Doherty Family Update 12.21.2025

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

• Wednesday 12/24 - Friday 1/2/26 - Holiday Recess
• Monday 1/5 - Back to School
• Thursday 1/15 - 7A Field Trip - Peabody Essex Museum
• Monday 1/19 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr Day
• Wednesday 1/28 - Early Release Day- 11:30 AM dismissal

8th Grade Parent Curriculum Night on February 11th from 6:30–8:00 PM starting in the Collins Center at Andover High School

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!

From great food on the Lunar New Year and fireworks in Maine, to finding the perfect Christmas tree or starting new Thanksgiving customs after immigrating, sixth graders shared a glimpse into their lives. These were just a few of the many traditions presented, but they all highlighted one key theme: nothing is more important than spending time with family.

A huge thank you to the entire Doherty Community for your incredible spirit and generosity during our recent Student Council food drive! Because of your contributions, we were able to deliver a significant essential goods to Bread and Roses, providing much-needed support to local families facing food insecurity. We had enthusiastic participation across all grade levels, it was truly inspiring to see our school come together to make such a tangible difference. This success is a testament to the compassion that defines our community; your kindness ensures that our neighbors have access to nutritious meals and the support they deserve.

Doherty School Council lead by Ms. Heintzelman and Ms. Brown

As part of a continuing partnership between Merrimack College Athletics and Doherty Middle School, Merrimack has generously donated approximately 150 tickets to the men’s basketball game on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Because this game falls during our winter recess, we kindly ask that families sign up for tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Link is below for Ticket Sign Up. Tickets will be sent home with your child on Monday (12/22) or Tuesday (12/23). We encourage students and families to wear Doherty Middle School T-shirts; we plan to present the team with a thank-you banner signed by seventh-grade students from Merrimack's visit to 7th graders earlier this year.

Please note that this is not a Doherty-chaperoned event.

Ticket Sign Up Form Click HERE https://forms.gle/bNbhC3p57sZ5cUtT8

The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute competition designed for students in grade 8 and below. The competition focuses on middle school mathematics topics, including counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, elementary geometry (including the Pythagorean Theorem), spatial visualization, and interpreting graphs and tables. Some of the later questions may touch on beginning algebra topics, such as linear or quadratic functions and coordinate geometry. The competition is in January, 2026, please register by January 5th if your student would like to compete.

Registrar in this google form

AMC 8 Google Form

There are amazing parts for everyone in this show including King Triton, Prince Eric, Ursula the sea witch, her evil sidekicks Flotsam and Jetsam, Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish, and Scuttle the seagull.

You can find out more about auditions on the Drama Club website. Just scan the QR code on the flyers hanging in the hallway. Miss Imani can answer any of your questions as well!

We will be holding auditions on Tuesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 8 for our spring musical.

There will be three performances – April 10, 11, and 12 - mark your calendars!

Drama club rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 - 5:30 and on Fridays from 3:00 - 5:00. Further details will be available at the Doherty Drama Club webpage in the next week:

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

Questions? Contact 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.

As you approach the holidays, please feel free to check out this article from Columbia with some strategies if you are feeling the holiday blues! The article contains some ideas for managing stress and some best practices for self-care.

CTE High School Update:

Greater Lawrence Technical School and Essex North Shore applications are open! Please note, students should be using their parent or guardian's email account to apply, and there is no teacher recommendation required.

Greater Lawrence Technical School: If your student is interested in applying to GLTS, the application closes February 1st. The application is here:

Essex North Shore Updates:

• The Essex North Shore application closes on January 10th, 2026.

Lottery Process: There is a new policy in Massachusetts for CTE schools and programs. The main change includes a lottery-based admissions process. The Essex North Shore Admissions policy is linked here: The GLTS Admissions Policy is linked here

Homework Help with AHS Students - Fantastic Start!

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.

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!

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!

8th Grade Families interested in the Private School Process see form below:

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

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, 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.