To All Members of the CCHS Community,
In Concord, our schools are safe because of our commitment to security, our collaboration with the Concord Police Department, and our students and staff are compassionate people who genuinely care for one another; however, the news cycle reminds us too often that safety in a free and open society is relative.
We understand that people are clamoring for details particularly in this situation as it deals with the safety of our school. As an ongoing police investigation, there are limits to the amount of detail we can share. With that said, all threats are taken seriously and this particular instance is no exception. We are acutely aware of the immense responsibility we have to keep all students and staff safe, and we handle this responsibility with care. As a school leadership team, we discuss safety on a daily basis while working closely with the local police departments and our School Resource Officer, Scott Camilleri.
In terms of this particular instance, I can say with confidence that once the threat was brought to our attention we acted swiftly and with urgency to ensure the safety of all students and staff. In collaboration with the Concord Police Department, we immediately interviewed students within minutes of receiving notification of the threat. I can say with confidence, we handled this situation with the seriousness all threats deserve.
The Concord Police Update provides additional information you should review.
The safety of all students and staff will always be our top priority. I remind everyone to say something if they see or hear anything that is concerning. No individual should investigate or try to determine by themselves if a threat is real or severe enough to report to a staff member, a police officer, an administrator, or a parent. It is incumbent upon each member of our school community to immediately report any incident to ensure that our community is safe. With that said, it is clear the rumor mill is in overdrive, so I caution everyone to deal in facts, avoid innuendo, and refrain from fueling the fire when possible. Please call us with any questions or concerns.
There are three necessary components to any successful school system; safety, organization, and high expectations for teaching and learning. Our school excels in all three areas because the strong and robust relationships between students and staff. While safety will always remain the highest priority; as educators, we know that relationship building, connections with students, and compassion are key elements to a safe and positive learning environment.
To ensure the best possible environment, we all need to work together to create the mindset that we will arrive at this school every day with the intention of contributing to the well-being of others. I believe that the 1300 individuals who arrive daily should commit to making each day better. In this context, I am not referring to academic achievement, athletic accolades, or performing and fine art awards, I am talking about acts of kindness and building each other up as opposed to tearing each other down.
I encourage you to not be hard on yourself as you walk through each day; life is challenging, and mistakes are part of our learning; however, you should have high demands of yourself and those closest to you when it pertains to treating others with kindness.
I wish everyone a wonderful vacation filled with family and friends, and I look forward to seeing every back on campus in 2019.
Warmly,
Michael J. Mastrullo
Friday, December 21, 2018
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Thomas Hudner, Cam Emde-Gerdine, Ian Smith, Music Districts, Food Drive, Improv, Prism, Calendar Changes & More
One definition of courage is "the quality of mind that enables a person to face difficulty and danger without fear." I would submit that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather being scared but acting anyway.
Thomas J. Hudner was an officer of the U.S. Navy and a naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Korean War.
Hudner and Brown were among a group of pilots on patrol when Brown's plane was struck by ground fire and crashed. In an attempt to save Brown from his burning aircraft, Hudner intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft on a snowy mountain in freezing temperatures. In spite of these efforts, Brown died of his injuries and Hudner was forced to evacuate, having also been injured in the landing.
If a fictionalized war movie featured a pilot deliberately crashing a plan to save a fellow naval aviator, it would border on unbelievable, but the facts of this heroic act of bravery are well documented. I wager Hudner battled intense fear as he acted heroically in an attempt to save Jesse Brown.
Jesse Brown's legacy is not defined by Hudner's act of heroism, however. He was the first African-American aviator in the U.S. Navy, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the first African-American naval officer killed in the Korean War. He was fighting for a country that was actively and deliberately trying to deny him fundamental human rights. His courage and bravery are equally notable. There are lessons to be learned from most everyone's life, and Mr. Hudner and Jesse Brown prove heroes live humbly amongst us.
This past week we mourned the loss of former President, George Bush Sr. In addition to being one of 45 U.S. Presidents, his resume includes Vice President, congressman, ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence. Worthy of note, Bush postponed college after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday, and became one of its youngest aviators.
Whether you agreed with his politics or not, he was a man who carried himself with grace, and humility, and judging by the eulogy delivered by his son, he was a great dad. The lesson we can all learn from Bush Sr. is one of grace and humility. He forged a friendship with the man who defeated him in the 1992 election, Bill Clinton, as they joined forces for a cause bigger than self. They helped raise millions of dollars to help victims of the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe in 2005. Considering the divisive nature of contemporary politics, it is hard to conceive of two former presidents from different political parties forging a friendship and joining forces to help others.
Lastly, anyone can act with proper decorum when they win, but a real judge of one's charachter is best determined by how they operate in the face of defeat whether a sporting competition or a presidential election. Nobody would have blamed "Bush 41" for being bitter following his failed bid for a second term, but instead, he left the oval office with grace and humility.
He penned the letter below for incoming President, Bill Clinton. Written in pen for an audience of one, but years later Clinton shared it with the world, and we bear witness to a standard of grace equal to the heroism of Brown and Hudner.
With Admiration,
Michael J. Mastrullo
Principal
CCHS
Thomas Hudner
By Shree Khanolkar
On Saturday, December 1, WIQH and the WIQH News Department went out to the commissioning of the USS Thomas Hudner in Boston. The ship, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was named after the recently deceased veteran from Concord.
To find out why the ship was named after this man, one must go back to the Korean War. As the US troops fleed from the bloody Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, the soldiers on the land needed support from the Navy pilots in the skies. So, along with his 6 man squadron, Thomas Hudner went out on a basic mission to help support the troops and keep control of the area. While in the air, Hudner’s squadmate Ensign Jesse Brown was shot down by opposition forces and Hudner and the crew were able to direct him to land safely in the freezing snowy mountainside of Korea.
The military thought he was dead and had ordered a helicopter to pick up his body. But Hudner thought differently. Although Brown’s plane was burning and he was likely to die from the fire or from hypothermia, Thomas swooped down and tried to rescue his friend. He tried numerous times to remove Brown from the plane, all while talking to him, and trying to calm him down. Unfortunately, Brown passed away as Hudner dragged him. For his bravery and defiance of orders in the face of adversity, Hudner was awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor.
On Saturday, Hudner’s courageous story came full circle. The ship was given full honors, and many local and national leaders came in. Mayor Marty Walsh, Governor Charlie Baker, Congressmen Lynch, Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford, the Secretary of the Navy and other prominent came to pay respects and set this ship off to its destination of Florida. WIQH, with Ned Roos, Jonathan Northridge, Shree Khanolkar, Issac Wilbur and Leanna Bomer went down and covered on behalf of the station.
Can Drive For Open Table
The food drive is in full swing. To date, we have collected a total of 228 items.
Last year we collected 800. The goal this year is to reach 1272.
We encourage students and parents to bring in food items. There are boxes in the Learning Commons and in the lobby.
Students who bring in food/cans will be entered into a raffle for a gift card to local businesses in Concord. Please come and see Ms. Franke in the Learning Commons to
get a raffle ticket. The food drive ends this Friday, December 14.
A special thank you to the great, Ms. Franke for helping to spearhead this effort and for her positive attitude and love of kids, which she carries with her every day.
Improv
Don't miss the CCHS Improv Club's show PANDEMONIUM this Friday at 7pm in the Black Box Theater!
CCHS PRISM Concert December 15th (7pm, CCHS Auditorium)
The Concord Carlisle High School Band and Orchestra will present their annual PRISM Concert on Saturday, December 15th at 7:00pm, at Concord-Carlisle High School. This benefit concert will help fund the Alfred W. Dentino Excellence in Music Fund. Proceeds will help fund district and state events, private lesson scholarships, clinicians and guest conductors and the Japan travel scholarship fund. Tickets ($12- adults / $8- seniors/students) now available online at www.ticketstage.com. This is a reserved seating ticketed event so get your seat today!
PRISM is a non-stop musical kaleidoscope, showcasing the talented student musicians of the Concord Carlisle High School Bands and Orchestras. A variety of musical styles and ensembles will be presented throughout the performing space, creating an interactive experience for the audience. You have never seen a concert like this!
Cam Emde-Gerdine All-American
The United Soccer Coaches Association released the 2018 High School All-American Selections. This is the highest honors that a high school soccer player can receive, only 68 boys players were recognized across the country. Cam was unanimously voted as the DCL's MVP and voted the top public school player in the state of Massachusetts. He will receive his award in Chicago in January along with all the other high school and collegiate soccer all-Americans. Cam has committed to play at Clarkson University next year.
The CCHS soccer team has qualified for the state tournament for 33 years in a row, and it is due to the efforts of players like Cam and dedicated coaches like Ray Pavlik, Steve Wells, Mike Parato, Eric Rivera and Ethan Hoblitzelle. Cam would be the first to acknowledge that awards like this require a strong team, and this fantastic, well-earned achievement is possible because of hard work, dedication, teammates, and coaches. Congratulations to Cam and we look forward to watching from afar as Cam continues his career at Clarkson next year. Good luck, Cam!
Ian Smith
Ian had his first international medal recently (bronze) for the first Jr. World Cup of the season in Park City. Congratulations, Ian.
Music Success
CCHS Music once again ties an all-time school record with 40 students accepted into the MMEA Eastern Senior District Festival.
Congratulations to Mr. Gresko, Ms. Smith, and the following CCHS student musicians who were accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Eastern Senior District Festival Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra.
Those accepted will join other musicians from around the region in rehearsals at Boston Latin HS, culminating in a performance on January 5th. These students will be out of school on Friday, January 4th, to attend the first day of the festival.
Additionally, 23 students received All-State Recommendations (marked with an asterisk below), making them eligible to audition for the All-State Festival in January.
*Elana Alevy, Vincent Babu, *William Beakley, *Alisa Belotti, Margaret Besthoff, *Olivia Ceterski, Wan Ton Chan, Liam Curley, Liam Doherty, *Alexander Erlich-Herzog, Richard Fletcher, *Sarah Girma, Philip Haddad, *Piper Harring, *Ben Heinrich, *Clara Hoey, *Marisa Ih, *Lucy Joseph, *Alex Li, *Chris Li, *Steve Li, Samuel Lyczkowski, David Maar, Luke McCrory, *Abigail Mueller, *Olivia Mueller, *Arjie Nanda, *Rebecca Pasley, Josh Pixley, *Amar Ruthen, Avi Ruthen, Minjae Song, *Yoonjae Song, Ben Sprague, Snare Drum, *Claire Sun, Henry Vlacovsky,*Ella White, Honor Williams,Tess Wolossow, and *Zhihan Xu.
Learning in Action
Recently a group of students led by CCHS English Teachers, Victoria Moskowitz, and her student teacher, Lindsay Blount, took two sophomore classes on a field trip to Walden Woods and Walden Pond.
The students learned about the history of the marginalized groups that occupied Walden Woods, including the story of Brister Freeman, a former slave who owned property in Concord and about whom Thoreau writes in the "Former Inhabitants" chapter of Walden.
They also learned about the geology of the area and the impact of the Ice Age on the terrain. At Walden Pond, the students had a chance to learn about Thoreau from Jeff Cramer, Thoreau scholar and Curator of Collections at the Thoreau Institute. They walked through the woods to the site of Thoreau's cabin where they wrote in their journals and experienced "heaven under our feet as well as over our heads" at the edge of the pond.
Afterward, the students reflected on the value of the experience. One student expressed how important it is to learn about the "dark" side of Concord history (slavery, marginalized groups, etc.) as well as the inspirational side.
Tedx at CC
By Dr. David Nurenburg
Liam Beguhn'20 organized to get BU professor Richard Primak, famous not only for his work in climate science but also for his being inspired by Henry David Thoreau's Walden, to come speak at CCHS this morning, to an audience of over 100 (gathered from various science and English classes that Liam organized to attend).
Liam did this as a part of his work for the Justice Project in my class, but this is well above and beyond what that project requires - this young man is really making a difference (and, incidentally, was also selected as one of the TEDx Concord Carlisle speakers for March, but that's another announcement to come shortly)....
Advisory
By Jenna Lashley
On 19 December freshmen will complete an exercise on time management. We ask that you have a conversation with your child about time management. A skill that needs to be developed and refined particularly in the age of cell phones.
Essential Question: How do I manage my time to meet the academic and social demands at Concord Carlisle High School, while also finding time for fun, sleep, and family time?
Objective: Students will add some details to complete their schedule template to better understand their time demands. They will receive recommendations from their faculty advisors, as well as, student leaders on how to better manage their time.
Students watched a video on How to Balance School, Homework, Friends, and Everything In Between.
Other advisories news to share focused on bullying and we debated the following questions.
Thomas J. Hudner was an officer of the U.S. Navy and a naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Korean War.
Hudner and Brown were among a group of pilots on patrol when Brown's plane was struck by ground fire and crashed. In an attempt to save Brown from his burning aircraft, Hudner intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft on a snowy mountain in freezing temperatures. In spite of these efforts, Brown died of his injuries and Hudner was forced to evacuate, having also been injured in the landing.
If a fictionalized war movie featured a pilot deliberately crashing a plan to save a fellow naval aviator, it would border on unbelievable, but the facts of this heroic act of bravery are well documented. I wager Hudner battled intense fear as he acted heroically in an attempt to save Jesse Brown.
Jesse Brown's legacy is not defined by Hudner's act of heroism, however. He was the first African-American aviator in the U.S. Navy, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the first African-American naval officer killed in the Korean War. He was fighting for a country that was actively and deliberately trying to deny him fundamental human rights. His courage and bravery are equally notable. There are lessons to be learned from most everyone's life, and Mr. Hudner and Jesse Brown prove heroes live humbly amongst us.
This past week we mourned the loss of former President, George Bush Sr. In addition to being one of 45 U.S. Presidents, his resume includes Vice President, congressman, ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence. Worthy of note, Bush postponed college after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday, and became one of its youngest aviators.
Whether you agreed with his politics or not, he was a man who carried himself with grace, and humility, and judging by the eulogy delivered by his son, he was a great dad. The lesson we can all learn from Bush Sr. is one of grace and humility. He forged a friendship with the man who defeated him in the 1992 election, Bill Clinton, as they joined forces for a cause bigger than self. They helped raise millions of dollars to help victims of the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe in 2005. Considering the divisive nature of contemporary politics, it is hard to conceive of two former presidents from different political parties forging a friendship and joining forces to help others.
Lastly, anyone can act with proper decorum when they win, but a real judge of one's charachter is best determined by how they operate in the face of defeat whether a sporting competition or a presidential election. Nobody would have blamed "Bush 41" for being bitter following his failed bid for a second term, but instead, he left the oval office with grace and humility.
He penned the letter below for incoming President, Bill Clinton. Written in pen for an audience of one, but years later Clinton shared it with the world, and we bear witness to a standard of grace equal to the heroism of Brown and Hudner.
With Admiration,
Michael J. Mastrullo
Principal
CCHS
Thomas Hudner
By Shree Khanolkar
On Saturday, December 1, WIQH and the WIQH News Department went out to the commissioning of the USS Thomas Hudner in Boston. The ship, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was named after the recently deceased veteran from Concord.
To find out why the ship was named after this man, one must go back to the Korean War. As the US troops fleed from the bloody Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, the soldiers on the land needed support from the Navy pilots in the skies. So, along with his 6 man squadron, Thomas Hudner went out on a basic mission to help support the troops and keep control of the area. While in the air, Hudner’s squadmate Ensign Jesse Brown was shot down by opposition forces and Hudner and the crew were able to direct him to land safely in the freezing snowy mountainside of Korea.
The military thought he was dead and had ordered a helicopter to pick up his body. But Hudner thought differently. Although Brown’s plane was burning and he was likely to die from the fire or from hypothermia, Thomas swooped down and tried to rescue his friend. He tried numerous times to remove Brown from the plane, all while talking to him, and trying to calm him down. Unfortunately, Brown passed away as Hudner dragged him. For his bravery and defiance of orders in the face of adversity, Hudner was awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor.
On Saturday, Hudner’s courageous story came full circle. The ship was given full honors, and many local and national leaders came in. Mayor Marty Walsh, Governor Charlie Baker, Congressmen Lynch, Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford, the Secretary of the Navy and other prominent came to pay respects and set this ship off to its destination of Florida. WIQH, with Ned Roos, Jonathan Northridge, Shree Khanolkar, Issac Wilbur and Leanna Bomer went down and covered on behalf of the station.
Can Drive For Open Table
The food drive is in full swing. To date, we have collected a total of 228 items.
Last year we collected 800. The goal this year is to reach 1272.
We encourage students and parents to bring in food items. There are boxes in the Learning Commons and in the lobby.
Students who bring in food/cans will be entered into a raffle for a gift card to local businesses in Concord. Please come and see Ms. Franke in the Learning Commons to
get a raffle ticket. The food drive ends this Friday, December 14.
A special thank you to the great, Ms. Franke for helping to spearhead this effort and for her positive attitude and love of kids, which she carries with her every day.
Improv
Don't miss the CCHS Improv Club's show PANDEMONIUM this Friday at 7pm in the Black Box Theater!
CCHS PRISM Concert December 15th (7pm, CCHS Auditorium)
The Concord Carlisle High School Band and Orchestra will present their annual PRISM Concert on Saturday, December 15th at 7:00pm, at Concord-Carlisle High School. This benefit concert will help fund the Alfred W. Dentino Excellence in Music Fund. Proceeds will help fund district and state events, private lesson scholarships, clinicians and guest conductors and the Japan travel scholarship fund. Tickets ($12- adults / $8- seniors/students) now available online at www.ticketstage.com. This is a reserved seating ticketed event so get your seat today!
PRISM is a non-stop musical kaleidoscope, showcasing the talented student musicians of the Concord Carlisle High School Bands and Orchestras. A variety of musical styles and ensembles will be presented throughout the performing space, creating an interactive experience for the audience. You have never seen a concert like this!
Important High School Callendar Changes
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, this year Q5 will be one week (4 days). As a result, we have made a few adjustments to the calendar. The updated district calendar is available here.
A few additional details:
- The March 11 professional day has been moved to the end of the academic year. Thus, all students are to report to school on March 11 as it will be a regular school day.
- Mid-year exams have been pushed back one week and will be from January 15-18. The exam schedule is available here.
- The second semester will start on Tuesday, January 22 with an 8-block day (schedule available here).
- As of now, without any snow days, the last day of school for students is Thursday, June 13.
Cam Emde-Gerdine All-American
The United Soccer Coaches Association released the 2018 High School All-American Selections. This is the highest honors that a high school soccer player can receive, only 68 boys players were recognized across the country. Cam was unanimously voted as the DCL's MVP and voted the top public school player in the state of Massachusetts. He will receive his award in Chicago in January along with all the other high school and collegiate soccer all-Americans. Cam has committed to play at Clarkson University next year.
The CCHS soccer team has qualified for the state tournament for 33 years in a row, and it is due to the efforts of players like Cam and dedicated coaches like Ray Pavlik, Steve Wells, Mike Parato, Eric Rivera and Ethan Hoblitzelle. Cam would be the first to acknowledge that awards like this require a strong team, and this fantastic, well-earned achievement is possible because of hard work, dedication, teammates, and coaches. Congratulations to Cam and we look forward to watching from afar as Cam continues his career at Clarkson next year. Good luck, Cam!
Ian Smith
Ian had his first international medal recently (bronze) for the first Jr. World Cup of the season in Park City. Congratulations, Ian.
Music Success
CCHS Music once again ties an all-time school record with 40 students accepted into the MMEA Eastern Senior District Festival.
Congratulations to Mr. Gresko, Ms. Smith, and the following CCHS student musicians who were accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Eastern Senior District Festival Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra.
Those accepted will join other musicians from around the region in rehearsals at Boston Latin HS, culminating in a performance on January 5th. These students will be out of school on Friday, January 4th, to attend the first day of the festival.
Additionally, 23 students received All-State Recommendations (marked with an asterisk below), making them eligible to audition for the All-State Festival in January.
*Elana Alevy, Vincent Babu, *William Beakley, *Alisa Belotti, Margaret Besthoff, *Olivia Ceterski, Wan Ton Chan, Liam Curley, Liam Doherty, *Alexander Erlich-Herzog, Richard Fletcher, *Sarah Girma, Philip Haddad, *Piper Harring, *Ben Heinrich, *Clara Hoey, *Marisa Ih, *Lucy Joseph, *Alex Li, *Chris Li, *Steve Li, Samuel Lyczkowski, David Maar, Luke McCrory, *Abigail Mueller, *Olivia Mueller, *Arjie Nanda, *Rebecca Pasley, Josh Pixley, *Amar Ruthen, Avi Ruthen, Minjae Song, *Yoonjae Song, Ben Sprague, Snare Drum, *Claire Sun, Henry Vlacovsky,*Ella White, Honor Williams,Tess Wolossow, and *Zhihan Xu.
 |
| Students and Staff Field Trip To Walden |
Learning in Action
Recently a group of students led by CCHS English Teachers, Victoria Moskowitz, and her student teacher, Lindsay Blount, took two sophomore classes on a field trip to Walden Woods and Walden Pond.
The students learned about the history of the marginalized groups that occupied Walden Woods, including the story of Brister Freeman, a former slave who owned property in Concord and about whom Thoreau writes in the "Former Inhabitants" chapter of Walden.
They also learned about the geology of the area and the impact of the Ice Age on the terrain. At Walden Pond, the students had a chance to learn about Thoreau from Jeff Cramer, Thoreau scholar and Curator of Collections at the Thoreau Institute. They walked through the woods to the site of Thoreau's cabin where they wrote in their journals and experienced "heaven under our feet as well as over our heads" at the edge of the pond.
Afterward, the students reflected on the value of the experience. One student expressed how important it is to learn about the "dark" side of Concord history (slavery, marginalized groups, etc.) as well as the inspirational side.
Tedx at CC
By Dr. David Nurenburg
Liam Beguhn'20 organized to get BU professor Richard Primak, famous not only for his work in climate science but also for his being inspired by Henry David Thoreau's Walden, to come speak at CCHS this morning, to an audience of over 100 (gathered from various science and English classes that Liam organized to attend).
Liam did this as a part of his work for the Justice Project in my class, but this is well above and beyond what that project requires - this young man is really making a difference (and, incidentally, was also selected as one of the TEDx Concord Carlisle speakers for March, but that's another announcement to come shortly)....
By Jenna Lashley
On 19 December freshmen will complete an exercise on time management. We ask that you have a conversation with your child about time management. A skill that needs to be developed and refined particularly in the age of cell phones.
Essential Question: How do I manage my time to meet the academic and social demands at Concord Carlisle High School, while also finding time for fun, sleep, and family time?
Objective: Students will add some details to complete their schedule template to better understand their time demands. They will receive recommendations from their faculty advisors, as well as, student leaders on how to better manage their time.
Students watched a video on How to Balance School, Homework, Friends, and Everything In Between.
Other advisories news to share focused on bullying and we debated the following questions.
- What is bullying?
- What is cyberbullying?
- Why do students bully?
- Who is bullied? Who bullies?
- What can you do if you witness bullying?
- What can you do if you are being bullied?
- Does bullying happen at CC? Where do we see it?
Students watched the following video on bullying. We encourage you to talk with your child about bullying and how to handle inappropriate behavior and support students who might be dealing with or witnessing bullying behavior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke8b3isx_o0
Food for Thought
By Maria Barker, Director of Food and Nutrition Services
In response to the CCHS Dining Commons Survey, Spring 2018, we have instituted the following initiatives, which will enhance student’s dining experience by offering more nutritional food alternatives for Breakfast, Lunch, and for snacks.
Hot Lunch Alternatives to the main entrée. Monday through Thursday, we now offer various pizzas as an alternative to the main entrée and offer Chicken Patty Sandwich as an alternative to pizza every Friday.
Different Pizzas, such as Sal’s, French Bread, Stuffed Crust, Max Round, Big Daddy’s and Homemade Pizza, are offered during the week.
More Hot Breakfast items are offered, such as egg sandwiches, oatmeal cereal, muffins, and a variety of bagels. In addition, fresh fruit cups are offered.
Snack choices have increased, including sunflower seeds, string cheese, pizza slices, new beverages, and more snack boxes like hummus & pretzels.
The Salad Bar has reopened.
Soup is offered more frequently, particularly during the winter months.
A refrigerated vending machine was placed at the entrance to the Grab ‘n Go in the cafeteria, to enable students to purchase a variety of healthy snacks after school and on weekends.
Be on the lookout for a taste-testing of local fish during lunch in the CCHS cafeteria on Dec. 13.
Food for Thought
By Maria Barker, Director of Food and Nutrition Services
In response to the CCHS Dining Commons Survey, Spring 2018, we have instituted the following initiatives, which will enhance student’s dining experience by offering more nutritional food alternatives for Breakfast, Lunch, and for snacks.
Hot Lunch Alternatives to the main entrée. Monday through Thursday, we now offer various pizzas as an alternative to the main entrée and offer Chicken Patty Sandwich as an alternative to pizza every Friday.
Different Pizzas, such as Sal’s, French Bread, Stuffed Crust, Max Round, Big Daddy’s and Homemade Pizza, are offered during the week.
More Hot Breakfast items are offered, such as egg sandwiches, oatmeal cereal, muffins, and a variety of bagels. In addition, fresh fruit cups are offered.
Snack choices have increased, including sunflower seeds, string cheese, pizza slices, new beverages, and more snack boxes like hummus & pretzels.
The Salad Bar has reopened.
Soup is offered more frequently, particularly during the winter months.
A refrigerated vending machine was placed at the entrance to the Grab ‘n Go in the cafeteria, to enable students to purchase a variety of healthy snacks after school and on weekends.
Be on the lookout for a taste-testing of local fish during lunch in the CCHS cafeteria on Dec. 13.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Power Outage
Dear CCHS Community,
At 9:30 am this morning, the electrical power was lost on the entire campus due to a blown transformer. All of the backup generators functioned as designed. Students and staff were safe during the entirety of the event.
Concord Municipal Light Plant repaired the transformer, and restored the electricity at roughly 10:30 am.
Sincerely,
Michael Mastrullo
Principal
At 9:30 am this morning, the electrical power was lost on the entire campus due to a blown transformer. All of the backup generators functioned as designed. Students and staff were safe during the entirety of the event.
Concord Municipal Light Plant repaired the transformer, and restored the electricity at roughly 10:30 am.
Sincerely,
Michael Mastrullo
Principal
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Important Q5 Information
Following the success of Quarter 5 (Q5) last June, we are very excited to continue the work this spring. In June 2019, Q5 will span the last four days of the academic year. For those unfamiliar with the program, the mission statement eloquently encapsulates the Q5 experience:
"Q5 is an immersive learning experience leveraging the curiosity, knowledge, and passions of students and faculty to foster complex thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Q5 complements our academic program and seeks to inspire students and faculty to pursue shared interests and ideas.
If you have not viewed the Q5 video andQ5 website that senior Princeton Change created last year, we highly recommend you review them. If you would like to learn a bit more about Q5, this introductory video explains the program in detail and the FAQ document
provides additional information.
We now turn our attention to year two of the Q5 experience set for June 2019. All information related to the program can be found at www.concordcarlisle.org/q5
Today in Advisory, students spent time reviewing the course listings and course catalog. I encourage you to take time to review the 75 amazing offerings with your child.
Beginning tomorrow morning (Thursday, November 29), students will make their Q5 course selections in Aspen (directions available here). Students are required to select two primary choices and five alternates. Q5 course selections must be completed by next Wednesday, December 5.
If you have any questions related to Q5, please contact Laurie Fortunato (lfortunato@concordcarlisle.org)
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Veterans Day
Today, 11 November we pause to say thank you to the men and women of the armed forces. We observe Veterans Day tomorrow, 12 November, and we officially thank them as a nation annually on 11 November, but they deserve a thank you every day.
Lest one not forget the roughly 1.4 million active members of the military all enlisted voluntarily. A fact so ingrained it is easy to take for granted. I think we all wish militaries were not necessary, but they are, and they always have been, and they always will be. Recorded history bears that out.
Under current law, all male US citizens are required to register with the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. The Selective Service System maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription.
Conscription, commonly known as the draft, has been implemented in the US five times. The American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Compulsory, or mandatory military service, exists in roughly 26 countries including some United States allies like Norway, Finland, Israel, Turkey, and South Korea, to name a few.
Stating the obvious, but the fact that young men and women voluntarily serve in the United States means those who wish not to serve, don't have to serve. This fact should not be taken for granted.
The sacrifice made to serve our country can only be known by those serving, but the tremendous sacrifice is broader than the men and women in uniform. Mothers, fathers, siblings, husbands, wives, and children of members of the military all sacrifice greatly.
I am proud to say that both my grandfathers, my uncle, and my father all served in the Army. One grandfather served in the Pacific during WWII.
The other parachuted into France the night before the D-Day invasion. I have often wondered how he felt boarding the plane. Surrounded by scared men to his left and right, what was going through his mind as he shuffled to the door, jumped from the plan, and floated to the ground? He was wounded in the war but survived. My uncle was shot in the jungles of Vietnam. Also wounded but survived.
I was too young to thank my grandfathers for their service, and I never told my uncle that I was grateful and proud. Opportunities missed, so thank you, Henry, thank you, Tom, thank you, David, thank you, James. I draw strength from their service, as whatever the perceived hardship I am enduring at any given time pales in comparison.
Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines than at any point in my lifetime. Regardless of what side of the aisle you align yourself with politically, we should all agree the men and women of our nation's military deserve our gratitude.
The great Winston Churchill once said, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." He was referring to a time more troubling, but I think it applies to all Veterans.
I encourage you to find a Veterans Day Ceremony this weekend. Sit quietly and listen, and when the service is over walk up to a Veteran, extend your hand, and say thank you. It is the least we can do.
With Gratitude,
Michael J. Mastrullo
Lest one not forget the roughly 1.4 million active members of the military all enlisted voluntarily. A fact so ingrained it is easy to take for granted. I think we all wish militaries were not necessary, but they are, and they always have been, and they always will be. Recorded history bears that out.
Under current law, all male US citizens are required to register with the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. The Selective Service System maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription.
Conscription, commonly known as the draft, has been implemented in the US five times. The American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Compulsory, or mandatory military service, exists in roughly 26 countries including some United States allies like Norway, Finland, Israel, Turkey, and South Korea, to name a few.
Stating the obvious, but the fact that young men and women voluntarily serve in the United States means those who wish not to serve, don't have to serve. This fact should not be taken for granted.
The sacrifice made to serve our country can only be known by those serving, but the tremendous sacrifice is broader than the men and women in uniform. Mothers, fathers, siblings, husbands, wives, and children of members of the military all sacrifice greatly.
The other parachuted into France the night before the D-Day invasion. I have often wondered how he felt boarding the plane. Surrounded by scared men to his left and right, what was going through his mind as he shuffled to the door, jumped from the plan, and floated to the ground? He was wounded in the war but survived. My uncle was shot in the jungles of Vietnam. Also wounded but survived.
I was too young to thank my grandfathers for their service, and I never told my uncle that I was grateful and proud. Opportunities missed, so thank you, Henry, thank you, Tom, thank you, David, thank you, James. I draw strength from their service, as whatever the perceived hardship I am enduring at any given time pales in comparison.
Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines than at any point in my lifetime. Regardless of what side of the aisle you align yourself with politically, we should all agree the men and women of our nation's military deserve our gratitude.
The great Winston Churchill once said, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." He was referring to a time more troubling, but I think it applies to all Veterans.
I encourage you to find a Veterans Day Ceremony this weekend. Sit quietly and listen, and when the service is over walk up to a Veteran, extend your hand, and say thank you. It is the least we can do.
With Gratitude,
Michael J. Mastrullo
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Gabrielle Shieh, MVP Club, Maheeb Rabbani & Boxed Water, Fall Sports Updates, Japan and Denmark Exchange, Outdoor Club, and More
Today is November 6th and the much anticipated mid-term elections are here. Exercising our privilege to vote is not something to be taken for granted. Nor is the fact that votes will be cast but power will not be seized by revolution, or by a military coup, but rather a democratic process that allows all citizens of voting age in this country to exercise their right to vote. Unfortunately, nearly half of voting age citizens won't cast a vote, which in essence is a vote for indifference. Minus the rhetoric, we will have a peaceful transfer of power with seats being exchanged between our duopoly known as the Democratic and Republican parties. Large implications loom for both the House of Representatives and the Senate. If nothing else, it will be interesting. Cast your vote!
Japan Delegation
CCHS proudly welcomed the 29th annual delegation from our sister school in Nanae, Hokkaido, Japan.
Danish Exchange
Video with more info: https://vimeo.com/52327898
All week long students, teachers, administrators along with other Nanae dignitaries visited our school. They visited classrooms at the high school and Willard elementary school. They watched athletic events, enjoyed local landmarks and the homes of those gracious enough to welcome them for the week.
Special thanks to Dr. David Nurenberg for his leadership overseeing this partnership with our sister school in Nanae. To commemorate our nearly three decade old friendship with Japan David helped design a gorgeous plague that is displayed near the entrance of the school. Along with David, I want to thank all those who welcomed our friends from Nanae. You showed them the same wonderful hospitality that they show CCHS students on our reciprocal trips to Nanae.
Special thanks to Dr. David Nurenberg for his leadership overseeing this partnership with our sister school in Nanae. To commemorate our nearly three decade old friendship with Japan David helped design a gorgeous plague that is displayed near the entrance of the school. Along with David, I want to thank all those who welcomed our friends from Nanae. You showed them the same wonderful hospitality that they show CCHS students on our reciprocal trips to Nanae.
By Greg Coan
Our Danish friends departed on Sunday after an active week in CCHS, Boston, and Concord. This year we hosted twenty-one visiting students, two teachers, and two administrators. Fifteen CCHS students are participating in the exchange program and we had four generous families acting as hosts to handle the overflow. Thank you to the entire community for welcoming the students and adults into your homes and classrooms. The program continues to grow and flourish.
Highlights this year included historic walking tours of Boston, Walden, and Concord. The Danish group also explored both Harvard and MIT along with the Harvard Art Museum. A bit of shopping was also done at Copley Place. After a fabulous group potluck dinner on Friday, CCHS students spent time with their guests doing everything from being scared at Witches Woods, dancing at the Spectrum Dance, playing laser tag and experiencing a fall nor'easter. Most importantly we witnessed new friendships being forged among the students. We look forward to our visit to Denmark this April.
Fall Athletic Update
By Aaron Joncas
After winning the Sportsmanship Award at the Marlborough Invitational the Cheerleading won the DCL Championship Thursday evening. They move on to compete in the Regionals. Checkout their impressive performance. https://youtu.be/bfWA-oW4eHU
Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches on a fall season that continues with postseason play. Our students are representing CCHS with determination and integrity each time they head out to compete. Highlights include:
Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country both won the DCL Championship. Matt Kleiman and Emma Kerimo were the overall Varsity winners in their races. The teams compete in the EMass Championship and the All-State Meet on Nov. 10th and 17th.
Varsity Football lost in the 1st round of the MIAA Playoff Friday night vs. Lynn English in an incredibly exciting game featuring several big plays down the stretch. The team was within a 2-point conversion of leading or tying the game twice within the last few minutes in the 4th Quarter. They also traveled to Billerica and fought hard in a tough loss 34-21.
Field Hockey lost in the state tournament to a tough Belmont team. I am proud of our team. as they competed for the entire game and had some great scoring chances. Good luck to our Seniors.
Volleyball beat Wellesley in the 1st Round tournament matchup on Friday night but lost a difficult five-set match last night. Congratulations on another great season.
Boys' and Girls' Soccer both advanced with decisive 4-0 and 6-0 victories in the 1st Round.
The girls will host Arlington HS on Tuesday at CC's Memorial Field at 630pm in Round 2 of D2 Soccer Playoffs, and the boys will host Boston Latin with both time and date to be determined.
Stay tuned for more updates as our teams continue to compete in the playoffs.
Gabrielle Shieh, AJGA All-American
Congratulations to Gabrielle Shieh for her selection to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Scholastic All-America team.
Every year, the AJGA recognizes the academic and athletic efforts of its members through the Transamerica Scholastic Junior All-America Team. Only twelve junior/senior boys and girls receive this honor. Those selected are invited to the Rolex Tournament of Champions (November 2018). Congratulations, Gabrielle
Gabrielle Shieh
Carlisle, Mass. (2020)
Best 2018 finish: 4th, Junior Golf Hub Championship presented by John D. Mineck Foundation
Community involvement: Volunteered to make a website and help run a charity event in her community for a fallen police officer, co-captain of co-ed varsity golf team, volunteer at Open Table
Complete List of National Winners
Best 2018 finish: 4th, Junior Golf Hub Championship presented by John D. Mineck Foundation
Community involvement: Volunteered to make a website and help run a charity event in her community for a fallen police officer, co-captain of co-ed varsity golf team, volunteer at Open Table
Complete List of National Winners
CCHS Colonial Sound
Boxed Water, a metal band formed by the guitarist Maheeb Rabbani has released an EP on Bandcamp. Maheeb is joined by fellow seniors Jason Fletcher on bass guitar, Caleb Cramer on drums, and vocalist Alessandro Lopresti. Peter Albanese, a junior, plays guitar. This much anticipated release represents many hours of dedication and hard work at Colonial Sound. Many thanks to talented CCHS staff member and Colonial Sound engineer, Owen Curtain for his great work with CCHS students.
Maheeb Rabbani
Caleb Cramer
Alessandro Lopresti
Peter Albanese (2020)
Outdoor Club
By Patrick Savage
Twelve members of the Outdoor Club continued the Kicks for Cancer momentum and volunteered their time at the Edith Nourse Veteran’s Hospital in Bedford. It was the 15th Annual Vettes to Vets event where over 650 corvettes parade into the campus to provide the veterans a fun car show to attend before the cold of winter keeps them inside. Students were there to help wheelchair-bound veterans get out of the hospital and onto the grounds where they could enjoy the amazing cars, live band, and an excellent cookout. For many of the veterans getting outside is a challenge that can only be met with the help of others. Students did a wonderful job in this role with physical effort and smiles all around.
Students in attendance: Evan Field, Ashley Burpee, Rachel Hayes, Mia Taylor, Juliet Taylor, Natalie Slade, Henry Slade, Duncan Stephenson, Danny Harrington, Olivia Coutre, Porter Coutre, Chris Park.
Volunteer Service Specialist Kevin Dougherty said “we truly appreciate your willingness to come in and volunteer for the afternoon, making our largest event of the year so incredibly special for our Veterans. You and your students are absolutely the best!”
By Patrick Savage
Twelve members of the Outdoor Club continued the Kicks for Cancer momentum and volunteered their time at the Edith Nourse Veteran’s Hospital in Bedford. It was the 15th Annual Vettes to Vets event where over 650 corvettes parade into the campus to provide the veterans a fun car show to attend before the cold of winter keeps them inside. Students were there to help wheelchair-bound veterans get out of the hospital and onto the grounds where they could enjoy the amazing cars, live band, and an excellent cookout. For many of the veterans getting outside is a challenge that can only be met with the help of others. Students did a wonderful job in this role with physical effort and smiles all around.
Students in attendance: Evan Field, Ashley Burpee, Rachel Hayes, Mia Taylor, Juliet Taylor, Natalie Slade, Henry Slade, Duncan Stephenson, Danny Harrington, Olivia Coutre, Porter Coutre, Chris Park.
Volunteer Service Specialist Kevin Dougherty said “we truly appreciate your willingness to come in and volunteer for the afternoon, making our largest event of the year so incredibly special for our Veterans. You and your students are absolutely the best!”
MVP Club
On Wednesday, Oct. 10, some members of the MVP Club (Mentors in Violence Prevention), Ms. Slocum, and Mr. Carpenter attended the Game Change Leadership Summit hosted by Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Game Change: the Patriots Anti-Violence Partnership is a grant provided in collaboration with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. This program has provided training to thousands of students and teachers at more than 120 high schools across the state, including CCHS.
As part of domestic violence awareness month, hundreds of students and teachers attended the summit at Gillette Stadium to discuss best practices for teaching their peers about recognizing the signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationships. Kraft and Healey spoke at the summit and MVP Club advisor, Ms. Slocum, moderated a panel discussion for teachers. The CCHS MVP Club aims to provide another student training this year pending funding. Stay tuned if you are interested in getting involved with the MVP Club to help prevent gender-based violence in all of its forms!
MassCUE
Brian Miller and Terry Smolka represented CCHS well with a presentation at the MassCue conference. I include their presentation for your education and review.
Rule your School! Manage Workflows Effectively & Efficiently with Google Forms, Sheets & Add-ons
MassCUE is a resource-rich, vibrant network of educators providing New England's premier educational technology conference as well as ongoing, high-quality professional learning opportunities, including specialized webinars, workshops, camps, onsite learning tours and more.
Boys Hockey Community Service
The Boys Hockey team had a fantastic teambuilding fundraiser a few weeks ago. They sold, delivered and stacked a total of 16 cords of kiln-dried firewood to over 40 locations in Concord and Carlisle.
Captain Charlie Cook, and Assistant Captains Brad Labadini and Jack Perkins were able to mobilize players for a teambuilding success for students as well parents. Everyone pitched in and had a good time.
Thank you to parents Alden Perkins, Tina Labadini, and Lori Cook for helping to organize the event that included 25 student-athletes, 10 parents, five trucks and 40 delivery locations.
Student PR Team
We assembled a fantastic student-led PR team that aims to cover all things CCHS. CCHS students Ellen Su, Grace Jennings, Ted Sweeney, and Gabby Shih make a fantastic team, and we look forward to showcasing their coverage throughout the year.
The best opportunity to see their work is to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Halloween
Halloween is always a fun day at CCHS. I include some great pictures along with costume winners. Many thanks to the beloved Lou Ann Franke for all the wonderful pictures.
For more Halloween pictures click here.
National Student Emmy Award
Congratulations to CCHS graduates Ben Tull, Alexis Kirkpatrick, and Burke Hutchinson for winning the National Student Emmy award. Rob Carter from the Concord Journal recently wrote a piece on this amazing achievement
Concord Journal Article
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)