Chichester Central Connection

January is a time for fresh starts and renewed focus. In the coming weeks, our students will continue building strong routines, setting goals, and deepening their learning. As a school, we are also engaging in important work, reviewing our report card, work on next year's schedule, examining academic eligibility practices, and continuing conversations about how we can best support all students while maintaining high expectations.

I am grateful for the dedication of our staff, the partnership of our families, and the support of our wider community. Together, we create a learning environment where students feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to persevere.

Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. I look forward to a strong and successful start to the new year at Chichester Central School.

Warm regards,
Tanya Teeboom
Principal

Apply online located on our school website under employment or click on link https://www.applitrack.com/sau53/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=location:%22Chichester+Central+School%22

Chichester Central School is seeking caring, flexible, and dedicated Special Education Paraprofessionals to join our team for a short-term, temporary assignment during the school year, anticipated from late February through May (possibly through the end of the school year). These positions may be assigned to any grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 8; specifics will be discussed at the time of the interview.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide direct support to individual students with IEPs under the direction of special education and classroom teachers.

• Assist students in accessing curriculum, staying on task, and achieving academic, social, emotional, and behavioral goals.

• Support students across various settings, including classrooms, specials, lunch, and recess.

• Implement accommodations, modifications, and behavior plans as outlined in students' IEPs.

• Collect and report data on student progress as requested.

• Foster independence while maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with children or in an educational setting (preferred).

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

• Ability to be flexible and responsive to changing student needs.

Chichester Central School is seeking a qualified Special Education Case Manager to support students in grades PreK–8. Responsibilities include developing and implementing IEPs, coordinating services, collaborating with staff and families, and ensuring compliance with state and federal special education regulations.

Qualifications:

• NH Certification in Special Education (or eligibility)

• Strong knowledge of IDEA and NH special education laws

• Effective communication and organizational skills

• School-based experience preferred

Our school was filled with joy, excitement, and holiday magic at this year’s Santa Breakfast! It is always one of the most special events of the season, bringing together students, families, staff, and community members for a morning full of smiles and celebration.

This year marked a bittersweet moment, as it was our final Santa Breakfast with Santa Rick and Mrs. Claus. While we will miss them dearly, we are so grateful for the many years of joy they have brought to our students and wish them all the best in their new North Pole adventures.

I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the many individuals who made this event such a success. A special thank you to PTO member Alisa Mullen, who headed this event and whose leadership, organization, and countless hours of planning made the morning possible. We are incredibly grateful for her dedication to our school community.

Thank you as well to our kitchen crew and volunteers, who worked tirelessly from early morning through cleanup, your hard work does not go unnoticed. Appreciation is also extended to our School Board members, staff, and families who volunteered their time, our Girl Scout troops for face painting and crafts, Ms. Mara and Student Council for creative ideas and supplies, and Ms. Jaquith and Ms. Sanborn for always being such welcoming greeters. A special thank you to Chichester Dunkin’ Donuts for generously donating coffee for the event.

We are also incredibly thankful for our PTO members, parent volunteers, and students who helped with setup, organization, and cleanup. Events like this truly highlight the strength and spirit of our CCS community.

Many families also enjoyed visiting the Penguin Patch Holiday Shop, where students had the opportunity to explore thoughtful gift ideas for their loved ones. Students were excited to continue shopping with their classes the following week.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a meaningful and memorable experience for our students and families. Moments like these remind us how fortunate we are to be part of such a caring and supportive school community. ❤️

At Chichester Central School, learning is active, engaging, and student-centered. Across all grade levels, teachers use a combination of direct instruction, small-group work, and hands-on learning to meet students where they are and help them grow.

Students are encouraged to think critically, ask questions, collaborate with peers, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. Teachers regularly use assessments and classroom observations to guide instruction and provide targeted support.

Our goal is to ensure every student continues to build strong academic skills while also developing confidence, perseverance, and a love of learning.

Beginning in January, the Report Card Committee will begin meeting to review our current report card. The goal of this work is to ensure that our report card clearly reflects student learning and aligns with the instructional practices and curriculum implemented at Chichester Central School.

The committee will:

• Update literacy competencies to align with the Science of Reading

• Ensure competencies align with current curriculum standards across content areas

• Include grades for Library/Media Specialist

• Revise Unified Arts competencies to align with standards in Physical Education, Art, Music, and Library/Media

These updates will be thoughtfully developed during the 2025–2026 school year, with the revised report card scheduled to go into effect for the 2026–2027 school year.

We appreciate your continued support as we work to strengthen clarity, consistency, and communication around student learning.

The administration has met with staff to review the current Academic Eligibility Policy, and thoughtful feedback has been shared regarding how the policy impacts students.

While accountability remains important, staff have expressed concerns that some current consequences may not fully align with best practices or best support student growth. For example:

• Under the current policy, students placed on academic probation for two weeks are not permitted to participate in practices or athletic games. Staff have suggested allowing students to continue practicing, so they do not miss out on learning critical skills needed for future games.

• Currently, students placed on probation for a second time are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities until the following semester. We are exploring ways to allow students the opportunity to regain eligibility once grades are brought back to expected levels.

Our goal is to create a policy that maintains high academic expectations while also supporting student motivation, engagement, and growth.

Please reach out to Ms. Teeboom if you would like to share any thoughts or concerns regarding the current Academic Eligibility Policy. Administration plans to bring a proposed amended policy to the Policy Committee and School Board for review and discussion at upcoming meetings. We appreciate the ongoing collaboration and feedback as we work toward policies that best support our students.

We recently celebrated our middle school students who earned Honor Roll, High Honors, and CARES recognition for the 1st trimester. On Friday, the Middle School Team and Administration presented certificates to recognize students for their hard work, dedication, and growth.

Academic Recognition Criteria:

• Honor Roll: All core classes with a 3.0 average for the trimester

• High Honors: All core classes with a 3.5 or higher average for the trimester

CARES Recognition:

• Students earning a 3.0 or higher average in CARES for the trimester

This recognition reflects more than grades, it highlights students who consistently strive to do their best, persevere through challenges, and demonstrate responsibility and commitment to their learning. We are proud of our students for setting goals, staying focused, and continuing to grow both academically and socially.

Congratulations to all of our students who were recognized, we are so proud of you!

Our middle school band brought holiday cheer to Chichester Central School by performing for students and staff in the hallways leading up to the holiday break. Their performances created a joyful atmosphere and showcased the students’ growing confidence and musicianship.

We also celebrated Mrs. Raymond’s first Holiday Concert at CCS, which was a wonderful success. Students in grades K–3 each performed a song, and our Band and Chorus students shared several pieces for a packed audience of families and friends. It was exciting to see students confidently sharing their talents and progress, and the pride from both performers and families was evident throughout the evening.

Looking ahead, Mrs. Raymond will be hosting another concert January 7th at 6:00 at Pembroke Academy, where students participating in Band and Chorus will again have the opportunity to share their musical growth with family and friends.

We are grateful for Mrs. Raymond’s dedication and enthusiasm in building our music program and providing meaningful performance opportunities for students.

In Library and Media Specialist classes, students are building essential skills that support learning across all subject areas. Lessons focus on reading engagement, research skills, digital citizenship, and the responsible use of technology, helping students become confident readers, effective researchers, and responsible digital citizens.

Students are learning how to ask meaningful questions, locate and evaluate information, and use digital tools thoughtfully and safely. Library and Media time also encourages curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, giving students opportunities to explore new topics, work together, and apply their learning in meaningful ways.

At the December School Board meeting, Mrs. O’Leary and Tobin shared highlights of the engaging and innovative work happening in the library. Mrs. O’Leary addressed common misconceptions, emphasizing that students do read and take their learning even further through research, technology, engineering, and teamwork. Tobin shared some of his favorite activities, including creating a carousel, making movement films using Google tools, coding robots, and designing items with the 3D printer. What incredible opportunities for our students!

A huge thank you to Mrs. O’Leary for her passion, creativity, and dedication to expanding what learning looks like at Chichester Central School. We are grateful for the engaging and purposeful learning experiences taking place in our Library and Media program.

In elementary school art, students are learning about the elements of art. Each project begins with a discussion of which element is being used, and students are becoming more confident in identifying and applying these concepts. They have experimented with a wide variety of materials, with oil pastels quickly becoming a class favorite. Painting with watercolors, liquid watercolors, and tempera paint has been especially popular and enthusiastically enjoyed by all

Our youngest students embraced printmaking using bubble wrap, turning it into a fun and creative experience. Abstract art was a focus last month and will continue this month as well. Students are also taking on new cutting projects with wide eyes and imaginative minds, showing creativity and growing confidence in their skills.

In middle school art, students have been exploring a variety of art styles and movements. They have shown great enthusiasm while learning about mandalas and creating 3D versions using recycled materials. Another engaging topic has been graffiti, examining whether it should be considered art. Students have especially enjoyed adding their own creativity and personal flair to their graffitti fence designs. We have also studied artist Tim Burton and his distinctive “Burtonesque” style. Creating self-portraits inspired by this style has been both challenging and rewarding, and students are embracing the process with confidence and creativity.

At the beginning of each month, students explore the work of two artists, one CCS student and one local New England artist. Together, we discuss their artwork, favorite mediums, and what students have as a take away about their work. These conversations have been a favorite and have sparked excitement about the many career paths available in the art world.

Mr. Flanagan has had a great start in his new position at Chichester Central School. Students have been excited to meet him and actively participate in Physical Education classes.

He has spent time meeting with each class, focusing on getting to know students, learning names, and establishing clear expectations and routines. Mr. Flanagan has also introduced a variety of games and activities that promote teamwork, cooperation, and understanding of rules, all while keeping learning fun and engaging.

We are excited to see students continuing to build skills, confidence, and positive habits through Physical Education this year.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Tim Emery of Tim’s Truck Capital for his incredible generosity and support of our CCS basketball program.

Through his donation, every basketball player in grades 3–8 received shooter shirts, and our teams were also provided with new practice jerseys. This support has made a meaningful impact on our program and has helped ensure that our students feel proud, prepared, and unified as a team.

We are truly grateful for community members like Tim Emery who invest in our students and support opportunities that promote teamwork, confidence, and school spirit. Thank you for helping make CCS athletics even stronger!

Newspaper Club

Meets on Tuesdays 2:50-4:00

Environmental Club

Meets Tuesdays 2:50-4:30

Student Council

Meets Wednesday 2:50-3:45

Basketball

Practice and Games are in full swing!

Schedules are on the School Website under Athletics, CCS Sports Calendar:

https://ccs.sau53.org/en-US/calendar/39fecce7-01fe-44a9-ba05-8bd304c19fd4

and at Merrimack Basketball League link:

https://www.merrimackleague.com/teams/?u=MERRIMACKBASKETBALLL&s=basketball

On December 3, 2025, the Newspaper Club with Ms Green proudly published the first edition of the CCS Times. This accomplishment reflects the hard work, creativity, and collaboration of the students involved.

Members of the club worked together to decide on topics, determine who to interview, and brainstorm ideas they wanted to include in the newspaper. Throughout the process, students practiced important skills such as writing, editing, critical thinking, teamwork, and meeting deadlines.

The CCS Times provides students with an authentic opportunity to share stories, highlight school events, and give students a voice within our school community. We are proud of their dedication and excited to see how the newspaper continues to grow in future editions.

Congratulations to our Newspaper Club on a fantastic first issue!

Our Student Council students and Mrs. Mara have been shining examples of leadership, teamwork, and compassion. Using funds they raised, the group worked together to purchase gifts for families in our community, helping to spread kindness and support during the holiday season.

In addition, Student Council members created and sold Candygrams during morning arrival and lunch periods. This initiative required planning, collaboration, and dedication, as students volunteered their time to design, organize, and sell the Candygrams.

Through these efforts, Student Council students demonstrated a strong commitment to giving back and supporting others. Their actions reflect the values of generosity, responsibility, and service that we strive to instill at Chichester Central School. We are proud of their hard work and the positive impact they continue to make within our school and community.

Jan 1 - Happy New Year

Jan 7 - Winter Chorus/Band Concert @ Pembroke Academy @ 6:00 PM

Jan 5- Welcome Back!

Jan 16 - Spirit Day! Wear Your Favorite Hat!

Jan 19 - No School- Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 21 - School Board Meeting 6:00, Open to Public at 6:30 PM

The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED), in partnership with the Parent Information Center and Bridging the Gap through the 603 Pathways to Literacy Proficiency initiative, has recently launched new family literacy resources designed to strengthen family–school partnerships and support children’s reading development.

These resources include short, helpful literacy modules for families that offer practical strategies to support reading at home. We encourage you to explore and use these tools with your child.

🔗 Family Literacy Modules: https://picnh.org/familyliteracymodules/

Through the support of the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) and Granite Edvance, New Hampshire students and educators have free access to Xello, the state’s college and career readiness platform.

Xello helps students explore career interests, develop essential skills, and begin planning for their future with confidence. It provides engaging tools that support career awareness, goal setting, and postsecondary planning.

To learn more about Xello or to get started, visit xello.world/en/new-hampshire and select “Get Started.” A member of the Xello team will follow up with additional information.

Tutor.com continues to provide free, 24/7 access to live online tutoring, along with essay review and SAT test prep for all New Hampshire students in grades 4–12, as well as learners enrolled in a state adult education program.