Doherty Family Update 12.15.2024

Values Challenge has started!

Each month our DMS community will focus on recognizing students who are showing the value of the month. Throughout the month, the main office will incorporate the values into our morning announcements to help get the students aware of the value and ways that they could accomplish the value. The bulletin board in the hallway outside the music room will also be used as a community builder for the values! Our Values Ambassadors have selected Kindness for the month of December.

• Tuesday 12/2 thru Wednesday 12/18 - Student Council Food Drive

• Tues, 12/17-12/19: PAC Grab-a-Gift

• Friday 12/20 - Holiday Recess begins at 2:50
• Thursday 1/2 - School Reopens

The Doherty Student Council is excited to announce a food drive from Monday, December 2nd to Wednesday, December 18th! This is a friendly competition between homerooms to collect the most non-perishable food items.

You can bring cans, pasta, bottled water, protein bars, macaroni and cheese, or any other non-expired items you have. All donations will go to the Bread and Roses food bank in Lawrence to help families in need during the holiday season.

Don’t forget to check the office bulletin board to see how your homeroom is doing in the competition! Let’s work together to make a difference!

In partnership with PAC, holiday gift cards (Target, Market Basket, Shaw’s etc.) are being collected to distribute to families needing support this holiday season. If you would like to contribute, gift cards can be brought to the main office. Thank you!

All donations and requests are confidential.

If you would like to request a gift card for your family, please contact one of our school social workers, Colleen LeBeau (978-247-9420)

• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - District departments will present their budget proposals.

• Thursday, January 23, 2025 - The School Committee will hold a preliminary vote on the FY26 budget allocation in relation to the overall town’s FY26 budget.

• Thursday, March 6, 2025 - The School Committee will hold a public hearing. Following the hearing, the School Committee will vote on the School Department budget.

• Saturday, March 8, 2025 - The Superintendent will share the FY26 budget approved by the School Committee to the Town of Andover’s Select Board and Finance Committees at the Tri-Board meeting.

• Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - The school budget will be presented as part of the total town budget for a vote at the annual town meeting.

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.

It has been fun to see Teams doing locker cleanouts! This is a great opportunity for students to freshen up their lockers, so please remind your child to bring home any extra t-shirts and sweatshirts. Creating space will also help them accommodate their books, binders, and snow boots.

While walking around the halls, I've noticed some really cool locker organizers that can help students. Some have nifty shelves where they can store their boots underneath and keep their books and binders on top. I've also seen students using storage cups that magnetically stick to their locker doors for extra pens and pencils.

Those two organizers seem to be among the most common, but there are also fun gadgets like hooks, dry erase note pads, and motivational magnets that can make organizing a bit more fun. Here is one link for a combination of things. These are definitely not required, just some suggestions if you are looking for ways to help your kiddo stay organized.

Feel free to discuss these ideas with your child, as they might have some creative ideas of their own. And please reach out if you might need any assistance!

PLEASE SEE THIS LINK FOR THE AUDITION INFORMATION PACKET. Doherty Drama Club is pleased to announce that our spring musical will be… Newsies! Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right. This show has terrific musical numbers and featured parts for a multitude of actors.

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience. There will be three performances – April 4, 5, and 6 - mark your calendars!

Auditions will take place in early January. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 – 6:00 and on Fridays from 3:00 - 5:00. (Please note the change in rehearsal times from last year’s schedule.)

Further details will available at the Doherty Drama Club webpage in the next few weeks:

https://sites.google.com/a/k12.andoverma.us/dms-drama

AND

PLEASE SEE THIS LINK FOR THE AUDITION INFORMATION PACKET.

Questions? Contact Ms. Kennedy (elizabeth.kennedy@andoverma.us)

What is RULER?

RULER is an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

Purpose of Morning Check In:

• Create a unified low-stakes rollout for all three APS Middle Schools
• Begin a student focus on the emotion matters mindset and discussion
• Build student relationships and community

RULER VIDEO and Website

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

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