^{Dear Families,}

^{Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic GeoBee. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, inspire and reward students' curiosity about the world, and increase public awareness about geography. Students in grades four through eight (4-8) compete for a chance to win college scholarships and the glory of being the National Geographic GeoBee Champion. Earlier this winter we announced the winners and runners up for our Clark-Wilkins GeoBee. Our champion, Hazel Schuft, moved on to the next level of competition and is now competing with the other NH state finalists on Friday, March 29th at Keene State College. Hazel is one of only four fourth-grade students that has made it this far, and she will be 1 of 100 students competing in Keene. Please join me in wishing Hazel all the luck in the world (pun intended) as she faces her fellow competitors in this year’s State Championship round! Go Hazel!}

^{Second trimester report cards will go home with all students on Friday, March 25th, and parents can communicate directly with teachers if questions about grades or comments exist. As we progress through the final trimester of the school year, our third and fourth graders will prepare for the “SAS”—the state-wide assessment in language arts and mathematics, which will be administered in early May. Our kindergarten, first, and second grade students will participate in a third round of NWEA testing in May. The results of NWEA assessments help to inform teacher instruction and academic groupings.}

^{Some families will receive letters in report card envelopes expressing our concern about frequent absences or excessive tardiness, which research has shown can inhibit a student’s success and progress at school. We also recognize that many families and children have experienced illnesses that prevent children from attending school as often as we all would like. The more regularly each child attends school and can be present for instruction, the more likely that child is to progress in all areas: social, academic, and emotional.}

^{Have a wonderful weekend.}

^{Respectfully submitted by}

^{Nicola Fraley, Principal}