Parents' Association - P.A.C.E.

ASM has an active, vibrant Parents' Association that is an integral part of the school's culture. The association, called PACE (Parents' Association Community Effort) is the doorway through which parents can become involved in the school community and provide meaningful support. All parents and caregivers with a child at ASM are automatically members of PACE.

PACE coordinates nearly 30 programs for the school annually. It serves the faculty by providing parent involvement and support for the classrooms. It serves the students by creating opportunities for socializing at all-school socials, dances and picnics, and fostering opportunities for community service. It serves the parents by providing ample opportunities for direct involvement and parent education.

PACE is run by an executive committee, which is elected in the spring to serve the following school year. The officers, including President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President and Advisor, serve one-year terms. Meetings are held monthly depending upon the school and holiday schedules, and vary between daytime meetings and evening meetings. Often the business meeting will be combined with an informative update by the Head of School, or a parent education workshop.

Community service has become an established part of the annual programming coordinated by PACE. Students and parents alike support book drives, the annual Hike for Hope, Coats for Kids, food drives, and annual holiday giving programs supporting Lazarus House andBread and Roses.

A sampling of all-school events, fun for students and parents alike, includes the Ice Cream Social, the Fall Harvest Social, the Andover Firefighters' Holiday Parade, the Snowflake Dance and the All-School Picnic. Parentscan support the classrooms by becoming room parents --the liaisons between teachers and the classroom community --or volunteering for special classroom projects. Parents also volunteer in the school library and on special-purpose committees such as Grounds Beautification, Staff Appreciation, Earth Day, the ASM newsletter and schoolfundraising.

Opportunities for participation truly abound at ASM. Parents can learn about volunteering in detail at the annual Volunteer Fair, held every September at ASM, or by contacting PACE leadership with questions or ideas. Welcome to ASM and welcome to PACE!

Parent Orientation Sheet

What follows are a few tips to help you start the school year. It is by no means an all-inclusive guide. Please contact your mentor or another parent or call a Parents Association officer if you need further guidance. We're here to help!

Communication: On Thursdays the TIP (Thursday Information Packet) will be sent home with your child and, if you choose, be sent to your email address, along with any other information or school work that your child's teacher would like to share with you.

The Portfolio Newsletter, the school newsletter, is available in the school lobby.

The Classroom

The children should wear clothing appropriate for weather conditions. They play outside during a part of each day, unless the weather is extremely inclement. All garments should be labeled. You are asked to provide a pair of indoor shoes for your child to wear in the classroom. When your child hangs up his or her coat each morning, he or she should remove shoes and put on indoor shoes. You may leave them at school in the designated spot. Please provide a change of clothing appropriate for the season. Include underwear and socks, as well as a plastic bag for damp clothes to be sent home in. These will be stored in plastic shoe boxes provided by the Parents' Association.

Pick-up & Drop-off Times

The school opens at 7:30am for Early Drop Off.

Parents cannot leave Children's House students unattended. They must supervise them until the classroom doors open at 8:30 am.

CH Morning Session begins between 8:30 and pick up is from 11:15-11:30am.

CH Afternoon Session begins between 12:30 and pick up is from 3:15- 3:30pm.

Elementary and Middle School starts at 8:30. Students should arrive between 8:15-8:30 and go directly into their classtoom upon arrival.

Pick up for Elementary and Middle School is 3:00pm.

When you arrive to pick up your child, REMAIN IN YOUR CAR and have a sign with your name clearly visible displayed in the window. The teacher will place your child in the car and buckle him or her in.

Snacks

Elementary students bring their own snack for the day. Children's House students provide snack for the entire class once/month, enough for 20 children. Please also bring a gallon of water. You will be provided with a snack calendar each month so you'll know when it's your turn to bring snack. The teachers will also post this calendar in their classrooms. If your child has any food allergies, please alert the school nurse, your Room Parent and the teachers. Children's House students celebrate birthdays by bringing a birthday snack -- please provide food low in sugar; coordinate this with the parent in charge of the snack calendar in your child's room.

SNACKS SHOULD BE LOW IN SUGAR, WITH NO NUTS OR NUT OILS (check the ingredients) AND NO CHOCOLATE OR CANDY PIECES.

Please do not send cookies, candy, chips, cheese curls, etc.

Lunch

Please observe that the same nutrition guidelines are to be observed in packing your child's lunch. Also, please provide a labeled cloth napkin with your child's lunch each day. Remember to label their lunch box or bag and please remove any candy from ready-made lunches.

School Closings

When the Andover School system closes for inclement weather, ASM will close, too. When school is closed due to inclement weather, a no school announcement is posted on WBZ-TV, channel 4. Our parent notification system also places calls to all ASM families. In case of emergency or unexpected early dismissal, families are contacted through the parent notification system

After School Programs

After School care is a program available with advance reservation and runs from 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. for any child. Planned activities such as arts and crafts, cooking, board games and free play are featured throughout the week. This program is now run by the Andover/North Andover YMCA.

Fun Days are offered for In-Service, Conference, and most Vacation Days and are open for children of all ages. The children participate in seasonal arts and crafts, and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities. Information and applications are made available prior to the Fun Day and reservations MUST be made in advance (students enrolled in the YMCA After School program are given first consideration for registration). Contact the YMCA for more information (978-685-3541).

Please consult your Parent Handbook for further details.