Important Dates

Earth Month Challenge

The PTO sustainability committee is launching an Earth Month Challenge for students. Challenge sheets were likely sent home in the week before break, so make sure to check your student’s backpack!  There will also be a Terra Cycle box in the front lobby for package/wrapper recycling. Students completing at least 10 challenges by May 2nd will be entered into a raffle for prizes. Completed forms should be returned to the collection box in/by the office. All are encouraged to participate!

Third Grade Walk for Water

Last Thursday, third graders participated in a “Walk For Water” to raise awareness about the important water issues they’ve been researching. They walked from
the Ray School to the pond at the old golf course off Rte. 10. Students carried with them a jug to fill at the pond and carry back to school. The purpose of this is to emulate the 15+ minute walk that so many women and children around the world have to take each day just to get water. Oftentimes, this water is dirty and can cause disease. Students have been learning about how water is essential for life through their unit anchored in the One Well text, and this walk allowed students to showcase what they’ve learned and bring awareness to the value of water.

Lawsuit Press Release: Letter from the Superintendent

Dear SAU 70 Staff and Families, 

This Tuesday, both the Dresden and Hanover School Boards decided to join the ACLU in a lawsuit against the US Department of Education in response to unclear directives regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and practices.  While these directives are unclear, they do suggest that failure to comply may result in the loss of federal funds as well as other rather vague but ominous consequences.  Our school community has committed to ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all of our students, and our school boards have honored our community's values through their policies and strategic plan.  Please read the attached press release for all of the details that we're currently allowed to share.

Jay Badams
Lawsuit Press Release

From the Library: Save the Date! 

2025 Literacy Event for the Ray School Community!

May 29th 4-7pm 

• Book Fair provided by Norwich Bookstore - Books for sale geared to ages 0 - 100!
• 20% of the proceeds donated by NBS to support the 2025-26 Birthday Book Program
• Author KATE MESSNER will be joining us and doing an author presentation for our families!
• Howe Library - Summer Reading Program Information
• RePlay Arts - Book Craft
• Cartoon Studies - Wayne will lead zine making and a collaborative cartoon

More information is coming soon, but save the date for a community event full of fun!

Kindergarten Registration

You will need to electronically pre-register your child by clicking here. Below is a list of documents you will be asked to upload during the online registration process.

• Copy of Birth Certificate (pre-registration form)
• Proof of Residency (pre-registration form)
• Documentation of annual physical and immunizations (required before the start of school) specific information
   

New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System

Students in grades 3-5 will be taking the statewide spring assessments (NHSAS) during the following weeks: 

• Grade 5: Tuesday, April 1-Friday, April 11
• Grade 4: Monday, April 21-Friday, May 2
• Grade 3: Monday, May 5-Friday, May 16 

Please try to book appointments and planned absences outside these testing windows if your student is testing this spring. Additionally, please view this parent notification letter from the NHDOE that contains additional information about statewide testing for students in grades 3-5, including information about exemptions, results, and practice tests. If you have any questions, including about parental exemptions from NHSAS testing, please reach out.  

2025/26 School Year

The approved 2025/2026 school calendar for Hanover/Ray is now available and can be found here.

Head Lice at the Ray School

Recently there has been an upward trend in the number of head lice reports at the Ray School, particularly in the lower grade levels (K-3). Fluctuations in the number of head lice cases in an elementary school are common, because children have head to head contact with each other at school, home, and during play. Checking for head lice at home routinely, even if there is no itching or known exposure to lice, is one way to detect early infestations and limit the spread to others. Itching, a common symptom of lice, can take 4-6 weeks to develop after an initial exposure and during this time lice can be difficult to detect. Some people will have no symptoms at all. Please help us limit the spread of head lice at the Ray School by regularly checking your child for head lice.

Haven Helpers

We are collecting canned chicken and non-meat pasta sauce. (Please no glass - cans or plastic.)

Below is a chart created by our Haven volunteers detailing our collection so far.  It's pretty impressive and we only have two more collections left.  So let's do our best to help out the Haven!

Totals Donated to-date: 1013 pounds!
 

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. 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.