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John Stark Deliberative Session - Friday, February 6...
The John Stark Regional School Board will meet on Friday, February 6, 2026 in the John Stark cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. The Board will recess the school board meeting for the Deliberative Session at 7:00 p.m. Deliberative sessions are an important step in the budget process. At this meeting, the legislative body (YOU) decide what will go on the final ballot for voting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The warrant articles detailed at last month's public hearing can be amended by the people at the deliberative session. All John Stark budget documents, including the support staff and t eachers contract are linked here or can be found at www.sau24.org under Budget.
Thursday, Feb 05 2026
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Parent/Guardian Permission for Audio/Video Recording...
Dear families, Dr. Coe wrote in December with an important update about audio and video recording in our schools. She shared that we would pause all video and audio recording while we worked through a permission process. We have done that and removed audio and video recordings from our websites and YouTube channels when they included students. We are now ready to begin a permissions process for instructional use of audio and video recordings. You can read Dr. Coe's 12/18 post here: Important Update Regarding Audio and Video Recordings in our Schools You can read the 12/15 Technical Advisory about Audio and Video Recording from NH ED here: NH Technical Advisory on Consent for Audio and Video Recording of Students We will begin to get back to use of audio and video recordings for instruction as our first step. Audio and video recordings are used in our instruction in many ways including student created podcasts and video projects, student recordings as part of band and music courses, and we have whole courses that are predicated on audio and video recording such as our Introduction to Video Production course at John Stark. The permission form linked below will allow you to consent for audio and video recording for the current school year. Moving forward, we will include consent in our Annual Enrollment process and request specific permission for courses where recording is more than might be considered typical - the music and theatre courses referenced above are good examples of our threshold. We will continue to work through the logistics of non-instructional recording and broadcasting including events and athletics. Please complete this form by Friday, January 23, 2026. After January 23, we will reach out individually for families to complete the consent process. Sincerely, Matthew Colby Assistant Superintendent
Thursday, Jan 15 2026
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Student Run Productions of “A Wrinkle in Time” and ...
Blair Schou and Ellah Adler are directing their own shows for their senior projects, which will take place on January 16th and 17th at 7:00 p.m. at John Stark Regional High School. Tickets are $7.00 for Students and Seniors, and $10.00 for adults. Blair Schou’s production of “ A Wrinkle in Time” , adapted for the stage by Morgan Gould and produced through special arrangement with Stage Partners, is a captivating story about Meg Murray, her brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin O’Keefe traveling through space and time to find her missing father, based on the popular novel by Madeleine L’Engle. Ellah Adler's production is an adaptation of Kati Preston, a holocaust survivor, books, and life during the Holocaust. The story is told from the eyes of a young Kati. and how she ventured through a world full of hate because of who she was. The showing is a staged reading of an original script.
Wednesday, Jan 14 2026
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John Stark Regional High School Educator Kevin Munro...
SAU 24 is pleased to announce that Kevin Munroe, a science and engineering educator at John Stark Regional High School, has been recognized as a 2025–2026 Teacher Excellence Award recipient by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA). Munroe was the sole New Hampshire educator selected for this national honor, which recognizes outstanding teachers who exemplify excellence in technology, engineering, and STEM education. The Teacher Excellence Awards are sponsored by Goodheart-Willcox, a leading publisher of career and technical education materials. "We are incredibly proud of Kevin and this well-deserved recognition," said Gary Dempsey, Principal, "Our students are fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated teacher like Mr Munroe." Munroe will be formally recognized at the ITEEA 88th Annual Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on March 25–28, 2026. ITEEA is the professional organization for technology, innovation, design, and engineering educators, serving members who advance technological and engineering capabilities through education. John Stark Regional High School serves students from the communities of Henniker and Weare as part of School Administrative Unit 24. Congratulations Mr. Munroe!
Wednesday, Jan 14 2026
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Welcome Back
CWES News and Updates Family Engagement Matters January 5, 2026 At CWES, we deeply value parent engagement as a key part of student success. One way we foster this is through regular, consistent communication about academics, events, and important updates. Throughout the year, we’ll also seek your feedback to help us grow. We are all lifelong learners at CWES, and we look forward to a great year with our outstanding students and our caring, supportive families. General Information- Start of the Year I hope everyone had a relaxing and wonderful holiday break. It was truly a joy to see so many smiling, happy faces in the halls and classrooms this morning as we welcomed students back to school. As we begin a new year, it is also an important time to pause, reset, and re-establish classroom routines and behavior expectations. Returning to these shared expectations helps students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Many classes have revisited the Hopes and Dreams students created in the fall—reflecting on their goals, celebrating progress, and thinking about how their choices and behaviors help them grow as learners and community members. This intentional focus on routines, expectations, and student voice sets a positive tone for the months ahead and supports a strong learning environment for all. We appreciate your continued partnership as we work together to help every student feel successful and connected at school. Warmly, Mrs. Potter Spelling Bees Class Spelling Bees will take place throughout the week. Each class will select a winner and a runner-up who will advance to the School Spelling Bee on January 16. Typically, we livestream this event; however, due to a recent technical advisory related to the Parental Bill of Rights and audio/visual guidelines, the School Spelling Bee will be held as an in-person event this year. Parents are welcome to attend. The two students advancing from each class will be sent a Pre-Check so they can be checked in quickly at the door. Students preparing for the School Spelling Bee are encouraged to study words beyond their current grade level. Teachers have study lists available to support students as they prepare. Spelling Bees are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate academic skills and student perseverance. At CWES, students develop strong spelling foundations through our Fundations and Heggerty programs, which focus on understanding why words are spelled a certain way—supporting deeper phonics knowledge and long-term literacy growth. https://spellingbee.com/parents- link for parents about Spelling Bees. Ski Lessons at Pats Peak Ski Program Information Thursday, January 8, will mark the start of a 5-week ski program. Please note that this is not a school-sponsored program. While we are happy to support dismissal procedures, participation requires students to leave school early or transition through regular dismissal, both of which families should consider carefully. Parents have two dismissal options: Option 1: Early Dismissal (Unexcused) Students may be dismissed early to arrive at the ski area on time. Please be aware that this option results in students missing approximately 45 minutes of academic instruction each week and will be recorded as an unexcused early dismissal. Option 2: Regular Dismissal Students may remain in school for the full academic day and be dismissed during our regular dismissal process. Priority will be given to Peak parents during this time. Dismissal Procedures Option 1: Early Dismissal (2:15–2:30 p.m. – Ski Students Only) Students will be dismissed beginning at 2:15 p.m. Families must update Pick Up Patrol to reflect “Early Dismissal” with a dismissal time of 2:15 and include the note “Ski.” Parents should park in the parking lot or stop in the traffic circle and enter through the front vestibule. Students will wait in the main lobby with a staff member. Early dismissal for skiing is available only between 2:15–2:30 p.m. If you arrive after 2:30, you will need to follow regular dismissal procedures. Please note: There will be no announcement for early ski dismissal. Option 2: Regular Dismissal (2:50 p.m.) Ski students will begin dismissal slightly early to support timely transitions. Families must ensure “Ski” is listed under Pick Up Patrol. Students will be packed and ready ahead of time. Students will proceed to the gym as they do during regular dismissal. Parents drive through the center of the main parking lot, taking a right at the gate next to the waiting cars at the gate to form a second line (someone will be directing traffic). Your line will be first to be at the gym for parent pick up. We want families to be fully informed when making decisions about early dismissal. Missing academic time weekly does have an impact on learning, and we encourage families to weigh this carefully when choosing a dismissal option. Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us maintain safe and efficient dismissal procedures for all students. So Much Fun Here at CWES- Upcoming Events January 14th- Weare Board Meeting @ WMS 6pm January 16th- School Spelling Bee January 19th- No School; Martin Luther King Jr. Day Resources Parents Ask For Academics and Curriculum- General Information about CWES Curriculum and Academics Free and Reduced Meals Lunch Info Including Meal Calendar Calendar of Events- CWES shares all of the events for the year Get Involved PTO and/ Or Volunteer Get Involved by Joining the PTO! - Another way to get involved is through the Weare Friends PTO. The PTO is an organization with the goal of supporting teachers and families throughout the year. They help with school events like the Halloween Parade, Field Day and Teacher Appreciation Week, just to name a few. Follow their Facebook page Weare Friends PTO for all events. Click Here to Join the PTO mailing list! Contact Information If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following links: (603) 529-4500 https://www.sau24.org/schools/centerwoods
Monday, Jan 05 2026
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Important update regarding audio and video recording...
The State Department of Education recently issued a technical advisory related to the already passed NH Legislature’s Parental Bill of Rights that changes how and when schools may record or livestream students. Based on this guidance, we must temporarily pause all audio and video recordings and all live streaming across our schools while we put a compliant process in place. This pause applies broadly and includes classroom recordings, performances, athletic events and practices, co-curricular activities, and live-streamed meetings. It also includes existing recordings, such as School Board meeting videos, since students are present and often participate in those meetings as well as videos often shared on our website. Once a permission process is established, we expect recording for instructional purposes to resume relatively smoothly. Other areas, such as performances, games, and practices, are more complex under the law and may take additional time to resolve. I understand that this change may be disappointing or inconvenient, particularly for families who rely on recordings or livestreams to stay connected. Please know that this pause was not an easy decision, but it is necessary to ensure we are complying with the law. Thank you for your understanding as we work through this. I will share updates as soon as additional guidance and processes are in place. If you have questions, please reach out to me directly. Jackie
Thursday, Dec 18 2025
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Fall of Teaching and Learning 2025
Fall of Teaching and Learning It seems like school just started, but we're well on our way and headed for Holiday Break next week! It's been a fall of learning in our classrooms and across learning spaces in SAU24. Our students AND our staff have been digging deep into difficult topics and working hard on their new learning. Below you will find some highlights of the work our educators are doing alongside their instruction to improve teaching and learning in SAU24 schools. Also included here is information about our fall benchmark testing K-8 and statewide assessment results from the spring of 2025. SAU24 Common Day Workshop - November 4 The SAU24 Professional Growth Committee hosted our annual Common Day Workshop at John Stark on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. 76 choice sessions were facilitated by internal and external presenters in the morning sessions covering topics identified in the Annual PG Needs survey from the spring of 2025. Topics included Artificial Intelligence and AI use in schools, meeting learner needs, content and program specific sessions. Each staff member had a dedicated collaboration time with job-alike colleagues from across the SAU. In the final session of the day staff worked to deepen understanding of the SAU24 Portrait of a Learner competencies and to identify individual or team action steps for the 2025-2026 school year. Each staff member left with a personal implementation plan for explicitly engaging with their students around at least one of the portrait traits in the spring of 2025 (see more about the Portrait of a Learner Implementation work below). Professional Growth Committee: Alex Plourde, Ashley Rainey, Carole Zervos, Danielle Younie, Heather Fisher, Heather Salter, Kat Foecking, Matt Colby, Matt Hammond, Sarah Gross, Tracy Travers OGAP Additive in SAU24 Nine SAU24 staff - classroom teachers, special educators, and math interventionists - participated in a four-and-a-half day OGAP Additive Reasoning professional development opportunity over the course of this fall. The training is focused on helping teachers to: 1) deepen their content knowledge of additive reasoning (including number sense, place value, counting and subitizing, addition and subtraction strategies, etc), 2) introduce them to what the math research says about how students learn these skills, and 3) equip them with instructional strategies and tools to move all students forward, making them better users of any curriculum materials. The training was facilitated by SAU24 OGAP National Facilitators, Jacqui Cornwell and Allie Kenney. LETRS - Unit 2 in SAU24 Last spring, nine educators from across SAU 24 started a two-year professional training program called Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS). This professional growth experience is a blended learning model which includes in-person workshops, online learning, and independent application. LETRS provides teachers background knowledge in the Science of Reading, which supports a structured literacy approach. This November, teachers participated in their second in-person workshop which focused on the speech sounds of English. This training focused on learning all about phonological processing and how to support students as they develop phonological awareness. Teachers learned about where and how in the mouth we make sounds—or phonemes. They also learned about how sound articulation affects reading and spelling. Teachers gained practical strategies and activities to use with students in order to increase phonological awareness, which is a critical aspect of strong literacy skills. Teachers will gather again in January to learn more about their next topic, which focuses on teaching beginning phonics, word recognition, and spelling. This professional growth opportunity is facilitated by local LETRS facilitators Maureen Colby (Instructional Coach), Judy Khan (CWES Reading Specialist), Mary McNally (CWES Reading Interventionist), and Jenn Wifholm (HCS Teacher). SAU24/NEC Embedded Master's Degree This fall we offered ED5640 Universal Design for Learning: creating variability and opportunity for all learners (3 credits) as our Fall 2025 Embedded Master’s Degree course. Seven educators participated in the course, which focused on deepening understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its role in creating equitable, student-centered learning environments. As part of the coursework, participants: explored the theoretical foundations and UDL Guidelines, applied them to curriculum and instructional design, and developed strategies to reduce barriers to learning and increase accessibility. engaged in instructional rounds, visiting classrooms across SAU 24 to collect data addressing the question, “How are classrooms in SAU 24 designed to support learner agency for all students?” examined the connections among UDL, learner agency, and the SAU 24 Portrait of a Learner, with an emphasis on leading and advocating for UDL practices within their educational settings. completed a “core resource evaluation” to take a look at how the core resources they each use aligns with the UDL Framework and what could be further enhanced using the Framework. The course was a 3-credit “topics course” and was taught using a hybrid, blended-learning model by Maureen Colby and Allie Kenney. This spring we will offer ED6400 School Reform, School Leadership, and Curriculum Changes (4 credits) as a “core course”. Jackie Coe and Jess Potter are teaching this on-site course at the SAU24 PG Center at Weare Middle School. SAU24 Portrait of a Learner Next Steps Team Staff from across SAU24 continued work they started in the summer in SAU24 Gets it Done with implementation of Portrait of a Learner across SAU24. The team mapped more of implementation in line with the three SAU24 Strategic Plan metrics: By May 2029, each student 3-12 will provide evidence of growth in each POL area through a portfolio. By May 2029, a PK-12 progression will be developed and referenced in scope and sequence documents. By May 2029, there will be regular reporting of student progress on POL competencies. The team developed and implemented a workshop lesson plan for Common Day Workshop toward the third goal (regular reporting). The three learning targets for the workshop were: Understanding the back story and components of our SAU24 Portrait of a Learner Establishing our current baseline with implementation Action setting and forward movement on implementation Each adult learner left Common Day with an individual or team plan to explicitly teach and call out the Portrait of a Learner competencies with their students in the current school year with an eye toward replacing local Habits of Work or Work Study Practices on student progress reports in 2026-2027. Portrait of a Learner Next Steps Team: Andrew Sheard, Ashley Rainey, Carla Dionne, Chrissie Sargent, Deb Marquardt, Joe Montroy, Kat Foecking, Matthew Colby, Maureen Colby, Rachel Fairhurst Learning Management System (LMS) Team We pulled together an LMS Evaluation team this fall to examine our use of Canvas PK-12 and to evaluate our LMS needs. The NH ED contract with Instructure to provide Canvas to schools expires at the end of the 2025-2026 school year and we need to determine if we’re staying with Canvas or investigating alternatives. The LMS team developed a survey for users to evaluate use of Canvas now and use cases for an LMS across the PK-12 spectrum. User responses are being collected now. LMS Team: Chrissie Sargent, Dawn Spring, Jake Morrill, Jen Matzke, Jessica Potter, Jon Barry, Matthew Colby, Megan Lavigne, Melissa Descoteau, Rachel Fairhurst, Rebecca Sherman, Tracy Travers Our Data Story As part of their work as instructional leaders, principals have been digging into data with an eye toward evaluating program implementation and progress in our improvement efforts. This fall the principals have shared data reports with the school boards about ESSA (Elementary and Secondary Schools Act) Achievement indicators and foundational reading and math scores. Use the links below to access their reports. ESSA Indicators Henniker ESSA Indicators John Stark Regional ESSA Indicators Stoddard ESSA Indicators Weare ESSA Indicators Foundational Reading (Class of 2034) Henniker Foundational Reading Stoddard Foundational Reading Weare Foundational Reading Foundational Math (Class of 2034) Henniker Foundational Math Stoddard Foundational Math Weare Foundational Math School Calendars - why 180 days? We had our first cancellation for winter weather on Tuesday, December 2, which begs the question, when’s the last day of school going to be? Here’s a 1-pager about school calendars and instructional minutes calculations that talks about why we still build a calendar for 180 school days each year. iReady Fall Assessment Data As part of our local assessment plan, students in grades k-8 complete the iReady reading and math diagnostic assessments at the start of the school year. The fall assessments are used as a beginning of year needs assessment and help us to plan for intervention groups and to consider scaffolds and supports for students in classrooms. Reading Assessment K-8 - Fall 2025 Math Assessment K-8 - Fall 2025 NH State Testing Data - Spring 2025 Results Each spring NH students in grades 3-8 and 11 participate in standardized testing as part of NH’s compliance with the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act. For reading and writing, students in grades 3-8 participate in the NH SAS test, which is unique to NH; students in grade 11 participate in the school-day SAT. For science, students in grades 5, 8, and 11 participate in NH testing through the NH portal. In 2026-2027 NH is moving the high school science testing to grade 10. Data for the individual schools and districts, as well as the State of NH combined, is available on the NH Dept of Education Website through the iAchieve portal. PDF versions of our local results are here: Henniker NH SAS PDF from iAchieve John Stark Regional SAT PDF from iAchieve Stoddard NH SAS PDF from iAchieve Weare NH SAS PDF from iAchieve Live NH State data on iAchieve (you can use the search feature to pull the live data for SAU24 schools, pdfs were provided here for convenience) SAU24 Leadership At our fall SAU24 Leadership meetings we spent time digging deep into Instructional Leadership. In September, we aligned our on-going work on the SAU24 Leadership Commitments and growing as leaders with instructional leadership. We evaluated how our schools are doing with curriculum and program implementation and each building level team developed an action plan for supporting staff in program/curriculum implementation with integrity. We used text-based protocols and Notice and Wonder during this work. In October, we use a Tuning protocol and a fishbowl structure to share and get constructive feedback about implementation of the plans that we made in September. We were able to evaluate next steps for this work in our buildings.
Thursday, Dec 18 2025
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CWES- phones, report cards, spirit week and so much ...
Communication: We just learned that there is a town-wide phone issue that is affecting some phones in Weare, depending on your phone carrier. We alerted Granite State Telephone, and they are working on it. You can always use ParentSquare to connect with the school, if needed. Report Cards: Students will be coming home with Report Cards in their backpacks today. Please know this is the last hard copy report card. Erica Butler sent a Parent Square yesterday highlighting how to access report cards online. Please try to log on and follow the directions so that by the end of trimester 2, you will know how to view the report cards. If you have older children, you likely know how to do this because WMS and JSRHS use the same process. Spirit Week- Next week! December 15th-19th. Don't worry, we designed a low-stress spirit week that should be easy for parents! Attendance: Attendance letters were recently mailed to families whose child has missed 10% or more of the school year so far. One purpose of these letters is to keep families informed of their child’s attendance status. If absences have had an impact on your child’s learning, we have resources available to help bridge any gaps. Additionally, as we head into the holiday season, we encourage families to be mindful of scheduling travel outside of school vacation weeks to minimize further time away from learning. Research shows that missing just 10% of the school year—equivalent to about 18 days—can significantly impact a child’s learning and academic progress. Even when absences are unavoidable, frequent missed instructional time can create learning gaps that may be difficult to recover without additional support. Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring student success. Happy Holidays from our staff to your Families! Upcoming Events: December 22nd-January 4th- No School - Holiday Break January 5-10- Class Spelling Bees January 16th- School Spelling Bee Janaury 19th- No School
Friday, Dec 12 2025
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Henniker Aglow- December 14th
Dear Families - We know this is a very busy time of year for everyone so we want to be sure to get out a reminder that HENNIKER AGLOW IS THIS SUNDAY!! Date: Sunday 12/14, 3:30 - 6:00 Location: John Lyons Center, NEC (parking lot by the old train station - 79 Depot Hill Road) Admission: $5/person, $20 max/family **Admission includes games, pictures with Santa, popcorn, hot chocolate, tickets to vote in the tree decorating contest, take home crafts, face painting and the lighted vehicle parade.** Don't worry about hungry kiddos - we've got lots of food! Additional items for purchase include pizza ($2 cheese, $2.50 pepperoni), bake sale and nachos (by donation) and Henniker swag. To purchase tickets ahead of time, please scan the QR code below. Schedule of Events 3:30 Doors open 4:00 Tree lighting 4:00 - 4:15 HCS Chorus performs 4:45-5:00 Lighted Vehicle Parade 5:00-6:00 Pictures with Santa 5:30 Tree decorating contest voting closes 5:30-5:45 Carol Hamilton Butler Chorus performs 6:00 Tree decorating contest and Rotary’s Lights of Henniker winners announced Volunteers still needed!! Please sign up using QR code below or email Courtney Portillo at courtney.portillo@sau24.org - Volunteers get 1 free admission! This is a cash only event - please plan ahead Please contact Courtney Portillo, PTA (719-694-4268, Courtney.portillo@sau24.org ) with any questions. We look forward to sharing this amazing community celebration with all of you! Sincerely, Your Henniker PTA
Tuesday, Dec 09 2025