March 2024 District Newsletter
Barrington School District
March 28, 2024
Hello Barrington Families;
Thank you for your ongoing show of support for our students, staff, facilities and future of our community. Voters turned out on March 12th in record numbers and once again supported our District proposed operating budget and warrant articles. As a result of this approved budget, the District will be seeking the following positions for the 2024/25 school year:
Director of Operations
School Counselor for the Early Childhood Learning Center
Classroom Teacher at the Elementary School
Speech/Language Assistant for ECLC and BES
60% District-Wide Nurse
As many of you may know, the hiring climate in public education is a bit tricky these days. There are many areas of certification that remain on the critical shortage area list at the NH Department of Education such as math, science and special education with more specialities being added every day. Barrington is not insulated from these hiring struggles. We have posted all of our currently available positions and are hopeful as the application packets arrive at the District office. Please reach out to folks that you may know who work in education and send them our way. Barrington is truly a fabulous place to work!
Residency Verification Reminder
On December 5, 2023 the School Board Updated Policy JFA - Residency. The District will be requiring proof of residency at the following intervals:
- Upon enrollment in the District
- Prior to the completion of 4th grade
- Prior to the completion of 8th grade
- Annually during each year of high school
We have already requested this information from our current 8th graders. Thank you to everyone who has sent in the completed documentation. Reminders have been sent out twice to the remaining 8th grade families. We are nearing 100% compliance and I thank you. For the few of you who have yet to complete your residency verification, please get this information to us ASAP as your child’s enrollment in high school is not secured until this paperwork is received and the high school assignment form is sent to the appropriate high school. The District reserves the right to deny your child’s entrance into high school without this documentation.
Fourth grade families, please complete this residency Affidavit and Bus Form prior to June 3, 2024 and return to Ms. Christine Cyr at the School District office. This can be delivered in a variety of ways.
Good old fashioned USPS: Attention Christine Cyr, 572 Calef Highway.
Scan to an email: ccyr@sau74.org
Drop off at the District office (we will make copies for you and print the residency packet if needed 😃).
Leave in the drop box to the right of the doors at the District office.
Send the completed packet into school with your child and the school’s main office will deliver the packet to the District office.
COVID and Other Respiratory Illness Update
Given the recent changes by the CDC regarding COVID protocols the District updated its Return to School Plan for the 2023/24 school year as of March 4, 2024.
The Barrington School District returned to school in the fall of 2023 with full in person learning utilizing the guidelines set forth by the CDC. As of today Monday, March 4, 2024, the Barrington School District will employ the following guidelines as recently updated by the CDC.
The CDC currently states that people with COVID-19 no longer have to isolate for 5 days if they are showing certain signs of improvement.
People who become sick with a respiratory virus should “stay home and away from others” but can “return to normal activities” if, for at least 24 hours, their symptoms have been improving and any fever that was present has been gone without the use of fever-reducing medication. The new guidance pertains not only to COVID-19 but also to other respiratory
diseases, including influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
Please refer to the CDC website for additional details.
Mitigation Measures:
• Focus on hand hygiene routines, especially during key times in the day (before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after recess).
• Continue with enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols for all school facilities and school buses.
• Continue to optimize air handling and ventilation practices, which includes increased outside air intake and improved air filtration through ionization systems.
• Do not enter school facilities if you are sick or have symptoms. Contact your school nurse if you need assistance.
School Nurse Contact Information:
ECLC: Kathryn Cunningham, RN kacunningham@sau74.org 603-664-5586
BES: Dee Swain, RN dswain@sau74.org 603-664-2641
BMS: Elizabeth Escabi, RN eescabi@sau74.org 603-664-2127
District: Regina Bowley, Asst. rbowley@sau74.org 603-664-2127
Repeated Information:
Calendar Updates
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Excitedly, this is predicted to be seen best a bit north of us sometime between 3:19pm and close to 4pm. The Barrington School District will remain in session on April 8th for a full school day with a BES PTO sponsored watch party after school hours. You of course have the flexibility to either call your child in absent for the day or dismiss him/her early. This will be recorded as an excused absence for this day. Exciting stuff!
For short term planning purposes: At the December 19, 2023 School Board meeting the following 2023-24 School Calendar adjustments were made:
May 24, 2024: This is now a FULL regular school day for students and staff. No longer an Early Release.
The last day of school will also be a FULL school day. The last day of school is currently Friday, June 14, 2024 with the 8th Grade Celebration being held on Thursday, June 13th.
For long term planning purposes : Here is the Approved 24-25 District Calendar .
Scholarships
I am excited to share that we have compiled an extensive scholarship packet this year! If your child is a senior please make sure that you look through this packet carefully and encourage your child to submit as many as they can. It amazes me every year that so few students take advantage of these opportunities. Every penny counts!
Additionally, for Junior boys, check out the opportunity for Boy’s State. If selected to attend, there are additional scholarship opportunities available. It is a wonderful program if your child has any interest in government or politics. My oldest son attended and he came home bursting with a wealth of information and experiences. Here are links to the Application and Program Flyer.
Lastly, please consider participating in the Peeper Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 4th. This wonderfully attended event is being expanded this year to include so many activities for the family that you can make it into a day long outing. Proceeds from this event also fund Scholarships for Barrington families and Chamber Members. So, strap on your walking or running shoes and hit the 5K approved race or just stop in to cheer us on and participate in some community fun. We hope to see you there!
Greetings Barrington Families,
The following is the Breakfast, Lunch and Milk cost for the 2023-2024 school year:
We have a new menu website: https://www.fdmealplanner.com/#Barrington
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT MONTH. New menus are posted beginning in April.
Breakfast:
$2.00 Regular
Reduced rate- Free
Lunch:
$3.25 Regular
$.40 Reduced rate
Milk:
$.65
Best,
Sue Williams
Food Service Director
Fresh Picks Cafe
Barrington School District SAU74