Hello Gilbert H. Hood Families,
We hope you and your family have had a wonderful weekend, staying warm in these cold temperatures.
Special lift-ups:
•GHH athletes sponsored a Whiteout Game to cheer on our basketball teams, which raised money for the family of Officer Landry. What a great opportunity to watch great games, cheer on our athletes, and give back to the others. Great work!
•The cast and crew of The Sound of Music Jr , led by directors Mrs. Ciarla, Mr. Gore, and Ms. Poly, shared two amazing performances this weekend. It is truly a testament to how hard work, dedication, and teamwork can bring about something everyone can be proud of. Bravo! Well done!
IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE
Morning Car Drop Off - We need your help
For the safety of everyone, follow these procedures if you are driving in the morning car rider line behind the building:
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Wait to drop off your child(ren) until you are in the drop-off zone and signalled by a staff member . The drop-off zone is between the crosswalk near the dining hall doors (Door 16) to the corner of the building.
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Do not proceed or bypass vehicles where students are exiting a vehicle and approaching the sidewalk.
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Throughout the process, drive slowly and cautiously. (Sometimes the actions of middle school students can be unpredictable!)
The safety of our students, staff, and families must remain our top priority. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Some important information and reminders for the upcoming weeks:
School District’s Deliberative Session - February 7
The annual School District Deliberative Session will be held in the WRB Gym on Saturday, February 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Child care will be provided by the Gilbert H. Hood National Junior Honor Society. The Derry School Board has provided information regarding the proposed 2026-2027 budget in their January 2026 Newsletter: link. Information is also available on the school district website: link
Husky Hullabaloo Fundraiser - February 11 kickoff
It’s time! You can register your student for our PTSA-Sponsored Husky Hullabaloo! Our goal is to raise $10,000 for seventh and eighth grade year-end activities and eighth grade promotion. Signing up is easy and comes with a fun prize for students. Families, if you sign your student up by Kickoff day (February 11), and you could be in the running for a $10 Amazon gift card! One winner per grade!
Start getting entries to be our first giveaway prize winner for a Family Game Night pack! Earn entries by:
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Signing up on MyBooster.com
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Sharing with friends and family
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Start getting donations!
*Need help signing up? View video instructions.
Thank you for being a part of our Gilbert H. Hood Middle School community and helping us make a difference for our students. We are grateful for your support!
Yearbook Sales ( flyer)
The 2026 Gilbert H. Hood Yearbook is now on sale! Don't miss your chance to reserve your copy. Here’s the link to purchase: link
Community Resources for Derry Families
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Derry Strong Website: https://sites.google.com/sau10.org/keep-calm-carry-online/home
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Mobile Food Pantry - February 6, 2026: Flyer
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Greater Derry Food Services information: Flyers
Information about Pinkerton Academy
For current eighth graders who plan to attend Pinkerton Academy, please check out their website specifically designed for you: link
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Course Catalog PDF (table of contents is clickable)
Upcoming Dates:
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February 4: NAEP testing
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February 7: DCSD Deliberative Session, West Running Brook Middle School, 10:00
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February 10: Early Release Day, dismissal at 11:45
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February 10: PTSA Meeting, 6:00
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February 11: Husky Hullabaloo begins
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February 23-27: Winter Break
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March 10: Town and School Election, Pinkerton
**To keep up to date on the daily happenings at GHH, be sure to check our daily announcements that are posted on our school website under the “Resources” tab. The Morning Meeting Notices spreadsheet is constantly updated and available for reference.
On-Going Reminders
Annual Information Update
If you have not already done so for this school year, please complete your child's Annual Information Update through PowerSchool. This must be done every year for ALL NEW and RETURNING STUDENTS. Here is a link to the PowerSchool Parent Portal sign in page: https://sau10.powerschool.com/public/home.html Please call the office if you have questions or need assistance: 603-432-1224.
Assignment Completion Report
We’re excited to share a helpful feature in PowerSchool. Parents can generate a report showing all missing, late, or incomplete assignments across classes. To access the report:
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Log in to the Parent Portal. (link)
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On the left side menu, click Student Reports.
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Under the heading Currently Published Reports, choose T2 Assignment Completion Report.
See this video for further assistance: GHH Parent Video
You can also find your child’s archived reports here, including learning reports (report cards). We email you when new reports are published, but they’ll also remain available in this section.
Student Pickup from Afterschool Clubs
Many of our afterschool clubs dismiss at 3:00 pm, or soon after. Keep in mind that the Derry Early Education Program (DEEP) may still be dismissing their students around that same time. DEEP families form a double car line along the front of the building to pick up their children. Please do not attempt to go around these cars, which can cause a serious safety issue. You are welcome to use the middle staff parking lot or wait for the DEEP pick up line to subside. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together for the safety of all students in our school community.
Afterschool Enrichment Program
The Gilbert H. Hood Middle School Afterschool Enrichment program is a FREE program that runs September 2, 2025 to May 28, 2026 every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 2 to 5:30 pm . Students enrolled in this program are expected to attend 3 days a week. Students can ALSO attend any clubs or sports offered at the school. Further details are provided on the attached flyer. The program is FUN, keeps students safe, provides engaging activities, and positive social interactions with a long-term goal of increased community engagement. To register: https://bit.ly/AfterschoolEnrichment
Afterschool Clubs & Activities
Students should pay attention to the announcements during Morning Meeting to get information about clubs they may be interested in joining. These daily announcements are also posted on our school website under the “Resources” tab. The Morning Meeting Notices spreadsheet is constantly updated and available for reference.
Derry Cooperative School District Free & Reduced Lunch Application
We invite you to watch this informative video regarding filling out the free and reduced lunch application: https://youtu.be/V6Y8kMqapgc