All Around APS

Dear APS families and staff,

For this week’s Take 2!, I moved outside to the West Elementary Sensory Garden for a chat with Special Education teacher Emily Gibson. Ms. Gibson works with students in the Bridge program and speaks fondly of the strong sense of community at West Elementary. A lifelong reader, she infuses her love of books into her teaching, and as a West Elementary alum, she has a special connection to the school. It was a joy to spend time learning more about her work and celebrating the energy and dedication she brings to her students each day.

Keith Taverna

Interim Superintendent

Students, families, and community volunteers are leading a successful Food Rescue Program at West Elementary and Bancroft Elementary that reduces food waste and supports local families experiencing food insecurity. The program collects unopened and uneaten food from school breakfasts and lunches and redistributes it through school offices and the Village Food Hub.

The initiative began with a spring 2025 pilot at West Elementary, supported by the Andover Coalition for Education (ACE) and community partners. In just six weeks, students and volunteers rescued more than 2,100 food items, totaling 540 pounds of food.

Building on that success, Bancroft Elementary launched its own community-run program in January 2026 and has already rescued more than 2,300 items, with many more expected by year’s end.

Led by students and powered by families, volunteers, and APS staff, Food Rescue highlights the impact of small daily actions and the strength of school-community partnerships across Andover. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers for their time and commitment!

On Wednesday, April 15th, Andover High School students took their voices to the Massachusetts State House for AP Day to share their insights and advocate for equity and access in Advanced Placement programs.

Aditi Sharma (Grade 11), Ashley Bungcayao (Grade 10), Saarvi Deshwal (Grade 12), and Carter Fleming (Grade 11) met with Senator Barry Finegold and his staff, along with members of Representative Tram Nguyen’s staff, to share why AP opportunities matter and why all students deserve access to them. The students also weighed in on legislation being considered that would require Massachusetts state colleges and universities to accept an AP exam score of 3 for college credit. Such a meaningful day of student advocacy in action!

This week, more than 400 Andover High School juniors took part in the 10th Annual Credit for Life Fair, an interactive event that helped students practice real-world financial decision-making.

With support from the Service Club of Andover, Andover Rotary, and more than 50 community volunteers, students stepped into the role of a 25-year-old adult. Using a mobile simulation, they selected careers and salaries and made budgeting choices related to housing, transportation, food, insurance, and more.

Volunteers from local businesses, banks, public safety organizations, and town departments shared practical guidance and real-life insight, making the experience both engaging and meaningful. Now in its tenth year, Credit for Life continues to be a valued opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with everyday financial realities.

Andover High School recently hosted an AVID Information Night for families of prospective Grade 9 students, led by a group of outstanding AVID scholars. Kayleigh Kiberd-Rosi (Grade 12), Olivia Resteghini (Grade 9), Ben Cote (Grade 9), David Dunham (Grade 12), and Ella Murphy (Grade 12) shared their personal experiences and insights, giving families a firsthand look at the impact of the AVID program.

AVID is a college readiness system that prepares students in the academic middle for admission to a four-year college or university. The program places special emphasis on developing writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization, and reading skills. During the presentation, students spoke confidently about how AVID supports academic growth through strong organization habits, collaboration, focused note taking, and inquiry-based learning.

We are very proud of these students for representing the AVID Scholars Program so well and helping families envision what AVID can offer incoming high school students.

District Dates:

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

Holidays and Observances:

• Friday, May 1st - Vesak Day

🌞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.

As we continue to highlight the core tenets of the APS Vision of a Graduate, this week’s focus is Collaboration! Collaboration is more than working together. It is about listening, sharing ideas, and respecting different perspectives to achieve a common goal.

Watch the video to hear Doherty Middle School 7th grader Narayani Govindarajan share why collaboration matters and how it helps students grow as learners and teammates. Through collaborative experiences, students build essential skills such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving.

As a key Vision of a Graduate skill, collaboration prepares students to navigate complex challenges, strengthen teamwork, and thrive in school and beyond. By learning to work effectively with others, APS graduates are equipped to contribute positively to their communities and succeed in an ever-changing world.

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