Monstricola's Message

Dear MES Families:

We are so excited to welcome our students and families back to MES!

Our building has been scrubbed from top to bottom, classrooms are being put back together, and soon our teachers will be here adding their personal touches and getting everything ready for our students. There is a lot of excitement in the building as we prepare for the start of another school year.

We hope your children are feeling excited too. We also understand that some students may be feeling a little nervous about coming back to school. Those early school-year jitters are developmentally appropriate. We have plenty of caring adults, routines, and strategies in place to help students feel comfortable, connected, and ready to learn. Please see below for some tips on how to help with the transition back to school.

We are looking forward to partnering with you throughout the school year. Please reach out if we can help in any way or if you have questions as we get closer to the first day.

We can't wait to have our MES Community back together!

Take care,

Kathleen Ortega and Michelle Romein

During the K-4 Meet and Greet, families may park in the front of the building (near the main office) or in the back of the building along O'Gara Drive. Please know that the Upper Elementary will be finishing up their Meet and Greet as ours is starting, so parking may be tight!

We will have a bus in the back arrival area so that new students may try out the bus!

Our Meet and Greet will need to end promptly at 3:00 so that our teachers can be sure their classrooms are ready for our students the next morning. Thank you!

You will enter through the main entrance. Please park in the front parking or the church parking lot. Since school is in session, you will need to sign in and will be escorted to the classroom at the start time. Thank you for helping us keep our school safe! This Meet and Greet is for parents and students.

September 2nd

Kindergarten Arrival: 8:15-8:35

Grades 1-4 Arrival: 10:15-10:35

(Buses will run routes twice.)

September 3rd

Kindergarten-Grade 4: Arrival 8:15-8:35

September 9th

First Day of Preschool

The bus routes are set to come out around August 24th. A School Messenger will be sent out and you can check the district website for information.

Transportation Website

Each grade level, kindergarten through grade four, will attend specials or unified art classes over the course of five days. To ensure all students get equal access to their Unified Arts, MES uses a rotating unified arts schedule. Rather than using the days of the week to identify which UA a child will attend, we use a Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5 schedule. We move through the days uninterrupted, with the exception of Early Release Days which will be a Day 0. This will ensure that students do not miss the same Unified Art due to holidays and other days off.

We work to help the students remember which day it is; however, this does take some getting used to. To help your child be prepared for physical education, you may want to purchase an inexpensive pair of sneakers to have your child leave in his/her backpack or cubby at school. Please note: Unified Arts will be the only part of your child’s day that will be rotating.

Day 1 will begin on the second day of school, September 3rd.

Please see the example below:

School Dismissal Manager information has been released. You should receive an email directly from SDM in the next couple of days. If you have not received an email by Tuesday, August 25th, please email: joann.karam@sau26.org.

MES uses an app called School Dismissal Manager to record arrival and dismissal information for students. Please read the following family letter for important information.

School Dismissal Manager Family Welcome Letter

There’s no better time for a fresh start than back-to-school season. While the first few weeks can feel busy, a little planning at home can go a long way in helping students ease back into the rhythm of school. From easing back into routines to creating moments of connection, here are a few simple ways families can support a smooth, confident start to the school year.

1. Ease Back Into a Routine: After a summer of later nights and flexible schedules, getting back into a school-year rhythm can take time. Start with small adjustments, like moving to bedtime and wake-up time a little earlier, building in quiet time before bed or practicing the steps of the morning routine. A few familiar habits can help make the first days of school feel calmer and more predictable.
2. Do a Final Back-to-School Check: Even if your main supply shopping is done, the days before school starts are a good time to take stock of small but important details for the classroom and at home.
3. Talk Through the First-Day Feelings: Excitement, nerves and uncertainty are all normal at the start of a new school year. Take time to ask your child what they are looking forward to and what questions they may have. A quick conversation about their teacher, classroom, transportation or lunch routine can help them feel more prepared.
4. Create a “Launch Pad” at Home: Choose one spot near the door for backpacks, shoes, lunchboxes, forms and anything else your child needs for school. Having a designated place for daily essentials makes mornings easier and helps children build responsibility for keeping track of their own items.
5. Build Independence with Small Responsibilities: Back-to-school season is a great time to help children take ownership of age-appropriate tasks. Younger children can practice opening lunch containers, zipping backpacks or choosing an outfit the night before, while older students can help review their schedule, pack their bag or set reminders for assignments and activities. Giving children a few simple responsibilities can build confidence and help them feel more prepared to navigate the school day.
6. Help Rebuild Social Connections: A new school year can bring new classmates, changing friend groups or a classroom that feels different from last year. Encourage your child to think of simple ways to connect with others, like saying hello to a familiar face, inviting someone to sit together at lunch or asking a classmate about their summer. Reminding children that friendships can take time to grow can help them approach the first weeks of school with patience and confidence.

Remember, back-to-school season does not have to be perfect to be successful.

With a few simple routines, thoughtful preparation and support for the classroom community, families can help children step into the new school year feeling ready for what is ahead.

Students are considered tardy after 8:35 a.m. Parents/guardians are responsible for communicating their attendance to the school office. If your child arrives after 8:35, please walk your child in and sign them in in the front office. Any absence of more than three and one half-hours of instructional time shall be considered a full day absence. A half-day absence is defined as a student missing more than two hours of instructional but less than three and one half-hours of instructional time is considered a half-day absence.

Students with ten unexcused half-day absences shall be considered truant. Please see the MES Handbook for more information.

Our goal is always the safety of our students and staff. Please follow these rules to help our arrival and dismissal processes run safely and efficiently.

1) Only turn right into the back parking lot. (Go down McElwain, loop in front of the high school and make a right turn into the parking lot.)

2) Stay to the right side of the entrance so that buses may go by.

3) Watch for staff to give directions to pull forward. Cars and buses are using the same entry and exit.

4) Remain in your car. Please say your goodbyes and have your child gather items as you are pulling up to the drop-off area. This will help them exit the car in a timely manner.

5) When picking up, staff can not buckle students into car seats, please pull up ahead into the dirt area to help your child buckle.

Thank you for your helpl in keeping everyone safe!

Kindergarten-Grade Four Arrival and Dismissal Maps

Preschool Arrival and Dismissal Maps

The bus schedule usually comes out the week before school starts. We will post it on the district website as well as email it out to all of you. If you have questions about busing, please call STA directly at 603-424-7880.

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.

Per district policy, all volunteers, chaperones, and substitute teachers must complete a background check and be fingerprinted. If you intend to volunteer for any of these opportunities, please contact the district office for an appointment ASAP. If you have already had your fingerprints done through the school in previous years and have volunteered within the last year, you do not need to have them done again.

You will have to complete three Vector training courses yearly: Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting, Responding to Bullying (K12 Teachers and Staff), and Sexual Harassment Policy and Prevention. Follow this link for directions to the online trainings: Training Directions or use the Quick Link: https://sau26nonemp-nh.safeschools.com/register/7efa4566

Enter the address above to your internet browser, and you will be directly taken

to the registration page where you will enter your basic information, including

your username, first name and last name and email address. When you create

your username, PLEASE use the following format: personal email address.

Any questions about the volunteer process, email the volunteer coordinators at volunteercoordinator@jmespatt.com.

You can reach Kat Knauer to coordinate fingerprinting at (603)424-6200 or
Kathleen.Knauer@Sau26.org.

September 1st: Meet and Greet 2:00-3:00

September 2nd: First Day of School (Kindergarten Regular Start Time, 1st-4th Two Hour Delay)

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)