The Pulse of the Pride

Lyme School Friends,

We hope you have had a wonderful summer! It is hard to believe that the school year is upon us already. It has been a very busy summer around here! The improvement project in the K-3 Wing has been quite the undertaking. Students will return to a refreshed hallway with new floors, new paint, and new bathrooms. Students will also notice a door at the back of the cafeteria that gets students to the playground safely. We want to thank Eckman Construction as well as our facilities staff Craig Tetley and Jay Cole for their amazing work this summer.

Aside from the building improvement project this summer, there was much work done last year on a District Strategic Plan. The new plan was adopted by the School Board on August 12th. We look forward to sharing more news about goals and direction over the course of the school year.

In this newsletter are a number of items to get us going for this school year. Information on the menu for the beginning of the year and kitchen related items will come soon.

I will be out of the building as school gets started this year. While I am absent, please connect with Amanda Perry Waterman in the office if you need something and she will direct you to the most appropriate person to help you. Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Dates:

• School Closed/Teacher In-Service - August 28 & 29, 2025

• First Day of School - September 2, 2025

• Informational Parent Night - September 11, 2025 5 - 6PM

• MS Hike - September 18, 2025 (rain date October 9th)

• MS Activity Night - September 19, 2025

• Artist in Residence September 22 - October, 3, 2025

• School Picture Day - September 30, 2025 (rain date October 1st)

The newly enacted legislation signed into law by Governor Ayotte requires the Lyme School District to implement a bell-to-bell cell phone ban during the school day for all students. The School Board will be taking this policy up soon.

This law applies to all NH school districts and mandates that students may not use personal electronic communication devices during the school day. For the most part, this law does not impact our school since we already have an "Off and Away" policy. However, personal electronic communication devices include phones, smart watches, tablets, earbuds, etc. unless they are needed for medical or disability-related reasons, as identified through an IEP or 504 Plan.

This means that these other devices need to be "Off and Away" during the school day from 8AM to 3PM. We understand that this is a bit of a shift for some of our older students in regard to the other devices.

Please be in touch if you have questions and thank you for your support and partnership as we implement this state-mandated policy.

The district calendar had a slight change approved by the School Board at their August meeting. The last day of school will be June 18th and NOT June 19th. The revised calendar is attached.

Here are our bus routes for this year. If you need bus transportation that isn't reflected, please reach out to the office.

Mary Beth is excited to be joining SAU #76 as its new Superintendent. She has previously been the Superintendent in Hamilton-Wenham in Massachusetts and Mountain Views School District located in Woodstock, VT. She also spent 6 years as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Shrewsbury Public Schools in Massachusetts. In addition to her Central Office experience, she brings 8 years experience as a building principal, one year as an assistant principal, 3 years as an instructional coach, and 8 years as a classroom teacher. Mary Beth is passionate about building trust and collaboration within communities and ensuring that educational programs prepare students to be future-ready.

Hello! My name is Patrick Gordon, and I’m excited to be joining the Special Education team. Over the past 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of working as a first-grade classroom teacher, a Special Educator serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, and, most recently, as a principal. I’m thrilled to return to a student-facing role where I can directly support learners again. I live in White River Junction with my wife, Jessica, our two sons, Theodore and Oliver, and our tiny dog, Franklin. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, cheering on my beloved New York Yankees, and cooking. I look forward to building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues as we work together to meet the diverse needs of our learners.

Hello! My name is Erin Melton, and I’m excited to join Lyme School as a 4th grade teacher. I’ve spent the first six years of my teaching career in grades 3-8, with the majority of my experience in a 3rd grade classroom. I live in Hanover with my husband, Hunter. We both grew up in the South and just completed our first full year here in New Hampshire (the winter was no joke!). Outside of school, I love staying active by playing volleyball, pickleball, going to the gym, or hiking. One of my personal goals is to hike as many of the NH 4000-footers as I can. I’m currently at five, with Mt. Washington being my most recent climb! I’m really looking forward to meeting all the students, families, and staff at Lyme.

Hello, everyone. My name is Kim Nickles. I have been a Spanish and English teacher for many years in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. My two sons are my pride and joy. They both work in the construction industry. Racquet sports are another passion of mine. I play something almost every day. At the moment, I have cats and lovebirds, but as a child, horses and dogs were always around. I am excited to begin at Lyme School. I have heard so many good things about the people and community.

It will be a special day for many. Kindergarteners starting their very first day of school. 8th graders ringing the bell to signify the beginning of their end to their Lyme School careers. New teachers that have joined us are having their first day with their new students.

At 8AM, we will gather on the field behind the school. Parents/Guardians can drop their students at the field and proceed across the gully to line up for the students to parade by. Students will parade into the school and out the front door to the bell. Our 8th graders will ring the bell roughly between 8:10 and 8:15AM. Students will then proceed into school for their day.

If it is raining, students will enter the main entrance and organize in the gym. Our middle schoolers will come out and ring the bell approximately between 8:10 and 8:15AM in the rain.

There are limited school supplies that students might need. This link will bring you to the school supplies list. For all students we recommend:

• Water bottle and backpack labeled with the student name

• Colored Pencils

• Markers

• Scissors

***Please note that we strongly suggest that families label student articles of clothing and items that are frequently brought to school. This way we can get them back to the students instead of to the Lost & Found.***

If you are having trouble logging into ALMA, please reach out to Amanda Perry.

Please complete the required forms for 2024-2025 in ALMA for all returning students. You will see this on the main page when you log-in to ALMA under your student(s) name.

In ALMA, you will find your child's teacher(s) and schedule, a way to message teachers directly, and paperwork that needs to be completed for this school year.

Welcome returning and new students and families to the 2025-2026 school year. Please refer to the following information from the Nursing Health Office.

Due to limited funding, the Upper Valley Regional Public Health Network will not be able to provide free school influenza vaccination clinics this Fall 2025.

Please contact your child’s pediatrician’s office to schedule flu vaccines. I will notify families of any free public clinics being offered in the Upper Valley.

The Nurse's office is staffed Monday-Friday by a Registered Nurse. Please email nurse@lymeschool.org and/or call the Main Office 795-2125 if your child is absent from school due to illness or injury.

Duties include: Nursing care, Health Screening, Medication administration, First Aid, Emergency care, Individualized Health Planning, Health Education. We collaborate with families, teachers, special education services, our guidance counselor and behavioral coach.

Kati Miller RN BSN: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

Matthew Greenway RN BSN: Wednesday/as needed coverage

Celeste McCool RN BSN: Wednesday/as needed coverage

Medication Administration:

If your child requires emergency medications (epipen, inhaler, etc.) to be kept securely in the Nurse's office, please contact nurse@lymeschool.org to set up a time to deliver the medication along with an updated allergy or asthma action plan from your child's Healthcare Provider.

Returning students need an updated allergy or asthma action plan at the start of each school year.

For daily medication administration, please complete and return the forms below with your child's Healthcare provider.

All medications need to be dropped off before the first day of school.

Authorization for Prescription Medication Administration by the School Nurse

Medication or Procedure Order Form

The Lyme School Nurse's office is here to support you and your child and to promote healthy outcomes for students and staff.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns you or your student may have regarding the upcoming school year.

We look forward to a new school year and appreciate your partnership in keeping our school community healthy.

Kati Miller, RN BSN

Hello K-5 Families!

I hope everyone has had an amazing summer so far!

This is Meg Fryman, owner/director of Lyme After School Program (LASP), and I am reaching out today to let you all know that I am opening enrollment today for year 21 of business!

LASP runs every day that school is in full day session; M-W,F from 3-5:30 and Thurs 2-5:30. Snack is provided daily at 3, followed by outdoor play (if weather permits), as well as arts & crafts, games, homework time, large/small group activities and afternoons filled with fun!

Space is limited per regulations set by The State of NH Child Care Licensing Bureau with enrollment on a first come first serve basis.

If you are interested in enrolling your child(ren) in LASP for the 2025-2026 school year or would like more specific information regarding the program and/or tuition please reach out to me via email (megfryman77@gmail.com) or text/call me at 603-208-8303.

Enjoy the rest of summer!

Meg Fryman

LASP Owner/Director

603-208-8303

megfryman77@gmail.com

The Lyme School Apparel Store has a variety of apparel and accessories all customizable with a variety of school logos. The Lyme School PTO earns 12% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school and go Lions! #LYMESCHOOLROCKS

OUR VALUES

● Fairness ● Acceptance of Others ● Integrity ● Responsibility

● Perseverance ● Individuality ● Compassion ● Courage

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Elise Foxall, Academic Director

Geoff Tomlinson, Student Services Director