All,
With sincere gratitude, I write to express how thankful we are for all the efforts made to this point by members of the CCHS school community for this school year to be successful.
Seven short months ago, it would have been inconceivable to consider that one of the major, albeit unofficial, metrics used to evaluate a school's success is whether or not they are learning in-person.
If someone stopped me at Open House 2019 and asked that I answer the question highlighting the major reasons CCHS is among the best public school in the state and beyond, and if my response to that question was, "well, we are learning in person. Are we not?" That answer in 2019 would border on insanity, and in 2020 it is an unofficial measure of success. Clearly, we are more than simply open. Our students and staff have risen to immense challenges and persevered through them. Be proud!
I write with cautious optimism about our future and with concern for the impending Halloween weekend. I have written on several occasions outlining the fragility of the current learning environment. We need not look far to discover schools recently closed due to large gatherings.
We celebrate our ability to remain open on the eve of November; however, it is of momentary utility if we cannot hold on to all that is gained to this point.
We can agree that in-person learning is best, so I urge most earnestly that you will weigh my words with care and refrain from engaging in any actions that might endanger the safety of others, and force a school closure.
For the greater good, we must make small sacrifices to ensure we remain open. Temporarily forgoing large gatherings might seem like too large a sacrifice from the eyes of a teenager, but with the benefit of hindsight and distance from my teenage years, I can assure you the sacrifice is small, particularly when weighed against the ramifications for the 1500 individuals who come to CCHS over the course of a school week.
Please make good decisions that keep us safe and allow us to remain open and retain a modicum of normalcy until this pandemic passes. I do hope your weekend is filled with laughs and smiles.
Warmly,
Michael J. Mastrullo
Principal
Please read on for highlights from Theater, Kicks-for-Cancer, and more.
Kicks-For-Cancer
Like just about everything in our lives, Kicks-for- Cancer weekend looked different this year, but the fact that it even existed is a testament to the will of those responsible for making it happen. The enthusiasm demonstrated by our student-athletes was on full display. With a beautiful fall day as the backdrop, the morning began with a slew of volunteers decorating field entrances and providing students with a special atmosphere synonymous with this annual event.
On the fields, the boys and girls soccer programs wore their bright pink jerseys to raise awareness about breast cancer while our opponents from Lincoln-Sudbury donned the teal jerseys for ovarian cancer. The rivalry between schools on the pitch is always fierce, but both teams are united in their love and support of the name on the back of the jersey, which honors a loved one's courageous battle with cancer.
In addition to soccer, CCHS hosted the boys and girls Cross-Country teams from LS on Saturday on our redesigned course that traverses the entire campus. The runners and supporters along the course added to the day's festivities and spirit as they competed in the perimeter of the soccer fields.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the Kicks-for-Cancer committee for their tireless efforts. Coordinating the details for this year's event required creativity, patience, hours of sacrifice, and a sense of humor. A special thank you to coaches and student-athletes to represent the best of our athletic program with leadership and humility.
Field hockey technically did not have a role in KFC this year due to COVID-19 scheduling issues. Typically, we host Lexington and play the Sticks for Cancer game and participate in a Best Buddies at LHS. This year non-league games are not allowed, so playing Lexington was not an option. The field hockey traveled to LS and secured a victory.
I want to thank all members of our athletic program for making this season a safe one. It took lots of effort and care, but it was, by and large, a success.
A special thank you to Athletic Director, Aaron Joncas. His tireless efforts have paid off, and even another surgery on an aging knee did not dampen his enthusiasm or derail our sports programs in any way. Well done, Mr. Joncas.
CC Theatre Under the Stars
We all long for normalcy during a year filled with so very little "normal." CC Theatre Under the Stars provided a few hours over a few days of normal. It was an amazing event. All the credit in the world goes to the cast and crew, the Director, Melissa Charych, the captain of all things, Ned Roos, and everyone else who contributed to the successful performances.
Last week, the CC Theatre crew and cast proudly presented an evening of five student-directed (including one student-written) one-act plays outdoors in our very first CC Theatre Under the Stars. A talented trio of CCHS Band trombone players opened the evening.
Up to the very last minute, when high winds whipped through the amphitheater, we were faced with challenges, and, at every turn, students took the initiative and collaborated to meet them. Throughout the experience, the students brought the very best of themselves: leadership, gratitude, compassion, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. Here’s to the magic of high school theatre! Well done, all!
Extra Help Available for All Students
National Honors Society Support
If a student wants an NHS tutor, they can contact Madeleine Pooler directly or have one of their teachers reach out.
The student and tutor connect to determine whether they want to meet in-person or virtually, where they would like to meet, and what time of day (before/after school, during free blocks).
Wednesday Afternoon Tutor Support
Students can access an additional support system utilizing our amazing CCHS tutors from 11:35-2:41 every Wednesday. Students can attend either in person or virtually.
SSERC & MARC Tutoring Support
We are also offering extra-help for all students through the SSERC and MARC.
There is no sign-up needed; however, tutors may turn students away if the numbers attending exceed the health and safety guidelines.
SPED Program Tutoring
Currently, we are offering supports for our Special Education students through our various Special Ed. Programs (WRAP, LEAP, Harbor, Bridge, Alt Pro, and Pathways).
*Please note that LEAP (room 308) and BRIDGE (room 301) tutors set up individual zoom links, so students are encouraged to reach out to their teachers or LEAP / BRIDGE staff to do so unless they intend to come in for in-person support.
