Announcements March 10 - 14, 2014

Morning Announcements
Attention Sophomores:  The application deadlines for the Milford Rotary Youth Leadership Conference and the Mass Star Citizenship Conference have been extended.  Please pick up an application in the guidance office if you would like to attend one of these all expense paid conferences in the spring.

Attention all underclassmen:  It is time to order your 2014 yearbook.  Please visit the Nipmuc Yearbook site and click on Josten's Service to place your order.

There will be a meeting for Drama Workshop members on Wednesday, March 12th from 2-3 p.m. in Mr. Evans room 216.

Reminder to STEM Scholars - There will be an important, brief meeting at both breaks today (Tuesday, 3/11).  The meetings will be held in room 210 of the green wing.

Attention all Ski Club Members: Please see Mrs. Ahmed-Jussaume to get coupons for 50% off at Mount Wachusett during the month of March.

NHS members giving speeches at the NHS Induction: Please turn in your speeches to Mrs. Kyrka as soon as possible.

Seniors:  It's not too late to sign up for the class trip! Contact any of the senior class officers or Mr. Ferris with any questions.  Don't miss out on this fun-filled day with the Class of 2014.

It is Pi week! 
Try reciting the digits of Pi in your math class (before Tuesday)

Submit your Creative Pi piece to your math teacher (before Tuesday)

Bring in your canned good for a pie.

The following students should see Mrs. Kyrka today (Monday, 3/10):  Patrick Carey, Lindsay Doyle and Teddy Carey.  Also, NHS members giving induction speeches should also see Mrs. Kyrka today.

Boys' Volleyball team meeting Monday, March 17th, 2:15.  Location TBD.  Please have green cards completed.

Sophomore Ring Dance, Friday - March 14th - 6 p.m.-10:00 p.m. .  Admission $7.  Class dues must be paid to purchase a ticket.

NHS Rehearsals: Monday, 3/17, Tuesday, 3/18 & Wednesday, 3/19. NHS Induction - Thursday, 3/20.

Athletic Department Announcements:
Information regarding practice times for the first week of spring sports can be found on the board outside the athletic office.

Attention students occupying varsity lockers: please clean them out by Friday, March 14th.  If you are planning to play a spring sport, see Mr. Leaver as soon as possible.

A reminder to all spring athletes - your green card must be completed before your first practice.

Guidance Announcements:
Reminder to Seniors to check the Guidance blog often for scholarship applications and note deadline dates.  Many scholarships require letters of recommendation and transcripts.  Please give your counselor enough time to process your application.  Please stop in the guidance office if you have any questions about the scholarship process. 

ATTENTION SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS:  Mark your calendars for the Springfield National College Fair scheduled for Sunday, March 30^th from 1:00 to 4:00 at The Big E and the Hartford National College Fair Thursday, April 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Connecticut Convention Center.  For more information, pick up a flyer in the guidance office. 

Reminder to Juniors to check out the guidance blog for details on college open houses during the Spring.

 

An Admissions Representative from Lincoln Technical Institute will hold an Information Session in the guidance office on Tuesday, March 18th at 10:30 a.m.  Sign up in guidance to learn about the programs Lincoln Tech offers.

Quinsigamond Community College will hold a Decision Day at Nipmuc on Tuesday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m.  Please sign up in Guidance to receive a pass to attend. 

High School Junior Girls with an interest and aptitude in Math and Science are invited to participate in Design your Future Day at Rensselaer on Saturday, April 12^th.  Deadline to register is April 4^th and more information is available in the guidance office. 

Attention Sophomores & Juniors: If you are interested in taking a Virtual High School (VHS) course next year, applications are available in the guidance office and media center.  VHS applications are due to the media center by April 4th. 

Feature Friday: State Champion High Jumper Kevin Hack

Kevin Hack competing at the All-State Meet
on February 22 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston
photo credit: Jim Michaud, Boston Herald

In the proud tradition of Nipmuc sports, our athletes and teams have experienced a great deal of success. Banners for league championships, district championships, state titles, and sportsmanship awards line the walls of our gymnasium, a reminder of the achievements of our athletes. This year one of Nipmuc's student athletes added to that proud tradition with an amazing season in indoor track that led to a state championship. In this week's edition of "Feature Friday" I am proud to share the accomplishments of Nipmuc sophomore Kevin Hack who recently established himself as the best high jumper in the state of Massachusetts. Kevin had a phenomenal season on the way to winning the District 4 state championship, the overall state championship, and a sixth place finish in the New England regionals. Included below is a portion of my interview with Kevin.

Q: How did you get involved with high jumping?
A: Last spring when I joined track I wasn't sure what events to participate in. My older brothers had been a part of track, Alex was a long jumper and Andrew was a high jumper, so I thought I would start with those events. I immediately liked the long jump and thought that was going to be my focus for field events. I wasn't so sure about the high jump, it seemed a bit intimidating, but I reached a personal record of 5"10" by the end of the season so I decided I would continue to pursue it in the future.

Q: What are some of the highlights of your season?
A: This season I picked up where I had left off last spring. My first jump was 5'10" and I was pretty happy with that. I set a goal for myself to break 6' this season. Several weeks into the season I surpassed my goal, reaching 6'3". It never occurred to me that I would continue to jump higher as the season progressed. I was pretty excited when I reached 6'3". I then went on to jump 6'6" at the Division 4 State meet and I was pretty overwhelmed by this accomplishment. I really could not believe how much I had surpassed the goal that I set for myself, and I am happy that I am now consistently clearing 6'4".

Q: What are some of the factors that have contributed to your success?
A: The support that I received from my family, friends and Coaches (Auger and Buckley) has been amazing. They have each guided me in a different way these last few months. I have been working hard to stay in shape and I have been studying my form from pictures and videos to find areas in which I can help myself improve.

Q: What are some of the challenges you have overcome in achieving the state championship?
A: The biggest challenges that I have faced this season have been mentally preparing for my jumps and staying fit enough to avoid any injuries. Jumping takes a huge toll on my body and I need to stay physically healthy to continue on into the spring season.

Q: What are your hopes with high jumping as you look toward your remaining years of high school and beyond?
A: As I look to the future, I hope that I continue to improve in order to stay competitive and defend my divisional title through the remainder of my high school years. Beyond high school my ultimate goal is to be able to compete in the high jump at the collegiate level. The immediate future brings an exciting opportunity as well. On March 14th I will be competing in the Emerging Elites at Nationals in New York City.

Q: What was it like to compete at the state and New England championships?
A: My overall experiences at the State and New England meets were amazing. The competition was unbelievable and it definitely brought out the best in me. On top of that, each and every athlete that I competed with held themselves to the highest standard of sportsmanship. Everyone encouraged each other and offered advice. This kind of atmosphere made it such an amazing experience. I am really fortunate to say that I have gained a few new friends these last few months.

Great job, Kevin. Congratulations on your state championship!

Update on Facilities Issue/Evacuation

Dear Nipmuc Parents/Guardians,

At approximately 11:00 this morning our building's fire alarm system went off and all students and staff were safely evacuated.  After a short period outdoors, the Upton Fire Department determined that students could safely wait in the school's gymnasium while the issue was resolved.  The Upton Fire Department then discovered the problem was a faulty electrical component to an air handler in our ventilation system on the third floor of the blue wing.  Both the fire department and the town's electrical inspector have inspected this area and determined that our building is safe.  The third floor blue wing was aired out and all students have returned to their classes. 

I write this to keep you aware of this incident that unfortunately disrupted our school day.  The district has started the process to repair the issue and should have it fixed this evening. 

I am thankful for the support of the Upton Fire Department and the Upton Police Department in responding to this concern. I'm also thankful for the flexibility of our staff members and students as we addressed the issue.

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
John Clements 

Assistant DA Discusses Substance Abuse: 10 Takeaways from the Presentation

(l-r) Adjustment counselor Kerry Fagan,
Attorney Lesure, and school
nurse Kristin Gauthier

Earlier this morning all of Nipmuc's students had the chance to hear a presentation from  Attorney M. Julie Lesure from the District Attorney's office. Attorney Lesure met with students to discuss the adverse consequences of alcohol and drug use. She covered a range of topics. The top ten takeaways from today's presentation are included below:

1. Approximately 88-92% of cases in Worcester court are drug/alcohol related. 
2. Use of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana before age 16 is associated with higher rates of substance use dependence.  
3. A study of the impact of marijuana on frequent users showed that marijuana use leads to a loss of 8 points in I.Q. levels.
4. The social host law makes it illegal for parents to allow underage kids to drink at their home and can lead to jail time as a consequence. 
5. The most common two-drug combination resulting in death is prescription painkillers and alcohol.
6. Possessing drugs (prescription pills, cocaine, etc.) while in a vehicle - even if infraction has nothing to do with auto infraction – can result in arrest and loss of license.
7. Synthetic marijuana is prevalent among teenagers and can lead to heart attacks and violent behavior. 
8. There are a number of local cases of teenagers who have injured others and faced significant legal consequences as a result of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
9. Marijuana is the most prevalent drug detected in fatally-injured drivers. 
10. Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol will result in a minimum 1 - 5 year loss of license. 

Tomorrow all students will have the chance to follow-up today's presentation in our advisory meetings. During our advisory meetings students and teachers will focus on substance abuse through the review and discussion of four articles.

Thank you to Nipmuc's nurse Kristin Gauthier and adjustment counselor Kerry Fagan for organizing today's event. When they contacted Attorney Lesure in January to book this meeting, they recognized that they wanted to provide a series of opportunities to talk about these concerns as a community. On Monday, March 24 we will continue the discussion of health risks in our students' lives and ways we can build community partnerships to promote wellness. This event for parents, students, and community members will take place on 3/24 at 7pm in the Nipmuc cafeteria. All are welcome.

Announcements March 3-7, 2014

Morning Announcements
The Town of Upton is currently looking to employ a student as a cable TV assistant for 5 hours per week.  Interested individuals should see Mrs. Linehan as soon as possible.

NHS rehearsals are as follows:  3/17, 3/18, 3/19 after school.  For those members speaking at the induction, speeches are due to Mrs. Kyrka by Monday, March 10th.

Sophomore Ring Dance is Friday, March 14th.  Tickets are $7.  Class dues must be paid.

Student Council will be holding a fundraiser at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park in Westborough on Thursday, March 13th from 6 - 8 p.m.  It will be a lot of fun - we encourage everyone to join us. Hope to see you there!

Friends of Seniors meeting Monday, March 3rd during green wing break in Mr. Clements' room 220.  If you are unable to attend, information from the meeting will be posted on the Facebook page.

Do you have any old or unwanted jewelry?  The Impact Team is collecting donations of jewelry until Wednesday, March 5th.  All donations will go to the Metrowest Princess Boutique sponsored by the Marlboro Junior Woman's Club.  See Mrs. Field or Elizabeth Nigro for more details.

Senior Class Trip information:  We are still accepting initial payments for the Senior Class Trip.  The trip will be a fun-filled day and a great last opportunity to be with your friends and classmates as a class, so don't miss out!  Contact any of the senior class officers or advisors with questions.

Guidance Department Announcements
Attention Sophomores and Juniors: If you are interested in taking a Virtual High School course next year, applications are available in the guidance office and media center. VHS Applications are due back to the media center by April 4.

A representative from Lincoln Technical Institute will be holding an information session on Friday, March 7^th at 10:30 am.  The sign-up sheet is in the guidance department for any students interested.

Athletic Department Announcements
Boys' volleyball team meeting  scheduled for Monday, March 17th at 2:15 p.m.  Location TBD.  *Please have green cards completed.
 Attention students occupying varsity lockers, lockers must be cleaned out by Friday, March 14th.  If you are planning to play a spring sport, see Mr. Leaver ASAP.

Reminder to all athletes: Green cards are to be completed and given to coaches before the first practices on Monday, March 17th. 

The remaining preseason meetings are as follows:
Boys' & Girls' Track - Thursday, March 6 - 6 p.m.
Baseball, Softball & Girls' Lacrosse - Monday, March 10 - 6 p.m.