Principal's Message... August Greeting!

Posted Date: 08/07/26 (05:44 PM)

Dear Lancaster Families,

Welcome to August! My name is Laura Livie, and I am the returning principal (year #3) at Lancaster Elementary School. I hope our new and returning Lancaster families have had a wonderful summer filled with relaxation, outdoor fun, and memorable adventures.

As the new school year approaches, I am thrilled for what promises to be another incredible year at Lancaster. We are so fortunate to have a welcoming community of dedicated educators, caring parents, and supportive partners—all working together for our students. Our kids are the inspiration behind everything we do, motivating us to design creative, engaging lessons that spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.

We have a new addition to our playground… a front fence! This will keep playground balls contained and provide a visual guide for students to know where the playground begins & ends.

A blue arrow with the text 'new fence!' points towards a fenced-in playground and basketball court.
We believe strong communication is key to a successful school year. Here are a few important updates as we prepare to reopen:

Primary Contact: Your child’s classroom teacher is your main point person. Teachers return to the building on August 27th for training and preparation. You will be able to meet your child's teacher on August 31st.
Stay Informed: We will share regular updates regarding activities, policies, and student progress.
ParentSquare: This is our primary platform for all school-to-home communication. Please ensure your account is set up so you don't miss key announcements. You can read about ParentSquare and learn how to download the app if you visit https://sau57.org/parentsquare. ParentSquare can also be accessed via a web portal https://parentsquare.com.

Once the school year starts, I usually send out a weekly update regarding all the happenings at Lancaster School. Trust me, my newsletters won’t always be this long! 🙂 Please feel free to reach out to the school with any questions or to update any contact information. The main office number is 603-893-7059, or I can be reached at laura.livie@sau57.org.

Parents sometimes have questions about school supplies that might be needed. You do not need to purchase any school supplies, as our classrooms are equipped with all the supplies your child needs. Parents only need to provide a backpack, a water bottle, and a snack. We have some extra backpacks available for FREE, and you’re welcome to pick one up at the Ice Cream Social.

Attached is the district year-long calendar. It’s helpful to add these dates onto your family calendar to keep track of important days… school vacation days, early release days, etc. Below are a few important dates for you to start adding to your busy calendars:

Invitation to 'Popsicles on the Playground' event for Lancaster kindergarten families on August 17.

PTA Popsicles on the Playground- Monday, August 17th 6:00-7:00 PM This is for the families of INCOMING kindergarten and incoming 1st grader students (K Graduates). Please join us at Lancaster for just some good ole’ fashioned playground fun. Kids get a chance to play with their new classmates and enjoy some yummy popsicles.

Class Lists Posted- Friday, August 28th at 3:00 PM Class lists with teacher names will be posted on our front doors around 3:00 PM. I will also send a message on ParentSquare. You’ll be able to find your child’s class list on the Lancaster website using that secure link. This is helpful if you’re on vacation or unable to come to Lancaster to see your child’s class list & teacher name. FYI- until class lists are posted, there will still be adjustments made to class lists, as students move in and out of the district. They are not finalized quite yet. I know, it’s so hard to wait! 🙂

Meet the Teachers & PTA Ice Cream Social- Monday, August 31st

FIRST… Meet the Teachers & drop into your new classroom (5:30-6:00 PM): All students (grades K-5) & families can drop in to see their new classrooms… this is NEW this year! We are hoping this will help ease any worries or jitters during the transition to a new grade. The classrooms will NOT be fully set up yet, as they are still be a work in progress. Teachers are balancing district training with time to set up their classrooms before school starts. This drop-in is a good time to meet the teacher, see classmates, and get a general orientation to where their new classroom will be. Teachers won’t be doing any presentations or providing parents with materials… yet. This will occur during our Open House Night on Wednesday, September 16th. See below.
THEN… PTA Ice Cream Social (6:00-7:00 PM) At this time, everyone will head to the playground for the Ice Cream Social. The building will be closed except bathroom use. All ice cream will be donated by Pica’s! We’ll have a big thank you card on hand for students to sign. 🙂

First Day of School- Wednesday, September 2nd for all students. Students can begin arriving at 8:30 and begin entering the building at 8:45am. Please do not arrive prior to 8:30 as there is no supervision available. School Hours are 9:00-3:00. More information to come regarding buses, parent drop-off & pick-up, walkers, bike riders, etc.

Labor Day Holiday / No School- Monday, September 7th

Clix School Picture Day- Wednesday, September 16th (more information will come once school starts.)

Lancaster Open House- Wednesday, September 16th for parents and guardians only. This night provides the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and learn about curriculum, procedures, and activities for the upcoming school year. This is an evening for caregivers only and children do not attend. There are two time blocks to alleviate parking congestion:

5:30-6:00- grades 3-5

6:15-6:45- grades K-2

Early Release- Wednesday, September 23rd- 1:30 Dismissal for all students

Salem Scramble- Saturday, September 26th

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PTA Corner:

We have a new PTA board this year! Thank you all for stepping up to serve Lancaster students and inspire fun experiences. Lancaster Elementary School PTA Board for 2026-2027, featuring President Lisa Dedo, Vice President Ashley Alvaranga, Treasurer Kaila Carol, and Secretary Jennifer Nelson.
Our first PTA Meeting will be the Tuesday after Labor Day, September 8th at 6:00-7:00 PM in the library. These monthly meetings are the time parents gather to plan fun activities, determine volunteer needs, and brainstorm ideas for the year. If you want to meet other parents, being involved in the PTA is a great way to kick off the year.

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My husband, Rob, and I are heading to Ogunquit for a long beach weekend to soak up the last bit of summer. With our three kids now young adults, our beach trips are a lot quieter—and involve far less sand tracked into the car! For everyone currently in the thick of parenting little ones, embrace the silly, chaotic, and unpredictable moments. It really does go by in a flash!

A smiling man and woman stand together in front of a black curtain, with red chairs and a sofa visible in the background. Here’s to a memorable 2026-2027 school year!

Laura Livie, Principal