Bulldog Bulletin

It is hard to believe there is only one more week until April Vacation. There are so many exciting things still ahead.

We have completed ELA MCAS in grades 3, 4, and 5. Students worked incredibly hard and truly demonstrated stick-to-itiveness. We also had an amazing STEAM Day with Andover High School Warrior Way students. I was a great success! Be sure to look below for some highlights and photos from the event.

Next week is full of great opportunities for our students. Third grade will have a string performance on Wednesday. That evening, we will host our Around the World Night from 6:00–7:30, which is always a wonderful community event. I am looking forward to seeing many of you there. On Friday, we will hold our Community Read Aloud, which was rescheduled from March. Fourth grade will also participate in an Electromagnetism enrichment program to enhance their science learning.

Please stop by and check the Lost and Found. We will be donating items left behind on Friday.

The school committee voted, and Andover Public School students will have their last day of school on Wednesday, June 17th with an early release at 12:15.

Step Up for Colleen 5K: Join our team, the Sanborn Bulldogs. We currently have 109 participants and have already exceeded last year’s total, placing us in third. It would be great to see us climb even higher. Team registration closes on April 20, so be sure to sign up here soon to be part of the Sanborn Bulldogs.

First, there has been some unsafe driving during afternoon carpool. It is important that you do not pull out of the lot until directed, and you should never back out if you are in the back row, as this can lead to accidents. If your child has an appointment, please plan to pick them up from the front office rather than using carpool as an early exit. All families must follow the established safety procedures to ensure a smooth and safe dismissal for everyone. If you plan to stay on the playground with your child as the weather gets warmer, it is helpful to park in the top loop so that you are not blocking the carpool lane.

Second, students in grades 3–5 are now allowed to ride their bikes to school. All students must wear a helmet to and from school or they may lose their biking privileges. Massachusetts law requires all children 16 years of age and under to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.

The Sanborn administrative team will soon begin placing students for the 2026-2027 school year. Student placement is a thoughtful process that incorporates input from your child's current teacher, support staff, and administration to ensure balanced and compatible classrooms. We carefully consider many factors, including all available student data, to create the best possible learning environments.

Our placement process is designed to support both academic success and social-emotional well-being.

Please note: We do not accept parental requests for specific classroom assignments or teachers.

However, we value your insights and welcome any information that you feel is important for us to know, such as your child's learning style, academic needs, or compatibility with peers. Your input will be carefully considered as we make placement decisions.

To share your thoughts, please email placementsanborn@gmail.com no later than Friday, April 17th.

As the Andover School Committee moves forward in the process of selecting a new Superintendent, we are excited to announce upcoming engagement opportunities and a dedicated webpage for students, staff, and the community.

Attend a Focus Group or Join a School Committee Informal Forum!

NESDEC consultants will facilitate five Focus Groups and the Committee will host two Informal Forums during the week of April 13th. Please feel free to attend the session that best fits your role.

Selecting a Superintendent is one the School Committee’s most important responsibilities, and the School Committee is committed to a comprehensive, thorough, and transparent search for the best possible leader of our schools. We encourage your participation in this process. Thank you

As shared in the fall, this school year we will participate in both Fire Drills, supported by the Andover Fire Department, and A.L.I.C.E drills. During the next few weeks, we will hold our second unannounced A.L.I.C.E drill, supported by the Andover Police Department. We will provide families with an update after our drill is complete. If you wish to review the A.L.I.C.E. drill with your children, we wanted to share this resource. Our teachers do an incredible job making sure that these drills are explained in child friendly terms. After a drill, teachers discuss with the students how it went and answer any questions.

We also have a resource multilingual school safety guide that includes information about A.L.I.C.E., with videos in multiple languages for families. Here’s the link.

Every year the Andona Foundation offers financial assistance for families with two different programs 1) a limited number of sponsorships for their Clown Town event which will be May 15-17th this year (Clown Town of Andover) and 2) fees assistance for a summer camp (up to $300) through their campership program. To apply for these opportunities, please fill out the appropriate google form below. Further explanation of each program is on the top of each google form. Please note the deadlines.

Clown Town: 2026 Clown Town sponsorship form - due May 4

Campership Assistance: 2026 Andona Campership form - due May 15th

Please reach out to Jen Cann, our social worker if you need assistance or have any questions at jennifer.cann@andoverma.us or 978-247-9704.

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

April 15th: 3rd Grade Strings Performance

April 15th: Around the World

April 17th: Community Readers

April 20-April 25: April Vacation

May 3: Step Up For Colleen 5K

We know the countdown is on until Spring Recess, but there's lots to share for the week ahead! Here's what the PTO wants you to know this week...

• We’re looking for volunteers to help with set‑up and clean‑up for our Around the World event on April 15th. If you’re available to lend a hand—either before the event, after, or both—we’d truly appreciate it. Your support helps make the day run smoothly for everyone. Please let us know if you can help! Please sign up here!

• The Sanborn Store is open! Orders are due April 17th, so make sure to place your orders ASAP!

• Teacher Appreciation Week is quickly approaching, this time with a “Friends” theme! Join us as we honor the amazing educators who support, inspire, and cheer on our students every single day. All week long, we’ll be celebrating with Friends-themed fun, surprises, and appreciation moments worthy of Central Perk. Take a look at our Amazon Wishlist today- items to be collected by Friday, April 17th.

• 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. The Ritzer Foundation donated $100k to our Playground Fund and we would love to see a big show of Sanborn support! Our team is currently holding strong at 105 members (that's 32 more than last week at this time!!) and we’d love to be a top 3 team! Help us get there by registering today! We hope to see you with us on Sunday, May 3rd!

• Another parent social is in the works... this time at Pure Barre in North Andover! Join us on 4/30 at 6:30 at Pure Barre North Andover for a fun and energizing evening. We’ll kick things off with a 50‑minute Pure Barre class—perfect for all fitness levels—followed by relaxed social time to connect, unwind, and enjoy great company. Tickets are on sale now.

Important Dates

• 4/15 Strings Performance

• 4/15 Around the World

• 4/17 Community Read Aloud Day

• 4/20-4/24 Sanborn Closed for Spring Recess

• 4/28 Annual Town Meeting

• 5/1 5th Grade Social