Friday 1/10 - Friday 1/24 - MAP Testing Window (See more information on the MAP Test Below)
Monday 1/20 - MLK Day - No school
Wednesday 1/29 - Early Release Day - 11:30

MCAS Dates

April 14 & 15 – ELA

May 1 – Civics (8th grade only)

May 5 & 6 – Math

May 15 & 16 – STE Science Technology Engineering (8th grade only)

Please make sure that during our morning arrival and afternoon pickup times that you are following our Daily Routines. We are seeing many parents that are parking within the Andover Town Office parking area during both drop-off and pickup. Please make sure you are only within the designated areas during these times as the town utilizes these spaces.

Martin Luther King Jr. is a beacon of hope, courage, and justice. His leadership in the Civil Rights Movement paved the way for a more equal society, and his lessons continue to inspire us today. As we reflect on his legacy, it’s important for families and educators to guide middle school students in understanding the significance of his life and work. His powerful words and commitment to service remain as relevant as ever, offering both lessons for our young people and opportunities for action.

Understanding the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.:
King’s life was built on the principles of equality, justice, and nonviolent protest. His vision for a world where people of all races could live in harmony and mutual respect still resonates deeply in our society. As educators and parents, it is essential that we help young learners understand both the struggles King faced and the progress he made possible.

A great way to begin discussing King’s legacy is through his own words. Consider this quote from his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on August 28, 1963:

This vision of hope and unity is something middle school students can grasp and carry forward. It’s an invitation to dream of a world that celebrates equality and compassion.

One of the most impactful ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is through service. Dr. King believed in the power of community and selfless action.

As we teach the next generation about Martin Luther King Jr., it’s important to remember that his work is far from over. His legacy is not just in the speeches he gave or the laws he helped change, but in the actions we take to make the world a better place. By engaging in service projects, reflecting on his powerful words, and discussing his values, families and educators can ensure that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream continues to inspire and guide the leaders of tomorrow.

What do middle school students need to be successful? Our Student Support team will talk about middle school age students and how us, the adults can support them through these transitional years. Coffee and conversation with our assistant principal, guidance counselor, nurse, & social workers.

Each student chose a different way that humans impact the natural environment. They researched the topic and created a poster and model to display the information. There was a wide variety of topics including global warming, plastic pollution, invasive species, and endangered animals. We were thrilled to see so many 7th grade families join us and experience the incredible work of our students!

Each testing session lasts from 45-60 minutes. Testing days are at the discretion of individual schools, within the testing window. The results of these tests assist teachers in informing instruction, personalizing learning, and monitoring the growth of individual students. Principals and administrators can use the data to assess performance and progress at each grade level, school, and district. It will help us learn more about where students may need interventions and identify what those supports might be at the classroom, school, and district level.

MAP Growth tests are responsive and adapt to your child’s answers to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey. Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores in similar skills and topics and then plan instruction accordingly.

MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students in the same grade and subject with the same starting performance level.

We look forward to supporting you with information about your child’s progress. In early February, parents and guardians will receive a Family Report summarizing each child’s winter benchmark results. Results will be sent home with your child.

MAP Dates:

6th and 7th Grade testing is complete

7A is testing Tuesday 1/21 and Wednesday 1/22

7B is testing Tuesday 1/21 and Thursday 1/23

The Doherty Middle School Yearbook Club is thrilled to include a special collage page celebrating our 8th graders' unique passions—whether it’s sports, hobbies, music, or quality time with a favorite pet.

We invite you to submit ONE clear, high-quality photo of your student enjoying their activity from their middle school years. The deadline for submissions is April 1st, 2025. Simply use the provided QR code to upload your photo (select “Upload Portrait” and choose “Pre-K” for the grade to help us sort the photos).

Yearbooks are $40 and available for all grades. Reserve yours today at www.YearbookOrderCenter.com (order #13395) or call 866-287-3096.

For questions or scholarship inquiries, please contact faculty advisor, Ms. Bakshi at leela.bakshi@andoverma.us. Let’s make sure every 8th grader is celebrated in this year’s book!

From the desk of Ms. Creamer, DMS Guidance Counselor

I am writing to share an update about an exciting upcoming event at Andover High School. On Monday, January 27th, at 6:30 PM, 8th grade students and families are invited to Andover High School's Programs at a Glance event! This event is designed to introduce 8th grade students and their families to all that AHS has to offer.

The event will feature:

• An in-depth look at Andover High School's Academic Programs

• Opportunities to meet some of Andover High School's talented students
• A special performance from the Fine Arts Program
• Music from the AHS Band
• Information on Andover High School's diverse student clubs, sports teams, and extracurricular activities
• A chance to learn about valuable resources at AHS

Additionally, Andover High School will be providing other ways for families to learn more about the school. Please see the Roadmap below.

Doherty Values Challenge

Each month our DMS community will focus on recognizing students who are showing the value of the month. Throughout the month, the main office will incorporate the values into our morning announcements to help get the students aware of the value and ways that they could accomplish the value. The bulletin board in the hallway outside the music room will also be used as a community builder for the values! Our Values Ambassadors selected Integrity for the month of January.

As we continue the K-8 redistricting process, we are pleased to invite the community to highlight areas of interest (i.e., neighborhoods, streets), with an interactive, online mapping tool - ARCGIS.

This resource will allow the community to review an updated scenario based on the collaboration with the School Committee at its January 9th meeting and community engagement. The updated scenario was presented to the community at a Let’s Talk! session on redistricting held January 16, 2025.

The community can provide visual feedback and written comments to DillingerRAD, the consultant supporting APS with this process. For more information on how to utilize the tool, please check here. Access to this link or the QR code below will close on Friday, January 24, 2025.

In Spring 2025, the School Committee will review the proposed redistricting options and vote on the preferred redistricting plan. The approved redistricting plan will be implemented in the 2026-27 school year. This allows the district sufficient time to operationally plan for the new school zones.

We appreciate your feedback.

• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - District departments presented their budget proposals.

• Thursday, January 23, 2025 - The School Committee will hold a preliminary vote on the FY26 budget allocation in relation to the overall town’s FY26 budget.

• Thursday, March 6, 2025 - The School Committee will hold a public hearing. Following the hearing, the School Committee will vote on the School Department budget.

• Saturday, March 8, 2025 - The Superintendent will share the FY26 budget approved by the School Committee to the Town of Andover’s Select Board and Finance Committees at the Tri-Board meeting.

• Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - The school budget will be presented as part of the total town budget for a vote at the annual town meeting.

The Box Office noticed the attendance of Doherty students at the Women's Ice Hockey game last week, and saw the strong interest from our community. In response, the Merrimack College Box Office has created a special offer, providing discounted tickets for the Men's Ice Hockey game on January 21st at 7 p.m.

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.

What is RULER?

RULER is an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

Purpose of Morning Check In:

• Create a unified low-stakes rollout for all three APS Middle Schools
• Begin a student focus on the emotion matters mindset and discussion
• Build student relationships and community

RULER VIDEO and Website

YEARBOOK

Simply scan this QR code and follow the prompts. Yearbooks will be delivered to homerooms the last week of school

You may also call 866-287-3096 or go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com and use order number 13395

To be completed if your student will participate in after school Extracurricular clubs. Click here for the form. The form is also available on our website.

Completed form can be dropped off at the Main Office.

List of Clubs and Activities can be found on our website under INFORMATION and RESOURCES