Center Stage

WCS Mission Statement:

The Windham Center School is a supportive community dedicated to student achievement, personal growth and empowering students to take ownership of their learning while showcasing their qualities that make them unique.

WCS Vision Statement:

The vision of the Windham Center School is to strive to foster confidence, curiosity, and resilience in our students' educational journey while inspiring lifelong learners guided by our core values of Responsibility, Opportunity, Achievement, and Respect.

Principal-B.J. Martin bmartin@windhamsd.org

Assistant Principal/504 Coordinator-Nadine Herard nherard@windhamsd.org

Director of Special Education-Kaite Carmody kcarmody@windhamsd.org

Grade 6 ELA Teacher-Hanna Furbush

Special Education Teacher- Isabella Da Silva

Speech and Language-Gretchen Newcomb

BCBA-Melissa McCarthy

School SAIF-Lisa Thompson-Sousa

Reading Specialist-Diane Lynde

School Nurse-Michelle McKenna

LNA/Medical Assistant-McKenzie Cunliffe

Paraprofessional Educators-Brady Wall, George Gregory, Marquez Montero

IMPORTANT GRADE 5 TO GRADE 6 TRANSITION DETAILS:

1. BACKPACKS

2. LOCKERS

New Student Orientation if only for students who are new to the Windham School District attending WCS or for students who did not meet their teacher on Step Up Day. This is an informal drop in event.

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.

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!

FirstView App: First Student, our district’s transportation provider, 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 route and allow you to set up a customizable geofence around your pick-up/drop-off location. The district’s buses are now live in the app for you to select and customize.

Students can begin arriving at 7:15 around the back of the building. If you arrive prior to 7:15 to line up, please refrain from parking in the right hand lane as this needs to be open for our staff members to get to the parking lot. Additionally, we ask that you do not block the crosswalk. It is essential that our students have a clear and safe path to transition from the playground to the building without having to weave between vehicles. Please do not allow your child to exit the car if there is not a staff member present and they have not waved to you to get out. All students must exit the car on the school side of the vehicle for safety. Car Arrival ends promptly at 7:34 AM when the back driveway gate will be closed. After this time, please report to the main entrance for student drop off. WCS Staff will be present at the front driveway until 7:38 AM. After this time, please walk students to the WCS Main Office. Students will be considered tardy beginning at 7:38 AM. Students are expected to be unpacked and sitting in their seats ready for their first class to begin at 7:40 AM.

The regular car dismissal process will begin at 2:20 PM around the back of the building. The back driveway gate will be opened at 1:45 PM. As you enter WCS, please drive to the right and form two lines around the gym to the rear of the school. We ask that you do not block the crosswalk. It is essential that our students have a clear and safe path to transition from the sidewalk to their cars, without having to weave between vehicles. Students will be supervised and dismissed from there. Students will not be sent out to car dismissal without notification in Pick Up Patrol or a note.

Students are not to proceed to cars prior to staff on duty telling students to do so. Please refrain from motioning or calling for your child to load your care without the direction of my staff. This is for the safety of your children.

As a reminder, our school buses merge into the one exit with cars. Please pay close attention to the staff on duty, as cars will be stopped to allow for buses to exit first when they are ready to do so.

If you have an incoming grade 5 student please note that our car line goes incredibly faster than the elementary school due to the age and having half of the students in this building. The first few days always take a bit longer, but after that all buses and students are typically gone from our building by 2:30pm.

One Way Traffic Pattern- Follow Yellow Arrows

Windham Center School utilizes PickUp Patrol for parents/guardians to report Absences, Late Arrivals, Leave and Returns, as well as Mid-day or End of Day Dismissal changes. Welcome emails will be sent out prior to the start of school for all accounts that have been established. Parents and guardians should enter their students default dismissal plan for the year. For Absences, Late Arrivals, Leave and Return, Early Dismissal, Club Activities or End of Day Dismissal changes, please use the system to notify WCS. Notifications of daily dismissal changes must be entered before 1:20 pm Changes reported from PickUp Patrol are sent to homeroom teachers daily at 1:20 to ensure students are aware of their dismissal changes. Please visit http://www.pickuppatrol.net for additional information. Bus passes are permitted this year, but may some buses may be restricted due to capacity issues. Please refer to the notes section on the bus change option for more information.

Windham School District utilizes the Raptor system for signing students, staff and visitors in/out of our school buildings.

WCS Steps of Notification:

• Sign In - If your student is tardy, you must walk your student to the door, ring the bell and let us know they have arrived.

• If your student is in PickUp Patrol as Late Arrival, you can ring the bell to let us know they have arrived. We will let the student in to sign themselves in on Raptor and you can be on your way.

• If your student is NOT in PickUp Patrol, you will need to enter the building to sign them in on the clipboard in the foyer. Your student will proceed into the main office to sign in on Raptor.

• Sign Out - If your student is leaving before the end of the school day, please enter them in PickUp Patrol as “Early Dismissal”. Please ring the bell to enter the building with your Identification. You will sign your student out electronically on Raptor while we check your ID and call your student down.

• Visitors/Volunteers - Visitors and volunteers will also use our Raptor system to sign in and out of the building.

If you have any questions or need assistance locating your student’s ID/LASID number, our office staff will be happy to assist you!

Thank You,

B.J. Martin

WCS Principal

If your child is going to be absent or late to school, please put this information in Pick Up Patrol. If for some reason you are unable to do so, please call the absence line at 603-845-1554, Option 1. If we have no received proper notification, your child will receive an unexcused absence and you will receive an auto call.

Please take a moment to review the WCS Wildcat Way Checklist to help ensure that your child has everything they need to start their school day.

If your child forgets an item and you need to bring it to school, please fill out the provided sticky note with your child’s name and place it on the foyer table. Items will then be placed on a designated table for students to pick up during transition times.

To minimize classroom interruptions, students will only be called to the office for forgotten lunch boxes and Chromebooks. For all other items, students can check the designated table on their way to or from class to see if their item has been dropped off.

Thank you for helping us encourage independence and responsibility while keeping our school day running smoothly!

This year we are going to continue to be working on organizational skills with all of our students through their school supplies, go folder and agenda as part of our executive functioning initiative. If you purchased a box of supplies through the PTA, they have already been delivered to your child's classroom for the first day of school. Please see the link to our school supply lists.

https://www.windhamsd.org/news/what_s_new/k-8_organization_system_supply_list_by_grade_level

We are looking for parents to join us for our School Council Meeting this year. We meet monthly after school from 2:30-3:30. This year we will meet in person only at WCS. During our meetings we will share and discuss updates at WCS as well as hear and address your questions. You are a representative of the community. The goal is to build a stronger home school connection and keep the lines of communication open. Please email bmartin@windhamsd.org with your interest.

The PTA is a Parent/Teacher Association, which has been formed for the purpose of increasing and improving communication between home and school. The PTA meets once per month, runs book fairs during parent/teacher conferences, and runs many other important school events. Each fall, the PTA has its annual membership drive for new members and the election of officers. It is hoped that the parents of all of our students will become members and support our school projects.

Visit our PTA website at: http://www.windhampta.org/ for the most current PTA officers and Information.

Hello WCS Families,

We are happy to announce that Ski Club will occur again this year! We will be going to Pat’s Peak on Thursday nights in January for five fun-filled nights of skiing and snowboarding (January 7, 14, 21, 28 & Feb. 4). Students of all levels are welcome to sign up, as there are lessons at the mountain.

This year, sign-ups will be emailed out on October 25th at 9:00 AM (Sunday) to allow for early bird pricing and for all families to have an option to sign up. (To receive early pricing, registration must be paid in FULL on or before 11/15/26!) Sign-ups will be first-come, first-served and can be very competitive. When you go to sign up, you will need the names and numbers of TWO emergency contacts ready to be entered. If your child does not make the cut-off for the club, there will be a Google Form in the notes asking you to sign up for the waitlist. The waitlist will be timestamped from when the form is submitted to ensure a fair process for all 5th- and 6th-grade students.

If you are new to Ski Club, here is some overview information:

- Please be advised that participation in this club entails additional expenses, including bus transportation fees and a Pats Peak ski pass. Families may select from a variety of pass types, depending on their preferences and budget.

- All students must pay for their spot on the bus and get their pass from Pat’s Peak.

- Videos of how to purchase tickets and detailed information can be found on the Ski Club Page for students who join the Ski Club. You will not be entered early; only students who make it into the club will be on the page, so no one gets confused.

- This year, you can pay for the Ski Club bus digitally (PowerSchool) or by check payable to Windham Center School.

- Pat’s Peak passes must be purchased directly through Pat’s Peak. Please see the video and/or PDF directions for 2026/2027 ski club members on the Ski Club page (only available for those who get into the club).

- Students leave WCS at 1:45 pm and will be responsible for gathering information and work from their missed classes.

- Students will have lessons (if purchased) from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM and free skiing from 4:00 PM to 6:45 PM.

- Students who miss their check-in time (5:00 PM - 5:30 PM) cannot come the following week.

- Rental gear is available for anyone who needs it and can be purchased with their pass.

- Mrs. Schuurman and Mrs. Cronin will email chaperones to alert them if they can be chaperones for their chosen night. You will then get a pass from Mrs. Schuurman to ski/snowboard for the night.

-Mandatory Parent Meeting: If your child is in Ski Club for the first time and is accepted into the club, at least one parent/guardian must attend a required meeting on December 2nd at 5:30 PM. This meeting will cover all expectations, procedures, and important information for the club.

As always, if you have any questions, please email us at jschuurman@windhamsd.org and scronin@windhamsd.org.

Hello Center School Families,

I am excited to announce that Homework Club will be offered again this year! Homework Club is a great opportunity for students to have a quiet, supportive place after school to work on homework, complete assignments, ask questions, and receive extra help when needed.

Homework Club will begin on Monday, October 5th, and will be held in Room 128 with Mrs. Schuurman (previously Ms. Lemay). This year, Homework Club will be offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2:30–3:30 PM.

Homework Club is designed to help students build confidence, stay organized, and receive additional support with their learning. During Homework Club, students will have the opportunity to:

• Complete daily homework assignments
• Work on unfinished classwork or projects
• Ask questions and receive extra support in math, reading, or other subject areas
• Develop strong study habits and organizational skills in a structured environment

Due to space limitations, Homework Club will have a maximum of 30 students. Once the club reaches capacity, students will be placed on a waitlist, and families will be contacted if a spot becomes available.

The sign-up link will be included in the September 18th newsletter. Please be sure to complete the Google Form if your child is interested in participating.

Please note that transportation is not provided after Homework Club, so families will need to make pick-up arrangements in advance. Students should be picked up promptly at 3:30 PM.

Families of students who are accepted into Homework Club will receive updates and reminders through the Remind App. The Remind information will be provided at the end of the Google Form once students have been accepted into the club.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jschuurman@windhamsd.org.

I look forward to another great year of helping students feel confident, supported, and successful with their learning!

Thank you,
Mrs. Jordan Schuurman

Do you enjoy solving challenging problems, thinking creatively, and finding different ways to approach a math challenge? Then Math Olympiads may be the club for you!

Math Olympiads is an after-school math competition club where students work together to solve challenging problems that require logic, creativity, perseverance, and strong problem-solving skills. Students do not need to have every answer immediately or be the fastest mathematician. Math Olympiads is about being curious, trying new strategies, learning from mistakes, and enjoying the process of problem solving.

Students interested in joining Math Olympiads will first participate in a tryout so I can learn more about how they approach challenging problems and think as mathematicians. Completing the sign-up form only registers students for the tryout and does not guarantee a spot on the team.

To sign up for the Math Olympiads tryout, please complete the Google Form linked here:
Try Out Link CLICK HERE

The form should be completed by the student interested in trying out. Parents/guardians should be involved to review the club information, meeting expectations, and schedule details, but the student should complete the questions independently. The goal of the form is for me to learn more about each student's own mathematical thinking, problem-solving approach, and interest in joining Math Olympiads.

Math Olympiads Tryout Information
Friday, October 16th
2:30–3:30 PM
Café

The Math Olympiads team will be limited to 24 students. Students selected for the team will participate in practice sessions and prepare for Math Olympiad competitions throughout the season.

Club Information:

Meetings: Every other week from November through March
After school (specific meeting dates will be shared with selected team members)

Students selected for the team should be prepared to:

• Attend bi-weekly meetings and actively participate

• Work collaboratively with teammates

• Challenge themselves with complex math problems

• Practice perseverance when problems are difficult

• Represent our school with a positive attitude

I am excited to see students take on new challenges, stretch their mathematical thinking, and discover that there is more than one way to solve a problem!

Tutor.com: 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.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a part of our school staff, we have paraprofessional job opportunities at each school. Paraprofessionals are instrumental in the foundation and success of our students. Some additional benefits to working with us include:

• Steady schedules and summers off: Your schedule during the school year will be 5 days a week, following the school calendar.

• Convenient parenting hours

• Bonus pay for classroom teacher coverage: Paraprofessionals working as coverage shall receive an additional five dollars ($5.00) per hour, rounded to the nearest half-hour, up to a maximum of thirty dollars ($30.00) per day.

• Longevity incentives: The District has a tiered longevity system in place to honor years of service.

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Kate Hennigar at hrdirector@windhamsd.org.

The following events are not sponsored by the Windham School District.