September 25: Friday ~ PTO Kindergarten Playground Pop-In, MHS Playground 4:00-5:00 PM

October 1: Thursday ~ MHS Open House 5:00 - 6:00 PM

October 1: Thursday ~ WES Open House 6:00-7:00 PM

October 2: Friday ~ PTO Booster Fun RUN

October 8: Thursday ~ Walk to School Day

October 8: Thursday ~ PTO Meeting 6:00 PM, MHS Cafeteria

October 8: Thursday ~ Grade 5 Parent Meeting for Outdoor Classroom 7:00 PM, WES Cafeteria

Thank you to our PTO volunteers who helped decorate the hallways at MHS and WES for our PTO Boosterthon fundraising event. Your time and creativity really made a difference, the hallways look wonderful. We appreciate you!

A friendly reminder that we require notes or emails when there is a change in your student's end of day dismissal. Be sure to include the date and student's last name. If you need to send an email to either school you may use mhsoffice@awrsd.org for MHS and wesoffice@awrsd.org for WES.

Mark your calendars, Walk to School Day is almost here!

 On Thursday, 10/8, all MHS & WES students and staff will be participating in Walk to School Day. Students will be picked up at their regular bus stops in the morning and will be dropped off in the field behind the VFW. From this location ALL children will walk with teachers and staff to their schools. The Westminster Police and Fire Departments are also partners in this event and will be on hand to help ensure both pedestrian and traffic safety. 

Preschool: Normal drop off. After arrival, our preschoolers wait outside with the fire and police departments to welcome the K-5 students to school.

K-5 AM Drop-offs: Those children who are usually driven to school should be dropped off at the VFW between 8:20-8:30 a.m.

Extended Day: Students will ride a bus to the VFW from MHS.

Walkers/Bike Riders: Children who typically walk or ride bicycles must instead walk to the VFW or have parents drop them off there between 8:20–8:30 a.m. (Please, no bicycles!)

Instruments:  Students who have an afternoon music lesson may want to have their instruments dropped off at school by a parent. If a student has a morning music lesson they will ride a bus to the VFW after their morning lesson via the Extended Day bus from MHS.

We are excited to begin our new preschool curriculum, Three Cheers for Pre-K! Our first two units, Hello School and Marvelous Me, are helping students get to know their classroom, teachers, and new friends. Over the next few months, students will practice daily routines, social skills, independence, and fine motor skills. They will also learn letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and name recognition through fun, hands-on games and activities. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growing, and having fun together!

We are so excited to be back in school! We have spent the first few weeks working through the routines and expectations of 4th grade. We also spent time getting to know each other, creating classroom communities, and diving into our curricula! 

Students are exploring what it means to have a figurative and literal great heart in ELA. We learned about what it means to be greathearted, and soon we began work on the literal heart by reading the Circulatory Story. In math, we are learning about the relationship between multiplication and division, and multiplication comparisons. In science, we began our internal and external animal structures unit. 

We also sent home a letter explaining our homework policy and use of Chromebooks. We are very excited to see how our 4th graders develop the habits of mind that truly lead to long-term success: focus, persistence, memory, and human connection.

Welcome back everyone, I hope your school year is starting off great! This is my 32nd year of teaching, and I love teaching your children! Here is my news for each grade level general music class, as well as the Bands, and the Chorus! 

Grade K+1 -Our Meetinghouse kids are getting used to singing some fun songs and doing hand motions while they have fun doing the ABC’s, Twinkle Twinkle, various versions of Happy Birthday, and the Animal Fair. They also have learned how to echo rhythms by drumming. Grade 1 also reviewed singing their patriotic songs for fun too.

Grade 2+3 -They have been working at learning rhythms by rote and by reading quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. Both grades also reviewed singing their patriotic songs and other “oldie but goodies” for fun. Both grades did a lesson on Beethoven and his piece called “Fur Elise”, seeing/comparing different versions. They also reviewed singing all of the patriotic songs too!

Grade 4+5 -They have been reviewing their level 1 keyboard notes in class, and have also been working on a unit on rhythm. Grade 5 did a lesson on This Land Is Your Land, learning about Woody Gutherie and seeing/comparing different versions, and connecting to Gutherie’s past living during the Dust Bowls in America, and hearing his song performed by Bruce Springsteen. Grade 4 did something similar but it was with the song My Country ‘tis Of Thee and seeing/comparing different versions, watching the US Army Chorus, Anthem Lights, and a performance at Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s 85th birthday, learning the origins of the songs and how it has changed. 

BAND!!!

-Our Beginning Band (B Band) has been starting to form and we have another good crop of beginners ever at WES, and it keeps growing every day! IT”S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP!, so just email me at the school, I can have my assistant Director, Mrs. Jean Popik help you get squared away. We still have room for snare drummers, flutes, or 1 more private student with me on either trumpet or trombone. Come join our band, and do a highly educational/worthwhile activity that is both challenging and fun! Lessons have started this week before/after school and the B Band rehearsals will start on Oct. 9 from 3-4pm. A google classroom will soon be set up with videos for the students to practice with, so be sure to remind your children to use them to help them progress faster. For additional questions, please contact my assistant director, Mrs. Jean Popik at wemusicprogram01473@gmail.com for more details. Also, please look for the Holiday concert dates in the A Band section below.

-Our Advanced Band (A Band) has been practicing already and will be performing two times on one weekend in October! First they are part of the District Marching Band Night on Friday Oct. 16 at the Oakmont football game. Then we get ready for the Westminster Cracker Festival on 10/17 from 10-11am. Rehearsal times will be changed slightly on October 2, 9, and 16, to be from 3-3:45pm, to allow the jazz band to practice from 3:45-4:30pm. HELP!!! We are in need of enclosed landscape-type trailer to move the equipment for the Festival. There will be 3 chairs racks, 3 stand racks, 2 bass drums, amps, a drum set, etc. We pack on the Thursday Oct 15 at 4:15pm, it goes home with you, arrives at the Festival at 8am on Saturday Oct. 17, gets unloaded, loaded after the performances, and stays at the Festival at least until 6:30pm, goes home with you, and comes back to WES on Monday morning so I can have it unloaded around 8:40am. Please contact me asap. By the way, Mr. Lucander will also be performing with his classic rock band classic rock/dance band MR STRICKLAND at 3-5pm as the headlining act of the day! 

The A Band will perform at the town Veterans Program at 11am on November 11. The Holiday Concerts are scheduled for Friday December 11 (Grandparent/Veterans Concert) at 9am at WES, and Tuesday, December 15 (9am at WES for students, and 6:30pm at Oakmont for parents/public), with a snow date of 12/16. A google classroom is set up with videos for the students to practice with, so be sure to remind your children to use them to help them progress faster.

-Last year’s Jazz Band will reform soon to practice for the Westminster Cracker Festival. Please see the rehearsal times/dates above in the A Band blurb. Then we’ll take a break, and start a brand new season in January. An announcement on specific rehearsals will be coming soon.

Chorus!!! -Sign ups for Chorus have been passed out and our roster is forming but we have room for about 15 students in grades 4 or 5. We need some more kids to join! Rehearsals will be each Wednesday from 3-4:15pm, starting November 30. The Holiday Concerts are scheduled for Friday December 11 (Grandparent/Veterans Concert) at 9am at WES, Tuesday, December 15 (9am at WES for students, and 6:30pm at Oakmont for parents/public), with a snow date of 12/16. A google classroom will soon be set up with videos for the students to practice with, so be sure to remind your children to use them to help them progress faster.

NOTE: Complete Schedules for each group from the A Band have been passed out. The B Band and Chorus will be given out soon and will include rehearsal dates/times and performance dates. 

Don’t forget we have our own website for all information including handbooks, schedules, etc. : 

https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/wesmusic/home 

That’s all for now, I’m looking forward to a great year of music at MHS/WES!

 Sincerely,

 Mr. Lucander - Music Teacher/Music Director of Ensembles

 Mrs. Popik - Assistant Director of Ensembles

Grade 5 Outdoor Classroom at Camp Cody 2024

Monday, May 24th - Friday, May 28th

Each year our 5th grade students travel to Camp Cody in Freedom, NH for an outdoor classroom experience. The trip is 5 days/4 nights. Next year we are going the week of May 24-28th. Please mark your calendars for October 8th at 7:00 PM for our Outdoor Classroom Parent Information Meeting. Our fifth grade teachers have prepared a presentation to explain all the details of our Outdoor Classroom experience. 

We are grateful to once again have the help of Ashleigh Gelinas to lead our MHS and WES libraries. If you are interested in helping, please complete the survey below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDYoLae5n60l1_4tUb1cZGa6TcfYfqC9p_YYOSs4N95MwR3A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101736902024299894951

Please reach out with any questions you may have. We are happy to help!

• MHS - Kathi McCarthy 978-874-0163 ext. 0
• WES - Liz Maillet 978-874-2043 ext 0

AM Session 8:45-11:10 AM

PM Session 12:00-2:30 PM

Full Day Session 8:45-2:30 PM (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)

ARRIVAL

8:20 - 8:30 AM

DISMISSAL

2:55 PM

HALF DAYS - DISMISSAL

12:00 PM

Emergency Early Dismissal Policy

In the event of an unforeseen emergency that necessitates the dismissal of students prior to the end of the school day, parent notification will be provided through the automated phone and email system. Typical emergency situations that may precipitate an early dismissal include, but are not necessarily limited to, severe weather conditions, fire and absence of heat or water.

Since it is impractical for school officials to personally contact every parent in the event of an early dismissal, parents and particularly the parents of elementary age children, are encouraged to develop a clear and well-defined plan with their children in case of an early dismissal. Since children will be dismissed to their home, it is imperative that children know how to gain entry into their home and how and whom to call once they are there.

ABSENCES: Please call WES (978-874-2043) or MHS (978-874-0163) when your child will be absent or late for school. Please state your name, your child’s name, teacher, and the reason for absence. If you must speak to someone, please call after 7:45 AM. This system is to ensure the safety of your child. If we do not hear from you, we will contact you at home or work, and if we can’t reach someone we may send a school resource officer to the house to do a well child check. Absent notes are required when children return to school.

AM Arrivals: Bus drivers do not let children off the bus until 8:20 a.m. There is NO Supervision before 8:20 a.m. Walkers/students being dropped off should not arrive before 8:20 a.m. School starts at 8:30 a.m.

PM Dismissals: The school day ends at 2:55 p.m. The office needs to know your dismissal plan. If your child is a car-rider, you will be given a sign to display on your car dashboard to be used each day. Car riders will be dismissed to the cafeteria and called outside in the order cars line up. Please remain in your car. Signs will be posted. If you would like your older sibling to walk from WES to MHS pick-ups for dismissal in the afternoon, please send a note to the office and your child’s teacher.

If your child needs to be dismissed early, please send a note to his/her teacher stating the time and reason for dismissal. Early dismissals will be handled through the main office.

NOTES: Please use student’s (and parent’s) last names in all notes to the teacher/office. Please also date all notes so that we can be sure we are dealing with current messages. Notes are required for any change in dismissal. You may also email a note to mhsoffice@awrsd.org (MHS) or wesoffice@awrsd.org(WES).

MEDICATIONS: ALL Medications must be brought to the nurse by an adult at the beginning of the day. Medication is NOT TO BE TAKEN by any child on his/her own. The school nurse under the following circumstances will administer medication:

• A signed and dated note from a doctor and a parent is sent with the child’s name, dosage, reason for medication and time to be given.

• The prescription bottle is sent with only the amount which will be needed for the administration at school. (Pharmacies will dispense in two bottles if you ask.)

School Announcements:

Please make sure all phone numbers and email addresses are updated throughout the school year to ensure you receive all messages sent from the school or district.

RESTRICTIONS: Please provide the office with any LEGAL DOCUMENT which indicates any legal restrictions on the release of your child as per district policy. These restrictions CANNOT be honored unless we have a copy of the legal documents in your child’s file. Please remember that it is MOST IMPORTANT that your child knows who he/she is allowed to leave school with and restrictions of the same.

TARDINESS: It is important that your child be at school on time. Tardy students need to stop at the office for a tardy slip when they arrive later than 8:30 a.m. If excessive tardiness continues, it will be necessary for the parent and child to meet with the Principal so that we may remedy the situation.

For questions about transportation, please email bussing@awrsd.org and provide your child's full name, school, address, and the question/issue.

• IMPORTANT BUS NOTES for 2026-2027:

  • All students are expected to be present at their stop and visible to the driver 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. This includes all door-to-door stops as well as group stops. 

  
  

  • All K and 1st Grade students must have an adult at the stop to receive them in the afternoon, unless authorization to get off the bus alone or with an older sibling has been given to the school office or busing coordinator.

  
  

  • All 2nd & 3rd Grade students must have an adult/older sibling/designated person visible to the driver when dropping off. They don’t have to be at the stop location, they can be on a porch, in a doorway, etc., as long as the driver can see them.

  
  

  • Students who miss the bus in the morning can board at any other stop along the route, but the buses will not stop if it isn’t a designated stop location, for legal and safety reasons. However, in the PM, unless there is a pass indicating otherwise, the student will only be dropped off at their stop of record for legal and safety reasons.

  
  

  • Due to transportation limitations and the increasing number of requests, separate bus trips will no longer be provided for any student group traveling to a local organization for scheduled club or activity. For any outside organization in the student’s hometown/community, if a student’s designated bus goes by the organization location, the school may issue a bus pass. If the student’s designated bus route does not go by the organization’s location, and an alternate bus has space, the school may issue a bus pass. The district CANNOT guarantee a specific drop off time (i.e. start of the outside program) or space on an alternate bus. If there is a new request from a community organization to offer bus passes to students, it will need Superintendent’s office approval via bussing.