January and February are favorite months. We return from Christmas break and enjoy the long, uninterrupted (mostly) stretch of academically productive weeks leading up to February vacation.

Other schools envy us because of our ideal situation at AE/MS. Our students work hard all week and then thoroughly enjoy winter recreation options on Friday afternoons. It would be disruptive if our ski afternoons were any other day than Friday. We are so fortunate that our community makes these options available to our students every year.

Our school is very proud of Coach Nick Fairall. Nick is our spring track coach, and our student athletes have learned a lot from him. An assembly to properly send Coach Nick off to the Olympics was held on January 17. You can bet AE/MS staff members and students will follow the Olympic ski jumping competitions very closely. Go, Nick!

AE/MS is in session on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Tolerance and civil rights are taught through classroom activities. There are many excellent literature options, speakers, projects, and films available.

Congratulations to AE/MS Geography Champion Will Furtkamp! Will, a sixth grade student, was the last one standing after a grueling middle school competition. Runner up was Will’s sister Lilly, a fifth grader. The Furtkamps have several more Geography Bees in their future!

Please check out our Web site at AEMSeagles.org. There are many new features. It has become a very useful resource.

One of the great things about technology is the bridge it can create between home and school. Math learning doesn’t have to end when the school day ends. Our first through fourth grade students are all enrolled in IXL Math. Our fifth through eighth grade students all have Khan Academy accounts. Math skills can be practiced at home. Progress is tracked, and parents and teachers can access it at any time.

New Superintendent

The search for a new superintendent for the Andover and Merrimack Valley School Districts is underway. The three candidates toured our school this week at different times. They toured the building with very capable and personable student tour guides. The candidates then met with teachers, administrators, School Board members, and support staff members. The SAU Board will soon announce the next Superintendent of SAU #46.

New England College and Professor Bill Preble will once again offer a graduate-level course at AE/MS after school hours beginning this month. Many teachers are taking advantage of this opportunity. Teachers from Grantham, Danbury, and Henniker will also travel to AE/MS for the course. The course is “Psychology of Learning Communities.”

The 100th day of school will soon be here. It is always an exciting event for kindergarten students, but with the large classes this year it should be a phenomenally exciting event. We are getting prepared now! Look for photos next month.

Chinese New Year is an annual celebration at AE/MS. It is a tradition for the fourth grade class to lead the dragon parade throughout the building. It is the Year of the Horse, and AE/MS will celebrate in early February. An incredible lunch is served to the students with many Asian delicacies.

Thursday, February 20, is the annual Parent Breakfast. A delicious breakfast is served beginning at 7 AM. Parents are encouraged to have breakfast with their child before they head to work.

Monday, March 3, is the annual School District Meeting at 7 PM in the AE/MS gym. It is at this meeting that the school budget for 2014-15 is voted upon. You must be present to vote.

If you are in the building, please take the time to walk around and enjoy the student art work displayed throughout the building.