As we continue the K-8 redistricting process, we are pleased to invite the community to highlight areas of interest (i.e., neighborhoods, streets), with an interactive, online mapping tool - ARCGIS.

This resource will allow the community to review an updated scenario based on the collaboration with the School Committee at its January 9th meeting and community engagement. The updated scenario was presented to the community at a Let’s Talk! session on redistricting held January 16, 2025.

The community can provide visual feedback and written comments to DillingerRAD, the consultant supporting APS with this process. For more information on how to utilize the tool, please check here. Access to this link or the enclosed QR code will close on Friday, January 24, 2025.

In Spring 2025, the School Committee will review the proposed redistricting options and vote on the preferred redistricting plan. The approved redistricting plan will be implemented in the 2026-27 school year. This allows the district sufficient time to operationally plan for the new school zones.

We appreciate your feedback.

The Andover Public Schools FY26 Budget process began last fall and has been shaped over the past few months. The fiscal challenges the district faced last year continue for FY26 and beyond. Key factors contributing to these challenges include rising costs in transportation, salaries, special education programming, and utilities.

To promote opportunities for community involvement, APS superintendent Dr. Parvey and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration Keith Taverna will be visiting all schools’ PTO/PAC meetings to discuss the FY26 Budget process and answer questions. We encourage you to visit the FY26 Budget webpage for more information on what has been shared with the community so far.

You are invited to join us for their conversation with the West Elementary School community at our PTO meeting on February 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM. We hope you will join us.

The Andover Public Schools FY26 Budget process began last fall and has been shaped over the past few months. The fiscal challenges the district faced last year continue for FY26 and beyond. Key factors contributing to these challenges include rising costs in transportation, salaries, special education programming, and utilities.

To promote opportunities for community involvement, APS superintendent Dr. Parvey and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration Keith Taverna will be visiting all schools’ PTO/PAC meetings to discuss the FY26 Budget process and answer questions. We encourage you to visit the FY26 Budget webpage for more information on what has been shared with the community so far.

You are invited to join us for their conversation with the West Elementary School community at our PTO meeting on February 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM. We hope you will join us.

Female identifying students in grades 3-5 are invited to join ' Girls On The Run'. Join a team where you can make new friends and feel like you belong! Your team meets twice a week for eight weeks (16 lessons.)

Dear APS 4th and 5th Grade String Parents,

We hope your family is enjoying a relaxing long weekend! Now that we’re in the New Year, we want to share information about our upcoming All Strings Concert, the district’s annual music celebration that will feature our nearly 400 string students in Grades 4-12. Here is some detailed information you will find helpful:

All Strings Concert

• What? All Strings Concert
• When? Tuesday, March 18, 7:00 PM
• Where? Andover High School - Collins Center for the Performing Arts
• Who will perform? All APS Strings Students in Grades 4-12
• Will 3rd Grade students perform? No, they will perform in their elementary schools later this Spring. However, 3rd Grade families are invited to attend the All Strings Concert!
• Concert Dress? AVIM Elementary Strings T-Shirt, black pants, black shoes (Link to order form below - If you have not already done so, please order by January 31) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LhqOdgtdFNXDyNd-wY_ew_ihNPqpDhZRNLb2dM6caKU/edit
• Concert Order? 1st Years, 2nd Years, 3rd Years, Middle School, High School
• This performance will be a brief showcase performance for each group. The entire event will be less than one hour and a half in length. Students and families are kindly asked to stay for the entire event to support all of the student musicians who have worked so hard.

Because this is a district wide event, students from all five elementary schools will perform together. To ensure their success, we have planned a short (but very necessary) dress rehearsal in the Collins Center for each group during the afternoon of the All Strings Concert on March 18. This is the only district wide string event of the school year, so if your student normally has another after school/evening activity on this day, we respectfully ask that you make arrangements for them to participate in both the afternoon dress rehearsal and evening concert. Here is the dress rehearsal schedule by group:

3rd Years:

• 4:15-5:00 PM Dress Rehearsal (concert clothes not necessary) in the Collins Center.
• 5:00-6:30 PM Parents pick up their students to go home, eat dinner and change clothes.
• 6:30 PM Students arrive back to the Band Room dressed in their concert clothes.

2nd Years:

• 5:00-6:00 PM Dress Rehearsal in the Collins Center (arrive to the Band Room dressed in their concert clothes).
• 6:00-6:30 PM Students should bring a bag dinner (with water bottle) to eat in the Band Room.
• 6:30 PM Students unpack in the Band Room.

1st Years:

• 6:00-6:45 PM Dress Rehearsal in the Collins Center (arrive to the Band Room dressed in their concert clothes - having eaten their dinner).
• 6:45-7:00 PM Short break to use the restroom before they start the concert.

Parent Chaperones Needed!!!

The success of this event will depend on the assistance of quite a few volunteer parent chaperones. If you would like to volunteer to assist us with this very important student support, please email Mrs. Diehl (including which group you wish to assist). She will send you a “Minute-by-Minute Schedule” closer to the event:

• 3rd Year Group (2 chaperones needed): Arrive with your student by 6:15 PM to the Band Room to oversee this group as they unpack/tune and lead them to their assigned seats in the Auditorium. You will sit with them during the concert, escort them to the stage door before they play, and escort them back to their seats after they play. At the end of the concert, you will lead them back to the Band Room to pack up.
• 2nd Year Group (5 chaperones needed): Arrive with your student by 4:45 PM to the Band Room to oversee this group as they unpack/tune and help them move to the stage to rehearse and then back to the Band Room, where they will eat their dinner. Then you will oversee them as they unpack/tune and lead them to their assigned seats in the Auditorium. You will sit with them during the concert, escort them to the stage door before they play, and escort them back to their seats after they play. At the end of the concert, you will lead them back to the Band Room to pack up.
• 1st Year Group (2 chaperones needed): Arrive with your student by 5:45 PM to the Band Room to oversee this group as they unpack/tune and lead them to the stage to rehearse. Afterward, they will have a short break to use the restroom before coming back to the stage to start the concert. After they perform, you will lead them to their assigned seats in the Auditorium and sit with them during the concert. At the end of the concert, you will lead them back to the Band Room to pack up.

Instrument and Bow Care

We want to remind you about instrument care during the winter months. The heat in the school buildings is turned down overnight and on the weekends, so instruments should come to school and go home again on lesson days. Instruments should be kept in a place that is neither too hot (not next to the radiator, wood stove, or fireplace) nor too cold (not in the car, garage, or cold basement/attic). In fact, if you have a humidifier in your home, that room is the perfect place for your student’s instrument to live! Keeping it there will help ensure that it stays in tune and doesn’t develop cracks or seam openings (both require costly repairs), which will allow your student to enjoy successful home practice throughout the winter months.

Bringing Their Materials to School

Please be sure that your family has a plan for ensuring your student’s instrument (lesson book, practice journal booklet, and a pencil) arrives at school with them on lesson days. Too many instruments are being dropped off at school by parents after the school day begins, which becomes an inconvenience for the front office staff. Here are some helpful strategies that many families use:

• Set a special alarm on your watch/phone to remind you and your student to pack up their instrument and put it next to their backpack before they go to bed the night before their lesson.
• Have your student create a sign that lists any special things (sneakers for gym, instrument on lesson days, etc.) they need for school on certain days of the week. Post the sign where they will see it as they leave the house.

Building this level of responsibility into our students requires lots of reminding from us, but in the end, they will have a stronger sense of ownership and pride, which can only help them succeed.

Report Cards

This year, for the first time, 4th/5th Grade strings students will receive an instrumental music report card grade. This will give us the opportunity to comment on your student’s progress so far this year in the following areas:

• Playing technique
• Understanding of musical skills and concepts
• Organization, work habits, and effort (in class and home practice)
• Cooperation and respect

Please take a moment to read our comments so you can learn how you can further support your student’s musical progress during the second half of the school year.

Thank you for all you do to support your student’s musical journey. It really does take a village, and we are happy to be there to guide you and your student along the way. We look forward to working with them over the next two months as they learn their songs for the All Strings Concert. We hope to see you there! Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best,

Mrs. Diehl, Dr. Voigt, and Mrs. Duback (APS Elementary Strings Team)

West El's School Site Council Meeting has been confirmed for January 21, 2025, from 7:00PM-8:00PM. Please see agenda here: https://5il.co/3578e.

The testing window has been set by DESE and we are planning for the following MCAS test dates at West El. Please note that students will take 2 days of tests per content area. Please refrain from vacations or unnecessary absences on these dates.

Grade 3:

ELA: April 10th and 11th

Math: May 8th and 9th

Grade 4

ELA: April 14th and 15th

Math: May 13th and 14th

Grade 5

ELA: April 7th and 8th

Math: May 5th and 6th

Science: 19th and 20th