Bancroft Bulletin
Family Edition: May 15, 2026
DATES TO KNOW
May 22 - Andover Police Dept HIGH FIVE FRIDAY!! There will be police officers at arrival and greeting our Bobcats!
May 25 - No School - Memorial Day
May 28 - Spring Concert for Chorus/Band/Orff - concert for school and families
Families welcome for the evening performance at 6:30
In addition to these dates, please refer to your grade level newsletters for more about field trips and enrichment fun!
Andover Public Schools 2025 - 2026 Calendar
Andover Public School 2026-2027 Calendar
MCAS dates
Grade 5
Science - May 18 and May 19
Arts and Letters Survey
As we complete our first year with Arts & Letters, our new elementary English Language Arts curriculum, your voice matters! This short survey is designed to gather your thoughts and experiences as a parent or guardian — from how your child has engaged with the material to any changes you've noticed in their reading and writing. Your honest feedback will help us continue to support every learner and make informed decisions going forward. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for being a partner in your child's education!
Click here for Arts & Letters Parent & Guardian Survey
Maura Donoghue
PreK-5 Literacy Program Coordinator
Physical Education weekly update!
Week of May 11th
This week, students in grades K-3 participated in a variety of review skill stations, including hopper balls, Helicopter, Soccer Shootout, Limbo, and the “Stack It Bucket Challenge.”
Students in grades 3–5 were introduced to the upcoming 4th and 5th Grade Track & Field Meet on June 5th. They learned about what to expect during the event, reviewed the different events they will participate in, and began practicing for the long jump and triple jump. Parent permission slips with additional information have been or will be sent home for this exciting event.
Music weekly update!
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MUSIC CLASS 5/11/26-5/15/26
K, 1 students are enjoying a song about the sea called, “Come Sail to the A B Sea.” In this song, students are taught the actions that match the words and we then play the percussion instruments on “special” words. Some of the instruments used are the rainstick, slapstick, windchimes, cymbals, and drums.
In grade 2, students continue their song/rhythm writing with the “Fishpole Song.” Students work together in cooperative groups as they create rhythms to go along with the fish they select. Students have a great time playing their creations on percussion instruments.
3rd and 4th grade students continue their composition unit with the “Pizza Song.” Students work in cooperative groups and start creating/composing their “pizza” rhythms to go along with the words pepperoni, onion, and cheese. These word rhythms are transferred over to the percussion instruments. Students seem to really enjoy being composers. We finish off this project with performing a rondo for an in-class performance for each other.
5th grade students are starting their song selection through voice and choice for the upcoming graduation ceremony in a few weeks. Students are given a list of appropriate songs that they listen to and then decide on a scale of 1-6 how they would like to rate them according to most favorite vs. least favorite.
A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR ALL GRADE 5 FAMILIES (Grade 4 and 5 band and strings)
********************** PLEASE mark your calendars********************
BANCROFT SCHOOL Grade 5 Chorus and Orff Spring Concert
(The 4th and 5th grade band and strings will be performing at this concert as well)
Dear all 5th grade families,
Your child has been working so hard and doing an amazing job preparing for our upcoming SPRING concert to be held at Bancroft School on Thursday May 28, 2026. There will be two performances: 2 pm for staff and students and 6:30 pm for parents, families, and care-givers. For the evening performance, please have your performer arrive no later than 6:00 pm. The performance will take place at Bancroft School in the cafetorium.
Performers should plan on bringing their concert dress attire with them to school for the daytime performance and changing into or wearing it to school.
Attire: White top, black pants (as dark as possible), and black/dark shoes. Please reach out if you need help with obtaining the outfit.
** If your performer is in band or strings, have them wear what their band/strings teachers have told them to wear.
Attendance: This is an expected event for all Grade 5 students. Our chorus relies on every single person to be present at rehearsals and performances. Everyone is important to our success. Please notify coaches or other programs to avoid conflicts in advance.
We are hopeful for 100% full attendance to show that we are a team.
Please email Ms. Casey or Mr. Stimson with any thoughts, questions, or concerns at evelyn.casey@andoverma.us christopher.stimson@andoverma.us
Thank you for all your support. We look forward to seeing you there.
Respectfully, Evelyn Casey and Chris Stimson (chorus directors)
Art weekly update!
May 15
There will be a K-5 Bancroft Art show on
Thursday, May 28 from 5:30-6:15 in the school gym, prior to the Spring Concert.
Come and see your child’s work!
Kindergarteners are creating observational self-portraits, using a mirror. Students will draw their face in pencil and trace it with black sharpie, before coloring them in.
First graders are gold necklaces inspired by the gold and jeweled collars that the Ancient Egyptians wore around their necks. We will make these out of paper plates
Second graders are creating “Montezuma’s crown” inspired by the ancient Aztec culture.
Third graders are finishing up their 3D rooms inspired by the Vincent Van Gogh painting Bedroom in Arles
Fourth graders are finishing up their self portraits using sketchpad on their chrome books. They experimented with digital art tools, such as opacity, the width of a line, using a dropper to pick a color, and various line qualities. They will begin a collage art project where students will be choosing a word or phrase that is important or meaningful to them, to make an artwork about.
Fifth graders are beginning a project about Piet Mondrain, a Dutch artist. They are practicing making grid-like artwork in google sheets using tools such as merging cells, adding and changing borders, and dropping in colors from their own curated color palette.
Library Media weekly update!
Week of May 11
Library ask: if you have any cardboard paper towel or toilet paper rolls, please consider donating to the library for a student project.
This week, Kindergarten read What do you do with an idea? By Kobi Yamada. After the read aloud, students brainstormed how they could use their ideas to change the world.
First grade students continued to work on their bird research. Ask your student about a blue jay’s habitat and diet!
Second grade students continued to work on their insect research journal. Each group worked together to determine the habitat and diet of their insect.
Third graders read from the book Willodeen by Katherine Applegate. After the read aloud, students selected the animal they will research.
Fourth and fifth grade students continue to work on their research projects. Fourth grade continued recording their podcast. Fifth grade students presented their research projects! Ask your student what topic they chose to research!
School librarian: Tiffany Hutchins
Librarian email: tiffany.legare@andoverma.us
APS Superintendent Search
As the Andover School Committee moves forward in the process of selecting a new Superintendent, we are excited to announce upcoming engagement opportunities and a dedicated webpage for students, staff, and the community.
Selecting a Superintendent is one the School Committee’s most important responsibilities, and the School Committee is committed to a comprehensive, thorough, and transparent search for the best possible leader of our schools. We encourage your participation in this process. Thank you.
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AT SCHOOL
We are all working to manage the age of technology and are looking for support between school and home. Many children have new smart devices and the elementary schools have some guidance.
A kind reminder to our families that cell phones must be turned off and in students’ backpacks at the start of the school day. Smartwatches may be worn as regular watches, however, students are not allowed to text, communicate with others, use applications, take pictures or videos, or access social media services and websites.
Should parents/guardians urgently need to reach their child during the school day, we ask that you call the main office. Students are also allowed to come to the main office if they need to contact someone at home. If a cell phone or watch becomes a significant distraction, school administrators will reach out to parents/guardians. The Andover Public Schools is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or broken devices.
To promote healthy digital habits during the school day, the resources below may be helpful to use. We appreciate your partnership as we work to keep interruptions to the school day at a minimum.
Resource for Apple Watches:
How to set a School Time schedule
Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap All Watches, then tap your child's watch.
Tap Done, then tap Schooltime.
Turn on Schooltime, then tap Edit Schedule.
Choose the days and times when you want Schooltime to be active.
Tap Add Time if you want to set up more than one schedule in a day.
Resource for Gizmo Watches:
How to set up School mode
Open the. Gizmo Hub app.
Tap the. School mode switch. turn on or off. If necessary, set up a School Mode schedule.
Bobcat to Bobcat
Bobcat to Bobcat is a committee in our school of staff members who work to support families who may need assistance with various needs throughout the year. This includes helping with scholarships for events, holidays, and more. Our work is confidential and financially supported by our PTO as well as our staff and families who donate when needed.
All donations are given anonymously and recipients’ information will be kept in strict confidence.
We have an amazing community here at Bancroft and know that when there is a need, everyone pitches in. We will reach out throughout the year!
If you are a family wanting to be on our list needing support, please email our social worker, Nancy Modlish at nancyjo.modlish@andoverma.us or me, Beth Leavitt at beth.leavitt@andoverma.us.
Meals at Bancroft
All students are able to receive 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch daily during the 2025 - 2026 school year. Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 8:45 - 9:00 and does not need to be ordered ahead of time.
Lunches will need be preordered. It is very important that our cafeteria has an accurate lunch count each day. Please review with your children each morning what you have ordered for them.
Please click below for the monthly menu and more information about Andover's Nutrition Program including how to sign up.
LOST & FOUND
Every year the lost & found racks become quite full of clothes, water bottles, shoes, etc. and you can help by LABELING EVERYTHING!!
PLEASE write your last name on items and this will help us to return things to your child.
Thank you!!
Transportation Information
MOST IMPORTANT - CARS DO NOT TRAVEL FROM THE BANCROFT ROAD SIDE OF THE SCHOOL. YOU ENTER THE CAR LANE FROM WEST KNOLL.
OUR BUSES MUST USE BANCROFT ROAD AND IT IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR CARS AND BUSES. YOUR COOPERATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL!
When cars are waiting prior to 8:45 and prior to 3:30, they must be TURNED OFF.
This is a NO IDLING ZONE as the SIGNAGE INDICATES.
DROP OFF: ALL CARS MUST DRIVE UP WEST KNOLL TO DROP OFF STUDENTS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not get out of the car in the morning to help your child. We have staff on duty to assist and this will hold up the line quite a bit. We know many have to rush off and we want to help in any way we can. This is a way we can help one another!
There is a staff member there to direct traffic and it is a single lane so you may not pass even if your child has exited your car.
PARENT PICK-UP: ALL CARS MUST DRIVE UP WEST KNOLL TO PICK UP STUDENTS. NO CARS WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER FROM BANCROFT ROAD.
In order to help expedite the pick-up procedure, please write your last name ONLY in LARGE, BLACK, BOLD print on a piece of tag board/paper and have it prominently displayed when you arrive to pick up your child. This will expedite the process. If someone else is picking up your child, please have them follow the same protocol.
AGAIN . . . DO NOT EXIT YOUR CAR DURING THIS TIME OR PASS CARS! Every car stays in a single line and waits for the car in front of you to drive off.
Thank you very much!
Resources
Important Links (APS):
Bancroft Elementary School
Email: beth.leavitt@andoverma.us
Website: Bancroft School
Instagram: @bancroftaps
Location: 15 Bancroft Rd, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 247-9500
X: @BancroftAPS