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Dear Newmarket parents, caregivers, teachers, students, and community members,
The opening of school every year is an exciting time for all involved. Fall 2024 is no exception. I just attended the 6th and 9th grade orientation events today at NJSHS. It was great to see students' smiling, happy faces back in the building after summer break. Student-athletes at the high school level begin the fall season today (August 19th), and it will be a matter of days before our athletes are back in action. NES and NJSHS will soon be abuzz with the daily energy of students and staff getting back into the school routine.
Our educators officially return on Thursday, August 22nd. I use the term “officially” because many educators have actively engaged in professional development and curriculum planning throughout the summer. More than 60 Newmarket teachers spent time this summer engaged in work to help us prepare for our students’ return. Over the summer, teachers have been engaged in planning to support our school growth plans. Teachers have been planning for the implementation of our new K-5 literacy program, working to strengthen math instruction at all levels, collaborative planning with our new middle school teams, and curriculum development across all content areas. Our educators have had a very productive summer.
Newmarket will welcome students back on Tuesday, August 27th. If you haven’t already, you will hear from Principal Pine and Principal Korman with specific information about school opening at NES and NJSHS. This letter aims to welcome everyone back and share thoughts on the new school year.
We hired several high-quality staff over the summer to fill vacancies across the school district. I have observed that this year’s hiring process has seen a noticeable increase in the number of people applying to job postings who say that they are not actively looking for a job but are applying because the position is in Newmarket. There is a positive buzz about the development of the Newmarket School District in the region. Our high school’s US News and World Report ranking as best in the seacoast region for 2024 certainly helped promote this impression. Unsurprisingly, good people want to work in organizations seen as up-and-coming. The work we have done as a district in the last few years to create a common vision of who we want to be is taking hold and people outside of Newmarket are noticing.
One other thing helping to create positive buzz in Newmarket is the fact that both of our schools have collaboratively developed growth plans that focus on school improvement efforts. In July, both school’s growth plans were shared with and approved by the School Board. At NJSHS, the growth plan is tied to the work the staff has been doing to align efforts with NEASC Accreditation standards. This has been an ongoing staff-driven effort for the last few years. At NES, staff spent much of the 2023-2024 school year developing their plan. Both plans highlight the importance of a coherent curriculum, age-appropriate structures to support student growth, and the value of collaborative decision-making models. Ultimately, Newmarket Schools aspire to provide a supportive learning environment for our students and staff. The growth plans provide a pathway to make our aspirations a reality for our students and staff.
As we launch the 2024-2025 school year, there is a lot of optimism around the Newmarket School District. The progress we've made and the plans we've set in motion fill us with hope and excitement for what the future holds. I am excited about the journey ahead and its positive impact on our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Todd Allen
Newmarket Superintendent of Schools