February 9, 2024
Dear SAU 90 Staff and Families,
This week, we marked our 100th day in school. Students at Centre School and Marston School marked this day with warm spirit days, lessons, parades, and activities that contributed to our students’ learning and well-being, all while having some fun. A sense of humor and joy is often just what is needed in our busy days and weeks to remind us of the happy moments we can capture.
As a school district, we continue to recognize the importance of building community while focusing on the students and their individual needs. While listening to the daily news in our region and around the world, it is unsettling to see so many events that impact our world. We recognize that all this trickles down to our families and students, contributing to the stress and anxiety levels of many. We continue to focus on students’ academic needs while also addressing their social-emotional concerns. Only through this partnership do we have the best opportunities for success. Keeping open lines of communication with the school is the best way to help our children. Our school counselors, psychologists, and outreach worker are available to all our families. Together, we can make a difference.
With that said, often, the best part of my week is on the days when I have the pleasure of being in schools, and I can see all the wonderful lessons, learning, students, and staff engaged in learning. This week, I had the opportunity to spend time at Hampton Academy. I marveled at the science lessons, listened intently as students worked in cooperative groups, celebrated a special birthday, stood in awe at the number of sneakers collected for a fundraiser, and acknowledged the hard work of our school counselors in honor of School Counselors Week. Additionally, I noticed the connections that had been made with the students and the staff. It was evident that this was a community of learners that seemed happy and content to be in school learning. Please be sure to check out my Facebook post to enjoy these delightful moments.
Next week, during our regular school board meeting on Tuesday, February 13, SAU 90 in collaboration with SAU 21 will host a presentation on School Funding and Property Taxes. The purpose of this presentation is to share how New Hampshire downshifts the cost of public education funding to property taxes, and how this system creates disparities in tax bill from town to town and in the quality of education students receive. By bringing the community together, the New Hampshire School Fair Funding Project (NHSFFP) aims to emphasize the importance of fixing the school funding in New Hampshire and to build momentum for change. The presentation will be recorded and distributed to those who register by clicking here.
Special thanks to Hampton Academy and Lane Library for hosting the Valentine Tea this weekend.
Wishing you a lovely Valentine’s Day ahead,
Warmly,
Dr. Lois B. Costa
Superintendent of SAU 90
In honor of School Counselors Week, we thank our mental health team for all their work!
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff at the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point (NHRRAP) NHRRAP: Call or text 833-710-6477 NHRRAP website: https://www.nh988.com/
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988
Shark News Link: https://youtu.be/GKbTGriMFac