Announcements March 14 - 18, 2016

Morning Announcements
Would you like to sign up to take a Virtual High School (VHS) class for next year?  Please see Mrs. V. in the media center for an application.  Please discuss this with your school counselor first.  All applications need to be turned in by April 11th.

To all parents and students going to Italy during April vacation - There is a pre-departure meeting on Wednesday, 3/23, in the media center at 7 p.m.  Please make every effort to attend.

Hop on over to the media center and take a guess on the number of jelly beans in the jar.  The winner will win the jelly beans and other prizes.

Kelsey Woods - please see Mrs. Kyrka today.

NHS members doing the canned food drive - see Mrs. Kyrka at break in the cafeteria during 1st break or some time today.

If you signed up to give blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive today, stop by the nurse's office to pick up your pass.

Come support your friends in Nipmuc Drama's Spring Musical "Pippin".  Shows will be Friday (3/18)  and Saturday (3/19) at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday (3/20) at 2 p.m.  Tickets sold online or at the door.  Hope to see you there.

All Band and Chorus students:  Reminder to pick up your Krispy Kreme donuts sometime today.

Do you need volunteer hours?  Volunteers are needed for the district Family Literacy Night on Thursday, March 31st.  Please see Mrs. V. in the media center for more information.

Sophomore Class Fundraiser - On March 29th, come to Willowbrook Restaurant in Mendon between 6-8 p.m. and have dinner to support the sophomore class.

NHS Members participating in the canned food drive - see Mrs. Kyrka in room 217 during either break on Tuesday, 3/15.

Attention Seniors - Payments for Senior Class Trip will be broken up into two installments.  To sign up you must pay the $60 non-refundable deposit by Thursday, March 30th.  The remaining $100 must be paid by Wednesday, May 18th.  Please note that all class dues must be paid before you can sign up.

Attention Seniors - Yearbook committee needs one baby picture of each senior for the class DVD.  Submit to Mrs. Alibozek or upload through the yearbook site by March 30th.

The Warriors Club is sponsoring a dodge ball tournament to benefit the boys and girls lacrosse program on Saturday, April 2nd from 6 - 10 p.m.  Students are encouraged to sign up teams of six.  Each team costs $60 and entry forms can be found in the main office.  Any questions, please see Mr. Schmidt.

The need for blood is constant.  The American Red Cross Club is hosting a blood drive in the Nipmuc gym on Thursday, March 17th.  Students and faculty can donate from 12 - 2 p.m. and the general community can donate 2 - 5 p.m.  Anyone 16 years old or older is eligible to give blood.  Sign up and get more information in the nurse's office.

Spring sport signups have begun.  Paperwork is located in the main office or on the Nipmuc Athletics home page.  Paperwork and fees must be turned in by Thursday, March 17th.

Student Feature Friday: Junior Jill Carey Runs for MASC President

"The PossiJILLities are Endless"

Each year as freshmen begin their high school career, I share the same message: "Get involved. Become part of a group. Take on a leadership role." High school is about so much more than academics. As our kids get involved in student life at the school, they get connected to the community, find their passions, and develop skills that will serve them in their lives beyond the classroom. 

This week I'm excited to feature a student who has taken this advice to heart by embracing scholastic leadership opportunities. Junior Jillian Carey is building off her experience as Central District Massachusetts Association of Student Councils (CDMASC) Vice President as she makes a run for president of the Commonwealth's student councils. 

Jillian is a talented leader who made many contributions to Nipmuc and student councils across the state. I had the chance to hear from her about running for this important elected office. I quickly learned that - as her campaign slogan states - "The Possi-Jill-ities are endless." 

Q: What are your main reasons for running for MASC President?

A: I'm running for MASC President because I believe that when you find something you are passionate about, you should pursue it to the greatest extent.  Student Council and MASC have been my passion since I went to my first conference as a freshman.

Q: What type of leadership experience did you gain through your role as CDMASC vice president? 

A: Serving as the Vice President of CDMASC has taught me so much about being on an executive board.  I have learned how to work with leaders from different schools as one unit. I have seen how quickly a year passes and how effectively you must work to fulfill the possibilities you imagine at the beginning of the year.

Q: What has been the most valuable part of being a member of student council? 

A: The most valuable part of being on student council is learning how to make an impact on the community around you. From planning school dances to community service projects, it's truly amazing to make a difference.

Q: Should you be elected, what would you like to accomplish as MASC president?
A: If elected, I hope to continue the growth of MASC as a small but mighty state.  While the conferences are everyone's favorite part, I want to focus on what we do even when we aren't together.  Even if we aren't in the same place we can still be working towards the same goal.



Announcements March 7 - 11 2016

Morning Announcement
NHS Members participating in the canned food drive - see Mrs. Kyrka in room 217 during either break on Tuesday, 3/15.

Attention Seniors - Payments for Senior Class Trip will be broken up into two installments.  To sign up you must pay the $60 non-refundable deposit by Thursday, March 24th.  The remaining $100 must be paid by Wednesday, May 18th.  Please note that all class dues must be paid before you can sign up.

Attention Seniors - Yearbook committee needs one baby picture of each senior for the class DVD.  Submit to Mrs. Alibozek or upload through the yearbook site by March 30th.

The Warriors Club is sponsoring a dodge ball tournament to benefit the boys and girls lacrosse program on Saturday, April 2nd from 6 - 10 p.m.  Students are encouraged to sign up teams of six.  Each team costs $60 and entry forms can be found in the main office.  Any questions, please see Mr. Schmidt.

Reminder to winter athletes to clean out locker rooms by Friday, March 11th.  All clothing left out will be collected and removed.  P.E. students, please stow all clothing in secured lockers.  See Mr. Schmidt with any questions.

Attention World Challenge travelers:  There will be a mandatory meeting on Wednesday, March 9th in the media center from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.  Parents should arrive at 5:30 p.m. and stay for the last hour.  See Ms. Leja or Ms. Brazil with any questions.

The need for blood is constant.  The American Red Cross Club is hosting a blood drive in the Nipmuc gym on Thursday, March 17th.  Students and faculty can donate from 12 - 2 p.m. and the general community can donate 2 - 5 p.m.  Anyone 16 years old or older is eligible to give blood.  Sign up and get more information in the nurse's office.

Spring sport signups have begun.  Paperwork is located in the main office or on the Nipmuc Athletics home page.  Paperwork and fees must be turned in by Thursday, March 17th.

21st Century Learning Conference: Student Feedback

On Friday, Nipmuc hosted its second 21st Century Learning Conference with the theme of "Connected Learning". The day welcomed more than 100 professionals, community leaders, and higher education representatives to partner with our faculty for a day of authentic, real world learning. The schedule was filled with a variety of programs including a career and college fair with more than sixty representatives, two mock town meetings, a networking lunch, and trainings on a wide range of topics. Click here to see the sessions that were offered and the professionals who helped to make the day a success.

Included below is a collection of comments from our students' evaluation of the day, discussing what they valued about their conference: 

• "I learned how to better communicate with professionals and how to run a town meeting."
• "The personal finance workshop was very entertaining and helped me to gain an understanding of my future." 
• "Networking. Networking. Networking. Also, that they're are some very interesting STEM careers and companies in the area." 
• "How to manage my money and finances in the real world." 
• "I LOVED the 'Pathway to Nursing' information session! I got so much out of it and I got a lot out of my questions from people who are actually in the profession." 
• "The mock town meeting because it was real world applicable and it prepared us for something we will experience in the future. It also helped with the life skills of civic integration and public speaking." 
• "My top takeaway was from the power networking workshop. I got to create a 30 second elevator speech about myself that I can use when applying to college or getting a job." 
• "'Are You Smart about Money' was the best because it taught me how to manage my money after college with a job." 
• "The hour of code was the best session because it allowed me to see what it would be like to be a computer scientist." 
• "The best session that I attended today was 'Presentation Skills for the 21st Century'. Giving a good presentation in front of a group of people has almost always been a struggle of mine, and I enjoyed learning how to make my presentations better." 

Today was a great day for Nipmuc. Thank you to Mrs. Hennessy for all of her hard work in taking the lead role of organizing this event. Additionally, thank you to Senator Michael Moore and Representative David Muradian for working with our students today. Thanks go out also to our faculty and the 100+ professionals and community leaders who helped to make this day such a success!

Announcements 2/29/16 - 3/4/16

Morning Announcements
Reminder to winter athletes to clean out locker rooms by Friday, March 11th.  All clothing left out will be collected and removed.  P.E. students, please stow all clothing in secured lockers.  See Mr. Schmidt with any questions.

Attention World Challenge travelers:  There will be a mandatory meeting on Wednesday, March 9th in the media center from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.  Parents should arrive at 5:30 p.m. and stay for the last hour.  See Ms. Leja or Ms. Brazil with any questions.

The need for blood is constant.  The American Red Cross Club is hosting a blood drive in the Nipmuc gym on Thursday, March 17th.  Students and faculty can donate from 12 - 2 p.m. and the general community can donate 2 - 5 p.m.  Anyone 16 years old or older is eligible to give blood.  Sign up and get more information in the nurse's office.

Spring sport signups have begun.  Paperwork is located in the main office or on the Nipmuc Athletics home page.  Paperwork and fees must be turned in by Thursday, March 17th.

Check out the StuCo Twitter page to donate to the Polar Plunge.  All proceeds go to the Massachusetts Special Olympics.  If $300 is raised, Senor Soto will plunge too!

Attention Seniors:  Likes/dislikes survey extended until March 1st at noon.  This is the FINAL deadline. Don't miss out on being represented in the Class of 2016 yearbook.

Applications for the March afternoon driver education class are available in the main office and on the school website.  Afternoon classes will start March 7th, every day after school 2:15 - 5:00.  Return your completed applications and check made out to NRHS to the office by March 4th.