Doherty Family Update 3.15.2026

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

Tuesday March 17 - All Strings Performance - Collins Center 6:30pm

Wednesday March 18 - Start of 3rd Term

Photo taken at the All-Bands Night on March 11, 2026 in the AHS Field House. About 550 students performed for an audience of 1200+ plus!

More photos below from the fantastic night!

Youth Art Month (YAM), is celebrated nationally each March since 1961 to highlight some of the amazing teaching and learning happening in visual arts education across the United States and to promote the understanding of visual arts as a critical factor in the total education curriculum that develops citizens of a global society.

In Massachusetts during the month of March, MAEA annually sponsors a Statewide preK-12 YAM Exhibit of student artworks submitted by art educators in public, private, and independent schools from across the state. There are also regional and district wide YAM exhibits, as well as school-based exhibits and events throughout the year celebrating Art Education.

For more information you can CLICK HERE

Note: The click here button to send a message to the artist does not work.

On Monday, March 9th, acclaimed historical fiction author Ruta Sepetys visited DMS and presented to all three grades, through a generous grant from the Cummings Foundation. Ms. Sepetys shared details about her books, The Bletchley Riddle, set in WWII Britain, and I Must Betray You, set in Romania under the Ceausescu regime, and told stories about her travels to research the hidden histories of people all over the world, including that of her own family. She emphasized how important it is to explore our own personal histories, so that we may empathize with others and make connections with the past. Students were inspired to consider difficult events through a multiperspective human lens.

While most of her characters are young adults, her stories are compelling for all ages. Some other titles she has written are Ashes in the Snow (a.k.a. Between Shades of Gray, and also adapted as a motion picture), Salt to the Sea, Fountains of Silence, Out of the Easy, and You: the Story. Her next book, A Fortune of Sand, will be released in May.

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 (see photo) 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!

Dear current and future AHS Choral and Theatre Students and Families,

We are so excited to share some incredible news: Andover High School's Choral and Theatre programs are heading to New York City!

On April 8–10, 2027, students will have the opportunity to embark on an exciting three-day experience packed with professional workshops, iconic landmarks, and Broadway.

Here's a taste of what's in store:

• A Broadway Show

• Broadway Inbound Workshops — hands-on clinics with real theatre and choral professionals

• A Performance & Clinic at the breathtaking Cathedral of St. John the Divine

• A backstage tour of the iconic Radio City Music Hall

• A Harbor Lights Cruise of New York Harbor

• A visit to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and Rockefeller Center

• Group meals, including lunch at the legendary Ellen's Stardust Diner

We only have room for 50 students on this trip, and we expect interest to be high. Please read the eligibility information below carefully and plan to register early!

Eligibility: Choral students are eligible if they are enrolled in a curricular choral ensemble for at least one semester during the 2026–2027 school year. Theatre students are eligible if they are enrolled in a theatre arts course during the 2026–2027 school year, or if they are actively participating in AHS productions.

The approximate cost is $1,100 per student, which covers ALL trip activities, transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals. Payment plans will be available, and we will support students/families who qualify for financial need. More details will be shared at the information session. The registration form and non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by March 27, 2026.

We will be hosting a virtual information session to walk families through all the details, answer your questions, and share next steps for registration. This meeting will take place on Google Meet and begin at 7 PM on Monday, March 9th.

To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/rpk-kxry-dhe

Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 401-903-0954 and enter this PIN: 280 549 758#

We cannot wait to share this experience with your students.

Truly

Dr. Lauren Peithmann

Choral Director, Andover High School

lauren.peithmann@andoverma.us

Dr. Susan Choquette

Theatre Director, Andover High School

susan.choquette@andoverma.us

Andover Public Schools is pleased to announce we will continue to offer acceleration opportunities for students in Mathematics this summer. We realize that all students develop their mathematical abilities at different rates, so offering a variety of entry points remains important to us. We have outlined the summer mathematics programs that would enable your child to participate should they qualify. We will be offering two in-person summer courses at the high school: Algebra 1 and Geometry. Please note that if your student is currently in the Accelerated Math Program (AMP) they are learning both the Grade 8 and Algebra 1 math content.

See details below:

Math Summer Enrichment 2026

We have many items on our Lost & Found Shelves!

* Please encourage your student to check for any missing items

* Parents/Caregivers are welcome to come in during the school day to check for lost items.

Any unclaimed items will be donated prior to April Vacation!

Our 2nd annual DMS March Madness Attendance Challenge celebrating our value of teamwork. Each advisory will work together to compete for our weekly competition and grand prizes!

How it works:

• Each week, our Attendance Team will calculate the percentage of students in each advisory who attended school on time (in their advisory classroom before the 8:15 am bell rings)
• The section with the highest attendance percentage in each matchup advances to the next round
• Students with medical notes/excuses will not be counted against the attendance.
• Eliminated teams will continue to be eligible for a weekly prize so don’t give up! Each week is a fresh start!

How can families help?

• Please encourage your students to be on time to advisory each morning (in their advisory classroom before the 8:15 am bell rings)
• If students miss school for a medical appointment, please send them in with a doctor’s note

📅Competition Schedule:

Week 1: March 2-6

Week 2: March 9-13

Week 3: March 16-20

Week 4: March 23-27

🏆Championship Round: March 30-April 3

Each week we are recognizing the advisories in each grade that have the top attendance and updating our March Madness Attendance Challenge

6th Grade: Buckridge & Shenker Advisory

7th Grade: Berard & Creamer Advisory (pictured with their silly sunglasses prize)

8th Grade: Campbell & McIntyre Advisory

Our March Madness bracket and our new weekly winners will be announced on Monday morning.

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

All activities are for all 8th grade students

Questions about the high school process?

* Every Wednesday during eighth-grade lunch, Ms. Creamer will host “open office hours,” for eighth-grade students to stop by and ask questions.

* Parents are also welcome to contact Ms. Creamer with any questions.

* Please feel free to visit the 9th Grade Transition to AHS information Website and feel free to reach out to Ms. Creamer (marymargaret.creamer@andoverma.us) with any questions.

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.

Hello 8th‑grade families,

We had a great visit from the Andover High School Counseling Department on Tuesday to help students with course selection. Our students were prepared and did a wonderful job — thank you for all your support!

This is a reminder that Monday, March 16,is the due date for parents to verify their students' courses. Ms. DeKelley, Andover High School’s Director of Guidance, has been sending email instructions on how to review and verify your student's courses. For additional tutorials, please see here. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Creamer at marymargaret.creamer@andoverma.us.

If your child will not be attending Andover High School next year and you would like to be removed from future course selection email communications, please click the link below and complete the google survey.

https://forms.gle/ajSz26S7KjuQfm1RA

"You may encounter defeats, but you must not be defeated." Maya Angelou

Has your child recently received disappointing news? Didn't win the big game? Didn't make the team they wanted? Didn't get into the high school they hoped for? This can be really tough for both kids and parents! Check out this article for some ideas to help your child through these difficult moments. https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-deal-with-rejection/

And as always, please reach out to the counseling team if you or your child needs some additional support.

What: Andover High School will host an AVID Information Night

When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026,

Where: Andover High School library.

Who: Eighth-grade students and families who want to learn more about the AVID program and the application process.

How: Application - https://www.aps1.net/o/ahs/page/avid.

Application Due Date: April 10, 2026

More Info: For more information about this excellent program, please visit this site and watch this video.

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

Veterinarian Club Ms. Bramante - Room 221 Start Date March 9th

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.