ANDOVER ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL
October 2, 2014
Dear AEMS Family,
Wednesday is International Walk to School Day! Students should arrive at school the way they normally do. The day begins at the regular time and students will start the day in their classrooms. Teachers will take attendance, tally the lunch count, and then board the school buses with their students. Buses will drop groups of students and staff members at various locations along the Rail Trail according to their grade. At no time will students be walking on main roads. At no time will students be unaccompanied by adults. Our youngest students in kindergarten will not board the bus but will walk on the Rail Trail and return to school. Grades 1 and 2 will walk from the South Short Street entrance. Grades 3 – 5 will walk from the Potter Place entrance and grades 6 – 8 will walk from the Switch Road entrance. We will all end up back at school and enjoy music and fruit and water in the gym before returning to classes. Ernie, our Andover Eagle will make an appearance for part of the festivities. If it is a rainy day, we will postpone the walk until the following Wednesday. Parents are welcome to walk along the trail with the classes and enjoy the celebration at the school. If for some reason, you do not want your child to participate, please give me a call so we can make alternative arrangements.
We have started a mentor program within our school this year. Several 7th and 8th grade students were matched with younger students. The intent is to build community, encourage positive social skills, and have an older student as a buddy. We piloted the program with a few students last year and it was very successful. If you have any questions please contact School Counselor Lisa Lane.
The first school dance of the year is now only hours away. The excitement is in the air in the middle school. This is the homecoming dance so our 2013-14 eighth grade students have been invited to attend. Dances are well chaperoned by teachers and admistrators.
Students have a four day weekend coming up soon. There is a Teacher Workshop day on Friday, October 10th and Monday, October 13th is the Columbus Day observance.
Our AEMS Soccer Jamboree is this Saturday on the Proctor Academy turf fields. The games run from 9-3:00 and include our AEMS Eagles and several other local schools. There will be a snack bar with hot and cold items and fun for all!
We still have students cycling to and from school in this beautiful fall weather. Please remember it is a school rule that helmets must be worn by cyclists while on school grounds. It is also a state law that those under 16 must wear a helmet while cycling. But more importantly please remind students to wear helmets to keep them safe.
The first Progress Report will be sent home with students on October 17th.
Bishop Brady High School has an Open House for Andover students on Friday, Ocober 10th. AEMS does not have school that day. Parents and students are invited to attend. There will be a 90 minute program from 8:00 to 9:30 AM. Students will attend two classes with a Brady student-host while parents attend an information session, meet the administration and faculty and have a tour of the school and grounds.
And finally, Box Tops are back! Some of you have been stockpiling them at home waiting for a contest. It is now time to bring them in. We collect all year but there are certain times of the year that checks are issued to the school. The end of October is one of those deadlines. I have attached a collection sheet. The student getting the most collection sheets turned in will win two Monarch’s Hockey tickets. The contest will end October 24th. The class that contributes the most collection sheets will win a frozen yogurt with toppings party and extra recess.
Thanks!
Jane Slayton
Math Night – October 23 !!!!!!