Letters from the Superintendent

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to recognize and honor the incredible educators who shape the hearts and minds of our students every single day. Teachers are at the core of our mission—to inspire, challenge, and support every student to reach their fullest potential. Their passion, dedication, and resilience have never been more evident than in recent years, as they have adapted to changing circumstances with grace and unwavering commitment.

Every day, our teachers go beyond lesson plans and test scores. They build relationships, foster curiosity, nurture creativity, and create safe, welcoming classrooms where all students can thrive. Their work is often challenging and rarely confined to school hours, yet they continue to show up with patience, compassion, and professionalism.

I encourage you to join me in expressing gratitude to the teachers in your children’s lives. A simple note of thanks, a kind email, or a word of appreciation can mean so much to those who give so much of themselves.

On behalf of the SAU 21 community, thank you for partnering with us in supporting our educators. Together, we can ensure they feel the appreciation and respect they so deeply deserve—not just this week, but throughout the year.

With gratitude,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

I think I can finally say with confidence that the last day of school for all SAU 21 students will be Friday, June 13th.  I believe we are safely past snow days for this spring season. Thank goodness!  The crocuses and daffodills are making their appearances and spring vacation is imminent.  

Spring is also assessment season in our districts.  High school juniors took the SAT this week, and our students in grades 3-8 will be participating in the New Hampshire State Assessment for literacy and mathematics.  Students at grades 3, 8, and 11 also participate in the state assessment for science.  New Hampshire students consistently rank in the top 5 in the country for reading and in the top 10 for math.  Information on how to access your child's results will be sent out as soon as the data is available for parents.  District and state results are typically not made public by the state until the fall.

Member of our SAU 21 School Boards, along with School Board members from SAU 90, will be meeting with local legislators on Monday, 4/21, beginning at 6 P.M. in the Lecture Hall at Winnacunnet.  The conversation will focus on legislation currently before the NH House and Senate pertaining to education and education funding.  The meeting is open to the public.

Please see the attached flyer from the SAU 21 Joint Board Communications Committee.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

Just a reminder that there is no school on Tuesday, March 11th, in SAU 21 schools due to voting day.  Voting for town and school elections will take place on Tuesday.  Sample ballots and voter information for each of our school districts can be found here. Voting will take place at the following times in the following locations:

Hampton Falls
8 A.M. to 8 P.M. 
Lincoln Akerman cafeteria

North Hampton
8 A.M. to 7 P.M. 
North Hampton School gym

Seabrook
7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Seabrook Recreation Center

South Hampton
11 A.M. to 8 P.M.
South Hampton Town Hall

Hampton 
7 A.M. to 8 P.M. 
Winnacunnet High School Dining Hall  

We encourage you to take the time to read the information and to get out and make your vote count!

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 families,

As noted in the last PowerSchool update, PowerSchool has begun contacting those families and employees whose data was involved in the worldwide PowerSchool data breach. Over the weekend, I was contacted by a number of individuals who had received such emails. The emails are coming from Powerschool (Ps-sis-incident@mail.csid.com), and are legitimate. 

The emails have important information you will need to sign up for the free credit monitoring (Experian) and information about protecting against identity theft. I would recommend checking your spam/junk folder, as well, to make sure that you don't miss this important communication. A copy of the email has been posted to the PowerSchool page on our website.

As a reminder, SAU 21 does not collect social security information from students or their families.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good morning SAU 21 Families and Staff,

Due to current and anticipated road conditions, there will be a 2-hour delay today, Monday, February 17th, for all SAU 21 schools.  Travel safely!

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good morning SAU 21 Families and Staff,

Due to current and anticipated weather and road conditions, there will be a 2-hour delay today, Thursday, February 13th, 2025.  Please allow some extra time for traveling this morning.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 Families and Staff,

We have confirmed with the School District Moderator that the Winnacunnet Deliberative Session is ON for tonight, Thursday, February 6th, 2025 at 7 P.M. at Winnacunnet High School in the auditorium.  The Deliberative Session will be preceded by a Winnacunnet School Board meeting at 6 P.M.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Families and Staff,

Due to anticipated weather and road conditions, there will be no school tomorrow, Thursday, February 6th, for all SAU 21 schools.  

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good morning SAU 21 families and staff,

Due to road conditions, there will be a two-hour delay today, Monday, February 3rd, 2025.  There will be no morning preschool.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Families and Staff,

What a week we've had--and it's only Wednesday!   In addition to today's snow, we all had an impromptu science lesson on Monday when the region experienced an earthquake.  Kudos to our students and staff for taking it all in stride and, in some cases, practicing those Drop and Cover skills that we teach for such scenarios.  

We received another update from PowerSchool this week regarding the data breach.  The full message can be found here.  In short, PowerSchool confirmed that:

• They have begun notifying state attorneys general of the data breach.
• In the coming days, they will begin providing formal legal notice of the cybersecurity incident to current and former students (or their parents/guardians as applicable) and educators whose information was determined to be involved.
• A direct email notification will be distributed in the coming weeks by Experian on PowerSchool's behalf to applicable current and former students (or their parents/guardians as applicable) and educators for whom they have sufficient contact information.
• PowerSchool will also launch a website and distribute a media release to ensure they reach as many involved individuals as possible and provide them with resources to protect their information. 
• These notices will include instructions for involved individuals on how to enroll in the credit monitoring and identity protection services that are being offered by PowerSchool.

While we are still awaiting the release of a third party audit (conducted by CrowdStrike) of the worldwide data breach experienced by PowerSchool, we appreciate knowing that notifications of students/families and staff whose data was released are forthcoming.  We continue to engage with our partners including the Student Data Privacy Consortium, the New Hampshire Chief Technology Officers' Consortium and our state and federal partners to ensure that PowerSchool is held accountable for its responsibilities for this data breach and to ensure that they, and we, are taking appropriate steps to best safeguard student/family and employee data moving forward.  We will continue to provide updates as they are communicated to us. As a reminder, prior updates can be found here on the SAU website. 

I have received some questions this week about federal immigration and grant funding policies and the impact on our schools. My response regarding the former is that our school communities remain safe and welcoming educational environments for all of our children. Our schools comply with and support the NH Revised Statutes Section 193:38, which states, “No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in public schools because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, or national origin.” If family circumstances should change for any student who has a legal right to attend our schools, we will stand by those students, as we do all of our students, to support them in navigating those challenges and ensuring that they continue to receive an education. With respect to the grant funding issue, at this time, we do not expect disruptions to our programs and services, but we will be monitoring any developments pertaining to federal funding closely and working with our state and federal offices to ensure that we have the resources needed to serve the children in our schools. 

In other news, each of our districts will hold their Annual School District Meeting, Part 1, also known as the Deliberative Session, next week.  Please attend if you can to learn more about the proposed budgets and warrant articles in your communities and to vote on what proposals will appear on your community's ballot in March. Dates and times for those meetings are listed below:

Seabrook Deliberative Session, Monday, 2/3/25, 7 P.M. at Seabrook Middle School

North Hampton Deliberative Session, Tuesday, 2/4/25, 7 P.M. at North Hampton School

South Hampton Deliberative Session, Tuesday, 2/4/25, 7 P.M. at Barnard School 

Hampton Falls Deliberative Session, Wednesday, 2/5/25, 5:30 P.M. at Lincoln Akerman School

Winnacunnet Deliberative Session, Thursday, 2/6/25, 7 P.M. at Winnacunnet High School.

As a reminder, this Friday, 1/31, is the last day to file for open school district positions.  A full listing of those positions and how/where to file for those vacancies, along with details regarding the budget proposals and warrant articles for each community, can be found here on our SAU website. 

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good morning SAU 21 Families,

Due to current and anticipated weather and road conditions, there will be a 2-hour delay today, Wednesday, January 29th, 2025 for all SAU 21 schools, and there will be no morning preschool.  Please travel safely and allow additional time.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents, Guardians, and Staff,

We remain extremely concerned about the worldwide data breach experienced by PowerSchool.  We are continuing to gather information as it becomes available and to work with our partners to address the PowerSchool data breach on behalf of the students, families, and staff members in our district. 

We are in ongoing contact with the company to learn more about this situation and potential solutions and are working with our partners and member organizations including the New Hampshire Student Data Privacy Consortium, our insurance carrier, and have also reached out to our federal congressional offices. We remain committed to providing you with additional information as it becomes available.  In the meantime, we have compiled the FAQ document below to summarize what we know thus far. This information along with our prior communications related to the data breach have been posted on our website and can be found here.

We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate this situation.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly with your questions.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

To our Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to provide the following update to the notification that our student and teacher databases may have been compromised last month.
Here is the timeline of events as we understand them today:

● On or about December 19, hackers used a compromised credential to gain access to PowerSchool’s student information system. The hackers accessed and downloaded student and teacher database tables. PowerSchool databases across the nation were impacted by this security breach.
● PowerSchool discovered the hack on December 28. It immediately hired a third-party cybersecurity advisor to assist.
● PowerSchool notified the District on January 7.

We have determined that the following information was accessed from the District account:

address, grade level, home phone, ethnicity, student alerts, doctor's name and phone number, cumulative grade-point average, gender, state student ID number, date of birth, guardian's address, email and phone, emergency contact, homeroom, lunch status, student's schedule.

PowerSchool has taken a number of measures to increase security, including mandating new passwords and instituting tighter password policies.

PowerSchool also confirmed it hired CyberSteward to negotiate a ransom to the hackers to prevent public release of this information, although there was no demand to do so.
We are taking this matter extremely seriously. We share your deep concern that personal information about students and staff was obtained. We are further upset by PowerSchool’s unacceptable 10-day delay in notifying us about the breach.

We are committed to ensuring that student and educator data remains secure. We are in contact with the company, and in the interest of transparency, we will provide updates as new information becomes available.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this situation. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

Late this afternoon, the SAU was informed about a cybersecurity breach involving our student information system vendor, PowerSchool.  While we have limited details at this time, we want to share the attached letter from PowerSchool in the interest of full disclosure.   We take this news seriously as it pertains to the security of private information.  We will be providing more information as it is made available.

Thank you for your patience as we work to learn more about this situation.

PowerSchool.jpg 

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 families, 
 
As we enter the winter holiday season, and approach the beginning of a new year, I wish to thank our families and the SAU 21 community for their support of our public schools and for their participation in the education of their children.  I also want to recognize and thank our staff for their dedication to our communities and children. 

We look forward to continued work to grow our students in the five areas identified in our Portrait of a Learner:  Academics, Mindsets, Physical and Mental Wellness, Essential Life Skills and Community Engagement.  Presentations from our students at recent board meetings document some of the work that is occurring in these areas--from a financial literacy course in South Hampton to Extended Learning Opportunities at Winnacunnet that are taking students into the wider community pursuing areas of interest. We look forward to continuing to share the incredible work of our students in the year ahead.

If you are looking for some ways to fill your child's time during this winter break, consider the old-fashioned pastime of reading.  E-readers and audio books work, too, and just a little time spent reading each day can pay huge dividends.  Whether your child is not yet reading, learning to read, or building their vocabulary and reading stamina, spending twenty minutes a day engaged in reading makes a difference.  Please see the attached for more information and some fun reading ideas.

Curriculum Director newsletter 12.2024.pdf 

Best wishes for safe and happy holidays with your families and friends,

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians:

As winter approaches, we want to prepare you for possible changes to the school schedule/calendar that may occur as a result of our sometimes unpredictable New England weather.  Please review the information below so that you will understand the potential schedule changes and where to find the most up-to-date and accurate information.  

As was the case last year, our intention is to utilize old-fashioned snow days in the case of school cancellations due to inclement weather--at least through the beginning of the winter.  If it begins to appear that the school year will be extended beyond the make-up days already built into our school calendars, we will look at implementing some remote instruction days in lieu of traditional snow days later in the winter. 

Changes to the Schedule

School Cancellation. In situations where student safety may be jeopardized for an extended period of time, school will be canceled for the entire day. 

Remote Instruction. If we have more than 3 cancellation days, we will look to implement remote learning days in order to limit extending the school year further into June.

Delayed Openings. In some situations, school opening may be delayed by two hours, allowing time for early morning snow removal and ice control to occur and/or weather to improve.  If there is a two-hour delay:

• Preschool. Morning preschool in all districts will be canceled.  Afternoon preschool will be held.  Afternoon preschool buses will operate on a normal day schedule.
• All other students should be at schools and bus stops two hours later than normal. 
• Lunches will be served in all schools having school lunch programs.

Early Dismissal. On very rare occasions it may be necessary to dismiss school early.  This decision will normally be made the night before the school day on which it will occur—except in the case of an emergency.  If there is an early dismissal:

• There will be no afternoon preschool.
• All after-school activities and after care programs will be canceled.
• Please refer to your school’s parent handbook for information about early dismissal times.
• Parents should make arrangements in advance for the care of children in the event of an early dismissal.

Schedule Change Announcements

Notifications of closings or schedule changes will be sent to all families and employees via the SchoolMessenger system. In addition, announcements will be posted on the SAU and individual school websites:

SAU #21                                              https://www.sau21.org
Hampton Falls                                     https://www.sau21.org/las/
North Hampton                                    https://www.northhamptonschool.org/
Seabrook Elementary                          https://www.elementary.seabrooksd.org/
Seabrook Middle                                 https://www.middle.seabrooksd.org/
South Hampton                                   https://www.sau21.org/barnard/
Winnacunnet                                       https://www.winnacunnet.org/

We will also post information related to school cancellations, delayed openings, and early dismissals to the following television stations:

Television:       WBZ                Channel 4                   Boston
                        NECN              Channel 6                   Boston
                        WHDH             Channel 7                   Boston
                        WMUR            Channel 9                   Manchester           

Two other important notes:

• Do not call your local fire or police department(s) or the bus company to find out if school is canceled or a delayed opening is in effect. Their lines must be kept open for emergencies.
• It is important that you not drop your child/children off at school at the regular hour if school is canceled or a delayed opening is in effect.  There will not be anyone present at the school to provide supervision. 
• Remember, parents/guardians always have the right to use their better judgment to keep their children home when we have school on bad weather days, based on conditions in your particular location. 

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation with these important weather-related issues.  Please feel free to call our offices at 603.926.8992 if you have questions about anything explained in this letter.

My best to you and your family during the upcoming holiday season.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

I spent Tuesday helping out at Winnacunnet as Hampton voters waited to vote, and my takeaways from voting day have nothing to do with the outcomes of the election.  I witnessed thousands of people waiting in line for up to two hours, and I interacted with dozens of people including a 93-year old veteran who I had the honor to escort to his vehicle, a couple who will soon celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary, a gentleman who had recently had heart surgery, a mom with a new baby, a physician who retired after 50 years of practice in her community, grandparents with their young grandson, and recent graduates registering to vote in their first election. I met people who have lived here for their whole lives and some who had only arrived recently.  It was a sea of humanity. 

No one talked to me about who they were voting for, and I didn't ask. That wasn't important. Their presence was important. They were there, each one of them, to freely vote for the candidates of their choice. Over my 10+ hours at the high school, I didn't hear anyone exchange cross words or witness any scuffles. I saw people catching up with old friends, and people making new connections. I saw people step in to help when someone needed assistance, and I saw people trusting strangers to offer them support. I saw who we are at our best, when we are face-to-face, in community with others.

What I am taking away from Tuesday is that being part of a community matters, that our communities matter.  What I am taking away from Tuesday is that there is far more that unites us than divides us.  What I am taking away from Tuesday is that we have untold capacity for patience and kindness and grace and that extending those to others matters.  What I am taking away from Tuesday is optimism that we can continue to build strong communities that look after each other. 

In district news:

• An issue that all of our schools are struggling with at present is student attendance.  While this is not only a local issue, it is an issue which will require your support to solve.  The number of students exhibiting chronic absenteeism (more than 10 days in a year) has nearly doubled since 2019.  Among other concerns, students who are chronically absent are less likely to be reading proficiently by the end of third grade and less likely to graduate from high school.  Some ways to support your child's attendance include establishing a consistent routine, prioritizing your child's attendance, and communicating with the school about concerns. Please see the attached document for more information about school attendance.   
• While snow and ice seem hard to imagine in a November week that has seen temperatures in the 70's, keep an eye out for our forthcoming annual weather letter which provides details about snow days and delays. The winter weather will be here all too soon!
• State and district-level assessment data was officially released earlier this month. That information is being reviewed with School Boards at their regular meetings. While this work is never complete, I am proud of the work our schools have been doing to close achievement gaps for students and to support all students growth toward meeting or exceeding proficiency levels.
• No school:  Monday, 11/11/24, Veterans Day; Wednesday, 11/27/24 - Friday, 11/29/24, Thanksgiving Recess

Special thanks to our veterans for their service and selflessness in putting country before self.  We honor and celebrate you this Veterans Day, and we thank your families for their sacrifices on our behalf.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

Happy October! We certainly have been spoiled with some beautiful fall weather. I have enjoyed visiting classrooms and seeing students and teachers at work over the last several weeks. Most of our schools have held parent information or curriculum nights to welcome families into our schools.  We know what a vital role you play in supporting your children in their academic learning and growth, and I know our teachers look forward to sharing more with you at our upcoming parent/teacher conferences.   

Yesterday, Winnacunnet high school and Hampton PD responded to a report of an online threat to school safety. The police were able to identify the individual responsible for the threat and quickly determined that there was no danger to the school community and that the threat was not credible. Sadly, these types of incidents occur far too frequently in our country. 

A great deal has been learned about school shooters and shootings since the Columbine tragedy in 1999 which has resulted in the development of a number of tools to assist in the prevention of such tragedies.  Police departments examine a variety of factors in exploring the severity of threats including the individual student, their family dynamics, school history, and social history and interactions.  We are fortunate to have small school communities where we are able to know the individual students and to have police departments that are well-trained in assessing and responding to threats. 

Beyond the cooperation with our local police departments, the school districts share a trained threat/risk assessment team which includes representatives from our community mental health agency and law enforcement who also follow protocols to assess the level of risk posed by a student in circumstances such as this and to enact supports and services to address the needs identified through the process, including, where necessary, exclusion from school.

In communicating about yesterday's incident and responding to follow-up emails, a parent asked what I was doing to protect your children in the building. That question is one I often reflect on and one which kept me awake again last night. I am sharing with you some of the response I ultimately provided to that parent:

On the hardening side, we have implemented countless recommendations from NH Homeland Security to invest in things like secured entrances, cameras, barricades, window film, door locks, notification tools, and more.  (At Winnacunnet) we have a full-time School Resource Officer.  We attend trainings and provide training and conduct drills with our staff.  We collaborate with the PD on those trainings and drills.  We have discussions with students and conduct drills with them.  We build relationships with students so that they have a trusted adult,  and we work with students to build awareness of their surroundings and build empathy. We encourage students to say something when they see something.  We provide an anonymous tip line to share concerns via text or email. We work to address bullying and unkind behaviors and to promote a culture of kindness and respect.  We contact parents and guardians when we have a concern or see a need, and we provide support and/or refer families to outside counseling and mental health providers.  We fulfill our obligations as mandated reporters to report suspected abuse or neglect.  We identify and offer support for substance abuse. We try to educate parents about the pitfalls of social media use for children and teens and their needs for boundaries and supervision.  We talk to legislators about mental health needs, school safety, and school funding. 

While there is a laundry list of things that we do to address student safety and to attempt to keep students safe, nothing that we do guarantees safety.  We continue to reflect on our approach and to stay abreast of the most recent developments, but school safety is not just about what schools are doing.  School safety is also about families and communities, and it takes everyone's investment and awareness. 

I spoke with our principals last year about hosting school safety evenings for parents in conjunction with our local police departments.  We are currently working with Hampton PD to schedule such an evening at Winnacunnet.  I hope you will join us if your schedule allows. This is not an issue we can solve on our own.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 families,

I hope your children are beginning to settle into the new school year.  We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather to kick off the school year. Warm sunny afternoons and cool nights make me think of apple picking and hiking and our many fall sports.

School Safety:
We were extremely saddened to hear of the tragic shooting that took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, this week. While we don’t yet know all of the details behind this terrible act of violence, we offer our deepest condolences and share in the sorrow of the families and loved ones of those who were lost.

If your children learn of this event and have questions or concerns, we encourage you to talk to them about it so they may be able to communicate any anxiety, confusion, or other impacts they may be feeling. The following resources to assist you in having these difficult conversations:
● National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence
● Child Mind Institute: Helping Children Cope With Frightening News

As we have just started the new school year, I want to reiterate to the community that the safety and well-being of our schools, students, faculty, and staff is paramount and a top priority for our districts. Our schools work closely with NH Homeland Security and our local emergency responders to update our safety and security plans, our staff engage in training each year, and we regularly practice safety drills in our schools.  Should you or your child have questions or concerns about school safety, please reach out to school administration or directly to the Superintendent’s office.

Transportation Update:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
As previously shared, First Student, our contracted transportation provider, has informed us of the possibility of a job action by its unionized drivers as they are in the process of negotiating a new contract. While we are hopeful that negotiations will end successfully, we cannot predict what will happen next week. I encourage you to begin thinking about transportation alternatives, including carpooling, should a job action occur. We have been informed by the parties that negotiations will resume on September 10th and any potential job action would happen after September 11th. 

Our administrative team is considering several district-wide and building-level options to accommodate students and families should there be a change in bus service in the coming weeks. We also are examining ways that we can support families who do not have flexible schedules and cannot find alternate transportation for their child. This will include opportunities to drop students off earlier to accommodate work schedules.

I want to assure you that superintendents and transportation directors across the state are collaborating as well, sharing their ideas and expertise. Superintendents also are discussing this situation with the Commissioner of Education. Should we receive an update, we will certainly pass it along to you. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Families,

The start of school is really right around the corner as we prepare to welcome students back on Tuesday (all 9th graders and Seacoast School of Technology students and all students at Lincoln Akerman and North Hampton Schools) and Wednesday (10th-12th graders and all students in Seabrook and South Hampton).  Staff returned this week and have been busy preparing classrooms and working with their administrators and colleagues to ensure we are ready to give your child a positive year of learning and growing.  This year we are collectively working toward our Portrait of a Learner pillars (Academics, Mindsets, Community Engagement, Essential Life Skills, and Health and Wellness) which were developed over the last couple of years and adopted by the Joint Board in January of 2024.  Please take a peek at this video when you have a few minutes to spare featuring a number of students from across our districts.  This work is a multi-year journey for each of our districts, and we are excited to share more "portraits" of our learners and how they are working toward these goals in the coming year.

On another note, I also want to share an important update regarding First Student, our student transportation provider. The school bus schedule and service is set to begin on the first day of school and we anticipate a smooth opening, however we want to be proactive and keep you up to speed on the contract negotiations between the national bus driver union and the transportation company. 

As background, First Student (transportation company) and Teamsters Local 633 (bus driver union) began contract negotiations last year and continue to be ongoing with two more contract meetings scheduled for September 10 and 11. Prior to these meetings being scheduled, the union voted to authorize a strike in the event that negotiations did not go their way. The fact that an agreement to meet in September was reached is a positive step towards avoiding any disruptions to service, and First Student feels good about the direction of the negotiations. We believe both First Student and the Teamsters Local 633 want to reach a successful conclusion and continue serving our students and their families. 

It is First Student’s goal to avoid any interruption to school bus transportation for children, however we want you to be informed and begin to consider a plan in the event that the negotiations on September 10th and 11th do not produce positive results. For now, there is nothing for you to do, and we will keep you posted on any developments from the negotiations. None of this news changes the start of our school year and we look forward to seeing all of our students on the first day of school.

Finally, I want to share some information that impacts our K-8 families as we adopt a new form of school-to-home communication called Parent Square. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child's school. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Sign up to volunteer
• Schedule parent-teacher conferences
• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents—Getting Started Video 

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices). 

If you have questions, click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.

Enjoy these last few days of school vacation with your families.  We look forward to seeing your children next week!

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon,

The Seabrook Withdrawal Study Committee is conducting a survey to gather the perspectives of SAU 21 stakeholders.  Please follow this link to complete the survey by Friday, July 12th.  Additional information about the withdrawal study process can be found on this website.  

Community Input
Website

The committee will hold a public forum on Thursday, July 11th at 5 P.M. at the Seabrook Town Hall.  We hope you will consider attending.

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good evening SAU 21 families and staff,

Due to anticipated weather and travel conditions, there will be no school tomorrow, Thursday, April 4th, for all SAU 21 schools.  School and SAU offices will be closed.

Please stay safe.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow, Tuesday, March 12th, in SAU 21 schools due to voting day.  Voting for town and school elections is tomorrow.  Sample ballots and voter information for each of our school districts can be found here. Voting will take place at the following times in the following locations:

Lincoln Akerman cafeteriaNorth Hampton School gymSeabrook Recreation CenterSouth Hampton Town HallWinnacunnet High School Dining Hall  

We encourage you to take the time to read the information and to get out and make your vote count!

Dear SAU 21 families,

SAU 21 has designated tomorrow, 3/7/24 as Educational Associate Appreciation Day.  Our EA's (also known as paraeducators or teaching assistants) work hard for students in our schools every day.  They are cheerleaders who encourage students and congratulate them when they finish a difficult assignment.  They are patient listeners when a student needs to vent their frustrations.  They are skilled coaches for reading and math skills.  They are note-takers and shoe-tiers and locker and backpack organization specialists.  They are tissue providers and problem-solvers. They are recess supervisors and hallway monitors. They are limit-setters and accountability gurus.  They are givers of smiles, high-fives, and hugs.  

Their jobs are, at times, physically and emotionally exhausting as they are on the front lines with young people who are learning and growing and sometimes making mistakes.  Their jobs are not glamorous or easy and require flexibility and patience and a good sense of humor. Our EA's show up for the worst days because they also get to be there on the better days.  And they keep coming back, even after the bad days, because they care--both about students and their education.

Whether they have been with us for just this year or for many, we are lucky to have them. If your child works with an EA or has one in their class, please encourage them to share a word of thanks or share a high five or smile to let them know they are appreciated.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

Happy Groundhog Day!  If you haven't heard, the very scientific forecast from the groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is for an early spring for this year.  Several February vacations ago, on a whim, I took my family on a longer-than-expected detour to Punxsutawney (it's really not very close to anything).  My daughters still roll their eyes about it, but we did get to see the then Phil sleeping in his burrow at the public library and got some photos with the local groundhog statues. Enough about me...

Next week each of our school districts will hold the deliberative sessions for their respective budgets:

• Seabrook School District Deliberative Session, Monday, 2/5/24 at 7 P.M. at the SMS gym
• Hampton Falls School District Deliberative Session, Tuesday, 2/6/24 at 6 P.M. at the Hampton Falls Town Hall
• South Hampton School District Deliberative Session, Tuesday, 2/6/24 at 7 P.M. at the Barnard School Gymnasium
• North Hampton School District Deliberative Session, Wednesday, 2/7/24 at 7 P.M. at the North Hampton School  in the Cafeteria
• Winnacunnet School District Deliberative Session, Thursday, 2/8/24 at 7 P.M. at Winnacunnet High School in the Renny Cushing Auditorium

Information about all of our school district budgets and our proposed warrant articles, including the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement with SESPA, our paraeducators' association, can be found here. 

School funding is a hot topic in New Hampshire and the majority of the costs are borne by local communities rather than the state.  On Tuesday, February 13th at 6 P.M., SAU 90 and SAU 21 will jointly host a session presented by the non-partisan group, the NH School Funding Fairness Project, to review the formula for funding public education in New Hampshire and to provide information about the recent lawsuits about education funding, in one of which, the Conval lawsuit, the Superior Court Judge determined that state funding should be at least $7,356 per pupil vs. the recently enacted $4,100* funded through the adequacy formula. More information about this session is available in the attached flyer.

Yesterday was the first meeting of the Superintendent's Student Leadership Team, and I look forward to sharing more information about this group and the topics they are pursuing over the next several months.  They are a passionate and committed group of young people who are determined to make a difference for their peers and have their voices heard.  I'm looking forward to working with them.

Winnacunnet High School will be hosting the Class of 2028 Course Selection Night on February 13th at 6:30 in the auditorium.  Counselors and teachers from English, Math, Science, and Social Studies will speak to the students and parents in the auditorium. After the presentation, there will be an elective/student activity fair to learn about our course offerings in each department and student activities. 

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good morning SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

Due to road conditions caused by yesterday's snowstorm, there will be a 2-hour delay today, Monday, January 8th, for all SAU 21 schools.  Please travel safely.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 parents and guardians,

On behalf of the SAU 21 staff, thank you for sharing your greatest gift, your children, with us each day.  Please click on this link to view a holiday greeting from SAU 21 or cut and paste the link below into your browser.

https://jlcards.com/u4rv1i

SAU 21 is happy to announce that, in an effort to improve communication with families, we will shortly be launching SchoolNow, a new app that makes it simple for you to receive school information- all in one spot. The SchoolNow app allows families to keep up with school announcements, events, and more. While we will continue to use SchoolMessenger as our main communication method, you can receive general communications via SchoolNow.

If we have a mobile phone number for you, it has only been subscribed to emergency communications. If you would like to opt your mobile number into general communications, you can do that yourself. While each communication will provide you the ability to set or change your preferences, this message is being sent to you now to confirm the settings we currently have are accurate. (Click "Manage Preferences" at the bottom of any SchoolMessenger email, or follow the link in any text message to review/update your preferences.)  It only takes a couple of minutes to sign in using your email address or phone number.

• To see a brief visual overview of the app's capabilities, please watch this video.
• You can download the mobile app here
• Visit the parent help center here.

In addition to the app, we are also pleased to introduce a newly updated design across our K-8 websites. This new design will help streamline important information, so it's easier to access. The websites will include more detailed information that expands upon the information available in the app.

We look forward to receiving your feedback and refining our use of these tools in the coming months.  

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be the first day of December!  As a reminder, there is no school for students tomorrow due to a teacher workshop day.  While I'm on the subject of no school, later this month we will also be asking our individual school boards to consider canceling school for students on Tuesday, January 23rd to accommodate voting for the recently scheduled NH Presidential Primary.  We will provide an update once each Board has made a decision.

The winter season is nearly upon us.  For me that means regular forecast monitoring and the possibility of cancellations or delays. The decision to delay or cancel has to be made by 5 A.M., and it is not an exact science.  The weather and road conditions across our 5 communities can vary, and I do my best to keep school open provided that the information I have indicates that conditions are safe for travel. If school is open and you feel that it is not safe to send your child to school, you, as parents/guardians, absolutely have the right to keep your child home. Such absences are excused. Please see the attached letter for more information.

We often associate giving with the holiday season.  An important lesson for our children is that giving doesn't have to cost us anything, and we tend to gain just as much, if not more, in return.  For our children and adolescents who are growing up in an age of consumerism, which is heavily reinforced by social media, it is a good time to share low and no-cost ways that they can contribute to their families and communities. Gifts can be as simple as walking a neighbor's dog or offering to clean up the table after dinner.  A teen can help a tech-challenged relative set up a tv or phone or babysit for a family member.  Gifts can also be homemade and draw on our individual talents and skills rather than our bank accounts. A bag of homemade cookies or a special picture may be more meaningful than a store bought gift, and just spending time with someone can be the best gift that we can give. 

If you are in a position where you are able to donate items, the Winnacunnet High School Student Council is working with the Hampton, North Hampton, Seabrook, and Hampton Falls Fire Departments, to support their holiday toy drives.  They are looking for new (or very gently used) toys, books, puzzles, stuffed animals, Legos, dolls, hats, mittens, socks, clothing, diapers, etc. that would be appropriate for children from infancy to age 14.  Collection boxes will be located in the front entry area at Winnacunnet High School from December 4th to 15th. Please consider supporting their "12 Days of Giving" efforts to benefit children in our communities.

Parents and caregivers also play a crucial role in shaping their children's views and behaviors around well-being. You can take the lead in erasing the stigma surrounding mental health and fostering awareness in your children. More information is available in this newsletter (available in English or Spanish) from ParentGuidance.org.  Relatedly, we know the holiday season can bring on additional stress. Parent Coaching is a FREE resource that provides parents and caregivers the opportunity to meet with a Parent Coach to guide you through whatever issues you or your child are dealing with. Click here to register for support from a coach:  https://cookcenter.info/coaching.

Wishing you a healthy and peaceful holiday season, 

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 parents and guardians,

Last night's shooting in Lewiston, ME feels too close to home, and we mourn the many lives lost and forever changed in another senseless tragedy.  The SAU 21 Community joins the entire state of Maine and the nation in mourning this tragic loss of life. 

We are in close communication with our local law enforcement partners and will be following any recommendations or directions provided by them to ensure the safety of our students and staff.  You may also observe a heightened law enforcement presence in and around our school communities in the wake of this devastating event.  Our students and staff train and practice a variety of safety scenarios throughout the year to help everyone stay safe and know what to do in the event of an emergency.

We know that last night's events may be upsetting to students, and our staff members, including our counselors and administrators, are available to support any student who may be experiencing distress.  Attached are some resources to support you in speaking with your child/teen about this mass shooting event.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's school if you have particular concerns for your child.  We appreciate your support and partnership during this unsettling time. 

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

SSC_Talking-to-Children-About-Violence_2023.pdf 

Dear SAU 21 parents and guardians,

We have completed our first, full week of school.  While it is hard to switch gears, by this time, most of us are settling back in to the routines of the school year. It is always amazing to me how everything comes together in our schools in those final days before school opens.  Many thanks to our hard-working and committed staff members who make things happen behind the scenes to make sure we are ready for students to arrive.

The 2023-2024 school year kicked off for our staff with recognition of our dedicated professionals who have worked in our district for 25 years or more.  Combined, those we honored this year have just under 1000 years of experience in our schools--in school nutrition, finance, facilities, and as educators and educational associates.  This longevity is a testament to both their commitment to our students and communities but also to unique strengths of our students and communities which help to keep them coming back here.  This year we recognized:

25 Years

Michelle Casey      Hampton Falls (Teacher)
Cheryl Graham      Hampton Falls (School Nutrition)
Alan Lajoie            Hampton Falls (Facilities)
Mary Oliver            North Hampton (Teacher)
Ellen Pongrace      North Hampton (Teacher)
Paula Field            North Hampton (School Nutrition - 26 years)
Allison Decicco      Seabrook Elementary (Teacher)
Jennifer Faro          Seabrook Elementary (Teacher)
Maureen Brown      Seabrook Elem (Educational Associate)
Wesley Coombs     Winnacunnet High School (Teacher)
Robert Gosselin     Winnacunnet High School (Teacher)
Charlotte Scott       Winnacunnet High School (Teacher)
Robin Coleman       Winnacunnet High School (School Nutrition)
John Gamache Sr.  Winnacunnet High School (Facilities - 27 years)

30 Years

Pamela Huebner              Hampton Falls (Teacher)
Kelli O’Connor-Maynard   Hampton Falls (Teacher)
Laura Nolan                      North Hampton (Teacher)
Denise Morrill                   Seabrook Middle (Teacher)
Lisa Frisina-Brown            Winnacunnet High School (Teacher)  
 

35 Years
Bradford Johnston     North Hampton (Teacher)
Gail Auffant                Winnacunnet (Teacher)
Ron Auffant                Winnacunnet (Teacher)
John Croteau             Winnacunnet (Teacher)

40 Years

Gertrude Tibbetts       Seabrook Elem. (Educational Associates 44 years)
Nancy Tuttle               SAU (Finance Manager - 44 years)
Donna Butcher           Seabrook Middle (Teacher-41 years)

45 Years

Kevin Fleming              Winnacunnet High School (Teacher)
Diana Weidenbacker    Winnacunnet High School (Teacher)

September is suicide awareness month, and, in partnership with SAU 90 and Connor's Climb, we invite you to join us at Hampton Academy on Thursday, September 28th from 7-8 P.M. for a Signs of Suicide training designed for parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults.  A flyer with more details is attached, and we hope to see you there.  If you are not aware, rates of suicide among adolescents have nearly doubled since 2000, and a National Suicide Hotline was launched last year.  The nationwide number to dial is 988.  Connor's Climb Parent Training Sept 28 2023 (1).docx 

This year we are also endeavoring to improve our communication with you. We have revamped our websites to make them more mobile-friendly and are trying to make greater use of social media to keep you informed about the great things happening in our schools.  We have also added a variety of information in our parent resources section with links to a variety of tools and supports including a wealth of resources available at parentguidance.org.  We often hear from parents that they are struggling with how to best support their children through challenging issues like not wanting to go to school, anxiety, peer conflicts, substance use, and other needs that may interfere with their ability to successfully attend school and learn.  This year, through a partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection and parentguidance.org, we are offering free, virtual coaching for any parent or caregiver in our school communities.  A flyer with details is pasted below.

Wishing you a great week!

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21/90 parents and guardians,

As you know, we are currently under a heat advisory in our region which has pushed temperatures in our uncooled classroom spaces into the mid to upper-80's.  That said, we have taken steps within our schools to utilize our best-ventilated spaces, limit sun-exposure and strenuous activity, and encourage students to stay hydrated.  Water is available in all of our schools. We also encourage students to dress for the weather. (Tomorrow is not the right day for that favorite new sweatshirt.)  

To heighten awareness, we have attached information from the CDC regarding signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.  As always, you, as parents, have the right to keep your child home if you feel that it is the safest option.  Absences due to heat will be excused.  Please take care and do what you feel is in the best interest of your child and family.

Temperatures next week look to be back in the mid-70's

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Heat_Related_Illness.pdf 

SAU 90 Superintendent Lois Costa and SAU 21 Superintendent Meredith Nadeau invite educators, parents, guardians, caregivers, and students to share their thoughts about the future of education at a listening session on May 15.

The New Hampshire Department of Education is considering major changes to the Minimum Standards for Public School Approval, also known as the Ed 306 rules. These rules establish the standards for New Hampshire public education on topics such as school climate and culture; learning levels; personalized learning plans; competency-based education; assessments; course-level competencies, standards, and frameworks; work study practices; school calendar and instructional hours; extended learning opportunities; and daily physical activity.

The Department of Education has contracted with Frederick Bramante, former Chair of the State Board of Education, to host listening sessions across the state in an effort to gain public feedback. The SAU 21/90 session is scheduled for tonight, Monday, May 15, at 6:30 P.M. in the auditorium of Winnacunnet High School, 1 Alumni Drive.

Attendees will be able to ask questions and provide commentary vital to the state’s review.

A comparison of the current Minimum Standards for Public School Approval and proposed changes may be found here.

An analysis of the proposed changes by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association may be found here.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions may be found here.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 families,

Just a reminder that SAU 21 and 90 are collaborating with Seacoast Mental Health to host a screening of the film Anxious Nation TONIGHT at 5:30 P.M. at Winnacunnet. The film will be followed by a panel discussion. Pizza will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

It was so nice to seee the sun break through this afternoon and put an end to this rainy week.  It looks like a beautiful May week ahead.

The week of 5/8 is the official teacher appreciation week, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to our staff for their efforts during this school year.  We are pleased that each of our schools will be able to take time to honor and recognize their good work, and we appreciate the support of our parents and parent associations in recognizing our staff.  Principal appreciation day was celebrated on Monday, May 1st, and we thank our school leaders, as well, for their efforts to support our students, staff, and families this year.  

May is mental health awareness month and SAU 21 and 90 are collaborating with Seacoast Mental Health to host a screening of the film Anxious Nation on Thursday, 5/11 at 5:30 P.M. at Winnacunnet.  The film will be followed by a panel discussion. Pizza will be provided, so families are asked to RSVP by clicking the QR code in the attached flyer or emailing khartnett@smhc-nh.org.  A flyer with the QR code and additional details is attached. Anxious Nation film screening

On Monday, May 15th, at 6:30 P.M. (also at Winnacunnet), SAU 21 and SAU 90 will also jointly host a listening session with former Chair of the State Board of Education, Fredrick Bramante, to discuss major proposed changes to New Hampshire’s public education rules (ED 306 Minimum Standards For Public School Approval).  The event is an opportunity for community members and educators to ask questions and provide valuable feedback to the State Board of Education which is ultimately responsible for adopting these minimum standards.  If you’re interested in the full report, you may view it here: Side by Side Minimum Standards Revision Draft 3-23.pdf 

These rules lay out the requirements for public education in New Hampshire, are used to determine the state funding’s portion of a school district’s budget, and they also address the essential aspects of school such as school climate and culture, personalized learning plans, competency based learning, assessment, course level competencies, standards, and frameworks, school calendar and instructional hours, physical activity, and other areas. For additional information on the proposed changes, you may view this linked document: NHSAA Feedback on 306 Revision.pdf 

The NH Education Department offered scholarships for a few school superintendents to attend the Arizona State University/Global Silicon Valley summit on education and technology in mid-April.  I was fortunate to be one of those selected to attend.  The “hot topic” of the conference was Artificial Intelligence or “AI.”  We had a chance to hear from a variety of education and technology visionaries including Bill Gates, Sal Khan, and Sam Altman about how AI will influence education and to see some incredible demonstrations of the applications of AI in education and beyond. The possibilities are exciting and will have a significant impact our lives, work, and education in the coming years.  If you haven't explored ChatGPT, I would encourage you to do so and have a conversation with your child about how you might use it and support them in thinking about responsible and ethical use of the tool.

Wishing you a wonderful--and sunny--weekend,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

I can't believe it is almost mid-March. I love the warmer days and am preparing myself for our usual six weeks of mud season. I'm not ready to lose an hour of sleep this weekend when we set our clocks forward. Somehow, that never gets easier.

In school news:

• Our Winnacunnet financial literacy team qualified for the state “FinLit 300” championships to be held in Concord later this month.  Congratulations to the team and their coach, Lisa Harris. I look forward to seeing them compete! 
• Maple sugaring season is upon us, and North Hampton, Lincoln Akerman, and Seabrook Elementary 4th graders all had a chance to participate in various aspects of the process over the last few weeks. North Hampton students gave an overview of their work at last night's school board meeting, and LAS families can taste the product at tomorrow's sugaring off celebration. 
• South Hampton Barnard School’s 4th and 5th graders recently participated in a state parade and student researchers and presenters did their best to convince their peers why their state would be the best one to visit. 
• SMS and SES held their 2nd exhibition night of the year on 3/9 with another fabulous turnout of families.  Students were able to showcase their work for the 2nd trimester.
• If you are looking for something to do on a weekend evening, check out our student productions of Little Shop of Horrors at Winnacunnet High School from 3/17 - 3/19 or of Aladdin at North Hampton School from 3/23-3/25. More information about both productions can be found on their respective school sites.

Winter might not be quite done with us. If we have weather conditions next week that require us to close school, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook, and Winnacunnet will have a remote learning day as we have already utilized our 3 planned snow days. As one of the other districts' snow days fell during South Hampton's school vacation, South Hampton still has 1 snow day remaining.

As a reminder, there is no school on Tuesday, 3/14 due to town and school elections. School district ballots and warrant information can all be found here. Residents in each of our districts will have the opportunity to vote on their school district budgets and school board candidates as well as the Winnacunnet budget and school board candidates. Of particular importance this year is the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with our teachers. Detailed information about the CBA, including an informational video, can be found on our home page. Please read up and feel free to reach out with any questions. We encourage you to VOTE on 3/14! 

Have a great weekend!

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good morning,

Due to current and anticipated weather and road conditions, there will be no school today, Thursday, February 23rd, for SAU 21 schools and school offices will be closed.

Stay safe and have a great day!

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good afternoon,

Due to a plumbing issue caused by the extreme cold, there will be no school tomorrow, 2/6/23, at Lincoln Akerman School.  Cleanup is ongoing, but due to part availability we will be unable to complete the repair in time for school tomorrow.

We apologize for the inconvenience and expect school to be in session on Tuesday.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 parents and guardians,

Although January was unusually warm, the groundhog saw his shadow today, so our winter is evidently not over yet.  In all seriousness, tomorrow is going to be VERY cold. According to the National Weather Service, we will be seeing the coldest temperatures in years beginning tomorrow morning and lasting through Saturday.  A wind chill warning goes into effect at 10 A.M. tomorrow morning and runs until 1 P.M. on Saturday.  Schools will have indoor recess and minimize time outside at the beginning and end of the school day. Our bus company is prepared for these cold temperatures, and we do not expect any delays to our transportation schedule.  That said, we encourage you to have your children dress appropriately for the conditions--layered clothing, jacket, hat, gloves/mittens--to limit exposed skin. Temperatures will fall into the single digits tomorrow afternoon, and we don't want anyone arriving home with frostbite!! 

In other news, next week brings Deliberative Sessions for each of our school districts.  The Deliberative Session is the opportunity for voters in each community to review the School Board proposed budget and warrant articles and vote on moving warrant articles forward to voters for the March ballot.  Budget information for all of our districts, including information about the proposed warrant article for the teacher contract, can be found here.  All Deliberative Sessions begin at 7:00 P.M.:

• Monday, 2/6, Seabrook School District (gym)
• Tuesday, 2/7, North Hampton (cafeteria) and South Hampton (gym) School Districts
• Wednesday, 2/8, Hampton Falls School District (cafeteria)
• Thursday, 2/9, Winnacunnet School District (auditorium)

Also, tomorrow, February 3rd, is the last day to file for school board and school district officer positions with your school district clerk.  A complete list of positions and contact information for each district clerk is attached.

February is typically celebrated as the month of kindness, and it may seem to us and our children as we follow national and international events that kindness is in short supply.  Our schools are working with our students to build their empathy and respect muscles and to help them build and strengthen their conflict resolution skills.  Across our schools, many of the issues of unkindness and conflict we deal with involving our students occur outside of school via the use of text messages and social media platforms.  Our children and young adults need our help in utilizing electronic devices in safe and responsible ways and in handling the things they are exposed to via those devices and tools.  During this month of kindness, I challenge us all to post/tweet/snap/send only positive messages and messages of kindness and support.  We can all help to build stronger communities for our children today and in their future.

Wishing you a Happy Groundhog Day!

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

School District election information 2023 

Good morning SAU 21 families and staff,

Due to current and anticipated weather and travel conditions, there will be no school in SAU 21 schools today and offices will be closed.  Please stay safe and enjoy the day.

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Good evening SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

It has been a mild winter, thus far, but we are definitely in an active weather pattern.  Tomorrow's weather forecast is a tricky one.  While we are expecting largely rain overnight, conditions could deteriorate during the day tomorrow and make dismissal time tricky. We may be in the clear with all rain and very little snow or we could have icy conditions if the temperatures drop below freezing with more snow. While the current plan is to hold school as normal tomorrow, I'll be continuing to monitor the forecast throughout the evening and will make a decision by 5 A.M. I wouldn't advise children to get their hopes up, but ask that you please be prepared--just in case--for a cancellation or early dismissal.  

For anyone who is interested in my decision-making process, I do not use a Magic 8 Ball or the Snow Day Calculator (though they might be just as accurate).  I typically monitor the forecast a few days out, join a National Weather Service briefing prior to the storm, speak with road agents/emergency management folks, talk with the bus company, and, in cases like this, get an update on local, on-the-ground conditions prior to making a decision.  Sometimes, as it appears will be the case tomorrow, the forecast and conditions can be quite different across our 5 sending towns.  My decision is predicated on our ability to safely transport students to school and back home on our buses, but it is not an exact science.

As a reminder, parents and guardians always have the choice to keep your child home if you feel the conditions are not safe.  Your child's absence due to such a concern about will be excused.  

Enjoy your evening,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

We are fortunate to be missing the snow tomorrow, but, unfortunately, the forecast for coastal flooding and high winds has caused us to cancel school for tomorrow, Friday, 12/23.  We have consulted with our local emergency management directors, and the consensus is that it is the safest decision for tomorrow.  Schools will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd. 

Budget is the story of November and December within our SAU. All districts have adopted their recommended budgets and moved them forward to budget committees. Public hearings on each district’s budget will take place in January. Citizen votes on district budgets take place in March. In addition to the operating budget, this year's budget will include a warrant article for the collective bargaining agreement with our teachers.  Details about the budgets and the warrant articles can be found with the meeting materials for each school board and will be posted to the SAU budget page after the public hearings are completed.

Congratulations to the students listed below who have been selected to serve on the Superintendent's Student Leadership Team for the 2022-2023 school year: 

• Barnard School: Violet Davis and Isabel Vaillancourt, alt. Luke Andrusevich 
• Lincoln Akerman School: Colby Swasey and Fiona McAfee, alt. Joel Williams 
• North Hampton School: Diya Sandeep and December Beal, alt. Emily Hyett 
• Seabrook Middle School: Maizy Desrochers and Henry Woolley, alt. Leah Sanborn 
• Winnacunnet High School: Sarah Rademacher, Reid Westergren, Liana Pacheco, Makenzie Felch, Lillie Ladd, Jacob Coyman, Aidan Smith, and Erin Ryan.  

We held our first meeting last week, and students had the opportunity to learn about the structure and responsibilities of the SAU and the districts as well as to meet each of our SAU administrators.  In addition, they began to learn a little about each other and how they work best in groups.  We will be meeting again in January with a focus on school safety. I am already learning from them.

Kudos to Winnacunnet High School/Seacoast School of Technology student Matthew Collette. Matthew is in the Automotive Technologies program at SST and recently presented to the SST Governing Board about his experiences with the program. Matthew is a great example of a student who has made the most of his enrollment in SST. He is passionate about the program and the life and work lessons he has acquired there in addition to the technical expertise. He is a bright, personable, and articulate young man who will do well in his chosen pursuits!   

My great-grandmother was born in 1898, and she grew up in England in a family that struggled to get by each day.  She left school and her family at the age of twelve to go into service and worked hard throughout her life.  She raised her children, including my grandfather, with a great appreciation for all that they had and taught them to give back to their communities with gratitude for all that they were given.  Father Christmas brought my great-grandmother, and subsequently her children, an orange and a penny.  While Santa brought additional gifts to my parents and to me as children, we also received an orange and a penny.  Santa still brings those to my children, and I hope that I am continuing to meet my great-grandmother's expectations for giving back and expressing our gratitude for all that we have been blessed with.   

Whatever traditions or holidays you celebrate and however your family chooses to celebrate them, I wish you peace and joy and a bright 2023!   

Best,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians:

As December approaches, we want to prepare you for possible changes to the school schedule/calendar that may occur as a result of our sometimes unpredictable New England weather.  Please review the information below so that you will understand the various changes that we may make to the schedule, as well as where you can best receive the most up-to-date and accurate information.  

As was the case last year, our intention is to utilize old-fashioned snow days in the case of school cancellations due to inclement weather--at least through the beginning of the winter.  If it begins to appear that the school year will be extended beyond the make-up days already built into our SAU calendar, we will look at implementing some remote instruction days in lieu of traditional snow days later in the winter.  

Changes to the Schedule

School Cancellation.  In situations where student safety may be jeopardized for an extended period of time, school will be canceled for the entire day.  Remember, parents/guardians always have the right to use their better judgment to keep their children home when we have school on bad weather days, based on conditions in your particular location.

Delayed Openings.  In some situations, school opening may be delayed by two hours (thereby allowing time for early morning snow removal and ice control to occur and/or weather to improve).  If there is a two hour delay:

• Preschool.  Morning preschool in all districts will be canceled.  Afternoon preschool will be held.  Afternoon preschool buses will operate on a normal day schedule.
• All other students should be at bus stops two hours later than normal.  Walkers and students being driven to school should arrive at school two hours after their normal time.
• Hot lunches will be served in all schools having school lunch programs.

Early Dismissal.  On very rare occasions it may be necessary to dismiss school early.  This decision will normally be made the night before the school day on which it will occur except in the case of an emergency.  If there is an early dismissal:

• There will be no afternoon preschool.
• All after-school activities and after care programs will be canceled.
• The following dismissal schedule will be utilized:  Hampton Falls (11:30 a.m. dismissal); North Hampton (12:00 p.m. dismissal); Seabrook Elementary and Middle (12:00 p.m. dismissal); South Hampton (11:55 a.m. dismissal); and Winnacunnet (11:56 a.m. dismissal).
• Parents, particularly those of younger children, should make arrangements in advance for the care of your children in the event of an early school closing.

Schedule Change Announcements

Notifications of closings or schedule changes will be sent to all families and employees via the SchoolMessenger system.  The best source for the most up-to-date information regarding school closings and schedule changes is available on Twitter at @nhsau21.  In addition, announcements will be posted on the SAU and individual school websites:

• SAU #21 https://www.sau21.org/sau/
• Hampton Falls https://www.sau21.org/las/
• North Hampton https://www.northhamptonschool.org/
• Seabrook Elementary https://www.elementary.seabrooksd.org/
• Seabrook Middle https://www.middle.seabrooksd.org/
• South Hampton https://www.sau21.org/barnard/
• Winnacunnet https://www.winnacunnet.org/

Notifications will be sent to all families and employees via the SchoolMessenger system.  We will also post information related to school cancellations, delayed openings, and early dismissals to the following television stations:

• Television: WBZ Channel 4 Boston
• NECN Channel 6 Boston
• WHDH Channel 7 Boston
• WMUR Channel 9 Manchester

2022-2023 weather letter

Two other important notes:

• Do not call your local fire or police department(s) or the school bus company to find out if school is canceled or a delayed opening is in effect.  Their lines must be kept open for emergencies.
• It is important that you not drop your child or children off at school at the regular hour if school is canceled or a delayed opening is in effect.  There will not be anyone present at the school to provide supervision.  
   

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation with these important weather related issues.  Please feel free to call our offices at 603.926.8992 if you have questions about anything explained in this letter.

My best to you and your family during the upcoming holiday season.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

We have been informed this morning that several New Hampshire districts, including some in our region, have received active shooter threats.  The NH Department of Safety believes these to be hoaxes similar to what occurred in Maine a few weeks ago, but that has not yet been confirmed.  As a precaution, we have implemented secure campus protocols at our K-8 and Seabrook schools and are working with local police departments to monitor the situation.  Hampton Police Department has deployed additional police to its schools but has not recommended a secure campus at Winnacunnet at this time.  To be clear, there have been no threats directed at any of our SAU 21 schools.

We will provide additional information and updates as they are received.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians:

As December approaches, we want to prepare you for possible changes to the school schedule/calendar that may occur as a result of our sometimes unpredictable New England weather.  Please review the information below so that you will understand the various changes that we may make to the schedule, as well as where you can best receive the most up-to-date and accurate information.  

As was the case last year, our intention is to utilize old-fashioned snow days in the case of school cancellations due to inclement weather--at least through the beginning of the winter.  If it begins to appear that the school year will be extended beyond the make-up days already built into our SAU calendar, we will look at implementing some remote instruction days in lieu of traditional snow days later in the winter.  

Changes to the Schedule 

School Cancellation.  In situations where student safety may be jeopardized for an extended period of time, school will be canceled for the entire day.  Remember, parents/guardians always have the right to use their better judgment to keep their children home when we have school on bad weather days, based on conditions in your particular location.

Delayed Openings.  In some situations, school opening may be delayed by two hours (thereby allowing time for early morning snow removal and ice control to occur and/or weather to improve).  If there is a two-hour delay:

•       Preschool: Morning preschool in all districts will be canceled.  Afternoon preschool will be held.  Afternoon preschool buses will operate on a normal day schedule.

•       All other students should be at bus stops two hours later than normal.  Walkers and students being driven to school should arrive at school two hours after their normal time.

•       Hot lunches will be served in all schools having school lunch programs.

there is an early dismissal:

•       There will be no afternoon preschool.

•       All after-school activities and after care programs will be canceled.

•       The following dismissal schedule will be utilized:  Hampton Falls (11:30 a.m. dismissal); North Hampton (12:00 p.m. dismissal); Seabrook Elementary and Middle (12:00 p.m. dismissal); South Hampton (11:55 a.m. dismissal); and Winnacunnet (11:56 a.m. dismissal).

•       Parents, particularly those of younger children, should make arrangements in advance for the care of your children in the event of an early school closing.

Schedule Change Announcements

Notifications of closings or schedule changes will be sent to all families and employees via the SchoolMessenger system.  The best source for the most up-to-date information regarding school closings and schedule changes is available on Twitter at @nhsau21.  In addition, announcements will be posted on the SAU and individual school websites:

                SAU #21                                              https://www.sau21.org
                Hampton Falls                                  https://www.sau21.org/las/ 
                North Hampton                               https://www.northhamptonschool.org/ 
                Seabrook Elementary                     https://www.sau21.org/ses/
                Seabrook Middle                              https://www.sau21.org/sms/ 
                South Hampton                                https://www.sau21.org/barnard/
               Winnacunnet                                     https://www.winnacunnet.org/

Notifications will be sent to all families and employees via the SchoolMessenger system.  We will also post information related to school cancellations, delayed openings, and early dismissals to the following television stations:

Television:                WBZ               Channel 4               Boston
                                   NECN             Channel 6                Boston
                                   WHDH           Channel 7                Boston
                                   WMUR           Channel 9                Manchester

Two other important notes:

•       Do not call your local fire or police department(s) or the school bus company to find out if school is canceled or a delayed opening is in effect.  Their lines must be kept open for emergencies.

•       It is important that you not drop your child or children off at school at the regular hour if school is canceled or a delayed opening is in effect.  There will not be anyone present at the school to provide supervision.  

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation with these important weather-related issues.  Please feel free to call our offices at 603.926.8992 if you have questions about anything explained in this letter.

My best to you and your family during the upcoming holiday season.

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Dear SAU 21 Families.

As you may be aware, this morning several schools in Maine were dealing with telephonebased reports of school violence.  The Maine State Police have determined that these reports were a hoax.  I want to assure you that our districts were made aware of the incidents, and our administrators and building teams were taking steps to prepare our own response were that to become necessary.  The safety and well-being of students is always our highest priority.

While we are grateful that these incidents were a hoax and represented no immediate threat to school safety, we know that such reports require vigilance on the part of school and emergency response personnel and can also impact the emotional well-being of our staff, parents, and the students in our care.  We are attaching a resource from NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) that you may find helpful in processing this situation with your child.  School counselors and administrators are also aware and available if additional support is needed.

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

NASP.pdf

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

November has arrived, and I'm sure we are all enjoying the mild start to what could be a long winter.  Last Friday, I had the opportunity to play on the staff team against our Winnacunnet High School unified soccer team.  While the faculty team was soundly defeated, it was the most joyous defeat I have ever experienced.  First, the weather was perfect for soccer. Second, and more importantly, the teamwork, camaraderie, and spirit of the athletes, their coaches and fans was contagious. I'm still smiling about it!  If you haven't had an opportunity to see unified sports in action, I encourage you to consider attending a future event.  Basketball season is right around the corner, and I guarantee that you will leave with a smile!

There has been a lot of media coverage recently regarding student assessment data post-Covid and the gaps in performance.  It is true that on a national level the data shows a clear gap in learning due to the pandemic.  That gap is wider for students who are socio-economically disadvantaged.  The picture in New Hampshire is less bleak than it is in much of the country.  In NH, one percent fewer fourth graders scored proficient in reading in 2022 than in 2019, and 6% fewer fourth graders scored proficient in mathematics.  The difference for 8th graders in NH overall was more significant with 5% fewer 8th graders scoring proficient in reading than in 2019 and 9% fewer scoring proficient in mathematics.  These data provide a snapshot, and we expect to see students close those gaps and make growth within our local districts.  The most important data for you is, of course, that of your individual child.  I would encourage you to review your child's assessment results and to connect with the school if you have questions or if you are not seeing your child continue to progress. 

Applications open on Monday for the Superintendent's Student Leadership Team.  Students who apply and are selected for the team will work directly with me to will weigh in on a variety of topics such as school safety, school community, curriculum, and opportunities for students.  We will have representation from Grades 7 and 8 in each of our K-8 districts as well as representatives from each grade at the high school.  For more information or to apply, click here. 

On Monday, November 14th, at 6:30 P.M., we will host a discussion about mental health at WHS.  Former Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court, John Broderick, will join us along with student panelists and local mental health providers.  The evening is open to all, and we encourage parents/guardians of middle and high school students to attend with their children.  As an added bonus, pizza will be available beginning at 6:00 P.M. for those attending.  Please join us if you are available and help us get the word out about this important conversation.  Solving these challenges and improving outcomes for our young people requires all of us-schools, families, and communities.

As noted in the first part of this letter, it's November which means the holiday season will quickly be upon us.  If you are in need of resources or support, please don't hesitate to contact your school counselor, nurse, or principal.  

Best wishes for a great November and a Happy Thanksgiving!  

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

P.S. As a reminder, there is no school on Tuesday, 11/8, due to elections or on Friday, 11/11 due to Veterans Day.  Thank you to our Veterans for your service!  

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

It has been such a nice start to the school year.  We are thrilled to have been able to open the year with some of our traditional back to school activities and opportunities like open houses, curriculum evenings, and back-to-school socials.  Students and staff are fully engaged in teaching and learning, and that work really began on day 1.  One of the first classrooms I visited when school began had 3rd graders defining and distinguishing between “acute” and “obtuse” angles.  As you might imagine, these third graders used their whole selves to show which angle was which. 

A focus on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is still important in our schools, and in the coming weeks you will learn more about a universal screening tool that we will be offering to students/families across grades 3-12 to better understand a student's individual strengths in the SEL domains.  The Holistic Student Assessment is a student survey that helps educators and families better understand each student's unique strengths and needs in three critical areas: Resiliencies, Learning/School Engagement, and Relationships.  More information is provided here.  As this is a non-academic survey, parent/guardian consent will be required for students to participate. 

On a side note, several Winnacunnet High School students and staff contributed to a recent article about how to support adolescent mental health, and I encourage you to take a look to learn more about ways to aid children and teens who may be struggling.  

I recently reread some pieces of a book called Creating the Schools Our Children Need by Dylan William.  While released in 2018, much of the info in the book still feels timely.  Among other things, William argues that improving schools requires a culture of continuous improvement in classrooms with teachers regularly collecting and responding to student formative assessments.  This is not new information, but it underscores the importance of our work with teachers in curriculum and assessment.  Time for teachers to work together is critical for reviewing and responding to student performance and is a high priority in our schedules and calendar across the SAU.   

Coming up on Tuesday, October 4th is our Portrait of a Learner community event.  We hope you will join us in a conversation to identify the skills and abilities that students will need to be successful in school, work, and life.  The evening kicks off at 5:30, and pizza and child care will be available.  Middle and high school aged students are welcome to participate.  Additionally, as described in the attached flyer, a variety of door prizes generously supplied by local vendors will be given away to people who register.  Follow the QR code in the attachment or click here to register.  We hope to see you there. 

Best wishes for a terrific weekend!

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21

Portrait of a Learner
Door prizes 

Dear SAU 21 Parents and Guardians,

I hope your family has been able to enjoy our beautiful New England summer.  It's hard to believe that school will be starting next week.  It has been another busy summer at SAU 21.  We have been working hard to fill vacancies and onboard new staff members, and we still have some Educational Associate and other support staff and substitute positions open across our districts. (Click here if you are interested in applying for any vacancies.)  Staff were involved in a number of professional development opportunities, and our summer programs for students were well-attended.  A number of capital projects were completed in our buildings involving such things as paving, HVAC, and roofing, and our facilities have been cleaned and polished for the new year. Among many other projects at the SAU office we conducted our annual audits, prepared schedules, calendars, and activities for the year ahead, worked with our schools to apply for safety grants as well as our annual entitlement grants, and worked with our School Boards on policy review.   

Though I hate to have to say it, we do still have COVID guidelines in place. A full copy of our COVID plans can be found here. It is important to note that students are still required to stay home/test if they are demonstrating any COVID-19 symptoms and abide by the quarantine/isolation guidelines from NH DHHS.  Testing is not required for COVIDpositive individuals to exit isolation on day 6 as long as individuals have improving symptoms and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.  Please reach out to your child's school nurse if you have any questions about COVID guidelines.

The schools across the SAU have also remained focused on emergency management planning and school safety and security.  Each district has submitted requests for funding through the NH SAFE grant, and each of our districts has also worked to update its emergency management plans based on the latest information and guidance from local emergency responders as well as the NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM).  NH HSEM will be conducting its triennial school safety and security audits of our schools early this fall, and NH HSEM officials will be conducting a tabletop exercise of our plans in October.  In addition, our staff are also completing their annual ALICE training. 

Yesterday was the first official day back at school for our teachers and educational associates, and we had a great kick-off to the new school year.  We are excited to continue and outside of the district including suicide prevention, bullying and cyber-bullying awareness training, and training on preventing harassment. More than 80% of our teacher's professional development time is focused on curriculum and instruction related topics including vertical alignment of curriculum, developing quality performance assessments, and reviewing competencies.  Over the last couple of years, 20-25% of the time of our professional development time has been focused around the social emotional needs of our students, as meeting those needs is a precursor for students' ability to engage in instruction. 

One training scheduled for the upcoming year has been a subject of concern for some individuals.  That training is a 90-minute session for educators focused on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children--in this case, providing a better understanding of how to support LGBTQ+ youth.  The goals of the training are to build staff understanding of the concepts of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, to share information and data regarding the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth, and to discuss strategies for creating a safe classroom/school space for all.  There is no curricular component, and no aspect of this training is intended to be provided to children. As educators, our job is to create an environment free from discrimination for all, including on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion or national origin, creed or economic status.  Students who identify as LGBTQ+ are twice as likely to report being bullied or harassed as their peers, and 45% of students identifying as LGBTQ+ report having seriously considered suicide in the last year.  A recent WHS graduate perhaps best articulated the need for this training for our staff:

I went through Winnacunnet as one of the few LGBTQ+ students... It was incredibly isolating and when I needed help, I hesitated in fear of not being understood...My favorite staff members did not share any of my experiences, but they had open hearts and open minds that I am forever grateful for. I recognize that not everyone is privileged enough to be in my position. That is why I strongly encourage...training so that students like me are able to freely rely on faculty without fear of discrimination or judgement on who they are. It will show them that our school is always striving to be better to all individuals.

The last year has been a very challenging year in our communities, and fear and anxiety have contributed to those challenges and our perceptions of them.  All of us have felt that loss of control and normalcy that we had grown accustomed to prior to the pandemic, and we feel that most acutely when it comes to our children.  We are inundated with information and misinformation and it can be hard to discern what to believe and who to trust.  Instead of the coming together and dialogue that usually occurs, we were forced by distance to resort to announcements rather than discussions. Frustrations with closed schools, restrictions on our daily lives and social interactions, and anxiety about the physical health and safety of ourselves and our families compounded.   We have turned to social media conversations about rather than in-person conversations with, where we can look people in the eye and draw our own conclusions.  I encourage all of us to rise above that--make contact, ask questions, seek out opportunities for discussion, approach others with a sense of goodwill and a willingness to listen to their point of view.  In the end, we don't have to agree, but I hope that we are able to see beyond headlines to hear one another's perspectives.  

I look forward to a positive school year and to our collaboration with and support of one another.  Our children need the support of all of us--school staff, parents, and community members--to grow strong, healthy, and to reach their full potential. 

Sincerely,

Meredith Nadeau
Superintendent of Schools
School Administrative Unit 21