Bancroft Bulletin
Family Edition: May 22, 2026
DATES TO KNOW
May 25 - No School - Memorial Day
May 28 - Spring Concert for Chorus/Band/Orff - concert for school and families
Families welcome for the evening performance at 6:30
In addition to these dates, please refer to your grade level newsletters for more about field trips and enrichment fun!
Arts and Letters Survey
As we complete our first year with Arts & Letters, our new elementary English Language Arts curriculum, your voice matters! This short survey is designed to gather your thoughts and experiences as a parent or guardian — from how your child has engaged with the material to any changes you've noticed in their reading and writing. Your honest feedback will help us continue to support every learner and make informed decisions going forward. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for being a partner in your child's education!
Click here for Arts & Letters Parent & Guardian Survey
Physical Education weekly update!
Week of May 18th
This week, students in grades K-3 practiced the skill of kicking. They learned and reviewed the cues for the skill, and then played in a game called “Kick up the Points”, where they worked in teams to kick their ball at various targets in the gym to gather points for their team.
Students in grades 4-5 began practicing for the upcoming Track and Field Meet on June 5th. They practiced running, long jump, and the softball throw.
Music weekly update!
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MUSIC CLASS 5/18/26-5/22/26
K, 1 students are continuing a song about the sea called, “Come Sail to the A B Sea.” In this song, students are taught the actions that match the words and we then play the percussion instruments on “special” words. Some of the instruments used are the rainstick, slapstick, windchimes, cymbals, and drums.
In grades 2, 3, and 4 students are learning a song called “The Name Song.” With this song, students learn how the musical alphabet of the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G relates to their names. Students get to choose which instrument they’d like to play (xylophone, metallophone, or glockenspiel) and understand how to properly remove the bars and then we take turns playing solos as we go around the room on our “names.”
5th grade students are busy with learning their song for the end of year celebration.
***We are also looking forward to the upcoming spring concert next Thursday May 28, 2026. See below a quick reminder note:
WHO: Grade 5 Chorus and Orff Ensemble (The 4th and 5th grade band and strings will be performing at this concert as well)
WHAT: Bancroft School Spring Concert
WHEN: Thursday May 28, 2026 2 pm for staff and students and 6:30 pm for parents and families
WHERE: Bancroft School cafetorium
Please note: Performers should plan on bringing their concert dress attire with them to school for the daytime performance and changing into or wearing it to school.
Attire: White top, black pants (as dark as possible), and black/dark shoes. Please reach out if you need help with obtaining the outfit.
** If your performer is in band or strings, have them wear what their band/strings teachers have told them to wear.
Attendance: This is an expected event for all Grade 5 students. Our chorus relies on every single person to be present at rehearsals and performances. Everyone is important to our success. Please notify coaches or other programs to avoid conflicts in advance.
Art weekly update!
There will be a k-5 Bancroft Art show on Thursday, May 28 from 5:30-6:15 in the school gym, prior to the Spring Concert. Come and see your child’s work!
May 22
Kindergarteners have been finishing up their observational self-portraits, using a mirror. Students drew their face in pencil and traced it with black sharpie, before coloring them in.
First graders created “family member installations.” Students looked at how artists create works about their family members. Students were asked to choose a family member, list 5 things that make that person special and unique, and then draw their family member. In the second art class, students “brought” their family member into the classroom by turning the drawing into a puppet and introducing them to the class.
Second graders are creating comics and graphic novels. They are using thought + speech bubbles, drawings, and author narration to tell a story.
Third graders are creating architectural collagraphs inspired by the artist Do Ho Suh.
Fourth graders are creating text collages. They are creating a positive message and creating a poster about it.
Fifth graders are learning about American artist, Sari Shryack. She creates colorful paintings or ordinary objects. Students looked at her painting of a disco ball, and draw their own with glue. Next, they will add colorful chalk pastels to the sections of their disco ball.
Library Media weekly update!
Week of May 18th
With the last few weeks of school approaching, the library will begin wrapping up book check out for the year. The last day for students to check out library books is Friday, May 29th. All library books must be returned to the library by Friday, June 5th. Currently, there are 925 books currently checked out!
This week, Kindergarten read finished reading through the author alphabet! Kindergarten read Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang. Following the read aloud, students designed their own dragons.
First grade, second grade, and third graders continued to work on their research projects. First graders focused on recording the life cycle of blue jays. Second graders researched the habitat and diet of their insect. Third graders began researching the animal they selected for their Who Would Win Project.
Fourth and fifth grade students completed their research projects and shared their findings with the class! Fourth graders were very excited to share their American Revolution podcasts. Fifth graders were great audience members for their classmates and asked insightful questions about their research!
School librarian: Tiffany Hutchins
Librarian email: tiffany.legare@andoverma.us
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AT SCHOOL
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
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.
Meals at Bancroft
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.
LOST & FOUND
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!!
Transportation Information
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!
Resources
Important Links (APS):
Bancroft Elementary School
Email: beth.leavitt@andoverma.us
Website: Bancroft School
Instagram: @bancroftaps
Location: 15 Bancroft Rd, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 247-9500
X: @BancroftAPS