I have lived in Andover my whole life and graduated from AE/MS in 2007. After graduating from MVHS in 2011, I studied elementary education at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts. Upon graduating with a BA in December 2014, I returned to Andover and became a substitute teacher at AE/MS.

I now work there full time as a paraprofessional. Being both a student and staff member at AE/MS has given me a unique perspective of the school.

It’s great to see that many traditions I enjoyed as a student are still being continued today. The highlights of my days at AE/MS included helping to write and perform plays in second grade, enjoying games with my family and students of all ages at Math Night, browsing the book fair in the library for new stories and magazines, memorizing a poem every year in the hopes of being chosen for Poetry Night, learning the recorder in third grade and singing at the concerts each year, having my grandparents come to the school for the Grandparents Thanksgiving lunch, browsing the Holiday Shoppe in search of the perfect gift for each of my family members, learning new and exciting skills at SHARE Day, and looking forward to Field Day and the last day of school BBQ.

Seeing current students experience the same joy I did as they participate in these events and activities is wonderful. It is also great to see what fresh ideas and new traditions have begun since I left AE/MS, such as Walk and Bike to School Day, the musical performed by the middle schoolers, Literacy Night, and the creation of a chorus. Although some of the staff has changed since I was a student, many of the newcomers have thrown themselves into these trademark AE/MS events and helped create new ones.

I completed my student teaching practicum in an elementary school in Boston, Massachusetts, which has changed the way I now view my own elementary and middle school experience. I realize how lucky I was to attend a school that offered all of these “extras,” and I have a new-found appreciation for the dedication of many members of the AE/MS staff and volunteers and the close-knit community they work to create.

As a student I did not realize the amount of work and planning that went into these events, so “Thank you!” to everyone who continues to make them possible! I am grateful for the recent opportunities I have had to help carry on these traditions.

I have offered a SHARE Day workshop on making duct tape wallets for several years now, and last year I helped wrap presents for students at the Holiday Shoppe and listened to each student in the school recite a poem to determine who would perform at Poetry Night. It has been great to give back to the community and help carry on these traditions.

While many things about AE/MS are the same, there are some clear differences. When I was in kindergarten, it was only a half day, but now AE/MS has full-day kindergarten. I think this is great for Andover, as it helps better prepare youngsters for first grade on an intellectual, social, and emotional level.

It is also great to see AE/MS preparing students for the technology-rich world we live in today. Smartboards, IPads, and Chromebooks can be found in all grade levels. They are a great source of motivation and also provide students with great resources and targeted learning. I wish all this technology had been around when I was in elementary and middle school!

Working at Andover has been a great experience thus far. Next year, I hope to put my elementary education certification to use and be a classroom teacher. Although this will probably mean I am working at a different school, I am looking forward to bringing the lessons I have learned at AE/MS as a student and teacher to a new school, classroom, and students.