JMUES NEWS October 2nd, 2026
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
BULLYING PREVENTION CREATIVE SHOWCASE & CONTEST
All students are invited to participate in an Bullying Prevention Creative Activity in support of JMUES as a school that is an anti bullying. You can show your support for Bullying Prevention Month by creating a poster, writing a poem, or composing a song!
Task: Create an anti-bullying poster, poem, or song with a strong message or slogan that promotes kindness and respect.
Requirements:
Posters: Must be neat, colorful, and created on 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Poetry & Songs: Must feature original lyrics or verses with a clear, positive anti-bullying message.
All Entries: Must clearly show that JMUES is against bullying, and be creative, positive, and meaningful.
Due Date: Students should turn in completed posters, written poems, or song lyrics to Mrs. Garbarz in Rm. 247 by October 30th.
A Reminder From the Student Support Team
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We would like to share an important update regarding student online safety and communication, specifically concerning student group chats on personal devices, phones, and school iPads.
Recently, we have noticed an increase in large group chats involving students across grade levels. While messaging apps and group texts can be a fun way for children to stay connected, they also present several challenges and digital safety risks:
Automatic Addition to Group Chats: Many messaging platforms allow users to add contacts to a group chat without requiring the recipient's consent or permission. Even when a student removes themselves from a group, others can easily re-add them repeatedly.
Exposure to Inappropriate Content: In large group chats, messages move rapidly, making it common for inappropriate language, themes, or unsuitable media to be shared.
Unkind Words: Students who are not active in a chat, or who do not even have access to their devices—are sometimes mentioned or discussed without their knowledge.
Difficulty Leaving or Monitoring: The high volume of messages can quickly become overwhelming for young students, making it hard for them to navigate or disengage safely.
How You Can Help at Home:
1. Talk to Your Child: Ask if they are currently part of any large group chats and discuss the rules around digital communication and peer interactions online.
2. Review Device Settings: Check your child’s phone and device privacy settings. On many devices, you can limit who can add your child to group messages (e.g., restricting additions to known contacts only).
3. Monitor Activity Regularly: Frequently review messaging apps, group chats, and sent/received media on your child’s devices.
4. Encourage Open Communication: Reassure your child that they can come to you or a school staff member if a group chat makes them feel uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or unsafe.
If you discover any communication that has caused your child to feel unsafe (i.e. threats), please consider contacting the Merrimack Police Department directly to report the threat. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support a safe, positive environment for our students both in school and online. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Popcorn Time
Use the link below to sign up for popcorn for the year. Popcorn is only available for pre-buy and will not be sold week-by-week. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pop-in-for-a-good-cause
We are also in need of weekly popcorn volunteers. Sign up here to help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44A9AD2BA0FFC07-44588622-popcorn
Homework at JMUES
Dear Families,
As we partner with you this school year, we want to share our approach to homework and set clear expectations for time spent on assignments at home.
Nightly Homework Guidelines
5th Grade: Up to 50 minutes per night
6th Grade: Up to 60 minutes per night
While homework is an important part of the learning experience, we strongly value family time, extracurricular activities, and restful evenings. Homework should support student learning, not replace these valuable after-school experiences.
What to Do If Homework Takes Longer If your child is consistently spending more than the expected time on their assignments, please reach out directly to their teacher. Additionally, if your child works productively for the designated time (50 minutes for 5th grade, 60 minutes for 6th grade) but cannot complete the assignment, you may simply sign the top of the paper to indicate they met the time limit.
Thank you for your continued support in creating a balanced and positive learning environment for our students. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
A message from Human Resources Regarding Volunteering in the Schools:
All volunteers must be fingerprinted per RSA 189:13-a and per our volunteer policy.
*If you have been fingerprinted in the district and have worked or volunteered in the Merrimack School District in the last 365 days, you do NOT need to be re-printed.
*If you have NOT worked or volunteered in the Merrimack School District in the last 365 days, you will need to have a new set of fingerprints done.
*If you have been fingerprinted in the last 365 days, but have NOT volunteered or worked in the Merrimack School District, you do NOT need to get a new set of fingerprints done (unless you go a full 365 days without working/volunteering)
If you are in need of fingerprints, please contact Kat Knauer, Administrative Assistant, at 603-424-6200, or email her at Kathleen.Knauer@sau26.org
Keep in mind, the volunteer process can take 3-5 weeks, so please plan ahead.
Thank you to all of our volunteers for taking time out of your busy schedule to volunteer in our schools!
Please fill out the Volunteer Intake Form if you intend to volunteer at JMUES.
Volunteer Intake Form
