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Dear Parents, Guardians, and Members of the Newmarket Community,
Happy Spring! As we approach the end of March, the days are getting longer, and the birds are beginning to sing again. The signs of spring are a time of renewal, as we anticipate, with enthusiasm, the return of warmth to New England! We are looking forward to the upcoming end of the year activities and celebrations that make the Newmarket School District so special, and we are thrilled to welcome families and community back into our schools, for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It has been a long two years!
The Newmarket School District’s Next Chapter Workgroup convened during the month of March, to begin reviewing survey data collected prior to winter break and to develop recommendations for moving beyond the limitations that have been imposed as a result of the COVID pandemic. As a result of their study and recent changes in guidance by the NH DHHS, recommendations were made to ease masking, contract tracing, social distancing, and cohorts in the schools. In addition, welcoming volunteers, relatives, friends, and members of the community back to schools, and reinstituting field trips and assemblies were prioritized. We look forward to reconnecting with one another and reengaging with the community. Please see the Next Chapter Workgroup Report for more details!
On Saturday, April 9th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, the Newmarket School District will host a Community School Event that will include student-led tours of our newly renovated schools, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, student activities, volunteer signups, refreshments, and more! Please visit this link for more information.
The New Hampshire Department of Education has informed school districts that remote learning days will no longer count as school days, apart from those that are a result of inclement weather. Our previously schedule remote days on March 28th and May 27th will be days off for students. Students who attend SST will attend their regular session and transportation will be provided. School districts meet time on learning requirements with hours or days in session, and while the district will be in session for 178 days this year instead of 180, we will exceed instructional hours, thereby meeting time on learning requirements.
David Dalton has resigned his position as Principal of Newmarket Junior Senior High School, effective June 30, 2022. David has been a stabilizing force for the past two years, and while he will be missed, we wish him the best in his retirement, as he embraces new experiences and adventures. Over the next few weeks, the district will begin conducting a search for a new principal to serve as the education leader for staff and students.
Finally, we are pleased to highlight our student of the month, high school senior Dillon Cassidy. Dillon is a New Hampshire Special Olympics athlete and USA Special Olympics Games participant. Dillon is pleased to introduce himself in his own words:
I’ve been running since I was 10 years old. I’ve done 6 Special Olympic State events. The last two events were interrupted by Covid. We weren’t able to do a full team. I initiated and reached out of my comfort zone to practice myself. At the age of 18 I have gotten faster. I’ve been practicing a lot with Coach Tufts this fall and she pushed me to improve my dexterity and speed. I practiced three to four times a week. It depended on the weather. In November, I went to a qualifying event in Exeter. I was one of the top two finishers in the two hundred meters and 400-meter run. My name was submitted as a top runner and then on a Zoom call with all the coaches, it was announced that I was chosen as a runner for the USA Special Olympics Games! I was surprised and was crying with happiness! So now I am training three times a week with my NH Special Olympics team members. I will be flying to Orlando Florida this June 4th through the 12th with my teammates and we will be representing NH. I will be doing the 100, 200, 4x400 relay and the running long jump.
Dillion Cassidy
Grade 12
NH Special Olympics athlete and USA Special Olympics Games participant
We wish Dillon the best of luck in his Special Olympic endeavors!!!
Sincerely,
Dr. Susan K. Givens,
Superintendent of Schools