Bancroft Bulletin
Family Edition: June 12, 2026
DATES TO KNOW
June 16 - Grade 5 CELEBRATION at 9:30!!!
June 17 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - dismissal at 12:15
HAPPY SUMMER!!
- No PM KidCare
- Report cards emailed in afternoon
- Student Assessment Data goes home (K-5 Dibels data as papercopy; Grade 2-5 MAP data virtually available on Aspen)
2026-2027 School Year
Wednesday, September 2: First day of school for students in grades 1 - 5
Thursday, September 3: Regular school day Grades 1 - 5
Friday, September 4: No School
Monday, September 7: No School; Labor Day
Tuesday, September 8: First day of school for kindergarteners; regular school day grades K-5
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2026 -2027 OPEN HOUSE
September 16th
More details to come!!
Love the hockey action!
Some between the periods gymnastics!
Student section of the younger siblings and 5th graders!
Grades 2-5
Dear Andover Families,
We are writing to let you know that if your child is in Grades 2-5, your child’s End-of-Year NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment results are now available in the Aspen Parent Portal.
MAP assessments provide information about your child’s academic growth and achievement in reading and mathematics. Reviewing these results can help you better understand your child’s progress throughout the school year. You can find information about MAP testing and results using this link.
To access your child’s MAP results:
- Log in to the Aspen Parent Portal.
- Navigate to your child’s record.
- Select ‘Documents’ on the side tab to view NWEA/ MAP results.
Please refer to the attached guide for step-by-step instructions on accessing MAP reports in Aspen.
If you need assistance accessing the Aspen Parent Portal, please contact your school office.
The end of year K-5 Dibels Literacy Reports will be sent home in backpacks on the last day of school.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support throughout the school year.
Physical Education weekly update!
Week of June 15th
This week, all the students went outside to enjoy the nice weather for stations! Equipment that students had the chance to use included a variety of outdoor games and activities such as balls and scoops, frisbees, lacrosse sticks, soccer balls, baseball gloves, footballs, ball poppers, and hula hoops.
Music weekly update!
Final update will be in the newsletter on June 17th! :)
Art weekly update!
June 12
K-5 students at Bancroft are finishing the year with a series of drawing projects inspired by the warm weather, sweet treats, and summer fun!
Library Media weekly update!
Week of June 8
This week was a week of review and reflection in the library! Students have worked hard to find their library books and get them returned. We still have 225 books checked out but the number is decreasing by the day.
Kindergarten read 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David Larochelle. After the read aloud, students reflected on their favorite book they read during library this year!
First grade students wrapped up their bird research with a bird watching day! Students wrote down the different birds they saw outside and then returned to the library to listen to the different bird calls. Ask your first grader what birds they saw during their bird watching!
Second grade through fifth grade reflected on the year in the library and discussed their favorite library activity from the year!
School librarian: Tiffany Hutchins
Librarian email: tiffany.legare@andoverma.us
Memorial Hall Library’s Summer Reading Program, "Plant a Seed, Read” is described in this Summer Reading Video. Memorial Hall Library will launch their summer reading program on June 15th. Register online for the program after June 15th. Once registered, children will be able to keep track of their reading and earn rewards. They will also be able to participate in all the summer reading entertainment and educational programs FREE of charge! Here is the Memorial Library Summer Reading Program Brochure. For more information on all children’s activities please visit Memorial Hall’s website at www.mhl.org/kids/programs, or call The Children’s Room at 978-623-8440 x39.
Hello Andover Families/Caregivers,
We invite your child to join our elementary instrumental music program. We welcome new and returning 4th and 5th-grade students to our program in both Strings and Band. Next year, Strings and Band students will receive one 30-minute weekly group lesson. These lessons will occur within the typical school day. There will be an Instrumental Meet and Greet on June 8th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m in Andover High School Cafeteria. Whether your child participated in previous years or is starting an instrument for the first time, all students must obtain one of the following instruments and purchase the appropriate lesson book:
Strings
Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass
Band
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
Percussion (Grade 5 Only, Prior Instrument Experience Encouraged)
Band Instrument Selection Guide
HOW TO REGISTER:
Please follow the links below to register! For our planning purposes, families should register
by June 15, 2026. Information about rentals and materials will be shared upon registration.
We look forward to welcoming your student to the
APS Elementary Instrumental Music Program this Fall!
Please let us know if you have any questions.
APS Elementary Strings and Band Instructors
Strings - Julie Diehl - julie.diehl@andoverma.us
Band - Kaitlyn Sicinski - kaitlyn.sicinski@andoverma.us
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Standards are covered? How do students receive feedback?
We are guided by both the MA State Frameworks and the National Music Standards. Students will learn proper playing techniques and music literacy, such as reading notes in the appropriate clef and key signatures, basic rhythms, and playing together as an ensemble. We also focus on building one’s identity as instrumentalists and helping students perform to convey musical intention. Students will receive progress reports in the middle and at the end of the year.
2. How do I rent an instrument? What books do I need?
Information can be found here. Please click on the link.
Strings: Elementary Strings Supplies List
Band: APS Elementary Band Supply List
3. What are the expectations around commitment and practice?
Students should expect to practice multiple days a week and attend all concerts. There are at least two concerts a year. This is a full-year commitment.
4. What are the class expectations?
Students should come to school with their lesson book and instrument in good repair and ready to play. Students should come ready to work and engage appropriately in the learning environment. Our basic tenet is around respect: respect for themselves and others, respect for their instrument, and respect for their environment.
5. What happens if a student is struggling or expressing disinterest?
Communication is the key. Learning something new can be a struggle. Please reach out if your child is showing signs of struggling or is disinterested. We are happy to help guide your student through the joys and challenges of this new journey.
6. How can parents/caregivers support students in their musical journey?
Students will receive weekly practice logs and homework. We encourage you to help your child create a practice routine, a practice space, and the ability to share music with family members in person or by recording a video. If you have questions about the setup or care of the instrument, please reach out. Learning an instrument is a partnership between the student, the instructor, and the family.
7. What additional music opportunities exist?
Grades 4 and 5 Strings students (with one or more years of playing experience) are welcome to join our Primo Orchestra. This beginning string ensemble rehearses every Tuesday from 4:15 to 5:30, at West Middle School, and performs in three concerts throughout the school year.
Grade 5 Band students (with one or more years of playing experience) are welcome to join our All-Town Band. This group rehearses every Tuesday from 4:15 to 5:30 at Doherty Middle School, and performs in three concerts throughout the school year.
8. Is private instruction available?
Our APS teachers don’t teach private lessons to current or existing students. However, private instruction is a great supplement to your child’s in-school experience. If you are interested in private instruction, please reach out to your instrumental music teacher for more information about local private teachers.
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