Dear Andover Community,

History was made on June 18 when the 32 students in our first full-day kindergarten class graduated and moved on to first grade. We remain very grateful to the Andover community for voting for the full-day kindergarten in March of 2012. The implementation of full-day kindergarten will have a positive effect with ramifications to be evident up through the grades at Andover Elementary/Middle School.

The 32 kindergarten graduates have an insatiable appetite for learning and have maximized the opportunities afforded within their seven hours in which to learn, play, and grow.

Throughout this first school year, we have witnessed the benefits of full-day kindergarten on countless occasions. First grade teachers are planning to have higher expectations in the fall, and the first grade curriculum will be accelerated.

I had invited Governor Hassan to participate in this historical and meaningful graduation, but the date conflicted with her trip to Turkey. This is unfortunate, because AE/MS kindergarten graduation was the place to be! I would like to thank New Hampshire State Representatives Mario Ratzki, Lorrie Carey, and David Karrick and Senator Andrew Hosmer for their help in encouraging the governor to attend.

Kindergarten graduation is all about celebrating our children. They will sing I’m a Little Graduate; First Grade, First Grade, Here We Come; and an all-time favorite, Tony Chestnut. The short graduation will be followed by cupcakes, juice, and lots and lots of photos.

AE/MS educators Laura Witt, Putnam Kidder, Cathy Fadden, Stacey Rowe, and Mariah DeMello can be proud of their students and the amount of growth (educationally, socially, and physically) that we have witnessed this year. Of course, it takes a village, and that includes parents, grandparents, siblings, and other AE/MS staff members who have played key roles in the success of our full-day kindergarten students.

While we celebrate the kindergarten students as they move up to first grade, it is important to also take the time to celebrate our community. We are very fortunate to live in a community where support for children and education is demonstrated on a regular basis.

Appreciatively,

Principal Jane Slayton and the AE/MS community