The AE/MS building is a busy place, even in the summer! Summer School has been in session for three weeks. Students are only here in the morning, and teachers carefully balance a bit of fun into the lessons. Last week the students took a field trip to the New London Barn Playhouse to watch The Sound of Music. All ages enjoyed the performance!
There is also deep cleaning taking place within the building. Vic Stewart, Cathy Fogg, and Walter Scott have been able to give their full attention to a well-worn yet well-loved building. Floor wax has been stripped and touch-up painting has been done. Grounds have been fertilized and mowed regularly. The grass in the courtyard has had an opportunity to flourish. Supplies have arrived, and furniture is being repaired. New desks are being put together for the fourth grade classes.
Courtney Minnehan, our new art teacher, has been in the building and is very excited to meet students, staff members, and families. “Ms. M” brings an abundance of energy, enthusiasm, and talent to the position.
Teachers use the summer to take courses, attend workshops, read, and revise curriculum. Several teachers have been taking summer courses at New England College and will share what they’ve learned with students and staff members in the fall. Laura Witt attended a three day Responsive Classroom workshop at the beginning of the summer. Responsive Classroom is a well-designed, evidence-based social and emotional learning program used in many schools.
Jane Slayton spent two days at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics learning effective and engaging strategies for integrating civics. She connected with a K-8 school in Philadelphia where they are conducting mock trials at all grade levels and students have a strong understanding of the judicial system and the constitution.
In discussion, she found that AE/MS has a lot in common with the high-achieving Edwin M. Stanton School and is hoping to bring an AE/MS group to Philadelphia to visit during the school year. Judge Marjorie Rendell from Philadelphia’s Rendell Center for Civics and Civics Engagement shared her vast knowledge and resources with the New Hampshire educators. She was inspiring as she made a case for the importance of civic education starting early.
Local resources were shared to help students understand the New Hampshire Supreme Court system. Jane brought back many ideas and books to share. The workshop attendees also had fun participating in a mock trial.
AE/MS athletes will soon be practicing regularly. Soccer and cross-country practices begin on Monday, August 17. Four AE/MS boys will be playing football for Merrimack Valley Middle School. We are fortunate that veteran and well-liked coaches Amy Makechnie and Brian Reynolds will be returning to coach soccer and cross-country.
Students in most grades went home with summer reading assignments. We look forward to discussing their summer reading when they return.
In mid-August, a large group from AE/MS will be attending the 2015 Conference on School Culture. This year’s conference theme is Strengths, Strategies, and Systems of Support and will include presentations by national leaders, New Hampshire educators, youth, and community partners, plus opportunities for teams to work together, including instruction on cutting-edge strategies for school improvement.
The two-day conference will focus on sharing examples, tools, and practices to help schools and communities to improve their culture, climate, and safety and features a youth strand to engage young people who are interested in learning about how to become leaders of and advocates for positive change to their school’s culture and climate. Jane Slayton, Brittney Fournier, three AE/MS eighth grade students, and one MVHS student will represent Andover.
Please keep in mind we always welcome volunteers from the community. We need someone to run our Eagle Store on a regular basis, someone to help manage our enthusiastic recyclers, someone to manage and coordinate a playground improvement initiative, and more. Call Jane Slayton if interested.
A large kindergarten class will be entering AE/MS in the fall. Kindergarten Orientation will be held on Tuesday, August 25. This gives kindergarten families an opportunity to explore the classrooms, ride the school bus, meet all the teachers, and meet other kindergarten families.
We’re back! Wednesday, August 26, is the first day of school for the 2015-2016 school year. The students will have a three-day week as they transition back into the school year. We will be welcoming several new families who have moved to Andover and have registered for school.