Good evening, Andover High School Families, this is Jimmy D’Andrea, Principal of Andover High School, with your Sunday evening message.
School Closed: Monday, May 25
Andover High School is closed tomorrow, Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day. We remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country. On Tuesday, we will follow a Day 2 schedule.
On-Campus Parking Reminder
For this week, students may only park on campus during school hours if they have an official parking permit displayed in the front of their vehicle (either hanging on the mirror or on the dashboard). Please do not allow your children to drive to school this week if they do not have an official parking permit, as we do not have any additional spaces. Beginning next Monday, June 1, and for the remainder of the school year, juniors may drive to school and park in the Senior Lot or Red Spring Lot, on a first-come, first-served basis without a parking permit. Sophomores may not park on campus during school hours for any reason.
Parents/Guardians of Students in Grades 9-11 Needed for Senior Safari
Senior Safari is an important community event that ensures the safety of our seniors the night after graduation. In order to make the event successful, it takes parent/guardian volunteers from all grade levels. For more information and to sign up to volunteer, please visit the Parent/Guardian Volunteer Sign-up Page. Thank you in advance for your consideration. In addition, please note that it is not too late for seniors to sign up to attend.
Driver Safety Assembly for Grades 10-11: Wednesday, May 27
All students in grades 10 and 11 will be participating in the ThinkFast Interactive Teen Driver Safety Program this Wednesday, May 27. We will follow a regular Day 3 schedule that day, with the grade 10 assembly at 9:00 am and the grade 11 assembly at 10:30 am. The program is sponsored by the Massachusetts State Police and focuses on traffic safety and distracted driving.
Bus Evacuation Drills: Wednesday, May 27
All schools in Massachusetts are required to conduct bus evacuation drills twice each school year. Our second set of drills will occur this Wednesday, May 27, during H-block. All students will come to the front of the school in groups, board buses and then exit through the back door.
9/11 Documentary Assembly for Grade 11: Thursday, May 28
All students in grade 11 will be participating in a special program this Thursday, May 28, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11. After checking in with their teachers at the beginning of the day on Thursday, all students in grade 11 will view the documentary film 9/11, created by documentary filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet and their partner, director and firefighter James Hanlon. While in the process of making a documentary about a year in the life of a probationary firefighter, they captured the events in New York as they were unfolding on that day. After watching the documentary, students in grade 11 will participate in a question-and-answer session with the documentary filmmakers.
Senior Trips to Apex Entertainment and York Beach: Tuesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 28
Seniors who signed up to attend the trip to Apex Entertainment should plan to meet in front of the school no later than 8:45 am on Tuesday, May 26. Seniors who signed up to attend the trip to York Beach, Maine, should plan to meet in front of the school no later than 8:30 am on Thursday, May 28. Seniors may not bring any food or drink with them, and seniors may not drive themselves or others to either event.
Senior Scholarship Night: Thursday, May 28
Our Senior Scholarship Night is this Thursday, May 28, at 6:30 pm in the Collins Center. Seniors and their parents/guardians have received invitations if the seniors will be receiving awards, and all members of the community are invited.
Senior Class Dance: Friday, May 29
The Senior Class Dance is this Friday, May 29, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Stevens Estate in North Andover. Seniors must arrive no later than 8:00 pm if they are attending, and they will not be allowed to leave prior to 9:30 pm. No outside guests or non-seniors are allowed to attend.
Graduation Ceremony: Monday, June 1
Our Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony is next Monday, June 1, at 5:00 pm at the Tsongas Center at UMass-Lowell. All graduates are required to arrive by 4:00 pm wearing their caps and gowns. No tickets are needed for guests attending the ceremony. Please note that only small clear bags are allowed, and all bags will be searched upon entry. Finally, traffic is typically very heavy that afternoon, as hundreds of vehicles travel from Andover to Lowell at the same time. Graduates and guests are encouraged to leave early to allow plenty of time for parking, screening at entry, and seating.
After-School Activities Cancelled on Monday, June 1
Due to the graduation ceremony, all after-school activities are cancelled for Monday, June 1. All students will be required to leave the building by 3:00 pm that day.
New Medication Order Requirements
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has updated its guidelines regarding the administration of medication in public schools. Effective immediately, all medication orders for both prescription and non-prescription medications must be dated within the current academic year, July 1 to June 30. Any medication orders on file this year will expire on June 30, and a new, signed medication order from your child’s licensed prescriber must be submitted for the upcoming school year. For more information, please refer to this medication administration letter from our school nurses, Ms. Heidi Katz and Ms. Melissa Sucharewicz. If you have any questions, please call the AHS Clinic at (978) 247-5502.
Physical Science MCAS Testing for Grade 9: Wednesday, June 3 - Thursday, June 4
All students in grade 9 will be participating in Physical Science MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) Testing next Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4, from 8:15 am until approximately 11:00 am each day. While passing the MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement, the assessments provide key data about each student’s progress in mastering grade-level expectations. Therefore, all students in grade 9 are encouraged to put forth their best effort next Wednesday and Thursday.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time if you have questions or concerns. Thank you for your support of Andover High School, and have a great evening!
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