All Around APS
News from the Andover Public School District
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 - vol. 11
Celebrating Black History Month
Student's Spotlight- Maddie Tutwiler at AHS
“If we can make an impact on the students and staff in the high school on the importance of Black history, I’d consider that a great way to celebrate Black History month,” says AHS junior Maddie Tutwiler. A few months ago, Maddie approached her advisors, Krista Hibino and Michelle Chachus, with a proposal to incorporate the celebration of Black History Month into various lessons, displays and announcements throughout the school.
“My goals is to take steps to improving the cultural competency at the school in a way that is captivating, inspiring and educational,” adds Maddie. “As a student of color, I’m passionate to share the importance of the month and to highlight African Americans who made strides toward gaining more freedom for people.”
Some of the ideas Maddie and the Junior Board have woven into the school day include morning announcements with inspirational quotes and filling the library with books written by renowned Black authors and books on the history of African Americans in the United States. Additionally, Maddie has asked the Ralph Bledsoe, AHS Science teacher, to recite Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech during two H-block periods in February. “It is such a powerful speech with an important message,” says Maddie. “It is an honor to celebrate Dr. King’s words with the students and staff at AHS.”
Principal Philip Conrad has been impressed with Maddie’s initiative to educate the staff and students at AHS. “It is awesome that Maddie has taken the initiative in sharing Black History month. Her contributions have elevated the cultural awareness of all students and staff.”
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
Featured Teacher- Ralph Bledsoe at AHS
“Let’s strengthen each other up,” says Ralph Bledsoe, a science teacher at AHS. “That is a large part of honoring Black History Month. We need to remind each other that no one culture is more important than any other, especially in the United States.”
Ralph spent Martin Luther King Jr. day at the Andover Baptist Church, where he has recited Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to the congregation. “The speech represents Dr. King’s legacy and it’s an honor to deliver it,” adds Ralph.
At the request of Maddie Tutwiler and the Junior Board, Ralph will deliver the speech to students and staff during two H-Blocks in February to honor Black History Month.
“Andover has such rich history. Many might not know that there were two stops on the Underground Railroad in Andover in the 1800’s,” notes Ralph. “I have always found Andover to be one of the finest communities.”
Ralph has taught science at APS for six years and in that time has become a beacon of positivity for his students. “Growing up, my father impressed on me the importance of helping people. It’s such an honor to see our students helping each other and the positive reception we extend to all. Sharing Dr. King’s speech is a great way to bring us all together as one community.”
On Tuesday, February 11th, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus will be hosting their annual Black Excellence on the Hill event at the Massachusetts State House. The event serves to honor community members for their work in civic engagement, education, business, and other fields. State Representative Frank Moran has chosen Ralph as his honoree for this year’s event. Congratulations Ralph!
A Student’s Story- Michaela Buckley- Project 351
My name is Michaela Buckley, and I am in eighth grade at West Middle School. I am Andover’s ambassador for Project 351, which is an amazing organization that is comprised of eighth graders from every city and town across Massachusetts. I recently attended Launch Day, which was an event that kicked off my year of service with Project 351. Essentially, 351 eighth graders from across Massachusetts boarded buses and ferries to travel to Boston, where we all united with the Project 351 team as well as alumni who had been ambassadors in previous years. It was an amazing and life-changing experience, and I am extremely grateful and honored that I was able to attend it.
We started off the day at Faneuil Hall, where every member of the Project 351 cohort gathered to meet each other and listen to speeches by some pretty amazing people. I was able to listen to inspiring speeches by Governor Charlie Baker, WBZ-TV anchor Lisa Hughes, and New England Patriots’ ’ Devon McCourty. We also met Representative Tram Nguyen, who was my team’s service hero. Some other ambassadors also took the stage and read their dreams for the future in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
My service team, which consisted of my team leader, Lillian, who was an alumni, and seven other kids, were assigned to the Pine Street Inn. The Pine Street in is a homeless shelter located in the middle of Boston. Our objective was to make the guests' situation a little more manageable. I had a lot of fun with the kids in my group, and it was a very eye-opening experience because we witnessed the conditions that some people live in, and the strength they continue to have during their tough times. It made me feel very lucky for what I have, and also inspired me to want to help children and others in similar situations.
This experience changed my life because it not only allowed me to see that there are so many people that need help in our world, but that there are also many people who are ready and willing to help. With all that is occurring in our country and in our world, such as violence, oppression, and climate change, we can tend to focus on the negative. But it showed me that there is so much more positivity out there, and that there are good people in this world who will fight to help others.
I am proud to be able to say that throughout all of the projects on Launch Day, we impacted over 40,000 people. This not only shocked me, but also made me realize how much a difference one person can make. It also showed me, and all of the other ambassadors, that we are never too young to make a difference.
Superintendent’s Message- Honoring Diversity
As this issue’s feature articles so vividly illustrate, our schools are committed to shining a spotlight on Black history. From implementing service-learning projects on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to organizing cultural events in H block to inspire us, Andover students and teachers are demonstrating their creativity as they deepen our awareness and understanding of the many paths that African Americans blazed in centuries past and the countless contributions they continue to make to our nation and to the world at large.
This month’s focus on Black history is one facet of the district’s ongoing emphasis on recognizing and celebrating the cultural richness of our student body and of our families and community. It is vital that we not take for granted the ways that cultural diversity enables all of us to experience the world in greater breadth and depth and, in particular, the ways it promotes global citizenship among our students. Throughout APS, we are intentionally folding into our daily curriculum more and more opportunities that highlight the benefits of our diversity.
Beginning with our earliest elementary grades, we are steadily building classroom libraries for independent reading. These libraries feature a wide range of literature that takes place in different countries, that is written by authors from different cultures, and that features characters with diverse backgrounds. This curricular strategy provides students with a window that looks out on a broader world as well as a mirror that reflects back on themselves. The stories prompt students to engage in meaningful discussions about multiple backgrounds and how differences and similarities play a role in their everyday lives.
We have also secured from the Cummings Foundation a $100,000 grant that will bring to all of our elementary schools the poet/songwriter/performer/educator Regie Gibson. Regie has the unique ability to engage children in frank conversations about their cultural diversity and other aspects of their backgrounds. He then weaves this information into music and poetry that he performs for the students to show them how their lives can be positively acknowledged and celebrated.
In addition, the new elementary social studies curriculum we are developing, One Community, One Nation, promotes understanding of world cultures. For example, students in second grade will explore cultures from four parts of the world- Kenya, India, China, and Mexico- and then honor the heritage of all members of the student body. In addition, our elementary schools have organized international nights in which students and parents share with each other cultural customs and traditions.
Last year we focused on cultural competence at four of our secondary level in-service sessions, using Facing History and Ourselves to learn how we could uncover implicit bias and microaggressions. We also examined ways to honor diversity and how we can help students to feel comfortable at school, secure in the knowledge that their identities are respected.
We continue to work on ensuring cultural-identity-safe schools and we are introducing more diverse literature into our middle and high school libraries and classroom reading lists. More than 200 high school students are now engaged in our global network, exploring not only how they can address United Nations sustainability goals, but also how to understand and work with other countries as we all strive to become global citizens.
Each year, numerous faculty members attend professional activities focused on diversity, such as the Building Bridges conference and the district has formed a Cultural Competence Committee (C3) to guide our work in this area. In some of our schools, parents have formed their own school-based cultural competence committees. On Thursday, February 6th, the School Committee will be approving the formation of Andover’s new English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC) whose intent is to support parents who have come to Andover from all over the world.
From PreK to our policy makers, equity and cultural diversity are important themes in our work. It is a genuine tribute to the character of our teachers and other staff that they have seized this banner and moved it forward in such a profound way. We hope you will join us in celebrating Black History Month.
Shelley Berman
Superintendent
APS Community News
School Counselor Appreciation Week
National School Counseling Week 2020 is celebrated Feb. 3–7, 2020. The week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Take a moment to thank your local school counselors.
To learn more about National School Counseling Week, visit www.schoolcounselor.org/nscw
Health Advisory
Many of our families have plans to travel nationally and internationally during the upcoming vacation and the recent headlines surrounding severe respiratory illnesses might be cause for concern.
Along with paying attention to public health announcements, the following tips are helpful in maintaining good health:
- Drink plenty of fluids: Stay well-hydrated and ensure you have balanced nutritious meals.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water – hand sanitizer is only to be used if soap and water are not available and sanitizers are only effective if they contain at least 70% alcohol.
- If you know someone is sick with a respiratory illness, keep your distance.
- Avoid touching faucets and door handles when possible. Use the automated entrances in buildings and bathrooms. At home, use bleach solution to clean these heavily used surfaces, special products are unnecessary and can be harmful to your environment.
- Use appropriate cough etiquette to prevent spread of any germs.
- If you are in close proximity to someone with flu-like symptoms for a prolonged period of time, e.g. on a plane, wearing a mask may be of help, but it does not guarantee full protection.
- If you are travelling - be prepared for long delays at airports, especially if your travel is international. Some airports are screening passengers for health concerns.
- Most importantly, make time to relax and rest adequately. If you are tired, you are more susceptible to getting sick.
If you have flu-like symptoms, call your physician. You may not need to be seen, but it will enable your physician to evaluate your symptoms and make necessary recommendations. You should also contact your physician’s office for advice before returning to work or school. We hope you all have healthy and enjoyable vacation.
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus to Perform at Wood Hill Middle School
On March 5th, Boston Gay Men’s Chorus will preview their new show Born This Way at Wood Hill Middle School. The show is based on the award-winning children’s book A Peacock Amongst Pigeons and will feature of repertoire of diverse, contemporary music. The show is about accepting differences and believing in oneself. It is our great privilege to have our Middle School A Cappella groups to serve as an opening act for this group and to sing in tandem the closing number “Everything Possible.”
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is an internationally-recognized choral group that recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. Over 200 members strong, this group’s mission is to create “musical experiences to inspire change, build community and celebrate differences.” For years, BGMC has partnered with schools, non-profits, and organizations to share their voice and inspire people of all ages.
Tickets for the event are free and are available here. We encourage ticket reservations in advance, however tickets will also be available at the door. The event will be co-sponsored with the Andover High School Gender and Sexuality Alliance and donations will be accepted to support the mission and work of their group.
Chinese & Lunar New Year Celebrations Across APS
Celebrations continue at APS for Chinese and Lunar New Year. The Chinese New Year ends on February 8th with a celebration called the Lantern Festival. At Bancroft Elementary, students are celebrating the New Year with a focus on Chinese traditions. Each student is making a red envelope with a note of “good fortune” inside to exchange with his/her buddy in another grade. The red envelopes are called hong bao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese. The students are helping to enrich our appreciation and understanding of this holiday! Happy New Year to all who observe!
2020- 21 Andover Public Schools Kindergarten Information and Timeline
On-Line Registration Dates to enroll in Kindergarten will open on February 10, 2020
Per Andover School Committee Policy, children must turn age 5 on or before August 31, 2020 to register for Kindergarten. Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, all eligible students will attend full-day kindergarten tuition-free. The district eliminated tuition for full-day classes in January 2020. There will be no half-day kindergarten offered. Click on the registration link for more information.
Shawsheen Preschool Open House
Shawsheen preschool will be holding an Open House for prospective parents for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year on Friday, March 6, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. We invite you to join and learn about the program and meet the staff.
Shawsheen is also making appointments for screenings and tours on Friday, March 27, 2020 or Friday, May 1, 2020 for September 2020 enrollment in the half or full day programs. For additional information about the program and tuition rates, please check our website or call the school office. Please wait until successful completion of a screening before completing the on-line registration forms.
School Committee Informal Forums for 2020!
The School Committee welcomes the community to join us for an informal forum on the top floor of Memorial Hall Library on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7 PM.
These forums have no set agenda, and the community is welcome to drop in at any time to speak with two members of the School Committee on any topics related to our schools.
Because these session are attended by only two School Committee members, they allow an interactive dialogue outside of the Open Meeting Law legal parameters. Issues raised at the forum that might require further discussion with the entire School Committee will be communicated during a regular business meeting.
Additional dates & times for 2020:
- Wednesday April 8th at 9:30 AM
- Saturday May 9th at 9:30 AM
- Tuesday June 9th at 7 PM
About us
Email: nicole.kieser@andoverma.us
Website: aps1.net
Location: 36 Bartlet Street, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: 978-247-7000
Twitter: @AndoverPS