Letters from the Superintendent
2023-24
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
2022-23
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
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
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
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