Bancroft Bulletin
Family Edition: April 3, 2026
DATES TO KNOW
April 8: Early Release, Dismissal at 12:15
April 9: Grade 3 Strings and Recorder Informance - info was sent to grade 3 parents
April 20 - 24: NO School, Spring Vacation
Andover Public Schools 2025 - 2026 Calendar
Andover Public School 2026-2027 Calendar
MCAS dates
Grade 3
ELA - April 6 and April 7
Math - May 11 and May 12
Grade 4
ELA - March 31 and April 1
Math - May 13 and May 15
Grade 5
ELA - April 13 and April 14
Math - May 4 and May 5
Science - May 18 and May 19
Physical Education weekly update!
Week of March 30th
This week, students in grades K-2 played a game called “Pin Knockdown”, where they worked on the review skill of rolling, aiming to be the first team to roll and knock down all the other teams pins.
Students in grades 3-5 played a game called "Ultimate Castleball", where they worked on the review skill of overhand throwing and defending, aiming to be the first team to throw and knock down all of the other teams hulahuts and pins.
Music weekly update!
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MUSIC CLASS 3/30/26-4/3/26
K students experience a musical walk, around the music room in which they hold their “mallet microphone” and walk the beat as they sing. Students participate in singing the classical folk songs like “Engine Engine”, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, “Starlight, Starbright”, etc. in between the “I Take a Little Walk” song.
1st grade students are doing a nice job with practicing their beat-keeping skills with the “Steady Beat Rap” and “Bounce Bounce Bounce the Ball.” Students also work together cooperatively as they sing and move to one of their favorite singing games “Old King Glory.”
2nd and 3rd grade students are having fun with movement exploration. We discuss “pathways” in music as we travel the music room safely and expressively. The music we listen to as we travel is Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.”
Fourth and Fifth grade students are busy composing and creating borduns on the barred instruments: glockenspiels, xylophones, and metallophones. A bordun is a continuous drone-like accompaniment. We learn about the simple, broken, and level borduns. Students take time working in pairs to create their own bordun and then share them with the class.
Art weekly update!
Week of March 30
Kindergarteners are learning about Korean American artist Joo-Young Choi. She creates puppets and characters for imaginary worlds that she makes up. She creates installations with characters as a type of mythology. Students will be creating their own imaginary friends in art class.
First and second graders are learning about the art and life of blown glass artist, Dale Chihuly. They will use folded paper to recreate seemingly moving colors in his style.
Third grade students are creating collages inspired by Ming Dynasty blue and white pottery.
Fourth graders are beginning to weave with yarn on cardboard looms. They will look at artist tapestries from around the world as inspiration. We are collecting yarn donations!
Fifth graders are learning about the Japanese Holiday Kodomo no hi also known as Children’s Day. To celebrate, they are creating Koinobori, also known as carp kites.
Library Media weekly update!
Week of March 30
This week, Kindergarten read Up the Creek by Nicholas Oldland and discussed the differences between canoes and sailboats. After reading, students put their tinkering to the test and built their own boats out of aluminium foil to see if they could create a boat that would float. Students tested their boats with a float test to see if their boat could carry cargo (markers).
First grade through third grade began their poetry unit. Students in first grade read How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander. After the read aloud, first grade learned about acrostic poems and created their own Spring acrostic poem. Second grade read the poem “Welcome Spring!” by Lynn Bleau. After reading the poem, students selected their favorite line and drew pictures reflecting the meaning of the line. Third grade students read All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and discussed sensory poems. Students began brainstorming ideas for their spring senses poem.
Fourth and fifth grade students continue to work on their research. Fourth grade students began writing their scripts for their podcasts on the American Revolution and fifth grade students began transposing their research into a product to present to their class.
School librarian: Tiffany Hutchins
Librarian email: tiffany.legare@andoverma.us
Andover Public Schools’ Superintendent Search
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.
Complete the Survey
The New England School Development Council (NESDEC), our search consultant, will provide, administer, and analyze a survey available to students, staff, parents/caretakers, and residents. This survey will help to identify the characteristics of a Superintendent that are most important to our community. The survey can be accessed by the embedded link or the QR code. The survey opens today and will close on Friday, April 10th.
Memorial Hall Library and The Robb Center will have computers available to take the survey. Paper copies are available by contacting shauna.murray@andoverma.us. If you need translation services to complete the survey, please contact shauna.murray@andoverma.us
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. Sessions are shown below.
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.
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AT SCHOOL
We are all working to manage the age of technology and are looking for support between school and home. Many children have new smart devices and the elementary schools have some guidance.
A kind reminder to our families that cell phones must be turned off and in students’ backpacks at the start of the school day. Smartwatches may be worn as regular watches, however, students are not allowed to text, communicate with others, use applications, take pictures or videos, or access social media services and websites.
Should parents/guardians urgently need to reach their child during the school day, we ask that you call the main office. Students are also allowed to come to the main office if they need to contact someone at home. If a cell phone or watch becomes a significant distraction, school administrators will reach out to parents/guardians. The Andover Public Schools is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or broken devices.
To promote healthy digital habits during the school day, the resources below may be helpful to use. We appreciate your partnership as we work to keep interruptions to the school day at a minimum.
Resource for Apple Watches:
How to set a School Time schedule
Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap All Watches, then tap your child's watch.
Tap Done, then tap Schooltime.
Turn on Schooltime, then tap Edit Schedule.
Choose the days and times when you want Schooltime to be active.
Tap Add Time if you want to set up more than one schedule in a day.
Resource for Gizmo Watches:
How to set up School mode
Open the. Gizmo Hub app.
Tap the. School mode switch. turn on or off. If necessary, set up a School Mode schedule.
Bobcat to Bobcat
Bobcat to Bobcat is a committee in our school of staff members who work to support families who may need assistance with various needs throughout the year. This includes helping with scholarships for events, holidays, and more. Our work is confidential and financially supported by our PTO as well as our staff and families who donate when needed.
All donations are given anonymously and recipients’ information will be kept in strict confidence.
We have an amazing community here at Bancroft and know that when there is a need, everyone pitches in. We will reach out throughout the year!
If you are a family wanting to be on our list needing support, please email our social worker, Nancy Modlish at nancyjo.modlish@andoverma.us or me, Beth Leavitt at beth.leavitt@andoverma.us.
Meals at Bancroft
All students are able to receive 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch daily during the 2025 - 2026 school year. Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 8:45 - 9:00 and does not need to be ordered ahead of time.
Lunches will need be preordered. It is very important that our cafeteria has an accurate lunch count each day. Please review with your children each morning what you have ordered for them.
Please click below for the monthly menu and more information about Andover's Nutrition Program including how to sign up.
LOST & FOUND
Every year the lost & found racks become quite full of clothes, water bottles, shoes, etc. and you can help by LABELING EVERYTHING!!
PLEASE write your last name on items and this will help us to return things to your child.
Thank you!!
Transportation Information
MOST IMPORTANT - CARS DO NOT TRAVEL FROM THE BANCROFT ROAD SIDE OF THE SCHOOL. YOU ENTER THE CAR LANE FROM WEST KNOLL.
OUR BUSES MUST USE BANCROFT ROAD AND IT IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR CARS AND BUSES. YOUR COOPERATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL!
When cars are waiting prior to 8:45 and prior to 3:30, they must be TURNED OFF.
This is a NO IDLING ZONE as the SIGNAGE INDICATES.
DROP OFF: ALL CARS MUST DRIVE UP WEST KNOLL TO DROP OFF STUDENTS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not get out of the car in the morning to help your child. We have staff on duty to assist and this will hold up the line quite a bit. We know many have to rush off and we want to help in any way we can. This is a way we can help one another!
There is a staff member there to direct traffic and it is a single lane so you may not pass even if your child has exited your car.
PARENT PICK-UP: ALL CARS MUST DRIVE UP WEST KNOLL TO PICK UP STUDENTS. NO CARS WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER FROM BANCROFT ROAD.
In order to help expedite the pick-up procedure, please write your last name ONLY in LARGE, BLACK, BOLD print on a piece of tag board/paper and have it prominently displayed when you arrive to pick up your child. This will expedite the process. If someone else is picking up your child, please have them follow the same protocol.
AGAIN . . . DO NOT EXIT YOUR CAR DURING THIS TIME OR PASS CARS! Every car stays in a single line and waits for the car in front of you to drive off.
Thank you very much!
Resources
Important Links (APS):
Bancroft Elementary School
Email: beth.leavitt@andoverma.us
Website: Bancroft School
Instagram: @bancroftaps
Location: 15 Bancroft Rd, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 247-9500
X: @BancroftAPS