WMS Weekly Newsletter

The Windham Police Department has informed us of an increase in the use of out-of-class electric vehicles (e-bikes) among our students.

A bicycle equipped with an electric motor that exceeds 750 watts (1 HP) and can reach speeds over 20 MPH is classified as an “Out of Class Electric Vehicle” (OCEV) according to federal and manufacturer definitions. It therefore falls under the same regulations as an Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) and cannot be used as transportation to and from school.

The Windham Police Department will monitor our school campuses, and parents will be contacted to pick up the e-bike or vehicle if it meets the OCEV criteria.

For more details on these state and federal guidelines, please review the attached brochure, which summarizes New Hampshire’s laws regarding e-bike usage.

• Monday, September 28--Wildcat B Day
• Tuesday, September 29--Even A Day
• Wednesday, September 30--Odd B Day
• Thursday, October 1--Wildcat A Day--No Tech Day
• Friday, October 2--Wildcat B Day

• Monday, October 5--Wildcat A Day
• Tuesday, October 6--Even B Day
• Wednesday, October 7--Odd A Day
• Thursday, October 8--Wildcat B Day
• Friday, October 9--Wildcat A Day

• Monday, October 12--Columbus Day--No School
• Tuesday, October 13--Even B Day
• Wednesday, October 14--Odd A Day
• Thursday, October 15--Wildcat B Day--No Tech Day
• Friday, October 16--Wildcat A Day

• Monday, October 19--Wildcat B Day
• Tuesday, October 20--Even A Day
• Wednesday, October 21--Early Release--Wildcat B Day
• Thursday, October 22--Odd A Day
• Friday, October 23--Wildcat B Day

September 25--Project Blackout Game

September 28--Fall Sports Photos--make sure your athlete has their uniform--11:30am-2:00pm

October 1--No Tech Day

October 2--Plaidurday!! Wear Plaid to school!!

October 12--Columbus Day--No School

October 15--District Safety Night--see bellow for more information

October 16--Trimester 1 Progress Reports

October 21--Early Release--Dismissal at 11:15am

October 30--Halloween Dance--7:00-9:00pm--School Attendance is required the day of the dance for your student to attend the dance. Stay tuned for more details.

November 2-4--7th Grade Trip to Outdoor Classroom

November 3--No School--Teacher Workshop

November 10--Parent Teacher Conferences--stay tuned for details

November 11--Veteran's Day--No School

November 12--Parent Teacher Conferences--stay tuned for details

November 25-27--Thanksgiving Break--No School

December 4--Trimester 1 Closes--Report Cards Available

December 5--Select Chorus--Town Tree Lighting--4:30pm

On Thursday, October 15th, from 6:00-7:00 pm, we welcome the community to Golden Brook School for a district parent safety night. Our School Marshals, Eric O’Brien and Phil O’Loughlin will join Assistant Superintendent Dr. Hagerty to present the district’s Safety Response Protocols (SRPs) to parents and explain how we train staff and students.

Last week, we invited parents to join us for an evening session to hear insights into the core digital tools, platforms, and technology our students and staff use, and to better understand how intentional technology use enhances student learning. If you couldn't attend, please visit our website for the presentation slides.

To help our parents and guardians feel more comfortable navigating the various PowerSchool products the district uses, the tech department will regularly share support and learning tools in the newsletters. We hope these tech tips, which will include a variety of videos, PDF instructions, deep dives, and quick tips, will help our community become more comfortable using our primary resources: MyPowerHub (The Hub), the PowerSchool Parent Portal, and the PowerSchool Mobile App. Additionally, these resources will be added to our website's Parent Technology Resource Center so you can revisit them at any time.

We are starting with a video overview of MyPowerHub. Click here to launch the video.

This overview highlights the version you access via a web browser. Just as a reminder, our Hub login URL is: https://windhamsd.guardian.powerschool.com/

We are using the Raptor Kiosk for students who are tardy and dismissed and for all visitors to our building.

When you are being dismissed, you need to stop in the main office to check yourself out at the Raptor Kiosk, parents will not be signing you out.

Visitors need to sign themselves in and out using the Raptor kiosk in the office.

Please make sure you have submitted your student's updated physical and immunization records to the nurse. You can email them to kbell@windhamsd.org or mgagnon@windhamsd.org, have them faxed or have your student bring them in.

If your student is participating in a sport, you will need to upload a current physical to Final Forms and also provide a copy to Nurse Bell for your students records.

Each year, the School District is required to provide notice of our FERPA and New Hampshire Parents Bill of Rights policies. The policies are linked below with a brief description.

FERPA Policy - The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It gives parents, and students once they reach 18, the right to access and review records, request corrections, and control the disclosure of personally identifiable information, with certain legal exceptions.

Rights under the FERPA Policy:

1. The rights of parents or eligible students to inspect and review the student’s education records within 14 days if the school is in receipt of a request for access; in accordance with Section F of Policy JRA.

2. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. See full list of exceptions that allow disclosure in Section H of Policy JRA. One common exception which permits disclosure of PII from a student’s education without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.

A school official includes a person employed by the school or school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer, contractor, or consultant who, while not employed by the school, performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, therapist or School Resource Officer; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

3. The right of a student’s parents or an eligible student to request the amendment of the student’s educational records which he/she believes to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of student rights; in accordance with the procedures in section G of Policy JRA

4. The right of any person to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education if the District violates FERPA; and

5. The Notice of Directory Information in Section C of this Policy JRA.

New Hampshire Parents Bill of Rights Policy - NH Parental Bill of Rights (RSA 189-B) establishes parents’ rights regarding their child’s education, curriculum, school records, and school activities and encourages parent involvement.

School begins promptly at 7:30am.

Students cannot be dropped off before 7:15 am. There is no supervision. Please do not arrive to drop off your student before 7:15am as staff needs access to parking.

Please be sure your child has a charged Chromebook and all items he/she may need for the day. We do not have loaners and they will be calling home to have their Chromebook brought to school.

Whenever a student is going to be absent or tardy a parent should notify the school by calling the absent line at (603)845-1556, entering it into PickUp Patrol or sending an email by 8:30am to wmsattendance@windhamsd.org. PickUp Patrol is the preferred method to notify the school of any attendance changes.

Absent or tardy without notification is considered unexcused.

For students interested in attending the 8th Grade Philadelphia trip, students with 30 or more unexcused tardies and/or 10 or more unexcused absences, are unable to participate in the trip.

Tardies- For tardy students, please email wmsattendance@windhamsd.org or enter it into PickUp Patrol if your student will be tardy. Parents will not come into the building for tardy students. Tardy without notification will be considered an unexcused tardy.

Dismissals-Please use PickUp Patrol to notify the school of a dismissal. Paper notes don't usually make it to the office, that is why we ask you enter it into PickUp Patrol. Parents will come in, show photo ID and we will call your student down. Students will sign themselves out on our Raptor Attendance system. We need written permission if someone not on your contact list is picking up your student. You can put their name in the note line in PickUp Patrol. We ask for no dismissals after 1:50 pm as the buses are arriving and we can not have cars in the bus lane. Please use PickUp Patrol. Please do not call ahead for pick up. We will call your student down when you arrive.

ATTENDANCE FOR AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES If you are participating in an after school sport, club or activity, you must be in school for at least a half day in order to participate.

From the handbook--"The halfway point for arrival/dismissal time is 11:15 AM and will be considered as such for any after school activities or sporting events. Students must be in for at least half a day in order to participate in these activities".

Student Handbook--26-27 Student Handbook

Material drop off- Please place clothing items, especially shoes, in a bag before coming to the school. Please make sure the item is clearly marked with your students name. A table will be located in the foyer for you to leave the item. Please fill out the red form on the table. Your student is responsible for checking the digital board.

Please do not drop your students off in the back of the building in the morning.

Please do not drop off or pick up students from the Heritage Hill access road. It is dangerous for our students.

For Athletic Information and Events please visit our website @ https://wms.windhamsd.org/about_wms/athletics/general_information

Our school day starts at 7:30am. Your student needs to be in their homeroom, in their seat at 7:30am. They are considered tardy at 7:31am. If you do not notify the absence line, your students tardy is unexcused. The absence line can be reached at 603-845-1556 or at wmsattendance@windhamsd.org. You may also enter your students late arrival in PickUp Patrol.

PickUp Patrol is the preferred method to notify the school of any attendance changes.

For students interested in attending the 8th Grade Philadelphia trip, students with 30 or more unexcused tardies or 10 or more unexcused absences, are unable to participate in the trip.

Our doors open to students at 7:15am and close at 7:30am, any student arriving after 7:30am is considered tardy. If the office is not notified of the late arrival, it is considered unexcused. The car line can be long, so please plan accordingly. Students riding the bus are not marked tardy, even if the bus arrives late.

The car line can be long, so please plan accordingly. Students riding the bus are not marked tardy, even if the bus arrives late.

PickUp Patrol is the schools preferred method of notifying the school of any attendance changes.

Please make sure you are notifying the school if your student will be absent or tardy. Whenever a student is going to be absent or tardy a parent should notify the school by calling the absent line at (603)845-1556, sending an email by 8:30am to wmsattendance@windhamsd.org or entering it into PickUp Patrol.

If your student will be absent 3 or more days, they will need to come to the office to get an extended absence form or print the form below. This form needs to be signed by all of your students' teachers, the assistant principal and a parent/guardian. Please make sure your student is getting this form well in advance of the absence to allow time to obtain ALL signatures. You also need to put the absence into PickUp Patrol for the entire absence.

For students interested in attending the 8th Grade Philadelphia trip, students with 30 or more unexcused tardies and/or 10 or more unexcused absences, are unable to participate in the trip.

Only the office can enter an absence as excused, not teachers or administrators. Please make sure you are using the above options to notify us of your students absence.

Wired headphones are a supply request-- students should not be using Airpods or wireless headphones throughout the school day.

Beginning in the 2025 school year, New Hampshire has enacted a statewide “bell-to-bell” ban on student cell phone use from the first instructional bell to dismissal, except in very limited cases.

Although this is a new statewide policy, the Windham School District already had a cell phone, smart watch, tablets, or personal laptop policy in place for students in grades K–8. For our students, this will not be a change. Cell phones are expected to remain off and stored in student lockers for the entire school day.

We ask parents and guardians to please remind your child of this expectation so we can continue supporting a focused, distraction-free learning environment.

WMS will be using Final Forms to register students who want to try out for sports. Parents can follow the instructions below to register on Final Forms and then sign up their students for the sport they'd like to try out for in the fall. Please reach out to Mr. Moyer with any questions.

WMS will be using Sports You to communicate with students and parents regarding sports updates. Students and parents can sign up for sports notifications by using the QR code below or following the instructions on the website. Updates regarding try-out dates and times will be sent out over the summer. Please reach out to Mr. Moyer with any questions.

Students can be removed from sports/clubs if they are failing or have incompletes in 2 classes. This information can be found on page 60 of the Student Handbook.

26/27 Student Handbook

In order to streamline the permission form process, this year there will be one club/activity form that will need to be filled out if your student plans to participate in ANY afterschool club/activity. If the online form is not filled out, your student will not be able to stay after. There may be additional forms for an individual club/activity. If your student plans to participate in any after school club/activity, please fill out the 26/27 Club/Activity Form in MyPowerHub.

Below are the links to access the directions for using MyPowerHub. You will find the permission slip under Forms. Once you are logged in to MyPowerHub, please follow the instructions to find the form in MyPowerHub.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the main office.​

Your student can not stay for any after school activity if the online form has not been filled out.

​Mobile App - Login and Overview

Desktop view - Login and Overview

Interested in playing chess? Then join Mrs. Noel once or twice a month for the Chess Club!

Please sign the signup sheet outside of Mrs. Noel’s room and your parents need to fill out a permission slip on PowerHub. You need a completed permission slip to attend!

For any questions about clubs or activities, please reach out to the teacher running the club or activity.

• Art Club-- ccolbeth@windhamsd.org
• Book Beat--ksmith@windhamsd.org & koneil@windhamsd.org
• Chess Club--hnoel@windhamsd.org
• Coed Volleyball--Winter--jbartlett@windhamsd.org
• Destination Imagination--TBD
• Drama--mkosta@windhamsd.org or ekoenigsbauer@windhamsd.org
• Game/Baking Club-- syandow@windhamsd.org or ksmith@windhamsd.org
• Homework Club--koneil@windhamsd.org & mbentzlin@windhamsd.org
• Math League--jzannoni@windhamsd.org
• M2M--ljodoin@windhamsd.org or rjohnson@windhamsd.org
• Robotics--ktenhagen@windhamsd.org or kcapel@windhamsd.org
• Ski Club--Winter-scurry@windhamsd.org
• SMILES--hnoel@windhamsd.org or apollock@windhamsd.org
• Student Council--jbullis@windhamsd.org & jroy@windhamsd.org
• Tennis Club--Spring--tlamb@windhamsd.org

Registration forms are now available in MyPowerHub to complete. All students are required to submit updated and complete registration forms annually. Once you are logged in to MyPowerHub, please follow the instructions to start your registration process.

All student reports are available for viewing/printing in the PowerSchool PowerHub You can view current and previous reports in the portal.

If you encounter difficulties logging in or accessing PowerSchool or Schoology, please complete the Parent PowerSchool Account Support form or Schoology Account Support form for assistance.

MyPowerHub Notification Settings --MyPowerHub Guardian view - Login, Overview Tile and Notification Preferences

This platform enables our district to utilize a centralized platform from PowerSchool, consolidating the flow of information from schools to parents and guardians. In MyPowerHub, parents/guardians can:

1. See their child’s progress in one place

2. See school, classroom, club, and district communications in one place

3. Get direct messages from teachers and staff

4. Submit forms

5. View fees

6. Sign up for parent/teacher conferences

7. View transportation information

You should have received a message from the district to log in to the platform to complete your yearly registration forms and to view the updated bus routes. If you have not logged into the platform yet, please follow the instructions below to log in before the start of the school year.

Instructions

Desktop view - Login and Overview

Mobile App - Login and Overview

View Bus Routes Instructions

Complete Registration Forms Instructions

What is the PowerSchool Mobile App and is it right for you?

The PowerSchool Mobile App is a great resource for keeping on top of your student’s grades and attendance. It is nowhere near as robust as the full web version of the PowerSchool

PowerHub.

See more information below.

Schoology Notification Settings

Schoology Login Directions

We are thrilled to continue offering Tutor.com services to grades 4-12! This partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Education and Tutor.com provides unlimited access to the tutoring service – anytime, anywhere, from any internet-connected device. This means your child can get the academic support they need, even from the comfort of home. Our students can access Tutor.com through their Schoology course pages. Please click here for more information.

Bus Routes for the 2026-2027 school year are now available in MyPowerHub! Please follow these instructions to view your child's routes.

Parents should plan for a buffer of 10-15 minutes between their estimated arrival times for the first two weeks to get a better sense of what will be a more accurate timeframe. If there are changes to your child’s route, the district will notify you separately, and the change will be visible in PowerSchool.

If you have any questions about the bus routes, please contact Kristina Greene at First Student Transportation at 1-603-377-8878 or by email at bus@windhamsd.org. For PowerSchool portal assistance, please complete this form.

First Student offers a mobile app that allows parents to view their child’s bus route in real-time. FirstView will track your child’s bus on its routes and allow you to set up a customizable geofence around your pick-up/drop-off location.

Policy ECAF: RECORDING DEVICES ON SCHOOL BUSES

Our Nutrition Services team is excited to welcome students back for another great year! To find monthly meal menus, meal pricing, payment options, and free/reduced meal applications, please visit the Nutrition Services page on our district website at https://www.windhamsd.org/our_district/superintendent_s_office/nutrition_services

Join Our Team! Looking for a job with a schedule that matches your child’s school calendar? Work where your kids learn! We are hiring for open positions within Nutrition Services. Visit the district website's employment page today to submit an application and join our school community family! Apply Today!

Food Nutrition

LINQ Connect is the payment platform that our food nutrition services uses.

Nutrition Services Meal Pricing SY227:

https://www.windhamsd.org/our_district/superintendent_s_office/nutrition_services/meal_prices_and_details

The Free/Reduced Meals Application and Instructions

https://www.windhamsd.org/our_district/superintendent_s_office/nutrition_services/free_and_reduced_meal_program

Additional School Fees

The Windham School District has transitioned electronic payments for school fees (such as laptop fees, Chromebooks, etc.) to Vanco RevTrak.

Please remember that the electronic payment centers are set up for convenience. All parents still have the option to send in a check to pay for food nutrition and/or school-based fees at any time. Please contact your child’s school directly if you have questions.

If you have an outstanding Annual Chromebook Technology Fee balance, that overdue balance will be credited first. Please make sure you are up to date with all Annual Chromebook Technology Fee payments, you pay this fee every school year. If you are not up to date on your Annual Chromebook Technology Fee, you will be charged full price for any repairs until the balance is paid.

What is MTSS?

The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) establishes a process for providing increasing levels of instructional frequency and intensity whereby the needs of all learners are identified and supported.

All students within the Windham School District are provided effective standards-based core instruction and best practices in a system that includes: universal screening, progress monitoring, data-driven decision-making, academic, social-emotional, and behavior supports, and researched based instruction and intervention.

For more information on MTSS, please view our available resources below.

WSD Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Informational Brochure

The dress code can be found in the Student Handbook which can be found here, Student Handbook.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a school volunteer!

Updated Volunteer Info: We greatly value our volunteers and hope many will return this year! Before the new school year begins, here’s a quick update. The annual volunteer training has been refreshed and is accessible here. Your username remains your email address, and no password is required. The Windham SAU office is also offering new volunteers the chance to schedule fingerprinting appointments at 19 Haverhill Road on Thursday, September 10th, and Monday, September 21st, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with the last appointment at 1:30 PM. To schedule, email hr@windhamsd.org. Please be aware that processing times for results can take several weeks. If you’re a new volunteer with questions, contact the SAU office via hr@windhamsd.org.

All required training will be completed through our online system, Vector Training.

As a reminder, All “Designated Volunteers" are mandated to complete annual training required by the following RSAs; RSA 189:13(a); RSA 193:J(2); RSA 193:F(5); and RSA 189:13(a), XII.

The definition of a "Designated Volunteer" is defined in Policy: GBCD and is any volunteer who comes into our schools on a regular basis or to chaperone a field trip of any kind.

Volunteers who do not fall within the definition of a designated volunteer (i.e. volunteer for an occasional classroom party), only need to complete steps one and two outlined above.

All designated volunteers must complete the steps below in order to be approved for the Windham School District.

1. Submit Volunteer Form
2. Background Check/Fingerprinting (NEW VOLUNTEERS ONLY)
3. Please complete the online training through Vector Systems. The training login will automatically be sent to you from Windham School District (SAU #95) after you submit the volunteer form. If you are still waiting to receive the login information within one week of submitting the form, please contact the Human Resources department at hr@windhamsd.org.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOUR FINGERPRINTS HAVE ALREADY CLEARED IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REPEAT THE FINGERPRINTING PROCESS).

If you are thinking about participating in a field trip; you must have completed the steps outlined above.

If you are unsure if you are a designated volunteer, or if you have any questions, please contact the Human Resource department, hr@windhamsd.org.

Our volunteers are a critical component to the success of our school district and we appreciate and thank you for your time and commitment!

https://www.windhamsd.org/resources/parents/volunteer_information

Windham Middle School is seeking parent volunteers to become a part of our School Council. The purpose of this council is to provide communication with parents, teachers, and administration. The meetings are usually sounding boards for Principals for implementing changes or initiatives and to get the pulse of the school community. The meetings are advisory in nature and are not designed as a “work” group, but there may be some assignments that the group decides to do in order to increase communication. The meetings are held monthly after school in the Media Center from 2:40-4:00pm.

Please contact Mrs. Morrow, bmorrow@windhamsd.org or Mr. Gratton, jgratton@windhamsd.org if you are interested.

ROAR

R-Respect

O-Opportunities

A-Achievement

R- Responsiblity

26/27 Student Handbook

26/27 Student Athlete Handbook

Communications Guide

Policies and Procedures

Parent Technology Resource Center

FERPA

NH Bill of Rights

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WindhamMiddleSchool

Email: sgerstein@windhamsd.org
Website: https://wms.windhamsd.org/
Location: 112a Lowell Road, Windham, NH, USA
Phone: (603)845-1556

Windham Middle School Mission

Windham Middle School faculty, staff, and students foster a diverse learning community where creativity and curiosity are encouraged, and student growth and development are supported as all students strive to reach their potential as lifelong learners.

Windham Middle School Vision

The vision of the Windham Middle School is to establish a community of open-minded, curious, and engaged learners in which all members belong.

Find us at WindhamPTA.org and on Facebook. Stay informed by joining your child’s school Facebook PTA Volunteer Group page.

https://www.facebook.com/Windham-Middle-School-PTA-Volunteer-Group-Page-112467067714393

https://www.facebook.com/windhamnhpta

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