Bancroft Bulletin
Family Edition: December 23, 2025
DATES TO KNOW
Wednesday, December 24 - Sunday, January 4: Holiday Recess; No School
Monday, January 5: Welcome back students and staff!
January 12 - 16: Free Book Fair! More info to come but this has become an annual favorite!!
Monday, January 12: Grade 5 Chorus and Orff concert at 7:00 in the cafeteria
Tuesday, January 13: PTO Meeting at 7:00 in the library
Monday, January 19: No School for Martin Luther King Jr Day
Wednesday, January 21: Bancroft Heritage Night - more info to come!
Wednesday, January 28: Early dismissal at 12:15 for all students
Physical Education weekly update!
Week of December 22nd
On Monday, we wrapped up the Bancroft Ninja Warrior course. On Tuesday, we headed into break with Ultimate Castle Ball, along with various winter themed games and activities. Have a safe, active, and relaxing break!
Week of December 15th
This week, all students participated in Bancroft Ninja Warrior! They navigated through a large obstacle course that included challenges such as jumping, rolling, balancing, and crawling through and under various obstacles, to reach the end of the course where they rang the green Bancroft Cowbell to signify their completion!
Music weekly update!
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MUSIC CLASS 12/15-12/19
All students in grades K-5 are doing a nice job preparing for our upcoming all-school songfest and singalong “Together in Harmony.” Students have been learning about how to establish great singing posture, the basic fundamentals of singing, engaging the body through movement warmups, performing vocal slides, and matching pitch.
We discuss the theme of harmony and share ways we already show and can continue to show harmony in our school, home, community, etc.
**********To get in the holiday spirit and experience that essence of harmony, try having your child sing their song for you.
Songs for each grade are as follows:
Kindergarten: “Peace Like a River”
First Grade: “I’m Growing Up”
Second Grade: “Make A Difference”
Third Grade: “Impossible is Possible”
Fourth Grade: “Together We Are One”
Fifth Grade: “High Hopes”
Attention all 5th grade families
************* PLEASE Save the Date********************
BANCROFT SCHOOL Grade 5 Chorus and Orff Winter Concert
Dear all 5th grade families,
Your child has been working so hard and doing a great job preparing for our upcoming winter concert to be held at Bancroft School on Monday January 12, 2026. There will be two performances: 2:30 pm for staff and students and 7 pm for parents, families, and friends. For the evening performance, please have your performer arrive no later than 6:30 pm and report to the music room to allow for warm-ups and preparation.
The performance will take place at Bancroft School in the cafetorium.
Attire: White top, black pants (as dark as possible), and black/dark shoes. Please reach out if you need help with obtaining the outfit.
Attendance: This is an expected event for all Grade 5 students. Our chorus relies on every single person to be present at rehearsals and performances. Everyone is important to our success. Please notify coaches or other programs to avoid conflicts in advance.
We are hopeful for 100% full attendance to show that we are a team.
Please email Ms. Casey or Mr. Stimson with any thoughts, questions, or concerns at evelyn.casey@andoverma.us christopher.stimson@andoverma.us
Thank you for all your support. We look forward to seeing you there.
Respectfully,
Evelyn Casey and Chris Stimson (chorus directors)
STAY TUNED: OUR SPRING CONCERT WILL BE ON THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026
Art weekly update!
Week of December 15
Kindergarteners have been putting their final touches on their colorful Mary Blair-inspired castles. They are creating gem and metallic paper details.When they finish, they will be creating a collaborative piece of artwork inspired by ‘interdependence,” and the book, The Circles all Around Us.
First graders have been creating mixed media snowglobes this week.
Second graders have been using mixed media to create an image inspired by the northern lights, as we approach the Winter Solstice.
Third graders working on a project inspired by their Art and Letters curriculum, specifically inspired by THe Great Wave, by Japanese artist, Hokusai.
Fourth graders are continuing to work on a found object sculpture project inspired by the Chinese Zodiac and Lunar New year Traditions.
Fifth graders are creating a color weaving project using plates to weave in the round. First they will paint the plates, then they will use yarn to weave, and mixed media to decorate their small tapestries.
Library Media weekly update!
Week of December 15
This week in the library all classes students focused on relaxing and recharging as they head into the winter break. Students finished their snowflakes by cutting designs that were unique to them and many chose to add the snowflakes to the library windows to display and bring warmth to our library. Grades K-2 read Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright and discussed repetition and rhyming. Grade 3 read Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and discussed the fantasy elements involved in the story. Grades 4 and 5 listened to the first chapter of a 2025-2026 Massachusetts Children’s Book Award nominee.
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.
THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING BANCROFT COMMUNITY FOR GENEROUSLY DONATING GIFT CARDS TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES!!
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.
Cold Weather Reminders
As we enter the cooler weather leading into winter, we want students to have a consistent outdoor experience between grades and classrooms. To support this, we have set guidelines for temperature/weather type when deciding outdoor vs. indoor recess for all classrooms. Below are guidelines for outdoor recess.
Students will be outdoors if the temperature (including wind chill) is 20 degrees or warmer and it’s not raining, sleeting, hailing, or blizzarding. We use Weatherbug.com to determine the temperature.
On questionable, cold days the office will make an announcement before the first recess announcing outdoor or indoor recess. If no announcement is made then it is outdoor recess.
If students want to play in snow, they must be wearing snow pants, boots, jackets, and gloves/mittens. If students do not wish to play in the snow, they will remain on the blacktop.
With a large amount of students out on the playground at each recess, we need to be extra vigilant about safety. There is no throwing of snowballs or ice.
Label each article of clothing so that if something is misplaced, it can be returned to you as quickly as possible.
Please be aware that all students go outside when the weather meets these conditions.
Please send your child to school wearing appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather. We highly encourage you to practice getting dressed in the snow gear as quickly as possible- make a game of it and time it! The expectation is, if your child is well enough to come to school, they are well enough to go outdoors.
Thanks for taking the time to remind students of the winter expectations. Snow play is beloved by many and we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to safely enjoy their recess time during these months.
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.
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
Location: 15 Bancroft Rd, Andover, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 247-9500
X: @BancroftAPS