Bulldog Bulletin

If you know me, you know I love data! That is why I am running the data session for the Learning Journey. I always try to include a bit of data in my update each week. See if you can locate all the data in this weeks edition.

Believe it or not, there are only five more weeks until April vacation, and there is so much happening at Sanborn.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend All Bands Night, where our fourth and fifth graders did a wonderful job. There is so much talent in our school. Fifth graders also had the opportunity to experience the Deborah Sampson presentation and learn more about her life. We ended the week with a wonderful talent show on Thursday. Next week on Tuesday is the District All Strings Night. Third graders will also participate in Eyes on Owls, where they will learn more about owls as part of their science unit. On Friday we will hold an all school meeting where students will learn more about being their “Best Self.” I will share more about how families can support this learning at home in my next newsletter. It is also a color spirit week next week. See the graphic below.

We currently have 46 adults signed up for the Learning Journey. Those who attend will have the unique opportunity to learn more about what makes Sanborn such a special place for children to learn and grow. If you have not yet reserved a spot, please be sure to Sign up today. Paper copies went home on Friday, so you can turn that in if it is easier.

The event will take place on March 25 from 5:00 to 6:30.

Our new playground is scheduled to break ground in the fall 2026. I am going to start a section below to give updates.

After the highlight of the gymnastics unit last week in my newsletter, Ms. Navarro convinced me to join in the fun! Safety first! Thank you to Ms. Fiore's class for spotting me.

The playground is set to break ground in the Fall of 2026. The PTO is actively fundraising
We also recently received a generous donation of $100,000 from the Colleen Ritzer Foundation to support the playground project. One way we can give back and honor their work is by participating in the Colleen Ritzer 5k on May 3rd. Last year Sanborn had the third largest team, with more than 100 participants. I would love to see even more families join Team Sanborn Bulldogs this year. We are currently in fourth place with 57 Bulldogs already registered.

Morning Meeting:

Join Ms. Hart for a Learning Journey session that highlights the power of Morning Meeting as a joyful and purposeful start to the school day. During this session, you’ll see how greetings, student sharing, interactive activities, and the morning message work together to build a strong classroom community while supporting communication, collaboration, and confidence in students. Come experience how this daily routine helps create a positive classroom culture where every student feels seen, heard, and ready to learn.

Arts and Letters:

We invite families to join us in the coaching room during the Learning Journey! Drop in to explore and engage with the texts and topics featured in our upcoming Arts and Letters Module 4 for grades K–5. Rather than a formal presentation, this will be a relaxed, hands-on opportunity to browse anchor texts, review student tasks and work samples, and see how reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are developed within each grade-level module. Families are encouraged to ask questions, share observations, and connect directly with our literacy coach, Tayler DiPesa, and teacher representative, Beth Ann Price, about the curriculum, instructional approaches, and ways to support learning at home. We look forward to partnering with you as we prepare for an exciting and meaningful Module 4 experience for all students!

Art

Mrs. Ricciardi will introduce this year’s district-wide art initiative, proudly sponsored by the Andover Rotary Club, which unites students across APS around the shared theme of interdependence. She will explain how this collective experience invites students to explore what it means to belong, to contribute, and to be part of something larger than themselves through developmentally appropriate lessons that grow in depth and complexity from Kindergarten through Grade 5. The presentation will conclude with a brief hands-on component, giving families the opportunity to participate in a parent version of the interdependence project and experience the process firsthand.

Multilingual Conversation

Did you know that Sanborn families speak more than 30 different languages? We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another and celebrate the rich linguistic diversity in our school community.

Stop by to see Mrs. Xavier and Ms. Bakanosky, meet other multilingual families, make connections with other parents, learn about each other’s cultures, and maybe even earn a prize!

If you have attended our Coffee and Conversation meetings during the school day, you know that we usually share a fun “National Day” from the National Day Calendar. Join us to find out what National Day is celebrated on March 25th and try a sweet treat!

We will also have materials from our English Language Development curriculum on display so you can learn more about how we support multilingual learners here at Sanborn.

Eureka Math: Learning Goals & Success Criteria

Ms. Boucher will share how students use a clear learning goal and specific success criteria to guide their understanding in each topic of our Eureka Math modules. This session will highlight how the learning goal helps students know exactly what they are expected to learn, while the success criteria break that goal into clear, manageable steps. Families will also see how students refer to these tools during lessons to monitor their progress, reflect on their learning, and take ownership of their growth.

Eureka Math: Building Strong Problem Solvers

Join Ms. Romano and Ms. Diodatti for a Learning Journey rotation focused on Eureka Math and what math instruction looks like in today’s classroom! This session will highlight the problem-solving strategies students use each day and explain why we prioritize deep conceptual understanding over rote memorization. Math may look different from when we were in school, and that’s intentional! Come learn the “why” behind the models and strategies your child is using and gain practical tips for supporting math learning at home. We look forward to partnering with you to build confident, capable mathematicians!

RULER & Support at Home

Join our School Social Worker, Jen Cann and Assistant Principal, Margo McGonigle, for a K–5 parent session focused on supporting children’s social-emotional learning (SEL) at home. During this interactive session families will learn about RULER, an evidence-based approach used at Sanborn to help children learn to Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, and Regulate their emotions, and how these skills strengthen self-awareness, empathy, and resilience. Resources and insights from our work with your children will be shared to provide families with actionable tools and language they can use right away to support their child’s emotional growth.

A day in the life of a Sanborn Bulldog at Phys Ed!

Come join Mrs. Navarro in a basketball activity that is loved by all your students! Whether you have never played basketball or love to hoop it up, all are welcome and will have fun! Please wear sneakers, and get ready for lots of baskets!

What’s Data Got to Do With It?

Families often hear the word data in schools, but what does that really mean for your child’s learning? In this session, Principal Carolyn Fawcett will share how Sanborn collects and uses student learning data to support every child. Families will learn about the types of information teachers review, how grade level teams meet regularly to discuss student progress, and how this information helps guide instruction. The session will also provide an overview of how Sanborn uses structures such as data meetings, Power Block, and the Student Support Team to ensure students receive the support they need.

Dr. Riley, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, is excited to share the next phase of our Vision of the Graduate (VoG) work with the Andover community. As you may know, over the past four years, the VoG design team has partnered with educators, students, families, and community members to shape the APS Vision of a Graduate—a shared vision for the skills and mindsets our students need to thrive now and in the future.

In the last issue of All Around APS, we introduced the student‑designed Vision of a Graduate (below) and a short Vision of a Graduate introductory video, showcasing the creativity and leadership of our learners.

To begin our VOG launch, Dr. Riley will be hosting a parent Zoom on Thursday, March 19th from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Please register here to learn about the APS Vision of a Graduate. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

As we continue on our RULER journey we will begin to discuss being our "Best Self". We had the opportunity to begin this week with fourth grade. Next week, 4th grade is focused on being an Upstanders who use kind and courageous words. This week we will reinforce that being an upstander often means using your voice in positive and respectful ways. Students will practice using words that support others, include peers, and interrupt unkind behavior in calm and respectful ways. Examples include inviting someone to join a group, checking in with someone who seems upset, or saying “That was not kind.” Teachers can reinforce this by noticing and awarding tickets when students use language that helps others feel respected, included, and safe.

Check in with your child next weekend to find out what they learned about being their "best self".

Mark your calendars!

The testing window has been set by DESE and we are planning for the following MCAS test dates. Please note that students will take 2 days of tests per content area. Please refrain from vacations or unnecessary absences on these dates.

Grade 3

-English Language Arts (ELA) Assessments: Monday, March 30th and 31th
-Mathematics Assessments: Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8

Grade 4

-English Language Arts (ELA) Assessments: Tuesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 9

-Mathematics Assessments: Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12

Grade 5

-English Language Arts (ELA) Assessments: Tuesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 9
-Mathematics Assessments: Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12

-Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Assessments: Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19

March 25: Learning Journey 5pm

March 27: Playground Gala 7pm

March 30 & 31: 3rd Grade ELA MCAS

April 7 & 9: 4th and 5th Grade ELA MCAS

April 20-April 25: April Vacation

May 3: Colleen Ritzer 5K

March continues to amaze us with its wacky weather ☀️☔❄️ and full calendar of activities! Here’s what the PTO wants you to know this week…

• Come get dressed up for a good cause! The Sanborn PTO is hosting a Gala on March 27th to help fund the new playground. This event is open to the public on a first come first served basis and tickets are on sale now! If you’d like to make a donation but can’t attend, please donate here!

• We'd like to ask you to consider signing up for the 13th annual Step Up for Colleen 5K as part of the Sanborn Bulldogs Team, led by our incredible nurse, Lisa Slattery. We hope to see you with us on Sunday, May 3rd!

• Around the World planning is underway. Would you like to volunteer to host a table or assist in setting up and/or cleaning up? Please sign up here! If you are volunteering for a table, please complete this form ASAP. There will be a virtual call on March 30th at 8:00pm to go over important details. We can’t wait to travel around the world together!

• Spirit Week is next week and it is COLOR themed! Monday: Favorite Color Tuesday: Wear Green, Wednesday: Primary Color, Thursday: Fun Run Shirt, Friday: Mood Meter Day

Important Dates

• 3/16-20- Spirit Week

• 3/25 Learning Journey 5-6:30pm

• 3/26 Spring Exploration Registration Closes 8pm

• 3/27 Sanborn Playground Gala

• 3/30 Spring Explorations Classes Begin

• 3/30 Virtual Meeting about Around the World for Volunteers