September 1st and three days of the new school year are already hist= ory

To: = Parents, Guardians and Students

From: Dr= . G.

Re: = April Fools

Date: = ; March 30, 2007

Student science projects = lined the library tables and the gym stage on Monday night as parents and guests toured the exhibits developed by the students at Andover Elementary. The ra= nge of entries included home made batteries, the effect on bean plant growth by such things as water, seltzer, cola, and juice, a study of giraffes and what nanotechnology is doing to change the world we live in and yes even a displ= ay of what happens within the earth the causes a volcano to erupt. Students were proud to show what t= hat had discovered in their science investigations. Congratulations to all the student participants and a hearty thank you to the PTA for sponsoring this annual event.

The sixth grade students = marched into the gym on Wednesday night to begin their first in a series of 6^t=
h grade recognition ceremonies and activities. March 28^th signaled their completion of the eight week DARE program. Designed to give students = a better understanding of the health and personal ramifications from use of tobacco, alcohol and controlled substances the course has been offered at Andover for over a decade. Trooper Reed has been the instructor of DARE at the school for eight years. He commended the class of 2007 for their insightful comments and questions during the duration of the program. He felt that they had the abi= lity to utilize the strategies that were learned during the class to overcome the external pressures that they will encounter as they move on to young adulth= ood and middle school. There they will be exposed to more p= eer oriented social situations, more independence, more choices and less parent= al presence. The audience was encouraged to talk to their children now, to ope= n a comfortable conversation link so that when these young people encounter situations latt= er in life they have already talked about the issues of smoking, drinking and drugs. The bond developed between the students and Trooper Reed will be cultivated as well with parents who start talking to their children now bef= ore they start thinking of experimenting. Sgt. Steven Ostroski of the Colchester Baracks also commended the students on their particip= ation in the program and cited the excellence of thought that went into the stude= nt essays.

The essay contest winners= were Andrew Burke, Brianna Geoghegan and Dalton Mine= r. The poster contest winners, announced at the ceremony, were Matt Mager, Brittany Mills and Kyle R= odegher. Congratulations to the winners and to the Class of 2007, you did a nice job. Now take these life skills and put them into practice. As young adults you assume more and more of your own decision making, you parents have set stan= dards for you, now you need to put those standards into practice.

Saturday morning you are = all invited to the annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the PTA. By the looks of= the weather forecast the hunt will take place in the gym. The festivities begin promptly at 10:00a.m. Take an hour out of your hectic Saturday schedule to have a little family fun. Next Friday is a holid= ay and their will be no school. Please mark it on your calendar. Spring break follows fast on the heels of the April 6^th holiday. Spring vacat= ion begins April 16^th and students return to school o= n April 23. Remember, on Sunday, when someone tells you your shoe is untied, or that you have a spot on your shirt the day is April 1^st, don’t get caught.

PICTURE DAY IS TUESDAY, APRIL 3^RD.

Spring Pre-School screenings are set for April 12 for four year olds and April 13 for three y= ear olds. Please call the school (742-7339) to make an appointment.

Pleas= e read the flyer that went home today regarding the school security system. It = will be fully activated as of Monday April 2^nd during the school day when students are in the building.

A big thank you to Mr. Tim Fogarty and Mr. Jim O’Connell who entertained the students yesterday afternoon showing them some of the outfits that bag pipers ware during ceremonies and parades.

= Ms. Krinjak reviews the bag pipe music with Mr. Fogarty and Mr. O’Connell= .

= Trooper Reed hands out certificates at the DARE graduation.