Doherty Family Update 6.14.2026

Typical beginning and ending of the day

School opens at 7:50 for breakfast in the cafeteria- 🌟Only the Front Door is open at 7:50

8:05 all doors including the back and side of the build are open

8:05 Bell rings - students can access their lockers

Our school day starts promptly at 8:15

Doherty Website- Has all the Information

Monday 6/15 - 8th Grade Field Trip - Canobie Lake Park - School day

Tuesday 6/16 - 6th Grade Field Trip - Bradford Swim & Rec. Center - School Day

Tuesday 6/16 - 8th Grade Team Day - School day

Tuesday 6/16 - 8th Grade Dance - 6pm -7:30pm

Wednesday 6/17 - 8th Grade Farewell Ceremony - DMS Auditorium - 8:30am

Wednesday 6/17 Last day of School - Early Release Day - 11:30am

Our 8th Grade Farewell Ceremony will be on the last of school, Wednesday June 17, 2026.

The Ceremony will be held in the DMS Auditorium and will begin at 8:30am. Doors open at 8:15.

Dear Andover Families,

We are writing to let you know that your child’s End-of-Year NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment results are now available in the Aspen Parent Portal.

MAP assessments provide information about your child’s academic growth and achievement in reading and mathematics. Reviewing these results can help you better understand your child’s progress throughout the school year.

To access your child’s MAP results:

1. Log in to the Aspen Parent Portal.

2. Navigate to your child’s record.

3. Select ‘Documents’ on the side tab to view NWEA/ MAP results.

Please refer to the attached guide for step-by-step instructions on accessing MAP reports in Aspen.

If you have questions about your child’s results, please contact your child’s teacher or school principal. If you need assistance accessing the Aspen Parent Portal, please contact your school office.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support throughout the school year.

8th Grade (left to right): Gianna Tildsley, Mai-Khanh Doba, Jacob Hannigan, and Will Agganis

7th Grade (left to right): Cameron Vigneault, Jack McKenzie, Adrian Felker, Dina Gukovsky and Dehlia Cormier (not pictured)

6th Grade (left to right): Alejandro Cueto-Potts, Caroline Connolly, JJ Boden and Meera Acharya

What a phenomenal Thursday it was for Doherty! Our annual Field Day was a massive success, fueled by incredible energy, friendly competition, and a whole lot of school spirit. Students gave it their all across a gauntlet of classic events, showing off both their athletic skills and their sportsmanship.

Here is a quick look at how the day unfolded:

• Soaking Up the Fun: The Water Balloon Toss and Sponge Race kept everyone cool (and drenched!) as teams raced against the clock and tried to keep their balloons intact.

• Ultimate Showdowns: The grit and determination during Tug of War were unmatched, while strategic masterminds took over the fields for intense rounds of Capture the Flag and Kickball.

• Fast & Furious: The pit was roaring for non-stop Gaga Ball action, and pairs showed off some serious coordination (and hilarious stumbles) in the 3-Legged Relay Race.

Doherty pride was on full display, and we couldn't be prouder of how everyone participated. Check out some of the best moments from the day below!

🌟 A Massive Thank You!

An event this spectacular doesn't just happen by accident. We want to extend a huge shoutout and a heartfelt thank you to the driving forces behind the day:

• The Student Council & Staff Advisors: Claire Heintzelman & Jan Brown For going above and beyond to ensure everything ran flawlessly.

• Our Parent Volunteers: For stepping up and keeping the games running smoothly.

After champions were crowned in each English class, fourteen finalists advanced to a spirited competition in the auditorium during our final Advisory period. Surrounded by cheering classmates, these finalists showcased their spelling skills in an exciting showdown.

A big congratulations to all those who participated and a special shout out to our medalists: Emily Buchwald-Stimpson (1st place), Stephen Wallace (2nd place), and Maddy Hilts (3rd place). Their outstanding performances were nothing short of impressive!

Students crafted 3D figures out of wire, newspaper, and plaster, painting them in colors inspired by the Mood Meter. The project encouraged students to reflect on the complex, overlapping emotions they feel while doing their favorite activities. Accompanying the figures are vibrant graffiti name tags featuring five descriptive words—four traits people might already know, and one hidden truth or future aspiration. It’s a beautiful reminder that we all contain multitudes.

We are still buzzing from the incredible turnout and energy at our family BINGO night! A massive, heartfelt thank you goes out to our wonderful Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for sponsoring this fantastic community event. From organizing the games to securing some truly unforgettable prizes, you made the night a major success.

We are still buzzing from the incredible turnout and energy at our family BINGO night! A massive, heartfelt thank you goes out to our wonderful Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for sponsoring this fantastic community event. From organizing the games to securing some truly unforgettable prizes, you made the night a major success.

Speaking of prizes, one of the crowd-pleasers was the Principal’s Surprise! One lucky winner hit the jackpot and got to bring three of their best friends along for the ultimate school-day treat: being personally excused from class by the principal for a sunny walk downtown to grab some ice cream!

We are so grateful to our PAC for funding these smiles, memories, and sweet rewards. Thank you for everything you do to support our families and school spirit!

7th Graders enjoying Canobie Lake Park!

Thank you to all our 7th grade teachers for making this happen!!!

The school year is quickly coming to a close, and we have several items on our lost & found shelves. Please encourage your student to check the shelves before the end of the year for any missing items.

Unclaimed items will be donated or discarded after June 17.

Hello DMS Families,

As we come to the end of the school year, the library has stopped lending books and has started collecting any outstanding and overdue book returns. The last day to check out books was Thursday, May 21st. The school librarian would appreciate any efforts at home to find overdue books and get them in the Doherty Library book drop prior to June 8th. After that date, bills will be sent home to families for the cost of the unreturned items. Thank you so much for encouraging your children to read, to use their school library, and to return their books so they are available to others!

Entering 7th Grade

Wave, by Diana Farid

Fast Pitch, by Nic Stone

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling

Alone, by Megan E. Freeman

Star-Crossed, by Barbara Dee

Other Words for Home, by Jasmine Warga

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, by Sally J. Pla

Yonder, by Ali Standish

The Bletchley Riddle, by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

MexiKid: A Graphic Memoir, by Pedro Martin

The Circuit, by Andrew Rostan

The Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: the Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance, by Jennifer Armstrong

The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater

Entering 8th Grade

A Good Girls’ Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson

Ashes in the Snow, by Ruta Sepetys

Rez Ball, by Byron Graves

They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera

Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn

Under a Painted Sky, by Stacey Lee

Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson

The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han

A First Time for Everything, by Dan Santat

Lunar New Year Love Story, by Gene Yang

Free Lunch, by Rex Ogle

Impossible Escape: a true story of survival and heroism in Nazi Europe, by Steve Sheinkin

The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win WWII, by Candace Fleming

Important Update: New Medication Order Requirements for the 2026-2027 School Year

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines regarding the administration of medication in public schools has been updated.

To ensure we remain in compliance with these new state regulations, and to provide the highest level of safety for our students, the district has updated its policy regarding the validity period of medical orders.

New Medication Order Requirements:

Effective immediately, all medical orders for both prescription and non-prescription medications for the upcoming school year must be dated within the current academic cycle: July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027.

What this Means for your family:

• Annual Renewals: Any medication orders on file from the previous school year will expire on June 30th. You must provide a new, signed medication order from your child’s licensed prescriber for the upcoming school year.
• July 1st Start Date: We encourage parents to schedule wellness visits or contact their child's physician after July 1st to ensure the paperwork is correctly dated for the full upcoming school year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and healthy.

Jeri Quirk-Carr, M.Ed, BSN, BS, RN

Doherty Middle School Nurse

50 Bartlet Street

Andover, MA 01810

978-247-9402 (clinic)

978-824-9790 (fax)

Jeri.quirkcarr@andoverma.us

Andover High School's Students-to-Students mentoring program is designed to help ease the transition to high school by connecting incoming students with trained upperclassmen mentors who provide support, guidance, and a welcoming community throughout the first months of freshman year.

Mentors are carefully selected juniors and seniors who help students feel more comfortable and connected at Andover High. Through games, music, conversations, and shared experiences, mentors offer support and “inside information” from the perspective of experienced upperclassmen.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, the Students-to-Students Executive board provided this parent letter. In addition, they have shared this link to apply.

We kindly encourage families to review this opportunity together and consider whether this program may be a good fit for your student.

We’re excited to offer a wide variety of after-school programs and clubs here at Doherty Middle School! These activities provide students with opportunities to explore new interests, develop skills, and connect with peers in a fun and supportive environment that promotes community.

Please note: A completed permission slip is required for students to participate in any after-school club or program. Be sure to submit the form to ensure your child can join in on the fun!

Dylan Birch Clubs Organizer

Communication with our families is essential to the success and wellness of our students. To assist our families and help them connect with the appropriate staff who is best suited to answer questions, we have updated our “Who We Are” page on our website. The information will guide families to resources on how to reach staff with concerns and how to stay connected to news and events across the district.