AE/MS News, October 2015

Ms Hildebrand, AE/MS second grade teacher, releases a newly-hatched female monarch butterfly while Nate Bain, Emma Raymond (behind Nate), Hayden Considine, Zach Dudek, Ryleigh Perry, Carter Wheeler, and Myles Keyser look on. "It is always such a miracle to behold," Ms Hildebrand says, "and sadly it is happening far too infrequently now. All the local milkweed seems to get mowed down just before the critical moment, while the caterpillars are about to pupate." Ms Hildebrand had to travel to a field in Tilton to find one. Photo: Jane Slayton — Ms Hildebrand, AE/MS second grade teacher, releases a newly-hatched female monarch butterfly while Nate Bain, Emma Raymond (behind Nate), Hayden Considine, Zach Dudek, Ryleigh Perry, Carter Wheeler, and Myles Keyser look on. “It is always such a miracle to behold,” Ms Hildebrand says, “and sadly it is happening far too infrequently now. All the local milkweed seems to get mowed down just before the critical moment, while the caterpillars are about to pupate.” Ms Hildebrand had to travel to a field in Tilton to find one. Photo: Jane Slayton

AE/MS welcomed 20 new students this year! We are back into our daily academic routine and enjoying fall sports and activities.

Open House for middle school families took place on September 10, and the elementary school families had one on Thursday, September 24. It is a chance for parents to see what their child will be learning and meet all involved in the educational process.

Families tour the building and enjoy the time with their children and the AE/MS staff members. The younger students love playing tour guide to their families.

Volunteers Needed

We always welcome volunteers! Currently we are looking for someone to help manage our enthusiastic student recyclers, and for someone to manage and coordinate a large-scale playground improvement initiative. Call me or stop in if interested, and I can share details and hopefully I will persuade you to jump in.

Though very few of our students were alive in 2001, teachers spent time talking with their students about the horrific events that unfolded that year on September 11. The tragedy of that day caused reverberations throughout American society, forever changing security, travel, and our world.

On the 14th anniversary of that day, we wanted our students to understand the significance of the day in an age-appropriate manner. For our younger students, it focused on the importance of heroes, and thank-you cards were sent to our local firefighters, police, and emergency responders.

By exploring the topics of diversity, conflict resolution, and tolerance, older students can understand and interact effectively within our world.

Friday Night Lights

Town Pride Nights are happening at Merrimack Valley High School football games. Friday, October 2 is Andover’s night, and students will receive tickets from AE/MS that will get them into the game for free. We will share our Pride Night with Webster and Salisbury.

It will be a fun and spirited evening! Our students will make banners to display and will be called down to the field at halftime for a group photo.

A Bus Safety assembly was recently held. All the bus drivers attended and reviewed safety expectations with the students.

Constitution Day was recognized on September 17. It is the 228th anniversary of the Constitution’s signing. A lot of things have changed in America, but the Constitution has remained as a constant yet evolving tool of democracy.

Constitution Day is a time for us to continue the legacy and develop habits of citizenship. Various activities were held in classrooms.

AE/MS welcomes Robyn Boisvert. Robyn was a former AE/MS student and is now interning in Mrs. Bent’s first grade classroom through her program at NHTI, Concord’s Community College.

One of the most popular nights of the year at AE/MS is coming! Math Night will be on Thursday, October 22. Families have the opportunity to play many math games and participate in math activities. AE/MS and Proctor Academy teachers run different math stations and there are lots of prizes at the end of the evening.