SAU #34 Community News
June 17, 2026
SAU #34 Community Newsletter
This newsletter is published monthly during the regular school year to the entire SAU 34 School Community to provide easy access to important information, links to school resources, highlights of what is happening all across SAU 34, and links to the school Facebook Pages and Newsletters.
The school newsletters, linked below, have pictures and information about the great things happening in all the SAU 34 Schools.
The next edition of the SAU #34 Community Newsletter will be published in August.
We wish everyone a wonderful summer break!
(Please scroll to the top and click on the picture of the SAU sign. That will bring you out of the email preview and into the actual newsletter, which always has more than you see in the preview.)
Important Upcoming Dates
- July 3 All SAU #34 Schools and Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day
- July 14 Hillsboro-Deering School District Ballot Voting
* Hillsboro-Deering Middle School 7am - 7pm
- August 10 Washington School Board Meeting, 5pm, WES Library
- August 13 SAU 34 Board Meeting, 6pm, WES Multipurpose Room
- August 17 Hillsboro-Deering School Board Meeting, 5pm, H-DES Library Media Center
- August 24-25 New Educator Professional Development Days
- August 26-27 Full Staff Professional Development Days
- August 31 First Student Day of the 2026-2027 School Year
- September 4-7 Labor Day Weekend, No School for Students
- September 8 Professional Development Day for Staff, No School for Students
Approved 2026-2027 School District Calendars
News Across SAU #34
Christine Haley Named 2026 Withington Award Recipient
The Richard W. Withington Award was established by Mr. Withington in 1981, and is presented annually to honor an employee of the Hillsboro-Deering School District who is recognized as an ambassador from the schools to the larger community, and who has achieved excellence in their work, contributed significantly to the general welfare of students in ways above and beyond the normal requirements of their job, offering students and adults alike a model of strong professional behavior.
This year’s Withington Award recipient is an exceptional ambassador for the Hillsboro-Deering School District, a professional who has consistently pursued excellence, elevated the lives of students far beyond the expectations of her position, and modeled the very highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and dedication.
Her work contributes to a culture of belonging. Under her guidance, students discover confidence, resilience, and self-expression. The environment she creates is one in which children feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow not only as musicians and performers, but as people. She guides the performing arts experience for students through her leadership of band, chorus, and drama productions. She understands that the long-term success of our middle and high school music students begins with the foundation established in elementary school, and is committed to making that foundation strong. Her collaboration with colleagues at Hillsboro-Deering Middle and High School showcases their vision of a robust K-12 Music program that inspires students to sustain their passion for the arts through middle school, high school, and beyond.
She is the kind of educator whose presence strengthens every aspect of the school community. She exemplifies the very qualities the Withington Award was created to honor: excellence, leadership, service, professionalism, resilience, and an enduring commitment to students and community.
It is an honor to announce Ms. Christine Haley as the 2026 Richard W. Withington Award Recipient.
Congratulations to the Hillsboro-Deering High School Class of 2026!
The Hillsboro-Deering High School Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony was held June 5, 2026.
SAU #34 Retirees and Years of Service Recognitions
SAU 34 Culture and Climate Survey
Dear SAU 34 Families,
Please take 5-7 minutes to complete our Climate survey. Your input is important to us. We review the feedback each year in construction of our goals and direction for the upcoming year.
Thank you for your time and have a great summer!
This Survey is open June 8-19, 2026
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
SIGN UP ARE OPEN FOR SUMMER 2026!!!
Please use this link to sign up for the summer program and carefully read through the information to be best prepared for pick up and to accurately sign up!
Note: If the link is locked/closed when you click it, that means we have currently reached our maximum capacity at which point you can email Anna Muncy (amuncy@hdsd.org) so I can get your information to add you to a waitlist!
What is the Summer Food Service Program (SFPF)?
Our SFSP allows for guardians to sign up for any child 18 years or younger to pick up a pre-bagged bag of foods for breakfast and lunch each week intended for meals for Tuesday - Saturday. This runs all summer starting with the first pick-up on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 and the last on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. This program is a federal program overseen through the Department of Education (DOE) Office of Nutrition Programs and Services (ONPS) and this site is sponsored by the Hillsboro-Deering School District.
Please make sure you are signed up. We are purchasing food and preparing bags at this time only for individuals that are signed up.
When and where can I pick up the meals?
The pick up time for this is 11:30 am - 12:45 pm on Tuesdays at 100 Wyman Road (Deering), The Contoocook River Cooperative and follow signs to space down the road where we are operating (previously Longwood Trailer Park). We operate strictly from 11:30 am - 12:45 pm.
How does pick up work?
We offer a "car service" pick up where you do not get out of your vehicle - the map provided and signs will direct you to where we will check off your pick up and hand the bags and milk to you in your car, or place them into your trunk. Please do not park so the line keeps moving efficiently.
What if I am early or late?
Meals can ONLY be distributed strictly between 11:30 am - 12:45 pm. We cannot provide meals at any other time, regardless of the reason.
Who can pick-up these meals?
A child's guardians can pick up the meals. For the first pick up, the child(ren) you are picking up for do need to be with you, then we will mark it accordingly so they do not have to be with you for each pick up following your first.
A friend, neighbor, etc. cannot pick up for your children or your household. We will be going by the guardians listed for your school district. If you are not part of the SAU 34, you will be asked for the school your students attend. If a grandparent or sibling is picking up for your children, please be sure to communicate this to Anna Muncy at amuncy@hdsd.org BEFORE the pick up day, if it is not communicated, that person cannot pick up.
What if I don't live in Hillsboro, Deering, Windsor, or Washington and/or my student(s) don't go to school there?
You are welcome! Please ensure you complete the form you are directed to by the QR code on the posters or the hyperlink in this email as we do need to confirm the children in a household with your school district. You do not have to be a Hillsboro resident, nor does your child have to attend one of our schools.
Do I have to come every week?
If you cannot come, let us know if there's a week you are not coming after you've signed up, or if you are going to stop coming is really helpful so we can plan and purchase accordingly to help serve as many households as possible. We want to be able to provide everyone that comes with meals!
What if I miss my pickup one week?
We are preparing meals bags for the children that are signed up each week. If we have a no-show, no-contact we drop that name from the list to ensure we have food available for someone else. If you do not show up for pick up or contact us, your name(s) will not be on the next week's list for pick up.
What if I didn't/can't come the first week?
Join us whichever week is best for you as long as we are still open and accepting participants! You can start coming any week and stop coming any week. As always, communication through the form or at the site is greatly appreciated for planning and purchasing purposes.
What type of food is being offered?
Our goal is to offer shelf-stable items as much as possible, and when not possible foods that require very little to no preparations. We will be including some fresh items that require refrigeration such as milk, whole fruits and vegetables, and other cheese/dairy based items.
We will follow the SFSP meal pattern which requires each meal to have the items listed below. We will provide a print out of the items and the meals they go with in each bag.
Breakfast:
Milk
Grain
Fruit
Lunch
Meat/meat alternative
Milk
Grain
Fruit and/or Vegetables
What if I don't want the milk?
As milk is part of the required meal pattern mentioned above, you are required to take the milk each week and we cannot distribute a bag without it.
Why paper bags and not boxes?
We work to ensure the funds and time for this program are directed toward the food and operating costs, not the cost of boxes or time assembling boxes. We understand the bags can tear, you are welcome to bring a reusable bag or box that we can set the bag into when we hand you your bag.
Want to know more about SFSP (aka Sun Meals?)
Please visit the USDA's website for more information about the SFSP.
Workcamp NE
The Hillsboro-Deering School District is excited to host the Work Camp New England group this July on our campus while they work in our community. Work Camp NE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused on aiding families with financial needs through free home repair projects.
What:
FREE home repairs to families in need.
All materials and labor are at no charge to the community or the families.
Materials, tools and food are supplied to each camper.
Residents are not responsible for lunches, drinks, or anything else during our time with them.
Who We Are:
Per week, about 150 volunteers work on approximately 20 homes within a 30-minute radius of the school.
Although faith-based, workcampNE never discriminates against a resident for religious beliefs, social situations, age, etc.
All campers are required to carry medical insurance. workcampNE carries an adequate general liability policy.
Campers are from youth groups coming from around the country.
Crews consist of 1 or more adults (over the age of 21) and five students. All adult leaders over 18 have background safety checks done.
How:
workcampNE is financed entirely from the volunteers’ tuition as well as individual and corporate contributions.
2025 saw 300 volunteers complete 44 jobsites.
Volunteer ages range from junior high students through adult leaders.
All work done is carefully supervised by volunteer contractors and experienced handymen.
Work:
Jobs include: roofing, scraping/painting, deck repair, handicapped ramps, sheet rocking, etc.
Any work that is not structural, electrical or plumbing will be considered.
We work with building inspectors for permits and to make sure all work is up to code.
A Week:
The crews work Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday 8:15-noon.
Partnering with Schools:
Schools are used to house our volunteers during our weeks of camp. Summer 2026 will see us housed at Hillsboro-Deering High School. Homes within 30 minutes of the school will be considered.
Please contact: Ray Allen 217/6704554 or Marcia Therrien 603/440-8776
or head to: https://workcampne.knack.com/wcne#res-intake/ to sign up for an assessment.Farm to School Program Update
The wildflower patch is starting to bloom, even after facing some setbacks! Last year, High School Botany Students planted a small patch of wildflowers by the greenhouse to help increase the pollinators that are attracted to the garden area.
Students have planted seedling that were started in the greenhouse as well as many seeds (beets, radishes, greens, onions, carrots, etc.). The garden is full of many tomatoes, peppers, flowers, garlic, etc. Perennials that are flourishing are walking onions, thyme, oregano, thyme, sage, and others! Now we let the garden flourish over the summer for a late summer and fall harvest of crops. Summer programs will be able to harvest green, radishes, and peas in July.
July 14 Hillsboro-Deering School District Ballot Voting
* Deering Town Hall 8am -7pm
* Hillsboro-Deering Middle School 7am - 7pm
Websites, Facebook Pages, and Newsletters from around SAU #34
SAU # 34 Website
Check out the school newsletters and facebook pages for lots of great pictures and information about what is happening all across SAU 34!
School Food and Nutrition Program Information
As the end of the school year is here, please keep in mind the ways you can handle any balance on your student(s)' lunch account to assist us in balancing our program's finance for the end of our financial year.
You can pay a balance with:
- Cash or check sent with your student or left in the office
- Card payment through your EZSchoolPay parent account (4% transaction fee)
- for Hillsboro-Deering Students: Mail check payment to H-D School Nutrition Program, Attn: Anna Muncy, 6 Hillcat Drive Hillsboro NH 03244
- For Washington Students: Mail check payment to WES School Nutrition Program 62 Wolf Way, Washington, NH 03280
If you have any questions please reach out to me so I can best assist you!
Anna Muncy
Hello Hillcat Families:
End 68 Hours of Hunger is a public not-for-profit effort to confront the approximately 68 hours of hunger that some school children experience between the free lunch on Friday afternoon and the free breakfast on Monday morning at school.
The plan is to put nourishing food in the hands of at-risk children to carry them through the weekend. Each bag will contain at least 3000 calories, and the food will be pre-prepared or preparable with simply hot water and/or a microwave.
The End 68 program is entirely volunteer based and 95% of any funds raised go directly to feeding at-risk children unless otherwise designated by the donor.
Please visit the links below for more information:
On Facebook: End 68 Hours of Hunger SAU 34 Facebook
On the Web: End 68 Hours of Hunger or End 68 Hours of Hunger SAU 34
When a student has been identified as possibly in need of food help, their name is put on a confidential list at their school. We use the information to determine how many bags of food we will be sending to each school. On Friday, those students will discreetly receive a bag from an End 68 volunteer in their school.
Students have been referred by parents, teachers, administrators, custodial staff and have even referred themselves. Last year, we helped an average of 75 students per week in the Hillsboro-Deering and Washington schools.
If you know of a child who would benefit from an End 68 food bag, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can email our team at hillsboronh@end68hoursofhunger.org, call us at 603-464-1194, or simply reach out to the child’s teacher or school counselor.
If you would like to donate your time or food, please reach out to us as well!
Thank you,
End 68 Hours of Hunger SAU #34
Technology Department
Powerschool Parent Portal
The Powerschool Parent Portal provides families with a wealth of up to date information about their student's school experience.
Accurate information is vital for effective communication, your child's safety, and ensuring that we can provide the best possible educational experience.
It is recommended that Parents/Guardians access the portal from a laptop or personal computer. PowerSchool does not work as well from a mobile device.
For help accessing the PowerSchool Portal please contact the point person from your student’s school:
High School:
Middle School:
Hillsboro Elementary School:
Washington Elementary School:
Other Resources
Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment
The SAU #34 Curriculum Website provides a comprehensive overview of K-12 Academic Programming.
The SAU #34 Portrait of a Graduate was established 2019 in through the work of a broad based committee which included students, families, alumni, community members, school board members, staff, and administration.
Students in grades 3-8 and 11th grade participate in the NH State Assessment.
2025-2030 Strategic Plan
The next update of the SAU #34 Strategic Plan will be made at the SAU 34 Board Meeting on August 13, 2026. The meeting will be at Washington Elementary School, starting at 6pm. The update will also be posted to the SAU34.org website and published in future newsletters.
Annual Reports
SAU #34 Website Calendar
The calendar on the SAU website provides a user-friendly way to customize your event selection by building.
By clicking on the calendar name on the left-hand panel, you can hide that particular calendar's events from the larger view. You also can subscribe to a calendar to receive updates and changes to events.




