• Monday 5/19 - Friday 5/23 - Grade 8 Spanish STAMP testing - during Spanish classes
• Monday 5/26 - Memorial Day - No School
• Thursday 5/29 - DMS Open House - 4:30 - 6:00 pm Drop in and visit Doherty classrooms
• 6/3 – Principals Coffee – for incoming 6th grade parents – 9am-10am – Library
• 6/10 Tuesday- Field Day
• Wednesday 6/11 - 8th Grade Field Trip - Canobie Lake - 9:00 - 2:00
• Thursday 6/12 - 6th Grade Field Trip - Bradford Swim - 9:00 - 2:00
• Thursday 6/12 - 7th Grade Field Trip - Canobie Lake - 9:00 - 2:00
• Thursday 6/12 - 8th Grade Dance - Cafeteria - 6:30 - 8:00
• 6/13 – 8th Grade Farewell Ceremony – 8:30am - Doherty Auditorium

• Last Day of School: 6/13/25 - Half day for students

May 15 & 16 – STE Science Technology Engineering (8th grade only)

Shawsheen Alumni Tours
Shawsheen Preschool staff will welcome alumni for a special evening of tours. This will be a chance for former students and families to take one last look through the building and classrooms before Shawsheen Preschool begins the move to Beacon Street.

Chief of Police Patrick Keefe was interviewed today, May 12, by students from Ms. Keating's Doherty Social Studies class for their Civic Action project. Chief Keefe visited Doherty to meet with the 8th graders who had contacted him via letter. These students are currently researching dangerous traffic areas in Andover, and sought his expertise and evidence for their project.

Pictured above from left to right: Liam Powers, Mr. Patrick Keefe, Williannie Rosa, Mileidy Figueroa, Laila Ferreira, Caroline Grzywacz.

Below is a photo of a civic action group researching sidewalk improvements in Andover. Students met with Mr. Kevin Coffey, a member of the Town Select Board.

Pictured above from left to right: Mason Becker, Tommy Schmidt, Stefan Barbu and Jackson Straub.

Doherty's auditorium was filled with magnificent music on Tuesday, May 13th, as our talented Band, Orchestra, and Chorus students took the stage for their spring concert. From the rousing melodies of the band to the intricate harmonies of the orchestra and the powerful voices of the chorus, the evening was a true celebration of musical dedication and skill.

A huge congratulations to all the students who poured their hearts and hard work into their performances. Your passion and commitment shone brightly, creating a truly memorable experience for everyone in attendance.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated staff who guide and inspire these young musicians. Your expertise and unwavering support are instrumental in their success.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our students and the music program. Your presence made the evening even more special. What a wonderful school Doherty is – filled with such incredible talent and a supportive community!

Let’s Talk! K-8 Literacy Curriculum at this link.

APS Office of Teaching and Learning will host a Let's Talk! on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room (30 Whittier Court - 2nd floor) to share information about the curriculum resources with APS families, staff and the community. We invite all in the community to join and ask questions!

For Doherty students, inclusion means everyone belongs, feels valued, and has equal opportunities to participate fully. This creates a supportive and positive environment crucial for their growth. It fosters belonging, empathy, and understanding among diverse peers, develops social skills, and improves learning. Prioritizing inclusion at Doherty prepares students for a diverse world and builds a stronger, unified community where everyone can thrive.

As we plan for your student’s transition from 6th to 7th grade, we want to provide some information about the Accelerated Math Pathway (AMP) offered at Andover Public Schools. This pathway is designed for students who demonstrate strong aptitude for mathematics and are ready for a more rigorous and fast-paced learning environment.

The AMP curriculum moves at an accelerated pace:

• In 7th grade AMP students will complete the 7th grade math standards and half of the 8th grade math standards.

• In 8th grade AMP, students will complete the remaining 8th grade standards and the Algebra 1 standards, which is typically a high school-level course.

Because of this accelerated pace, AMP requires students to:

• Stay focused and engaged in class, as new concepts are introduced quickly.

• Take responsibility for their learning, including reviewing new material independently, when needed.

• Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills to keep up with assignments and assessments.

• Seek help when needed, whether through teacher support, peer collaboration, or additional resources.

Students are recommended to either Grade 7 Math or Grade 7 Accelerated Math Pathway (AMP) based on multiple factors including their performance in class, on formal and informal assessments, homework, attendance, and study skills.

Placement decisions are made carefully to ensure students are in the learning environment best suited for their learning needs. Recommendations of either Grade 7 Math or Grade 7 Accelerated Math Pathway (AMP) will be emailed to families by the end of May for your student. If you are unsure about the best choice for your student, please speak with your student about their math class and with their teacher about their performance.

If you have any questions please reach out to your student’s teacher and/or Shereen Rancourt, Executive Director of Secondary Instruction, at shereen.rancourt@andoverma.us.

Thank you for your partnership in your child’s education. We look forward to a great year ahead!

As we get closer to the end of the school year, some of our 8th graders have been asking about the working paper process. For interested students (14+ years of age), they can access the working paper application on the Andover High School website. The application includes a parent/guardian signature, a doctor’s signature, an employer’s signature and the student’s signature.

Students often find it interesting that they cannot obtain their working papers until they receive a job! The reason is that their employer must sign their working paper application. That said, students can complete some of the basics of the working paper application (i.e., getting the doctor’s signature) while applying for jobs. Once the student has a job and the working paper application completed, they can make an appointment to receive their working papers from Mr. Cardenas at Andover High School. Students should be sure to bring their birth certificate or passport, along with their completed and signed work permit application, to the appointment.

If your student is under 14 and/or not looking for jobs, summer time is a great time to get involved in the community volunteering. A simple activity like volunteering for a park clean up can not only be great for their spirit and the community, but also something they could put on their resume down the road!

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.

To be completed if your student will participate in after school Extracurricular clubs. Click here for the form. The form is also available on our website.

Completed form can be dropped off at the Main Office.

List of Clubs and Activities can be found on our website under INFORMATION and RESOURCES