We had another busy and exciting week at South School! A huge thank you to our incredible PTO for organizing such a thoughtful and fun Teacher Appreciation Week with the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie theme. From the delicious luncheon and cookies to classroom supplies and gift cards, our staff felt truly appreciated all week long. We are so grateful for the continued support of our PTO and school community!

On Wednesday afternoon, we welcomed our newest South School Tigers during Kindergarten Visitation. It was wonderful to meet our incoming kindergarten students and families, and the bus ride was certainly a highlight for many of our future Tigers!

We also want to recognize our fifth graders for the outstanding effort they showed during MCAS testing this week. Students demonstrated focus, perseverance, and positive attitudes throughout the testing sessions. This week, our third and fourth graders will take the Math MCAS on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please help students prepare by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, arrive to school on time, and bring a positive mindset each day. We know they will do a great job!

Warmly,

Brenda Lee, Principal

Olivia Goodrich, Assistant Principal

Last week, we met with students to review important bike and scooter safety expectations as the weather gets warmer and more students travel to and from school independently. Students in grades 3 and older who ride independently should be marked in PickUp Patrol as a “walker.” Please note that e-bikes and motorized scooters are not permitted at school. We also reminded students that Massachusetts law requires children under 16 to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or similar device. Students should always use crosswalks whenever possible and remain aware of cars, buses, and other students walking nearby to help keep everyone safe.

As we begin the search process for our next assistant principal, input from our school community is very important to us. We are asking families and staff to complete a brief survey to share the characteristics, leadership qualities, and strengths they feel are most important in an assistant principal at South School. Your feedback will help guide the selection process as we look for a leader who will support our students, staff, and school community.

As we look ahead to warmer weather, our school library is planning for the end of the school year and the summer months even while Mrs. T-K continues sharing her love of reading with students, as well as teaching library and research skills. Library classes continue to learn, to love books, and to share our literature and research projects with one another right up until the final day of school!

We ask that library books and other materials be returned to the library to prepare for the summer and for the new school year by Friday, June 5, 2026.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. T-K, South School Library Teacher, Julianne Toomey-Kautz, at julianne.toomeykautz@andoverma.us

Throughout 2026, the Town of Andover will host and participate in a series of patriotic events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States with support from the Andover Celebrates America 250 Committee. The Committee hopes to have some interested APS students to play a role in these events.

The scheduled events will honor the nation’s founding while recognizing Andover’s role and the contributions of its residents during the American Revolutionary War.

Memorial Day: Monday, May 25th (8:30AM)

Rededication of Bicentennial Park - Revolutionary War Memorial (40 Central St.)

Co-sponsored by Andover Center for History & Culture

We need 10 students to participate in the rededication including:

• Leading participants in the Pledge of Allegiance
• Reciting Annie Sawyer Downs’s poem “That Day at Bunker Hill”
• Reading the roll call of the 22 Andover residents that fought and lost their lives in the American Revolutionary War

If you are interested in participating, please email your principal and the Andover Celebrates America 250 chairperson, Susan McCready at susan.mccready@andoverma.us .

The community service is excited to team up with UNICEF and the nonprofit group called Room to Grow for our next drive. We are looking to collect new and gently used children's books. Donation boxes will be set in the front lobby and throughout the school.

For interested Band and Orchestra Students, if you are starting, we'll teach you everything from the very beginning. No experience is needed. If you are already playing? Get ready to work in a full ensemble year-round. And if singing is your thing, please join our award-winning Choral program. Whatever your musical background, there's a place for you here.

Special Opportunities:

Field Trips to the University of New Hampshire, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Into the Game and Mel’s Funway

Regular Guest Artists from UNH, Boston Children’s Chorus, University of Hartford, Gordon College, etc.

Junior Districts

Concerts like Vocal Gala, All Strings Night, and All Bands Night

After School Ensembles: MS A Cappella - Vocalize!, MS Show Choir - Interlude!, Jazz Band, Chamber Orchestra

Students must be enrolled in Band, Orchestra, and Chorus to participate in an after-school ensemble. Exceptions may be made if there is a scheduling conflict.

Website: https://sites.google.com/andoverma.us/the-arts-in-andover/6-8-band-orchestra-and-chorus

Promo Video: https://youtu.be/n8z6NuqI02k

We are pleased to invite your child to join our elementary instrumental music program in Grade 3 next year. In Andover, students may begin string instruction in Grade 3, when they have the option to play a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass). This will be a regularly scheduled part of their music curriculum, and string instruments must come to school for weekly lessons. Students who do not opt into this program will receive other additional music instruction.

Strings Instruction - Things to consider:

Learning a string instrument is a wonderful way to begin an instrumental music career in school. However, there must be a commitment to home practice and instrument care. Students enrolled in the string program are expected to participate for the whole school year, be prepared for scheduled public performances, and practice regularly. Students and families are encouraged to review policies around instrument rental and care. We are here to support you. The first few lessons will focus on some real basics: unpacking/packing, bow hold, instrument position, and instrument/bow care, but through commitment and regular practice, students will be performing several short, recognizable songs by the end of the year.

We ask that you consider this with your child and make the selection by June 7th, 2026 - if possible. Families who do not wish to participate in the strings program do not need to respond to the form below:

Grade 3 Strings Registration

Renting an Instrument:

There are several instrument rental options for the Fall for families interested in string instruction. Below is a partial list of vendors. Families are welcome to explore other rental options. This information will be shared again later in the summer:

Johnson String Instruments of Newton, MA - http://www.johnsonstring.com

Leonards Music of Bedford, MA - http://www.leonardsmusic.com

Spencer Brook Strings of Maynard, MA - http://www.spencerbrookstrings.com

Rowen Strings of Boxford, MA - https://www.rowenstrings.com

Renting a good-quality string instrument has many benefits. Rental companies provide security in terms of repair and size upgrades as your child grows. Instrument pricing, sizing, and rental information for these companies can be found on their websites. We strongly discourage parents from buying an instrument at this time. Grade 3 students will need a smaller instrument fitted to their specific size in order to learn successfully and will need a size upgrade every year or so (free through a rental service) after that.

PLEASE NOTE: Instruments purchased online may be of poor quality. A poor quality instrument will greatly hinder your child’s progress. While buying online may seem like an attractive option, it may cause many unnecessary challenges. Through a generous donation by the Andover Coalition for Education, for beginning Grade 3 string players, we have many high quality, school-owned stringed instruments (violins, violas, cellos, and basses) available for those who qualify for financial assistance. More information will be available later in the summer.

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

Grades 3 and 4

-Mathematics Assessments: Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13

Grade 5

-Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Assessments: Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19

All students are able to receive 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch daily during the 2026-2026 school year. Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 8:45 - 9:00 and does not need to be ordered ahead of time.

Lunches will need be preordered. It is very important that our cafeteria has an accurate lunch count each day. Please review with your children each morning what you have ordered for them.

Please click below for the monthly menu and more information about Andover's Nutrition Program including how to sign up.

May Dates:

• Mon., May 11th - Grade 5 CE - Top Secret Science
• Tues., May 12th - Grades 3 & 4 Math MCAS
• Wed., May 13th - Grades 3 & 4 Math MCAS
• Thurs., May 14th - Tjalsma & Lovely field trip to Concord Museum
• Frid., May 15th - Walsh & Ryan field trip to Concord Museum
• Wed., May 20th - K Math Mania - 9:30am-10:30am
• Wed., May 20th - Grade 1 field trip to Seacoast Science Center
• Thurs., May 21st - Middle School Principals visit 5th Graders
• Fri., May 22nd - AHS Seniors Final Walk Through
• Mon., May 25th - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
• Tues., May 26th - 5th Grade Move-up Day to Middle Schools
• Tues., May 26th - Grade 3 - Sheehy - field trip to Historical Society
• Wed., May 27th - Grade 3 - Montgomery - field trip to Historical Society
• Thurs., May 28th - Grade 3 - O'Bryan - field trip to Historical Society
• Fri., May 29th - Spring Fling - 5pm

Also, as a reminder, CORI Forms need to be filled out every school year to volunteer and participate in school activities, such as chaperoning a field trip. If you would like to fill it out at home before coming over, here is the link to print the form: CORI FORM

Want to stay up to date with all the latest PTO news?

Visit www.SouthPTO.com

Email: brenda.lee@andoverma.us
Website: https://www.aps1.net/405/South-Elementary-School
Location: 55 Woburn Street, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: 978-247-9800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southschoolaps