NHS Principal Communications - November 4, 2022
Hello Clipper Families,
Thank you for having conversations with your student last night regarding the social media app, Yik-Yak. There continues to be minimal activity on the platform. I did want to continue with my regular messages to keep you updated on some exciting happenings here at the high school.
I’d like to wish all of our fall sports teams well as they engage in their competitions this evening and into the weekend. It is awesome that we will be hosting 4 tournament games this weekend starting tonight with Volleyball and Field Hockey. Football has their tournament game tonight in Duxbury, and good luck to the soccer teams this Sunday. Be sure to check out the high school athletics website for updates on the schedule over the next few weeks.
I also want to recognize our Bring Change to Mind students. Last week, they organized a Purple-Out to bring attention to their efforts around destigmatizing mental health in schools and the community. Here is a link to an article in the Newburyport News highlighting their effort and work.
Also very impressive, our swim team led by Abrianna Constrom and the other captains of the co-op team recently led lessons at the Bresnahan regarding being safe when swimming in the water. Here is the link to this article.
Below you will learn about the
- Mock Trial Program
- High School Accreditation
- Thank you to Participants on the 1:1 Device Program Team
- NEF Auction Reminder
- High School Only Delayed Start – Wednesday, November 9
MOCK TRIAL TEAM
Newburyport High School has now joined the statewide Mock Trial Program which is designed to help high school students learn more about the law, court procedures and our legal system, and give them an opportunity to sharpen their analytical, listening and speaking skills. I’d like to thank Turco Legal for sponsoring and helping us get involved in this program. I’m also excited to have Melissa Martin serve as the advisor for the students who have committed to being a part of the experience.
HIGH SCHOOL ACCREDITATION
Over the next few years, the high school will engage in the accreditation process with New England Association of Schools and Colleges. This process provides for “meaningful, ongoing whole school improvement.” Here is a link to more information about the accreditation process and here is a link to the standards that will be used to assess our school as we work to grow and improve upon all students’ academic and social experience.
The first part of the accreditation process involves a self-reflection on our school’s practices. To help us gain feedback from the parent perspective, please take some time to participate in this survey. Information from the survey will be helpful as we develop our self-study which will be used to identify strengths of our school and places where we can grow.
Family Survey
https://surveys.neasc.org/s3/
1:1 DEVICE PROGRAM UPDATE
An update regarding progress in the 1:1 Device program will be shared in the coming weeks. I do want to thank the following parents, students, and teachers, for their willingness to help us think through a device that will best enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. Parents: Ray Felts, Jill Gross, Chris Lee, Jon Quattlebaum and School Committee Member and parent Brian Callahan. Students: Stephen D’Ambrosio, Declan Hocheiser, Priya Kaur; Teachers Kevin Sheridan, Dom Masi, Megan Marlar, Jill Moran, and AJ Smith
NEWBURYPORT EDUCATION FOUNDATION (NEF) AUCTION REMINDER
Here is a link to information about the upcoming NEF auction. Note that the online auction will begin November 5th at 6:00 PM through Nov. 12th at 8:00 PM. The NEF has been a tremendous partner for the public schools. Over the past few years, high school students have benefited from an upgraded Fitness Facility taking dual enrollment classes with Endicott College at a significantly reduced rate. Also students enrolled in our STEM courses have benefited from state of the art technology such as probes used to study the Merrimack River to high end laser cutters in our industrial design pathway. These are just some examples of the support provided by the NEF to the high school.
NOV 9: HIGH SCHOOL ONLY DELAYED START
On Nov. 9 to accommodate parent-teacher conferences, the school day for students will begin at 11:15. Buses will start their routes 3-hrs later than their regular morning pick-up. We do encourage students taking the bus to be out a little bit earlier just in case. Students who come to school that day at the regular time will be able to work in the library.
