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Friday notes is a weekly update from Superintendent Gary E. Maestas on the happenings within the Plymouth Public Schools.
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Plymouth Public Schools School Committee Meetings:
The next Plymouth School Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 1, 2010 at Plymouth Community Intermediate School. The meeting starts at 7:00 P.M.
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Weekly Quote:
'Do not go where the path may lead; go where there is no path and leave a trail.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Hedge School News
ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant awarded to Hedge School
Hedge School has received a $750 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program. Zeshan Muhammad of Plymouth's
Verc Enterprises Mobil worked with Adam Blaisdell, Principal
of Hedge School, to secure the grant. The grant is one of 2,400 available to schools across the country serve by Exxon or Mobil stations. The grants were made possible by funding from the ExxonMobil Corporation.
"Hedge School works hard to make learning interesting and fun,"
said Mr. Muhammad. "As a Mobil retailer, I am proud to help
the young people of Plymouth."
The ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program is designed to provide Exxon and Mobil retailers with an opportunity to invest in the
future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools. ExxonMobil believes that, as members
of the community, local retailers are best qualified to work
with local educators to help identify schools and programs
most in need of support.
"Hedge School would like to thank Mr. Muhammad's efforts at Verc Enterprises Mobil. The grant will be utilized to support Math and Science at Hedge School," said Mr. Blaisdell.
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Spotlight on an Educator - Plymouth North High School!
Michael Bastoni of Plymouth North High School was invited by the Chinese Institute for Educational Research to present a three day workshop to sixty selected teachers from all over China. The
workshop was focused on the benefits of using design as a
pedagogy (particularly engineering and technology design).
Wang Su, the director of Comparative Education, Technology Education and Science Education for the research institute
attended and took part in the workshop. This was a great honor
since she is the director of the institute.
Teacher exchanges are emerging events. The Plymouth School District is researching opportunities to host a guest teacher from China to teach mandarin. These opportunities are sponsored by the Chinese government.
Technology education is a relatively new concept in China, and education in general is receiving a great deal of attention and resources in China.
Congratulations to Mr. Bastoni! We hope to continue these enriching educational opportunities with China.
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Spotlight on another Educator - Plymouth North High School
Congratulations to Kevin Farrell, freshman class house master at Plymouth North High School! Kevin was recently nominated
and will be inducted into the first ever Carver Athletic Hall
of Fame.
Kevin was a former Guidance Counselor at Carver Middle School and State Wrestling Hall of Fame Coach. Kevin won three consecutive state titles as a wrestling coach. He held this title in 1993, 1994, and 1995. He also held the New England title in 1994! Congratulations to Kevin for all of his accomplishments and his well deserved induction into the Carver Athletic Hall of Fame!
Many educators were involved in the original Plymouth Carver School System. Those educators may remember these inductees as former students and colleagues. If you are interested in attending the hall of fame induction, which promises to be a memorable event, please click on the link below.
Click here to learn more about the hall of fame induction!
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Spotlight on an Educator - Nathaniel Morton Elementary
A Day Made Better
On October 5th, first grade teacher Ashley Waterman was honored by a team from the Plymouth Office Max as part of their "A Day Made Better" program.
This event is a national cause event founded by OfficeMax and nonprofit organization, Adopt-A-Classroom, to lead the fight to end teacher-funded classrooms.
Annually in October, more than 3,500 OfficeMax associates surprise and honor more than 1,000 teachers at 1,000 schools across the
country with $1,000 worth of classroom supplies. Nominated by their school, teacher recipients receive this honor for their exceptional contributions as an educator.
We congratulate Ashley on being chosen to receive this honor, and thank OfficeMax for recognizing teacher contributions!
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Plymouth South High School News
Graphic Design and Visual Communications:
The Graphic Arts program at Plymouth South High School has a new face, look and name. Over the summer, Daniel Sherrill of Texas
was hired to teach Video Production. With the assistance of Dan Reilly, he is well on his way to creating a great new video for the school. With the new curriculum, the Chapter 74 program has
shifted its frameworks to Visual Design and Graphic
Communications; therefore becoming Graphic Design and Visual Communications.
With the new face and name also comes a new look. Haley Blasser, a junior in the Graphics program designed the winning logo for the new studio. In a competition with all the sophomore, juniors and seniors, Haley's design was voted top pick by her classmates and Mr. Sherrill. We are excited to welcome all three changes and are thrilled to congratulate our winning junior designer.
Haley Blasser's winning logo for the new Plymouth
South HIgh School Studios!
Congratulations to the Panther Cheerleading Team for placing second in the Atlantic Coast League (ACL) competition on Wednesday, October 27th. This was a great success and the girls will be moving on to the next round of competition at Taunton High School. Great Job!
Meet the Coaches for Winter Sports - November 15th at 7:00 PM. This is a mandatory meeting for all student athletes and their parents regarding winter sports.
Congratulations to the girls soccer team. Their 2-1 win over Plymouth North High School on Thursday night set the girls up for a game on Saturday at Sandwich High School which will determine the league championship. Good luck to the girls - come support the panthers at 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 30th in Sandwich on their quest for a league title!!
The Annual PSHS vs PNHS Powder Puff Game will be at PSHS at 6:00 PM on November 16th.
We were recently notified by the DESE about our Adams Scholarship Winners - these students are selected based on high scores on their MCAS exams. Students will receive their award letters from Dr. Maestas on Tuesday of next week. Names will be published shortly.
Last year, students in Ms. Bettencourt's English 10 class read the text, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. As a class project, the students took the time to write to the author about the impact the book had on their learning. This book is currently being turned into a movie. The author, Stephen Chbosky recently wrote a letter back to these students regarding the outstanding work that they submitted. This was a big honor for the students as well as their teacher, especially in light of our school-wide writing initiative, "Write-On." The students involved were: Michelle Newell, Nathan Moulton, Ashley Cunniff, Courtney DiBella, Rob Murray, Thomas Nigrelli, Cory Hazel, and Nick MacKenzie.
This month over 150 members of the community gathered at PSHS to attend the Annual Vocational Technical Program Advisory Committee Dinner on October 20th. Members of the Program Advisory Committee consist of local business and industry leaders, union labor organizations, parents and students. Focus this year was on the structure of the programs, equipment upgrades and recommendations for improving student skill attainment and employability. This year's guest speaker was State Representative Vinny deMacedo who spoke on the importance of the community being involved in such a wonderful program.
OSHA STUDENTS IN METALFAB/WELDING COMPLETED THEIR OSHA 10 CARDS. The following students have been studying OSHA every Monday during related classes and have completed the 10 hour basic requirements. They are moving towards completing their OSHA 30 certification in 1910 General Industry. The student names are Senior: Matthew Montanari, Junior: Derek Anzuoni, Sophomores: Julia Binder, Shawn Cazeault, Charles Delisle, Emaleigh Ferguson, Stephen Gardiner, John Germain, Daniel Guertin, Adam Lambert, Adrian Lombardo, Jackson McAdams, Patrick Randlett, Patrick Reilly, Seth Showers, Alison Swift, Tiffany Sylvester, Ryan Gallerani and Xavier Santiago.
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Holiday Craft Fair sponsored by the Plymouth
Music Parent Association!
When: Saturday, November 6th from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.
Who: The Plymouth Music Parent Association will be hosting a
One Stop Shopping and Holiday Craft Fair
Where: St. Peter's Parish Center
Over 25 vendors and crafters will be in attendance. Admission is free so come on by and help support the high school music students!
Click on this link to see an informative flyer about this event!
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West School News
TIGER Comes to West School West School students recently viewed a cultural arts program entitled A Bully Isn't Your Friend ...Yet!. Through song and role playing TIGER, a professional theatre company out of Plymouth State University, raised awareness and provided ideas for dealing with bullying situations.
The children use TIGER to remind them of strategies by using the acronym:
Tell an adult
I say No!
Gossip, please don't
Exit when necessary
Respond with respect
These strategies have all proven helpful for students when processing bullying situations. National Writing Day at West School
"Thank You for Protecting Our Country" was the theme as West School first grade classes celebrated National Writing Day by writing about and to soldiers overseas. Some first grade remarks: "A soldier is someone who helps us live in safety." "A soldier is somebody who protects the United States, even Baltimore." "Thank you for being away from your family to protect us. But what do you eat out there?"
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The Arc of Greater Plymouth is offering Inspired Teacher Grants!
The Arc of Greater Plymouth is offering Inspired Teacher Grants - each of $500.00- to faculty of Post Graduate SPED programs in our greater Plymouth area. There will be two grants awarded in the
Post Grad category this year.
The purpose of these grants is to benefit a Special Education educator interested in promoting further inclusive activities for his/her students within the community. This grant may be used to purchase classroom supplies to enhance inclusion ofstudents during community activities, to purchase outside presentations to enhance community inclusion within the classroom, or for professional development in the area of inclusive education.
The Arc of Greater Plymouth was founded in 1966 as a private, non-profit organization committed to providing creative, flexible, and diversified supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The guiding principles that guide The Arc's mission are that individuals with developmental disabilities are people first, and that they are to be respected, treated with dignity, and valued for who they are and what they can accomplish.
We are lucky to have such a great organization providing funds for deserving teachers!
Click here to read more details about these grants!
Click here to open the grant entry form!
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Reminder - Step Up for Veterans
A Community Event
On Thursday, November 11, 2010 students, staff and community members are invited to participate in
Step Up for Veterans.
This event is sponsored by the Plymouth Public Schools.
Show your support for local veterans by walking laps on the track or around the gymnasium and getting donations for every lap.
Funds raised will aid local veterans in need, providing help needed for such items as fuel assistance, food, etc.
Come walk with us, or make a donation.
All funds will be used for Plymouth veterans.
Where: Plymouth South High School 490 Long Pond Road
Time: 11AM - 2 PM
For more information: Contact Kathy Babini, Plymouth Public Schools
508-830-4476
Click here to access the pledge sheet for Step Up for Veterans! |
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Reminder - Cold Spring School Hosts Halloween Fund Raiser
The Cold Spring Elementary School PTA will present a Cabby Shack/Party Faces school fundraiser from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at Cabby Shack on Town Wharf.
Have your child's face painted for Halloween and grab lunch or an early dinner before heading out to treat-or-treat.
Cold Spring School will earn 20 percent of the sales of takeout and dine-in orders, and the face painting, which will be available for $5.
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Gary E. Maestas, Ed.D Superintendent
Plymouth Public Schools
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