WHS Parent Newsletter

Happy Friday!

Well, winter is certainly trying to hold on! At WHS, our winter sports seasons are wrapping up--please see the shout out section below for information about several of our teams. We will look forward to celebrating all of our winter athletes at the Winter Sports Awards night on Thursday, March 12 at 6 pm.

We are also looking forward to our spring Parent Teacher Conferences, which will be held this coming week on Wednesday, March 11th from 2:30-6:30PM and Thursday, March 12th from 2:30-5:30PM. Sign-ups are open through this Sunday, March 8th at 8:00 PM and are accessible through PowerHub right within your student’s PowerSchool account (link to the directions for the program).

As a reminder, there will be no school on Tuesday, March 10th due to the Town & School District elections. WHS students are encouraged to come out to the polls to participate in the Students' Vote elections, which has them selecting between a school-wide movie and ice cream event, outdoor recess, and a student vs. staff game. And, of course, we encourage all of our students who are 18 and over to participate in both the elections!

In this edition (*new information is bolded)

• Shout Outs
• Important Information about March 26: PSAT/SATs/Senior Options
• Tutor.com Parent Information Night, 3/11
• Health Office: Flu Season Reminders
• Senior Information: Scholarships
• School Counseling Information: College & Career Fair; Career Day Volunteers Needed; Class of 2026 Scholarships; Therapy Dogs
• ELOs: Class of 2027 Apprenticeships; Marine Industry
• Community Service Opportunities
• Athletics: Winter Sports
• Technology: School Messenger Text Opt-In; MyPowerHub Notifications; Parent Portal Information (PowerSchool and Schoology)
• General School: Free and Reduced Meal Options; Student Arrival and Dismissal procedures; Reporting Absences/Tardies/Dismissals; Bus Tracking App
• Free Tutoring Resource- Digital SAT® test prep; SAT and CTE offerings
• Volunteer Information
• We're Hiring!
• WHS Events: Lunch Group; Pi Day Pi-K; SMILES Fashion Show- postponed
• Outside Events: Bring Back the Trades Expo; WBSL; Windham Youth Lacrosse; FLOW Events; F2FC 5K; Join the PTA

Important Dates

• March 10: Town & School District Elections- No School
• March 11: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 2:30-6:30; Paying for College 101 presentation at 6:30 pm
• March 12: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 2:30-5:30; Winter Sports Awards at 6 pm

Daily bell schedule for WHS

WHS March Calendar

Link to 2025-2026 District Calendar

• Sam Bennett, Genevieve Snell, and Shaye Watson who competed in the NH Girls Wrestling Meet of Champions on Friday--Sam Bennett came in 2nd place earning her a spot at New England's tomorrow. And, Antonino Ciresi, Liam McGrail, Henry Palmer, and Brayden Sovereign who competed in the Wrestling Meet of Champions on Saturday--all four did a great job in tough competition!
• Congratulations to the Hockey Team who concluded their regular season with two bigs wins over vacation! They will host a tournament game tomorrow vs. Pinkerton Academy at 6:00 pm
• To the boys' basketball team who played in a first round of the play-off game against Nashua South on Wednesday evening. While they did not get the win, the team should be proud of the great season they have had!
• And, to the girls' basketball team who defeated Timberlane in their first play-off game on Monday and advanced to a quarter final match-up against Londonderry on Thursday evening. The game didn't go the JAGs way, but the team played tough throughout!

WHS will be having its annual SAT/PSAT day for all 9, 10, and 11 grade students on Thursday, March 26th. The day is a full school-day for all students. Our seniors, while not testing, have a variety of options to choose from--an email went out to students and families on Wednesday, March 4th regarding the options.

We will also be hosting a career day event for underclassmen following their testing windows.

More information about each grades options can be found below:

Grade 12- Student Choice

1. Community Service Opportunity. If your student has not yet met their 40 hour graduation requirement, they will have the opportunity to earn some hours towards this graduation requirement through either Project JOY (on campus), the Boys and Girls Club of Salem (at their facility), or the Windham Recreation Department (at the Senior Center). Permission Slips for this opportunity will be emailed on Friday, 3/6.

2. Field trip to Boda Borg (Malden, MA). This is a fun, challenge-room based activity located in Malden that builds grit, helps with teamwork, and increases resilience. You will travel from, and return to, WHS via bus. There is an associated cost for this activity to pay for entry and transportation ($20). If financial assistance is needed, please reach out to your child's school counselor or directly to principal Shannan McKenna (smckenna@windhamsd.org). The Field Trip form for this activity will be sent home on Friday, March 6th.

3. Academic Support. We will have academic assistance available if you need to catch-up or need extra help as we close in on the last three months of your high school time! You will have access to core teachers (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies) here on campus throughout the day.

Grade 11- School Day SAT

Testing | 8:00 – 11:30 AM
All juniors will take the state-mandated School Day SAT. Students have been registered through the NH Department of Education.

For SAT preparation, students may use Tutor.com, a free resource for all NH students. Please review the Digital SAT Essentials overview, which explains the self-paced SAT prep course from The Princeton Review. This resource includes:

• 24/7 live SAT tutoring tailored to individual needs
• Drop-off writing review with expert feedback
• Practice using the Desmos® graphing calculator, the same tool used on the Digital SAT

Testing | 8:00 – 10:45 AM

The PSAT 8/9 is a standardized test created by the College Board and designed for 8th and 9th grade students, as an early introduction to SAT-style testing. We will be testing all freshmen on this day. It is a digital exam with Reading and Writing and Math sections, includes mostly multiple-choice questions, is timed at just over two hours, and provides scaled scores that help families understand a student’s academic progress and readiness for high school coursework and future college entrance exams.Students can go to mypractice.collegeboard.org with their ticket they received at the readiness check on Thursday to practice for this exam.

On Wednesday, March 11, at 6:30 pm, a Tutor.com representative will be at Windham Center School for an informational parent night. This event is open to parents of students in grades 4–12 to learn how to use this free tutoring resource. Center School recently won a Pizza Party sponsored by the New Hampshire Department of Education for having the highest percentage of students using on-demand tutoring in the state. Our students also logged the most total tutoring hours in New Hampshire! The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Education attended the celebration. View the video here.

You should remain at home if you have any of following symptoms:

• Fever (greater than 100F)

• Vomiting (even once)

• Diarrhea

Practice good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently using soap and water.

• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, using a tissue or your sleeve, and then wash hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

It is recommended to remain home until vomiting, diarrhea and fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. Staying home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom. 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.

We will be hosting a career day for students on March 26th and we are seeking individuals interested to speak to students about their careers.

See what is available in Naviance.

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!

We are looking for students who may have interest in doing a trades apprenticeship as part of their senior year schedule for next fall.

If you are interested in the trades in any way, please fill out this quick form and we will be in touch.

Students or anyone who may be interested in the marine industry, the trades, or engineering and design - Are you working with students who are not sure what they want to do but enjoy boating, like to work with their hands, and would thrive in a small learning community? If so, The Landing School might be the perfect fit.

The marine industry needs skilled tradespeople. Students of all ages at The Landing School are career-ready in just 9 months. Financial aid, including veteran’s benefits, are available to those who qualify.

Contact:
Steve Parello
Admissions
The Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design
286 River Rd
Arundel ME 04046
207-810-2288
www.landingschool.edu
sparello@landingschool.edu

The N.H. Preservation Alliance offers opportunities for high school students to explore careers in the old building trades, aka historic preservation.

We invite you to attend the Old House & Barn Expo, March 14-15 at Saint Anslem College in Manchester. Event poster attached.

Event Details:
Saturday, March 14 (9:30am – 5:30pm) & Sunday, March 15, 2026 (9:30am – 4:30pm)
Location: Sullivan Ice Arena, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH

Website for more information, list of exhibitors, sessions, etc., and to buy tickets is: https://www.nhpreservation.org/old-house-barn-expo

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

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

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

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.

We understand that some families may be affected by the upcoming changes to assistance programs beginning November 1, 2025. In the event of a prolonged shutdown, November’s SNAP food benefits may not be issued until federal funding is restored. Families participating in the SNAP program are considered Directly Certified and are unaffected by the shutdown through NSLP. Federal workers who are not being paid or have been laid off and need assistance should complete an application.

We want to remind families that applications for free or reduced price meals are available for any family who wishes to apply. Applications are sent to each household at the beginning of the school year and are available throughout the year at each school cafeteria, at the SAU office, and online.

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).

Through NHED's partnership with Tutor.com, all New Hampshire high schoolers can access no-cost Digital SAT® test prep—anytime, anywhere!

Support options include:

?? Digital SAT Essentials - Full self-paced SAT prep course from The Princeton Review
?? Live, 24/7 tutoring for SAT-prep sessions tailored to students' individual needs
?? Drop-off writing review for expert feedback on SAT practice essays

Plus, students can familiarize themselves with the Desmos® graphing calculator in our online classroom—the same calculator used in the real Digital SAT exam.

To get started, please encourage students to log in to Tutor.com through their LMS or create an individual account.

Visit tutor.com/nhed for helpful instructions and additional resources.

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