Students will have a special each day, and the first special of the year is PE/Health. Please send students to school with sneakers for the rest of the week. They will have a great first week of school by being ready to participate in PE with our new PE teacher, Mr. LeGraw! We are lucky to have PE all week and next week too!

Please fill out this short survey about how your student is going home on the first day of school:

1st Day of School & Early Dismissal Plans

Thank you!

Riders: Students who are being dropped off or picked up by a family member will remain in their car in the Rider Line until after busses have left Pierce School. After the bus has left the school, cars are allowed to use the bus lane to drop students off at the school in the Rider Lane, which is also the Bus Lane. Please do not park directly behind a bus while waiting to drop off or pick up your student, as the bus needs to swing out to leave, and it is a violation for the bus to leave if a car is directly behind it. If someone needs to pick up a student who is not in Power School, please call the office in advance, or we will need to call the parent/guardian to ensure that this is an approved family pickup.

Thank you for your help with this.

Walkers: Due to safety concerns, walkers will need to be checked out at the front of the school by a family member who is authorized to release a student in Power School. If someone needs to pick up a student who is not in Power School, please call the office in advance, or we will need to call the parent/guardian to ensure that this is an approved family pickup. Student safety is our top priority, and we are not going to be crossing students across the street to the Common Place Restaurant/Church parking lot any longer. If you are meeting your student, please come in to have your student released to you at the school, or you can have your student become a Rider. Thank you for your patience as we work through this process to increase student safety with a busy road and young students. We appreciate your support!

Reminder: When coming to Pierce School, there is very limited parking for events and student arrival/dismissal. Please be mindful of families who are walking to school, and students who are still learning how to be street-safe. Safety is our top priority, and we ask that you help keep everyone safe by not parking in the bus lane during school bus arrival/dismissal times. We want to remind families that the bus takes up a large amount of room to pull into the bus lane, and to exit it, so cars are not allowed in the bus lane until after both buses leave Pierce School.

1. Missed Lessons = Falling Behind: Even one day can mean missing critical instructions and activities, making it harder for your child to catch up.

2. Impact on Future Success: Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of academic achievement and future opportunities.

3. Building Resilience: Regular attendance teaches your child the value of perseverance and responsibility—essential skills for success in life.

4. Stronger Friendships: Daily presence helps your child develop and sustain friendships, which are crucial for emotional and social development.

5. Healthy Routine: Attending school every day establishes a stable routine, promoting better mental and physical health.

Who to contact if your child doesn't want to come to school: Mrs. Kotwicki, School Counselor, is available at school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Ms. Hansen-Proulx, Principal, is always available, in addition to Mrs. Kotwicki, so please reach out if you need some support. Please call the main office to be connected: 603-588-2131. Thank you, we want to partner with you to help support your family!

Open House is scheduled for September 26th, 5:30 - 6:30 pm. This is an opportunity for families to come into the school to see what their student has been working on in the classroom. Student routines and activities will be more solidified, and this is a chance to come in and see what your student has been doing so far. We hope you will come in, even if just for a quick visit!

We will have other resources and organizations at our Open House during this family event. This is a time to see what other activities are going on in the community and are available to your student and family.

The 24-25 school year is an incredible time to get involved in the Parent-Teacher Organization to support Pierce School. We would love to see you for the first PTO meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 11th at 6-7pm. We hope you can come, and we would love new members to continue doing great things to keep our school thriving. We meet in the library and hope to see you there!

If you have any questions about the PTO, please reach out to PTO President, Tanisha Lowell at ptopierceelem@gmail.com or by calling the main office at (603) 588-2131. Have a great start to the school year!

Whatever their age, many kids are apprehensive about starting school or going back to school. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to ease their minds and help them get ready for a new school year.

1. Early to bed, early to rise

Getting back into a school sleep schedule won’t happen overnight! Before school starts, get your child into the habit of going to bed earlier. Gentle winding-down activities such as bath time and reading before bed can help your child relax.

2. Re-establish a routine

Establishing a consistent routine is important for kids. Write out the steps in the routine and rehearse them with your child. In the evening, this could include doing homework, playtime, brushing their teeth, having a bath, and reading before bed.

3. Encourage independence

Children who play an active role in preparing for back to school – such as choosing and organizing school supplies and new clothes – are more likely to get excited about going back to school, which can ease their jitters. Daily, age-appropriate tasks will help your child gain independence and confidence.

4. Choose the right backpack

Backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly could result in muscle strain, headaches, and neck pain. Try to choose a backpack made of sturdy, lightweight fabric with wide, padded straps that will support your child’s shoulders. Watch that they don’t sling it over just one shoulder.

5. Talk about safety

Review outdoor safety rules – things like looking both ways before crossing the street, taking the same route every day if they are walking, familiarizing themselves with crosswalk rules, and being cautious in talking to strangers.

6. Establish healthy habits

Involve your children in choosing and preparing healthy lunches and snacks. Help them find physical activities they enjoy. Try to stick to regular meal times and include your child in packing lunches or snacks.

7. Limit screen time

Back to school is the perfect opportunity to re-establish screen time limits. Why not have the whole family “unplug” in the evenings before bedtime? Choose a spot where everybody can charge their devices overnight. Use an alarm clock instead of a cell phone to wake up in the mornings.

8. Map it out

If your kids are starting at a new school, practice walking or driving to the bus stop or to the school building before school starts. You could even play in the school playground before school starts. This creates fun memories associated with the school before summer vacation ends.

9. Talk about first-week jitters

Reassure your child that being nervous is natural – even for teachers. You can help your child cope with these feelings when you:

• Let them express their fears. Perhaps you can offer stories of your own first-day jitters when you were a child.
• Teach them to breathe deeply and slowly to calm their nerves.
• Discuss the scenarios that worry them. For example, if they’re worried about who to sit with or talk to on the first day, help them plan a strategy and rehearse it so they’ll know what to do.

10. Celebrate the start of a new school year

If you celebrate the first day of school, your kids will see back-to-school as a transition they can really enjoy. Don’t forget to take a picture on the front step in their first day-of-school outfits. It’s going to be a great year!