Reflecting At Years End, Student-Athletes & CC Winter Concert

For many students and staff at CCHS, we arrive and leave the campus under cover of darkness. With little choice but to embrace the darkness on this 76th day of school, we can begin to look forward to a touch more daylight with the winter solstice now in the rearview mirror.

For me, the end of the calendar year brings reflection.  Always wondering where the year went, and marveling at the growth of my children.  At the beginning of the school year, we challenged CCHS students to work hard, demonstrate grit, find balance, while reminding them to enjoy the journey. Further, we asked that they wake up every day with the intention of making CCHS a better place and positively contributing the well-being of others.  They have risen to these challenges.

Six months on the job I am thoroughly impressed by the dedication and commitment of the staff, I am impressed by the manner in which the communities of Carlisle, Boston and Concord value education, and I am so very impressed by our student's abilities; however, I am more impressed with the people they are.  Kind, compassionate, respectful, and ready and willing to make a difference in the world. We are all so very blessed to walk through these doors each and every day.

A well-deserved respite is on the horizon, and it is our sincere hope students enjoy the largely school work free break and spend quality time with family and friends.  On behalf of the entire CCHS community, I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

In this final post of 2016, I included a letter I wrote to the student-athletes for the athletic programs. The winter season is off and running with 485 student-athletes competing in 9 different sports: basketball, wrestling, fencing, nordic ski, alpine ski, track, swimming, diving, and ice hockey.
Also, scroll down for information about CC Bands & Orchestra Winter Concert this evening.  It will surely be a truly exceptional performance.



Dear Student-Athletes:

I am proud to say that some of my fondest memories in life are derived from my experiences in high school athletics. The memories born from these experiences, and the bonds formed during my high school athletic career, live on today. This fact serves as a testament to the profound impact sports can have on a young student-athlete.

Vince Lombardi, the late legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers once said: “The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.”

I believe it to be true, that the qualities and virtues learned on the playing field are universal skills that will help you succeed in whatever endeavor you so choose. The life lessons I have learned through athletics are far too many to list, but chief among them are teamwork, a disciplined work ethic, and learning how to succeed in the face of what appears to be insurmountable odds.

As a society, we revere success but often fail to recognize process. The hard work, sacrifice, commitment, and dedication necessary to succeed are things that only you and your teammates can truly comprehend. It is important to note, however, that the lessons learned in the face of defeat can exceed those learned in winning, as one of the secrets of life is to fall down eight times and to get up nine. It is easy to demonstrate sportsmanship when victorious, but the true judge of one’s character can best be determined when you are exposed to defeat.

Competition and learning how to compete are vital to your future success. Whether in a rink, on a court, on the mat, in the pool, on the slopes, the field, or the track, I look forward to watching our student-athletes compete. I know you will make us proud. See you at the game.


Sincerely,


Michael J. Mastrullo
Principal

You’re Invited to the CC Bands and Orchestra Winter Concert!

Thursday, December 22 at 7 pm in the CCHS Auditorium

Come for an evening of music – including some holiday favorites – performed by our talented band and orchestra students

* Orchestra * Repertory Band * Jazz Band * Concert Band *

Seniors Awaiting College Decisions, Warriors-4-Warriors, Martin Espada & More

As many seniors anxiously await decisions from the colleges of their choice, I can't help but marvel at what the process has become.  At the age of 41, I foolishly think I am not too far removed from the college application process.  My generation waited for acceptance letters in the mail. GASP!  

This week I witnessed a video online of a young student sitting by the computer awaiting notification from the college of his choice.  He was surrounded by family all hovering about and peering over his shoulder.  Undoubtedly with a pounding heart, he opened the email from the institution of his choice.  A double click away from the next four years of his life. 

They simultaneously read the email and pandemonium erupted in the room.  A great, triumphant moment for the young man and his family.  It made me smile.  Watching a dream come true for a young man or woman is always smile worthy.  Of course, the video went viral because he heard the word yes.  This will play out millions of times across the country in the coming weeks.  

It is impossible for me not to wonder, what would the reaction be if the 3 letter reply he hoped for (yes) was replaced with the dreaded 2 letter answer, NO! Knowing his family is anxiously awaiting a yes, I imagine "no" would have been crushing.

I fully recognize sitting in my position it is easy to tell students, don't worry, it will all work out, but I honestly believe it will.  If you do not get into college #1, #2, or even numbers 3, 4, or 5, it will work out; you will end up where you belong.  The college that accepts you is lucky to have you, and to the ones that said no, well use that rejection as fuel to demonstrate the colossal mistake they made.  In moments like this, it is difficult, but nonetheless important, to keep perspective.  If the most devastating moment of the year is a rejection letter, then life is splendid.  Know that your family and friends are proud of you no matter what.  

I am sharing a New York Times article I read nearly two years ago.  Below is a portion of the article I find particularly poignant.  After being turned down by the colleges of his choice, a mother found a beleaguered and devastated son.  She wrote him a letter.  I included a portion of it below.  It will all work out. I promise!

Dear Matt,

On the night before you receive your first college response, we wanted to let you know that we could not be any prouder of you than we are today. Whether or not you get accepted does not determine how proud we are of everything you have accomplished and the wonderful person you have become. That will not change based on what admissions officers decide about your future. We will celebrate with joy wherever you get accepted — and the happier you are with those responses, the happier we will be. But your worth as a person, a student and our son is not diminished or influenced in the least by what these colleges have decided.

If it does not go your way, you’ll take a different route to get where you want. There is not a single college in this country that would not be lucky to have you, and you are capable of succeeding at any of them.

We love you as deep as the ocean, as high as the sky, all the way around the world and back again — and to wherever you are headed.

Mom and Dad

Frank Bruni is an Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times. This essay is adapted from his book, “Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania.”

How to Survive the College Admissions Madness

Martin Espada Visits CCHS
By Alex Spence & Eric Rivera

Poet and professor Martín Espada visited Concord-Carlisle High School on Thursday, December 8th to direct a poetry workshop for the students in the new interdisciplinary class Twice-Told Tales and to conduct a poetry reading for the community. Martín Espada has published almost twenty books as a poet, editor, essayist, and translator. The Republic of Poetry (2006) was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His honors include the Shelley Memorial Award, the PEN/Revson Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. 

Twice-Told Tales read Zapata’s Disciple (1998) and Martín Espada’s most recent collection of poems Vivas to Those Who Have Failed (2016). Under the guidance of the esteemed poet, students produced and performed powerful work about the history and ancestry of their names. About the experience, a student wrote, “the name poem made me realize new things about how my name connects to my life in ways that I never thought about before.”

Martín Espada’s afternoon reading drew a packed audience in the auditorium. The poet’s powerful reading – which touched upon issues of race, loss, beauty, and art – gave the CCHS community a powerful, thought-provoking experience.

It was a wonderful day with the poet Martín Espada, who in the opinion of many, carries on the tradition of Pablo Neruda, Clemente Soto Vélez, and Walt Whitman. 

Thank you to the Concord Ed. Fund for making Martín Espada’s visit possible.



Student Newspaper
Read the Voice! The New Schedule, Teacher Interviews, Advice Column, Christmas Cookies, CC Hockey, and More!



Sports Update
We will not provide updates for all games on a weekly basis, but will rather provide some highlights and features as the year progresses.  You can find schedules on the Schedule Star website.

Further, you can find additional information on our athletic website.

For the first time ever, girls swim defeated Lincoln-Sudbury in a duel meet.  CC 94 - LS 92They are now 2-0  

Boys Hockey won their opener 2-1 against Leominster

Warriors 4 Warriors
Four years ago this week, we dropped the puck for the first annual Warriors 4 Warriors -Patriots for Patriots Benefit Hockey game. With little expectation, we, the LS Boys Hockey program, gathered to sell wristbands by the LS cafeteria and promote the event on social media, hoping to get a few friends and family to come out to support the memorial fund of a man who inspired us in many ways. Many of us didn’t personally know Scott. All we had were stories of a hardworking, team-first kid who made an impact on everyone he crossed paths with. Scott left a legacy on our community, and whether we would admit it or not, starting this game was a way to honor a man who we all secretly wanted to become. 

On December 15th, 2012, we took the ice with expectations of playing just another high school hockey game. It wasn’t until we took that first step on the ice that we knew we were a part of something special: a packed house of 2,000 fans, youth players proudly represented in their team jerseys, hundreds of our closest friends and classmates, teachers, and most importantly, local military personnel. Everyone who has played MA high school hockey knows that on a regular night, you’re lucky to fill a small corner of the arena with your parents and a few friends. The opportunity to play the game we love in front of thousands of fans was a night many of us will never forget. The fans, however, were only a part of what made that night so special. Stepping on the ice, you felt as though you were a part of something bigger. With Scott’s presence felt throughout the arena, every player knew this was more than just a game.  Coach Elenbaas and Mr. Milley’s opening comments solidified that feeling.

Four years later, few people could have imagined what this event has become, a rink filled with thousands of fans dressed in navy and white and maroon and gold honoring a man who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It’s been inspiring to watch both the LS and CC communities embrace this event, and even more inspiring to see the impact this event is making to support the work of Scott’s Foundation. I urge everyone who has attended the event to check out our website at www.lswarriors4warriors.com and see the lives of the soldiers, of the wives, of the daughters and sons that YOU have affected. Scott’s organization has done incredible things for soldiers and their families during some very tough times. To everyone who has ever purchased a wristband, t-shirt, or made a donation, please know that your support has made an incredible impact in your local community and beyond. We are grateful for your support and participation in this meaningful event. 

I write this letter asking all members of the LS and CC communities to come together once again for the 5th annual event next Saturday, December 17th. Each donation, large or small, goes to a foundation that supports those that deserve it most. The over $50,000 raised in the last four years has done so much good in this world. Most importantly, however, I urge everyone to help us keep Scott’s legacy alive. At the end of the day, this game was started to keep Scott’s memory in the hearts and minds of the community. This community is one that Scott made the ultimate sacrifice to protect, and a community that the Milley family has done so much for.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing everyone on December 17th!

Jordan Dow
LS Class of 2013
Two teams. Four towns. One Family. 

CC Bands & Orchestra Winter Concert

You’re Invited to the CC Bands and Orchestra Winter Concert!

Thursday, December 22 at 7 pm in the CCHS Auditorium

Come for an evening of music – including some holiday favorites – performed by our talented band and orchestra students

* Orchestra * Repertory Band * Jazz Band * Concert Band *

Margot Ehrenthol, Spencer Royal, Sam Randle, Sarah Hutchinson, Student Newspaper & More

Margot Ehrenthrol

All-Scholastic Awards

Congratulations to our fall season All-Scholastic Award winners.  

Boston Herald All-Scholastic teams: Margot Ehrenthrol & Spencer Royal 

Boston Globe All-Scholastic teams: Margot Ehrenthrol &  Sam Randle

Spencer Royal

Sam Randle

Sarah Hutchinson

Sarah Hutchinson

I had the privilege of meeting Sarah recently and was greatly impressed with her remarkable academic acumen, her perseverance, and her strength.  I think you will be too. I wanted to share her story with the community, and she was gracious enough to take me up on the offer. In the not-to-distant future she will earn the Gold Award; the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.  Impressive!

My name is Sarah Hutchinson, and I am a junior at CCHS. This year, I am leading a service project for a non-profit that works with families who have had an immediate family member die. My dad died when I was five, and my mom and I attended support groups at The Children’s Room (TCR) in Arlington—an organization that provides peer support, led by trained facilitators, to grieving families, teens, and children.

One never completely “gets over” the death of an immediate family member, and it is important to have support from same-aged peers in growing up. I also received this support as a camper at Circle Camps for Grieving Children, which offers an overnight camp for parentally bereaved girls from the Northeast. For the past two summers, I have been selected as a Counselor in Training (CIT) for the younger girls. This opportunity has allowed me to practice and understand what it is like as a teen to work with children who have had a parent die. I am combining my experience at The Children’s Room and as a CIT at Circle Camps into my Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, and consists of an independent, self-directed, service and leadership project in the community. I am leading others in order to address the root cause of an unmet need, and the project will continue after I have completed my work.

For my project, I am working with staff from TCR and Circle Camps to create the first training curriculum for teen volunteers at The Children’s Room. Many teens have wanted to remain connected with The Children’s Room and want to give back, but have not been able to because of a lack of a training. A training program is necessary because a death in the family is a sensitive issue, and it is important for teens to work with their own losses before they receive training for skills to effectively work with children.

Children often connect better with people closer to their own age than with adults. Being with teen volunteers allows children to feel more comfortable talking about and understanding their own loss. Through this training, I can use my experience, knowledge and values to help both teens and children through their grief processes. From the people who have helped me with my loss, I have developed a care for others, and a desire to do the best I can to make sure they are doing well.

Student Artwork

I wanted to share an impressive piece of artwork by Glyn Mardis (2019).

CCWS
By Elizabeth Rennert (2020)

The Concord-Carlisle Weather Services Balloon Launch went great, given the conditions. As the team arrived in Bennington, VT, the final launch site, it was snowing with 7 mph winds. The high school that was launched from, Mount Anthony Union High School, is also a home of the Patriots. When the tarps were unraveled, turf beads from the CCHS turf fields, left over from the tethered launch, spilled out. As one student put it, “We brought Patriots turf to Patriots’ turf.” The payloads sent up included instruments to measure altitude, humidity, temperature, pressure, spin rate among other measurements. The payload boxes also had cameras pointed at the horizons and one pointing down to monitor experiments and a GPS tracker so the search and recovery team could find it. 

The balloon was launched around 10:30am and touched down around 12:15pm in Worcester. Soon after launching, the balloon began to increase in speed until it reached 120 mph. After about an hour and 40 minutes, the balloon reached its maximum altitude of 92,910 ft, then popped and began its descent to the surface. At one point in the balloon’s journey, the temperature dropped down to -40˚F! It landed in a tree but the search and recovery team was able to recover it. The balloon traveled over 81 miles from Bennington, VT to Worcester, MA. As Cooper Ernst said after packing up from the launch, “That was like, legit science!”

In the month and a half leading up to the launch, students worked to train themselves and other students in how to operate and pull off the launch. Upperclassmen went to the freshmen earth science classes and told them about the launch. The students in the earth science classes designed experiments, mascots, and flags to go up in the balloon. In addition to Facebook live sharing, many people, including students, parents, and teachers, both from the Concord-Carlisle area and in other states, tuned into the Mission Control page, https://tracking.stratostar.net/mission/0106. 

This page had live data from the balloon and a map so people can track its progress. According to the mission page, over 3,200 people were following the mission! In addition to the actual launch, CCWS had a tethered launch. Originally scheduled to be on Tuesday, November 29th, it was rescheduled for Friday, December 3 due to poor weather and high winds. At the tethered launch, the balloon was sent up 100 feet with instruments, experiments, and the mascot, Cloud. It was a great dress rehearsal for the launch team, giving them the opportunity to practice sending the balloon up without any issues. Despite having to reschedule, the tethered launch had a great turnout with about 40 people, including students, press, CCHS Principal Michael Mastrullo, Concord-Carlisle Superintendent Diana Rigby, and a member of the Concord Ed fund, which graciously funded this project.

Thirty cloud necklaces were put in one of the payload boxes. They were taken up above the clouds to the top of the stratosphere along with the balloon. The necklaces will each be sold and the money will benefit Hurricane Matthew relief in Haiti. Eleven of the necklaces were donated by the jewelry artist who says, “This is definitely the coolest thing that has ever happened to the necklaces I’ve made.” She plans to donate all of them next year. If interested in purchasing a necklace, please contact faculty adviser, Theresa Ruggiero at truggiero@concordcarlisle.org 

https://youtu.be/qVMt0gu5rcc

Student Newspaper
Read the Voice! First Snow, Weather Predictions, Winter Fashion, Trump's Phone Call, the Future of his Presidency, Parking Petition, and More!

Hour of Code Comes to Concord

By Lynne Beattie

Hour of Code Video

Hour of Code Advisory Presentation

This week all K-12 students have the opportunity to participate in an Hour of Code. Fittingly scheduled during Computer Science Education Week, this year December 5-11, the global campaign provides easily accessible activities for children and adults of all ages to practice and learn the foundations of computer programming. Through engaging game environments, participants apply critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and computational fluency skills that are necessary for success in all subject areas and in life outside of school. 

At CCHS, students will be introduced to Hour of Code on Wednesday during their advisory meetings, and will have opportunities to participate in the Learning Commons during lunch blocks and after school as well as in some classes. Middle school students will code during 6th grade Digital Literacy classes throughout the week and in 7th and 8th grade math classes on Wednesday. Elementary students will participate with their classroom teachers over the course of the week. 

Appreciation goes out to the instructional technology specialists, Terry Smolka, Kathy Talbot, Sue Howard, Genoveva Matheus, and John Peachey, for supporting and facilitating this exciting initiative. For more information about the Hour of Code campaign, please go to https://code.org/learn.

Student Health101 
By CCHS Health & Fitness Dept.

The December issue of CCHS Student Health 101 is now available – check it out and enter this month’s drawing for $100: http://concordcarlisle.getsh101.com

EFSG Recycling Initiative
By Anisha Chopra

Terracycling!- We have bins set up throughout the school where we collect shiny silver energy bar wrappers and the clear cereal bag liners. The bins are marked throughout the school, but please do not drop trash, or chip bag liners, in the bins since they must be sorted out by hand.

Also right now we are collecting broken/dried out pens, mechanical pencils, and dry erase markers. We have plastic collection boxes for these in most classrooms. Since the response is good we may make this a permanent program.

Lastly when you recycle, the recycled goods are terracycled into products that are then resold. The sales from these resold products is donated to a charity of our choice. We chose Charity Water since it has practically no overhead, and 100% of the donations fund clean water projects. Hopefully you can spread and circulate this information in ways you think would facilitate awareness!

Proposed Block Schedule Change Information

A Time and Learning Committee started the process of exploring a new schedule for CCHS in the fall of 2015.  The process was detailed, comprehensive, and thorough as schedules ranging from our immediate neighbors to high-performing schools on the west coast were reviewed and examined.  

In early 2016, the Time and Learning Committee made a recommendation to principal Peter Badalament to adopt a schedule that is nearly identical to the one being proposed at this time, less a few minor changes.  For various reasons outlined in the included presentation, principal Badalament postponed the implementation of the recommended schedule.  

A committee reconvened this fall to continue the process.  The modifications made to the recommended schedule are as follows: due to busing constraints, the committee changed the late start to an early release, and the "x" block was modified from a bi-weekly meeting to a weekly meeting.  

Included with this blog is a presentation that details the schedule review process, the referenced schedules, and all of the pros and trade-offs associated with the potential schedule change.  With the understanding that no schedule is perfect, we remain committed, as we are now, to ensure it works for all students.  

There is a meeting scheduled for tonight for all interested parents and community members who wish to review and discuss the potential block schedule change.  The meeting will take place at the high school at 7:00pm.  We look forward to highlighting the proposed schedule and answering any questions or concerns you may have.  

Proposed Schedule Change Presentation

CCHS Facebook Page

CC Weather Services, Book Pals, Amy Su, Matt Li, Matt Murphy, Kasey Stewart, Isabel Parker & More

CCHS Concert Band Students Chosen for All-Eastern!
By David Gresko & Deb Smith

Congratulations to the following CCHS student musicians who were accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Eastern Senior District Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. Those accepted will join other musicians from around the region in rehearsals at Boston Latin HS, culminating in a performance on January 7th.  Additionally, 15 scores were high enough to be eligible for an All-State Music Ensemble audition. These auditions will take place in January at Shrewsbury High School. 

Amy Su- French Horn
Matthew Li- Bassoon
Matthew Murphy- Trombone

Follow the link to view a few outstanding performances recorded by Owen Curtain and Colonial Sound.

CCHS Music Performance
CCHS Music Performance

The Weather Services Station

CC Weather Services Balloon Launch

By Mackenzie Pavlik, Eliza Davidian, Emily Wilson & Weather Services

CC weather services are excited to announce our balloon launch! The balloon will be sent up with weather instruments, student designed experiments, a mascot, and tokens for a CCHS fundraiser for Hurricane Matthew Haiti relief. It will go up 100,000 feet and be above 99% of our atmosphere!  

Come watch our tethered launch in person at the CCHS upper turf on Friday, December 2nd at 2:30 pm. Or follow our launch at: https://tracking.stratostar.net/mission/0106

When we launch our balloon there will be near-real-time data available for viewing here as well as a map showing the location of the balloon as it makes its hour and a half journey up above the cloud deck.

A little bit of background. The club meets Thursday mornings from 7-7:30 to check in with each other, and make sure that all the work we do outside of the meeting time is going smoothly, along with using that time to learn a bit more about weather and forecasting. Outside of that time, we have a group of about 30-40 students who help produce daily weather broadcasting. This includes posting a forecast on Facebook and recording radio and television broadcasts through our town and school’s stations. 

We also have some behind the scenes roles for students, like creating graphics that play behind the weatherperson. In addition to the daily broadcasts, we have a larger project that we take on each year and present at the national AMS conference. 

Last year, our project was to determine the accuracy of the precipitation onset algorithm of the app DarkSky, which focuses on hyperlocal forecasting. This year, our project for the conference in January will be the launch of our weather balloon and the engagement of students as teachers and leaders in this STEM project.  

Book Pals

By Mikaela Smith (2017)

Last Wednesday, the BookPALS had their visit. Ms. Greeley and 36 students drove into Boston to the to Everett Elementary School to read to and mentor children grades 1-5. The students brought donated books to read and then let the kids take them home.

Learning Commons Update
The  Learning Commons Blog

Job is pictured on the left & Aggrey on the right!

Delegation From Kenya

Wednesday we had visitors from an educational delegation based in Kenya.  They were eager to learn more about our educational system.  It was great to learn from them as well.  Aggrey and Job spoke of government sponsored educational reforms in Kenya that have brought education to a wide percentage of the population.  Although the mandate has provided education for a large portion of kids, funding has not kept up with policy.  It is not uncommon for grades K-8 to have 60 students in a classroom with a single teacher.  Difficult to comprehend from our small enclave in Massachusetts. 

Aggrey and Job were tue gentlemen, and we enjoyed their visit.  They visited classrooms and spoke with both students and staff.  In the small world category, our own Peter Nichol spent time in Kenya in the 1980s and discovered that Aggrey was instrumental in assisting with homestay arrangements when he was there.  

Aggrey is from the countryside and was principal of a very rural high school. 

Job was the head of the largest high school in Nairobi and the first black African head of a school in Nairobi. He then became deputy director of culture followed by President of the University, Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. Now in semi-retirement, he has started a small school in the rural area where he and Aggrey both are from.

Kasey Stewart (2018)

Students at CCHS regularly perform outstanding volunteer service both locally and beyond.  The students are truly conscientious, global citizens with a desire to make a difference.  We are truly lucky to have dedicated community members at  2volunteer  to help with the student's noble ambitions. In partnering with 2volunteer, it is our desire to highlight students performing truly exceptional work in the field of community service.  

Kasey started the CCHS Red Cross Club last year, and she participated in several community service projects.  She has donated her passion, effort, and time with nearly 250 hours of service.  Well done, Kasey!

Who is 2Volunteer?

CCHS is committed to Community Service. The 2Volunteer group is a community-based organization partnering with CCHS to help our kids learn the value and importance of service to others. We hope to facilitate the best possible match between student and organization, affording the most meaningful experience for all involved. We also want to help encourage and reward those students who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. 

Activists in Syria distributing things to refugee children.

NuDay Syria

By Isabel Parker (2018)

On Thursday, November 27th, guest speaker Nadia Alawa spoke to an International Issues class as part of my project involving the Syrian refugee crisis. Nadia is the founder of a nonprofit NGO (nongovernmental organization) called NuDay Syria. She founded the organization in 2011 in response to the uprisings in Syria, and it quickly grew from an idea to success. NuDay Syria’s slogan, which was emphasized throughout the presentation, is “One person at a time, one humanity closer”. This resonated with me because it shows how anyone is able to make a difference, no matter how small it might seem. Nadia reiterated this idea by explaining what items she prioritizes to send to Syria. Although they send practical items such as clothing, medical supplies, and food, they also make a large effort to send stuffed animals, dolls, blankets, soccer balls, and toys. This allows Syrians to have as much normalcy as possible, and this includes giving children education and a regular childhood.

Nadia’s inspiration for starting the NuDay Syria was a boy named Hamza Al-Khateeb, who was murdered for smuggling baby milk into a village. She was very clearly affected by this, as Hamza was the same age as one of her own sons. Her commitment and passion for NuDay Syria was inspiring, and one student commented, “I was really struck by how fearless she was...she jumped into this project and wasn’t afraid of making mistakes along the way. I also thought her motto was good because one person can only do so much but she’s willing to put in the work, and she has been able to help many people by focusing on one person at a time”. This reaction was consistent in many of the students and teachers at the presentation. It was eye-opening to see a woman who has taken action for what she is passionate about. This presentation, along with a Q&A at the end, was very successful in providing information and awareness about one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. 

Students of French Give Back

By Caitlin Smith

As you may know, cholera has been a serious problem in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of 2010. When Hurricane Matthew hit the island this October, it flooded the water supply with sewage and severely worsened the conditions that cause cholera.

In response to this tragic situation, CCHS students of French will be sending messages of encouragement to a Haitian school and making contributions toPartners in Health in order to support the people of Haiti. 

Here are some documents regarding the cholera situation in Haiti, Partners in Health's long-term commitment to Haitian communities, as well as Charity Navigator's assessment of Partners in Health:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/haiti-cholera-hurricane-matthew-aid-agencies

http://www.pih.org/priority-programs/cholera

https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4884

If you are interested in learning how you can help, please contact Caitlin Smith for additional information (csmith@concordcarlisle.org).

Merci beaucoup for your consideration.

Bien sincèrement, 

Madame Roussel, Madame Penaud and Madame Smith

Potential HS Block Schedule Change Meetings

Combined High School/Parents Association/Principal's Coffee Meeting

& Parent Evening Presentation.

We will be meeting to discuss a potential bell schedule change for the 2017-2018 school year.

December 5th

Where:       CCHS

Time:           8:30am (PA Meeting at 8:30, non-schedule discussion with admin at 9:00, schedule presentation at 9:30)

Location:   High School Library

December 7th

Where:          CCHS

Time:             7:00pm

Location:     High School Library

School District DESE Report Card

School district report cards are critical tools for promoting accountability for schools, districts, and states by publicizing data about student performance and program effectiveness for parents, policy makers, and other stakeholders. Report cards help parents/guardians and the general public see where schools and districts are succeeding and where there is still work to do. 

To view a report card, use the report card search tool on the Department's School and District Profiles website. 

CCHS DESE Report Card Overview

CCHS DESE Report Card

Free VHS Study Skills Course

Thanks to a generous, anonymous grant, we are pleased to be able to offer a free 4-week online study skills class to all interested 9th-grade students.  It is our attention to extend the offer to other grades later this year.  

We are piloting this offering in collaboration with the Virtual High School. The class will commence following midyear exams and will run for four weeks, up to the beginning of February break. Students can expect approximately five hours of work per week, focusing on time management skills,  note-taking and test preparation/test taking strategies.  The course modules have been designed by the Landmark School in Beverly.  Students who are interested should sign up via this Google Form link: https://goo.gl/forms/UXRNfYjpJjDExkoq2 no later than December 15, 2016.  Questions may be addressed to Ann Little, VHS Site Coordinator:  alittle@concordcarlisle.org.

Course Description

CCCC

By Steve Wells

Attention CCHS Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors,

A follow up to remind you about the Concord-Carlisle Community Connections (CCCC) program (www.cchs-connections.org) that is going to be available to a limited number of sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the second semester.  In this program, you will be paired with a mentor of a certain career field (such as engineering, architecture, law, etc.) and will have 8 - 10 hours of meeting time spread out over the course of the semester.  During these meetings you will get together to discuss what it is like to run a business or be employed in a certain profession.  Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded 1.25 credits.

If you would like to learn more about the program, you can visit our website at www.cchs-connections.org, email me (swells@concordcarlisle.org), or visit me in person in the Student Support area (my office is in Room 209).  I have also attached a list of the career fields that we hope to have as part of the program.

If you are interested in applying for a spot in the program, you can apply online at:

www.cchs-connections.org/apply There is no limit to the number of times a student can participate in the program.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, December 8th. 

Winter Break Drivers Education 

By Jill Asser

Class will meet Monday, December 26th - Friday, December 30th from 9 am - 3:30 pm

Limited spaces are available

Driver education promotes and teaches safe driving attitudes, defensive driving skills, and respect for the rules of the road. It prepares students for the Registry of Motor Vehicles license exam, and it strives to prevent or reduce accidents and fatalities that involve young drivers. Driver Education at Concord-Carlisle High School includes:

• 30 classroom hours (must be at least 15 years and 9 months of age),
• 12 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction,
• 6 hours of in-car observation, and
• 2-hour parent/guardian class, attended by a least one parent (certificate valid for 5 years).

Parents/guardians are responsible for an additional 40+ hours of on-the-road practice. Students should complete the program within one year.

Students must be at least 15 yrs. 9 mos. of age to begin CCHS driver education, 16 to apply for a Learner's Permit, and 16 1/2 to apply for a Junior Operator's License (road test). Students in the CCHS Drivers Education Program.

The next parent/meeting (free for parents of students taking Drivers Education with CC ACE) is: Wednesday, December 14, 7-9 pm 

Tuition for the Drivers Education program is $775 for class, driving/observation hours, and includes the $15 RMV certification fee. 

Stop by the ACE office in Dining Commons, call us at 978-318-1432, or download our registration form at https://ace.colonial.net/pdfs/Driver%20Ed%20Flyer.Fall%202016.pdf.