Doherty Family Update 2.8.2026

Typical beginning and ending of the day

School opens at 7:50 for breakfast in the cafeteria- 🌟Only the Front Door is open at 7:50

8:05 all doors including the back and side of the build are open

8:05 Bell rings - students can access their lockers

Our school day starts promptly at 8:15

Doherty Website- Has all the Information

• Monday 2/2 - Wednesday 2/11 - Korean Students Visit DM
• Monday 2/9 - Principals Coffee with Social Workers and Guidance - DMS Library 9:00 - 10:00 am Please respond to attend with the Form below.

  Principals Coffee Response Form

• Tuesday 2/10 - AHS Program of Courses Presentation for 8th Grade at Doherty
• Wednesday, 2/11 from 6:30–8:00 PM starting in the Collins Center at Andover High School 8th Grade Parent Curriculum Night
• Monday - Friday 2/16 - 2/20 - Winter Recess
• Monday 3/9 - Author Visit: Ruta Sepetys

• Wednesday 3/11 - Early Release Day

We invite all families to join us for a special morning coffee dedicated to building connections with the heart of our school community: the Doherty Support Staff. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the dedicated professionals who work behind the scenes to ensure every student thrives. You’ll have the chance to chat informally with our guidance counselor, who navigate academic paths; our social workers, who provide essential emotional and social resources; and our school nurse, who keeps our community healthy and safe. Whether you have specific questions or simply want to put a face to a name, all families are welcome to come share a cup of coffee, exchange ideas, and learn more about the comprehensive support network available to your children. Principals Coffee Response Form

Just a friendly reminder regarding our district's policy on schoolwork during planned unexcused absences, such as family vacations, competitive activities like sports tournaments, or arts performances. Please understand that teachers are not required to provide work before an unexcused absence, though they are often willing to help if they are able to and appreciate advance notice. Students should utilize Schoology as it provides a helpful guide and overview of class activities and assignments, and the student should plan to check it while they are out. Upon return, the student is responsible for checking in with teachers to create a plan for making up missed work, which is key to ensuring their smooth transition back to class. We appreciate your partnership in supporting your student's learning!

March 31 ELA- Tuesday

April 1 ELA- Wednesday

8th Grade Only: April 30 Science- Thursday

8th Grade Only: May 4 Science- Monday

May 11 Math- Monday

May 12 Math- Tuesday

8th Grade Only: May 18 Civics- Monday

Every year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education releases a report card for each school and district in the state. Just as a student's report card shows how they are doing in different classes, school and district report cards are designed to show parents and community members how a school or district is doing in different areas. Report cards highlight a school or district's strengths as well as any challenges that need to be addressed in order to make sure the needs of all students are being met.

Massachusetts sees families and the community as important partners in a school's success and spent time listening to parents to make sure the report cards were designed as easy-to-use tools that provide meaningful information.

Click the button below for the Doherty report card.

The following scholars were recognized for showing determination throughout the building.

6th Grade (pictured left to right): Zaedyn Drew, Tommy Fisher, AJ Statires, Emmie White, Lila MacQuarrie, Lucy Nentwich Wittman, and Charles Walsh

7th Grade (pictured left to right): Aria Ruperti, Dakotah Hamm, Lexi Ali, Eli Pignataro, and Joseph Castanos

8th Grade (pictured left to right): Emma Hart, Maddy Hilts, Annie Ren, Dylan Kong, and Nevan Kiberd Rosi

We look forward to recognizing more students for the value of integrity in February!

We are thrilled to offer you two wonderful opportunities to share your career insights with 7th and/or 8th grade students. Last year's engagement with our 8th graders was a tremendous success, thanks to our fantastic volunteers. We are equally excited for this year and to introduce a new opportunity for our 7th grade students.

7th Grade Career Speaker Series

• Date: Wednesday, March 25th
• Time: 8:15am - 8:50am
• Where: Your school of choice (Doherty, West, Woodhill)

8th Grade Career Day

• Date: Tuesday, April 14th
• Time: 11:15am - 2:15pm
• Where: Andover High School

About the Opportunity

Volunteers will discuss their careers, share a bit about their career journey and offer advice on preparation as well as insights into necessary skills.

Sign Up - Form

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our students. Your time and experience can play a powerful role in helping them explore future possibilities and make informed decisions about their paths ahead. If you are interested in participating, please complete the confirmation form linked above. We truly appreciate your support and partnership.

Join us for Curriculum Night, a special event for 8th-grade parents and caregivers!

We are excited to invite you to an informative evening where Program Coordinators will share an overview of the courses and academic opportunities available at Andover High School. This event will provide valuable insights to help you and your student prepare for the course selection process, which will take place in March with Andover High School counselors.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain important information and support a smooth transition to high school!

Event Information:

"Curriculum Night" for 8th Grade Parents/Caregivers

When? Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 6:30-8:15 pm

Where? Collins Center, Andover High School, Shawsheen Road, Andover, MA

Kindly RSVP by February 6th here

If you have any questions please contact Holly Breen, 9th Grade Coordinator at Holly.breen@andoverma.us.

On Monday, February 2, twenty-five dynamic Andover High School students (grades 10–12) visited eighth‑grade classrooms to share an overview of Andover High School from their first‑hand experience. These 25 students are members of Andover High School’s WarriorUP Mentor Program. This incredible program includes upperclassmen at AHS who will visit your students when they are ninth graders during their high school advisory classes to help them with the transition to high school — finding classes, getting involved, answering questions, and feeling confident.

The WarriorUP mentors kicked things off with an interactive icebreaker, explained the block schedule (reassuring students it’s not as complicated as it looks!), highlighted course levels and elective options, and guided students to the transition‑to‑high‑school website: https://www.aps1.net/o/ahs/page/class-of-2029-transition-to-ahs

Mr. Bessette, one of our incredible educators, captured the experience best: “There is no better advice that our eighth graders can get than from their older peers who have already been through it. Having them come and bestow some knowledge on them will pay off not today, but in September.” — Mr. Steve Bessette

This visit came at perfect timing for our eighth graders, as February, March, and April are busy with high school events. Check out the high‑level timeline below for planning and to address any family questions.

A huge thank you to the WarriorUP mentors and Andover High staff for their time and engaging presentation. Their support makes the transition to high school smoother and less stressful for our students!

All activities are for all 8th grade students

Doherty Middle School is thrilled to welcome six visiting students from Korea, who will be joining us to immerse themselves in the authentic American middle school experience. To ensure they feel right at home, our visitors have been paired with a group of dedicated 8th-grade student volunteers who will serve as their guides and peers throughout their stay.

We are incredibly excited to showcase our vibrant community and share the many things that make our school such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Saturday January 31, we had 48 students across all three middle schools (grades 7 and 8) and some freshmen students as well audition for the Northeastern Junior District Festival, a branch of the Mass. Music Educators Association. Andover had 21 students accepted. Please extend a huge congratulations to the following Doherty students:

James Esposito, Cian Long, Christianna O'Boyle, Narayani Govindarajan, Eden Tsien, and

Leighton Walsh

Big thanks to Sabrina Lambros, Alex Duback, Emily Silva, JJ Kuchan, and Derek Voigt for their support in these students. This is a highly competitive event.

Concert Information:

March 14th at Gavin Middle School, Wakefield

10:30 AM - Concert 1
Concert Band / Symphony Orchestra / String Orchestra
12:30 PM​ - Concert 2
Jazz / SSA Chorus / SATB Chorus

We have many items on our Lost & Found Shelves!

There are several winter jackets/coats - see photos below.

Please encourage your student to check the Lost & Found for any items they may be missing.

Parents/Guardians are welcome to check for items during the school day.

The Main Office can help you locate the Lost & Found area.

Attention 8th Grade Families!

We are requesting photo submissions for our 2025-2026 Yearbook.

The deadline to submit a photo of your 8th grade student is April 1

Please see the Flyer below for more information!

The amazing show will feature characters such as King Triton, Ariel, Prince Eric, Ursula the sea witch, her evil sidekicks Flotsam and Jetsam, Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish, and Scuttle the seagull, not to mention dancing jellyfish, fabulous mersisters and singing sailors!

Details about rehearsals, performances, stage crew and auditions are available at the Doherty Drama Club webpage:

https://sites.google.com/a/k12.andoverma.us/dms-drama

Questions can be directed to Ms. Kennedy (elizabeth.kennedy@andoverma.us)

Please remind your student(s)

Now that we’ve settled into the school year, we want to share a friendly reminder about student devices.

Students are expected to bring their fully charged computers to school every day. You can really help us with this by reminding your student to charge their computer every night. This simple routine makes a big difference in ensuring they are prepared for class each day.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your student's education.

Reminder about School Visits

If your student is missing school because of a school visit, we kindly ask that you notify Doherty and indicate this is the reason they are missing school. This helps us ensure your student’s attendance is recorded accurately. Thank you for your help!

Homework Help with AHS Students

Andover High School’s Junior Board assist Doherty Middle Schoolers with their homework. If you're interested in attending next week’s session, please RSVP. We'll have food available since the club starts at 3:15 PM. Note any allergies or restrictions on the sign-up sheet. Kindly RSVP to plan the number of HS volunteers.

If you are interested in your student joining, please fill out this form. Please note: It does not need to be a weekly commitment, students can come when it works best for their family’s schedule.

If you have any questions or need additional information about the high school transition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our school counselor Ms. Creamer at marymargaret.creamer@andoverma.us. Thank you for your continued support!

We’re excited to offer a wide variety of after-school programs and clubs here at Doherty Middle School! These activities provide students with opportunities to explore new interests, develop skills, and connect with peers in a fun and supportive environment that promotes community.

Please note: A completed permission slip is required for students to participate in any after-school club or program. Be sure to submit the form to ensure your child can join in on the fun!

Dylan Birch Clubs Organizer

Mondays:

Anime Club Ms. Physic – Room 221

Board Games Ms. Hudak – Media Center

Dateline Doherty Ms. Angis – Room 222

Tuesdays:

Arts and Crafts Club Ms. Abernathy and Ms. Leyne - Room 123

Make it or Bake It Club Ms. Bergin – Staff Lounge/Kitchen

Thursdays:

Homework Hang Ms. Creamer - Room 138

Math Team Ms. Tyrell - Room 207: Meet #2 November 20 @Wynn Middle School Tewksbury, Parent Pick up at Doherty 5:30 Meet #3 January 15 TBD Meet #4 Feb 26 TBD Meet #5 March 26 TBD Math Team advisor- Elizabeth Tyrell Room 207

Robotics Club Mr. Schack – Room 135 (starts 3rd Quarter)

Student Council Ms. Heintzelman – Room 122

Yearbook Ms. Bakshi – Room 211

The Teaching and Learning office has conducted a deep analysis of the uses and impacts of AI on teaching and learning that has included:

• An examination of existing AI policies and guidelines from other districts in Massachusetts, other states, educational organizations, colleges and universities

• APS secondary faculty focus groups

• APS secondary student surveys

• APS superuser team review

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to this year-long process. While this work will continue to evolve, just as technology evolves, we would like to share the Andover Public Schools Teaching and Learning Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence for the 2025-2026 school year.

Communication with our families is essential to the success and wellness of our students. To assist our families and help them connect with the appropriate staff who is best suited to answer questions, we have updated our “Who We Are” page on our website. The information will guide families to resources on how to reach staff with concerns and how to stay connected to news and events across the district.