October 19, 2022 Dear Parents, Over the next week, we are going to begin our ALICE intruder training with our students. Grades K-5 will learn the program through an age appropriate approach using the picture book, "I'm Not Scared... I'm Prepared!" and will complete age appropriate activities surrounding this topic. Grades 6-7 will be viewing a training video in place of the picture book as it is more age appropriate. It is vital that our students are prepared in the event of an intruder in our school. This is a very tough topic to have to go over with our students. Our teachers will be doing it in an age appropriate way and will work hard to diminish any worries that students may have. As a parent, you can reassure your child that it is important to be prepared, however the chances of this happening are extremely low. Here are some helpful links: https://youtu.be/dRTIpMft_u8 (for parent viewing) https://www.amazon.com/Im-Not-Scared-Prepared/dp/1937870286 (the picture book) https://youtu.be/f1dBZrGZDU0 (elementary level students) https://vimeo.com/83796609 (middle level students) Please contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you, Matthew Castonguay Superintendent/Director

October 17, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians, Attached is a copy of the i-Ready Testing Schedule. Our Grades 6 & 7 students will begin tomorrow. Also, a message from our PTO regarding popcorn: "We hope everyone enjoyed the 1st Popcorn Friday last week. There are some adjustments to be made, but overall we heard great feedback about it! If paying in cash, money will now be due on Thursday. Please send in $1 if paying by cash NO LATER than Thursday. This week is the last week to prepay online Sales will be shut off Thursday night. Below is the link. If paying for more than one child, please add one child at a time. Do not change the quantity or put multiple names in the field. Popcorn Friday! | windham-academy. If anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out to WA PTO. We are more than happy to assist. Thank you!" Sincerely, Matthew Castonguay Superintendent/Director

October 14, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians, There is misinformation being spread regarding a recent scan of our internet firewall in which we learned it was not working properly. This issue was brought up at Wednesday Night's Board Meeting by an independent IT company that we have been consulting with. First thing on Thursday Morning, I personally sat with our in house IT support and turned on internet blocking for all student Chromebooks. We have since allowed only specific websites that students need to access during the school day to be accessible. For extra precaution, until we receive a new firewall installed, we have blocked everything on our network and are allowing specific websites only. Staff was alerted before school began on Thursday, telling them to not allow Chromebook usage by our students while we were addressing this problem. By mid-morning (10am), we had the issue resolved and students were able to access Chromebooks again - safely. I hope to see you at tomorrow's Fall Festival! Thank you for your continued support of our wonderful school! Sincerely, Matthew Castonguay

Dear Parents/Guardians, I have decided that WA will not be issuing Term 1 Progress Reports due to the changes to our curriculum and the continued benchmarking of students being conducted. There will be Progress Reports in Terms 2, 3, and 4. Teachers have been asked to contact any parents/guardians by this upcoming week if a student is struggling in class. Report Card grades should never be a surprise. Here is an outline of the end of Term 1: 11/1 - Last day of Term 1 11/2 - First day of Term 2 (through 1/18/23) 11/8 - Report Cards issued during Parent Teacher Conferences or on 11/9 if a parent does not come to PTC. Thank you, Matthew Castonguay Superintendent/Director

There is no school tomorrow, Friday, October 7, 2022. We will see our students back next week on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 as Monday is a holiday! :)

Please read the attached letter regarding our new Foreign Language teacher at Windham Academy!

Please read the attached letter to parents and guardians from Mr. Castonguay. Thank you!

Here is Mr. Castonguay's latest Smore for Parents and Guardians: https://www.smore.com/ek1uq

Dear Parents, Please read this important introduction to PickUp Patrol, our new program that we will be using at Windham Academy. Thank you, Mr. Castonguay

https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/screamfest

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED AND HELPED AT THE GOLF TOURNAMENT!!! IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!! :) :) :) Parent Coffee is this Wednesday, September 28th at 10am. All parents/guardians are invited! To help us choose an appropriate space, please RSVP no later than Tuesday at 3pm if you plan on attending. Thank you so much!! Here is the link: https://forms.gle/Cj4VHC6ZV3XkrfNE9 School Picture Day is this Friday! Students do not have to wear their uniform on Friday. Please click here for additional information: 3. A message from our PTO: Fall Festival Signups!!! WA PTO would love it if you could assist us in prepping for the Fall Festival. There are a few signups listed below that we need you for. Volunteer and Cookoff Contest Signup – [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B45ACAB2AA2FD0-fall](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B45ACAB2AA2FD0-fall) Items for the Fall Festival Signup – [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B45ACAB2AA2FD0-fall1](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B45ACAB2AA2FD0-fall1) If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to anyone on PTO. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Make sure to join the Windham Academy PTO Page for up to date information. Thank you to all for making our first month of school a gigantic success!!! My best, Matt Castonguay

Ordering for October begins on Friday, September 23, 2022 for all menus: