Pulse of the Pride - September 4

Lyme School Friends,

We are off to a fantastic start! Way to go!

The bi-weekly newsletter is meant to be a super helpful tool for you and the table of contents on the left hand side should get you to where you want to go quickly. The newsletter will be chock full of information and highlights! A huge thank you to all the staff members that contribute to it each time it is published.

This year, we will hit the highlights up top so you can then head to where you want to go in the newsletter. As always, I will try to keep my section relatively short because there are far more important things to read in the newsletter!

This week's highlights:

• Directory Notification
• Picture Day Information
• ALMA Student Registration - Required for all if not completed yet!
• Superintendent's Update from School Board Retreat
• Information from each of the specialists subject areas
• PTO

Please remember, school is closed on September 7th. We will see students back on Tuesday. Have a fantastic long weekend!

The next newsletter will hit your inbox on September 18th!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

September

7 School Closed/Labor Day

8 NH Primary - school is open

15 School Picture Day

16 Lunch & Learn 11:00 - 12:00 PM

17 MS Hike (rain date 10/8)

24 Open House 4 - 5:30PM

25 Blisters for Books

29 Portrait of a Learner Committee 5:00 - 6:30 PM

This is notice to parents/legal guardians of your rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) about directory information.

If you do not want your directory information disclosed, please notify the Principal in writing.

Notice from a parent that any or all directory information shall not be released is only valid for that school year and must be re-issued each school year.

Please remember that our school day starts at 8AM sharp. Please drive carefully in the morning and afternoon around our school. If you are unloading your children on the street, please make sure they exit the vehicle curb side. We prefer no parking in front of school in the morning. If you need to park, please park across the street facing north or further down route 10 if you must leave your car in the morning.

Dismissal is 3PM (2PM on Thursdays). If you are going to make dismissal changes, we kindly request that you call our office by 2:30 PM, so we can ensure to get the message to your child.

Homework Club will start in the Middle School next week. It will run for one hour after school ends on Monday-Thursday each week. If you would like your child/children to attend, please let us know and we will ensure they stay. This offers a great opportunity for kids to get their work done and/or get help from staff before going home each night. ~ Mr. Tomlinson

If you are having trouble logging into ALMA, please reach out to Amanda Perry-Waterman in the office. There is always a link to log-in to ALMA on our school website home page.

Please complete the required forms for 2026-2027 in ALMA for all returning students. You will see this on the main page when you log-in to ALMA under your student(s) name. These are required forms for your students for this year!

In ALMA, you will find your child's teacher(s) and schedule, a way to message teachers directly, and paperwork that needs to be completed for this school year.

On Wednesday, September 2nd, the Board and District Leadership Team met to address key priorities for the 2026-27 school year.

Key Discussion Topics:

• Tax Cap Vote: Due to new legislation, a community vote on a school budget tax cap will be held during the General Election on November 3rd. For an overview of the ballot question click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AmWU01x9RwP7Zn6hAJYawB0avXZb4KcA/view?usp=sharing
• Communication: Improving engagement with our constituents.
• Technology: Strategic use of technology across the district.
• Portrait of a Learner: A community conversation to identify the critical skills and dispositions our students will need to be future-ready.

Stay tuned for updates on these and other issues as the year progresses.

Welcome (back), Lyme Families!

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for another year of fun and learning. I had yet another lovely time on the mountain bike trails, lakes, and summits of New Hampshire and Vermont with my friends and family! We also had a lot of ice cream! For those of you who are new to Lyme School, my name is Mrs. Stanton, and I’m the school counselor here!

Each week I get to spend time with your kids during Lower School “Stanton Time” (our Social Emotional Learning classes) and co-teach Adolescent Health with Mrs. Damren (PE/Health Educator) for grades 5–8. I also wear a few other hats - I am a middle school advisor (Yay, Toxic Foxes!), coordinate the high school choice and transition process for 8th graders, and advise our Student Advisory Leadership Team (SALT).

Beyond the classroom, I work with students in small groups to work on skills, and I meet one-on-one with kids as needed. My role is to support both students and families, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We also have a strong Student Support Team at Lyme - including the school counselor, principal, student services director, nurse, teachers, special educators, and our student success coordinator - who meet regularly to make sure we’re providing the best support possible.

I’d love to share the School Counseling and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program of Studies as well as my Lyme School Counseling Website where you’ll find:

• Information about me and how to get in touch

• Family and student resources (technology use, mental health, crisis lines, tutoring, financial/food support, navigating family changes, and more)

• An overview of our K–8 Social Emotional Learning curriculum

• Information on the High School Choice process

If there’s a resource you’d like to see added, please let me know!

I’m excited to spend time with your students and look forward to a fantastic 2026–27 school year.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday weekend.

With Gusto! Mrs. Stanton

rstanton@lymeschool.org

603-795-2125 ext 105

If you or your child are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Room.

24-hour Hotlines:

• NH Rapid Response Access Point, 24/7 Mobile Crisis Support, 833-710-6477 (call or text) NH988.com (online chat)

• West Central Behavioral Health: 800-564-2578

• DHMC Psychiatric Emergencies: (800) 556-6249, press 7 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.

• WISE - Sexual and Domestic Abuse Advocacy 24-Hour Crisis Line 866-348-9473
  or TEXT - 603-836-9472 to speak to advocate

Dear Families,

Welcome to a new school year! Whether you are returning to our school community or joining us for the very first time, I am delighted to welcome you. I look forward to partnering with you and your student(s) to ensure a year full of growth, discovery, and meaningful progress.

My name is Ms. Connie, and I am honored to serve as your Student Success Coordinator. My primary focus is supporting students in thriving across all aspects of their school experience—academically, behaviorally, and social-emotionally. Together, we work on building the foundational skills students need to flourish both inside and outside the classroom.

My room is thoughtfully designed to be a calm, safe, and welcoming space for everyone. Students visit for a variety of reasons: some drop by for a brief reset during a busy day, while others work intentionally on specific goals such as focus, social flexibility, building strong friendships, emotional regulation, and problem-solving.

I want to emphasize to our families that seeking support is never a sign of trouble—it is a valuable opportunity to learn new strategies and navigate challenges constructively. Most needs are seamlessly met right here at school through encouraging guidance and targeted resources. Should a situation arise where additional support would be beneficial, classroom teachers or I will connect with you directly so we can work together as a team.

Above all, my goal is for every single child to feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed. Please feel free to reach out anytime if you have questions or would like to learn more about how I can support your family this year.

Warmest regards,

Ms. Connie

Student Success Coordinator

Welcome back to returning families and welcome to new families! For those who do not know me, my name is Becky Wetterhahn and I am the Library Media Specialist at Lyme School. This is my nineteenth year in education and my sixth year teaching at Lyme School. I am a Lyme School parent of two fourth graders and I also have a four year old in pre-school. I’m excited for a year full of learning and books!

It is great to have the Library Commons filled with K-5 library classes and grades 6-8 visiting for book check-outs for independent reading. All grades have been (re)introduced to the layout and new features in the Commons, the process for book check-out and return, and library expectations.

As many of you know, the school and town share a collection which is housed mainly across the street from the school. We have a collection of books here in the Library Commons, ranging from early readers and young adult categories to graphic novels, non-fiction, and a wide range of picture books. We have our own school library catalog, which grades 2-8 can access.

Books are automatically checked out for two weeks and students should return them as soon as they are finished so they can choose new ones and other students can access books that were checked out. At the start of the year, we try to stick with 1-2 books checked out at a time each week until everyone gets in the routine of returning and checking out books.

Books can be returned at school or at Converse Free Library. (You are also welcome to return books that are checked out from CFL at school.) You do not need to wait until the day of Library class to return - any day/time is fine. There is a book drop in the lobby at school, in addition to library bins in most classrooms, as well as outside of CFL.

Most K-5 library classes will meet in the Lyme School Commons, and about once a month we will have a "field trip" across the street to the Converse Free Library!

Our technology program at Lyme School is based on technology competencies that span grades K-8. Our middle school students are up and running on their 1:1 Chromebooks, which are used daily in their classes. We have discussed Chromebook expectations in all grades, and we will revisit the importance of safely using technology for learning throughout the year in integrated units and during digital citizenship lessons.

Throughout the year, I will highlight student learning and continue to share the happenings in regards to the library media program. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions or resources. For the full program of studies for library media and information technology, you can browse this document.

If you have any questions about the library or technology at Lyme School, please feel free to reach out.

Have a great weekend!

Ms. Wetterhahn

Library Media Specialist

bwetterhahn@lymeschool.org

Upcoming CFL Events:

Thursday, September 24, 2-4 p.m. After School Movie

Friday, September 25, 9:15-11:15 Blisters for Books

From Ms. Judy:

AN EASY BLISTERS CHECKLIST

• September 8: Students receive packets from teachers, including sponsor forms.

• Students (with grown-up guidance) solicit pledges and record them on the sponsor forms

• Wednesday, September 23 or before: Students return completed sponsor forms to classroom

• Friday, September 25: Blisters for Books day. Ms. D and Ms. Wetterhahn use sponsor forms to record the students’ completed laps around the Common

• September 28: In classrooms, students receive their forms back, with number of laps added

• September 28—October 13: Students calculate and collect pledges/donations (TIP: attach an envelope to the sponsor form)

• October 13 or earlier: Students return sponsor forms with collected funds to teachers or school office

We're off to another great start in music! Middle School Band started rehearsing Tuesday and 5th Grade Beginner Band will have their Instrument Demo Day on September 15th to help them decide which instrument to learn this year!

STRUM (our free intergenerational ukulele class) will return for a fall workshop! More info in the next Pulse!

Music 2026-27

Middle School Elective has enjoyed a creative start! Students in Soundtrap explore digital music making and production. Fridays are our Listening Party day where students share their projects from the week!

It is absolutely wonderful to have all our students back in the art room creating together! As we kick off the new school year, our biggest focus is on building a healthy and happy community of artists who support one another's creative process. Whether we are making a beautiful mess or trying a new technique, the art room is a space to grow, encourage each other, and build creative confidence. For a general overview of our curriculum, please view the Art 2026-27 Program of Studies.

What We Are Working On

• Grades K-5: We are diving right in by making our "art messy mats" (because we definitely get messy!). Each grade draws inspiration from different artists and movements to create their mats, ranging from Peter Reynolds’ dots in Kindergarten to graffiti and street art in 5th grade. First grade is taking some inspiration from Jasper Johns, second grade is looking at the collages created by Henri Matisse, third grade is creating some “POP” art, and fourth grade is illustrating their name.

• Middle School: Electives officially started this week! Digital Sketchbook is a mix of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. We are working on ipads using the app ProCreate, which is a very powerful digital art tool. Students are learning how to find and use the many brush and pen tools and to work on layers.

This year, I am looking forward to working with the students, collaborating with colleagues, connecting with families, and being an advisor in the middle school (Tai Chi Chickens!). Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

All my best,

Emily Girdwood

(aka Ms. G)

egirdwood@lymeschool.org

This year in Design Lab, I am excited to try a new schedule for students in first through fourth grade. Rather than meeting with each class once a week throughout the entire year, I will meet with each grade every day for one week, approximately once a month. Each grade will have eight Design Weeks throughout the school year. I’m looking forward to this change because it will give us greater consistency and momentum as we work on science and design/engineering projects. Meeting every day for a full week will allow students to spend more time exploring and digging deeper into the design process, from generating ideas and experimenting to building, testing, and improving their designs. I’m excited to see how this focused time will support students’ creativity, problem-solving, and ability to fully engage in the design process.

Kindergarten will continue to meet once a week. The focus will be on learning how to use various tools and materials in safe and creative ways. The projects will be exploratory and play based.

Fifth graders will have Design Lab twice a week throughout the year. As the big kids in the lower school, these kiddos will tackle many different projects and design challenges throughout the year.

In Design Lab, I often say, “A challenge is a chance to grow.” I want students to understand that challenges are not something to avoid, but opportunities to learn, experiment, and become better problem-solvers. When a design doesn’t work the way they hoped, students are encouraged to pause, think about what happened, make changes, and try again. Through this process, they develop persistence, creativity, flexibility, and confidence. My hope is that students will begin to see mistakes and setbacks not as failures, but as an important part of learning. Whether they are building, designing, testing, or working through a tricky problem, each challenge gives students a chance to stretch their thinking and discover what they are capable of.

I’m looking forward to another great year ahead!

Please click below to read more about the Design Lab, and also reach out to me anytime with questions, suggestions or project ideas!

Design and Engineering 2026-27

Best,

Mr. Brian Betournay

bbetournay@lymeschool.org

Please take a moment to look over the Physical Education and Health Education Program of Studies. Students in grades K-3 have physical education once a week for 50 minutes and students in grades 4 and 5 have PE twice a week for 40 minutes.

Middle school students who participate in the PE elective have some element of physical education four times per week for 50 minutes.

The physical education program is aligned with national physical education standards.

Students in grades 5-8 have Health Education embedded into the overall school curriculum for 50 minutes per week. This is a wellness based and skill based program that is aligned with national health education standards.

Stay tuned for bi-weekly updates for both courses in the Pulse of the Pride.

Please review the Lower School Spanish and Middle School Spanish Programs of Studies, by clicking on the links provided. These documents describe our philosophy of second language acquisition, topics covered in our curriculum, and how we assess students in Spanish.

If you are interested in revisiting the Welcome Letter I sent out before the start of school, here it is.

Here's to a great year ahead!

Hello school families,

What a wonderful, busy, start to school! We had 3 successful events and are gearing up to make plans for events the rest of the year! Our first meeting is on Monday, 9/14/26, at 7pm. I have changed this from the previously scheduled 7:30pm because I think it may work better and not run too late. I will send out a meeting link and agenda prior to the meeting. Class Parents please attend so we can catch up on classroom details. If you are unable to attend, let me know ahead of time and we can go over things in email if needed. If you have not already done so, start collecting info from our lovely teachers so we can move on to collecting information from parents next. If you have not gotten any communications from the PTO but would like to attend (all are welcome to join us!!), email me and I will send you a link.

We are still looking for an additional parent for grades 1 and 3. If you are interested but aren't sure what the role entails, reach out and I will be happy to provide the details.

We are also still interested in having a Secretary role filled on the PTO leadership team. If you would like to be more involved and are curious as to what the role entails, please reach out!

Looking forward to our first meeting!

Warmly,

Lindsay Mendyka

Chair

Lyme School PTO

pto@lymeschool.org

​Tax ID: 84-3088728

Hello K-4 Parents,

Welcome to the Four Winds program at the Lyme School!

As most of you know, Lyme School students, beginning in kindergarten and through fourth grade, participate in Four Winds, a community-based natural science program offered by the Four Winds Nature Institute and delivered by community volunteers in collaboration with classroom teachers. Four Winds’ curriculum emphasizes experiential learning in nature, connects our students to the northern forest landscape and community that they are a part of, and introduces scientific concepts and methods in playful ways.

This year, we will focus on the biological connection between structure and function in living organisms. Through lessons on spiders, animal skulls, owls, animal defenses, and bees, we will explore the incredible array of shapes, forms, and behaviors that allow living organisms to meet basic needs.

We are currently seeking parent and community volunteers to join us in the classroom! This opportunity involves attending five 2-hour trainings in September, October, January, March, and April (3 trainings in Piermont, 2 trainings in Lyme), and preparing, coordinating, and teaching five 1-1.5 hour lessons in 1-2 classrooms. Four Winds provides the curriculum and training, and they, along with our community volunteers and classroom teachers, offer incredible support to create meaningful experiences for our students. Our work begins on September 14 with our first training from 9-11 am at the Piermont Village School. If you are interested, please contact me to learn more: merritt.patridge@gmail.com.

This program thrives because of the collaboration between the Lyme School, K-4 teachers, parent and community volunteers, and the Four Winds Nature Institute - thank you to everyone involved in bringing this opportunity to life for our students at the Lyme School!

Merritt

Merritt Patridge

Four Winds Volunteer Coordinator

Parent of a 3rd grader and a 5th grader at the Lyme School

Email: merritt.patridge@gmail.com

The Lyme School Apparel Store has a variety of apparel and accessories all customizable with a variety of school logos. The Lyme School PTO earns 12% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school and go Lions! #LYMESCHOOLROCKS

Grant Brook Cleanup – Sat, Sept 19 (9 AM ~ 12 PM)

Join CommunityCare Lyme and the Conservation Commission for the annual Grant Brook Cleanup as Lyme’s Source to Sea participation on Saturday, September 19, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

This event is as much an opportunity to explore the brook's history as it is a cleanup. Participants will cover a 1.7-mile one-way route ending at River Road, a vehicle will shuttle participants back to the starting point at the end of the cleanup.

Key Logistics

• Meeting Time & Place: 9:00 AM at the Big Rock Trailhead (park along Market Street).

• Welcome: Brief opening remarks by Marilla Harris-Vincent, Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) NH River Steward.

• Gear: Wear clothing that can get wet and sturdy footwear (waders, high rubber boots, or secure sandals). Bring water and bug spray. Trash bags and gripper gloves will be provided.

• Route Note: Participants will walk in shallow, uneven streambeds.

Registration Link: Please register in advance to complete the CRC participation waiver and help us gauge headcounts: Grant Brook Cleanup Registration

If you have any specific questions about the event, please reach out to Niles Donegan bicoid@gmail.com

OUR VALUES

● Fairness ● Acceptance of Others ● Integrity ● Responsibility

● Perseverance ● Individuality ● Compassion ● Courage

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Elise Foxall, Academic Director

Geoff Tomlinson, Student Services Director