Welcome Back News KRES-NL

August 31: Meet and Greet for Students: 10:00 - 11:00 AM

August 31: PTO Kick off Meeting 11:00 AM

September 1: 1st Day of School for all Students

September 4: No School - Labor Day Weekend

September 7: Labor Day / No School

September 8: PTO Meeting - KRES- NL Library 6:00 PM (2nd Tuesdays)

September 11: Grade 4/5 Patriot Day Commemoration @NL Firehouse

September 30: Book Fair Begins

October 1: Picture Day! (Retake Day is November 13th)

October 2: Fall Fest, Sponsored by PTO 4:00 - 6:00 PM

October 6/7: Fire Prevention Week Visits

October 7: Fall Open House 5:00 - 6:00 PM

October 9: No School Teacher Professional Development

October 12: No School: Columbus Day

I am honored to welcome you to the 2026–2027 school year as I begin my second year at KRES-NL. Reflecting on this past year, I am so grateful to work alongside the exceptional students, families, faculty, and staff of this community. It remains as clear to me today as it was when I first joined the district in 2014: the Kearsarge School District is truly one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family.

I hope that this summer allowed for you and your family to relax and create fun memories. Summer reminds me how special it is to just take the time to be present together.

Entering this year together, I am energized by the momentum we have built. My time here has reaffirmed that our shared commitment to learning from one another and lifting each other up makes an organization successful. It is with that notion that I added a tagline to my email signature "A positive mind finds a way it can be done; a negative mind looks for all the ways it can't be done". As we enter this year, my hope is that we will assume positive intentions, work collaboratively, and lift one another up during challenging moments.

At KRES-NL we are committed to helping students be successful in their educational journey. Both in their academics and in their social and emotional growth to develop a mindset needed for lifelong success. Across every grade level, our focus remains on meeting students where they are by scaffolding support, encouraging independence, and fostering both curiosity and compassion.

As always, I am so thankful for the trust, warmth, and strong partnerships we have established over the past year. I strongly believe in shared, collective leadership, and I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure every child at New London Elementary feels known, valued, and inspired. On behalf of the entire school, thank you for your continued partnership and support. While it is always bittersweet, we are excited to start fresh this year! Here’s to a fantastic 2026–2027 school year!

Warmly,
Laura Newman

New Teaching Faculty/Positions:

• Kindergarten: Emily Hill

• Kindergarten Long Term Sub: Pam Colanero

• 1st Grade: Alice Coish

• 1st Grade: Chelsey Johnson

• 2nd Grade: Catherine Gorman

• 3rd Grade: Eryn Bennetter

• 5th Grade: Jenn Kane (welcome back!)

Reading Specialist

• Rebecca Vendt

Assistant Principal:

• Thom Smith

Associate Director/PreSchool Director:

• Nikki Robertson

Special Education Admin Assistant:

• Meghan MacLean

Specially Designed Instruction:

• Elaine Houle will be our new special education teacher providing specially designed instruction as prescribed in IEPs across all grade levels.

Related Services:

• Our BCBA next school year will be Kim Cloutier from EBCaba Consulting [https://www.ebcaba.com/team] as well as Zoe Barnes, an RBT who will work in our Gateway Program.

Paraeducators:

• We welcome Francesa Padilla as a new general special education paraeducator.

• We welcome Melisa Bodnaruk as a new intensive needs paraeducator.

The bus routes are always available on the district webpage, and can be found here at this link. Please reach out directly to the bus company (603-938-6464 or meagon.starr@ridesta.com ) if you have questions about stops or times.

• All traffic must enter Cougar Court from Gould Road

• Once on Cougar Court, stay to the right

• Parents must stay in vehicles.

• Designated drop-off locations for grade levels will be staffed. There will be signs.

• NOTE / New for 26-27: The "grade 2 drop off door will be closed", grade 2 can be dropped off at the K doors

• If you have multiple aged/grade children, please drop off at separate locations. Please stay in line and continue moving on to the next stop.

• Continue in the car line around the building to exit right back onto Cougar Court and out to Main Street

• Car pickup will begin at 3:00. A staff member will ask each vehicle who is is being picked up and what classroom teacher they have.

• All traffic must enter Cougar Court from Gould Road using Seans Road to enter the back of the pickup line.

• Do not use Pleasant Street to enter the line

• Parents must stay in vehicles.

• Please leave a 50 foot clearance from the stop sign on Gould Road to allow for incoming traffic.

• If you have multiple age/grade children, please pick up at separate locations.

• Continue in the car line around the building to exit right back onto Cougar Court and out to Main Street.

• Bussers will be released to their buses for a typical dismissal. Kindergarteners and first-graders will be accompanied by an adult. And there will be additional adults assisting with Bus Duty.

• Be careful and mindful of students getting in and out of vehicles.

• No Parking in the Main Parking Lot. That will be used for staff only parking

If your child needs to leave early or arrive late for any reason, please call the office at 603-526-4737. Please review the student and family handbook for more detailed information related attendance.

The district has been having some issues with PowerSchool this summer, so if you are unable to access the PowerSchool portal, please check back within a day or two. Thank you.

Forms are required and must be reviewed and submitted yearly, even if there are no changes. We appreciate your assistance in completing this process as soon as possible.

How to Access the Forms:

1) Log into your PowerSchool Parent/Guardian Portal Account: PS Portal Link

2) Click Forms in the menu to the left

3) Begin the first form

1P: KRSD Appendix D for Parents

Required forms include:

• Appendix D - Chromebook & Digital Device Use Agreement

• Demographics for Students and Contacts

• Permissions and Additional Info.

• Student Health Forms

• Any additional forms required for your student will be listed under the Parent/Guardian section

*If you do not remember your username and/or password, please email forms.help@kearsarge.org or contact Jen Nurme for assistance.

• Families are encouraged to communicate directly with our school nurse regarding any health concerns, so appropriate actions can be taken to support the wellness of each student and our school community. Please reach out to our School Nurse, Margaux Nichols, at mnichols@kearsarge.org if you have any questions.

• Please make sure all health records, including required medical examinations, are on file.

• Additional information can be found on the district website at this link: https://www.kearsarge.org/district/krsd-health-and-wellness-information

As part of the Kearsarge Regional School District, we are proud to embrace our Portrait of a Learner, encouraging every student to become:

• Curious learners who ask questions, explore new ideas, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

• Caring individuals who demonstrate kindness, empathy, respect, and compassion toward others.

• Conscientious citizens who take responsibility for their actions, persevere through challenges, and contribute positively to their school and community.

These qualities are woven into everything we do - from our classrooms and playgrounds to our school traditions and daily interactions. Our goal is not only to help students achieve academic success but also to develop the character, confidence, and skills they need to thrive both in school and beyond.

This handbook is designed to provide important information about our school procedures, expectations, and programs. We encourage you to review it together as a family and refer to it throughout the year.

The student and family handbook for 2025-2026 can be found by clicking this link.

• Breakfast $2.25/Lunch $3.50/Milk $.65

• There are Free and Reduced rates for those who qualify. Please reach out if you need assistance with this process. The Free and Reduced lunch application can be accessed at the following link: Free & Reduced Lunch.

• WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS?

• All children in households receiving benefits from NH SNAP or NH TANF, are eligible for free meals.

• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.

• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.

• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.

• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits set by the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines in the chart below.

• Link to Fresh Picks Cafe Services information: https://www.kearsarge.org/district/fresh-picks-lunch-program/links/fresh-picks-lunch-menu

• You can also contact Melina Cochran at fsd@kearsarge.org.

Studies indicate the negative impact cell phones have on adolescent well-being and the detriment to learning in the classroom. A recent article in Atlantic Magazine reports that on average, a phone interrupts a young person fifteen (15) times per hour, or 237 times per day, and when they have access to them in the classroom then they are using them to text or check social media, even when told not to.

Another article written in 2024 titled, "A Dangerous Substance": The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health can be found here.

New Hampshire's new law requires public schools to create policies that prohibit students from using cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices during the school day, with limited exceptions. The ban, known as a "bell-to-bell" ban, applies from the start of instructional time until the end of the academic school day. Exceptions are allowed for student medical, disability, or language proficiency needs, as determined by the superintendent or their designee.

KRSD is committing to reducing personal device use during academic time by following a consistent procedure. We ask for your partnership in this endeavor.

We ask that families keep all personal devices at home, this includes cell phones, smart watches and tablets. Parents are asked to please call the main office at 603-526-4737 should an emergency arise.

Students who bring a personal device(s) to school should plan to have it turned off and secured in their personal belongings for the entire school day. Emergency calls may be handled through the main office.

Our facilities teams worked hard this summer to prepare, clean, and renovate learning spaces through KRES New London. In an effort to provide our students with increased access to a variety of services, as well as creating a sense of student community, we have redesigned our learning spaces going into school year 26-27. All grade level classroom teachers will be teaching out of the central campus building. The white building, sometimes referred to as the detached classroom will now be dedicated spaces for student reading and math support and enrichment. This concept may include small or large groups of students accessing the detached classrooms as a group, or our math and reading specialists may "push-in" to classrooms for a collaborative approach to math and reading instruction. As such, students in grade 4 will now have their core instruction upstairs in the grade 3, 4, 5 wing of the building.

We hope this will provide students with a better sense of connectedness with their peers, allow students to access special education classrooms more easily and also better access student supports from counselors and administration. Additionally, our teachers will have closer access to their grade level teams created better accessibility for resources and enhance their opportunities for feedback. This also creates few entry/exit points for arrival and dismissal creating a more secure campus.

Volunteers are welcome and may reach out and coordinate with classroom teachers. All Volunteers must be fingerprinted through the SAU office, and should check in with the front office when entering the building.

Please see the following instructions if you would like to volunteer with KRES NL.

Thank you!

https://www.kearsarge.org/kres-new-london/news/how-become-volunteer

The first PTO meeting of the year will be held after open house on August 31st at 11:00 AM in the KRES-NL library. KRES-NL PTO Meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 PM, also in the library. All are welcome so please join us if you are interested in joining the PTO, or reach out to kresnewlondonpto@gmail.com for more information.

KRES-NL is always looking for substitutes. You would be filling in for teacher absences, covering our meeting schedules, or supporting other teachers in their classrooms, with a flexible schedule that can adapt to your needs.

Consider applying through our website, or just by clicking here for our the applitracks site

Thank you for considering!

Newsletters from prior months will be listed here.