Doherty Family Update 3.1.2026

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 3/9 - Author Visit: Ruta Sepetys
• Wednesday 3/4 - Doherty PAC Meeting 7pm - Doherty Library

• Wednesday 3/11 - Early Release Day - Dismissal at 11:30am

Our hallways have never looked more delicious! A huge thank you to every advisory that participated in this year’s Doherty Door Wars and for Doherty Student Council for organizing the event. From detailed diners to creative fast-food chains, the "Restaurant" theme brought out the best of our school’s creativity and team spirit.

After all student votes were counted, we have our "Top Three" on the menu!

1st Place

Bergin & Concannon

2nd Place

Aloi & Matteucci

3rd Place

Heintzelman & Patterson

Honorable Mention

This week we kick off 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

Hello, Doherty Families!

We are excited to share that we will be hosting author, Ruta Sepetys, at the Doherty Middle School on March 9th, 2026. Ms. Sepetys (Rūta Šepetys) is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Considered a “crossover” novelist, her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal and honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for more than fifty book prizes, appear on over forty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television.

Ruta is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Born in Michigan, she was raised in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. She is passionate about the power of history to foster dialogue and global understanding. Her research and writing on human resilience have earned her invitations to speak at NATO, European Parliament, the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and Embassies worldwide. She has been awarded fellowships from The University of Oxford in England and The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy. The New York Times Book Review declared, “Ruta Sepetys acts as champion of the interstitial people so often ignored—whole populations lost in the cracks of history.”

(from the author's website: https://rutasepetys.com/about/)

Some of the books your students have been reading at school are "The Bletchley Riddle", "You: the Story", and "I Must Betray You", among many other titles.

Ms. Perry, Middle School Principal, cordially invites all families to a special morning coffee focused on the exciting journey ahead. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Holly Breen, the 9th Grade Coordinator at Andover High School, as our guest speaker.

Whether your student is already preparing for the leap to high school or you are simply curious about what the future holds at AHS, this is the perfect venue to get informed. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about Andover High School and the transition process to attend this informative session.

Why Attend?

The move from middle school to high school is a significant milestone. This informal gathering offers a unique chance to:

• Understand the Transition: Hear directly from the person who oversees the freshman experience and learn how AHS supports incoming students.

• Get Your Questions Answered: From academic expectations to extracurricular opportunities, get clarity on the high school landscape.

• Build Connections: Meet Ms. Breen and other families navigating the same transition in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Bring your questions, share a cup of coffee, and join us as we partner together to ensure a smooth and confident "Warrior" welcome for our students. We look forward to seeing you there!

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

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.

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.

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.