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

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

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!

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 11^th.  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.

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 Woods – The most memorable thing was when Mr. Cohen invited my shadow Irfan up to teach my AP United States History class about Pakistan.

On the Way to the States! Good luck, Cheerleaders

Nipmuc Cheerleaders

What a week it has been for Nipmuc sports as we prepare for a weekend of state championship competition. On Sunday afternoon the Nipmuc cheerleading team will compete at Lowell High School in the state championships. The team has enjoyed awesome success this year, qualifying for states after last Sunday's performance in the regional competition at Shepherd Hill High School. 

As we get ready for the competition, I had the chance to meet with the captains of the team - seniors Lauren Comfort, Alyssa Imparato, and Madison Polay - to hear about the team and their excitement for this weekend's state championships. 

Included below are questions and answers from my interview with the captains: 

Madison Polay

Q: What has been the most memorable part of your season? 
A: For us, the most memorable part of the season was when they announced Nipmuc was 3rd place and we were moving on to States.  At the beginning of the season, this was our main goal.  At Regionals competing against many great teams, we were shocked and thrilled when they announced our name.  For the seniors, it was the highlight of our cheerleading careers.  We have come together as a team and have worked so hard; competing at States will truly be an honor for us.

Lauren ComfortQ: What makes this team so successful? 

A: From day one this team has been special in my eyes.  Being a captain, I have discovered everyone's special qualities that they contribute to this team every day at practice.  Through showing pride for our school, support for each other, and believing in our goal - this has made us successful.  There is so much talent within each of us as we progressed from August until now.  We would not have been able to succeed without the support and dedication from our coaches and fans.  What makes our team successful is held within our hearts, as every performance is driven by our passion and love for cheerleading.

Alyssa Imparato

Q: Beyond making it to the state championships, what are some of your team's greatest accomplishments? 

A: Some of our team's greatest accomplishments besides making it to States was truly becoming a team.  In the beginning of the year we all had our cliques and as the season went on and competitions passed, our team grew to be like sisters rather than just teammates.  Also, we realized at the mid-point of our season that we had the talent to make it to States.  Our attitudes changed from negative to positive and we became 100% dedicated to achieving our team goal.

Thank you, captains, and good luck, Warriors! 

Please be aware that a parent-chaperoned fan bus has been organized for students and parents who would like to support our team. The bus will leave Nipmuc at 2pm on Sunday and return to Nipmuc at approximately 6:30pm. The charge to take the bus is $5. The bus may be a good option for parents as well, as there is a $10 charge for parking at Lowell High School. The sign-up form for the bus is located in the main office at Nipmuc. The sign-up form will be available until the end of the day on Friday. We hope to have a great group of fans supporting our cheerleaders!

Included below you will find the performance from last Sunday's Regional Championships: 

State Championships

It will be an exciting weekend for Nipmuc sports as two of our fall sports teams will compete in the state championships.

Congratulations to our cheerleaders for their outstanding year and for qualifying for the state championship competition. The competition will take place Sunday at Lowell High School. The group competition begins at 3pm with Nipmuc expected to perform at approximately 4:10pm.

A parent-chaperoned fan bus has been organized for students and parents who would like to support our team. The bus will leave Nipmuc at 2pm on Sunday and return to Nipmuc at approximately 6:30pm. The charge to take the bus is $5. The bus may be a good option for parents, as well, as there is a $10 charge for parking at Lowell High School. The sign-up form for the bus is located in the main office at Nipmuc. The sign-up form will be available until the end of the day on Friday.

We hope to have a great group of fans supporting our cheerleaders!

We're also excited for our girls soccer team which will play the winner of the Dedham/Lynnfield game on Friday night at WPI beginning at 7:30pm. The girls earned their place in the state championship game following last night's semi-final victory over Wahconah High School by a score of 5-0.

Good luck to the cheerleading team and the girls soccer team. Go Warriors!

Announcements November 17 - 21, 2014

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

Congratulations to our cheerleaders for their outstanding year and for qualifying for the state championship competition!  The competition will take place Sunday at Lowell High School.  The group competition begins at 3 pm with Nipmuc expected to perform at approximately 4:10 pm. 

A parent-chaperoned fan bus has been organized for students and parents who would like to support our team.  The bus will leave Nipmuc at 2pm on Sunday and return to Nipmuc at approximately 6:30pm.  The charge to take the bus is $5.  The bus may be a good option for parents as well, as there is a $10 charge for parking at Lowell High School.  The sign-up form for the bus is located in the main office at Nipmuc.  The sign-up form will be available until the end of the day on Friday.

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.

Congratulations to the boys soccer team on a tremendous season!  The boys were runners up in the Central MA championship following a hard-fought game against Oakmont on Saturday night.

Congratulations to our girls soccer team for their victory in the district championship!  The girls won their game against Holy Name on Saturday and will move to the state semi-finals on Tuesday, 11/18.  The game will take place at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Westfield State College against Wahconah High School.  A fan bus has been organized for students.  The fee for the bus is $5.  The bus will leave at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday.  Sign-ups in the main office.  Space is limited.  Please be reminded that it also costs $5 to get into the game.

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.

Are you interested in a pie eating contest or a basketball half-shot contest during the FAST pep rally?  Sign up in Sra. Soto's room 313.  The last day to sign up is Wednesday, November 19th.  The contestant will be picked on the day of FAST.

There will be a newspaper meeting today - 11/17, Tuesday 11/18, and Friday - 11/21.

Attention Freshmen Class Officers and e-board members - please attend a FAST planning meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, 11/18 before school in room 238.  All are welcome to attend!

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.

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

Guidance Announcements

An Admission Counselor from  Lynchburg College will hold an information session at Nipmuc on November 19^th.  Sign up in Guidance or on Naviance to receive a pass to attend this information

session.

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 11^th.  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.

Student Feature Friday: Nipmuc's Equestrian Experts!

Last evening I had the chance to meet with eighth graders and their parents in order to provide them with information about our school and our students. As the night came to a close, I encouraged them to take some time to read some of my"Feature Friday" posts in order to see some of the amazing accomplishments of our students. I talked about the diverse range of activities and interests of our students. This week's post provides another example of students whose have developed expertise through their hard work and dedication to their interests.

I'm proud this week to feature four students who have a passion for working with horses. In the comments of Chelsea, Abby, Trenton, and Ciara you will find four stories of commitment, personal growth, achievement, and aspirations that result from their dedication to equestrian sports. Enjoy!

Chelsea Gorius

Chelsea Gorius

Q: How did you get interested in working with horses? Tell me about your current experiences working with horses. 
A: I have been riding horses since I was seven; however, I took a few years off around the age of 10. I have always loved horses since I was little, any mention of a horse when I was younger would get me so excited.  After not riding for a while my mother surprised by signing me up for lessons again in the summer of 2010.  Since then I just haven't been able to stop.  I bought my first horse in 2011 and showed local and state shows for awhile.  For the next year or so I really got into showing.  I show on the AQHA circuit which is the most popular single breed circuit in the world.  In the fall of 2012, I made the decision to switch to a barn in Harwinton, Connecticut.  At Powder Brook Farm I have learned so much from my trainers.  During 2013 I traveled to different states with my new horse to get into the MUCH larger shows.  This past year I again had a new horse and went to many shows in many states throughout the year.  Showing the all-around category I typically show six different kinds of classes between Western and English at horse shows.  My riding has improved drastically since I went to PBF and I have been lucky enough to have won many all around titles at many shows. In July I was named Highpoint Novice Youth at the Big A show in Conyers, Georgia and I won a saddle for the award.  In October I went to the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the largest single breed horse show in the world.  At the show I received multiple top ten awards and I finished Reserve Congress Champion in my Novice Equitation class out of 120 competitors.  Riding at this level is so rewarding but also hard.  Horse shows typically involve me getting up at 5 or earlier and not going to bed until 11, only to do it all again the next day.  I spend every weekend at the barn in Connecticut just practicing and training in order to get better.  Even though it is hard I love showing more than anything and I know I wouldn't be who I am now without the experiences I have gotten through showing.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your experiences working with horses? 

A: The most rewarding part is knowing that after all of the blood, sweat, and tears (literally) that it all paid off.  Knowing that you were able to work with such an animal towards a goal.  Getting your horse to go over a pole, set up properly, or even to go with proper cadence is reward enough. Horses are a pain the butt to work with honestly, but for me it's the challenge they give that makes everything worth it in the end.  As sappy as it may sound there truly is no bond like the one between a girl and her horse.

Abigail Rapiejko

Abby Rapiejko

Q: How did you get interested in working with horses? Tell me about your current experiences working with horses. 

A: I began working with horses when I was five years old.  I attended a pony camp during the summer until I found my 4-H club, the Woodville Trailbusters 4-H Horse Club.  Currently, I ride my horse, Chief, in hunter classes (including flats and jumping) and gymkhana at 4-H shows at both the local and state level.  I have been the captain of my 4-H club's performing drill team for the past two years.  I am on a national horsebowl team that just competed in  Louisville, Kentucky. Horsebowl is a horse knowledge competition.  Questions are read and the first person to buzz in correctly gains points (and loses points if incorrectly). 

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your experiences working with horses? 

A: One of the most rewarding parts of working with horses is helping young children learn how to ride.  I have volunteered at a horse camp at my barn, and I love seeing the campers progress in their knowledge of caring for horses, riding, and driving.  It is very rewarding to perform in drill team in front of the public at the Middlesex County Fair. Drill team is a chorographed pattern of paired horses set to music with costumes.  

Trenton Ryder

Trenton Ryder

Q: How did you get interested in working with horses? Tell me about your current experiences working with horses. 

A: I discovered my passion for horses when my family went on a group trail ride at a local stable just for the fun of it. I loved it so much that I asked my mom to take me back for weekly lessons. Since then, I have worked at many stables and with many horses. That exposure has enabled me to learn a wide range of horse disciplines and training techniques. I currently work and ride for an Olympic level rider and trainer at her private farm in Uxbridge, MA. She specializes in the discipline of eventing. This style of riding consists of three disciplines over a span of three days; dressage, cross country, and show jumping. I work for her and her husband and ride her horse Wally (the horse in the picture). He is a dream! Wally and I have an unexplainable connection. I love him so much and am so grateful for the blessings God has given me. 

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your experiences working with horses? 

A: The most rewarding part of my experiences with horses is the joy I receive from simply being allowed pursue my dreams and passions with horses. I have never had the parents that give me everything to my heart's content. If I wanted it bad enough, I had to work to get it. That was no different with horses. I wanted to work for the trainer I do now for along time. It was up to me to set and build that relationship that I have with her and her husband; and believe me, it took a long time to get to the place that I am now. All in all, I did it, and that allows me to have the maximum amount of enjoyment possible. I also look forward to using horses in the future as a healing tool for abused and neglected children and families. I can't wait for the day where my ranch will enable thousands of children to feel and experience the joy I feel form being around and riding horses, the joy that i feel when I jump a four foot fence, the joy I feel from pursuing my dreams.  

Ciara Larence

Ciara Larence 

Q: How did you get interested in working with horses? Tell me about your current experiences working with horses. 
A: I became interested in working with horses when I got a horseback ride for my birthday. It started out as a one time until I got horseback riding lessons for a Christmas gift. Ever since that gift I have been riding horses consistently for about six years now. I recently went on a beach ride with my horse, which had been a huge experience for me because I have always wanted to do it. I am also currently in a drill team of a total of six horses, and that has given me a lot of new experiences. I am the youngest rider of the group and being able to work with adult riders have taught me a variety of new things. Horses are amazing creatures to work with and I have learned so much about myself and about them from working around horses.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your experiences working with horses?  
A: The most rewarding part of my experiences working with horses is the connection that I have made with the horses. Since each horse has their own quirks and personality traits, it's really rewarding to be able to get to know the horses. They have made me more aware of myself because they are perceptive of things that we, as humans, don't even notice ourselves. I think this is my most rewarding part because it has allowed me to become who I am and I know they will always be there for me.

Announcements November 10 - 14, 2014

Morning Announcements
Attention Freshmen Class Officers and e-board members - Please attend a FAST planning meeting on Tuesday, 11/18 before school in room 238.  All are welcome to attend!

Thursday is SUNDAE DAY! $2.00 sundaes at all lunches.

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

Warrior Voice newspaper meeting today (11/13) right after school in Ms. Hensler's room 213 and next Monday, Tuesday, and Friday (11/17, 18, 21).

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the National Honor Society, please meet with Mrs. Kyrka during first break on Friday, 11/14, in room 217.

Art Club will meet on Wednesday, 11/12 in Mr. Campbell's room 117.  All are welcome!

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

Tutor Needed for a 2nd grade student at Clough Elementary School - Tuesday& Wednesday - 3:30 - 4:00.  Please See Mrs. Kyrka, room 217 if interested.

Guidance Announcements
A Spanish tutor is needed for a Miscoe Hill Middle School student.  Please see Mrs. Fagan in the guidance office for more information.

Are you looking to do community service house?  Stop by the guidance office to see how you can volunteer.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery will be given at Nipmuc on Thursday, December 11.  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.

Student Feature Friday: Nipmuc's STEM Scholars & the STEM Career and College Fair

Nipmuc's STEM Scholars

It was an exciting day at Nipmuc as we welcomed approximately 40 professionals and university representatives to Nipmuc for the STEM Career and College Fair. The fair gave our students in the STEM Scholars Program - as well as all students in grades 8 - 12 - the chance to meet with professionals and educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The day was filled with a variety of ways for students to connect their experiences in our school district with real-world application of learning. From demonstrations of acoustics by Bose to seeing iRobots products in action to meeting with a cardiac nurse from Massachusetts General Hospital (and much more!), our students had the chance to get excited about how they could use their learning in the ever-growing STEM fields of study.

Students in the STEM Scholars Program entered the day following a two-hour interview workshop held yesterday with a professional recruiter from EMC. In addition to putting their skills to use in the fair, they participated in mock interviews hosted by our professional partners, talked about their STEM experiences with eighth graders, and learned about the new field of bioinformatics in working with Professor Liz Ryder from WPI and one of her students.  

In this week's feature, I'm highlighting some of our STEM Scholars as they talk about their experiences from the day and what they gained from these experiences.

Senior Nicole Murphy
Q: What was the most interesting part of the career fair?
A: I absolutely loved the career fair. It was so amazing to talk to people who are what I want to be…The most inspiring part was hearing from people who love what they do. It is liberating and exciting that I have these opportunities to make connections and learn about my future. It helps me solidify my dreams, and make me realize they are very realistic.”

Senior Madison Neri
Q: What was the most interesting part of the career fair?
A: The most interesting part of the career fair was seeing the variety of STEM jobs in one small space. Everywhere you looked there was a different career that was STEM centered that targeted a different purpose. For me, the Eco-friendly stations and then civil engineering tables were most interesting to me, however I still learned something new and interesting at every table I visited even if I was not interested in that career path. The variety of STEM jobs is crazy and we got to experience a piece of that.

(l-r) STEM Scholars Madison Neri, Jeremy Hall, Nicole Murphy and Matt DeVane

Senior Matt Devane
Q: What did you find most valuable about mock interviews?
A: By actually going through an interview, I realized the skills I need to improve on. Most importantly, I need to prepare specific anecdotes from my life that demonstrate the qualities I am trying to show the interviewer. That way, I will be more prepared to adequately answer their questions.

Junior Jillian Penfield

Q: What was your biggest takeaway from the presentation with Dr. Liz Ryder from WPI? 

A: My biggest takeaway from Dr. Ryder was that there is actually a way to combine computer science and biology. I have always loved biology, but I knew I didn't want to be a doctor or nurse, so why would I look into biology? She taught me that I could combine my passion of computer science with biology if I wanted to.

Senior Jeremy Hall
Q: What did you find most valuable about mock interviews?

A: The pressure. That nervous feeling in the stomach. I learned to control it, and executed the interview well. Being in the moment, thinking quickly, and receiving feedback were significant outputs. Being able to control myself when adrenaline is pumping and my heart is beating out of my chest is a valuable skill. Getting this experience well prepared me for a real interview.

(l-r) STEM Scholars Joria Todd, Catherine Hill, Kurt Robakiewicz, and Jillian Penfield

Senior Catherine Hill

Q: What were you biggest takeaways from the interview training with EMC trainer Linda Grecco? 

A: One of the biggest takeaways from the training with Linda Greco was learning how to present myself in front of professionals. She taught me how to look and act presentable in professional situations. The practice interview we did allowed me to see my flaws when talking and let me feel more comfortable in the situation. Her presentation also showed us how to create a good resume, including what to have and what to not have in the resume. She made a positive influence on my abilities of presenting myself. I have never been taught how to present myself in an interview and her presentation showed me exactly how to present myself in the best way possible. It is a hard task at first but she comforted everyone in the room by saying that practice makes perfect.

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I hope you have the chance to ask our students about today's STEM experiences. Thank you to all of our professional partners who helped to make the day a success. 

You can review the program for the day below: 

Tomorrow's STEM Career and College Fair

"We must tell young people that understanding STEM means they can change the world. This is the language of a new generation, and we must learn to speak it." 
- Barbara McAllister

Tomorrow morning Nipmuc will welcome representatives from a wide range of STEM careers and colleges to the school to meet with students in grades 8 - 12. We're looking forward to introducing our students to a wide range of opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our professional representatives will meet with students to answer their questions and get them excited about the potential of STEM.

In preparation for the fair, this afternoon all of the students in the Nipmuc STEM Scholars Program participated in a two-hour interviewing workshop provided by Linda Greco - a recruiter and campus relations expert from EMC.

Tomorrow our students in the STEM program will have the chance to put their skills to the test in a series of mock interviews with some of our STEM professionals. In addition, Dr. Liz Ryder from WPI is joining approximately 80 students taking Advanced Placement Biology, Statistics, and/or Computer Science to introduce them to the field of bioinformatics.

We're also excited to welcome our eighth graders to Nipmuc to participate in the fair and hear from our students about STEM learning opportunities at our school.

It's sure to be an exciting day! Feel free to review the program below in order to view the representatives who will be attending the fair.

Announcements November 3 - 7, 2014

Morning Announcement
Art Club will meet on Wednesday, 11/12 in Mr. Campbell's room 117.  All are welcome!

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

School-Wide Leaf Raking Community Service Project is Sunday, November 9th.  Sign up on Sra. Soto's door - room 313, join the Facebook event, or see the following students:  Autumn Morrice, Jill Carey or Scott Estabrook with more questions. 

Tutor Needed for a 2nd grade student at Clough Elementary School - Tuesday & Wednesday - 3:30 - 4:00.  Please See Mrs. Kyrka, room 217 if interested.

Attention Freshmen!  Show your class spirit and pre-order your t-shirt for FAST!  Order forms will be available in advisory and in the main office.  Don't miss this great opportunity to show your Class of 2018 pride!

Need service hours?  The United Parish Nursery School needs volunteers for their annual bazaar on Saturday, December 6th.  Hours are 12-2 p.m. and 2-4 p.m - one shift or both!  Sign up in Mrs. Kyrka's room 217. 

Attention Class of 2016: FAST t-shirts are now for sale at both breaks or see Chris Bechara or Kathryn McManus.  Let's make it a great FAST - GO JUNIORS!

Attention Freshmen!  We need YOU for the Class of 2018 E-board!  Join your class officers as we plan for FAST and begin fundraising.  Please see Mrs. Blackburn (room 238) or Mrs. Keough (Room 235) to apply.

News for the Athletic Department
Winter preseason athletic meetings -

• Ice Hockey - Thursday, November 6 at 7 p.m. at Northbridge High School
• Girls & Boys Basketball - Monday, November 10 at 6 p.m. in the Nipmuc cafeteria
• Indoor Track - Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Nipmuc Media Center

Guidance Announcements

Admission Counselors from the following colleges will hold information sessions at Nipmuc in the next few weeks:

·         November 4 – Montserrat College of Art

·         November 5 – University of New Hampshire

·         November 7 – College of Saint Rose

Sign up in Guidance or on Naviance to receive a pass to attend an information session.

A Spanish tutor is needed for a Miscoe Hill Middle School student.  Please see Mrs. Fagan in the guidance office for more information.

Are you looking to do community service hours?  Stop by the guidance office to see how you can volunteer!

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery will be given at Nipmuc on Thursday, December 11^th.  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.

If you would like 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!

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