From the Principal Message
Angier in ActionWeek of June 15th, 2025
GREETINGS!
Dear Angier Families,
It’s hard to believe the end of the school year is so close. Today’s message is my final one of the year, and it includes general reminders, and staffing information and key dates as we look ahead to 2025-26.
Monday, June 23rd (dismissal at 12:10 pm) marks the closing of our 2024–2025 school year. As we wrap up, I want to celebrate a wonderful year of learning, growth, and joy. Our students have taken risks, encouraged one another, and formed lasting friendships. They’ve grown as readers, writers, problem-solvers, and classmates. We’ve seen creative projects, joyful performances, and our students embracing a growth mindset as they took on challenges and stretched themselves. I reflect on it all with enormous and heartfelt gratitude for your support and partnership. On behalf of the entire Angier staff, thank you – we truly couldn’t do this work without you.
Congratulations to all of our graduating families! We’ll miss you, but please stay in touch. Remember, you’re never a stranger at Angier.
Best wishes for a restful and rejuvenating summer – and Happy Father’s Day to all who are celebrating!
Warmly,
Orla
JUNE CELEBRATIONS & OBSERVANCES
We are committed to respectfully acknowledging a variety of celebrations and observances, ensuring that Angier is an inclusive and affirming space for the diverse identities and experiences of our students, staff, and families. We appreciate you sharing the holidays and celebrations that are meaningful to your family; you may continue to do so HERE.
As the school year winds down, we want to acknowledge several upcoming June holidays that some in our community may be observing. Wishing a joyful Shavuot to those observing. June also brings Children’s Day, Father’s Day, Autistic Pride Day, Corpus Christi, and Juneteenth. We hope each of these days brings moments of meaning, reflection, and connection.
June is also Pride Month. The NPS Library Department has curated a selection of resources for additional learning, linked HERE. Enjoy celebrating the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community. Happy Pride!
ENROLLMENT & STAFFING INFORMATION FOR 2025-26
For the 2025-26 school year at Angier, we expect to enroll about 390 students in 21 classrooms. As you may know, enrollment is fluid and can change quite a bit through the summer months. I will keep you updated if anything changes that impacts our classrooms and staffing.
FAREWELL – STAFF DEPARTURES
Each year, we say farewell to some beloved staff members as we welcome and embrace our new staff.
- Ericka DerMarderosian, Mary Manning, Leeta White, Michelle Ellis, and Natalia Miller are leaving Angier at the end of this year. We will miss them and wish them the best in their next endeavors.
- We say goodbye and thank our graduate interns: Bri Jackson, Emily Steffens, Madison Harmon, Holly Carolan, Miles Giordano, and Leilah Soares.
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: MONDAY, JUNE 23RD – 12:10 DISMISSAL
The last day of school is Monday, June 23rd. Dismissal is at 12:10pm. Please take a moment to read the instructions below for dismissal procedures. They are slightly different due to our graduating fifth graders’ wonderful and unique “Angier Silly String” tradition.
- At 12:10PM on June 23rd: All students will be dismissed.
- Children who ride the bus will do so unless the office and teachers are notified ahead of time via School Pass.
- All children who will be picked up will stay with their teachers until their caregiver picks them up.
- Children who ride vans will be escorted to the pick-up area by Angier staff.
Parents and Caregivers, please make all dismissal changes regarding the last day of school ahead of time using School Pass. We want to make sure all children are accounted for and are dismissed safely. Dismissal is promptly at 12:10.
FIFTH GRADE SILLY STRING. At dismissal on 6/23, the last day of school, we will celebrate our graduating fifth grade class with our special Angier Silly String tradition.
- Immediately following dismissal of grades K-4, the fifth grade classes will process outside to the front plaza. After we count down to zero, the children will spray each other with Silly String.
- The Silly String tradition is for fifth grade students only; younger siblings may watch but will need to wait until they are in fifth grade to participate.
- Fifth grade families: Please bring your cameras and take plenty of photographs!
THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
- If your child is currently in kindergarten through fourth grade and not returning to Angier in September, please make sure to get a copy of their cumulative folder from Claudia Rossi. If your child is transitioning to middle school in September, we take care of getting their cumulative folder to their receiving school, whether it is for a Newton Public School or private school.
- If your child has an inhaler, Epi-pen or any medication, please contact Nurse Cornelia about retrieving these items.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
- Monday, August 18th – School office reopens
- Friday, August 22nd – Teacher assignments are posted on Aspen
- Thursday, August 28th – Student Visit Open House
- Tuesday, September 2nd – First day of school
- Monday, September 15th – School Picture Day
- Tuesday, September 16th – K-5 Curriculum Night
- Friday, September 19th – Back to School Picnic
- All School Early Release Dates for Elementary 2025-2026: Thursday, September 25; Tuesday, October 28; Thursday, December 4; Thursday, February 5; Thursday, March 19; Thursday, May 7
SPIRIT WEEK: June 16th – 20th
Our principals for a day on 5/28, Luke Quandt and Emma Reilly, planned an upcoming Spirit Week!
- Mon, June 16th – Movie Character Monday – dress like your favorite character from movie, TV or book
- Tues, June 17th – Tourist Tuesday – dress like a tourist/like you’re on vacation
- Weds, June 18th – Day of Play – outdoor and indoor games, self-directed exploration, experimentation, and of course, fun!
- Thurs, June 19th – No School, Juneteenth
- Fri, June 20th – Fancy Friday – dress in your fanciest clothes
MAKE SUMMER SPECIAL! FUN PHOTO PROJECT
This summer, students are invited to take part in “Make Summer Special,” a fun photo project celebrating Art, Music, PE-HW, and Library! Snap a photo of your child doing something musical, creative, active, or bookish, and submit it to be featured on a bulletin board this fall. See information below.
- CLICK HERE to upload a photo of your Angier student engaging in Art, Music, PE-HW, or Library/Reading over the summer.
ELEMENTARY BUS REGISTRATION
Bus registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open. All students who wish to ride the bus MUST register for a bus pass. Register and pay via MySchoolBucks. Follow these instructions once logged into MySchoolBucks.
The bus fee for the 2025-26 school year is:
- $415 each with a family cap of $830 through July 31, 2025
- $465 each with a family cap of $930 after August 1, 2025
All elementary students who reside LESS than 2 miles from their elementary school and wish to ride the bus must pay a bus fee. Students in Grades K-6 who reside MORE than 2 miles from their school and wish to ride the bus DO NOT pay a bus fee.
More information on bus registration can be found on our NPS Bus Registration webpage. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Please visit this page for details on how to apply.
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY SUMMER READING 2025 – LEVEL UP AT YOUR LIBRARY
Each year, the Newton Public Schools Library Department partners with the Newton Free Library to curate and share summer book recommendations for students. These are NOT mandatory reads; they serve as a helpful guide for students to discover books for their enjoyment throughout June, July and August. We encourage all students to take part in the Library’s summer reading program, Level Up at Your Library!
- Here is a link to book lists for each grade level: Summer Reading 2025
- Students are encouraged to sign up for the Newton Free Library program
NEWTON’S S.P.A.C.E. CAMP
Newton’s S.P.A.C.E. is a four-week summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools from July 7th through July 31st. This year, it will be held at Angier. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall of 2025 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs – an upper camp (entering 5th-9th grade) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten- 4th grade).
LOWER CAMP – Campers are assigned to age appropriate classes taught by two licensed teachers. Teachers create project-based activities that focus on the theme of the lower camp. Last summer, the theme was “Summer Olympics”. Campers learned about the history, countries, cultures, and sports of the Olympics. Lower Campers will also attend various specials throughout the week led by certified staff, which include Physical Education, Yoga/Mindfulness, Art and Science classes.
UPPER CAMP – Campers will create their own schedules by choosing from a variety of electives to design their own camp program. Elective choices include studio and digital arts, performing arts, athletics, STEM, music, and language arts classes.
Check out the S.P.A.C.E.website for more information or REGISTER NOW!
NCE SUMMER CAMPS
Summer Fun Starts at NCE! Camps for Active Kids K-12 Enrolling Now!
Still looking for the right enriching activities for your child this summer? They’re here in Newton Community Education’s summer camps from June 30–August 22 at Newton North High School. Whether it’s creative arts, STEM adventures, theater, sports, and more—there’s something for every curious mind and active body!
For rising 3rd–9th graders, check out the wildly popular Full Day Sports Camps coached by NPS middle and high school coaches: girls lacrosse, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, boys and girls basketball, and softball — all with daily swimming at the North pool!
UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE