Canterbury Elementary School

I hope everyone had a happy and healthy summer! I am excited to welcome our students and families back for another wonderful school year. In the following pages, you will find lots of helpful information. You'll want to keep this newsletter in a safe place, and refer to it often.

Time Travel: Connecting Learning to Our Community

Our school-wide theme for this year, Time Travel, will provide meaningful opportunities for students to make connections across subjects and disciplines while exploring and deepening their understanding of Canterbury’s history. The theme is especially timely as Canterbury prepares to celebrate its Tricentennial in 2027.

To enrich students’ understanding of our town’s history, we have been working with members of the Tricentennial Committee and have established a CES Artist in Residence Committee. Together, we will collaborate on engaging activities, events, and learning experiences that bring local history to life throughout the school year. AIR Committee members met this summer to narrow our options and identify key next steps in the planning process.

A New Communication Board for the Playground

I am grateful to our PTO for procuring a beautiful new communication board for students to use on the playground. A communication board is a tool featuring pictures, symbols, words, and letters that a person can point to or gesture toward to communicate thoughts, needs, and feelings. It is a form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that can help make communication more accessible and inclusive. The PTO plans to hold a playground party and communication board unveiling in September. More details will be shared soon!

Summer Learning

Our on-site summer learning programs kept students engaged throughout July. Thank you to Mrs. Shoemaker, Ms. Tilton, Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Vandewater, and Mrs. Jewell for their time, energy, and dedication to our learners. Students worked hard, learned a lot, and had fun along the way!

Summer Building Improvements

This summer, our school completed a significant heating and ventilation upgrade across multiple classrooms and offices. Older Univents, which had become increasingly inefficient and required frequent repairs, were replaced with energy-efficient Vaillant systems. The new units provide improved heating, air intake, and circulation, creating a more comfortable learning environment for students and staff while also increasing energy efficiency.

I also want to express my appreciation to our Head Custodian, Dawn Angus, for her tremendous efforts to prepare our building for the new school year. Her work cleaning, moving, waxing, organizing, and attending to countless details has our school just about ready to welcome learners through our doors on August 31!

Welcome to Our New Staff Members

I am pleased to introduce our newest members of the CES school community:

• Katie Collins – Grade 5 Teacher

• Jennifer Fadden – 1:1 Assistant

• Patti Hendrick – School Secretary

• Olive Majok – 1:1 Assistant

• Christopher Stimson – Music Teacher

Please join me in welcoming our new staff members to CES. We look forward to a wonderful school year ahead!

Ms. Hendrick is excited to join the CES family as the new secretary. She brings a wealth of experience from previous roles at Barnstead Elementary School, where she was the Administrative Assistant for the past 15 years. Prior to that, she was a firefighter and specialized in search and rescue.

Ms. Hendrick has 3 children. They are all grown and all attached to the military. Her youngest son is currently a Chief in the Navy, serving in CA. Her oldest son is a retired Marine, and her daughter is married to a retired Marine.

In her free time, she enjoys working in her yard, spending time with her family, riding her motorcycle and volunteering her time with the elderly. She and her husband live in Concord with their Great Dane Louie.

Bus Information

Bus schedules from First Student are posted at sau80.org, or you may click the link below to view them.

First Student uses an app called FirstView. FirstView is a real-time GPS vehicle tracking and student transportation monitoring and communication platform. With FirstView, parents and caregivers can download the secure, easy-to-use vehicle tracking mobile app that will allow you to stay easily connected with your student(s) daily trips and provide you with access to the following:

• See the real-time vehicle location via GPS and track its progress.
• Easy access to vehicle details as well as updates regarding any changes.
• Receive multiple distanced-based ETA notifications when the vehicle is getting close.
• Set-up family members and caregivers to receive trip email alerts.
• Dedicated customer support team for all app-related questions.
• Easily receive communication for delayed or rerouted buses.

Additional details about FirstView and how to sign up will be sent from our Director of Technology, Brandon Patterson.

Please call First Student at 603-524-1787 with any questions regarding bus transportation.

Morning Arrival

Parking is allowed on the right side of the parking lot only between 9 AM and 3 PM, and after dismissal ends at approximately 3:30 PM. This eliminates private vehicles moving through while students are exiting buses/cars. This also prevents a backup of traffic on Baptist Road.

Attendance/PickUp Patrol

Regular attendance is CRITICAL for school success. Children need to attend as many school days as possible. Personal illness, family emergency, and other urgent reasons affecting the child may necessitate absence. CES uses PickUp Patrol to manage student absences and transportation, including transportation changes. PickUp Patrol’s free parent app makes tracking dismissal time safe and convenient. If your child cannot attend school, please utilize the app by visiting pickuppatrol.net. If it is necessary for a child to be absent for five or more consecutive days, they should return to school with a note from a doctor.

Late Arrival/Early Dismissal

Students who arrive at school after 8:30 AM must be escorted to the school and signed in by a parent/guardian. Please sign in at the clipboard on the table in the vestibule. Students will receive a late pass and then walk to class.

If you are dismissing your student early, please sign them out at the same clipboard on the table in the vestibule. Please wait while Ms. Hendrick calls them to come down from class. Do not proceed to your child's classroom. You must notify the office no later than 2:00 PM with end-of-day transportation changes by accessing our PickUp Patrol app. The office is VERY busy in the last hours of the day. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!

Note: Dismissal changes need to go through the office (use PickUp Patrol) and not the classroom teachers. This helps us to ensure that changes are accurately noted. For example, in the event of a teacher absence, messages to the teacher would not be seen and able to be addressed. The PickUp Patrol app is easy and convenient to use. All changes now go through the app.

Visitor/Volunteer Sign In Process

If you are visiting CES for a meeting or to volunteer, please see Ms. Hendrick in the main office. She will give you a visitor's badge and have you sign in before you proceed to your destination. You may be asked to display photo ID as we ensure the identity of all visitors. This process allows us to know who is in our buildings at all times in case of an emergency. Thank you in advance for helping us to ensure the safety of all of our students.

Breakfast/Morning Recess

Students may get breakfast in the cafeteria or play with friends outside from 8:10-8:30. On rainy days, the students will wait in the gym with adult supervision. Please email our Director of Food Service, Nancy Cate, with any questions regarding meals at ncate@sau80.org.

Starting Our Day

The bell to start the day rings at 8:30. Students will line up outside with their classes at this time. We have created specific areas for each class to line up. Teachers will greet their learners and bring them inside.

Lunch and Recess

Students will have snack, lunch and recess at the following times:

10:20 Snack

10:35 Recess

11:45 Lunch

12:15 Recess

Dismissal

Dismissal will begin at 3:10. Please ensure that your student(s) know how they are getting home from school. Walkers will be dismissed to the office. We must have written permission in PickUp Patrol for your student to walk home. Kindergarten and first grade students MUST walk home with someone. They may not walk home alone for safety reasons. Bus riders and car riders will be dismissed to the gym, where staff will be on hand to guide them.

No private vehicle is allowed to enter the parking lot from 3 PM until the buses leave at approximately 3:20 PM. Please remember it is illegal to park and wait on Baptist Road in front of the school. That would create a very dangerous situation as traffic attempts to pass waiting vehicles.

After the buses have departed, those in private vehicles may enter the school driveway and proceed to the playground entrance for car rider pick up. A staff member will escort each child safely to their ride.

There is only one entrance to the school parking lot and the traffic must proceed in one direction.

Thank you for your help in ensuring that our routines are efficient and safe.

On the first day of school (Monday, August 31), we ask that everyone follow normal procedures for dropping your child off at school. Parents sometimes want to accompany their student into school, particularly on the first day of kindergarten, which often increases student anxiety. Almost without exception, students calm within minutes of parents leaving, but if parents stay, the anxiety continues. We will have our school counselor and many other staff dedicated to helping our kindergarten students (and all students) work through the challenges of the first day, and this system works very well. We will, of course, call you if there are lasting concerns.

Volunteers are an important part of our school community! Please reach out to your student’s teacher or to our volunteer coordinator, Michelle Nelson (michelleouellette92@gmail.com), to get involved. In order to be a volunteer or chaperone, you will need to have a 2026/2027 Volunteer Affidavit on file with the SAU office. You must also be fingerprinted with the district. To get fingerprinted, please call Heather Barnes at 267-9223 ext. 5304 and make an appointment with her. Fingerprinting results can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. Please see Ms. Hendrick in the office for an affidavit form, or email her at phendrick@sau80.org. You may also complete this process at any of our open house events. Please bring a photo ID. We look forward to having you join us!

I’m thrilled to be starting my 7th year as your principal! Each new school year brings fresh energy, new opportunities, and so much excitement. I continue to feel incredibly grateful to be part of the CES family.

CES is truly a special place: a vibrant, welcoming school where students, families, and staff come together to learn, grow, and support one another. It’s an honor to be part of a place where meaningful connections are made every day.

This year is especially meaningful as Canterbury celebrates its Tricentennial: 300 years of history, tradition, and pride. We are excited to partner with residents and local organizations throughout this milestone celebration, while helping our students explore the rich history of the place they call home. By learning about the people, places, and events that have shaped our town, our children will gain a deeper appreciation for the past while recognizing the important role they play in its future.

I hope your summer has been filled with laughter, rest, and adventure. I can’t wait to welcome everyone back and hear all about your summer memories. Together, we'll make this school year one filled with learning, kindness, discovery, and celebration.

Here's to another fantastic year at CES!

Warmly,

Mrs. Chubb

We also utilize the PBIS framework to support our learners for success (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports). This framework helps staff to proactively teach and recognize pro-social behaviors. We use the acronym PAWS to teach our school rules:

Practice Kindness

Accept Responsibility

Work Hard

Stay Safe

Chelsea Szepan and Allison Snow: Co-Chairs

Aimee Shaw: Treasurer

Lauren Sinclair: Secretary

Michelle Nelson: Volunteer Coordinator

The team will be meeting each month. Please consider joining them! They need your support to continue hosting the many wonderful events that occur each year, and it's a great way to meet other families. The first meeting of the school year will be held on September 10 at 6 PM in the CES gym. All are welcome!

August 25: School Board Meeting (6 PM at CES)

August 26-27: Teacher Workshop Days

August 27: Kindergarten and First Grade Open House events (1-3 PM)

August 31: First Day of School

September 4 and 7: Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL

September 8: Teacher Workshop Day - NO SCHOOL

September 8: School Board Meeting (6 PM at BHS)

September 10: PTO meeting (6 PM)

September 16: Open House, PTO Supper, and Book Fair (5-7 PM)

September 21: CES Clubs begin

September 22: School Board Meeting (6 PM at BHS)

September 23: School Picture Day (retakes are November 4)

Kindergarten and first grade families are welcome to stop by anytime between 1 and 3 PM on August 27 to see the classroom and meet the teachers. We will also have a school bus on site for the children to explore and ride. Volunteer fingerprinting will be available in the main office. Bring your photo ID. Be sure to stop by the PTO table and introduce yourself!

All Grades:

There will be an Open House for all grades on the evening of September 16. Open House is an opportunity for your student to show you around the classroom and introduce you to their teacher. Individual discussions about your child are not appropriate at this time, but will occur in early November at parent-teacher conferences. We will hold the annual PTO Supper and book fair this evening as well as volunteer fingerprinting. Bring your photo ID. More details to come!

Homework Club (grades 1-5) with Ms. Hebert: dhebert@sau80.org

Computer Club (grades 2-5) with Mrs. Myers: jmyers@sau80.org

Yearbook (grades 2-5) with Mrs. Glines: fglines@sau80.org

Student Council (grades 4-5) with Mrs. Wieck: kwieck@sau80.org

School Store (grades 3-5) with Mrs. Briggs: kbriggs@sau80.org

Newsletter Club (grades 2-5) with Mrs. Perlet: eperlet@sau80.org

Fall Garden Club (grades 2-5) with Mrs. Shoemaker and Ms. Tilton: mshoemaker@sau80.org OR jtilton@sau80.org

Running Club (grades 3-5) with Mrs. McCauley and Mrs. Collins: hmccauley@sau80.org OR tcollins@sau80.org

Basketball (grades 3-5) with Mr. Embree: gembree@sau80.org

Volleyball (grades 3-5) with Mr. McWhinnie: ymcwhinnie@gmail.com (please note the different email format)

Robotics (grades 2-5) with Ms. Fehn: kfehn@sau80.org

Regular attendance at school is critical for a student's success. The interactive nature of lessons at school today make it challenging to provide students with the same learning experiences when they return from an absence.

If a student reaches 10 half days (or 5 full days) of unexcused absences in a school year, the State of NH considers that student habitually truant. Our protocols require that we follow a process with families to ensure that the importance of attendance is understood and that unexcused absences are to be avoided.

Below I have attached a PDF of our attendance policy, as well as RSA 193:1 (Duty of a Parent - Compulsory Attendance) and RSA 189:35-a (Truancy defined).

Absences are excused in the event of sickness, required quarantine, a death in the family, or medical appointments. Other absences are considered unexcused and should be avoided.

Please note: SRSD School Board Policy JH states that for absences other than illness, parents must provide a written notice to the principal 10 days prior to the absence: the reason for the absence and how long the student will be absent.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for partnering with CES to support the success of all students.