All Around APS

Dear APS families and staff,

March brought so many moments worth celebrating across our schools. While I can never capture all these moments in one newsletter, I am excited to share a few highlights with you.

Students at South Elementary proudly shared their learning through Eminent Person projects, while West Elementary enjoyed a memorable West Elementary Readers and Writers Conference (WERAWC) event with Ivy, the “very determined dog,” inspiring students with a message of perseverance. Bancroft showcased creativity during Bancroft’s Got Talent, and High Plain Elementary’s kindergarten students delighted families with their joyful musical performance, The Magic Forest.

Important learning and collaborative education continued throughout the district. I had the pleasure of visiting Sanborn Elementary as they hosted families for “The Learning Journey” as part of its ongoing equity work. Wood Hill Middle School hosted an impactful presentation from Understanding Our Differences, encouraging empathy, inclusion, and connection. At the same time, West Middle School focused on emotional well‑being during RULER Month, supporting students’ social‑emotional learning and emotional awareness.

There was no shortage of fun, either. Doherty Middle School celebrated Ms. Perry’s winning entry in Andover’s first Principal Sandwich Competition, and Shawsheen Preschool students enjoyed a special visit and Read Along from Andover Police School Resource Officer Tom Paolera and his dog, Officer Maggie.

Last month also delivered an exceptional moment of pride for our district. All four of our performing arts groups competed at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival and, for the first time in our program’s history, every group earned a Gold rating! Congratulations to our Concert Band, Orchestra, Chamber Choir, and Percussion Ensemble on this outstanding achievement, which speaks to the extraordinary talent and dedication of our students and the encouraging leadership of our staff.

I also want to congratulate the Andover High School SeaPerch Robotics Team on earning first place at the regional competition and qualifying for nationals this May.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools. March truly reflected the learning, joy, and community that make our district so special.

Keith Taverna

Interim Superintendent

Wood Hill Middle School sixth grader Liam Vainshtein is celebrating the debut of his first book, The Revolution: Part 1, with Part 2 expected to be released in the coming months. Illustrated by his friend and collaborator Thomas Zarayski, also a sixth grader at Wood Hill, The Revolution is a science fantasy novel for young readers that showcases Liam’s boundless creativity and gift for storytelling.

The story follows a young boy named Zon who must fight for survival in a kingdom ruled by a corrupt king. As Liam continues the series, Zon will grow and age alongside the author, giving readers the chance to follow his character’s evolution over time.

Liam’s debut novel is already generating excitement within the school community. Copies of The Revolution: Part 1 are available in the Wood Hill Middle School library for students to check out and the Andover Bookstore is in the process of restocking the novel.

Beyond his writing talent, Liam is also an avid actor with a strong love for theater. He notes that “as I get older, so does my writing,” a reflection of the growth and creativity evident in his work. He credits his family, particularly his grandmother, for inspiring and encouraging him throughout his creative journey. His pride is unmistakable when he talks about his book and the characters he has brought to life.

With Part 2 on the horizon this summer, readers are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Liam’s imaginative world.

We are proud to congratulate Mr. J.J. Kuchan and Andover High School senior Vincent Aguirre on being selected as two of this year’s Rotary Club of Andover’s Citizens Who Care honorees as Educator and Student of the Year. Their dedication, generosity, and service to the Andover community make this recognition truly well deserved.

Vincent, a senior at Andover High School, plans to pursue biochemistry after graduation. Vincent has made the most of his time at AHS, participating in football and baseball and serving as an integral member of the Warriors Up! program, where he volunteers to help freshmen adjust to high school life. Vincent credits his guidance counselor, Ms. Nora McDermott, and Ms. Holly Breen for their unwavering support. Although he does not know who nominated him, he is deeply honored and says the award belongs just as much to those who have supported him throughout his high school journey. He shared that it is both heartwarming and humbling to know that someone has watched his growth and felt he was worthy of this recognition.

Mr. Kuchan, now in his fifth year with Andover Public Schools as Director of Bands, is also honored by this recognition. He does not know who nominated him, but the acknowledgment resonates with him because his goal each day is to create community, promote inclusivity, support his students, and encourage their pursuit of success through music. His family will be traveling from Arizona to attend the ceremony and is incredibly proud to see him recognized by the Andover community.

Hearing the news was emotional for both honorees, who shared that it is meaningful to be recognized for being people who give back to their community. Mr. Kuchan and Vincent are two of eleven Andover residents who will be honored by the community on May 14, 2026, as part of the Rotary Club of Andover’s long‑standing Citizens Who Care Gala. Since its inception in 1996, this event has recognized individuals whose commitment to volunteerism and service reflects the very best of Andover.

If you would like to join the celebration of this year’s Citizens Who Care event, please visit the Rotary Club of Andover’s webpage for more information.

District Dates:

• Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24th - Patriots' Day/ Spring Recess - No School
• Wednesday, May 6th - Early Release Day

Holidays and Observances:

• Friday, April 10th – Orthodox Good Friday
• Sunday, April 12th – Orthodox Easter Sunday

🌞At their April 9th meeting, the School Committee voted that the final day of school for students will be on Wednesday, June 17th. This will be an early release day!🌞

The 2025-26 and 2026-27 School Year calendars are available on our website.

In order to hear from as many voices as possible as we embark on this very important process, we are extending the Superintendent survey through Tuesday, April 14th, closing at noon. Clicking on this link will bring you to a short survey that asks you to highlight what you believe are characteristics necessary in a successful Superintendent. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on the next educational leader for Andover!

For more information on engagement opportunities; please visit the Superintendent Search webpage.

Thank you for your participation! The Andover School Committee

The Andover Public Schools is beginning a search for an Executive Director of Special Services, and we look forward to community engagement through this process. We recognize that selecting an Executive Director to oversee our Special Education Program is an important responsibility. Our commitment is to have an inclusive and thorough search for the best possible leader to serve our families.

We will be hosting a virtual focus group on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. We recognize that there are many events this time of year and hope that you will be able to join us. Advance registration is required and can be completed at this link. Once registered, you will receive an email with a link to join the meeting.

Additionally, we encourage families to participate in a brief survey. Feedback to our survey will help identify the characteristics for the ideal candidate for special education in Andover Public Schools. Your responses are anonymous and the survey will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026. Thank you for your participation.

As we continue to highlight the core tenets of the APS Vision of a Graduate, this week’s focus is on Communication! Watch the video to hear Andover High School Juniors Naomi Mwale and Ava Desmarais-Koehn explain what communications means to them!

As a Vision of a Graduate skill, communication is the ability to actively process and make connections from what others say, listen with empathy to understand perspectives and emotions, and clearly express ideas with purpose across a variety of contexts and modalities.

A skilled communicator asks questions to deepen understanding, considers diverse viewpoints, and strategically adapts message, tone, and delivery to meet the needs of different audiences. Through thoughtful discourse, skilled communicators critically examine ideas, build shared understanding, and convey meaning with clarity and impact.

April 14, Tue, 7-8pm – COLLEGE TRANSITION FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES with Dr. Eric Endlich

Helping neurodivergent students navigate stress, motivation, and the transition to college

👉 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dMTQV1_SRlGyBhjyeyWx7g

May 12, Tue, 7-8pm – INCLUSIVE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION 101 with Dr. Mindy Lingo
Supporting executive functioning, learning differences, and student independence

👉 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FxoWksFATfKak1uafFR_Kg