Pelham Memorial School

59 MARSH ROAD

PELHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03076

Telephone 635-2321

May 24, 2008

Dear Parents:

We are hoping you can take about 10 minutes to help us collect feedback on how the Pelham schools are doing.

The Pelham School District is participating in a survey to collect your perceptions about our schools. There are 15 other NH districts also participating, state-wide. This survey is done on-line through the website address given at the bottom of this letter and is sponsored by Education for the Future. Your responses are completely anonymous and will be reported to us as a total summary. The administrators in the district will use these summary reports to analyze our strengths and weaknesses, and will plan accordingly. A state grant is funding this exercise for us.

Parents have 24 questions which can be answered in approximately 5-10 minutes. You select five degrees of agreement or disagreement. The questions pertain to some of the following topics: school climate, communication, responsiveness, safety, support, quality and meeting the academic needs of students. We ask that each parent answer only one survey. Mothers and fathers are welcome to complete separate surveys. Please use the address given below and you will be taken directly to the survey. If you do not have a computer, you are welcome to call the office and make an appointment to use one of the school’s computers. These surveys will be available on the website until June 6, 2008.

Students have a set of 30-53 questions depending on the grade level. These questions are similar to the parent questions and again, all responses are completely anonymous. Students will take the survey in school the week of June 2nd. Any parent wishing to see the student survey before the students complete it, can stop by the office. A copy of the student survey will be available for your examination until June 2nd.

Staff will also be completing this survey and have a set of 63 questions that pertain to their responsibilities and positions. Again, all responses are anonymous.

We appreciate your cooperation with this new survey process. Your results will provide us with important perceptions and information with which to make administrative decisions.

Sincerely,

 

Cathy Pinsonneault

Principal

Parent Survey: http://eff3.csuchico.edu/LakesRegionNH/Pelham/pelham_mid/welcome.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

8th Grade Graduation - Graduation will be Thursday, June 19th beginning at 6:30 p.m.  The ceremony will be held outdoors depending on the weather.  In case of rain, the ceremony will be held indoors and will be limited to 2 guests per student.  Admittance with ticket only.

INCOMING 6TH GRADE PARENT NIGHT

There will be an informational parent night for incoming 6th grade parents on Wednesday, May 28th. 

The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Pelham Memorial School Cafeteria.  Students should not be in attendance at this meeting.

Catherine A. Pinsonneault, Principal

 

March 25, 2008

 Dear Parent(s)/Guardian:

 It has been brought to my attention that a number of students have been bringing soda and power/energy drinks to school.  Effective immediately, students will not be allowed to have these drinks in school.  The following websites are just a few that address the concerns we have regarding these drinks.

http://www.recipestoday.com/articles/toddler-nutrition/high-energy-drinks-915/2/

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20071106/energy-drinks-jolt-heart

One excerpt states……….."King would discourage the use of any supplemental drink in children because they can train the brain to make less of the natural energy chemicals that fuel the body. "It is the same kind of dependence adults feel if they don't get their two cups of coffee a day", she says. Recent studies have shown that children and adolescents are vulnerable to caffeine withdrawal, which causes a person to feel angry and have problems thinking clearly.

Bathrooms

We have been having a problem in the bathrooms with vandalism, graffiti, etc.  When this occurs, the affected bathroom remains closed until administration investigates the situation and the bathroom is cleaned.  Students in that grade level then have to use the bathroom in the nurses’ office.  Please take a moment to speak with your children about this issue and reinforce bathroom etiquette.  We are seeing an increased lack of respect for the school property which you, as parents, support through your taxes. 

Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

 

Thomas Adamakos

Assistant Principal

 

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #28

PELHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

 RE: ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

Pelham Elementary - Pelham Memorial Schools

 ABSENCES - VACATIONS

The administration of the Pelham Elementary and Memorial Schools encourages parents to take their vacations during the Pelham School District's vacation periods.  This may be very difficult at certain times and it is noted that children of this age level need to accompany their parents and cannot be left unsupervised during such times.  Considering this, and because of State attendance and truancy laws, absences from school - due to family vacations - are unexcused.

The following procedures and consequences will be enforced when a student is absent from school due to family vacation:

 1.Parents should notify the officials of their child's school of the impending vacation, in writing, indicating exact dates.

 2.For a student to receive credit, all tests, quizzes, and assignments that are missed must be made up within two weeks of returning to school.

 3.Assignments will not be given to a student prior to the vacation period.  However, students may take their texts and/or workbooks with them in order to study anticipated assignments.

 4.Credit for made up work will be as follows:

    a. If a student is absent five or less school days, the student will receive full credit providing the work is made up within two weeks after returning to school.

    b. If a child is absent more than five school days, a loss of one letter grade will be given for each made up assignment.

    c. For assignments not made up during the two-week period, the student will receive a letter grade of "F."

 5.Parents will be notified in writing of this regulation by the building principal. (Copy to the superintendent of schools).

 6.This recommendation results from a review of the intent and purpose of the "High School Attendance/Tardy Policy."

 The concerns addressed are unexcused absences due primarily to family vacations.

 

POWER SCHOOL PARENT PORTAL 

            In order to use the Parent Portal, you must receive your username and password in person by coming into the main office of PMS anytime during our normal school hours.  We will not mail logon information home or provide it to you over the phone ; you must pick it up in person!  Also, you will be asked to provide proof of identification when you pick up your logon information.  A photo ID such as a driver’s license will be sufficient.  

            If you have any questions, please call Adam Steel, Director of Technology at 635-8875 or email him at asteel@pelhamsd.org. You can also direct questions to Mrs. Pinsonneault  at Pelham Memorial.                                         

No School Announcements

Superintendent of Schools, Elaine F. Cutler, wishes to remind all of the residents of the Pelham and Windham School Districts of the "No School Announcement" procedures as we enter into the winter months.  The decision to cancel school on a particular school day will usually be made by 6:00 a.m. in both districts.   However, when appropriate, either or both districts may employ a delayed opening of ninety (90) minutes.  The delay announcement will be made not later than 7:00 a.m.

For the convenience of the residents and students of the districts, school cancellations are made on several radio stations.  Whereas snow conditions create a busy time for all community officials, call should not be placed to the local police department; but rather, turn your radio to one of the following stations for the information needed. 

        WGIR            610 AM

        WFEA           1370 AM

        WBZ              1030 AM

        WZID               95.7 FM

Please be sure that your child has an emergency plan on file with their teacher in the event of an early release due to inclement weather or power outage, etc.

INTERNET CAUTION

Although many of our students are knowledgeable users of the web-based
environment, they often forget or do not understand its problems and potential
dangers. It is part of their life and they may not always think about their
on-line activities carefully.

Recently we have become concerned about some of our students using a number
of internet sites to post personal information from their home computers.
This information may include name, address, phone number, school name and
address, and personal cell phone numbers. Some may also be posting pictures
of themselves and answers to inappropriate questions. These sites include
www.myspace.com and www.facebook.com. Our students are posting personal
information and forgetting that all of this information is PUBLIC!

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have many recommendations for
protecting the safety of children in relation to the internet. Please discuss
this with your children. Explain that they should never post personal
information on these websites. No pictures identifying people should be
posted nor should any potential contact information be posted publicly in any
way. Warn your children that they do not know who will read this information
and what potential dangers could result from strangers who obtain their
personal information.

Thank you for your help with this serious matter.

 Cell Phones Reminders....
Students may bring cell phones into the building under the following rules: 
1. The cell phone must be turned off.
2. The cell phone must be stored in your locker/book bag/purse.
3. Students MAY NOT use cell phones during the school day--7:30am - 2:00pm.
4. Students MAY use cell phones after school in the cafeteria, front hallway,
   or outside.

Cell phones will be taken away and given to the principal if students use
them during the school day or they ring during class.
First Offense:  Verbal warning from principal.
                Phone returned to student at the end of the day.
Second Offense: Detention from principal.
                Phone returned only to parent--NOT to student.
Third Offense:  Community School suspension.
                Phone returned only to parent--student NOT ALLOWED to bring
                cell phone to school for remainder of the year!
SOS...We are looking for people who want to become involved in the Pelham
Memorial Community. Our booster club is looking for a few good parents who
would like to help make decisions and work for the students. Please call the
office if you would be interested in volunteering some time for the Memorial
School community.

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