Hello Spartans!

Welcome to the FINAL newsletter of 2024! I can hardly believe we’re already in our last week before winter break. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome you’ve given both Jeff and me as we approach the five-month mark of joining the Strafford community. I feel incredibly fortunate to support your children and truly consider Strafford a gift in my life.

As you head into the week ahead, preparing for winter break and whatever it may bring, please know how deeply grateful we are at Strafford School—our staff and our community—to see each and every one of your children walk through our doors every morning. We are here to support you through all phases of life and are honored to be a part of your family.

Wishing you all a peaceful, joyful, and warm holiday season. Enjoy the winter break, and we’ll see you in 2025!

In partnership,

Mrs. Blackington

This week's Super Spartan Ticket Winners were...

PK/K: Oliver Lepage

1/2: Owen Hardwick

3/4: Martin Cone

These little elves were caught bringing joy to Strafford School this week! They put festive paper chains all over the school. Thanks 2J!

Our annual K-4 Holiday Shop was a huge success again this year! Thank you to POT for organizing and all the wonderful volunteers who helped wrapped! The students were all so excited to shop for their loved ones.

This week, students in grades K-4 were treated to a performance by TIGER from Plymouth State University called "True Blue". True Blue instills the importance of being true to yourself and what you know is right.

Research shows that physical activity can boost learning by improving focus, behavior, and academic performance. Teachers are using strategies like brain breaks, stretches, and interactive tools to help students stay active during the school day. Families can support this by encouraging movement at home, reducing screen time, and helping kids meet daily activity goals. Whether it’s dancing, walking, or simple exercises, staying active benefits children both mentally and physically. We are so fortunate to live in a state where physical activity is readily available to us all the time! Here's some (FREE) activities you can do over winter break to keep your child's (and your) brains in tip top shape.

• Go sledding: Use a local hill for some snowy fun. Little ones might also enjoy the small hill next to the Chapel of the Nativity in Barrington or go to Wagon Hill Farm in Durham for all the family to enjoy!
• Build a snowman or fort: Get creative in the backyard or on the school playground, which is open to the public any time during non-school days/hours.
• Take a winter nature walk: Explore trails or parks to observe seasonal changes. Great local trails include Isinglass or Strafford Town Forest.
• Have a snowball fight: A classic and energetic outdoor game - be careful not to get any ice in the snowballs!
• Do a scavenger hunt: Search for winter-themed items like pinecones or animal tracks - see if you can identify up to 10!

Reference: NAESP

THE WIZARD OF OZ! While auditions are for 5-8 students at this time, feel free to reach out to Ms. Grady about how you can support this production!

We want to thank all the community members who came together to discuss the future of our playground here at Strafford School. We discussed important information such as fundraising, logistics, and other ways we can support play on the playground. Our next meeting will be at 6 PM on December 18th in the school library. Any and all community members are encouraged to come! More information on this and future meetings to come in future newsletters!

It's time to order your yearbook! Use this link to order TODAY!

2024-25 School Calendar

December 16-20, 2024

Winter Spirit Week

December 18, 2024

Playground Community Meeting, 6 PM (Library)

December 23, 2024-January 1, 2025

NO SCHOOL Holiday Break/New Year's Observance

Every Friday is HAT DAY! Students may wear their favorite hat to school all day if they bring in $1! Thank you for supporting the 8th grade class!

Get your Spartan blankets anytime at the main office or by sending in money with students! These are super soft and make excellent gifts!

NJHS is still accepting non perishable donations for their food drive. Between now and next Friday 12/20, the class that brings in the most items will win a special surprise! Bring in the non perishables to your homeroom teacher!

Join us for an electrifying night of hockey as the UNH Wildcats take on the Boston University Terriers at the Whittemore Center in Durham, NH. On January 17th at 7pm, witness the speed, the shots, and the saves in a high-stakes matchup that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or looking for an exciting night out, this is an event you won't want to miss. Get your tickets today and be part of the action!

Hill Library Youth Programs

Registration for the January-February session of Library Club opens December 16! Email cbeihl.hl@gmail.com to get on the Library Club email list. We have some fun and festive events happening next week, make sure to check them out below!

Mark your calendars for the Winter Reading Program at Hill Library! From January 6-February 15 we'll log our reading and get a special bead to add to our keychain each week. We'll celebrate the end of the program on Wednesday, February 19 with a Hot Cocoa Party!

Upcoming Events at Hill Library

Polar Bear Party

Wednesday, December 18

3:30pm-5pm

Drop in for some fun polar bear crafts and games!

The 2025 EngineerGirl Writing Contest opened in September with the theme of “Innovating Smarter.” Students are being asked to write a piece describing a common object they would make “smart” and describe what it would do, how it would help individuals and what could go wrong. The contest is open to all students in grades 3-12.

The deadline is Feb. 1.