Monday, December 22, 2014

Help Wanted - Nipmuc STEM Alumni Fair

Please review the following message to Nipmuc alums who are studying or working in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics. We'd love to have you visit us to support our students!

Dear Nipmuc Alums - 
I’m excited to contact you regarding Nipmuc’s STEM Scholars Program. Last year Nipmuc began a program that provides students with collegiate and professional STEM learning experiences. As part of this year’s program, we are looking to connect our students with recent Nipmuc grads involved with STEM who can share their experiences in colleges and universities. 

On January 8 from 5pm – 7pm, we are holding a STEM Alumni Fair at Nipmuc to give you the chance to share your experiences. Take this opportunity to help our students by talking about what it takes to be ready for college, introducing our students to your field of study, sharing important information about college, and answering their questions about life after Nipmuc. 

The event will include a casual, fair-like setting during which Nipmuc students will introduce themselves and ask you about your experience in college and/or workplace. The second hour of the fair will include panel presentations (for those graduates who are interested) to explore topics in more depth. 


Email me directly with any questions. Also, feel free to share this with other Nipmuc grads! More information about the STEM Scholars Program can be found here

Thank you for your support!  

John K. Clements
Principal 
Nipmuc Regional High School

Please complete this form to participate:

 

Friday, December 19, 2014

Feature Friday: Charlie Ciantra and Chelsea Gorius

Nipmuc's DECA volunteers with faculty members
Ryan Cody and Gary Perras
If you've read my "Feature Friday" posts, you know how impressed I am with the range of accomplishments of our students. One of the areas that is most impressive is the capacity of our students and their volunteer efforts. At any given time there are more than ten student-run fundraisers, community-building events, or volunteer campaigns being run by students. As the scope of their projects grows, so too does their positive impact on others.

The most recent example of this excellence in volunteerism is the DECA Volleyball Lock-in event that benefits pancreatic cancer awareness and research. Now in its 4th year, the all night volleyball tournament is as successful as ever. Organized by students to raise funds and awareness to fight pancreatic cancer, the event is also one of the highlights of our students' school year.

After weeks of planning, last Friday seniors Charlie Ciantra and Chelsea Gorius ran this overnight event for approximately 300 Nipmuc students. With support from parents, local businesses, and faculty chaperones, the students played volleyball, enjoyed great food, watched movies, and had a great time for a wonderful cause. Through their efforts the event raised more than $2,000.

I asked Charlie and Chelsea to talk to me about the event and what it means to them.


Charlie Ciantra
Q. How did you become involved with this event? What is its significance to you? 
A. I got involved with this event my sophomore year. That year my sister was running it as a DECA project and decided she wanted to hand it off to me. This project had gone to the international competition twice and I had huge shoes to fill. As my partners I picked Jacob Hess and Lauren Campbell.  We worked tirelessly on this project and even added a second event to it - a tournament for the middle school students. When the state competition came we gave it our all, but sadly lost. After that we decided the project had run its course but that we could still do a Lock- In as a fundraiser for DECA and donate 25% of the proceeds to PanCan (A group that supports pancreatic Cancer research). 


    This event has significance in my life. Personally I don't have any family members who have passed away from pancreatic cancer, but I have had family members pass away from other cancers. From that experience I know that it is an extremely difficult process to go through. That is the reason you do these events - to raise money and be able to help the families and the people who have this awful disease.


Q. What lessons about leadership and entrepreneurship did you learn through this organizing this event for two years? 
A. Through this project I have learned so many great skills that are going to help me with the rest of my life. These skills range from small, simple things to life lessons and skills that will help me in future careers. Some of the small things include:  how to write a business email, how to call companies and ask for donations, and how to set up meetings with people. These all seem like pretty basic tasks but when you actually have to do them they are a lot more complicated than expected. The bigger life lessons include leadership skills, public speaking skills and overall people skills. These skills are things that are going to help me be able to reach my goals in the future. 


Chelsea Gorius
Q.  What does this event mean to Nipmuc DECA? 
A.  This event is very important to Nipmuc DECA.  This event is easily the club’s biggest fundraiser.  The event has become such an anticipated event in the school so it is definitely important to DECA  members to make sure it runs smoothly.  We have to make sure it goes well not only because it is a form of advertising for DECA and for kids to join, but also because the event is geared toward spreading awareness for pancreatic cancer.  Even though it is such a large event for the school and the club, the awareness for Pancreatic Cancer that it brings is easily the main reason we enjoy holding it every year.  All of DECA e-board loves to host this event because of those reasons and everyone on e-board did an amazing job in getting this event ready, everyone did such a good job and I am so honored to be president this great group of people.


Q.    What is the greatest challenge and reward of running the DECA lock-in? 
A.     The greatest challenges of running the lock-in are keeping it organized.  Making sure the auditorium has movies set up, making sure the media center has enough things to keep kids busy, and making sure the volleyball games are running on a timely basis.  In previous years it was a struggle to make sure that the courts were always filled and that the tournament kept pushing forward.  This year we were able to make sure that games were always going on.   The greatest reward is seeing that we did it! That all of DECA e-board came together and put on this great event.  We were able to spread awareness about Pancreatic Cancer and make donations to help the cause.  In addition to that we were able to get more kids in the school, especially freshman, to become aware of DECA and hopefully increase our membership.  Knowing we did a good job though is definitely a reward, especially when people in the school come up to me, Charlie, or any other e-board member and tell us how much fun it was and how well organized it was.  The Nipmuc community is such a great place it makes putting on this event and all the hard work well worth it.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Announcements December 15 - 19, 2014

Morning Announcements
Tonight's varsity basketball game will be a white out!  Come to support our team and wear all white to show that support!

Did you know that Nipmuc DECA has a Twitter page?  What about Instagram?  Follow us @nipmudeca on Instagram and @nipmuc_deca on Twitter.  And come down to the school store and receive a FREE Nipmuc DECA wrist band! 

Attention Nipmuc Ski Club Members! There will be a MANDATORY student informational meeting held on Tuesday, January 6th at 2 p.m. in the cafeteria.  You must attend this meeting to be prepared for the first ski trip on Wednesday, January 7th.

Attention to all those who purchased candles through the Class of 2017 Yankee Candle fundraiser - The candles are in!  Please pick them up in Mrs. Moloney's room G311 as soon as possible.

All girls interested in trying out for softball this spring:  A meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, 12/16, at 2:10 in room 114.  If you cannot make it, please see Mrs. Curtis in the media center Tuesday during your break.

National Honor Society potential candidates:  Service hours must be completed by 12/20 and portfolios are due on January 14th.

Service opportunities - Mr. Maloney needs help inputting names in a computer for a race.  The Warrior's Club needs concession stand workers.  Please see Mrs. Kyrka in room 217 to sign up.

There will be a donation box in the lobby until December 19th collecting children's books for homeless shelters in MA.  Please bring in any books in good condition to donate to this cause.

Hope and Comfort, Inc. and Nipmuc Junior Sarah Plutnicki are working together to create a toiletry drive for the United Parish Food Pantry in Upton.  Donations are appreciated.  The most needed items are:  soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper and tissues.  There is a donation box for items in the Nipmuc main office.  The deadline to donate is Monday, December 15th.  Please contact Sarah Plutnicki for more information about the drive.

Applications are available in the office and on the school website for the January Drivers Education Classroom Program.  Classes will be held beginning on January 13th on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. for 5 weeks.

News from the Athletic Department
Show your Warrior Spirit! 

To show our appreciation for the fantastic support for our football, boys' and girls' soccer teams in the playoffs - the admission fee for the first four basketball games.  Thursday, 12/18 through Friday, January 2nd will be $1 with student I.D.!!

Basketball game times this year - JV start is 5 p.m. and varisty is 6:30 p.m. 

The athletic department will be collecting nonperishable food items (to be donated to a local food bank) during the month of December. 



School Counseling Center Announcements

Seniors, every year Nipmuc seniors have the opportunity to apply for thousands of dollars worth of scholarships. Start checking Naviance regularly for information about available scholarships and see Mrs. Hefez if you have any questions.

If you would like to train to become a lifeguard or would like a job as a lifeguard, please stop by the School Counseling Center for more details. You can make as much as $550/week!!

There will be a representative from the University of Hartford here today - Monday, December 15th at 8:30 in the Gathering Room. Please sign up in the School Counseling Center if you are interested in attending.
A representative from Lincoln Technical Institute will be here on Thursday, December 18th at 10:30 in the Gathering Room. Please sign up in the School Counseling Center if you are interested in attending.
All students are reminded to check out the school counseling blog for information on college open houses, SAT/ACT information and general SCC announcements.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Feature Friday - Nipmuc Visits Harvard University for Computer Science Week

Nipmuc students preparing for their trip to Cambridge.
For the past few days students in schools across the country have been celebrating Computer Science Education Week, recognizing the growing importance of computer science in our schools. While over 90% of American schools do not teach computer science, Nipmuc has placed a growing emphasis on coding. Last year we introduced AP Computer Science, and this year all sophomores are getting a taste of CS as part of the Fundamentals of Mathematics course. We're excited that our computer science programming will continue to grow next year. 


In addition to celebrating "Hour of Code" (an opportunity for people to be introduced to coding through an hour-long intro activity - see video below), on Monday Nipmuc sent 45 female students to Harvard University to learn about coding. A follow-up to last year's TechGirlz workshop which brought five Harvard undergraduates to Nipmuc to work with our students, this visit to Harvard's campus was aimed at introducing and exciting our girls about the potential of studying computer science. 


As part of the day our students were able to participate in workshops run by Harvard students, visit a computer science fair, have lunch on campus, and hear a lecture from a Harvard professor. Nipmuc Regional was the only high school that was offered this opportunity. It was a great experience from a partnership that we would be thrilled to continue in the future. 
Included below are some questions and answers from four Nipmuc students - Ciara Larence, Jillian Penfield, Elizabeth Leblanc, and Emily O'Connell -  who were part of the larger group of 45. Enjoy!





Q: Where did your interest in computer science come from?
Ciara Larence:
A:  My interest in computer science began back in middle school. I took a computer lab class, and when we worked on websites I realized that I was pretty good at it and really enjoyed doing it. However, this was not the only reason that I started taking computer science. I have always been interested in the 'behind the scenes' of computers and technology, and really wanted to learn how things work. By taking the APCS class, I have realized that my interest in computer science has increased because it has made me realize how computers work and how little things written in code can change everything.

Elizabeth Leblanc:
A: Honestly, my interest in computer science came from this trip to Harvard. I had done minimal computer science work in fundamentals but this trip really sparked my interest in computer science and showed me that I could eventually see myself in a computer science career.

Emily O’Connell:
A: When I saw Web Design as a class option for my senior year I thought that it could be an interesting opportunity. Being able to create something that didn't exist before you coded it: I found that concept fascinating and really exciting.

         
Q: What was the most important part of the day for you?
Jillian Penfield:
A: The most important part of the day for me was definitely the CS50 Fair. There were students everywhere with their final projects willing to speak to us about them. There was everything from Apps to Google Chrome extensions, and robots to Software. Most of these students weren't even majoring in Computer Science and found out that they really loved it. It was so inspiring to hear all of these students' stories. It reminded me that maybe someday I could be standing in their position, just finishing my app/software/etc.  It helped to remind me how much I love computer science and how many routes you can go with it. 

Q: What was your greatest take-away from the day?

Ciara Larence:
A: My greatest take-away from the day was the fact that most of the students taking the CS50 class had never done any computer science before. I was blown away by the fact that they were able to create a range of things, all in a short period of time. I think that it made me realize that once you really devote yourself to something, you can achieve anything.  Some of the students had learned many different languages, and it was all just for the fun of it since they were majoring  in something completely unrelated to computer science. This made me realize that sometimes you should do things that you enjoy, just to learn it for the fun of it.

Elizabeth Leblanc:
A: I took away an increased knowledge of computer science. I realized that computer science isn't just a career for people who like to be alone on the computer. Computer science involves collaboration and a problem-solving thinking style that greatly appeals to me.

Jillian Penfield:
A: Seeing all the different things that can be done with computer science in the CS50 fair. I can confidently say that I plan to take at least one computer science course in college.

Q: What connection can you make between your current coursework and the Harvard trip?
Emily O’Connell:
A:  I can incorporate some of the simple JavaScript coding I learned at the Harvard workshop into creating my final website for my Web Design class. 

Jillian Penfield:
A:  At the Harvard trip I learned that code can be translated easily between different languages. You see in English it would be difficult to translate to Chinese or French. In Computer Science there are different languages such as Java, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and more. Yes, they all have different commands and are different coding-wise, however logic-wise they are the same. Once you "code" your brain to think like a computer scientist, you can easily translate code between languages. It really shows that with computer science, you don't have to just choose one certain aspect. If you decide you want to make websites with HTML, and then change your mind to software with Java, it is okay. It shows that computer science as a major has so many options and really allows students to experiment with what they like and dislike.


Check out the video below to learn more about Hour of Code. 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Announcements December 8 - 12, 2014

Morning Announcements
National Honor Society potential candidates:  Service hours must be completed by 12/20 and portfolios are due on January 14th.

Service opportunities - Mr. Maloney needs help inputting names in a computer for a race.  The Warrior's Club needs concession stand workers.  Please see Mrs. Kyrka in room 217 to sign up.

There will be a donation box in the lobby until December 19th collecting children's books for homeless shelters in MA.  Please bring in any books in good condition to donate to this cause.

Join over 100 million students worldwide for the Hour of Code on December 10th from 2:15 - 3:15 in the computer lab 221.  All students are welcome.  Come learn about computer science and get an hour of hands-on experience in coding.

Anyone interested in participating in winter cheerleading, please sign up in the main office by Wednesday, December 10th.

Hope and Comfort, Inc. and Nipmuc Junior Sarah Plutnicki are working together to create a toiletry drive for the United Parish Food Pantry in Upton.  Donations are appreciated.  The most needed items are:  soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper and tissues.  There is a donation box for items in the Nipmuc main office.  The deadline to donate is Monday, December 15th.  Please contact Sarah Plutnicki for more information about the drive.

The DECA Volleyball Lock-In is coming up soon!  It will be held at Nipmuc on Friday, December 12th.  Sheets to sign up can be found in the cafeteria, the school store, and in Mr. Cody's or Mr. Perras' rooms.  Cost is $12 per person, so grab some friends, make some creative shirts, and come play some volleyball!~  Hope to see you there!!

Applications are available in the office and on the school website for the January Drivers Education Classroom Program.  Classes will be held beginning on January 13th on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. for 5 weeks.


School Counseling Center Announcements
Attention students and teachers, as some of you may have started to notice, the Guidance Office is changing its name to the School Counseling Center.  Please see Mrs. Grady in the SCC to make appointments with your counselor and check out the school counseling blog for more information about this change at nipmucschoolcounseling.blogspot.com.

Seniors, every year Nipmuc seniors have the opportunity to apply for thousands of dollars worth of scholarships. Start checking Naviance regularly for information about available scholarships and see Mrs. Hefez if you have any questions.
If you would like to train to become a lifeguard or would like a job as a lifeguard, please stop by the School Counseling Center for more details. You can make as much as $550/week!!

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery will be given at Nipmuc on Thursday, December 11th. Juniors and Seniors interested in taking the ASVAB should sign up in the School Counseling Center. You are not required to enter the military if you take this career assessment. For more information or if you have questions regarding the ASVAB exam, please contact your school counselor.

For any student who may be interested in a career in professional photography and imaging, there is an open house at the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls Massachusetts on Saturday, December 6th from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

There will be a representative from the University of Hartford on Monday, December 15th at 8:30 in the Gathering Room. Please sign up in the School Counseling Center if you are interested in attending.

A representative from Lincoln Technical Institute will be here on Thursday, December 18th at 10:30 in the Gathering Room. Please sign up in the School Counseling Center if you are interested in attending.

All students are reminded to check out the school counseling blog for information on college open houses, SAT/ACT information and general SCC announcements.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Student Feature Friday - Nipmuc Drama Presents "Grease"!

What a pleasure it was last night to see the opening performance of Grease by Nipmuc Drama. It was an amazing show highlighting the tremendous talent of our students and directors - Mr. LaPete and Mrs. Tremblay. The cast and crew have been working tirelessly over the course of the past two months. Their work paid off in a memorable opening night. I'm happy to invite you to see the show in its two remaining performances - Saturday at 7:30pm or Sunday at 2pm. The show will not disappoint!

To get more information about the production. I met with student-leaders of Nipmuc drama to have them tell me about the play and their experiences putting on the show.

Molly Craft
Q.What has been the best part of being a member of the cast/crew?
A.  Being a part of the cast is the best feeling.  It feels like a family.  Everyone is working toward the same goal – to put on an entire production for just three nights.  We work together, we help each other, and there is this sense of comradery between the members.  We’re a huge cast, but since much of our time after school is spent in that small auditorium, we become a family.   Being a part of that family is such a food feeling.  I miss it during the summer more than anything.

Matt DeVane
Q.  What should an audience know in advance of coming to the play?
A. This is meant to be a fun show, so feel free to bring your friends and laugh loudly.  Don’t hold back; we love to hear you.  Unless you’re on your cellphone! Also, no flash photography, please.

Molly King
Q.  What is your favorite scene in the play?
A. I would have to say the opening scene has become my favorite.  It is one of those numbers that was put together later but it just pumps up the whole cast and really gives everyone the energy to perform a huge musical such as this.

Sarah Prescott
Q. What is the greatest challenge in putting together the production?  How did the cast/crew overcome this challenge?
A. I think the biggest challenge we’ve had to overcome as a cast is the idea that you are in the 1950s in something as iconic as Grease.  It is essential to the success of the show that the audience believes you’re from the right era.  The 50s was a whole world apart from the 2000s we know.  But when everyone acts and plays off each other, slipping into the role can be done with much practice.  I believe it has been accomplished due to the fact that the cast and crew are very close.  We make it all come together.
Somaiya Rowland
Q. What has been the most rewarding part of putting together this production of Grease?
A. Being a part of a show is always a unique and empowering experience.  The most rewarding part is often the feeling of achievement and pride that is created by a successful performance.  The cast and crew are brought together in friendship and a shared sense of unity.  When we put ourselves up on stage for the world to see, we are constantly challenging our identity as workers and performers.  We live through the stress of tech week and rehearsals together.  We fought hard for our show, and to see it come together validates us as a group.  To see that our audience is brought to a new emotional or mental state by our show (or at least likes it) brings us together as a group.  We all have a passion for drama, and being a part of a performance is all the reward we care about.




Thursday, December 4, 2014

Nipmuc Drama Performs Grease!

Nipmuc Drama is excited to perform a production of Grease on Thursday, December 4th (7:30pm), Saturday, December 6th (7:30pm), and Sunday, and 7th (2pm). Please note there is no performance on Friday, December 5th. Tickets can be purchased in advance by following this link or at the door.

Check the below video of a flash mob performed by the Grease cast promoting the upcoming show.



Monday, December 1, 2014

Announcements December 1 - 5, 2014

Morning Announcements
Any student attending the Harvard Computer Science field trip on Monday, 12/8 - please check your school email at the end of the day today for important information about the trip.

Anyone interested in participating in winter cheerleading, please sign up in the main office by Wednesday, December 10th.

Come support your peers in "Grease" this Thursday, 12/4, Saturday, 12/6 at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, 12/7 at 2:00 p.m.  Bring your friends and family - it's going to be a blast!  For more information see Soimayia Roaland or Sarah Prescott.

Attention all Class of 2015 John & Abigail Adams Scholars - please report to the lobby on Tuesday,, 12/2 at 1:50 p.m.

Hope and Comfort, Inc. and Nipmuc Junior Sarah Plutnicki are working together to create a toiletry drive for the United Parish Food Pantry in Upton.  Donations are appreciated.  The most needed items are:  soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper and tissues.  There is a donation box for items in the Nipmuc main office.  The deadline to donate is Monday, December 15th.  Please contact Sarah Plutnicki for more information about the drive.

The DECA Volleyball Lock-In is coming up soon!  It will be held at Nipmuc on Friday, December 12th.  Sheets to sign up can be found in the cafeteria, the school store, and in Mr. Cody's or Mr. Perras' rooms.  Cost is $12 per person, so grab some friends, make some creative shirts, and come play some volleyball!~  Hope to see you there!!

Applications are available in the office and on the school website for the January Drivers Education Classroom Program.  Classes will be held beginning on January 13th on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. for 5 weeks.

Help the Kids Flicks Organization create movie libraries for children in hospitals by donating your old children's DVDs.  There is a box in the office to collection your donations.

Athletic Announcements
Reminder to all Swim Team members - meet by the locker rooms immediately after school today before leaving for the pool.

Attention Senior Athletes:  If you are signing letters of intent you must see Mr. Leaver as soon as possible.

Another reminder to fall athletes - uniforms must be returned before you can participate in winter athletics.

Attention to all those trying out for winter teams - your green cards must be filled out and signed before you can try out.  Any questions, see Mr. Leaver.

Guidance Announcements
There will be a representative from the University of Hartford on Monday, December 15th at 8:30 in the gathering room.  Please sign up in the guidance office if you are interested in attending.

A representative from Lincoln Technical Institute will be here on Thursday, December 18th at 10:30 in the gathering room.  Please sign up in the guidance office if you are interested in attending.
 
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery will be given at Nipmuc on Thursday, December 11th.  Juniors and Seniors interested in taking the ASVAB should sign up in the Guidance Office.  You are not required to enter the military if you take this career assessment.  For more information or if you have questions regarding the ASVAB exam, please contact your guidance counselor. 

All students are reminded to check out the guidance blog for information on college open houses,
SAT/ACT information and general guidance announcements.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Nipmuc vs. BVT: Sunday, 12pm @ Bellingham High School

Please be aware that the Nipmuc vs. BVT football game has been rescheduled to take place at Bellingham High School on Sunday, November 30, at 12pm.

Many thanks to Bellingham for allowing us to use their field. You can access directions to the school here.  


Enjoy your weekend - John Clements

Nipmuc vs. BVT Football Game

Good morning,
Please be aware that today's rescheduled football game between Nipmuc and BVT has been cancelled as a result of unsafe field conditions. Although efforts were made to prepare the field for play following Wednesday's snow, the field is still too icy for the game to be played safely. As a result, today's rescheduled football game will not be played.

Sincerely,
John Clements

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Nipmuc vs. BVT Football Game

The Nipmuc vs. BVT football game postponed until Saturday at 10am because of snow. Hope to see you on the sidelines on Saturday morning.
Have a wonderful holiday - John Clements

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Faculty and Students Together (FAST)

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, Nipmuc is excited for its annual Faculty and Students Together - or FAST - celebration. Run by the student council, FAST is a day of pride, class competition, and school spirit.

As the name suggests, FAST gives Nipmuc the chance to focus on our school culture through the opportunity to participate in fun activities throughout the day. Our student council has arranged for inflatables like bungee jumps, giant twisters, and a circus obstacle course to be placed throughout the building. Students will also have the chance to participate in all kinds of games, face painting, and other fun events. In addition all students will have the chance to hear from youth motivational speaker, Quentin Whitehead, who will be providing two hour-long speeches: one for 9th/10th graders and one for 11th/12th graders.

The day ends with a school-wide pep rally filled with class (and faculty) competitions including musical chairs, pie eating, and egg cracking. FAST continues to be one of the highlights of the school year. We're looking forward to a great event!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Announcements November 24 - 28, 2014

Morning Announcements
Congratulations to our State Champion Girls' Soccer Team! The girls won their game against Lynnfield on Friday at WPI with a score of 5-0.  Congratulations to all players and Coach Cohen!

The DECA Volleyball Lock-In is coming up soon!  It will be held at Nipmuc on Friday, December 12th.  Sheets to sign up can be found in the cafeteria, the school store, and in Mr. Cody's or Mr. Perras' rooms.  Cost is $12 per person, so grab some friends, make some creative shirts, and come play some volleyball!~  Hope to see you there!!

Attention Freshmen!  We will be creating posters and banners for FAST today in room 238 after school.  All are welcome!

Mix It Up Day is Tuesday, 11/25! Participate in fun activities at lunch to promote unity in our school.

Sign up for the Volleyball Lock-In.  Sponsored by DECA - sign up with or without a team.  $12/ person includes food.  Forms and money are due by December 5th to Mr. Perras or Mr. Cody .  Tournament is December 12th. 

Do you want to win a gift certificate by completing a challenge during the FAST Pep Rally?  Sign up on Sra. Soto's door, room 313.  Contestants will be picked the day of FAST.  Last day to sign up is Monday, November 24th.

Applications are available in the office and on the school website for the January Drivers Education Classroom Program.  Classes will be held beginning on January 13th on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. for 5 weeks.

Help the Kids Flicks Organization create movie libraries for children in hospitals by donating your old children's DVDs.  There is a box in the office to collection your donations.

Athletic Announcements
Attention Senior Athletes:  If you are signing letters of intent you must see Mr. Leaver as soon as possible.

Attention all athletes using the varsity locker rooms - please clean out by end of school on Wednesday, 11/26 or it will be cleaned out for you.

Another reminder to fall athletes - uniforms must be returned before you can participate in winter athletics.

Attention to all those trying out for winter teams - your green cards must be filled out and signed before you can try out.  Any questions, see Mr. Leaver.

Guidance Announcements
If you would like to train to become a lifeguard or would like a job as a lifeguard, please stop by the guidance office for more details.  You can make as much as $500/week!

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery will be given at Nipmuc on Thursday, December 11th.  Juniors and Seniors interested in taking the ASVAB should sign up in the Guidance Office.  You are not required to enter the military if you take this career assessment.  For more information or if you have questions regarding the ASVAB exam, please contact your guidance counselor. 

All students are reminded to check out the guidance blog for information on college open houses,
SAT/ACT information and general guidance announcements.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Student Feature Friday - National Defense University Delegates Shadow Nipmuc Students

On Friday, November 14, Nipmuc had the opportunity to host more than 60 international fellows from the National Defense University (NDU). Focused on educating, inspiring, and developing national security leaders, NDU provides graduate learning opportunities for international military leaders. The visit was part of NDU's efforts to provide the leaders enrolled in their program the chance to "get a better understanding of American culture and government" by making trips across the country to learn about culture, politics, and economics.

This distinguished group of approximately 60 international fellows (representing 44 countries) came to Nipmuc for the day to learn about American education through a briefing on American schools and the opportunity to shadow our students. As described by the NDU to our students, "the colonels and generals who visited Nipmuc are among the best of their countries' military and the next decades' senior leadership in their nation." It was an amazing experience for our students that I've asked them to comment on in this week's feature Friday post. Enjoy reading about this amazing experience!
Q: What was the most memorable or meaningful part of hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University?
Maddie Davidshofer - Hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University opened my eyes to the vast world outside of Massachusetts and even the United States. After spending a short time with an International Fellow from the Czech Republic, I gained insight on his culture back home, his role in the military, and how the United States influences the daily lives of Czech citizens. I learned about popular sports played in his home country, how his two daughters moved to the U.S. with him and transitioned into the American public education system, and how he is a huge ice hockey fan. Not only did he learn about Nipmuc and what it's like to be a high school student in 2014, but he taught me the power of determination. He assured me I will be successful in whatever I pursue as long as I keep focused and put forth the effort. I was impressed with his fluency in English because he only started learning it at the age of 30. This experience was extremely valuable and crucial to a deeper understanding of our world and the diversity of culture. I am very thankful for this opportunity and I hope future students will see the value in having an International Fellow shadow them for a day.  Prior to my International Fellow's departure, he presented me with a gold coin that was a symbol of respect and thanks. In the military, it is common to reward guides or mentors with gold coins if they do an exceptional job. I will always remember how Jack gave me this memento inscribed with military symbols and his time shadowing me.


Kylie Gallagher - The most memorable part was being able to learn about their opinion of our school and how our school compared to their country's school systems. I was very fortunate to show someone from the Philippines and from Pakistan Nipmuc. Both of them had children in school and said how our school was very close to their children's schools. But it was inspiring to learn the small differences in the different school systems. It was also very meaningful to me to be the one to educate these international fellows about American education.  They also seemed very intrigued about the iPads. It was very interesting to hear the International fellows' questions on how we use IPads in our classrooms, and how we incorporate technology in our learning environment.


Samantha Galicki – The most memorable part was how genuinely excited they were to be at our school and to see what we were learning.  Everyone who was involved was super nice and I would love to have this opportunity again.


Jack Gallagher - The ability to learn all about a culture while teaching yours to someone else was an experience that very few high school students are able to get. This made me realize some of the things we take for granted were considered luxuries for these fellows. For example they were amazed we even had a chemistry lab in our high school as they said labs were really only for colleges in Greece.


Ryan Kelleher - The fact that I got to engage with a man from the other half of the world and be able to compare school systems, culture, and lifestyle was unbelievable. Also, I liked how I was able to teach another person about the iPad program and how we run our school. In addition, I learned a lot about the United Arab Emerites. I loved this experience and I hope that we can do this again.


Sean Kelleher - The most memorable or meaningful part of hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University is learning so much about their way of life in their country and comparing it to our way of life here in the U.S.  It was very interesting hearing how much of the stuff we have in America and use in our schools is used in other countries. One interesting fact was that one of my fellows from the U.K., Simon Joll, said his kids used iPads when they lived in England but since they are in an American school that doesn't have them, they now get to use them for enjoyment.


Hannah Martel - The most meaningful part of hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University was the opportunity to talk with people who have experienced so many different things.  Being able to absorb their knowledge and learn about the incredible things that they do was an experience I will never forget.         
                                                                                                                                      
Autumn Morrice - The most memorable part of hosting International Fellows was hearing how our school was different. I had two international fellows both from the United States. One was from Philadelphia and the other was from New York. They each told me a little bit about their high schools; one had a graduating class of 80, the other had a graduating class of 600. Each was different from my graduating class. I also explained how we use technology through the school like the iPads and our electronic lunch system. They both thought that was super cool, and it was unlike anything they had seen since they were in high school. Getting shadowed by people from other parts of the country was definitely interesting because it showed how differently we do things than other schools.                                                                      


Elizabeth Nigro - Having the opportunity to host International Fellows from the NDU was a memorable experience because it gave me the chance to interact with two military leaders, Mordechay and Lior, from Israel. Not only did I enjoy sharing about my school and town, but I found it beneficial because I learned about life in Israel. It was a fun, eye-opening, and educational experience, not only for the fellows, but also for me. I'm thankful for this opportunity!                                                                                                           


Jillian Penfield - I actually really enjoyed learning about my International Fellow's culture. I purposely requested someone originating from Germany, because I became very close with the German exchange students. The exchange students were from Bochum (West Germany) where as my International Fellow was from Berlin. It was so interesting to notice the differences between opposite sides of the country. It seems so weird to me that things are different from other sides of Germany, however if you think about it, things are pretty different between here and California. I also enjoyed just talking to my International Fellow about our school, and just having normal conversations. He was so nice, funny, and easy to talk to. Always cracking jokes to lighten the mood. I loved answering questions because I really wanted to help him in why he came here. I wanted to teach him as much as a could in that short amount of time. It was awesome to hear about comparisons to other schools in America as well. He told me how strict teachers are, and it makes me so thankful for our teachers because I have created such a close relationship with some of my teachers. It was also awesome for me to learn some more German words because I would LOVE to speak German. Overall, this was a great experience I will never forget, and I wish I had more time with my International Fellow. And obviously we had to finish the day with some selfies as well before he left (in chemistry lab attire of course).


Lea Peterson – The most memorable thing about the visit was the amount of interest and respect he had for Nipmuc and me.   The experience was overall very positive and all of the shadows were very nice and kind people.  Would do it again in a heartbeat and glad I signed up.

Victoria Phillips – The most memorable part of hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University was being exposed to new cultures I have never seen before. As I was touring the school, my International Fellows told me about what their schools were like and comparing them to our school. It was amazing to hear what they had to say about our school, and how much they really seemed to enjoy it. It's really meaningful to be able to say I had two International Fellows shadow me. The experience really taught me a lot about different cultures. Plus, it is really exciting to know I now have friends from different countries!  This was a truly unforgettable experience. Everyone was so nice and friendly! This has been one of my favorite experiences of high school so far.


Rebecca Rausch - I thought it was really interesting learning about the different cultures and life stories of the men I hosted. They were very open and easy to talk to and I learned so much about the lives of people other than myself. I found it very interesting that we connected so well even with such a large age difference. Overall, my experience was excellent and I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to meet these people.


Natalie Rodman - For me, the most memorable and meaningful part of hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University was that they were significantly older than me, and both from very different countries ( Mongolia and Malaysia) however we were still able to keep a thoughtful and provoking conservation going. We both benefited greatly from this experience because I could use my skills taught in school to make the conservations more interesting and I got to learn about life in another country. They got to see American life through me which is also an extremely cool opportunity for them. Overall, I have no regrets about doing this amazing task.  I really tried to grasp what they wanted to do and why they were even in America, and I quickly realized that they didn't want to sit through my classes, they just wanted to pop in. The time when we have the best conversation was when I brought them to the media center, which was quiet and they could sit down comfortably. I realized that they didn't need to know the lay-out of our school, but they wanted answers on how America runs and my views on global concerns. Basically, if any group had a hard time connecting with their Fellows, then going to the media center was the best place to compare and contrast cultures.                                                                                                                             


Katie Sauer - Meeting the fellows from different countries was very meaningful. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to them about the differences between American schools and the schools of their own native countries. It was so interesting to learn about what they were doing and seeing how they reacted to American culture.  I was with Antonio of Italy and Hajime of Japan. Something I found most interesting was how much they loved the art around the school and how often they would recognize it and how beautiful it was.
Carly Thibodeau – It was an amazing experience to be able to show my International Fellow around Nipmuc, not only to introduce him to how our school works and what we do but also to learn about the challenges and wonders he faced in our country. It provided me with a fresh perspective on things I had taken for granted in America.  I would love to be able to have this experience again. It was almost like having a foreign exchange student with us, and since it was an extremely positive experience I am interested in hosting an exchange student. To learn about the life and daily routines of someone from a different country from the person themselves was better than any cultural lesson I could learn.


Sarah Tong - The most meaningful part of hosting an International Fellow from the National Defense University was definitely having the opportunity to interact and connect with them. I hosted two men in the air force: one from Nigeria and one from Norway. I loved learning about each of their lives and home countries, along with teaching them about life and education in America. I enjoyed being able to bring them to my classes and eating lunch with them in the cafeteria. I am so glad I was able to be a part of this experience, as it will be one that I will never forget.
Kelsey WoodsThe most memorable thing was when Mr. Cohen invited my shadow Irfan up to teach my AP United States History class about Pakistan.