The arrival of 2015 signals the final weeks of AE/MS’ five-year Long Range Plan (LRP). We want to give our community a sense of how things went. After all … it’s your school!

Below are the goals as stated in the LRP and as rewritten by this year’s eighth graders. Following each is a brief commentary about the progress that has been made toward each goal.

Goal #1: AE/MS students will demonstrate progress in academic achievement and personal development required for a successful future in the 21st century.

“We will work to be better students and learn skills for when we are older. We will get good grades and prove that we are learning what we have been taught. We will learn writing, public speaking, other languages, music, art, literature, math, and science and become familiar with commonly used and advanced technologies. We will improve ourselves.” – AE/MS Class of 2015

At Andover Elementary/Middle School, we have linked learning to our 7 Cs, which are Caring, Collaboration, Communication and Connection, Community, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Curiosity. All lessons, activities, and learning experiences correlate to at least one of the 7 Cs, and most include several Cs.

Academic achievement was strengthened by the addition of full-day kindergarten. Already first grade teachers have noticed an acceleration of academic skills as the first full-day kindergarten class moves up through the primary grades. The addition of full-day kindergarten has benefited and will continue to benefit our school community for years to come. Thank you, Andover!

We continue to explore world language options and have at times offered world language instruction for our students, but not as consistently or as comprehensively as we would like.

Gisela Darling has continued to offer German instruction after school to a dedicated group of learners. During the 2013-2014 school year we were fortunate to have a member of the Proctor community teach Spanish in kindergarten through fourth grade. We were also fortunate to employ a Spanish teacher for one year in grades seven and eight.

Most recently, AE/MS has partnered with Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, and eighth grade students have started online coursework with teachers of French, Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese. Kindergarten through eighth-grade world language instruction is a goal we will continue to work toward.

Technology use as a learning tool in all the classrooms has increased immensely within the last five years. Technology tools (iPads, Chromebooks, SMART boards, etc.) are commonplace in classrooms and used effectively to bolster instruction and learning.

Goal #2: AE/MS will provide a learning environment that supports academic achievement and personal growth.

“The school will be a place to learn, and it will help us complete personal goals. The school will be friendly, flexible, and open-minded. The teachers will be very awesome and will adjust their teaching styles to each kid.” – AE/MS ’15

Response to Instruction: We are now using STAR and AIMSweb assessments to screen, progress-monitor, and diagnose individual student needs and progress to inform our instruction. This protocol provides early intervention, individual support, and challenge beyond the core curriculum. Visit AEMSeagles.org and click on “RTI & FLEX” for more information.

In the last five years, we have increased the ways in which we use data to inform instruction, assist at-risk students, and determine next steps in curriculum. These changes are highlighted by positive trends: our retention rate is extremely low, the number of students discharged from special education services has increased, and behavior problems resulting from frustration during classroom instruction have become less frequent.

Although our #1 priority is daily instruction and enrichment, AE/MS students in third through eighth grade usually score at or above the state average in standardized testing situations. Positive feedback from both Merrimack Valley High School and Proctor Academy about strong high school preparation helps us to know we are on the right track.

“We don’t teach to tests … we teach kids.”

AE/MS, like other schools in the state and country, will be administered the Smarter Balanced Assessment for the first time this spring for grades three through eight. Smarter Balanced is a state-led consortium working collaboratively to develop assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards that measure student progress toward college and career readiness.

GOAL #3 AE/MS will attract and retain a highly-qualified faculty and staff.

“The school will hire and keep good teachers. The workplace will be friendly, respectful, inspiring, and organized. The teachers and staff will have good pay.” – AE/MS ’15

Research has shown that one of the most important factors contributing to a child’s success in school is the teacher. We are fortunate to have excellent and effective teachers who take the time and energy to know their students.

Our teachers know the whole child and, due to the high retention of these teachers, they often even know and have worked with siblings. This fact leads to strong community connections and the sense of a “school family” that we cherish.

The teachers know the passions, interests, strengths, struggles, and families of their students. Teachers at Andover Elementary/Middle School meet the educational needs of the whole child by knowing the whole child.

Opportunities for professional development for teachers has increased within the past few years. New England College now brings graduate coursework on-site. Many of our teachers take advantage of this opportunity to learn together.

In addition, AE/MS has increased formative assessment practices within classrooms and with individual students. Web-based and collegial training and support is ongoing.

GOAL #4 AE/MS will maintain and expand community partnerships.

“AE/MS will work with the community to benefit the people in the town and the school. The school will build strong relationships with the town by working together.” – AE/MS ’15

The past five years have only reinforced that it is the “people” factor that provides AE/MS students with a rigorous, relevant, and relationship-based education. It is the students, past and present, the faculty and staff members, the Andover School Board and administration, the families, and the local community of Andover. It is a true collaboration of strengths and talents, all directed toward our learners.

Everyone feels a connection to our community school. The school is at the heart of our town, and it is reassuring and pleasing to hear community members talk with pride and ownership about Andover Elementary/Middle School. We are most fortunate.

GOAL #5 AE/MS will develop a facility and grounds to meet the needs of our children and community.

“The school will keep the building and property safe so that it is a fun environment for everyone. The school will grow when it is needed to provide more opportunities. It will be a happy place for learning and growing.” – AE/MS ’15

At the annual School District Meeting in March 2014, a warrant article was approved to have the Andover School Board begin a sustainability study to determine appropriate options for facilities maintenance and other district needs of AE/MS. The Andover School Board will be prepared to share the results of the study at the annual School District Meeting on March 2, 2015. Goal #5 will be a focus of committee work which will begin after the results of the study have been shared. (Please consider being part of this committee.)

We diligently maintain our facility and make improvements mindfully and when feasible. Within the last five years, most of the carpet in the building has been replaced by tile. This past fall, much-needed repairs were made to the playground structure by school and community volunteers. A new game structure and small equipment items were also added to the playground.

We plan to continue with playground repairs and additions. Improvements in the gym this past summer and fall included installation of a new sound system and the replacement of one basketball backboard. Much work continues to be done within the infrastructure of our building to support our expanding technology needs.

The Goals Ahead

We would love your input and participation as we define school goals for the next five years. AE/MS is truly a community school, and your ideas are important to us. Committee meetings will begin this spring. Please contact Principal Jane Slayton at 735-5494 or JSlayton@nullAEMSeagles.org before the end of March for more information or to be included.