Feature Friday: Congratulations, Class of 2014!

At 6pm Friday evening Nipmuc Regional High School celebrated the school's 54th annual commencement exercises. This has been an exceptional class to work with. This group of students has played an integral role in setting the high academic expectations of our school. 66% of these students took AP classes during their time at Nipmuc. Over 90% of students achieved advanced or proficient scores in all areas of MCAS. They have been accepted to 173 colleges and earned more than 2.4 million dollars of scholarship money through their achievement. In addition to being such high achievers, they are also everything I could hope for in senior role models. They are accepting and welcoming and respectful. I know they will make us proud with their accomplishments after high school.

Congratulations, Class of 2014!

Feature Friday: The Leaders of the Class of 2014

Class of 2014 Officers:
(l-r) Treasurer Laura Ng, Secretary Robby Aziz, President Emily Wojtowicz, and Vice President Abby Griswold

Yesterday Nipmuc congratulated its seniors on their last formal school day of their high school career. Today the class is celebrating their upcoming graduation with a day-long trip to Boston complete with a visit to the Boston Aquarium, Faneuil Hall,  and Fenway Park before ending the night with a cruise through Boston Harbor. This trip as well as prom and so many other senior activities was organized and run through the thoughtful and dedicated planning of the senior class officers. President Emily Wojtowicz, Vice President Abigail Griswold, Treasurer Laura Ng, and Secretary Robert Aziz have provided their classmates with exceptional leadership throughout their high school career. It has been a pleasure to work with a leadership team that is as caring, organized, and accountable as this group of officers. They have set a phenomenal example for our entire school, and I'm proud to have worked with them throughout their years at our school.

In today's feature I'm happy to share a few thoughts of our senior leaders as they get ready for the excitement and satisfaction of graduation.

Senior Class President Emily Wojtowicz:
Q: What graduation activities are you most excited for?
A: Working as class president these past three years has been an unforgettable experience. Freshman year I was as shy as a girl could be. However, having this leadership position has helped me grow so much. The most important lesson I have learned is to cherish the moments and the memories with those around you. Planning prom, the class trip, senior night, etc. has been so much fun. However, the most satisfying feeling is to enjoy these events with my peers. We are celebrating these past four years together. It gives us a chance not only to say goodbye but also to say thank you to those who have shaped our lives. It is truly a celebration.

Senior Class Vice President Abigail Griswold:
Q: What have you most enjoyed about your role as a class officer?
A: Being a class officer has given me the opportunity to develop relationships with the teachers and administration in and outside of the classroom. I never would have realized what amazing, organized, helpful, and caring people there are within the walls of Nipmuc that dedicate their free time to making students' experiences unforgettable. They helped make stressful times a little easier and never failed to give me and my fellow class officers positive reassurance. I'm extremely thankful for the relationships and connections I have forged with faculty during my time as a class officer at Nipmuc.

Senior Class Treasurer Laura Ng:
Q: What have you most enjoyed about your role as a class officer?
A: Being a class treasurer for the past three years has been a truly enriching experience. Class office has taught me about leadership and accountability, but the part I most enjoyed about holding an office was being able to really know my fellow classmates. I feel like not many people get to say they've had conversations with every member of their graduating class, and being able to say with veracity that it is an experience I would not trade for anything. The Class of 2014 is truly exceptional and getting to know its members in the capacity I have is an honor and a privilege.

Senior Class Secretary Robert Aziz:
Q: What have you enjoyed about your role as a class officer?
A: Being a class officer has been an extremely fulfilling role. The thing I most enjoyed about being an officer was feeling that I made an impact on the class as a whole. Making an impact on the experiences, events, and everyday lives of the class filled me with a great feeling of content. I am so blessed to have watched the class grow. Being a part of the widespread success of the class and seeing their happiness is truly what I enjoyed the most about my role as class officer.

Congratulations, Honors Scholars!

Last night I enjoyed the chance to attend the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce's Honors Scholar Dinner, celebrating the top 10% of our senior class. The students attended with their families and were recognized individually for their academic achievement. President of the Senior Class, Emily Wojtowicz, spoke about the determination that is exhibited by her classmates. Emily also spoke eloquently about the success of her peers and shared each student's future plans when introducing them. It was a proud moment for me to stand beside this group of scholars.

The students honored were:

Jesse Arsenault
Nicole Bozzini
Sam Chiburis
Wally Esker
Joey Gallagher
Tiffany Griffith
Leigh Hamlet
Peter Jordan
Kayleigh Kearnan
Lily Kerxhali-Kleinfeld
Melanie Kossuth
Nicole Mazzola
Rachel Murphy
Laura Ng
Rachel Plante
Sarah Wadehul
Rose Wiklund
Emily Wojtowicz

Announcements May 19 - 23, 2014

Morning Announcements
Drama Workshop will be meeting in the cafeteria today (Wed. 5/21) from 2 - 3:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!

All seniors please see Mrs. V. in the media center to have senior sign out sheets signed.  Any seniors who have books out or owe money for books must return their books or pay money by Thursday.

If you enjoy indoor trampoline parks - come to the class of 2017 fundraiser at SKyZone in Westborough on June 4th from 3 - 8 p.m. 

A donation drive for homeless children and families local to our area will be running this week.  All donations made will be entered into a raffle for new Bose headphones.  See the fliers posted around school for donation ideas and more details.

One student is needed to help Mr. Fowler with Upton Cable on graduation day.  This student will help set up equipment on Friday afternoon and help in the eagle's nest during the ceremony.  See Mrs. Kyrka in room 217 ASAP.

Remember to pick up registration forms for the Wiffle Ball Tournament on June 7 in the office in Sra. Soto's room 313.  $5 per person and $45 per team of 9.  Please return forms with fee to Cullen Farragher or Emily Santos before June 2nd.

Seniors:  Mrs. Callahan will be here Tues. 5/20, Weds. 5/21 & Thurs. 5/22 from 7 a.m. - noon for locker clean out checks.  Please have lockers cleaned out, locks off so she can sign off on your sign out sheet.

Registration for VHS classes for next year has been extended.  Any student wishing to take VHS classes please see Mrs. V. in the media center for forms.  Register ASAP.

Applications are available in the office and on-line for the June Driver Education Classroom Program starting June 21st.  The class will be one week.  Please see application for details.  Return completed application with check to the main office.

There will be a very brief meeting on Wednesday, May 21st at 2:10 in room 114 for all boys interested in playing basketball next year.  If you cannot attend, contact Coach Manzello or see Mr. Leaver.

All seniors athletes and senior members of the cheerleading squad - please check the board across the athletic office for your name and sports in which you participated at the varsity level.  The list consists of only those athletes who competed at the varsity level during their senior year.  If you have any questions or concerns see Mr. Leaver ASAP as the information needs to be sent by May 22nd.

Reminder:  Athletic Banquet is Tuesday June 3rd at Imperial Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.  See Mr. Leaver with any questions.

Guidance Announcements
Attention Seniors!  Access Bellingham-Mendon, Inc. has extended the deadline for their $1,000 scholarship!  Applicants must reside in Bellingham or Mendon and have an interest in mass communications but do not have to be pursuing that major in college.  Applications are available in the Nipmuc guidance office.

Reminder to all Seniors:  graduation surveys must be completed in Naviance before you can sign out on Thursday. 

Two after-school babysitter positions are available for the fall.  For more information about these part time opportunities.  Please see Mrs. Moore in the guidance office if you are interested.

Attention Juniors:  the Student College Planning Worksheet (yellow form) is now available.  Juniors should log into Naviance, click the "About Me" tab and survey can be found on the left side.  The survey must be completed by the end of the school year in order for your counselor to write your college letter of recommendation.  Please see your counselor if you have any questions.

Feature Friday: Best in Show Artist Rose Wiklund

Rose Wiklund and her best-in-show portfolio

On Tuesday of this week Nipmuc celebrated another phenomenal Fine Arts Festival, the display of student art work that has become an annual highlight of our spring. During the Fine Arts Festival, students who participate in our award-winning art program share their work with students, parents, and the community. Accompanying their work are reflections and perspectives on the creative process, the meaning of their pieces, and the process they used to complete their work. As part of the art show artists and art teachers from other schools judge the pieces and award students for their achievement.

This year the art show's highest award - the best in show portfolio - was awarded to Rose Wiklund. Rose is a senior at Nipmuc who is preparing to attend the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in the fall. I asked her to share some of her thoughts about her pieces and her experience with art. Our conversation is included below: 

Q: When did you first become interested in being an artist? 

A: I first wanted to be an artist when I was very young.  My parents bought a refrigerator and we used to draw like cave dwellers on the inside of the refrigerator box with crayons.  It was my first studio.  My parents are painters too, and above our sofa for my entire childhood hung an enormous abstract painting my dad did in college.  They are always very supportive of my art.  I used to fold pieces of paper in half, scribble lines on the inside, and draw pictures on the front, designing hundreds of book covers for these "books" for a "library" I kept in a shoebox.  I drew for hours with my sister, telling stories about circuses, princesses, and cats as I drew.  One day, I drew a beautiful woman wearing a fancy dress adorned with many brightly colored jewels.  But I drew her lips black.  I was so angry.  The drawing was perfect except for the black lips.  I couldn't stand to look at it anymore.  That was the first time I criticized my own artwork.

Q: What was your goal in creating your portfolio? 

A: In creating my portfolio, I wanted to show my diversity as an artist, and also the subjects I am most passionate about drawing.  I used charcoal, acrylics, markers, colored pencils, and watercolors, and in my portfolio, some pieces are realistic, while others are surreal or abstract.  This year, not only did I have to submit a portfolio to art schools, but I also had an AP Art class in which I created a concentration.  My concentration was a comic book since I am highly influenced by comic art like "Watchmen" and James Jean's illustrations.  It is based off a mythology a group of my friends and I created based on symmetry.  Symmetry and asymmetry are the forces of good and evil in this world, and four goddesses, Rotatia, Translatia, Dilatia, and Reflectia, govern the universe.  I wanted the story I illustrated to be an epic tale, filled with fascinating characters and plot twists.  Along the way during this project, I have learned many storytelling and layout techniques, as well as dialogue, composition, and perspective.  It is a complex but rewarding process.

Q: What pieces are you proudest of? 

A: My favorite pieces are ones which I am satisfied with technically as well as conceptually.  I love my "Creation of Adam" piece, which I based off of Michelangelo but instead of human forms for God and man, I used an Adam prototype, one of the early drafts of man, and a God which is both male and female, and made from human body parts but arranged in a new way.  I'm also proud of my comic book.

Q: What are your plans for life after Nipmuc? Will you be pursuing your interest and talent as an artist?
A: After I graduate I plan to attend MassArt in Boston for illustration.  I want to be either a comic artist, a freelance illustrator, or a book cover/ magazine art designer.

Congratulations, Rose. Included below is another picture of Rose's portfolio. 

Announcements May 12 - 16, 2014

Morning Announcements
Seniors:  Mrs. Callahan will be here on Tuesday 5/20, Wednesday 5/21 & Thursday 5/22 between 7 am - noon for locker clean out checks.  Please have lockers cleaned out, locks off the locker so she can sign your sign out sheet before you leave on 5/22.

Applications are available for the June Driver's Education Classroom Program.  The class will run one week.  Please see the application for details.  Please return the completed application with payment to the office.

Sarah Wadehul, Maddie Morgan and Erin Kelly please see Mrs. Kyrka ASAP.

Remember to pick up registration forms in the office or Sra. Soto's room 313 for the Wiffle Ball Tournament on June 7 - $5 per person, $45 per team of 9.  Please return forms with payment to Cullen Farragher or Emily Santos or Srs. Soto before June 2nd.

There will be a third bus for transportation to the prom.  Anyone who has signed up for this will have a seat.

There is a donation drive for local homeless children and families running May 19 - 23.  All donations made will be entered into a raffle for new Bose headphones.  See the fliers posted around the school for donation ideas and more details.

One student is needed to help Upton Cable on graduation day.  The volunteer will help set up equipment with Mr. Fowler from Upton Cable after dismissal  on Friday afternoon (5/30) and then help in the eagle's nest during the graduation ceremony (6 pm - 8:30 pm).  Interested individuals should see Mrs. Kyrka in room 217 ASAP.

Attention STEM Scholars:  The bus to Olin College will leave at 7:45 am tomorrow morning (Tuesday, 5/13).  The bus will return in time for afternoon activities and athletics.  In order to attend you must complete a field trip permission form.  They will be distributed in your C block class today.

Attention Senior Athletes and Senior members of the Cheerleading Squad - please check the board across from the athletic office for your name and sports in which you participated at varsity level.  The list consists of only those athletes who competed at the varsity level during senior year.  If you have any questions or concerns, see Mr. Leaver as soon as possible as the information needs to be sent by May 22nd. 

Senior Athlete Reminder:  Athletic banquet is Tuesday, June 3rd at the Imperial Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.  See Mr. Leaver for tickets.

Did you miss the Operation Wallacea meeting but are interested in the 2015 trip to Dominica?  Please see Mrs. Field in room 120 for information.

All students interested in the France/Barcelona trip should sign up online.  If you did not attend the informational meeting, please stop by room 136 and talk to Ms. Reardon.

Will you miss the seniors when they are gone?  "Kiss a Senior Goodbye" (chocolate candy kisses) on sale for 25 cents in the cafeteria May 12 - 16th.

Please see Mrs. Grady in the office today (Mon., 5/12): Dylan Applegate, Sydney Plouffe, Matt Verrone.

A reminder to all Seniors interested in being part of Interfaith.  There will be a meeting on Tuesday afternoon (5/13) at 3:00 in the gathering room for those interested in speaking or performing a musical selection.  Please see Mr. Ferris today (Monday, 5/12) if you are interested.

Babysitters are needed during a teacher's meeting on Monday, May 19, from 3:45 - 5:15 p.m.  Sign up in Mrs. Kyrka's room 217.

Registration for VHS classes for next year has been extended.  Any student wishing to take VHS classes please see Mrs. V. in the media center for forms.  Please register ASAP.

If you enjoy indoor trampoline parks, then listen up!  The class of 2017 will be hosting a fundraiser at SkyZone Westborough on June 4th from 3 - 8 pm.  Jump ticket prices range from $9-$21.  Bring your family and friends for a night of fun!  Form more information see Sra. Ahmed-Jussaume or Annabelle Hentz.

Guidance Announcements
Reminder to all Seniors:  Graduation surveys must be completed on Naviance before you can sign out!

Attention Juniors:  The Student College Planning Worksheet (yellow form) is now available.  Juniors should log into Naviance, click the "About Me" tab and survey can be found on the left side.  The survey must be completed by the end of this school year in order for your counselor to write your college letter of recommendation.  Please see your counselor with any questions.

Two after school babysitter positions are available for the fall.  For more information, please see Mrs. Moore in the guidance office.

Feature Friday: Sequoia TracyStone and TechGirlz

Nipmuc sophomore
Sequoia TracyStone

Last Saturday we welcomed five Harvard University students to Nipmuc to introduce some of our female students to computer science. Our visitors are part of Harvard's Women in Computer Science group; through this group they offer schools a program called TechGirlz which teaches coding concepts to females in order to get them excited about this important and expanding area. It was empowering to listen to the instructors as they made complex concepts interesting and accessible. It was also exciting to hear that after only a few years of coding these young women have plans to work at Facebook, intern at Google, travel to Ghana for volunteer work, and start a company - all based on their knowledge of coding. 

This program would not have come to Nipmuc without the support and initiative of sophomore Sequoia TracyStone. Sequoia introduced me to the idea of highlighting computer science for our female students after taking a summer program with a group called "Girls Who Code." With Sequoia's assistance, Nipmuc was introduced to TechGirlz and able to establish this partnership with Harvard University. Sequoia participated in our session last Saturday. I asked her to share some of her thoughts about this experience for this week's feature. 

Q: How did you become interested in computer science? Tell me about your experience with the summer program in CS. 

A: I first became interested in computer science when I attended the Girls Who Code workshop a few years ago. I signed up unsure if I would like it, and I had no experience with coding at all. I ended up really enjoying it. During the summer program, I worked with a very passionate instructor who patiently taught me the basics of coding. Although it was challenging at first, I soon developed an understanding of how to code. By the end of the program I was able to program a robot on my own to perform various tasks such as navigate a maze and find items in another room. 

Q: What were you hoping to achieve in helping to bring TechGirlz to Nipmuc?

A: I hoped to bring awareness to girls in my school system that coding and computer science are fields that are not only accessible to women, but that there is a massive demand for women in these fields. Computer science is currently a vastly male-dominated field, and if TechGirlz helped even a single girl realize an interest in pursuing a career in computer science, I will consider the program a success. Even familiarizing girls with coding and computer science at a young age makes the field less intimidating and more of an opportunity. 

Harvard sophomore Hannah Blumberg teaching
Nipmuc's TechGirlz session

Q: What did I learn from the instructors during the session?

A: During the session the Harvard students taught me not only the basics of coding, but also their experiences as women in computer science. They taught me about how computer science can be applicable to everyday life, as well as the increasing need for women trained in computer science in today's competitive workforce.

Q: What would you say to female students who are considering studying computer science?

A: I would encourage any female students considering computer science to give it a try, especially if they are unfamiliar with it. They will gain experience in a field that is extremely marketable in today's economy. They may find that it is something they enjoy doing, and that it isn't as complex and difficult as it's made out to be. 

I'm thankful for Sequoia's assistance in organizing this program. TechGirlz aligns with the goals of Nipmuc's STEM Scholars initiative. Additionally, we hope to inspire more students to take computer science through our updated program of studies. Next year all sophomores will take some computer science through "Fundamentals of Mathematics". Additionally, we're excited to begin our second year with Advanced Placement Computer Science. With the help of TechGirlz we're excited to increase student interest in computer science and coding!

1:1 Learning Presentation to Students

On Wednesday morning we met with all of our 9th - 11th graders to explain the 1:1 learning initiative and give them a chance to learn more about what it will mean to use iPads as a key part of teaching and learning. After meeting with students at each grade level, we brought them to a 1:1 learning fair that we set up in the gym. Students had the chance to speak with representatives from Uxbridge High School and Grafton High School - both of which have implemented 1:1 learning with iPads. Their teachers and students shared their experiences with our students including the many ways that the use of this technology has impacted their experiences at their school. We also included presentations from Nipmuc music, our media center, the art department, guidance counselors, the technology department, and students who have completed research on iPad cases. It was great to generate so much conversation about this initiative and our plans.

Last week we published our website that explains the pricing options and resources for our 1:1 learning program. It also includes timelines (June 6/June 15) for when students are asked to choose an iPad plan for the 2014-15 school year. You can access that website by clicking here. Check out "iPad Options" for the plans that are available to students and the printable enrollment form.

You can review Wednesday's presentation to juniors by clicking below:

Announcements May 5 - 9, 2014

Morning Announcements
Today is the last day to purchase Prom tickets!  Tickets will be on sale during breaks and after school until 2:30.  No prom tickets will be sold after 2:30 today!

Seniors!  Please purchase Senior Night tickets in the main office today!  Senior DVD forms and Senior Trip $ is due in the main office by the end of the day today (5/9).

Tonight's the Night!  The Eric Dittelman fundraiser show is this evening (5/9) at 7 p.m. in the Nipmuc auditorium.  For every ticket you purchase, you will be entered in a raffle to win an exclusive set of Alex and Ani bracelets!  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or during green wing break today.  We hope to see you tonight for a a great show!

Babysitters are needed during the Union meeting on May 19th.  You are needed from 3:45 - 5:15.  Please sign up in Mrs. Kyrka's room 217.

Important!  All permission slips for the Children's Hospital trip on Saturday, May 10th, need to be turned in ASAP.  Bus leaves at 8 a.m.  Please let Mrs. Laflash know if you are going or if you are unable to go. 

Will you miss the seniors when they are gone?  "Kiss a Senior Goodbye" - chocolate kisses on sale for 25cents in the cafeteria May 12 - 16.

NHS Seniors - please pick up your portfolios in Mrs. Kyrka's room 217.

Did you miss the Operation Wallacea meeting but are interested in the 2015 trip to Dominica?  Please see Mrs. Field in room 120 for information.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!  Thank you to our teachers for everything you do and for making such a positive impact on your students' lives.  Lunch will be served in the PDC for all our incredible teachers.

Congratulations to next year's National Honor Society E-board: President - Roma Gujarathi, Vice President - Catherine Hill, Secretary - Elizabeth Nigro, Treasurer - Kurt Robakiewicz, Web Master - Lindsay Bailey.

All students interested in the France/Barcelona trip should be signing up online.  If you did not attend the informational meeting, please stop by room 136 and speak to Ms. Reardon.

Please see Mrs. Grady in the office today (5/6):  Matthew Annesi, Will Berner, Aleena MacEachern, Mike McGowan, Hannah Poe, Evan Tamgni.

Straight from America's Got Talent and the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the comedic mind reader Eric Dittelman will be performing at Nipmuc this Friday, May 9th.  Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased during any break Monday - Friday or from Junior Regan Conrad.

If you enjoy indoor trampoline parks, then listen up! The class of 2017 will be hosting a fundraiser at SkyZone in Westborough on June 4th from 3 - 8 p.m.  Jump ticket prices range from $9 - $21.  Bring your family and friends for a night of fun!  For more information contact Sra. Ahmed-Jussaume or Annabelle Hentz.

Reminder to all Seniors who have not received their graduation tickets to attend a meeting at 10:00 this morning in the gathering room.

Registration for VHS classes for next year has been extended.  Any student wishing to take VHS classes, please see Mrs. Venkataraman in the media center for forms.  Please register ASAP.

Permission forms for the Children's Hospital trip on May 10th can be found in Mrs. Laflash's room 121.

People helping with the NHS car wash - sign up for the times you are helping.  If you have not signed up - please come and help!  Sign up in Mrs. Kyrka's room  217.

Seniors:  Please order the class DVD by this Friday, May 9th. 

Yearbook meeting on Tuesday night, 5/6, in room 235 from 6 - 8 p.m.

Can you picture yourself trekking through the rain forest or learning to scuba dive while conduting scientific research on a Caribbean Island?  If so, join the Wallacea Trip to Dominica in the summer of 2015.  Informational meeting May 7th at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

TechGirlz Session Tomorrow: Space Still Available!!!

Space is still available for female students in grades 8-12 who want to learn more about computer science! Through a partnership with Harvard University, Nipmuc Regional High School will be offering TechGirlz free of charge to female students in grades 8-12. The program will take place at Nipmuc tomorrow - Saturday, May 3 from 9:30am – 12:30pm.

Five undergraduate students from Harvard will be with us to provide an interesting, accessible, and free introduction to computer science. This project aligns with Nipmuc’s focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Please sign up to be part of this program by completing the form below. Although space is available at this time, there is a limited number of seats available for the program. 

Feature Friday: Nipmuc's Five Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Graduates

BVYLA Graduates (L-R) Rebecca Rausch, Kristina Dubois,
Abigail Colombo, Gabrielle Diodati, and Will Applegate

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy's (BVYLA) graduation ceremonies. The BVYLA is a program offered by the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation that provides leadership training in a 40-hour program that meets throughout the course of the school year. This year Nipmuc was fortunate to have five members of the 2014 BVYLA cohort. The students completed the program, receiving training in areas of goal-setting, managing and marketing strategies, peer review, civic engagement, and presentation. In addition, each student completed an extensive public service project. The five members of this program representing Nipmuc include: William Applegate, Abigail Colombo, Gabrielle Diodati, Kristina Dubois, and Rebecca Rausch. For this week's feature, I had the chance to ask the students about their experience in the program. Their thoughts about this leadership experience are included below: 

Will Applegate
Q: How has the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy improved your ability as a leader?
A: I joined the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy because I wanted to improve my leadership skills.  As I reflect, I think that I have gained a lot of important knowledge regarding leadership through this program.  I learned a great deal about how to to make a good impression through appearance and how to conduct myself at formal meetings such as interviews and public speeches.  I also believe that this academy has improved the way I make important decisions and how I go through the decision making process.  My planning, teamwork, and cooperation skills have also improved as a result of our lessons.  I now have a greater understanding of how I learn best and of my own personality.  I am convinced that my time with this program has given me tools for success as an effective leader.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments from your participation in this year-long program?

A: This program has given me some memorable experiences.  I remember the team building exercise that we did at the first meeting, which was a contest to see which group could build the tallest and sturdiest tower using a limited amount of supplies.  Many other fun activities similar to this are memorable to me, such as the "human knot" game, because they helped improve my communication and problem solving skills.  I believe the most memorable part of the program was the community service project, because I put in a lot of effort and was very satisfied with the result of my project.  I am sure that I will remember my experiences in this program for many years to come.

Abigail Colombo 

Q: How has the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy improved your ability as a leader?

A: Through my experience in the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy, I've noticed my leadership abilities have strengthened. Before I was a part of this organization, I never had run a project of my own or led a group of people. This experience allowed me to take the initiative in conducting a project.  Now that I have been a true leader in a community service project, I feel my leadership abilities are stronger than ever. Next time I have to lead a project, I will be more confident in my abilities knowing I have had a positive and successful experience.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments from your participation in this year-long program?

A: My experience in the year-long program was nothing but positive. For me, my favorite part was meeting new teenagers from surrounding towns.  Being from a small school system, it was fun to get to meet other kids who shared similar interests as me.  It was also enjoyable to get to travel to different locations around the Blackstone Valley and become more familiar with my community.  My favorite location that we went to was the River Bend Farm in Uxbridge during the fall.  We were able to walk around and appreciate the beautiful landscape/scenery.

Gabrielle Diodati

Q: How has the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy improved your ability as a leader?

A: It was a great opportunity and I am glad I was able to be a part of it. To answer your first question I would have to say yes! It definitely has improved my ability as a leader. In the beginning I had a vague idea of what being a leader meant. But through this Academy I was able to find what qualities I as a leader could bring to the table and areas I could improve. It helped me to learn new techniques that will help me become a better leader. 

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments from your participation in this year-long program?

A: I would say some of the most memorable moments I had were being able to collaborate with other students from surrounding towns and bounce ideas off of one another. Hearing everyones ideas and the way they are going to help out the community was very appealing. You could see all the hard work these students were putting in. I also loved the tools we used to find out what type of leader we were. We used these tests to help us get a better understanding of what were our strong assets and maybe what weren't. And I have to say using the techniques helped a ton and made me want to fix the ways in which I could improve.

 

Kristina Dubois
Q: How has the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy improved your ability as a leader?
A: During the first few classes of BVYLA, we discussed as a group the positive qualities that a leader must have and the responsibility it takes to be a successful leader. After hearing other classmate’s opinions on what these qualities were, I realized that many of them were traits that I had already developed but had not been focusing on. Some of these included being outgoing enough to interact with others, having good listening skills, and being organized. By completing several activities, I was able to focus on these characteristics and use them to my advantage. I found that it became easier for me to step up as a leader not only during BVYLA classes but also in school and other situations I was confronted with.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments from your participation in this year-long program?

A: Some of the most memorable moments from BVYLA came about during our class discussions about what our plans were for our projects. Each week, we all shared any changes in our project along with problems we were facing and provided one another with constructive criticism. Many of the challenges I faced were solved by advice given to me by my BVYLA classmates. My other most memorable memories include several of the games we played where working together was essential. I really enjoyed meeting students from other towns and getting to know them through fun activities.

Rebecca Rausch

Q: How has the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy improved your ability as a leader?

A: BVYLA has taught me important qualities needed to be a successful leader.  I have learned to be much more confident while speaking in front of a large group and how to take charge when no one else will.  Also I learned how to communicate with many people who might be shy or do not want to speak up which will help me a lot in my future.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments from your participation in this year-long program?

A: One of my favorite memories of this program is the first day we met.  We were all very shy and felt uncomfortable; but then we did an icebreaker where we had to build a structure as a team and whichever was tallest won. It was really funny seeing the different structures and many of them collapsed. After that we all got to know each other and had a lot of fun.

Congratulations to our students for their completion of this great program. 

Junior Ian Murphy - Term 3 Core Values Essay Winner

Junior Ian Murphy

The first thing that a visitor will notice upon entering our school is the posting of our school's four core values: academics, high expectations, accountability, and respect. The posting of the values announces to our students, teachers, and parents what our school believes in and what guides our daily work of teaching and learning.

In addition to this posting, the school also has a series of quotations posted in our hallways that reflects these four values. While the postings provide a reminder of our beliefs, the best representation of what drives Nipmuc can be found in the actions our students. With that in mind we've offered a series of essay contests this year in which students write about what the values mean to them.

I am proud to announce that junior Ian Murphy is the winner of the term three essay contest. Ian wrote an articulate essay about the impact his grandfather had on his ambition to learn and achieve. He discussed the value of academics in his life and how he has pursued this at Nipmuc. Included below are two excerpts from his comments:

"The value of academics follows us throughout our lives, as evident by my grandfather, whom I have a profound respect for simply because of what he knows and what he valued growing up:  academics.  So underrated, so coveted, and so abundant in our everyday lives, it is the value that you can never crave too much of, academics is the value that has no limits."

"I pride myself on academics and intellect in hopes that it will make me the appreciated and intelligent person I want to be, and Nipmuc presents to me everything I need to fulfill my desire for more and more knowledge.  I was nearly overwhelmed by the range and amount of class choices available one year, with topics ranging from infectious diseases to macroeconomics.  This wide array of courses is the comprehensive academic opportunity that fuels the fire in my drive to learn as much as I can.  It is what will allow me to be the knowledgeable and valued person I wish to be."

Thank you, Ian, and congratulations on winning this essay contest. Thank you to those students who submitted so many wonderful essays in this third round of the contest.