Important Dates

• October 2nd - Student Flu Clinic (more information below)
• October 8th - 3rd Grade Curriculum Night @ 5:30
• October 9th - Bike & Roll to School Day (more information below)
• October 9th - 4th Grade Curriculum Night @ 5:00
• October 11th and 14th- School Closed
• October 16th - School Picture Day

Dear Families, 

 

We’ll take a pause from our reflection on Illustrative Math to celebrate some important news of the week. On Monday, Bernice A. Ray School was announced as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School! 

 

As defined on the website, National Blue Ribbon Schools is the United States Department of Education’s award program honoring high-performing schools and schools that are making great strides in closing achievement gaps.

 

Our school received recognition as an exemplary high performing school. We were nominated for the award last spring and underwent a lengthy application and vetting process that earned us the award

 

We know that no single person or group alone can be successful in educating our students. So many individuals, groups, and stakeholders are responsible for the success of our students. Our teachers and staff members build students’ academic and social emotional foundations for their academic journey. With your support, they lay the foundation for students’ educational journeys and a lifetime of learning. We are grateful for our bus drivers, custodial staff, Ray Cafe staff, volunteers, PTO, community helpers like the Hanover Police and Fire Departments, our SAU, the Hanover School Board, and the community as a whole for the support it takes to educate and grow our students. It takes a village, and the National Blue Ribbon School status is recognition of the valuable contributions of so many. 

 

If you are familiar with Dot Day at Ray and Peter H. Reynold's book The Dot, then you know the significance of taking a moment to think about the ways that all can make a difference, and DO make a difference. As the book teaches us, start somewhere, make a mark, and see where it takes you. This year, we will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage, and collaboration. It seems like the perfect connection to our National Blue Ribbon School award. 

 

When we think about these things that Dot Day celebrates- creativity, courage, and collaboration- we also think of the Ray School. On Wednesday, Ray staff gathered together to celebrate this achievement and how we make a difference for our students and for each other.  We reflected on all the ways we “make our mark” in the world of education and how we are always learning, growing, and improving.

 

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There is a celebration and awards ceremony in early November in Washington, DC, during which we will receive a special flag and plaque that we will proudly display. We are planning some community events and celebrations along the way. We have all contributed and made our mark! 

 

The Bernice A. Ray School is truly a special place, and so many people make that our reality. Congratulations! 

 

Sincerely,

Lauren Amrhein

Principal 

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School News and Information

Bike & Roll to School Day 2024

On Wednesday, October 9th, Ray School students will be taking part in National Bike & Roll to School Day. Students and families can "roll" to school on their own schedules. It is suggested that any students biking to school have a parent/guardian go with them if this is something the student does not already do alone on a regular basis. All buses will be making a special stop at Garipay Field so students can get off there and walk to school if they would like to participate. View the complete document for parents and children regarding bike safety.

Please follow these National Highway Traffic Safety Commission safety rules. 

• Wear a Bicycle Helmet.
• Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit.
• See and Be Seen.
• Use Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.
• Use bike lanes or bike paths, if available. Children younger than 10 years old are not consistently able to make the decisions necessary to safely ride unsupervised in the street, so ride on a sidewalk.
• Please ride single-file!
• "Watch, Wave, Walk" - Watch for cars. Wave to the driver to make sure they see you about to cross the street. Walk your bike across the street then get back on your bike and start riding again

Student Flu Vaccine Clinic: Reminder Forms Due Monday, September 30th

Why sign your child up for this year’s flu clinic?

• Your child will be less likely to get the flu and miss school.
• You won’t have to miss work to take your child to get a flu vaccine from your medical provider.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services recommend a flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older.

NEXT STEPS:

If you DO want your student to receive the flu vaccine at our school-based clinic, please complete and submit the virtual consent form (Link below), no later than Monday, September 30th. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns with completing this consent form.Link to consent form: Select Hanover Bernice A. Ray School in the drop down menu.

If you DO NOT want your child to receive the flu vaccine at our school-based clinic, please DO NOT complete the consent form. No action is needed.

More Information:

Your child’s vaccination information is confidential and protected under state and federal law. New Hampshire’s Immunization Information System (NHIIS) securely stores immunization information from all of your healthcare providers in a single record. The NHIIS is a HIPAA compliant, web-based system that is voluntary for you/your child.

Per NH RSA 141-C:20-f sharing your/your child’s vaccine information with the NHIIS is voluntary. You will be provided an opportunity to Opt-In (to share information) or Opt-Out (to not share information) prior to vaccination. No information will be shared with the NHIIS unless you have provided explicit consent to share your/your child’s vaccine information.

When you Opt-In to the NHIIS your child’s immunization is electronically available to you and your healthcare provider wherever they are. Unlike paper records, NHIIS records are available whenever needed and can’t be misplaced. View additional information.

For general influenza information, visit the CDC’s website.

Vaccine information from Immunize.org is also available to help answer your questions: Vaccine Information Statement

Sincerely,

Robin Lobb
School Nurse

 

Morning Drop Off

As we head into the fall season, students often come in with more clothing and footwear. If you’re coming through the drop-off loop, please do your best to have your student ready to jump out of the vehicle so we can keep the line moving. If your student needs more time to get organized, or you need to exit the car to help, please find a parking space. 

The drop-off loop is a single file loop. Please wait until the traffic is moving rather than pulling out and around cars who are dropping off. We’ve seen a few close calls and need to keep each other and our students safe. Thank you for your help! 

 

Garden Update

Our volunteers also collected the bountiful marigold and sunflower seed heads that students grew in the front raised beds.  Nan has them for students to dissect and save for Spring 2025 planting!  Finally, our volunteers cleaned out the beds, soaked them, and planted 20 mums.  Welcome to fall and back-to-school!

A special thanks to Case Hathaway-Zepeda and Chris Bentivoglio for the time and effort that went into this project. We are so grateful! 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Free & Reduced Lunch Information
 

The Ray School provides free meals to families meeting the guidelines. All information is kept confidential. Here is the link:  Free & Reduced Lunch Application.

 

Picture Day

Whipple Studios will be here October 16 for picture day. Classroom teachers will be sending order forms home today or early next week. Please be sure to complete the order form and return it to the classroom teacher.  

 

Lunch/Milk

The lunch menu can be found by using this link. 

Please be sure to speak with your student about their lunch plans before school each day. Students sign up for lunch daily in the classroom each morning. Students have the option to order double lunch, so it's a great idea to check on your student’s account to make sure the family plan is being followed. 

If you would like to set up an online payment account, you can do so at MyMealTime.  You can find your student(s) ID# in the top right hand corner of their page in your parent portal.

 

Reminder: Haven Helpers

Haven Helpers will continue again this year!  Haven Helpers is a long standing PTO  sponsored program that collects food for the Food Shelf at  the Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, VT.  Ray School Haven Helpers enlists Fifth Grade students to be Haven Helper Leaders. These students monitor bins, check for expiration dates and provide encouragement and enthusiasm to the Ray School classes.

The Haven has requested for us to bring in SOUP for October. Cans please, no glass jars.

Last year, Ray School once again collected over ONE TON of food for the Haven. That's as much as what TEN baby elephants weigh! Let's see if we can top that! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Any questions? Please contact  robin.henry@rayschool.org

 

Reminder: Volunteer Opportunities

We encourage all families to volunteer in whatever capacity they can within our school district.  In an effort to maintain the safest environment possible, all volunteers must go through a vetting process before working with our students - outlined below. 

If you think you would like to be a volunteer at some point in the school year, we encourage you to begin the vetting process now.  

• Start by filling out this form. 
• Once completed, your information will be reviewed by the administration. 
• After review, Teal Parker will reach out to schedule your fingerprinting/background check appointment.

**For those of you who have volunteered in the past and have completed your background check/fingerprinting, please note that a new background check is required every two years.  If you are unsure of your status, please reach out to our Coordinator of Volunteers, Teal Parker for assistance.

If you would like to know more about current volunteer opportunities within the district, please fill out this form as well.  In addition, the PTO maintains a separate database of PTO-sponsored volunteer activities that you may also be interested in checking out.

 

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