Remembering September 11th

An important part of the start of each school day at Nipmuc is the reading of the morning announcements from the student group affectionately known as "The Voice of Nipmuc". Just after the ringing of the 7:30am bell which starts our school day, our students can rely on the The Voice of Nipmuc to provide the pledge to the flag, announcements of the day, and some words of wisdom. As we have made our transition back from summer vacation, we've looked to The Voice of Nipmuc as a way to help us return to the routine of being in school. Today, however, The Voice of Nipmuc provided an important reminder that this September morning was far from routine.

Included below is the announcement prepared and read by Brian Mullen, a senior member of the Voice of Nipmuc, reminding our school to remember the lasting impact of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

"This Sunday is the ten year anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11th. Four airplanes were hijacked by terrorists. Flights 11, 77, 93, and 175 were commandeered by terrorists. Flights 11 and 175 crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and Flight 93 was courageously reclaimed by the passengers and crashed in Pennsylvania. Many were affected by the losses of September 11th and we must not forget the courage displayed that fateful day.

On November 11th, 2001, President George W. Bush said, 'Time is passing. Yet, for the United States there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of children.'

I would now like to take a long moment of silence to remember all those lost and affected by September 11.

Thank you and may we all live in an indivisible nation with liberty and justice for all."

I am extremely thankful for Brian's leadership and for reminding us of the courage of those who lost their lives, the lasting impact of the tragedy, and the power of the American spirit.

School Picture Day

Please be aware that Grynn and Barrett photographers will be at Nipmuc on Friday, September 9 for school picture day. Students will be coming home this afternoon with picture order forms and information about popular picture packages and pricing. Students should bring the picture day envelope and payment with them when they return to school on Friday.
Thank you.

The Start of a New Year

After a week of frustration in dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, we were thrilled to welcome our students back to school on Tuesday. Although the weather provided a wet start to the school year, the students didn't let the rain dampen their spirits. The first day back at school was a chance to reconnect with their friends, meet their teachers, and learn about the experiences they will share throughout the school year.

For the 800 students who attend Nipmuc, the start of new school year is a time of transition, change, and anticipation. Certainly, there is a palpable excitement about catching up with friends and discussing the summer. However, the start of the school year is also a time to establish new goals, to confront the anxiety of taking on new challenges, and to prepare for the rigors of the work ahead.

As an educator and a parent, I look at the start of the new school year with great optimism. I also  recognize my responsibility to see this experience from a student's point of view. With that in mind, I asked some of Nipmuc's finest student leaders for insight on the first days of school. I am glad to share
their thoughts, and I hope that it provides a window into the beginning of our year.

Katie Estabrook
Student Council President

On returning to school: "We all like to pretend that we hate going back to school, but once we all walk into Nipmuc there is a visible buzz of excitement. Each new class is a new adventure. The summer is amazing, but I really do love coming back to Nipmuc with all my Warrior friends."

With advice for freshmen: "The biggest advice I can give is to branch out, make new friends, and don't be afraid to try new things. Really enjoy it because pretty soon you will be crossing the stage at graduation."

Stephen Lukas
President: Class of 2013

On the challenges of the school year: "Personally, I will face the challenge of two AP tests, SATs, and rigorous finals. However, I am confident that with the help of my devoted teachers, I will score well on these tests."

With advice for freshmen: "I advise the members of the freshman class to open up the lines of communication with their teachers. Also, keep in mind that despite the plethora of school opportunities, academics should be first in your priorities."

Emily Wojtowicz
President: Class of 2014

On the excitement of the start of the school year: "It's always an excitement to come back to school and see everyone you haven't seen all summer and to get your schedule and find out what classes you have...This year I actually got bored of summer. I just wanted the first day of school to come already!"

On goals for herself and the Class of 2014: "This year, I would like to challenge myself and really make everyone in my class feel comfortable and accepted. As a class, I'd like to challenge my peers to become more involved in the school and become more united as a class together!"

Dan Consigli
President: Class of 2012

With advice for freshmen: "The best advice I have for freshmen is to make your school work your top priority and to try your best on all of your work because it will pay off."

On the challenges of the year: "The most challenging aspect of senior year is balancing all of one's work while filling out college applications."







As you can see, Nipmuc is fortunate to have such thoughtful and enthusiastic student leaders. Through their guidance, we are excited to build on the momentum of these first days as we look forward to the year ahead!

Back to School (Finally!)

With Hurricane Irene behind us, I'm glad to know that tomorrow will be the official start of the 2011-2012 school year. I hope that everyone's power has been restored and that the Labor Day weekend provided a chance to relax after a difficult week.

Included below are a few notes about students' first day of classes:

• Schedules will be passed out to students as they arrive on Tuesday morning. All students - even freshmen who picked up their schedules on the day of the 9th grade orientation - should get a schedule from the following locations:
• Freshmen - Auditorium
• Sophomores - Cafeteria
• Juniors - Left side of the gym
• Seniors - Right side of the gym
• If not for last week's cancellations, tomorrow would have been the fourth day of the current school year. With that in mind, tomorrow will run as a "Day 4" on the Nipmuc six-day cycle. The order of classes will be F-D-C-E. After picking up their schedules, students will report to their F block class. The Miscoe Hill School will also begin its year on a Day 4 schedule.

Enjoy the last few hours of your Labor Day weekend. I am excited to welcome our students back to school tomorrow morning!

Nipmuc Volleyball: Parent Informational Night

Nipmuc High School Volleyball: Parent Informational Meeting for Girls' and Boys' Program

September 7, 2011 at 6pm in the Nipmuc gym
Please note that the athletic fee for volleyball will be $375/athlete

Girls' JV Volleyball Team Tryouts:

• September 8, 2:30pm - 4:30pm in the Nipmuc gym
• Tryouts continue September 9, 12, and 13
• Before trying out, students must return a completed "green card" which is available in the main office at Nipmuc. No one is allowed to tryout without this completed form.

Recommended Equipment for Tryouts:

• Kneepads, athletic sneakers, athletic clothing (you may want to bring a long sleeved athletic t-shirt), and water.
• Please do not wear any jewelery or jeans.

If you have any questions regarding the program please attend the Sept 7^th meeting or email Coach Corey at Christinecorey4@gmail.com.

Nipmuc High School Volleyball Boosters

https://sites.google.com/site/nipmucvolleyballboosters/ 

email: NipmucHSVB@gmail.com