Dear West Elementary School Community,

This week we pause to honor and express our deepest gratitude to all Veterans — those within our own community and across the nation — who have served and sacrificed in defense of our freedoms. Their courage, commitment, and sense of duty remind us of the importance of service, leadership, and compassion.

At West Elementary, we are grateful for the example our veterans set for our students — showing what it means to give selflessly for the good of others. May we each take a moment today to reflect on their contributions and extend our thanks, whether through a simple word of appreciation or a quiet moment of remembrance.

With gratitude,

Mary Ellen Cobbs
Principal, West Elementary School

Tuesday, November 11th - No School to Honor Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 12th - West El Theme Day "In the Future Day". What does your student want to be in the future? They can dress up and show us!

Wednesday, November 26th - Early Release @ 12:15pm. Please put any absences or changes to dismissal in Pick Up Patrol.

Thursday, November 27th & Friday, November 28th - No School for Thanksgiving Break

Wednesday, December 3: Early Dismissal at 12:15

* Notes

You can reach the Nurses/Clinic directly @ 978-247-5302

Pick Up Patrol Users Guide

Last week, West El resumed its Food Rescue drive at breakfast and lunch. Thanks to volunteer Emily Clermont, Nurse Gibbons, Mrs. Sleeper’s cafeteria team, and the Student Council, we collected and delivered nearly 500 food items to the Andover Food Hub. We’re proud of our students’ compassion and commitment to supporting our community and addressing food security. Way to go, West El!

Please remmeber that our district continues to offer Universal Free Meals as required by state law; all students will continue to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch during the school day. Further, The Town of Andover has provided a list of community resources available to support residents, whether you are seeking help or looking for ways to lend a hand.

Exciting news! Many of our students are nearing the completion of Module 1 in Arts and Letters in the weeks ahead, and we couldn't be prouder of their progress!

At the beginning of this module, we shared Parent Tip sheets with you and now seems like the perfect time to revisit them. As your child wraps up this learning journey, these tip sheets can be wonderful conversation starters at home. You can have rich discussions about the captivating books they've read and all the amazing ELA and World Knowledge skills they've developed!

Ask them about their favorite characters, what surprised them most, or which new concepts they found most interesting. You might be amazed by how much they've absorbed and how eager they are to share their discoveries with you! This is such a great opportunity to celebrate your child's learning.

We've attached the Parent Tip Sheets below for your convenience. They can also be found on the Elementary Literacy page on the APS website. Just click on the tab titled Arts & Letters. This link also includes the webinar from last week's parent presentation.

Module 1 Parent Tip Sheets: Kindergarten, Grade One, Grade Two, Grade Three, Grade Four, Grade Five

We hope they help spark meaningful conversations that reinforce your child's learning and show them how much you value their hard work.

Thank you for being such supportive partners in your child's educational journey. Your engagement at home makes all the difference!

A heartfelt thank you to our West El PTO for the generous gift of lunch during Parent/Teacher Conference Day. We are so grateful for the kindness you continually show our staff and for the strong partnership we share.

Congratulations on a successful community-building event at UMASS Lowell a wonderful Book Fair, and your continued leadership in our Food Recovery program. Between these efforts, your ongoing fundraising and scholarship support, and the development of enrichment opportunities for our students, there is truly so much to celebrate and cheer about at West El!