Dear Families,

As we wrap up our first week of school, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to each of you for helping to make it such a smooth and joyful start. The halls have been filled with the sounds of learning, laughter, and new friendships taking root.

We are especially grateful for the partnership and support you’ve shown as we establish routines and settle into the rhythm of the school year. Your encouragement at home and your trust in our team here at school make all the difference.

We are off to a strong beginning, and we are excited for all that the year ahead will bring. Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being such an important part of our school community.

With appreciation,

Mary Ellen Carideo- Cobbs, Principal

Ryan Donaher- Assistant Principal

Danielle Abdallah- BRIDGE Program Director

Now that the first week of school is behind us, we want to thank all West El families who have already verified and updated their student’s information. If you haven’t done so yet, please take a moment to complete this important task through our secure online portal, Family Connection.

This information includes your child’s emergency contacts, medical information, demographics, technology usage agreement, as well as acknowledging other district policies. Using Family Connection helps streamline communication and significantly reduces the amount of paperwork for families. Most importantly, it ensures we have the most up-to-date information for your child in the event of an emergency.

This system is accessible through the Aspen Family Portal. Once you have logged into Aspen, click on the link under the Announcements on the Home page that reads ‘Family Connection – Back to School Forms’. You will be redirected to the Family Connection "Verification Form" page which contains directions on how to complete and submit the forms. If you need help, please refer to the – Aspen Family/Student Portal page on the APS website.

Families are invited to join us for Adaptive Sports Day on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Cormier Youth Center.

This special event welcomes students (ages 8–18) from Andover, Reading, North Reading, Wakefield, and Arlington who have visual or mobility impairments. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy organized activities led by:

• CP Soccer New England

• Boston ICE Storm Wheelchair Basketball

• Boston Strong BEEP Blind Baseball

Pre-registration is required:
https://form.jotform.com/ASNE2025/andover

We look forward to a fun and active day of learning, teamwork, and community!

Thank you for your continued cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and smooth drop-off routine each morning. As a reminder, please review the following important procedures:

1. Back, passenger side seating – Please have your child seated in the back, passenger side of your vehicle.

2. Safe exiting – Once your vehicle reaches the concrete sidewalk, children may exit the car and make their way directly to the crosswalks.

3. Traffic flow – The left lane is reserved for passing traffic and also serves as the entrance/exit to visitor parking, handicap parking, green space, and the lower staff parking lot.

4. Speed limit – Please keep your speed at or below 10 MPH at all times while on school grounds.

Your attention to these details helps us ensure safety and efficiency for all students and families. Thank you for your care and partnership!