No School November 27-29, 2024
Superintendent
For information on Superintendent Shaps' entry plan, please visit our Entry Plan page.
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps
Updated: November 13, 2024
November 13, 2024
Dear Oyster River Students, Staff, Parents, Caregivers, and Community Members,
The cold weather upon us is a reminder that inclement weather will be soon inevitable. Weather conditions can change quickly in New England, making inclement weather decisions so difficult to make.
My goal is to make all decisions related to delayed starts, school closures, and remote learning no later than 6:00 a.m. I do so after careful review of weather and road conditions, conversations with our Transportation team and superintendents from surrounding areas.
Notifications will be sent in ParentSquare as soon as the decision is made.
When it’s time to make a weather call, there are three options.
- Delayed starts: We use delayed starts when the weather is predicted to thaw or improve by mid-morning. When school is delayed, we operate on a two-hour delay and morning PEP is cancelled.
- Snow days: We use snow days for predicted heavy snow events. During a snow day, school is cancelled. All Oyster River schools, and the SAU office will be closed.
- Remote learning: While we will prepare students and staff for the option to pivot to remote learning, for the first part of winter, we will limit inclement weather decisions to delayed starts and cancellations.
In the event of a delay or cancellation, we will evaluate safety and road conditions for the possibility of conducting after school and evening activities.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools
Previous Communications
To view and read Superintendent Shaps' previous messages, please select from the options below.
September 26, 2024
Dear Oyster River Families,
It’s been exciting to visit our schools the last few weeks. As a new superintendent, it’s important for me to observe the teaching and learning happening across the district firsthand and I will continue to make scheduled classroom visits each month. I truly enjoy the opportunity to see teachers working with students and getting a sense of the instruction going on in our classrooms.
Fall is an exciting time of the year with so many activities and events. I encourage you to come cheer on our student athletes and, as we move closer to concert season, please keep an eye on our calendar of events.
I continue my Community Conversations focus group series on October 3 at Moharimet School. Middle school parents and caregivers were invited to partake on September 24, and I will meet with high school parents and caregivers on October 8.
On October 10, I warmly invite all families and community members to attend our Community Dinner at the Oyster River Middle School. Kindly RSVP by October 8 so our Child Nutrition team can prepare enough food for everyone.
Representatives of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force will visit us on October 28 and offer a free Internet and Digital Safety presentation. This event is open to adults only as it’s not suitable for students and will include a demonstration with K-9 Niko who is New Hampshire's first Electronic Storage Detection K-9.
During the months of October and December we will offer Inclusive Connections, two new event series designed to create support spaces for the parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ and multicultural youth.
At the most recent school board meeting, Director of Student Services Catherine Plourde and DEIJ Director Rachael Blansett presented their goals and work plans for the 2024-2025 school year. I will continue to report on our progress in the coming months.
Lastly, I wish to extend my warm congratulations to Oyster River High School class of 1992 alum Scott Poteet. Mr. Poteet was Polaris Dawn’s mission pilot and took part in the first-ever commercial spacewalk mission.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools
Dear Oyster River Families,
It's been a great start to the school year. A lot of energy, excitement, and joy in our schools. It has been a great opportunity to visit classrooms, to have conversations with educators, and get a sense of the rhythm of our school day. Please read on for some updates and reminders.
9/10 is a Teacher Workshop Day
All Oyster River schools will be closed Tuesday, September 10, for a Teacher Workshop Day.
Community Conversations Focus Groups
I am excited to begin our four-part Community Conversations next week with parents and guardians. These sessions are designed for us to engage in conversations about a range of educational topics and to hear your feedback about what you hope for and would like to see in our schools.
2024-2025 Work Plan
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to work with our administrators to present our 2024-2025 work plan to the school board. You may view the presentation here (starts at 38:38 minutes). We presented a set of initiatives and goals that really focus on targeted areas and instructional practices across our elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. We look forward to updating the community on our collective work in the spring.
Transportation and Safety
Our Transportation Department is working hard to make sure students arrive and leave school on time. We thank you for your patience and invite you to view our Transportation Safety video. We anticipate experiencing challenges throughout the month of September and until the ongoing roadwork concludes in Durham.
Overall, I'm really pleased with this start of the school year. The weather has been wonderful, and I look forward to providing more updates soon.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools
Dear Oyster River Families,
As we are kicking off another school year, I wanted to take a moment to share some important updates and extend a warm welcome to all our students, parents, guardians, and staff.
I am excited to announce the launch of a new initiative called Community Conversations. This series of four focus groups is designed to foster open dialogue and explore a range of educational topics that will help us identify important themes.
Elementary school parents and guardians are invited to join us on either September 11 or October 3
- September 11, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Mast Way School (Commons)
- October 3, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Moharimet School (Café)
Middle school parents and guardians:
- September 24, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Oyster River Middle School (Learning Commons)
High school parents and guardians:
- October 8, 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Oyster River High School (MPR)
For those who have not yet completed the registration process, please do so in PowerSchool as soon as possible. Ensuring that all paperwork is up to date will help us provide the best possible support and resources for your child(ren). If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact your school’s front office.
Our bus routes are available online. Please note that bus routes are subject to change at any time and are currently changing daily based on student enrollment.
Barrington bus routes are managed by Dail Transportation. You may contact Route Coordinator Ginger McHugh at gmchugh@sau74.org with any questions.
Due to the extensive ongoing road work projects in Durham, we have prepared a transportation and safety video for middle and high school families. I encourage you to take a few minutes to view this video, as it contains essential information to ensure the safety of students.
The ORCSD School Board and Administration made good use of the summer months to plan for the upcoming year, set priorities, and identify future challenges. The highlight of my summer was meeting with our administrative team and getting to know staff to prepare for a smooth opening of the schools.
As an incoming leader, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and partnership. Thank you for being a part of our Oyster River family.
Respectfully,
Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools