Thank you, Andover Fire Department! AE/MS students learned a lot at your open house during Fire Prevention Day. Thanks for spending a full day at AE/MS. We appreciate all you do for our community β you rock!
Students are continuing to enjoy traditional fall events and activities. Fall at AE/MS includes soccer, apple picking, Andover Fire Station visits, Walk to School Day, play try-outs, cool science activities, cross-country running, lots of writing, Halloween play, football, state testing, Math Night, Book Fair, flu shots, art projects, music, vision/hearing testing, and lots of reading and math work. AE/MS is a very busy place!
First graders are preparing to make their annual trip to the Highland Lake Apple Farm which is always a special treat. Some years the first grade classes time it so that they are able to celebrate Peter Zak’s birthday while enjoying fresh, delicious apples.
Flu shots were offered to students and staff members in October. A record number of students participated this year β 99! Parents have found it a great convenience to have flu shots available during the school day.
A healthy school community is always our goal. We encourage students to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. Hand washing is an important practice at AE/MS. We also encourage students to stay hydrated by having water bottles with them. A healthy breakfast is available at school every morning. The building is disinfected daily and students are encouraged to stay home when sick.
Excitement is building for Math Night. Math Night always brings in a crowd. There are math games and activities for all ages and families enjoying visiting the various math stations together. The theme this year, We Are Wild About Math, is sure to attract some crazy costuming. There are prizes galore!
AE/MS always has a collection box for Andover Food Pantry donations. This makes it more convenient for staff members and students to drop off food items on a regular basis. Items collected are then carried over to the Andover Food Panty by older students.
Walk to School day was a great success! The weather was absolutely perfect β cool, crisp, and beautiful foliage. All students and staff members participated. Kindergarten students had their first encounter with Ernie the Eagle, our AE/MS mascot.
Invitations are in the mail to our Andover veterans. All classes contribute to the Veterans Day program. Some classes will sing, some will recite poetry, others patriotically decorate the gym, and some make American flags for the veterans. The eighth grade students run the Eagle Cafe which gives the veterans a place to sit and visit with each other after the ceremony while enjoying coffee and treats.
It is not too soon to begin thinking about Grandparent Thanksgiving! Grandparents or older family members are invited to AE/MS for a Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, November 21. It is a fun dinner, regardless of whether a child has a local grandparent or not. We have many “extra” grandparents, and we make sure everyone feels included. All classes contribute to the special day. Staff members and volunteers cook and serve the dinner. Older students set-up, host, clear tables, and clean-up. It is always a well-attended event.
Community members are welcome to attend our winter concerts. Kindergarten through fifth grade will have a festive concert on Thursday, December 5, followed by an instrumental concert on Thursday, December 12, which will include band members. Both evenings will be entertaining. It is always a treat to see the kindergarten class perform in front of an audience for the first time!
The Town of Andover is once again generously making the ski program available and affordable to Andover families. The first ski day is Friday, January 10. Students have the opportunity to alpine ski or snowboard at Ragged Mountain Resort. It is a five-week program. The Town provides bus transportation. Rental equipment is available through Ragged Mountain Resort. Participating students will be dismissed early on Friday afternoons to participate in the Town program.