WHS Parent Newsletter

Happy Friday!

It was a great week at WHS as we were able to celebrate the passions of so many of our students--from the NHMEA Modern Band Festival on Monday to a FIRST Robotics presentation at Tuesday's School Board meeting, the delivery of benches that were part of an Eagle Scout project, a fantastic fall themed Unified FACs coffee cart delivery for staff, and the first episode of JagNews. Additionally, our student-athletes have continued to compete at a high level as we begin to near the end of the regular season.

We are heading in the right direction in the TMobile Friday Night 5G Lights Contest!! Keep Voting!!!!

As a reminder, next week the district will be hosting its yearly Meet & Greet/Parent Safety Night. On Wednesday, October 15th, from 5:30 to 6:00 pm, we invite the community to the Windham High School Media Center to meet our newest school and district leaders. Following this event, our School Resource Officer, Matthew Nieves, and School Marshal, Phil O’Loughlin, will join Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Erin Hagerty, as they present the district’s Safety Response Protocols (SRPs) to parents, explaining how we train staff and students. The Parent Safety Night presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. We encourage parents to attend and ask questions so that we remain united in our efforts to create safe learning environments for our staff and students.

I hope you all have a great long weekend!

In this edition (*new information is bolded)

• Shout Outs
• Senior Information: Cap & Gown Orders; Yearbook Photos due 10/15
• Community Service Opportunities
• Student Council Updates: Homecoming Dance
• Technology: School Messenger Text Opt-In; MyPowerHub Notifications; Parent Portal Information (PowerSchool and Schoology)
• General School: Student Arrival and Dismissal procedures; Reporting Absences/Tardies/Dismissals; Bus Tracking App
• School Counseling Information: Red Ribbon Week; Standardized Testing Overview; Therapy Dogs; Senior College Checklist; Upcoming College Visits; ApplyNH; Rivier On-the-Spot Decision Day; MCC HVAC courses
• Athletics: Fall Sports; October Weight Room Schedule
• Free Tutoring Resource
• Volunteer Information
• We're Hiring!
• WHS Events: Lunch Group; TMobile Contest
• Outside Events: Join the PTA; WMAA Fundraisers; Craft Fair; Boosters Golf Ball Drop; Windham Basketball; Turkey Trot

• October 13: No School- Columbus Day
• October 15: New Administration Meet & Greet at 5:30 pm; Safety Information Presentation at 6:00 pm
• October 20-24 Spirit Week
• Monday: Monochrome
• Tuesday: PJ Day
• Wednesday: Jagwear
• Thursday: USA (red, white, and blue) day
• Friday: Class Color Day
• October 22: Early Release Day
• October 25: Homecoming Dance from 6-9 pm

Daily bell schedule for WHS

WHS October Calendar

Link to 2025-2026 District Calendar

• Congratulations to Junior Ella Geraci who was announced this past weekend as the new Miss Merrimack’s Teen 2026, as part of Miss Merrimack/Miss American's Teen scholarship Program. Throughout her junior year, she will be promoting her own community service initiative, HOPE after heart ache: A Canvas For Grief, empowering children by instilling hope through the arts.
• On Tuesday evening, members of the WHS FIRST Robotics team, Windham Windup 3467, showcased their highly successful 2025 season at the Windham School Board meeting. The group spoke about their robot, competition experiences, teamwork, and community outreach efforts. It was a great presentation about this fantastic group!
• Shout-out to WHS Senior, Nicholas Redard, who earlier this week delivered 10 outdoor benches to the school. The benches, designed so that they can also flip to desks, were part of his Eagle Scout project. The project was supported by a generous gift from the Class of 2023.
• A shout-out to Nurse Casey Bly for holding down the Health Office while Nurse Crowley has been on maternity leave! She has worked tirelessly to keep WHS students and staff safe and healthy this school year. All her efforts are greatly appreciated and we're all fortunate to have her on the job! Thank you also to Nurse Ercolini and all of the substitute nurse who came up to fill in as well.

We have moved the ordering for cap and gowns online this year. There is no cost for the cap and gown, but we want to make sure we get you the accurate size, so please visit the site to fill out your information. Orders should be completed by Winter break to ensure a timely delivery. Gowns will be handed out the week prior to graduation at senior check out day. If you have any questions about this process, please see Janessa Murphy in school counseling.

PORTRAIT REQUIREMENTS

The senior portrait section is a formal section of the yearbook, and has set guidelines so that it is consistent and no one picture stands out. Portraits should be a high quality, vertically oriented portrait of the student only, with a traditional, non-distracting indoor or outdoor background. Amateur snapshots and candid photos are not accepted. Composition should be an *upper body pose, leaving enough space around the subject to allow for the yearbook staff to crop best within the design (face-only or full length shots are not recommended). All professional photography standards in terms of lighting, composition, and clarity should be observed. (See note below).

• Format: digital (.jpg)

• Color: color preferred (book is full–color)

• Resolution: high, print-quality resolution (300 dpi or greater)

• Orientation: vertical (portrait)

• Signature: no studio signature/logo on photo please. Please note that photos submitted with a logo will be rejected and may not be included.

• Size: The Yearbook staff will crop and/or fit to size if necessary

The yearbook staff reserves the right to reject any portraits that do not meet above specifications. WHS Dress Code applies to your photo as well.

WHS students have access to a wide variety of community service opportunities in our community. These experiences help students give back, explore interests, and build skills that will benefit them beyond high school.

Opportunities are updated regularly and can be found here:
👉Current WHS Community Service Opportunities Folder

Here are the links to upcoming October Community Service Opportunities:

• 2025-10-04 Carnival Volunteer Flyer
• 2025-10-17 Windham CoOp Fall Fair
• 2025-10-18 Central NH Alzheimer's Walk
• 2025-10-18 WBSL Concessions @ Harvest Festival
• 2025-10-18 WMAA Craft Fair
• FALL SPORTS WHS Boosters Concessions

Please remind your student that volunteer hours should be logged in x2VOL through Clever within 30 days of completion.An accurate email address is required for hour verification. Hours are verified & approved before they can count toward graduation requirements.

Encourage your student to get involved—volunteering is a wonderful way to grow, connect, and contribute!

Any questions or want some assistance, please email us!

Kimber Leuteritz & Laura Boyd
School to Career Office

Student Council is excited to host our annual Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 25th from 6:00pm - 9:00PM in the WHS Gym! Tickets are $20 per person online or in person. The cost of the ticket includes snacks and drinks!

Guests are welcome at the Homecoming Dance:

• Guests must be under 20 years old
• WHS Homecoming Guest Form is completed and turned in by Monday, October 20th, 2025
• If students and guests are purchasing a ticket at the door, Guest Form must be turned in to the WHS Main office by Monday, October 20th, 2025

Guest Form:

The guest form was sent to students. This form needs to be printed, and the guest's school needs to fill out the form. Please turn this form in to the main office by Monday, October 20th. If the guest form is not completed - the ticket may be cancelled.

Homecoming tickets are being sold:

• Online: From Monday, October 13th at 6:00AM - Wednesday, October 22nd at 11:59PM.

• In Person: at the door at 6:00PM

Class Dues:

Class dues must be paid to attend the Homecoming Dance. Class dues can be paid online! They are assigned to your PowerSchool Account!

We are looking forward to celebrating Homecoming with you! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

Instructions for how to opt-in for text messages

Instructions for adjusting parent notifications in MyPowerHub are available here.

We are proud to introduce a new parent platform, MyPowerHub. 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

If you have not logged into the platform yet, please follow the instructions below to log in:

• Desktop view - Login and Overview
• Mobile App - Login and Overview
• View Bus Routes Instructions
• Complete Registration Forms Instructions

PowerSchool Parent Portal

• Used to view your student's
• Report cards
• Course and assignment grades
• Lunch balances and other school fees
• Attendance
• Schedules
• Need to Sign in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal for the first time? Follow these instructions to activate your account. Please complete this process on a laptop or desktop for the best results! If you encounter any difficulties, please complete the Parent PowerSchool Account Support form.
• App vs. Website: Here is a helpful guide comparing when to use the PowerSchool app versus when to use the website.
• Questions?
• If you need assistance in viewing a student’s information, please contact PowerSchool@windhamsd.org and include your student’s name and grade level.
• If you need assistance signing into your PowerSchool parent portal, please contact PowerSchool@windhamsd.org.

Schoology Parent Portal

• Used to view your student's
• Courses
• Upcoming, current, and overdue assignments
• Daily/weekly student agendas
• Set up weekly notifications within the platform
• In order to gain access, all parents (K-12) will need to log in and use the password Changeme1 the first time they access their Schoology Parent account this year. Please make sure to follow the instructions on how to reset your password after logging in.You will need to use the same email from your PowerSchool Parent Portal Login. Please read through the instructions carefully in order to successfully activate your account. The login link is provided within the instructions. We recommend you complete the reactivation/set-up on a laptop/desktop for the best user experience.
• Questions?
• If you need assistance in signing into your Schoology, please contact PowerSchool@windhamsd.org.
• If you need assistance in viewing a student’s information, please contact PowerSchool@windhamsd.org and include your student’s name and grade level.
• If you have questions about the classroom page content, please contact your student's teacher directly.

The first bell rings at 7:47 a.m., and students are considered tardy after 7:52 a.m. Students are dismissed at 2:17 p.m. All parent pick-up should take place behind the school building. Please do not pick up in front of the building or in the Visitor Parking lot at the front of the school. This causes safety issues in an area where students are walking and buses are operating.

We will continue to utilize PickUp Patrol as the preferred method for reporting student tardies, absences, and early dismissals.

Changes can be entered into the system from a smartphone or computer days, weeks, or months in advance, and at any time up until 1:20pm on the day of the change. After 1:50 pm, changes will not be accepted except in the case of an emergency. Such changes can be made via phone directly to the main office. The end of the school day is a busy time, so to ensure the safety of all students, please plan accordingly and limit these exceptions to emergencies only.

Alternatively, you may use the attendance email, whsattendance@windhamsd.org, or call the main WHS line at (603) 845-1558, Option 1.

If you need any assistance with PickUp Patrol, please reach out to Mr. Keshigian (mkeshigian@windhamsd.org).

Students are getting ready for Red Ribbon Week® 2025. We're thrilled to reveal the 2025 Red Ribbon Campaign theme, "Life Is A Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free." This powerful theme symbolizes how every

choice we make fits into the bigger picture just like a puzzle coming together. Living drug-free helps build a stronger, brighter future, one piece at a time. At school, students will engage in activities that promote a drug free and healthy lifestyle.

The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week (www.redribbon.org).

What is Red Ribbon Week?

The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign® is to present a unified and visible commitment

towards the creation of a drug-free America. It is an ideal way for people and communities to

unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal commitment to a drug-free

lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon, October 27th - October 31st.

DID YOU KNOW?

Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs

than those who don't; yet, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. Red

Ribbon Week®, the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, is your

opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started. Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about

Red Ribbon Week® and get tips for talking to kids about a drug free lifestyle.

As you plan ahead for standardized testing, here is some important information about the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, and ACT.

Every student’s goals and timelines look a little different, so use this resource to help determine the testing schedule that’s right for your family.

The Standardized Test Information Document breaks down each of the three major standardized tests, compares the SAT and ACT, outlines a sample testing timeline, and offers test prep recommendations.

As a district we will be having therapy dogs visiting the schools. At WHS these dogs visit advisories, as well as classrooms that sign-up for a visit. If you would like to opt your child out, please contact our guidance department (kkennedy@windhamsd.org). Thank you!

College Application Checklist

Visits will be hosted in the School Counseling office. Please be sure to register in Naviance.

Thursday, October 16

This event will be held on-site on 11/14, but appointments should be made ahead of time using this form.

Please see below for more information

Windham offers ten fall sports:

• Bass fishing
• Cheer
• Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Golf
• Boys' and Girls' Soccer
• Girls' Volleyball

All athletic schedules can be found on the Windham BigTeams website. Coaches communicate using Sportsyou.com

Any questions can be directed to:

• Jon Hall – Athletic Director, email: jhall@windhamsd.org, phone: 603-845-1558 x 5804
• Donna DiZazzo – Athletics Admin Asst., email: jhilton@windhamsd.org, phone: 603-845-1558 x 5803

The WHS Weight Room is staffed for student use on the following dates:

Our volunteers are a critical component of our school district's success, and we appreciate and thank them for their time and commitment! Beginning in late August, returning designated volunteers will receive notifications from the online training system. If you are interested in volunteering or are new to our district, please follow the process outlined on our website. If you have any questions about this process, please email hr@windhamsd.org.

The following events are sponsored by organizations outside our school community

Location: 64 London Bridge Road, Windham, NH 03087, USA
Phone: 603-845-1558

Email: smckenna@windhamsd.org
Website: https://whs.windhamsd.org/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/WindhamHighSchool
Twitter: @WHSJaguars