I cannot believe I saw some snow coming down this weekend, and it had me hoping to see some blooms! It’s hard to believe, but there are only 54 days of school left!

This Friday, I will meet with students in third, fourth, and fifth grade to introduce the MCAS, which we will begin the second week in April. In the meetings we will cover:

• What MCAS Is and Why We Take It

• Test-Taking Strategies

• Calming Strategies

• Preparing at Home and School

• Having a Positive Mindset

Upcoming Events

📅 Monday, March 31 – Explorations Begin! and Techsplorations!

• 💡 Grade 4: Electricity

📅 Friday, April 4 – Discovery Light and Laser

• 💡 Grade 1

These events are sponsored by the PTO and your Fun Run Dollars!

Mood Meter Update
We continue to explore the Mood Meter at Sanborn School. We are returning to words in the Yellow Zone, which represents high energy and high pleasantness. You can practice these words at home together!

• Kindergarten – Confident

• First Grade – Focused

• Second Grade – Cheerful

• Third Grade – Enthusiastic

• Fourth Grade – Optimistic

• Fifth Grade – Inspired

April’s Theme of the Month: Fairness and Following Rules

At home, you can support your child’s growth in these skills with some fun, hands-on strategies:

Model Fairness in Decision-Making:
Involve your child in decisions that affect the family (like choosing a family activity) and explain how you weigh different perspectives to make a fair choice.

Practice Turn-Taking:
Set up games or activities that require taking turns, and emphasize the importance of waiting patiently and respecting others’ turns.

Create Family Rules Together:
Involve kids in creating household rules and explain why they are necessary. This builds buy-in and helps them understand the purpose behind rules.

Acknowledge Mistakes:
If you make a mistake or break a rule, own up to it in front of your child. Apologize and explain how you’ll fix it, modeling accountability.

Monday April 7: Grade 3 (ELA)

Tuesday April 8: Grade 3 (ELA)

Wednesday April 9: Early Release day - dismissal at 12:15

Thursday April 10: Grade 4 & 5 (ELA)

Friday April 11: Grade 4 & 5 (ELA)

Thursday April 17: Around the World

April 21-25 - Spring Break - No school

Tuesday May 6: Grade 3 (Math)

Thursday May 8: Grade 3 (Math)

Tuesday May 13: Grade 4 & 5 (Math)

Thursday May 15: Grade 4 & 5 (Math)

Monday May 19: Grade 5 (Science)

Monday May 19: Grade 5 (Science)

Head Lice: Parents are encouraged to check your child’s hair for head lice regularly. If you discover head lice or have any questions please contact the School Nurse at 978-247-9702.

March is National Nutrition Month and I want to take this opportunity to remind parents of the importance of breakfast in the lives of your children. Frequently I see students in the clinic with the complaint of a stomach ache and/or headache who have not eaten breakfast. Hunger can lead to each of these ailments which prevent optimal learning and cause lost classroom time. Mornings can be a challenge to juggle it all, but please make time for your child to eat breakfast, it will set the foundation for a successful day at school.

Another option for the busy household is breakfast at school. Breakfast is available at school each morning free of charge from 8:45 – 8:55 am. Please remind your child of this option if eating breakfast at home is not possible. Lunch is also available free of charge this year and should be ordered in advance on the APS Food Services website at https://www.andoverschoolnutrition.com/

Though meals are free of charge this year, there are benefits to registering for Free and Reduced Lunch, including free or reduced prices with transportation, athletics, and more. If you feel your family qualifies, information and the application are available on the website.

Please contact Andrea Pereira - Andrea Pereira-Piantedosi in the Sanborn Cafeteria at andrea.pereirapiante@andoverma.us

or Lisa Slattery in the Sanborn Clinic with questions at lisa.slattery@andoverma.us

Please mark your calendars . . .

Wednesday, May 21 3rd grade Strings/Recorder Performance 10:15 am

Wednesday, May 28 Sanborn Spring Concert (Band/Strings/Orff/Chorus) 7:00pm

Also, our 4th graders have just begun bucket drumming and 5th graders will soon begin Ukulele. If they want to practice at home they can use www.musicplayonline.com and use the code D654018

"Team Sanborn" continues to be in 3rd place for the number of registrations(89). When I last looked are now only 6 registrations behind the 2nd place team. The PTO is working to build Sanborn’s largest team yet and we’re hoping you will join the Sanborn Bulldogs Team for this great community event.

We share in your excitement for your child to enroll in Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year and look forward to them being a part of the Andover Public School community in September.

Kindergarten registration will begin on Monday, February 3 to Monday, March 3, 2025. Please access the Kindergarten Registration Link on our website.

To find which school your child will attend, review our district map at this link. Following your registration, please contact your school directly to make an appointment to submit your registration paperwork.

For your reference, student eligibility requirements are as follows:

Kindergarten:

As per School Committee Policy (Policy JF: Residency, School Admission, Entrance Age), children must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2025 and entering Kindergarten in the Andover Public Schools for the first time.

First Grade: (New to Andover /Andover Public Schools)

Children must be age 6 on or before August 31, 2025 and enrolling in the Andover Public Schools for the first time or transferring from another school district or private school.

The first day of school for Pre-K and Kindergarten students is Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

We look forward to meeting all our incoming students and families in the new school year!

Coach Molly (Mrs. Diodati) and Coach Carrie (Mrs. Fuller) spent the morning in Boston today attending a training to bring Girls on the Run to Sanborn, and we couldn’t be more excited! (Coach Sarah/Mrs. DeMattia went to a training a few weeks ago)

Girls on the Run is a program to help girls develop confidence, health, and joy by building social, emotional, and physical skills through running. 🏃🏽‍♀️

Who: girls grades 3-5

When: Wednesday mornings 7:45-9 & Friday afternoons 3:30-5 beginning the week of March 31st

Where: Sanborn “track” by playground or gym if there is inclement weather

Why: build confidence, health, joy, and life skills, and have fun!

How: register here -https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/SPRING25Reg?sid=ffbbfa93b9a4420fa07226bb47d328c8&fh=0

More Info:

🏃🏽‍♀️Our team will end the season by participating in the GOTR 5K in the Boston Common!

🏃🏽‍♀️Financial aid is available - at registration, you can use the sliding scale to decide what you can afford, which can be as low as $35. If that is still not doable for your family, reach out to Girls on the Run directly and they will work with you to make sure your girl can participate. Girls on the Run will never turn away a girl who wants to run!

🏃🏽‍♀️ Reach out to Coach Molly with any questions at mollpott@comcast.net

• Sanborn's Spirit Store closes TONIGHT! Get your Sanborn and Andover gear for the Spring and Summer now! Shop here.
• Join us for a magical evening of stargazing at the Sanborn playground as volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club bring their telescopes for all to enjoy on Monday, March 31st at 7:30p. This free, educational event is perfect for curious minds of all ages! No registration required - just show up and explore the wonders of the night sky with us! Rain/Cloudy date is 4/3.
• Sanborn's Around the World event is coming up on April 17th and we're looking for families who want to showcase their culture or volunteer to bring the event to life. Sign up today!
• Dine for Dollars with Bertucci's! On April 9th, our friends at Bertucci's have offered the Sanborn Community a chance to raise funds for the PTO while also enjoying their delicious pizza (and let's be honest, the bread rolls, too)! Just bring the flyer (or use code FUNDRAISER when ordering online) to any Bertucci's restaurant in order to donate 15% of the proceeds to the Sanborn PTO.
• All Sanborn 5th graders are invited to attend 'Sanborn Under the Stars,' our annual 5th Grade Social on April 11th at 6:00 PM at Sanborn. No RSVP required.
• Sign Up for the Annual Step Up for Colleen 5K! Join us on Sunday, May 4th as we honor Colleen's memory with a Sanborn Bulldogs team at the Step Up for Colleen 5K! Colleen and her siblings attended Sanborn, and each year, we come together as a community to celebrate her legacy. When you register, choose "Sanborn Bulldogs" as your team!
• Click here to see our open PTO Board positions for next year! Any position can be shared between more than one individual. Just a few openings left to fill! Don't hesitate to reach out to pto@sanbornpto.net if you have any questions or would like to express interest.
• A few ways to stay up to date on the latest news and offerings from the PTO:
• The Bulldog Spirit is the monthly newsletter from the Sanborn PTO where they communicate about our school events, fundraisers, enrichment activities, etc. Sign up here.
• Bookmark the PTO website!
• For real-time updates during the school year, follow the Sanborn Community on social media: Facebook, Instagram
• • Join your child's grade-level Facebook group - this group is just for kids in your child’s grade. Here you can connect, ask grade-specific questions, etc.