November 23, 2021

Dear APS families and staff, 

The coming weeks will bring us the chance to spend time with our family and friends. As we look forward to the holiday season – we hope that you take the necessary steps to keep your families safe.  

We have seen an increase in cases of COVID-19 in our schools, in the community at large and across the Commonwealth.  We anticipate that case numbers will increase over the holiday season as people gather to celebrate. This may result in higher numbers of COVID-19 cases in our school community as we return from these celebrations. 

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 we encourage everyone to take the following steps. Wash hands and wear masks where appropriate. Consider getting vaccinated if you are eligible; vaccines are now available to anyone 5 years of age and older. Continue to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested if you experience any symptoms. Some families are even taking the at-home tests on Thanksgiving morning to ensure that they don’t spread the virus. Stay home if you are not well.

We hope you stay safe and healthy and enjoy the festivities of the upcoming holiday season.

Thomas Carbone, R.S., C.H.O., Director of Public Health, Town of Andover

Rita Casper, MBA RN NCSN, Director of Nursing, Andover Public Schools