NEASC Showcase of Model School Programs

Later today Nipmuc will have the opportunity to present at the NEASC Showcase of Model School Programs. This annual conference provides member schools of our accrediting organization - The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) - a chance to share some of their successful practices. Through this conference NEASC is able to highlight the variety of approaches and programs that schools use in meeting the standards for accreditation.

I am excited that Nipmuc Regional has been asked to present at this year's conference, highlighting our recent work at providing heterogeneously grouped core classes to all of our students. During the presentation Mrs. Moran and I will be joined by Ms. Julie Ahmed-Jussaume, Ms. Jennifer Field, Ms. Courtney Henry, and Mr. Robert Messick. Together, we will share information about the four heterogeneously grouped core classes offered to freshmen and sophomores: 

• Communication and Literacy
• 21st Century Skills
• Ecology and Populations
• Fundamentals of Mathematics

We're looking forward to sharing the successes we have experienced, the challenges we've faced, and the strategies that support this research-based practice of untracked core courses. Additionally, we are thankful for the invitation to share this part of our journey with other schools. 

You can access today's presentation below:
(Please note that the presentation may not be visible on tablets or mobile devices.)

Presentation Materials:

Announcements - October 15 - 18, 2013

Morning Announcements

The next World Challenge trip is to Costa Rica in July 2014.  There will be an informational meeting for students and parents this Thursday, October 17th at 7 p.m. in the Nipmuc auditorium.  Please join us to find out more about this awesome opportunity.

Attention all students!  Please join us for a school-wide community service project.  Nipmuc will be raking leaves for senior citizens on Veteran's Day, Monday, November 11th.  Volunteer sign-up sheets are in the office and in Sr. Soto's room 313. 

Seniors planning on submitting a portfolio for National Honor Society, please remember the due date is October 23rd.  For all other candidates, your hours are due in December and portfolios will be due in January.  Check the NHS website for more details.

The Nipmuc school store now accepts debit and credit cards.

A collection box is set up in the office for unwanted Halloween costumes.

Guidance Announcements
 
Admission representatives from the following colleges will hold information sessions at Nipmuc in October:
·         October 18:     UMaine Farmington
·         October 22:     University of Hartford School of Art
·         October 23:     Mass College of Liberal Arts
·         October 31:     University of New England
Please sign up in Guidance if you are interested in learning more about these colleges. 

Juniors and Seniors:  Please mark your calendars for the Mini College Fair scheduled for Thursday, October 24^th from 9:30-10:15 in the Nipmuc gym. 

A United States Army Recruiter will hold an information session in the guidance office on Tuesday, October 29^th at 10:30.  Sign up in guidance to learn what the Army can do for you!

A Mendon resident is looking for a babysitter for two small girls two evenings a week.  More details about this part time opportunity are available in the guidance office. 

 

Women in Engineering Day at Northeastern University will be held on Friday, October 25^th.   To reserve a space, RSVP by October 18^th.  For more information pick up a flyer in the Guidance Office. 

Any junior or senior interested in taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam should sign up in the guidance office.  You do not have to be entering the military to take this career assessment.  If you have any questions, please contact your guidance counselor. 

AttentionSeniors:   Please stop by the guidance office to pick up a copy of your unofficial transcript.  Seniors are reminded to make an appointment with your guidance counselor ASAP if you are planning to apply early action or early decision to a college. 

All students are reminded to check out the guidance blog for an updated list of college open houses, college planning, SAT and ACT information and scholarships.

Professional Development - Curriculum and the Common Core

Many thanks to our curriculum director, Maureen Cohen, and the district's professional development committee for putting together a valuable day of professional learning activities. Throughout the day teachers in our district worked collaboratively on curriculum. Specifically, our work focused on curriculum mapping and meeting the needs of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

The Common Core is a rigorous set of learning standards that was designed to ensure American students are learning and achieving at the highest levels. Forty-five states in the nation have adopted these standards, helping educators across the country to ensure similarly challenging learning experiences for their students. 

Massachusetts' schools adopt the Common Core initiative from a strong starting point. Our state curriculum frameworks already provide students with high quality education. Massachusetts' students continually achieve at the highest levels on rigorous standardized tests. For instance, in a recent international test, our eighth graders demonstrated the strength of our curriculum. On that test, if Massachusetts were a country, our students would rank second in the world in science and sixth in the world in mathematics.

As we work to implement the Common Core, our teachers will build off the strength of our current curriculum to provide learning experiences that fully prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century. 

Announcements - Week of October 7 - 10, 2013

Morning Announcements

All seniors who are part of the STEM program should report to the PDC at 11:20 this morning (Wednesday, 10/09).

Please join us for a school-wide community service project!  Nipmuc will be raking leaves for senior citizens on Veteran's Day, Monday, November 11th.  Please sign up to volunteer in the office or in room 313. 

Art Club will meet today, 10/7, in Mr. Campbell's room 117.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

 

Do you have any unwanted Halloween costumes?  There is a donation box in the lobby.

 

Any Senior planning on submitting an portfolio for National Honor Society, please remember the due date is October 23rd.  For all other candidates, hours are not due until December and your portfolios will be due in January.  Check the NHS website for further details.

 

Guidance Announcements

Admission representatives from the following colleges will hold Information Sessions at Nipmuc in October:
October 10: College of St. Rose and Bentley University
October 15: East Carolina University
October 18: U Maine Farmington
October 22: University of Hartford School of Art
October 23: Mass College of Liberal Arts
October 31: University of New England
Please sign up in Guidance if you are interested in learning more about these colleges. 

A United States Army Recruiter will hold an information session in the guidance office on Tuesday, October 29^th at 10:30.  Sign up in guidance to learn what the Army can do for you!

Lampin Corporation in Uxbridge is looking for a part time office worker and a Mendon resident is looking for a babysitter for two small girls two evenings a week.  More details about these part time opportunities are available in the guidance office. 

Attention Juniors:  It is now time to register to take the PSAT scheduled for Wednesday, October 16^th at 7:30 a.m.  The registration fee for juniors is $25 cash or check made payable to Nipmuc Regional High School and deadline to register is Thursday, October 10. 

Women in Engineering Day at Northeastern University will be held on Friday, October 25.  To  reserve a space, RSVP by October 18^th.  For more information pick up a flyer in the Guidance Office. 

Any junior or senior interested in taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam should sign up in the guidance office.  You do not have to be entering the military to take this career assessment.  If you have any questions, please contact your guidance counselor. 

Attention Seniors:   Please stop by the guidance office to pick up a copy of your unofficial transcript.  Seniors are reminded to make an appointment with your guidance counselor ASAP if you are planning to apply early action or early decision to a college. 

All students are reminded to check out the guidance blog for an updated list of college open houses, college planning, SAT and ACT information and scholarships.

 

 

Scholarship Quote Essay Contest

At the beginning of the school year, Nipmuc Regional High School voted to commit itself to a set of core values and beliefs that guide the work, relationships, and responsibilities of everyone in our school community. These values – academics, respect, high expectations, and accountability – are posted in the lobby of the school. More importantly, they are evident in the work of our students and staff members.

In order to communicate these values, six quotations that represent these ideals have been posted in the halls of our school. Through the 2013-14 school year, we are asking students to share the spirit of these values by participating in an essay contest in which they will write about these quotations. This essay contest will be offered once per term. Each quarterly winner will receive a $50 scholarship, and an overall winner will be chosen at the end of the school year to receive an additional $200 scholarship.

Students are asked to write an essay in which they discuss one of the quotations posted in our halls and how it represents a core value at Nipmuc. Participants are encouraged to be specific in how they explain how the values detailed in the quotations are connected to life at Nipmuc.
 
The first submission deadline is October 28th by 2pm.

The Nipmuc core values are academics, respect, high expectations, and accountability.

The quotes that are posted in the academic wings of our building are as follows:

• "High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectations." - Charles Kettering  
• "To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even  greater." - Bono
• "It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." - Moliere 
• "The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self respect springs." - Joan Didion 
• "In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists." - Eric Hoffer
• "Remember that our nation's first great leaders were also our first great scholars." - John F. Kennedy

   Good luck, students. We can’t wait to read your essays!