No School October 9-12, 2026
Oyster River staff, parents, and guardians can also view this newsletter in ParentSquare (account required).
As we begin the 2026-2027 school year, I am honored to serve as Interim Superintendent of the Oyster River Cooperative School District. As a longtime Oyster River community member and educator, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside our students, staff, families, and community partners in support of a strong educational experience for every learner.
Oyster River holds a special place in my heart, and I look forward to building on the outstanding work already underway across our schools. Together, we will continue to foster a district grounded in trust, respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to student success. I invite you to join me in celebrating the start of a successful year ahead.
This Oyster River Connection newsletter marks the beginning of a monthly communication that I look forward to sharing throughout the school year, providing updates on our schools, celebrating successes, and highlighting the work happening across the district.
Respectfully,
Suzanne Filippone
Interim Superintendent
2026-2027 Back-to-School Information
The first day of school for students of all grade levels is Monday, August 31, 2026.
Thank you to all parents and guardians who completed their student(s)' forms in our PowerSchool parent portal.
If you have not yet completed your forms, please log in and submit them as soon as possible. A significant number of student forms remain incomplete, and this information is essential for finalizing transportation services and bus routes for the start of the school year.
We expect bus route information to be available at the end of next week. Completing your student's required forms promptly helps ensure that transportation assignments are accurate and available on schedule.
Please contact our Transportation Department at 603-868-1610 if you have any questions related to transportation.
Important: Updated Link to Access PowerSchool
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Starting August 19, 2026, all Oyster River parents and guardians must use an updated link to access PowerSchool. This update was made to enhance the security and maintenance of confidential student information throughout the district.
New PowerSchool link for parents and guardians: https://orcsd.powerschool.com/public/
Your username and password remain the same. If you do not remember your login information, please contact your school’s front office.
Our parent portal remains open to allow those who have not completed their student’s back-to-school forms by the August 18 deadline.
Your student’s information is critical for planning districtwide bus routes. If you have not already completed your student's forms, please use this new link to complete them today.
Every Day Counts
One of the strongest predictors of student success is being present at school. Each day, students engage in discussions, collaborative activities, hands-on learning experiences, and relationship-building opportunities that cannot always be replicated through make-up work.
Consistent attendance helps students stay connected to their learning, their teachers, and their peers, while excessive absences can lead to diminished academic performance and missed learning opportunities.
Attendance continues to be a challenge for schools nationwide. Chronically absent students (missing approximately 18 days per year) have surged since the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education reported that national chronic absenteeism was 28% (25% in New Hampshire) during the 2022-2023 school year. Pre-pandemic rates were closer to 15%. National research consistently shows that students who miss substantial amounts of school are more likely to struggle academically and fall behind their peers.
Families play a critical role in supporting strong attendance habits. "Every Day Counts" is a global movement that encourages daily attendance as a priority. As a district, we will be working with students and families to "understand, prevent, and respond" to attendance challenges (OECD, 2026). It may sound simple, but one of the most important things a student can do to support their success is coming to school each day.
Our district leadership team will be examining our policies and informing families about attendance expectations and practices. Our health offices and counseling staff are also key partners for families and students, supporting regular attendance. It is our goal to create a clear understanding of expectations, policies, and procedures while providing a supportive school environment built on positive relationships.
Every day in school is an opportunity to learn, grow, connect, and succeed. When students show up consistently, they are better positioned to take full advantage of all that Oyster River has to offer. Every day counts!
Child Nutrition
Breakfast and lunch menus are developed by our Child Nutrition team with your child's health in mind. We use locally sourced ingredients and update our menus monthly.
Families can apply to our Free and Reduced Meals program in LINQConnect. Instructions are available on the district website.
To continue receiving free or reduced meals for the 2026-2027 school year, your application must be received by October 9, 2026. Applications from previous years cannot be accepted.
Fun fact: Our French toast sticks lunch, served with sausage, hash brown, and orange wedges, is Oyster River students' favorite meal and is on the menu for their very first day of school!
ParentSquare Communications
ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way to connect. Parents and guardians can receive district and school communications via email, text, or in the iOS and Android applications.
A ParentSquare account is automatically created for parents and guardians upon registration using the primary phone number and email as provided in PowerSchool.
New Oyster River families and those who have not yet registered their account can expect to receive a ParentSquare communication inviting them to do so next week.
We encourage you to register your account and customize your notification settings. Account registration instructions are available here.
Orientation and Information Sessions
Oyster River schools are hosting orientation and information sessions for families. Please contact your school's front office for additional information.
Mast Way School:
- Kindergarten: August 27, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
- Grades 1-2: August 28, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
- Grades 3-4: August 28, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Moharimet School:
- Kindergarten: August 27, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
- Grades 1-4: Teachers will share additional information with families.
Oyster River Middle School:
- New students orientation: August 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- 5th Grade: August 27, 5:30 -6:30 p.m.
Oyster River High School:
- Freshmen Orientation: August 26, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Planned Fall School Closures
All Oyster River schools will be closed on:
- September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
- September 8 for the primary election.
- October 9 for a teacher workshop day.
- October 12 in observance of Columbus Day.
- November 3 for a teacher workshop day.
- November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
- November 25-27 in observance of Thanksgiving.
Our 2026-2027 school year calendar is available on the district's Calendar page.
Did You Know..?
Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) was founded in 1954 and is one of the oldest cooperative districts in the state. From a small beginning, serving 661 students in one facility, the district has grown to just over 2,100 students and four schools.
While the district is made up of three separate towns, it is a single political unit that operates under the rules of RSA 40:13. This means that the district votes by official ballot rather than the traditional "town meeting" form of government. Registered voters in the three communities of Durham, Lee, and Madbury make up the legislative body that elects a seven-member school board to govern the district.
School Board Information
The ORCSD School Board meets twice a month, typically on Wednesdays. The full meeting schedule is available online. Meetings are live-streamed on our ORCSD Streaming YouTube channel, and archived meeting videos are made available on our ORCSD Video channel. Meeting minutes are published on our Agendas & Minutes page.
Contact Information
SAU Office
- 603-868-5100
Mast Way School
- 603-659-3001
Moharimet School
- 603-742-2900
Oyster River Middle School
- 603-868-2820
Oyster River High School
- 603-868-2375