August 19, 2025

Dear Center School Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! It is with the deepest gratitude and excitement that I officially begin this journey with you as the new principal of Center School. Over the past two months, I have been warmly welcomed into the Center School Community and I have enjoyed getting to begin forming connections with many of you. I am so honored to serve here at Center.

As I shared back in the spring, I believe that good leadership starts with strong relationships and those relationships grow through listening, learning, and building trust. I am fully committed to doing this work with humility, openness, and a core belief that every child can thrive when they feel supported and truly known.

I invite you to stay connected and involved. Your voices matter, and they will continue to shape our shared path forward. I have greatly appreciated the feedback throughout my summer listening sessions. Please consider joining one of my monthly coffee hour sessions or evening virtual listening sessions as we dive into the 2025-2026 school year. Our first coffee hour date will be Friday, September 19th at 9:00am. Our first virtual listening session will be September 22nd at 5:00pm.

I have a firm belief that clear and consistent communication is an essential element of a high functioning school. You can expect this weekly newsletter to be delivered on Monday mornings for the remainder of the school year (starting on 9/1/2025). We will link the weekly editions to the Center website for easy access as well.

Thank you for your trust and partnership. I am excited for the year ahead and all the learning, discovery, and growth it will bring. I look forward to building strong, ongoing relationships that support every student at Center. Wishing everyone an amazing first day of school! Let’s have an incredible year together!

In partnership,

Kerryann Coppinger

Principal

kcoppinger@nrsd.net

Tuesday, August 26th, 3:30pm: Principal Coppinger Virtual Read-Aloud for Students

Wednesday, August 27th: First Day of School (Grades 1-5); Kindergarten Orientation Sessions (9:00-11:00 and 12:30-2:30)

Thursday, August 28th: First Day of School (Kindergarten); Pre-School Orientation

Friday, August 29th: First Day of School (Pre-School)

September 1, 2025: No School

September 10, 2025: Center Back to School Night (Grades 1-5) from 6:00-8:00pm

September 12, 2025: Early Release (Student Dismissal at 12:15pm)

September 19, 2025: Coffee Hour with Mrs. Coppinger at 9:00am

September 22, 2025: Virtual Listening Session with Mrs. Coppinger at 5:00pm

September 23, 2025: Grade Five Outdoor Classroom Guardian Zoom at 5:00pm

I am thrilled in introduce some new faces you can anticipate seeing at Center this year!

Kirsten Gallagher, Administrative Assistant

Audra Maria, School Nurse

Beth Warner, Art Teacher

Lindsey Coen, Grade Four Teacher

Marcia Stevens, Physical Education Teacher

Chelsea Friedman, Special Educator

Natalie Garcia - Grade Five Teacher (LTS)

Sophia Dellasanta - Instructional Assistant (LTS)

Emily Strzegowski - Grade Five Teacher

Katie Tomasetti -Early Literacy Tutor

Stacy Provencher - Early Literacy Tutor

Stephanie Worth - Early Literacy Tutor

Tanner Cote - Custodian

TBD- Band Director

TBD - Math Coach

TBD - Team Chair

We are thrilled to share that we will be rolling out a new attendance system across the elementary schools in the district. For the 2025-2026 school year we are shifting to Pick Up Patrol for all attendance plans. Be on the look out for a communication with information on how to get started with the new program in the coming days. Families will be required to set up their child's dismissal plans on the app this year.

Thank you for your support in having a clear streamlined process for attendance.

When to Keep Your Child Home from School:

• If your child is unable to participate fully in school activities because of illness

• When your child has a contagious condition or a rash with an unknown cause

• When your child has had a fever of 100°F or more within the last 24 hours when not taking fever-reducing medications

• If your child has had vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours or is unable to eat normally

• If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat and has not been taking antibiotic medication or at least 24 hours

• If your child has red/pink eyes with drainage

• If your child has chicken pox, he or she must stay home until all lesions have scabbed over

Please contact the school nurse when:

• Your child's health status has changed

• Your child has had a recent serious illness, injury, surgery or hospitalization

• Your child has been diagnosed with a contagious condition such as: strep throat, chicken pox, whooping cough, head lice, scabies, flu, Coxsackie virus

• Your child cannot participate fully in Physical Education or recess

• There are family changes or other concerns that may affect your child in school

Please RSVP so we know how much food we need! Please join us for the annual Back-to-School BBQ as we launch an exciting new year at Center School!

We’re looking for extra hands to help make this event a success—both in the days leading up and on the night itself! Please sign up for a short timeslot

Please click here to let us know what you would like to bring to the event!

This year, the SPTO is providing the main dishes from new Stow Food Truck "Q on 4 Wheels" and some from Fireflies, and we’d love your help to make this a true community celebration. Families are encouraged to bring a potluck-style item (side, dessert etc.) to share.

The district has a thoughtful process for monitoring enrollment, and based on current numbers, the incoming fifth grade met the threshold to warrant an additional class section. We work closely with district leadership to ensure alignment with enrollment standards and class size. Fifth grade families received direct communication regarding their new classroom teacher assignment earlier in the summer.

This summer we are also thrilled to be hiring for a new position. The district was able to add three part time early literacy tutor positions to each of the elementary schools. We are so excited to see the impact this has on our tiered literacy instruction.

Additionally, over the summer Sarah Wrathall resigned so we will have a new band director for our fourth and fifth graders.

Returning Student Registration was sent to families on Thursday, August 14th. If you received an email prompting you to complete the Returning Student Registration for your child please complete it by September 2nd. If you have any questions please reach out to Kirsten Gallagher at kgallagher@nrsd.net. We thank you in advance for getting this back to school task completed.

Substitutes play a critical role in helping our school succeed and Center School needs more of them! If you have the flexibility in your schedule or know someone who does, it is an incredible way to support our school community. Please reach out with any questions.

Apply Here

We appreciate your help in growing our substitute pool!