All Around APS
News from the Andover Public Schools - February 18, 2022
APS PRIDE
South Elementary - School Library Bookmark Contest
Every year, students in grades K-12 around the Commonwealth participate in the Massachusetts School Library Association's (MSLA) Bookmark Contest. At South School, this year’s Bookmark Contest was especially exciting! Students had the option of three themes, “reset, recharge, reimagine in the library."
Three of the winning bookmarks have been submitted to MSLA’s statewide contest! The work of fourth grader Mia Rosenbaum, third grader Claire Cordio, and first grader Vivienne Bell were chosen to be submitted to the statewide contest!
Truffe au chocolat (chocolate truffles) at West Middle School
Students in Katherine McGonagle’s French class at West Middle School were treated to a cooking demonstration, where instructions were entirely in French. Mrs. McGonagle started the monthly lessons during the pandemic to better connect students to the language and culture of French speaking countries. Materials for this project were provided through an Andover Coalition for Education (ACE) Teaching Innovation Fund grant.
From the desk of Dr. Parvey
We continue to honor and celebrate Black History Month at APS. Earlier this week, we welcomed the Town of Andover’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Albert Pless at our administrators meeting, where he spoke on the importance of engaging young people in partnership to promote equity and voice in our schools and community. Albert joined our community last month and I look forward to working with Albert and Andover DIVERSE to support the efforts of cultural diversity and inclusion.
In our elementary schools and through a generous grant from Cummings Foundation focused on cultural proficiency, eight authors are sharing their work and experiences as part of the district’s Read for a Better World initiative. Our goal is for students to see themselves reflected in literature and art and give them access to a world or a character that might be different from them. Due to the generosity of the grant, we are to provide copies of books by the authors to each classroom and school library for our students to share with their peers and families.
Andover High School continues to mark Black History Month with H-block, morning announcements and meetings hosted by the AHS Diversity Club and the Black Student Union to foster conversation about Black culture and experience.
While Black History Month is an opportunity to showcase the diversity within our school community, the impact and lessons of Black history are longer than 28 days and are a focus throughout the year. As I highlighted in my entry plan, Andover is a diverse community. Our educators, families and administrators are committed to providing equitable experiences to all students. There is always a space for honest and courageous conversations, and I look forward to these on-going discussions with our families, staff, and especially our students.
I wish you all a wonderful February vacation with your families and friends.
Magda Parvey, Ed. D.
COVID-19 Mask Mandate
Dr. Parvey, Andover’s Director of Public Health Tom Carbone, and APS Director of Nursing Rita Casper presented recent COVID-19 data and provided a recommendation to revise the APS Face Coverings Policy, EBCFA to the School Committee on Thursday, February 17th.
Dr. Parvey's recommendation to the School Committee is to lift the mask requirements on March 7, 2022, making masks optional in APS school buildings. The significant decrease in positive cases in recent months, the availability of vaccines for most in the community and the multiple mitigation strategies we have implemented in our schools to protect our students and staff has indicated the district’s readiness to make masks optional.
Details were distributed to families and staff on Friday, more information here.
Upcoming District Dates
School Calendar – February recess – February 21 – 25, 2022
Holidays and Observances –
Black History Month – February
Isra & Mi’raj – March 1, 2022
National Women’s History Month – March
Music in Our Schools Month- March
Community Updates
Shawsheen Preschool Open House for Prospective Families
Join Early Childhood Coordinator Carol Green and staff for a tour and overview of the Shawsheen preschool program on Friday, March 11, 2022, from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM. If you plan on attending, please email Marykay.poe@andoverma.us – there will also be an opportunity to sign up for peer screenings.
Andover Food Services is hiring!
APS has multiple job opportunities in our food service department, Hours are flexible, we are ideally looking to fill 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shifts. Pay starts at $15.96/hr. with benefits. Positions are open at all schools. To view the job description and complete an application; click here.
APS ELPAC Annual Meeting – February 28th
Andover English Learner Parent Advisory Council (Andover ELPAC) is going to have an annual meeting on February 28th from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Tracey Spruce from the school committee and Ileana Bassermann from the school district will also be at the meeting for any questions. Invitees: this is an open meeting invite. Please sign into the meeting with your full name for voting privileges. If you have any questions, please contact us at elpacandover@gmail.com
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Meeting ID: 839 2134 0695
Passcode: b3wNWW
Get updates on the West Elementary & Shawsheen School Building Project!
Construction begins this spring on the West Elementary and Shawsheen Preschool project. To stay up to date, we have created a Facebook page where the community can find information on the building process, including changes in traffic patterns. The new West El is expected to open for the start of the 2024-25 school year and the new Shawsheen is expected to open for the start of the 2025-26 school year. This is an exciting project which will offer many benefits to our students, families and to the whole Andover community.
If you would like to be added to our community list and receive future updates, please sign up for our mailing list! (Note, West El & Shawsheen families and staff do not need to sign up, you are automatically included on our distribution list)
From the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Access to federal payments for families: Families and individuals with low or no incomes across Massachusetts could get thousands of dollars in federal payments this year due to recent policy changes, even if the family has never filed taxes before. This money could include missed stimulus payments, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the expanded Child Tax Credit. To receive this money, families need to file a tax return. Families are encouraged to apply. FindYourFunds.org has outreach materials available in 11 languages.
Andover Public Schools
Email: APScommunications@andoverma.us
Website: www.aps1.net
Location: 30 Whittier Court, Andover, MA, USA
Twitter: @AndoverPS