The fall season continues for our Field Hockey and X-Country teams. Congratulations to both groups on moving forward in their respective competitions. Field Hockey’s final four match is tonight, and our runners will compete this weekend in the State Championships. Overall, all of our fall teams have had amazing seasons.

Last week’s Veterans Day assembly was quite impactful for our students. I want to commend the students who are part of the Red Cross Club and their advisor Ms. Colleen Fallon for facilitating the program. I’m appreciative to all the veteran speakers as well as student speakers Maddie Jackman and Callie Curran. They helped our school gain a deeper understanding around the purpose of Veterans Day while also allowing time for us to recognize and honor those who have provided service for our country.

Please see below for information in the following areas:

• Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Opening Night this Thursday (7:00 PM)
• Community Budget Workshop – High School Library – Wed. November 15 – 6:00 PM
• Post-Secondary Planning
• Community Service
• Winter Endicott College Course
• Course Spotlight
• Congratulations

Students part of the theater program are putting the finishing touches on their fall show, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Opening night is this Thursday at 7:00 PM with shows also happening on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 PM. From our actors and the lighting and sound crew to the backstage managers, our theater program meets a variety of student interests while providing great entertainment for the Newburyport community.

As we enter the beginning of the budget season, Sean Gallagher wants to invite you to a budget workshop at the high school with the objective of eliciting greater community involvement in the process. Attendees to the workshop will:

• Learn about the public school budgeting process
• Connect the NPS budget to the Portrait of a Graduate Vision
• Review and understand the 2023-24 school budget
• Provide feedback to the administration and School Committee

A main objective of our school improvement plan is that all students develop a flexible post-secondary plan. This work guides activities that happen through advisory as well as programming through our college and career center. Today, students who had expressed interest in pursuing a trade had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Peterson School. From electrical to HVAC, this post-secondary licensure institution provides a range of programs for our students to start their journey towards in-demand careers. For more information, please reach out to our College and Career Center Counselor, Aaron Ribaudo-Smith.

Please see the College and Career Center on our website for announcements on upcoming college and career visits, job and service opportunities, and post-secondary planning resources.

There are many opportunities for students to become involved in community service. Over the past week students who are part of the Interact Club supported events for the Newburyport Rotarians as well as the Newburyport Education Foundation. Participating in service activities is a great way to meet new people while supporting the community. The Interact Club is our largest student organization with over 120 students. Additionally for every 75 hours of logged service, a student can earn 2.5 credits.

Here is a link to upcoming service opportunities through the Interact Club.

A big thank you to all of the students who volunteered for the Friends-Giving event. Sponsored by the Best Buddies Program, our students supported Best Buddy programs from over 15 school districts. They prepared food and ran activities for all of the participants. Thank you very much to the Hope Church for providing the space.

We are excited to offer our next Endicott College Course, Criminal Law. This class will begin on January 25th and end on May 9th. Please see this flyer for more information about this class, attached. The registration form is available on page one of the flyer.

Students in Sophomore Literature and Composition are in the midst of a rhetorical analysis unit, further developing and building upon skills taught in 7th and 8th grade ELA classes. Using "Animal Farm" as an anchor text, students are finding evidence to make inferences about how and why a particular author is trying to persuade them, thereby demonstrating their ability to think critically. This unit culminates with students using those rhetorical skills to write their own argumentative essay, an Op-Ed, through which they develop their own line of reasoning, consider the needs and values of the audience, and weigh the emotional impact of their words, while also researching and elaborating on a counter-argument. Students will see the real world applicability of this skill while also being engaged by being given choice in their topic. In the past, students have had the opportunity to publish these essays in diverse places, and will also have the same opportunity this year.

Congratulations to Griffin LaPlante on his recognition at last Monday’s School Committee meeting for work he has taken on through his internship. Griffin has learned the ins and outs of office management. From meeting the demands of supervisors and clients he has met all responsibilities. Having built trust in his organizational skill set, he recently supported Dean Antonelli in the planning of the City’s safety drill conducted a few weeks ago.

• Internships are an effective way for students to learn about and develop skills associated with various careers. These also help students develop their plans for after high school based on their interests. One of the objectives of our school improvement is to help all students experience either an internship or job shadow in an area of interest before they graduate.

Dean Jim Antonelli recently received the William N. Gaine, Jr. Sportsmanship Award. He was recognized last Thursday by the MIAA at a ceremony held at Gillette Stadium. This recognition comes for distinguished leadership in the promotion of sportsmanship throughout interscholastic athletics. It is a great honor, and we are very excited to have Dean Antonelli as a Clipper.

Teacher and Interact Club Advisor Jill Moran recently received a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition through the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. This honor acknowledges individuals who provide "tangible and significant assistance for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world." Ms. Moran coordinates the Interact Club which is the largest student organization at the high school. Through Interact and its connection with the local Rotary Chapter, our students are able to provide community service throughout the city. Please see below for more information regarding the Interact Club.

Ms. Catherine Taggart and Dr. Erin Hobbs were also recently recognized by the School Committee for work they accomplished for the High School's accreditation. Together they facilitated a year-long evaluation of the high school's program using the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Standards of Accreditation.

Explanation of Accreditation from NEASC

• "Accreditation is a respected, effective, and time-tested methodology for school improvement and growth. It is not a single event, but rather an ongoing, voluntary cycle of comprehensive internal and external assessments, short- and long-term strategic planning, and periodic reporting sustained by professional partnership and support. It is intended to serve as a framework for schools to meet their own unique goals for student learning while maintaining alignment with research-based Standards for Accreditation that define the characteristics of high quality, effective learning communities. It also serves to assess the systems in place for ongoing institutional self-reflection and a school’s commitment to and capacity for continuous growth and/or transformation."