Paraeducator Series with Jeanine Fitzgerald:
Why Do They Do That?
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NCES is offering an online monthly series for paraeducators focused on the behavior titled, Why Do They Do That?
Everyone misbehaves and misbehavior is not the problem, nor is the person. Behavior is a symptom of an unsolved problem and a form of communication. This series is designed To answer the two most frequently asked questions, “Why do they do that?” And “What do I do when they do that?”
Session topics:
- Turning Misbehavior into a Teachable Moment
- Why Do They Do That?
- Surfing the Emotional Waves
- Draining Off High Intensity Behavior and Emotions
- Not My Opposition
- Brains@Risk
- Freeing Children from Worry
- I Want it NOW!
Cost: Free to paraeducators employed by NCES full and associate member school districts. A school-issued email address must be used during the registration process. This series is exclusively available to districts with active NCES membership for the 2026-27 school year. You can see if your district is a member here. Staff from family serving organizations serving the communities of NCES member districts are also eligible to participate (NHS, FRC, childcare centers, etc).
Dates: Tuesdays September 22, October 20, November 17, December 15,
2026, January 19, February 16, March 16, April 13, 2027
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Location: Online via Zoom
Register: Online or by calling NCES during office hours, 603-466-5437.
 Jeanine K. Fitzgerald draws on more than 35 years of professional experience to empower teachers and parents to achieve more with children “at risk.” With experience as a certified teacher, mental health professional and mother of three grown children, she understands the promise of every child, as well as the diversity of their needs.
As a certified Human Behavior Consultant and Specialist, and Owner of The Fitzgerald Institute of Lifelong Learning, Jeanine specializes in research-based strategies in educational leadership, relationship-building, motivation, preventing the factors that compromise the fulfillment of a child’s maximum potential and implementing positive interventions in “real life” settings. She understands the daily struggles and frustrations of educators and parents, and honors the “hero within” each individual she has the privilege to work along side.
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Teach North: Teacher Internship Support
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North Country Education Services (NCES), with support from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), is offering Teach North: Teacher Internship Support—an initiative designed to support future educators who complete the student teaching internship portion of their degree program at an NCES member school. Complete your student teaching in Northern New Hampshire and receive a $9,000 stipend while exploring the possibility of beginning your teaching career in the region.
Learn more
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Conscious Discipline Series for Educators & Paras
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Conscious Discipline is a social‐emotional learning and classroom management approach. Developed by a teacher for teachers, the philosophy of Conscious Discipline emerged after years of working with children and experiencing the challenges of a broken system full of hurting children and frustrated adults. The methodology and best‐practices of Conscious Discipline offer a different – and proven – pathway to transformation.
Join colleagues for eight (8) online discussions to reflect on the 10-lesson video series, Building Resilient Schools and Homes. The video series is lead by Dr. Becky Bailey, educator, author, and child development expert. Participants will watch the videos on their own and come prepared to discuss and reflect during the following online discussion dates:
Tuesday evenings, 6:30-7:45 PM:
- October 6, 2026
- November 3, 2026
- December 1, 2026
- January 5, 2027
- February 2, 2027
- March 2, 2027
- April 6, 2027
- May 4, 2027
Facilitator: Gretchen Cook
For: Teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school personnel and licensed early childcare providers. Please note that the video content is geared to the elementary grades, but the practices can be applied for any age.
Cost: Free for staff from districts with full membership standing with NCES, $75 for staff from associate membership districts, and $150 for all others. For a list of member districts, visit https://ncedservices.org/membership-status
Register for educator series: Online or call NCES, M-F, 8-4 at 603-466-5437.
Professional Development Hours: For those who actively participate in the online discussions (with camera on), there will be 20 hours awarded,10+ hours for watching the video lessons and 1.25 hours per online discussion participation. You must participate in at least 4 of the online discussions to receive a professional development certificate.
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Conscious Discipline for Parents & Caregivers
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The dates and registration for a 8-evening series in Conscious Discipline for parents and caregivers will be announced soon. This opportunity, free for participants, will be available exclusively to parents and caregivers in school districts with NCES membership for the 2026-2027 school year.
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Community-Based Community of Practice:
Conscious Discipline and Social and Emotional Learning
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When navigating complex challenges and it's easy to feel like you're doing it alone. But you're not. Imagine a space where we come together to share insights, build skills, and support one another through the lens of Conscious Discipline and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). That’s the heart of our Community-Based Community of Practice (CoP).
Research shows that when we feel connected and supported, our resilience grows. Shared experiences and learning in a trusted group not only reduces stress but also strengthens our confidence and capacity.
This CoP is a place to grow, reflect, and co-create change. Together, we’ll explore practical tools and compassionate strategies that build a culture of safety, belonging, and connection for the adults and children in our communities.
For: Educators, paras, and other staff from community- or family-serving organizations in Coos, upper Grafton, or upper Carroll who have participated in Conscious Discipline's Building Resilient Homes & Schools or other multi-session Conscious Discipline training.
Cost: Free
Dates: Third Thursday of the month. Join on months that work for you.
Time: Online from 6:30-7:30 PM
Facilitators: Anne-Marie Gagne, SEL Program Manager, North Country Health Consortium and Crystal Reed, Behavior Intervention Facilitator, Littleton School District
Register: Online or contact Anne-Marie Gagne for more information at agagne@nchcnh.org. Rolling/ongoing registration.
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Exciting Learning Opportunity for Biology Teachers
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BioInteractive is excited to offer a professional development opportunity for high school biology educators in Northern New England.
From Sunlight to ATP: Modeling Energy Flow with HHMI BioInteractive
Where does the energy in a sugar molecule come from, and where does it go when a cell uses it? In this full-day workshop, we will dig into photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and you will leave with a coherent, standards-aligned way to teach them. Along the way, we will tackle the stubborn "energy is made" misconception and weave in literacy strategies that help students read, talk, and write about energy transformations using scientific language. Participants will use free HHMI BioInteractive resources to build models, work with data, and leave with a plan to bring one or more activities into their own classrooms.
Join us for a free, daylong in-person workshop that explores best practices in three-dimensional teaching within a supportive environment that emphasizes student engagement, data literacy, and critical thinking.
Date: Friday, October 9; 8:30AM-2:30PM
Location: North Country Education Services, 300 Gorham Hill Rd, Gorham, NH 03581
For: This workshop is for teachers who teach any level of high school biology and environmental science, including introductory and advanced (AP/IB) courses. Any teacher from New England is welcome (not limited to NCES membership).
Cost: Free. Catering, materials, and parking provided.
Registration: Online
View flyer
BioInteractive is part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a biomedical research organization and philanthropy. This workshop is being offered in collaboration with North Country Education Services and SAU 20. Learn more about BioInteractive
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Financial Education Webinars
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In collaboration with the NH Bankers Association, NH School Administrators Association, and NH Dept. of Health and Human Services, NCDE’s Bank On New Hampshire coalition is offering a series of free financial education webinars for public benefit recipients and those who serve them, current and future K12 educators, workforce development program participants, as well as youths and their parents who are considering how much college debt they can safely take on in light of their career goals.
Each of these webinars is being offered at least twice, once in late mornings and again in the late afternoons, reflecting everyone’s diverse schedules.
You’ll learn about many valuable financial management strategies and free resources, including five-years of free high-speed broadband for families with at least one free/reduced lunch-eligible K12 student, free checking accounts with no insufficient-funds or other fees, and free tax preparation assistance helping you take fullest advantage of child care tax credits and other tax savings.
Series topics:
- Introduction to Banking: Meeting NH’s Banking Leaders
- Personal Budgeting
- Strengthening Your Credit Rating
- Lending
- Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Scams
- Retirement Planning
All sessions are expected to run for one-hour but up to 30 minutes of extra time is set aside for your questions and ideas.
Sessions descriptions, dates, and registration link available on the series flyer.
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Powering Up with Mount Washington Observatory
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This hands-on professional learning workshop, rooted in VEEP/NHEEP’s experiential approach, will demonstrate how energy education can empower student agency for real-world impact. We’ll explore interdisciplinary best practices and systems thinking to integrate authentic, youth-led problem-solving into your curriculum. The session will feature examples on how educators can facilitate, rather than direct, student initiatives. Attendees will experience learning from a student perspective, seeing first hand how learning unfolds. In these trainings, participants will engage with a climate and energy focused anchoring phenomenon and teaching routines to experience the shift from “learning about,” to a more student-driven “figuring out”. We’ll provide guidance on how you can utilize these tools in your classroom. This workshop helps “power up” your existing efforts, equipping students to become active stewards and leaders in their communities.
Date: September 21, 2026 from 8:30-3:30
Location: Mount Washington Observatory Offices, North Conway, NH
For: Open to all educators. $100 stipends available for NH teachers who attend.
Cost: Free for NH and VT educators. Stipends available! There are $100 stipends for K-12 teachers in NH who participate in the day-long version of Powering Up.
More information
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Free Admission to WickedSTEM, September 19th
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Grow Your Future, through Root to Rise
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Root to Rise is a North Country based non-profit connecting and supporting schools, classrooms and farms in various ways. Whether informal farm field trips or long term relationships and curriculum development, these connections are essential in introducing schools to local agriculture and strengthening our communities. In connecting and supporting farmers and teachers, R2R encourages students to understand the potential and benefits of local agriculture from a health, science, economic and community lens. This includes potential agricultural employment as well as economic development opportunities.
For schools, funding is available for field trips to farms, teacher trainings and PD with local agricultural themes and content. There is also funding to help develop/incorporate agriculture into current curriculum standards and classes. For students, funding is available to attend conferences related to local agriculture, or any other creative ideas students wish to pursue relating to local agriculture. For farmers, funding is available to cover time spent with schools, both on the farm and in the classroom.
For more information and to apply for funding, please visit http://www.roottorise.net/ or email nhroot2rise@gmail.com.
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Food as Medicine Portable Teaching Kitchen
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Where Food Meets Health, Learning, and Community!
ACHS excited to share a fresh new way they are bringing health, wellness, and community together—one delicious meal at a time.
This hands-on program is designed to help individuals, children, and families discover how simple, affordable meals can support better health outcomes—especially when navigating conditions like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, or even just the everyday challenges of feeding a family on a budget.
Meet the ACHS Food As Medicine Portable Teaching Kitchen (FMPTK)!
Through fun, engaging cooking lessons, participants learn to plan, prepare, and enjoy tasty meals in under 30 minutes—all while building lifelong skills and confidence in the kitchen. From one-on-one coaching to group demonstrations, we’re bringing this experience wherever it’s needed most—schools, community centers, medical practices, and more.
The Food As Medicine program is excited to offer kid-friendly cooking classes designed to get little hands involved in the kitchen! Classes can include child-safe cooking utensils, hands-on activities, and simple, healthy recipes that make learning about food fun.
FAM classes can also be collaborated with ACHS' Early Childhood Development (ECD) program to incorporate childhood development into the kitchen—building skills, confidence, independence, and healthy habits through cooking and play!
Learn more
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CMTC 40th Anniversary Event
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NHCTE Seeking Judges for Scholastic Writing Awards
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The New Hampshire Scholastic Writing Awards is seeking judges for student submissions and welcome judges from a range of backgrounds, including:
- Educators and librarians
- Writers and editors
- College faculty and students
- Retired educators
- Community members who value young people’s voices
Judging is completed online, making it possible to participate from anywhere. Adjudication will take place between December 10 - 21, 2026.
Register: Online
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NHSTE Award Nominations are Open
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It is time to recognize the good work going on by amazing educators in New Hampshire!! Please consider nominating a deserving person for one of the three NHSTE awards!
- NHSTE Pat Keyes Technology-Using Teacher Award
- NHSTE Susan Janosz Impact/Leadership Award
- ISTE+ASCD MakingIT Happen Award
Visit NHSTE's award webpage for more details.
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Climate Education Collaborative Summit
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Over two days, the summit will move through a shared arc: grounding in where we are, imagining where we want to be, and exploring how we get there.
Climate education is entering a pivotal moment. Across the Northeast and beyond, educators, nonprofit leaders, community partners, and youth advocates are working to imagine what relationship-centered climate education can look like in a rapidly changing world.
This summit is an opportunity to reconnect with purpose and one another, and to explore what collaborative climate education can become.
Date: September 25, 2026, with the option to attend a pre-summit workshop and dinner on September 24th.
Location: Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT
Cost: Thanks to the support of a private funder and Shelburne Farms, the Collaborative is able to offer the registration fee for the reduced rate of $50.*
Register: Online
More information
*Financial support is available. If this would make the event more accessible for you to participate, please contact Mariah Reed at registration@shelburnefarms.org BEFORE you register. Also, reach out to Mariah before you register if you plan to pay by check or purchase order.
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NHSTA 2026 Annual Conference
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2026 North Country Outdoor Career Expo
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For more information, contact Michelle Gross, Career and College Pathway Coordinator at WMRHS at mgross@sau36.org or Ray Berthiaume, UNH Extension Field Specialist, at Ray.Berthiaume@unh.edu.
Learn more
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Granite Edvance Job Opening:
North Country Pathways & Funding Specialist
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Adventures in Neurodivergent Parenting
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Does your child have a new or suspected diagnosis of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or other learning difference? Do you have a million unanswered questions, feel like you're barely holding it together some days and find yourself googling "what is a 504 plan" long after everyone is asleep?
This free offering is available online, via Zoom, but requires advanced registration.
View flyer for full details.
Registration link: https://portsmouthpl.librarycalendar.com/event/adventures-neurodivergent-parenting-38731
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Grow Your Village:
Connecting Families for Strengthened Communities
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NHED Assessment & Accountability Conference 2026
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New England Fall Astronomy Festival
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NEFAF brings together astronomers, exhibitors, and stargazers of every age for a weekend of hands-on science. Build and launch a rocket, look through telescopes with members of the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, get your own telescope checked out at a telescope clinic, and stick around after dark for guided night sky viewing.
Learn more at https://extension.unh.edu/new-england-fall-astronomy-festival-nefaf
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MTSS-B Training for Team Leads and School Teams
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Guitar-Making Workshop at WMSI
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 In this workshop participants will design and build their very own guitar from start to finish! Learners will dive into the science of sound, the mechanics of stringed instruments, and the art of fine tuning.
From assembling the body to stringing and testing their instrument, each step invites curiosity, problem-solving, and hands-on experimentation.
This workshop blends STEAM learning with musical expression, empowering participants to see themselves as makers & musicians! No prior music or building experience required, just a willingness to tinker and make some noise.
By the end of the workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of soldering, electronics, and instrument fabrication, and bring home their very own electric guitar!
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 9:00 - 4:00
Location: White Mountain Science, Inc.23 Ammonoosuc Street, Littleton
Cost: $200 per participant
Learn more or register
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Anvil & Laser: Forged Coffee Scoop Workshop
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Join Mike Platt, Blacksmith and WMSI to experience the past and the future of making in this unique cross-disciplinary workshop. Blending traditional blacksmithing with modern digital fabrication.
This class invites you to create a truly personalized piece of functional art!
Dates/Times: Saturday, October 17th 9:00AM to 2:00PM with a Zoom Meeting on Thursday, October 1st 6:00 to 7:00PM
Location: Littleton Studio School & White Mountain Science, Inc.23 Ammonoosuc Street, Littleton
Cost: $155 per participant
Learn more or register
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The New Hampshire Constitution and the Courts
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A free program for high school teachers, curriculum directors, and administrators is being offered by the NH Bar Association in response to the new 306 rule requiring high school instruction of New Hampshire government and the New Hampshire Constitution. Educators are invited to spend a day at the New Hampshire Supreme Court for a refresher on these topics. The program will also highlight how the Court and educators have collaborated to prepare students for New Hampshire Supreme Court oral arguments. The program is free, and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited to 40 participants. Six professional development hours will be awarded
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026 from 8:30-3:30
Location: New Hampshire Supreme Court, Concord, NH
Featuring:
- New Hampshire high school teacher Pamala Custer
- Superior Court Judge N. William Delker
- Professor Lawrence Friedman
- The Justices of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
- Timothy Gudas, Clerk of Court
Learn more
Register
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Free NHSTE Webinar with GoTeacher
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Back to School: Rebuilding Trust in Tech
Last spring, concerns about student screen time, online safety, and data privacy came to the forefront for parents, school boards, and policymakers. As the new school year begins, districts have an opportunity to turn those concerns into clear, trusted technology practices.
Join Dr. Karla Burkholder, CETL, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Education Technology Leaders and former TCEA president, and Jaime Casap, former Chief Education Evangelist at Google, for a practical conversation on what district leaders should do next.
Together, they will explore how schools can address screen-time concerns, protect student data, and rebuild trust in the technology decisions that support teaching and learning.
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 1:00-2:00
Register: Online
The Zoom link will be sent all who RSVP by 5:00pm EST, Monday, 9/14/26.
Hosted by Dean Celaj from GoTeacher & NHSTE
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Montshire STEM Teacher-Leader Program
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Be a Force for Change in Your Classroom and School
A free opportunity for K-8 public school educators
Applications Are Now Open for 2026-27 school year and due by September 22nd.
Over the course of the Teacher Leader program (October through May), K-8 educators participate in over 30 hours of professional development that includes hands-on workshops on a variety of themes, seminars on science education, support from Montshire educators and peer teachers, and conversations with scientists and engineers at the Montshire and local institutions.
Participants will receive:
- Access to museum staff, and a community of educators and STEM professionals
- Museum curriculum resources, including equipment and materials
- 1-year individual museum membership
- $350 stipend, plus mileage reimbursement
At the end of their experience, participating teachers will share what they have learned with their colleagues in their school or district.
Learn more
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New England Book Study: Differentiation with AI
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Learn more about this NHSTE professional learning opportunity
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Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship
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 Calling all NH students ages 9-17!
Students train to be an astronaut, an airplane pilot, or a robotics engineer in a five-day immersive, intensive, educational, and fun camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center! Since 2001, more than 70 New Hampshire children and teens have traveled to U.S. Space Camp & Rocket Center, in Huntsville, AL, for a week of simulated astronaut or pilot training, thanks to the Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship. And three more will get to go in 2027! Do you know a student who would like to be one of them?
The Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship was founded in 2000 in Memory of Alex Higgins of Bedford, NH, who died in March 1999 from injuries that resulted from a backyard accident shortly before his 13th birthday. Alex was a wonderful young man who loved life and was filled with good will toward all he met. In 1994, he attended U.S. Space Camp. The Higgins Family and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center created the scholarship to give deserving NH youths the same potentially life-changing opportunity that Alex had: a week at Space Camp.
The 2027 application window opens on September 19th, 2026.
Learn more
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Earth Around Us Tent Program
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The Earth Around Us Tent Program is run by the New Hampshire GLOBE Partnership in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service. The Earth Around Us Tents are a traveling educational lending program consisting of a Soil Tent and a Water Tent.
This program combines hands-on science activities centered around an Elementary GLOBE storybook and a 10x10-foot pop-up tent with immersive murals depicting students’ observations of their local ecosystems.
The Earth Around Us Tent Program offers an opportunity for career exploration with scientists, activities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), data collection, and flexibility to work with a school's timeline, curriculum, and needs.
Earth Around Us Tents are available for New Hampshire schools and community sites free of charge.
Learn more
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New Hampshire Drinking Water Festival, Science Fair and Poetry Contest
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Biweekly Calls on Supporting Public Schools
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Learn more about what is happening with public education and how you can support strong public schools for New Hampshire’s students and future! Every other Tuesday at &:00 PM.
Register: Online
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NASA Rural Educator Series: Solar System Ambassadors
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Disclaimer: The content provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any organization, individual, products, or services mentioned herein.
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Coos Coalition for Young Children and Families
Family Centered Early Supports & Services
Every day across New Hampshire, infants and toddlers are learning new skills, but they learn and grow at their own pace. Parents or other caregivers who have concerns about an infant’s or toddler’s development can get coaching and support through the New Hampshire Birth to 3 early intervention program.
Anyone can refer a Family Centered Early Supports & Services.
Learn more at dhhs.nh.gov/BirthTo3 or call 603-271-4488.
North Country Neighbors - Stronger Together
Family Resource Center of Northern NH
Resources available through FRC include:
- Prenatal and infant care
- Parenting and Co-Parenting education
- Infant growth and child development
- Childcare and preschool services
- Ages and Stages Developmental Screenings
- Growing Great Kids
- Positive Parenting Program Curriculum
- Budgeting skills to increase financial awareness and stability
- Positive discipline
- Life and stress management
- Community Resources
The Family Resource Center offers programs that are voluntary and confidential with the mission to build healthier families and stronger communities in the North Country of New Hampshire.
Learn more
Friends of Aine: Center for Grieving Children & Families
In addition to providing bereavement support services and resources to children and families who have suffered the death of a loved one, he Friends of Aine Center for Grieving Children and Families recognizes the importance of working with and educating our community about grief, what it looks like in children and teens, and how to best support those grieving. They offer resources, workshops, trainings, and consultations that include curriculum development for community workers, school staff, and students that provide essential information about acknowledging grief, making space for it, and offering concrete help.
Learn more
Court Appointed Special Advocates of NH
CASA volunteers change the stories of children who have experienced abuse or neglect by advocating for their best interests in court.
To learn more about volunteering and get your questions answered by CASA staff members or current advocates, please join a virtual information session. Learn more.
Step Up Parents
Step Up Parents offers financial assistance and support to relative caregivers who have selflessly stepped up to care for children whose biological parents struggle with substance use disorder in the state of New Hampshire and Southern Maine.
A monthly resource spotlight for Kinship Caregivers can be found here.
Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country
Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country offer a wide range of programming options including:
- Push-in programs and services
- As part of physical education to access the general curriculum
- Push-in stand-alone programs and services
- After school programs and services
- Community-based athlete scholarships
Examples of types of adaptive and accessible programs for all ages:
- Adaptive biking, including “learn to bike”
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Kayaking
Learn more about Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country.
Most districts in the NCES catchment area will be eligible for free programming either through support to ASP through CMF Kids and/or the Tillotson Fund. Contact ASP more details.
Behavior Bridge
Behavior Bridge offers a series of free, online programs to support children's mental health. With a team of experts including mental health professionals, caregivers, kids and teens, Dartmouth Hitchcock Department of Psychiatry has created a place to learn skills and gain knowledge through short videos, handouts, resources, and more. Grounded in real-world strategies and compassionate understanding, we will help you build confidence, reduce stress, and create positive, lasting change.
Learn more
NH Student Assistance Network
The New Hampshire Student Assistance Network exists to strengthen and expand the presence and impact of Student Assistance Programs in New Hampshire schools.
Learn more
Support the mission of NCES
NCES collaborates with public schools and community partners to support excellent and equitable educational opportunities throughout the North Country. NCES believes that thriving public schools are at the heart of thriving communities. Your donation to support NCES' operations or a specific programming area are essential in NCES' efforts in supporting schools to provide exceptional educational experiences for all students. Whether a one-time donation, recurring monthly gift, or support through a donor-advised fund (DAF), your support of NCES will lift up public education in the North Country.
Donate or learn more at https://ncedservices.org/donate.
NCES believes that thriving schools are at the heart of vibrant communities!
The core values of NCES:
Contact Information
North Country Education Services
300 Gorham Hill Road
Gorham, NH 03581
ncedservices.org
603-466-5437
nces@ncedservices.org
NCES is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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