Reggie Happenings Biweekly Update
SUPERINTENDENT & PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear GLTS Students, Parents, and Caregivers,
We hope you all had a great week. It is amazing how fast time is moving, as we have officially reached the midpoint of Quarter 1. Across the building, our students are finding their stride, and it has been wonderful to see our ninth graders and newcomers fully settle in and make GLTS their home.
We want to thank you so much for your hard work keeping PowerSchool up to date for our Quarter 1 progress reports. Your efforts in providing timely feedback give our students and families the guidance they need to stay on track.
I (Mr. Jackson) also want to extend a sincere thank you and congratulations to Julie, our summer reading team, and all of our staff who helped bring Wednesday's summer reading event to life. In my three years as principal, I can honestly say this was our best Summer Reading event yet. I was so impressed by the extensive collaboration, high-quality presentations, and genuine excitement surrounding the books our students read. The thoughtful planning and team effort made the day a remarkable success for our entire school community.
Further down in this update, you will find a section highlighting reflections from our recent non-evaluative walkthroughs in the Science department. As we conduct these visits throughout the year, you will notice that our shared updates will be more specifically aligned with our core instructional focus of shifting the cognitive heavy lifting to our students. To better support your practice, we will also work to include actionable resources within these sections that are helpful to staff. This week, for example, we have included a toolkit on visible thinking and student ownership that pairs perfectly with the great work we are seeing in classrooms.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
John N. Lavoie | Superintendent-Director
Chet Jackson | Principal
GLTS Uniform Order & Delivery Update
Uniforms Ordered Through Action Apparel
We would like to provide families with an update regarding uniform orders placed through Action Apparel and the anticipated delivery timeline for the October 4 newsletter.
SHOP & FRESHMEN UNIFORMS
Shop Uniforms: All shop uniforms ordered on or before August 25 have been delivered to the appropriate shops.
Freshmen Uniforms: Freshmen uniforms that have been delivered are available for pickup during freshmen lunch at the School Store in the cafeteria. Please remind your student to come to the school store in the cafeteria at their assigned lunch for pickup.
ACTION APPAREL ORDER & DELIVERY TIMELINE
Orders Placed July 25 - August 25: Delivered ✓
Orders Placed September 18 - September 28:
Currently processing and preparing to ship. Expected to ship around October 8, with expected delivery by October 9 (or October 13 at the latest due to the Monday holiday).Orders Placed September 29 - October 1: Currently processing.
Expected to ship around October 16.Orders Placed October 2 - October 30: Upcoming processing.
Expected to ship around November 13.
BACK ORDERED ITEMS
Scrub Tops: Currently back ordered. The supplier expects delivery on November 2. Orders will be filled once items arrive at Action Apparel, likely about one week after November 2.
Lab Coats (Size Large - 2): Currently back ordered. The supplier expects delivery on November 9. Orders will be filled once received, likely about one week after November 9.
PLEASE NOTE
Action Apparel processes uniform orders in batches based on the date the order was placed. Delivery timelines will therefore vary depending on which batch your order falls into.
We will continue to provide updates in each Reggie Happenings Newsletter until the bulk of uniforms are picked up.
See Our Up Coming Events
Monday Oct 12: No School / Recess: Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
Tuesday Oct 13: Picture Re-Take Day
Wednesday Oct. 14: PSAT
Sunday Oct. 18: Nicey 5K Scholarship Walk at 9:00am
Thursday Oct 22: Advisory Board Meeting
Wednesday Oct 28: Professional Development: Delayed Opening
Thursday Oct 29: College Fair from 8:00am to 10: 00am in Cafeteria (Students Only)
Sunday Nov 1: Open House
Tuesday Nov 3: Term 1 Ends (44)
Friday Nov 6: Homecoming Dance from 6pm to 9:30pm
Wednesday Nov 11: No School / Recess: Veterans Day
Wednesday Nov 18: Professional Development: Delayed Opening
Wednesday Nov 25: Students & Faculty – Half Day
Thursday Nov 26– Friday Nov 27: No School / Recess: Thanksgiving Recess
Stand & Deliver Mentoring Program
GLTS students are invited to participate in Stand & Deliver, a mentoring program that connects students with business professionals for academic support, career exploration, and college preparation. Students meet with their mentors on Tuesdays from 3:30–5:00 PM at Raytheon in Andover, November through May. Transportation and snacks are provided!
Contact GLTS School Counselor Chris Plourde at cplourde@glts.net or 978-686-0194 x2056 with any questions.
CARTWHEEL Mental Health WEBINAR SERIES
CARTWHEEL Mental Health WEBINAR SERIES
Free October Webinar for Parents & Caregivers
Cartwheel, GLTS’s virtual mental health partner, offers free monthly webinars for parents and caregivers on topics affecting children and teens.
October’s Topic: Friend Drama, Group Chats, and Social Exclusion: What Parents Need to Know
📅 Thursday, October 15 | 🕖 7:00–8:00 p.m.
College Application Support WIN- SENIORS
Need Help with College Applications? We’ve Got You Covered! Seniors are invited to attend our Weekly College Application Support WIN every Friday during their Academic Week!
📅 Every Friday
📍 During your Academic Week
📝 Sign up on MyFlex!
College Financial Aid Support (2 & 4 year schools)
Need more support with the Financial Aid process? We are so excited to have Analuz Garcia joining us again this year to support students and families, both in person and virtually. Please use the links to set up a meeting if you are looking to get support with Financial Aid.
College Financial Aid Support (2 & 4 year schools)
Resources for FREE Hot Meals or Food Pantries for Families
In addition to the Reggie’s Locker here at GLTS, there are many community resources available to you and your family to assist with providing free meals and grocery items. In the button below is a short list of spots in our area with operating days and hours. You can also utilize the Merrimack Valley Food Bank website to search for more options and pantry schedules.
CTE: (Career and Technical Education)
Four Winds Restaurant & Reggie Cafe
🍽️ Something Delicious Is Happening in Culinary Arts!
Our Culinary Arts Department is excited to welcome you to Four Winds Restaurant and Reggie Café! Our students are putting their skills into action as they prepare freshly baked pastries, breakfast favorites, handcrafted smoothies, sandwiches, and restaurant dishes.
Every visit gives our students an opportunity to build confidence, practice their craft, and gain valuable experience serving our school community. From preparing food to welcoming guests, they are learning the teamwork and customer service skills that bring a successful culinary operation to life.
Stop by for breakfast, join us for lunch, or take something delicious to go!
Please place and prepay for takeout orders by 12:30 p.m. Pickup is available until 1:15 p.m.
Your support helps make these learning experiences possible—and gives our students a chance to share their hard work and creativity with you. We look forward to serving you!
Athletics
2nd Annual Walk for Nicey
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH @ GLTS
All proceeds go directly to the Coach Niceforo Scholarship.
WHEN: October 18th
REGISTRATION: 8:30 AM
WALK TIME: 9:30 AM
REGISTRATION COST: $30
LOCATION: GLTS | 57 River Road, Andover MA 01810
Clubs & Activities
Check Mate! ♟️
Our Chess Club is officially underway! On Tuesday, more than 10 students joined us in Mr. Saucier’s classroom for our first meeting of the year. Students had a great time playing, learning new strategies, and connecting with one another.
Check out a few pictures from our first meeting, and don’t miss out on the fun! Join us next week and make your move! ♟️
Clubs and Activities have started! Check Them Out!!
Meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 2:45 - 4:15 PM
Room: 3007 | GC code: wbz2m7v
Fantasy | Advisor: Josh Karlowicz
Meets three times per month from 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Room: 5015 | GC code: gerdmkh
GSA | Advisor: Charlotte Germain
Meets Tuesdays from 2:45 - 4:15 PM
Room: 3007 | GC code: f4ysl6e
Interact Club | Advisor: Chris Cyr
Meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 2:45-4:15 PM
Room: 3007 | GC code: email advisor
Kaleidoscope Club | Advisor: Becky Webster
Meets Mondays from 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Room: MSPCA or 4048
Stand & Deliver | Advisor: Chris Plourde
Meets Tues, Wed, and Thurs from 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Where: Off Site
Yearbook | Advisor: Martha Carrasco / Sara Alvarado
Day / Time: Starting Sept. 22, Mondays 2:40 - 4:30 PM
Room: 2049 | GC code: phc7fg3
Chess Club | Advisor: Mike Saucier
Day / Time: Starting Oct. 14, Tuesdays 2:45 - 4:15 PM
Room: 4108
Student Council | Advisor: Cherilee Lewis
Meets Mondays from 2:40 - 4:30 PM
Room: 6014 | GC code: 5ubklzn
Reggie Voice | Advisor: Kaitlin Nardi
2:45 - 4:15 PM
Room: 3007 | GC code: xb7l55zz
NHS | Advisor: Papadinis, Saucier, and Esdale
Meets every last two Mondays of each month from 2:40 - 3:00 PM
Room: PAC | GC code: 2u2aptu
Debate Club | Advisor: Dan Pendenza and Kiara Perez
Meets Thursdays twice a month from 2:40 - 4:15 PM
Room: 3017
Tia Gerber has joined the Workforce Development team to lead our efforts to positively impact technical education beyond the regular high school day. She has extensive experience in developing adult technical training programs as well as income-generating personal programs for adults in the community. In her short time at GLTS, she is already generating a sense of excitement about the possibilities for adult technical training. Stop by the Workforce Development office to say hi to Tia!
Our Medical Assisting program experienced some huge achievements in the last year. Our FY2026 cohort of 19 students participated in a rigorous selection process before entering the program, including a “speed interviewing session” in which they demonstrated their commitment to success to six different interviewers. They also committed to altering their schedules for intensive classroom instruction with two days of clinical practice at Beth Israel Lahey Health in Burlington, achieving 100% retention. Under the leadership of Program Manager Ena Peña, alongside dedicated instructors Brooke Leavitt, Elizabeth Torres, Audra Durkin, Rita Fazio, and Tamie Harris, the program grew from having only 40% passing the CCMA exam in 2024 to 100% passing the CCMA exam in 2026, with 88% of graduates overall being employed. Congratulations to the team and students on an extraordinary year of accomplishments!
Nursing
Important Reminders
Attention Parents/Caregivers for 11th and 12th Grade Students: Once your student turns 16 years old, they are required to get a Meningococcal Vaccine. This is a requirement per the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Once your student gets vaccinated, please send documentation to nursing (nurses@glts.net).
Security
ALICE Safety Presentation
On September 24 and October 1, our 9th grade students and current transfer students participated in an ALICE safety presentation led by SRO Officer Rachael Mini from the Andover Police Department.
ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate and provides students and staff with options for responding to an active threat or other serious emergency. We practice ALICE so that our school community understands our safety procedures and is prepared to respond appropriately if an emergency should ever occur.
Throughout the school year, we will conduct unannounced ALICE drills to help students and staff practice these important safety procedures. We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Andover Police Department and their continued commitment to keeping our students, staff, and school community safe.
Dismissal / Student Pick-up
At dismissal, all student pick-ups take place at the back of the building. Vehicles will be directed to the designated pick-up line, and students should meet their rides in this area. Students will not be permitted to be picked up in the front of the building.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Following these procedures helps us maintain a safe and organized arrival and dismissal for our students, staff, and families.
GLTS Mobile App
GLTS now has a school app that puts everything in one place. You can check the school calendar for upcoming events, find the daily bell schedule, see what’s for lunch, and explore clubs and activities. The app also makes it easy to stay connected with athletics—buying tickets for games, finding coaches’ contact information, and accessing team resources. You can read the latest Reggie Happenings newsletter, look through past issues, and quickly find helpful links like bus routes, scholarship information, transcript requests, and GLTS social media. Download the GLTS app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to stay connected and up to date.
