Bancroft Bulletin

Hello Bancroft -

This week brought a little bit of everything, including a surprising weather swing from Tuesday’s snow to today’s beautiful 70-degree sunshine! Through it all, we enjoyed another week full of learning, growth, and fun experiences together.

Today, our other two fifth grade classes visited Concord for a field trip—be sure to ask your 5th grader (Scanlon and McDonough) all about their experience.

Our third graders had their turn taking the ELA MCAS this week, and they persevered on their first experience taking MCAS which made us very proud. Next week, our fifth graders will take their ELA MCAS, and we know they are ready too. Please help set them up for success by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Beth & Kim

Beth Leavitt, Principal

Kim Rabold, Assistant Principal

beth.leavitt@andoverma.us or kimberly.rabold@andoverma.us

April 20 - 24: NO School, Spring Vacation

Andover Public Schools 2025 - 2026 Calendar

Andover Public School 2026-2027 Calendar

MCAS dates

Grade 3

Math - May 11 and May 12

Grade 4

Math - May 13 and May 15

Grade 5

ELA - April 13 and April 14

Math - May 4 and May 5

Science - May 18 and May 19

On Friday, April 17th, athletes from Andover High School are coming to Bancroft for Warrior Way Day. They will be spending time in classrooms and will be running a lesson to promote collaboration and teamwork. We are welcoming them to Bancroft by wearing Andover's colors of blue and gold.

Week of April 6th

This week, students in grades K–2 practiced the skill of chasing, fleeing, and defending in a game called “Cone Thieves,” working in teams to steal cones from other groups hula hoops and finish with the most at the end of the game.

Students in grades 3–5 were introduced to invasion games in a game called “King Pin”. They worked to knock down opponents pins by invading their side, defend their own pins, rescue teammates from jail, and use strategy and teamwork to be successful.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MUSIC CLASS 4/6/26-4/10/26

K, 1, and 2 students play an exciting community building singing game called “Circle ‘Round the Zero.” In this game, students take turns skipping around the circle and finding their “friend” and doing the actions that correspond with the lyrics of the song. Action words are back, side, front, and tap. Students also experience playing the barred instruments (xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels) to an American folk song called “John the Rabbit.” Students take turns being the conductor.

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students continue their work with composing and creating borduns on the barred instruments: (glockenspiels, xylophones, and metallophones.) A bordun is a continuous drone-like accompaniment. We learn about the simple, broken, and level borduns. Students take time working in pairs to create their own bordun and then share them with the class. We sing, move, play, and create as we put our song together.

April 6

Kindergarteners are learning about Korean American artist Joo-Young Choi. She creates puppets and characters for imaginary worlds that she makes up. She creates installations with characters as a type of mythology. Students will be creating their own imaginary friends in art class.

First graders are collaging imaginary tree houses. THey are painting a blue background, and cutting and tearing paper to create the tree house of their dreams.

Second graders are creating a collage inspired by Chinese blue and white pottery of the Tang and Ming dynasties, and beautiful pink cherry blossom flowers.

Third graders are creating artwork inspired by the beautiful blue and white porcelain of the Ming dynasty in China. They are painting paper to create a still life collage.

Fourth graders are weaving with yarn on cardboard looms. They will look at artist tapestries from around the world as inspiration.

We are collecting yarn donations!

Fifth graders are learning about the Japanese Holiday Kodomo no hi also known as Children’s Day. To celebrate, they are creating Koinobori, also known as carp kites.

Week of April 6

Library ask: if you have any cardboard paper towel or toilet paper rolls, please consider donating to the library for a student project. Send them in with your child and tell them to bring them to drop in the library - thank you!

This week, Kindergarten read Snail Crossing by Cory R. Tabor. After the read aloud, students learned about real snails and wrote a fact they thought was interesting about snails.

First grade students read The Marvelous Now by Angela DiTerlizzi and created an acrostic poem using their name as the base word.

Second grade students discussed simile poems this week and began working on their own simile poems using the colors of the rainbow to celebrate spring.

Third graders used their library time for a brain break after working hard on their MCAS. Students listened to a chapter of a book voted on by their class and then created a reader response to the book.

Fourth and fifth grade students continue to work on their research projects. Fourth grade began exploring the platform they will use to record their American Revolution podcast. Fifth grade began synthesizing their research and creating a product.

School librarian: Tiffany Hutchins

Librarian email: tiffany.legare@andoverma.us

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.

Complete the Survey

The New England School Development Council (NESDEC), our search consultant, will provide, administer, and analyze a survey available to students, staff, parents/caretakers, and residents. This survey will help to identify the characteristics of a Superintendent that are most important to our community. The survey can be accessed by the embedded link or the QR code. The survey opens today and will close on Friday, April 10th.

Memorial Hall Library and The Robb Center will have computers available to take the survey. Paper copies are available by contacting shauna.murray@andoverma.us. If you need translation services to complete the survey, please contact shauna.murray@andoverma.us

Attend a Focus Group or Join a School Committee Informal Forum!

NESDEC consultants will facilitate five Focus Groups and the Committee will host two Informal Forums during the week of April 13th. Please feel free to attend the session that best fits your role. Sessions are shown below.

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 is an amazing tool for learning, creativity, and staying connected. At the same time, it’s important for families to stay aware of how children are using their devices—especially when it comes to group text messages, online searches, and everyday communication with friends. We are hearing about concerning message threads so we decided to add some information in the newsletter this week.

Group chats can move quickly and sometimes include jokes, photos, or comments that aren’t kind or appropriate. Kids may feel pressure to go along with what others are saying or sharing, even if it makes them uncomfortable. It’s also helpful and important for parents to check in on what their child is saying to others, not just what others are sending to them. Messages, screenshots, and photos can easily be saved and shared far beyond the original conversation.

The same is true for web searches. Curiosity is normal, but the internet can lead to content that isn’t meant for young children. Talking with kids about safe searching and what to do if something confusing or uncomfortable appears can help them make better choices.

A few helpful reminders for families:

• Keep devices in shared spaces when possible.

• Review texts, group chats, and apps together.

• Talk about using kind and respectful words online.

• Remind kids that digital actions leave a lasting footprint.

• Encourage them to come to a trusted adult if they see or receive something inappropriate.

Technology works best when families stay involved and keep communication open about how it’s being used.

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 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.

We wanted to share information about some assistance programs available to Andover families through the Andona Foundation (https://andona.org/).

Clown Town:

2026 Clown Town sponsorship form - due May 4

The annual Clown Town carnival will be held in downtown Andover on May 15th through May 17th this year. Each year, Andover schools awards families with the Andona sponsorship for Clown Town. This packet includes rides, tickets and vouchers for Andona activities at Clown Town. Please pick up the packet at the "Information Booth" by the gazebo on any day of the event. Please reach out to your school adjustment counselor if you would like an alternative form of pickup.

Campership Assistance:

2026 Andona Campership form

The campership assistance (up to $300) to help pay fees for a summer program of your choice. To learn more and apply for their program, please click the application below. Forms are due May 15th.

Please reach out to Gabrielle at camperships@andona.org with any additional questions about either opportunity.

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.

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!!

APPEL - These are in-person classes held at High Plain Elementary start on October 7 from 9:30-11am. No sign up necessary.

ESOL - Classes meet virtually on Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00pm starting on October 6. Participants need to sign up to receive a Google Meeting link. Limit 25 participants.

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!

• Bancroft School
• Bancroft PTO

Important Links (APS):

• Andover Public Schools
• Handbook
  
• Elementary School Libraries
• Bullying Incident Report Form
• Menu
• LINQ Ordering System

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Email: beth.leavitt@andoverma.us
Website: Bancroft School

Instagram: @bancroftaps
Location: 15 Bancroft Rd, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 247-9500

X: @BancroftAPS