Monstricola's Message

Dear MES Families:

Our students did a great job showing us what they know, learning school and classroom expectations, and having fun along the way. It was a busy and positive start to the school year.

We had a great first week of school! Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve our dismissal process and help everyone get into a smooth routine.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to a great year together!

Have a wonderful four day weekend!

Take care,

Kathleen Ortega and Michelle Romein

September 9th

First Day of Preschool

The Merrimack School District (MSD) maintains educational records and may provide information designated as Directory Information consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Each year, the district shall give parents/ guardians public notice of the types of information designated as Directory Information and shall release such Directory Information, at its discretion, to external sources upon receipt of a request for such information. Information will be withheld upon parental or guardian written request. The Merrimack School District defines directory information as the student’s name, address, telephone number, date of birth, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight, and height of members of athletic teams, photograph, dates of attendance, awards, and most recent educational institution attended.

The Merrimack School District shall continue to release such directory information at its discretion to external sources upon receipt of a request for such information unless a parent/guardian or student eighteen years of age requests such information be withheld. Parents/guardians or students eighteen years of age may refuse designation of any or all the directory information for a

specific student provided that a written request to that effect is received by the:

Superintendent of Schools, 36 McElwain Street,

Merrimack NH. 03054, by September 15 of each year.

*If you do not want your child's photo published on our Instagram or Facebook page, please send me a written notification. I will then send it to the superintendent's office. Please note this is a change from previous years.*

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the MES Library! We are excited to begin the 2026–2027 school year and look forward to another wonderful year of reading and learning together.

Your child will check out books during their very first library class, including kindergarten students. Please help your child develop routines for returning their library books on their library day each week.

Students in kindergarten and first grade will receive a library bag with their name on it. Please use this bag to return library books each week. The bag also serves as your child’s library card.

We do not charge a fee for overdue books, however, we will request a replacement cost for books that are lost or damaged. If your child damages a book, please send it back to the library as soon as possible. We will always try to repair the book before determining whether it needs to be replaced.

Our goal is to create welcoming library space to foster student choice and creativity and develop lifelong love of reading. We look forward to supporting your students . Please feel free to contact me any time at elizabeth.compton@sau26.org.

Happy Reading,
Mrs. Compton and Mrs. Williams

School Administration Unit #26

Special Services

2 Brentwood Drive

Merrimack, NH 03054

Tel. : 603-424-6211

The Merrimack School District has a duty to locate, evaluate, and identify any child residing in the district who qualifies for Special Education Services or any child attending the public schools who may require Section 504 accommodations or services.

Children eligible for special education include those children with disabilities who have an intellectual disability, autism, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, or developmental delay and who, because of such an impairment, need special services.

Children eligible for Section 504 accommodations or services include those children who have physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.

If you suspect your child has a disability and may need Special Education Services or Section 504 accommodations, or if you would like additional information, call or email the School District:

Merrimack School District

Colleen Sliva, Director of Student Services

colleen.sliva@sau26.org

603-424-6211

Coleen Blanchard, Preschool Coordinator

colleen.blanchard@sau26.org

603-424-6211

There is no school Monday, September 7th due to Labor Day and no school on Tuesday, September 8th due to the primary elections!

See you on Wednesday, September 9th!

1) To help families stay connected with the school and what your children are up to while they are here, classroom teachers will share a classroom update with you every other week through email. Keep an eye out for it and be sure to reach out to them if you have questions. You will be amazed by all that they do!

2) Monstricola's Message will be shared weekly and contains information about upcoming events. pictures. snippets from our school days and information for parents. Please let the office know if you need a paper copy. Please note Monstricola's Message can be translated into a number of language!

3) Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: It is a goal of ours to share information regularly with all of you, so you can see the amazing things happening every day at MES!

Did you know that filling out the Free and Reduced Lunch Form may help provide:

• After School Academic & Enrichment Programs?
• Free/Reduces meal 30-day rollover for the next school year?
• State and Federal funding for school budgets?
• Fund computers and technology at home and for your school?
• Fee waivers for college applications and admission tests?

Click here for information and application.

Interested in volunteering but not sure what you are signing up for?

Attend our Volunteer Orientation Session to learn about the PATT and volunteering at MES. All are welcome!

Tuesday, September 15 th beginning at 6:00 with the first PATT meeting of the year

following at 6:30.

We love our JMES volunteers! If you’d like to volunteer, chaperone, or serve as a room parent this year, here’s what you’ll need:

1. Background Check & Fingerprinting
Per district policy, all volunteers must complete a background check and fingerprinting. If you were previously fingerprinted through the school and have volunteered within the last year, you do not need to complete this again.

To schedule fingerprinting, contact Kat Knauer at the district office:
(603) 424-6200 | Kathleen.Knauer@Sau26.org

2. Volunteer Contract — NEW this year!
All volunteers will sign a short Volunteer Contract before volunteering. This helps keep everyone on the same page about JMES volunteer expectations and procedures.

3. Annual Vector Trainings
Volunteers must complete these three online trainings each year:

• Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting
• Responding to Bullying (K–12 Teachers and Staff)
• Sexual Harassment Policy and Prevention

Training Directions: Training Directions
Vector Training Login: https://sau26nonemp-nh.safeschools.com/login

When registering, please use your personal email address as your username.

Questions?
Email the PATT Volunteer Coordinator at volunteercoordinator@jmespatt.com.

Thank you for giving your time to JMES — our volunteers make such a difference in our school!

September 7th: No School Labor Day

September 8th: No School: Voting

September 9th: First Day of Preschool

September 23rd: Open House (6:00-7:00 Classroom Visits, 6:00-7:30 Ice Cream Social)

September 30th: School Pictures