The air is starting to feel more like fall, and our Clippers continue to push forward in the classroom and all their activities. Like the past few years, our athletic teams continue to excel. Every single team is currently above .500 and on track for a tournament berth. Congratulations to our athletes, coaches, trainer, athletic director on earning yet another Dalton Award for last year’s accomplishments. See below for more information about this feat. Also, good luck to the Golf Team in their CAL Tournament today and congratulations to both Boys and Girls X-Country teams for securing yet another CAL championship yesterday.

Alongside, athletics the Sailbot team continues to make the rounds on their championship tour. Last week, they were interviewed on the Local Pulse show. Here is a link to their interview (search for Episode #465).

Some dates to get in your calendars. The theater program is preparing for their production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.” Opening night is Thursday, November 16 with productions also taking place on Friday and Saturday of the same weekend. The showcase of our music program will happen a few weeks later the evening of Dec. 12. The students and teachers who are part of both programs are working hard preparing for their performances.

Last, I’d like to again commend our students on serving as the Class of the CAL. They continue to demonstrate sportsmanship at our games and this week, we gave them a shoutout for helping to keep the building and grounds clean. I'm very much looking forward to next Friday's homecoming game and dance. (Reminder to help ensure smart decisions on the part of our students, we do breathalyze all students upon entry to our celebratory events.)

Please see below for updates regarding

• Today’s Advisory
• Student Clubs
• Walking Wednesdays
• Dalton Award
• NEF Auction - Volunteers for Class Baskets
• International Night
• Course Spotlight – Fitness for Life
• Senior Civics - City Council Candidate Forum

Students used a portion of their Clipper Block today to meet in their grade level advisories. Over the past few years, our school improvement plan has guided us to develop an advisory program that allows our students to reflect on their future selves and provide them with time to develop flexible post-secondary plans. I want to thank all members of our School Council as well as participants in parent, student, and teacher panels over the past few years for guiding us in this direction.

Below are links to the scripts that the gr 10, 11, and 12 advisors reviewed with their students today. Grade 9 advisory continues to be supported by the upperclassmen peer mentors so that every freshman has a strong start to high school.

GRADE LEVEL ADVISORY PLANS

Grade 9 - Peer Mentors worked with their grade 9 students to help them process personal goals and obstacles as they relate to the start of high school.

Grade 10 + 11

Grade 12

The clubs and activities list has been updated to account for many of the new organizations that have started this school year. I’m excited we can offer many options for students to participate in. We strongly encourage all students to get involved in at least one activity here at the high school. Please click the link above for information.

Yesterday, Newburyport kicked-off Walking Wednesdays. Be sure to click on the link above to learn more about the initiative.

Another year, another award for our athletics program. For the past 3 years, our student athletes have earned the Dalton Award which recognizes athletic programs for the largest winning percentage across all sports in a school year. Congratulations to our student athletes and coaches on this accomplishment for the 3rd time in three years. This is quite impressive.

The Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF) Annual Lighthouse Auction is just around the corner on November 11th, and we still need volunteers for coordinating class baskets. With your help the annual auction raises over $100,000 to support our public schools. The classes below still need volunteers, so grab a friend and sign up to help!

10th Grade

11th Grade

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20F0E44A9A92BA5F94-44317130-2023/13684019

Families and students are encouraged to come by and learn all about the new 2025 International Travel opportunities and the new Global Citizenship Certification Program, now a part of our Program of Studies. Hear from teacher leaders of each trip going to such places as England, France, Italy, Germany, and the Dominican Republic each trip will have a different focus from community service to study abroad to history or the arts and cuisine.

Also talk to parents whose children have participated in past tours, and from students involved in the Global Citizenship program.

Please use this link to RSVP: https://rsvp.eftours.com/ydcx6uh

Fitness for Life is a very popular elective for our students. Our Wellness Team of Mike Guthrie, Amy Heath, Katherine Mailhiot, and Paul Yameen have developed curriculum throughout our PE/Health classes to motivate students to maintain a healthy lifestyle, one of our pillars for the Portrait of a Graduate. This healthy mindset has contributed to students seeking to be a part of the Fitness for Life program where they learn about fitness and how it applies to the healthy lifestyle. Students learn how to gauge fitness levels, and how to set and keep goals. Throughout the course, students will experience a variety of exercise programs and techniques, including strength training circuits. This all happens within the state-of-the-art fitness room that came to fruition a few years ago through the generosity of the NEF. Thank you to everyone involved with making this happen.

Alongside the above, many students opt to take advantage of fitness training before and after school with our Fitness and Strength Coach, Paul Yameen in the AM (4 days a week), and Ms. Heath in the PM (twice a week). Both provide coaching for all students which is a great benefit for all our Clippers interested in learning to work-out safely and effectively. Alongside Paul and Amy, many coaches from the athletics program will also support workouts in the fitness room in line with the training program that runs during the school day.

Congratulations to all of the seniors who are part of Mr. LaChapelle and Mr. Hill's civics classes. Today, they ran a well-organized and thoughtful forum for candidates seeking election to the Newburyport City Council. A big thank you to all of the candidates for participating today. It is tremendous when real world experience meets the learning happening in our classrooms. Next week, our students will have a another forum for candidates running for the Newburyport School Committee.