Thursday, February 1, 2024

Black History Month, Important Information, Exceptional Students, and more!

Black History Month

As February begins, we are reminded of the significance of Black History Month and its important role in celebrating and honoring the contributions and achievements of African Americans.

At CCHS, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and respect, regardless of their background or differences. Celebrating Black History Month is an important part of this effort, as it helps to educate and bring awareness of the rich cultural heritage of African Americans and promote understanding and unity among all members of our school community. These achievements should not only be recognized in February but every day.

This semester, we are thrilled to be offering a new course, Bringing Black History to CCHS, which is something our students have been requesting for a while. The course is off to a great start, and we are looking forward to offering it to even more students next year. We are excited to finally make this course a reality for our students. 

In addition, thanks to our Director of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging, Andrew Nyamekye,  CCHS will be hosting a panel of five distinguished CCHS-METCO Alumni from the graduating classes of 1991-1997. This event will offer students, faculty, and staff a unique opportunity to gain insights and inspiration as esteemed alumni share their experiences, challenges, choices, and lessons learned during their time at CCHS and beyond. Students will have the opportunity to sign up for this event if they would like to attend. The panel will be on Wednesday, February 28th, during Flex Block (12:45). We’re also excited to have Milly Arbaje-Thomas, CEO of METCO, join us as a special guest. Students, please find the event flier attached, and we look forward to seeing you on February 28th. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Nyamekye at anyamekye@concordps.org.  


Cartwheel Care - Free Webinar: Recognizing and Treating OCD and Tic Disorders in Children and Adolescents

This virtual event, on Tuesday, February 6, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm, is part of Cartwheel's free webinar series for parents, caregivers, and school staff in our community. Please feel free to share this flier broadly and access English, Spanish, and Portuguese flyers here. Click HERE to register for the Webinar.



WBYC 3rd Annual Speaker Series: A Conversation with Nick & Susie Shaw

Five Years Later: A Journey of Love, Hope, and Resilience

In 2019, Nick and Susie Shaw suffered what many parents view as their worst nightmare when their 9-year-old son William died in a tragic ski accident. In the five years since that devastating event, the Shaws have faced down the darkest days and nights of grief as they mourned their beloved boy -- but they have also discovered the ways that a loving family can evolve and grow in even the most difficult times, touched by glimmers of joy. Together, Nick and Susie have explored the ever-shifting boundaries of strength, love, hope, and resilience, and in doing so, they have created a belief system for how we can all face down difficulties and maneuver our way through challenging times. Please join us for this important conversation about the unexpected lessons that the shared experience of life can teach all of us. Seats can be reserved at WBYC.

About WBYC:

WBYC is a local nonprofit dedicated to community events that bring people together for authentic, meaningful connection. It was founded by a group of Carlisle moms trying to support their grieving kids in the aftermath of William Shaw's sudden death in 2019. We strive to shine a light on mental health and grief awareness. You can learn more about WBYC, our mission, and our inspiration - William Shaw - at www.williamsbeyourselfchallenge.org.




Spectrum’s 30th Anniversary Celebration

CCHS celebrated Spectrum’s 30th Anniversary on Wednesday, January 24. Pictured below are Representative Simon Cataldo, Bee Loprete, and Ben Kendall, and past and present Spectrum students/presidents.

Special thanks to Bee Loprete and Ben Kendall, Spectrum’s Faculty Advisors, student volunteers, administration, and building services for their support in making this celebration extraordinary!






Laiya Pavlov

Congratulations to Laiya Pavlov who received United States Senate Congressional Recognition from Senator Elizabeth Warren for her work outside of school in broadening access to the arts and fusing Eastern and Western dance. In addition, she received special recognition from Senator Ed Markey and received a special honor from our State Representative Simon Cataldo as well. CCHS is very proud of Laiya for these outstanding recognitions. Congratulations!




Brady Poor

Congratulations to Brady Poor who was honored in Los Angeles, California, as a United Soccer Coaches All-American! Congratulations to Brady on this incredible achievement - a testament to his dedication and sacrifice throughout his high school career. Brady has been supported by a talented group of teammates and coaches! Way to go, Brady!





MMEA All-State Ensembles

On Saturday, January 20th, musicians from CCHS's bands, choirs, and orchestras attended the Massachusetts Music Educators Association's (MMEA) All-State Festival Auditions at Shrewsbury High School. These students were selected from the top 50% of those accepted to MMEA's Eastern District Senior Festival. They competed against their peers from across the Commonwealth for a spot in one of the highly selective ensembles that will perform at Symphony Hall later this year.

Please join us in congratulating the students listed below for their hard work! They represented our community magnificently!

-Christopher Noce

Director of Bands & Orchestras



Important Upcoming Dates

Day

Date

Time

Event

Friday

Feb 16

All Day

No Homework Night: February Break

Mon - Fri

Feb 12 - 16

All Day

Coordinated Assessment Days: Prior Feb Break

Mon - Fri

Feb 19 - 23

All Day

February Break: No School!

Mon - Tues

Feb 26 - 27

All Day

No Assessment Days: Following February Break


Quote of the Week

“Fall in love with the process and the results will follow.”

-Bradley Whitford