Welcome Back to School!

Students and Families,

We are excited to welcome all of you to the 2025-2026 school year. We are especially looking forward to welcoming our incoming 5th graders and other new students to our school community. We hope that you will join us between 3:30 and 5:00 on Tuesday, September 2 for our “Back to School Celebration Night.” Students and families can pick up schedules, tour our building and meet their teachers before we officially begin our first day of school on Thursday, September 4.

Below, you will find some information about the start of the school year. We would also encourage you to visit our school website, throughout the year to stay informed regarding activities and resources that are available at Parkside. You can also follow us on social media (Facebook: The Middle School at Parkside, Instagram: Parkside_Knights, Twitter/X: @ParksideKnights).

If at any time during the school year you have a concern regarding your child, we encourage you to contact the classroom teacher first. If you still need assistance, please contact the school counselor or an administrator immediately to share your concerns.

Thank you,
The Parkside Staff

Tours for New Students
We have several opportunities over the next few weeks for new students to tour the building and ask any questions they might have about Parkside. Please join us at one of the sessions by arriving at the school at one of the times below.

• Monday 8/11 9:30 AM

• Tuesday 8/19 6:00 PM

• Wednesday 8/27 1:00 PM

Back to School Night: Tuesday, September 2 from 3:30-5:00 PM
Join us for a night of fun before we kick off the school year. Pick up your schedules, tour the school and meet your teachers.

Aspen is an important tool for tracking a student's academic progress in each of their classes. Parents can sign up for family accounts by clicking on this link.

Schedules will be posted in Aspen by Friday, August 22. Families and students can access their schedule through the Aspen portal after that time. We will also have copies of schedules available for pickup during our “Back to School Night.”

Note: Schedules might change before the first day of school. All students will get a final printed schedule during homeroom on the first day of school.

Showing up to school everyday is critical for all students' well being, engagement and learning. We want to ensure that as many of our students as possible are attending school everyday. Make sure to send children to school if they are generally health and well and able to participate in usual day-to-day activities.

Last year, 69% of Parkside students attended school for 90% of all school days (less than 18 absences). This year our goal is for 74% of students to attend school 90% or more of all school days. This goal is important because reducing the number of students who are chronically absent will help improve outcomes and lead to more academic success for these students.

Chronic absenteeism is missing so much school for any reason that a student is academically at risk. This means if a student misses 18 days or more for any reason they are considered chronically absent. Missing school and class time is detrimental to a student's own learning and can often be a distraction from the learning of others.

If you are worried about your child's school attendance please talk with one of your child's teachers, their school counselor, our social worker or an administrator.

Students’ usage of their cell phones is a distraction from their education and is a disruption to our learning environment. New Hampshire recently passed a law stating that students are prohibited from using cell phones or any personal communication devices (including smartwatches) during the instructional day—from the first bell to the last. This “bell to bell” ban is a statewide mandate and applies to all public schools in New Hampshire. The goal of this legislation is to support focused learning environments, minimize distractions, and promote positive engagement during the school day.

The expectation at our middle schools is that when a student enters the building, their phone, airpods/bluetooth headphones, smart watches and other personal electronic devices are to be turned off and put away from 7:20 to 2:20. They will not be allowed out on desks or tables. The school is not responsible for any of these items brought to school.

Students may only use district chromebooks during class time, provided the teacher has authorized this use. Hard-wired headphones may be connected to chromebooks, provided the teacher has granted permission. 

In the event a student is observed using an unauthorized electronic device at school the following steps will be taken:

First Offense- The teacher will instruct the student to hand the device into the office. The teacher will contact the parents/guardians. The student will be able to pick the device up from the main office at the end of the school day.
Second Offense-  The teacher will instruct the student to hand the device into the office. The teacher will contact the parents/guardians. The device will be returned to the parents/guardians. 
Third Offense- The teacher will instruct the student to hand the device into the office. The device will be returned to the parents/guardians. The parent/guardians will be notified and the student will be required to drop their device off in the office each day. 

Subsequent Offense - The student may be issued administrative detention, in-school or out-of-school suspension.

If students refuse to follow these expectations their parent/guardian will be required to come in and meet with an administrator and their child. While we understand this may disrupt a parent or guardian’s day, cell phone usage in school is an enormous disruption to your child's daily education. 

Families are asked not to call or send text messages to students during regular school hours. If an emergency should arise, please call the main office at 603-624-6356. If a student needs to make an emergency call they may use the phone in the classroom or have a pass to use the phone in the office. 

Please see this website from the New Hampshire Department of Education for more information on the impact of social media and cell phones on young people. 

We recommend that students wait until they meet their teams and teachers to purchase all of their school supplies. Here is a link to the district website with general school supplies listed for those looking to get started on purchasing some of the basics.

We have new backpacks filled with school supplies available to students who need them. They can be picked up during during the Back to School Night. You can also ask your school counselor or social worker when school starts.

Your student’s first class starts promptly at 7:25AM and our doors open at 7:20AM. Breakfast service begins at 7:00AM. Do not drop your student off before 7:00AM as there will not be staff available to supervise them. As students arrive at Parkside they will proceed to the following areas:

5th and 6th Grade: Rear addition and modular entrance
7th and 8th Grade: Cafeteria Double Doors (basketball court)

Students MUST arrive by 7:20 to ensure they get to their first class on time. Students arriving after 7:25 are tardy and must check in at the main office.

Classes end at 2:20. Bus students will be dismissed first followed by walkers and riders. Students can't access the basketball court or playground until 2:55PM after Gossler's dismissal. Students picking up siblings at Gossler will be supervised in the Parkside cafeteria until Gossler's dismissal time.

Please be patient as traffic is particularly challenging the first few days of school as students learn their routine and bus information. Parents should not use Parkside or Gossler's parking lot to pick up students. We recommend that parents picking up their student in a car wait until 2:25 to attempt to come down Parkside Ave. We also recommend waiting on one of the adjacent streets and having your student walk to you. Parents walking with their students are welcome to wait near the exit closest to their student’s grade level.

Please refer to this map for visuals of where students can be when waiting after school.

Assistant Principal (Grades 7 and 8): Salvador Becerra sbeccera@mansd.org, Phone Ext: 27011 Assistant Principal (Grades 5 and 6): TBD, Phone Ext: 27012
Assistant Principal for Special Services: Jennifer Harrises jharrises@mansd.org, Phone Ext: 27013 Principal: Scott Szuksta sszuksta@mansd.org, Phone Ext: 27010

Email: Parkside@mansd.org
Website: parkside.mansd.org
Location: 75 Parkside Avenue, Manchester, NH, USA
Phone: 603-624-6356
Facebook: facebook.com/TheMiddleSchoolatParkside
Instagram: Parkside_Knights
X/Twitter: @ParksideKnights