May 25, 2022
Dear APS families and staff,
It was a little over a week ago when I wrote to the community about the mass shootings in Buffalo, NY and Laguna Woods, CA. Sadly, my message to you this morning is of a similar magnitude, another senseless, violent act against educators and children in Uvalde, Texas.
I am heartbroken and angry at the loss of young lives and dedicated educators. The grief in the Uvalde community can be felt here in Andover and I understand the wide range of emotions that many of our students, staff, and families may experience in the coming days and weeks.
Our mental health team met last evening in preparation for today’s arrival to school and will support our staff and students with any concerns. We encourage our families to reach out to their school administrators and social workers should they need support.
We also wanted to provide resources for families that may be helpful should you wish to have a conversation with your children.
Please know that the safety and security of our staff and students continue to be our utmost priorities in Andover Public Schools. We work in partnership with the Andover Police Department and town officials to ensure our schools are secure. In 2014, Andover’s Emergency Management Working Group (EMWG) adopted the enhanced A.L.I.C.E. procedures, offering age-appropriate options that allow our students and teachers to be better prepared if a crisis situation occurs. To this day, the EMWG, comprised of town and school officials, meets regularly to discuss best practices and responses to keep our community safe.
Our staff will continue to work closely with our students and families when they are experiencing difficult situations, and we always encourage all members of our community to speak up when they have a concern.
Magda Parvey, Ed. D.
Superintendent