As Passover begins, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to all members of our school community who are celebrating. During this time of reflection, gratitude, and the celebration of freedom, the West El family wishes you a joyous and meaningful Passover. Chag Sameach!

West Elementary school is starting something new this Spring - thanks to Dr. Cobbs and Mrs. Holden, our school has received an ACE TIF grant to pilot a Food Recovery Program for the Town of Andover!

This program will recover packaged, non-perishable food that would otherwise end up in the cafeteria trash if not recovered from student's trays. To kick things off, the Student Council will educate all students on how to participate so that every grade can take part in this program. In addition, we hope the program will teach important food values and reinforce community spirit.

How can parents and families get involved? Beginning April 28th through the rest of the school year, we are asking for volunteers to help with the following items:

1. Help coach kids during breakfast and lunch;

2. Encourage them as they are learning about this new effort; and,

3. Maintain documentation for this grant funded program.

All rescued food will be donated to the Village Food Hub at Ballardvale United Church which serves Andover families in need. If you are interested in volunteering, please review the volunteer position descriptions below and sign up for a time slot via the SignUpGenius link (please note: all adult volunteers must be CORI checked):

· 2 volunteers at breakfast daily (8:30 AM - 9:10 AM): This position will entail coaching students and keeping documentation. Parents can bring students and/or younger siblings with them as volunteers in the mornings. Parents must be responsible for their students until school hours start at 8:45 AM.

· 2 volunteers at lunch daily (11:00 AM - 1:15 PM): This position will entail coaching students and keeping documentation. Parents can bring younger siblings.

· 1 transport volunteer weekly to pick-up food at West Elementary and transport to the Village Food Hub (23 Clark Road): This is a once a week volunteer opportunity to occur any day of the week, at the volunteer's convenience. Transport volunteers will be asked to pick up the food between the hours of 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM one day per week at the school, drop off, and return the bin in a timely fashion (e.g. the next day, if food is delivered on Friday, return the bin by Monday, etc.)

Once you volunteer, a program coordinator will be in touch regarding training and available for assistance during the school day.

If you have any questions, please contact the program coordinator, Meredith Moody (eredithm3@gmail.com). Thank you!

We are all working to manage the age of technology and are looking for support between school and home. Many children have new smart devices and the elementary schools have some guidance.

A kind reminder to our families that cell phones must be turned off and in students’ backpacks at the start of the school day. Smartwatches may be worn as regular watches, however, no child is permitted to send or receive electronic correspondence via any device during the school day. If you or your child need to connect, please do so via our main office. Every classroom has a telephone and at no time is your child unreachable. Also taking pictures or videos, or accessing social media services and websites is prohibited. If a cell phone or watch becomes a significant distraction, school administrators will reach out to parents/guardians. The Andover Public Schools is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or broken devices.

To promote healthy digital habits during the school day, the resources below may be helpful to use. We appreciate your partnership as we work to keep interruptions to the school day at a minimum.

Resource for Apple Watches:

How to set a School Time schedule

• Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap All Watches, then tap your child's watch.

• Tap Done, then tap Schooltime.

• Turn on Schooltime, then tap Edit Schedule.

• Choose the days and times when you want Schooltime to be active.

• Tap Add Time if you want to set up more than one schedule in a day.

Resource for Gizmo Watches:

How to set up School mode

• Open the. Gizmo Hub app.

• Tap the. School mode switch. turn on or off. If necessary, set up a School Mode schedule.

In art class, second grade students have been hard at work ‘baking’ up some amazing art! After looking at the artwork of artist Wayne Thiebaud for inspiration, they learned new techniques for using modelling materials to create colorful and unique sculptures. Students used markers to blend color into Model Magic and mix their own customized frosting, topping and cake colors. Using their colorful Model Magic and sculpting skills, they sculpted delicious looking cupcakes and toppings. These works of art look good enough to eat!

Heritage Night at West Elementary will be held this year on Thursday, May 1, 2025 from 5:30 PM to 8 PM. If you didn't attend last year, it's a wonderful family event that gives an opportunity for West Elementary families (parents, teachers and staff) to showcase our community's diverse cultures and more so, share the special customs and traditions that make each of us unique. Children will have the chance to "fly" from country to country with passports, and immerse themselves in a variety of activities to learn about countries that make up our vibrant, diverse and rich community!

Its guaranteed to be a fun evening for all with crafts, performances, music, food, photo booth and even more fun activities!

This cannot happen without the active participation of EVERYONE in the West Elementary Community. Please sign up to Showcase a Country Table, Submit a Cultural Performance, or just come an have a good time! Sign up for a West Elementary Passport to travel the world!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4EA9AC23AAFE3-55366963-heritage#/

The School Committee joined superintendent, Dr. Parvey, and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration Keith Taverna at the Tri-Board (Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee) meeting on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The School Department’s approved FY26 budget presentation is available on our website and the video can be viewed on Andover TV. Andover’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 29th at 7 p.m. at the Collins Center at Andover High School. More information can be found on the town of Andover’s website.

APS K-8 Redistricting Vote

During the March 20th meeting, Dillinger RAD presented to the Committee final elementary and middle school scenarios for consideration and a vote. The presentation can be reviewed here. To watch the meeting, visit Andover TV's website. The Committee voted 4-1 to support scenario E6/M5. This approach attempts to balance school capacity, provide for larger groups of students moving on to middle school, minimize long-term costs, and ensure safety for students who walk to school.

The Committee also voted 5-0 to support the first phase of an implementation strategy. This strategy would permit students starting Kindergarten in the fall of 2025 to enroll at the elementary school to which they will be zoned in fall 2026. This strategy would also provide for “legacy enrollment” for students who will be in 5th grade or 8th grade in the fall of 2026, so that they may complete their elementary or middle school career in their original school. A second implementation phase concerning student placement for the fall of 2027 is expected to be discussed at the April 17 meeting. These implementation phases will be supplemented by events, programs, and other supports to help students make transitions, whether from an old school to a new school or from elementary to middle school.

The Committee acknowledges that this has been a challenging and emotional process for all and is grateful to the public for its participation and support.