The Teachers are More Than Just Teachers

Mrs. Bethany Bernasconi

Awarded 2012 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year. In receiving this award, Mrs. Bernasconi becomes New Hampshire’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Jill Bartlett

Awarded the New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Outstanding Professional Award.

Coach of the Year-2013

Mr. Jared Cassedy

Awarded the New Hampshire Young Band Director of the Year.

Mrs. Kay Shoubash

Awarded the New Hampshire FACS Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Ryan O’Connor

Teacher of the Year State Finalist

Mr. Pat Kaplo

2009 Milliken Educator Award

WHS Band

Grade “A” NH Large Group Festival in 2010 and 2011

Heritage Festival: New York City 2012

-       First Place Gold Medal Division II

-       Adjudicators Award for Best Instrumental Ensemble

-       Outstanding Band of Festival Award

-       2 Maestro Student Soloist Awards

-       Invitation to Elite Performance Series: Festival of Gold

Festival of Gold: Chicago Illinois 2013

-       Highest Scoring Instrumental Ensemble

-       Elected to perform at the “Encore Concert”

Selected to and performed at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)- Eastern Division Conference in Hartford, CT—April 2013

Accepted to perform at the National Band and Orchestra Invitational Music Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City—April 2014

-       One of 5 bands selected out of a pool of 400 ensembles that applied and auditioned

WHS Athletics

Wrestling State Champs Back-to-Back

Football D5 state finalist

Girls Lacrosse D3 State Champions Back-to-Back

Field Hockey D2 State Runner-Ups and State Champs

Boys Soccer Back-to-back state champions

Golf State Champs

Individual champs in golf and wrestling

STEM Programs

Our robotics team has also done extremely well in past competitions and has placed high enough to go to a national competition

            Many high schools can only dream of what Windham High School has accomplished in this short amount of time. It is just unheard of, but for the kids in Windham High School it is expected of us. These expectations don’t just come from our parents, or our coaches, but mainly our teachers. These kids get a lot of the credit for the awesomeness of Windham High School, however, these wonderful teachers are doing all of the behind the scenes work making sure we all succeed. Their expectations for us in the classroom translate on the field, on the stage, and in the real world. It’s hard for a lot us students to come out of this wonderful school and go into the real world and want nothing but success, because of what these teachers have made us strive for our whole life.

            These teachers are what make Windham High School so great. Yes the students take the greatness that they want us to achieve and do it, but we would not be capable of achieving such greatness if we didn’t have the motivation behind us. Behind each great sports team is a great coach, behind each great movie is a great director, and behind each great school are fantastic teachers. Not voting this contract through would be devastating. Voting these contracts through would be the easiest way to say thank you to these teachers. Thank you for staying hours after, and coming in early for these students. Thank you for coaching a team, and investing yourself both in and out of the classroom. Thank you for showing these students you care for them and wanting them to succeed. These teachers are not just teachers. To many students they are leaders, mentors, someone to talk to, and a friend. This school is all about moving forward into the future and renovating education to mold students into successful adults one day. So let’s move into the future and forget the past.

            I am lucky enough that I was able to experience these teachers and all of there greatness and I know that I will bring everything I learned here into college, and one day into my professional life. However, for the kids that are Golden Brook, Center School, the Middle School, or even the Freshmen this year. They have not really experienced the true greatness of these teachers yet. Let me ask you something, as adults, you don’t remember a whole lot of the little tid bits, but what you really remember are your favorite teachers, right? The ones who didn’t just teach you the basics of English, or why geometry is so important, no they were the ones who taught your lessons about life. Like I will remember how Mrs. Smith and Mr. O’ Connor taught me how to take responsibility and live and learn. Or how Ms. Anderson taught me to spread my wings and fly. Or how Mrs. Bernasconi taught me that there is so much more to be discovered, and we can all be a part of that. Or how Mrs. Parkhurst taught me to not get caught up in the little things (no matter how hard that might be) because life is too short.

            A lot of college kids have started to come back to Windham High School, not to see this beautiful school, or to visit old friends, but to see their favorite teachers. And when all my friends and I come back next year, I want to be able to come back and see all my teachers right here in Windham High School. Because whether you realize it or not, these teachers are the face of Windham High School. And truthfully this whole town should know that and we should all appreciate everything they do for us here. 

Thank You