginning to work with students in their ITT classes on how to recognize bullying behaviors and how to be upstanders against bullying. On Tuesday, October 22, 2024 parents and caregivers are invited to a workshop on Bullying and Social Media Education with Dr. Elizabeth Englander at the Collins Center from 6:30 - 8:00pm. For more information please visit this link and/or see below.

October 22, 2024

6:30pm-8:00pm

Collins Center

100 Shawsheen Road, Andover

Before the pandemic, screen use, anxiety, and social problems (like bullying and fighting) were top concerns for parents. The last few years have made some of these issues even more challenging. This talk will examine challenges in school, like bullying, friendship skills, and mental health, and how the ways kids use screens, gaming, and social media can impact these. Research will be summarized, and practical approaches to family life that can help children develop emotional resilience, healthy social skills and friendships, and sensible screen and social media habits will be discussed during this presentation. We will discuss how to move forward, how to partner with your child's school, and how to help parents be most productive in guiding their children towards optimal social and emotional health.

Dr. Elizabeth Englander is an award-winning author and the founder and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, a Center which delivers programs, resources, and research for the state of Massachusetts and nationwide. She is also a Founding Member of the Social and Emotional Research Consortium (SERC). As a researcher and a professor of Psychology for almost 30 years, she is a nationally recognized expert in the area of bullying and cyberbullying, childhood causes of aggression and abuse, and children’s use of technology. She was named Most Valuable Educator by the Boston Red Sox and in 2018, was appointed to the Massachusetts Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. Dr. Englander has served as a Special Editor for the Cyberbullying issues of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-CONNECT and the Journal of Social Sciences, and has authored more than a hundred articles in academic journals and books. During the global Coronavirus Pandemic, Dr. Englander conducted research with children and educators that has helped to shape the nation’s pandemic response.

For more information: http://www.MARCcenter.org http://www.elizabethenglander.com

Andover Youth Services is excited to partner with local music instructors to offer private one on one music lessons.

$450/semester $450/semester $450/semester $450/semester $450/semester Instruments that are currently accepting private lessons include: Low Brass(Trumpet/Trombone/French Horn), Clarinet,Violin/Viola, Cello/Double Bass, Flute,Saxophone, vocal and percussions. Please note,an Andover Music Lesson Membership is required to enroll in the 10 class semester.

📱If your student is absent please call our attendance line.

If you need to dismiss your student, please send them in with a note including the student name, date, time. The note should be given to the main office.