Center Stage
January 16, 2026
Dear Parents and Guardians,
What an exciting week it was at Windham Center School! Our community enjoyed several wonderful events, including the WCS Spelling Bee, the Kids Heart Challenge Kickoff Assembly, and an Orchestra Concert.
We kicked off Wednesday morning with the WCS Spelling Bee. One student from each of our 19 classrooms represented their peers, and the competition lasted an impressive 23 rounds with some very challenging words. Our students did an amazing job carefully listening to each word and demonstrated incredible perseverance, impressing the audience of parents and staff. Congratulations to Paribo on her win! We look forward to Paribo representing WCS in the next stage of the competition.
Wednesday afternoon, we officially kicked off our American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge. Students were sent home with packets today to begin raising money to support kids with special hearts while also learning hands-only CPR which is an important life-saving skill that can make a difference in our community. WCS has participated in this program for many years, with a brief pause during COVID. We are proud to share that we were recognized as the number one fundraiser in the state of New Hampshire and have raised over $340,000 to support this important cause. This year, we have challenged our students to raise $11,500, and we look forward to continuing to make a difference together.
In the evening, we enjoyed an outstanding performance by our WCS Orchestra. We were blown away by the level of challenging music our young musicians continue to learn and share. The concert concluded with a combined performance by orchestra students in grades 5–8. Keep shining and spreading the joy of music to others!
A few important reminders:
Lost and Found: Our lost and found has been relocated to a more convenient spot outside the cafeteria near the gym. Many items come in through after-school activities. Unclaimed items will be donated on February 20, as students head into vacation.
Physical Education: Physical activity is an important part of our students’ school day, and students have PE classes twice a week. We are seeing an increase in students arriving without appropriate footwear. Please remind your child to wear proper footwear on PE days. If a student is not prepared to participate, they will be given an alternative written activity rather than sitting out. I will also be reminding students of this during lunch next week.
Assembly Update: Our Sam Demma “Empty Your Backpack” assembly, originally scheduled for January 5, has been postponed and will now take place on April 3.
I hope you all enjoy the long weekend in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Mrs. Martin
WCS Principal
16th-T2 Progress Reports Grades Close
19th-Martin Luther King Jr. Day-No School
20th-School Board Meeting
21st-WCS Band
23rd-WCS Band/Orchestra Concert Snow Date
23rd-Progress Reports Available to Parents
23rd-Career Awareness Job Fair
25th-29th-WCS Tech Week
26th-Career Awareness Job Fair Snow Date
30th-WCS Musical (Junie B. Jones)
31st-WCS Musical (Junie B. Jones)
The cold and flu season is upon us. To prevent widespread flu and other sickness in the school, we recommend that students stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold-like symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your them to school, please consider the following guidelines:
Consider keeping students at home for an extra day of rest and observation if they have any of the following symptoms:
Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
Headache
Stomach ache
Definitely keep students at home for treatment and observation if they have any of following symptoms:
Fever (greater than 100F)
Vomiting (even once)
Diarrhea
Chills
General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
Students can return back to school if they are fever free for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medication. Students should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.
Please contact our school nurse Mrs. Dolezal ldolezal@windhamsd.org with any questions.
Our school is getting ready to kick off the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge (KHC)! Join today to make a difference in the fight against heart disease and stroke.
Register online at and complete Finn’s Mission to learn Hands-Only CPR.
- 1. Register today and download the AHA Schools app. Register at your school! http://www2.heart.org/goto/windhamcenter
- Start Finn’s Mission to complete your challenges and change lives!
We're going to make a huge impact together!
P.S. Grown-Ups - Check to see if your employer has a matching gift program—it could double your donation! Follow the steps and forward the confirmation to MatchingGifts@heart.org.
If your child is going to be absent or late to school, please put this information in Pick Up Patrol. If for some reason you are unable to do so, please call the absence line at 603-845-1554, Option 1. If we have no received proper notification, your child will receive an unexcused absence and you will receive an auto call.
