Bulldog Bulletin
Week of June 15th
Every Voice, Every Heart, Every Day
As we approach the end of the school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate all that our Sanborn students have accomplished. When we think back to the first day of school, the growth is truly remarkable. Our students have grown as thinkers, creators, problem solvers, classmates, and friends.
Throughout the year, we have watched our Sanborn community come together around curiosity, learning, joy, and care for one another. We are so fortunate to spend our days with students who bring energy, kindness, questions, and wonder into our school each day. They remind us that childhood is such a special time of discovery and growth. It has been a privilege to share the 2025 to 2026 school year with them. Our students are the reason we come to work every day, and we could not be prouder of our Sanborn Bulldogs.
Wow! What a week!
We began with Field Day, and it was a perfect day from start to finish. Throughout the week, our students shared so much talent through Wax Museums, debates, and Shark Tanks. Oh my!
We ended the week with our Flag Day performance. Our second grade students did a wonderful job singing our national songs, and our fourth grade poets proudly shared their Flag Day poems. Congratulations to all of our fourth grade student poets!
Our final celebrations are just around the corner. On Tuesday, we will hold our 5th Grade Celebration of Learning, and on Wednesday, we will have our annual sliming. There is a fun color in store this year!
As a reminder, dismissal is at 12:15 on Wednesday.
Ms. Nancy Lundgren
Ms. Maria Baffo
Ms. Jane Kish
Ms. Carol Gianopoulos
Help us cover classes while the teachers attend the 5th Grade Celebration of Learning. Please arrive at Sanborn at 9:45 AM, and plan to stay until 11:00 AM. Teachers will provide all the information you need to cover their class while they are outside at the event. All volunteers will need a current CORI form. Sign up here.
Important Update: New Medication Order Requirements for the 2026-2027 School Year
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines regarding the administration of medication in public schools have 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 must be dated within the current academic cycle: July 1st through June 30th.
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.
Please contact Lisa Slattery RN in the Sanborn Clinic with any questions at 978-247-9702.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and healthy.
Dear Sanborn Families,
Thank you for an amazing year in the library!
It is so important for our students to read at least 15 minutes a day during the summer, and Memorial Hall Library always makes it a ton of fun!
- Visit https://mhl.org/services/summer-reading to learn more about the program, prizes, and events that run all summer long! Watch the annual promotional video with book recommendations and details about the summer program! Be sure to download the MHL Summer Events Brochure, too!
- Register for MHL's 2026 program, “Plant and Seed, Read!” at mhl.beanstack.com.
- For students entering 4th and 5th grade, the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award list is a great place to find suggestions for summer reading, too!
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Figueira
End of Year Assessment Reports
Grades 2-5
Dear Andover Families,
We are writing to let you know that if your child is in Grades 2-5, 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. You can find information about MAP testing and results using this link.
To access your child’s MAP results:
- Log in to the Aspen Parent Portal.
- Navigate to your child’s record.
- 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 need assistance accessing the Aspen Parent Portal, please contact your school office.
The end of year K-5 Dibels Literacy Reports will be sent home in backpacks on the last day of school.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support throughout the school year.
APS Bus Registration for the 2026-27 School Year
Please make note that bus pass registration for the 2026-2027 school year will be open June 1, 2026 through July 24, 2026.
Below is information for registering your child for transportation. Additional information is also available on the APS website.
Please note that the process for registering a grade 6 student for transportation changed last year. Moving forward we will no longer use paper request forms; an online Google form is available on the APS website.
Please help us as we begin to plan for our classrooms and scholar supplies for next school year! If your family is moving out of the Sanborn district, or if your student will be attending a private school next school year, please let us know by completing the form linked below as soon as possible.
It is critically important information as we plan our classroom placements and scholar supply ordering for next year. The office will prepare records for transfer to the new school, but records will not be sent until we receive a request from that school.
ANDOVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY STRINGS PROGRAM - Grade 3
Hello Andover Families,
We are pleased to invite your child to join our elementary instrumental music program in Grade 3. In Andover, students may begin string instruction in Grade 3, when they have the option to play a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass). This will be a regularly scheduled part of their music curriculum, and string instruments must come to school for weekly lessons. Students who do not opt into this program will receive other additional music instruction.
Strings Instruction - Things to consider:
Learning a string instrument is a wonderful way to begin an instrumental music career in school. However, there must be a commitment to home practice and instrument care. Students enrolled in the string program are expected to participate for the whole school year, be prepared for scheduled public performances, and practice regularly. Students and families are encouraged to review policies around instrument rental and care. We are here to support you. The first few lessons will focus on some real basics: unpacking/packing, bow hold, instrument position, and instrument/bow care, but through commitment and regular practice, students will be performing several short, recognizable songs by the end of the year.
We ask that you consider this with your child and make the selection by June 7th, 2026 - if possible. Families who do not wish to participate in the strings program do not need to respond to the form below:
Grade 3 Strings Registration - UPDATE
Renting an Instrument:
There are several instrument rental options for the Fall for families interested in string instruction. Below is a partial list of vendors. Families are welcome to explore other rental options. This information will be shared again later in the summer:
Johnson String Instruments of Newton, MA - http://www.johnsonstring.com
Leonards Music of Bedford, MA - http://www.leonardsmusic.com
Spencer Brook Strings of Maynard, MA - http://www.spencerbrookstrings.com
Rowen Strings of Boxford, MA - https://www.rowenstrings.com
Renting a good-quality string instrument has many benefits. Rental companies provide security in terms of repair and size upgrades as your child grows. Instrument pricing, sizing, and rental information for these companies can be found on their websites. We strongly discourage parents from buying an instrument at this time. Grade 3 students will need a smaller instrument fitted to their specific size in order to learn successfully and will need a size upgrade every year or so (free through a rental service) after that.
PLEASE NOTE: Instruments purchased online may be of poor quality. A poor quality instrument will greatly hinder your child’s progress. While buying online may seem like an attractive option, it may cause many unnecessary challenges. Through a generous donation by the Andover Coalition for Education, for beginning Grade 3 string players, we have many high quality, school-owned stringed instruments (violins, violas, cellos, and basses) available for those who qualify for financial assistance. More information will be available later in the summer.
Sincerely,
Julie Diehl, Elementary Strings Instructor - julie.diehl@andoverma.us
June 16: Celebration of Learning 10:00
June 17: Last Day of School 12:15 dismissal
- No PM KidCare
- Report cards Available on Aspen in afternoon
- Student Assessment Data goes home (K-5 Dibels data as papercopy; Grade 2-5 MAP data virtually available on Aspen)
2026-2027 School Year
Wednesday, September 2: First day of school for students in grades 1-5
Friday, September 4: No School
Monday, September 7: No School; Labor Day
Tuesday, September 8: First day of school for kindergarteners; regular school day grades K-5
Summer Hours:
Our building has limited access over the summer. Please call the main office at 978-247-9700 before coming over.
