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

Martin Luther King, Jr., DEIB Events, Exceptional Students, and more!

 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is important for us to reflect on the profound impact of Dr. King's legacy and the enduring values modeled. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality, justice, and unity in our society. In the spirit of Dr. King's teachings, I encourage each member of our school community to embrace the significance of service on this day.

Community service,  an important value we strive to instill in our students, honors the commitment to creating a better community around us. Whether through volunteering, acts of kindness, or community engagement, these actions strengthen our bond as a school community.  By coming together in service, we embody the principles of love, compassion, and equality that he tirelessly advocated. We hope this Martin Luther King Jr. Day will inspire us all to be catalysts for positive change in our school, community, and beyond.

Mid-Year Exam Information

Next week is mid-year assessment week.  The standard schedule can be found here.

Given the potential forecast, we have developed contingency plans.  There are several tabs at the bottom of the document for different scenarios.

Students are only required to be on campus when they have a scheduled exam.  Students should be aware of their exam schedule.  They may reach out to their teachers with any scheduling questions.  If a student is sick next week, they should stay home.  Students can work with their teachers and/or guidance counselors to reschedule their exam(s).

DEIB Related Events

Below are two DEIB-related events that we hope you will consider attending. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Nyamekye at anyamekye@concordps.org.

1) Sunday, January 14, 2024, First Parish Church, 2:00 pm -- 5:00 pm.

Join First Church for "The Busing Battleground," a PBS Documentary Viewing and Panel Discussion hosted by First Parish Church in Concord (20 Lexington Rd., Concord, MA). This hybrid event (in person and via Zoom) requires registration, which you can complete here. Please find the event flier attached. This event explores civil rights battles fought in 1970s Boston over court-ordered busing to achieve school desegregation. Distinguished speakers with firsthand accounts include Sam Williams, Executive Director of Concord Prison Outreach and 1977 student at South Boston High School, and Eric Van Loon, former Concord Town Moderator and lawyer for the Boston Black families during the federal busing court case. We hope you can attend this insightful event and gain a deeper understanding of historical struggles for civil rights. Please contact Pat Brewer, at mamachoc@comcast.net if you have questions about the event.

2) Friday, February 2, 2024, METCO Inc. Headquarters Guided Tour

In observance and celebration of Black History Month this February, seize a unique opportunity to delve into the METCO program's profound history. Join METCO CEO Milly Arbaje-Thomas for an exclusive guided tour of its new headquarters in Roxbury, MA and the history of the program that resides in its exhibit hall. This tour is open to Boston, Carlisle, and Concord parents/guardians. Don't miss this chance to gain insights and inspiration into the rich legacy of the METCO program!

• Event Max Capacity: 35

• Date: Friday, February 2, 2024

• Time: 9:30 am –12:00 pm (return to Concord by 1:30 pm)

• Meeting Point and transportation: A school bus will depart at 9:30 am from the Ripley School Administration building (120 Meriam Rd., Concord). 

• Sign up: Click here to sign up and participate in the tour. Here’s a link to the event flier attached.

3) Wednesday, February 28, 2024, CCHS Presents: “Voices of the Past”

In celebration of Black History Month in February, CCHS will host five distinguished CCHS-METCO Alumni from the graduating classes of 1991-1997. Students, faculty, and staff will have a unique opportunity to gain insights and inspiration as our esteemed alumni share their experiences, challenges, choices, and lessons learned during their time at CCHS and beyond. 

 

Xander Scopinich-Burgel: European Cyclocross

Congratulations to CCHS’ own Xander Scopinich-Burgel for his completed races in Belgium and the Netherlands! Xander traveled to Europe to participate in the European Cyclocross. Xander shares his experience in an article he wrote for the cycling online magazine, Velo. Please join us in congratulating Xander for this outstanding achievement!

Charlotte DiRocco

Congratulations to Charlotte DiRocco for signing a National Letter of Intent to participate in Track and Field at Dartmouth College, an NCAA Division 1 institution. We wish you all the best and much success at Dartmouth College, Charlotte! 

Health Concern

When waiting for your student at dismissal, or any other time, please be mindful of turning off your vehicle engine. Idling cars are not only an environmental nuisance, it creates an unhealthy environment for the students and staff exiting the building. We ask when picking up your student to please be mindful of the length of time you are idling. For further information on the negative effects of engine idling, please refer to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection fact sheet. Thank you for your understanding and support with this matter.

Upcoming Important Dates

Day	Date	Time	Event
Monday	Jan 15	All Day	Martin Luther King Day: No School
Tues-Fri	Jan 16 - 19	All Day	Midterm Exams
Friday	Jan 19	All Day	End of Q2
Friday	Jan 19	All Day	No Homework Night: End of Sem 1
Monday	Jan 22	All Day	PD Day: No School For Students
Wednesday	Jan 24	10:00AM	Q2 Senior Grades Due
Monday	Jan 29	10:00AM	Q2 Grades Due
Tuesday	Jan 30	All Day	Report Card Portal Open
Wednesday	Jan 31	1:15 PM	Early Release

Quote of the Week

“It always seems impossible until it's done.”

-Nelson Mandela

Happy Holidays, Exceptional Students, and Other Important Information!

It is hard to believe that 2023 is coming to an end. This is a perfect time for reflection as we start to think ahead and set intentions for 2024. It has been a wonderful year filled with many wins- a new bell schedule, the addition of flex block, new faculty members to our community, and so much more. We are grateful for the support of our students, families, and faculty as we lead as Co-Principals of CCHS. We are proud of the progress we have made towards many of our school and district-wide goals and will continue to push that work forward. We also feel like school spirit among students at CCHS has improved greatly this year and we hope this trend continues in 2024. We hope you all have a peaceful and restorative break filled with lots of love, laughs, good food, and rest. We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings!

With gratitude,

Katie and Brian

 

4th Annual Holiday Huddle-A message from Mr. Reed

I am very grateful to let you know the 4th Annual Holiday Huddle was a huge success.  The CC Football family, CCHS, Alcott, and Willard Elementary schools donated over 300 gifts for the Concord Fire Toy Drive. Concord’s Assistant Fire Chief Latta talked to the players about the impact the donated gifts would make on local families.  He discussed how the toys are distributed to families and the big need for the toys this season.  It was a special moment for the players to hear the difference they made during the holiday season. 

Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you health and happiness this holiday season!

With Patriot Pride,

- Josh Reed, Varsity Head Football Coach, Unified Track Coach

Minding Your Mind - January 5

On Friday, January 5th, a young adult speaker from Minding Your Mind will present to 10th & 11th graders at CCHS as part of their “Changing Minds: Stories over Stigma” program.  Our students will hear from Mallory G (you can read more about her story here), who will share a story of hope and recovery, and how she successfully and productively coped with her own mental health challenges.  The presentation will also include a discussion about the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, positive versus negative coping skills, and how to ask for help.  

Cartwheel Care Reminder

This is a reminder for families that CCHS is partnered with the organization Cartwheel Care. Cartwheel Care is a community-based mental health partner for the Concord-Carlisle school community. The program delivers virtual therapy, psychiatry, and parent guidance with no waitlists and works with all families regardless of insurance. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate. We are thrilled about this partnership and believe it will be extremely effective and beneficial to our students who participate. Here are a couple of resources about the organization:

NPR article + radio clip highlighting their program

ABC News TV clip on Cartwheel's partnership with Salem Public Schools

Advanced Placement Honor Roll Recognition

Please see the following Announcement from College Board:

Concord-Carlisle High School has earned a place on the AP® School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year! On behalf of everyone in the AP community, congratulations to you and your colleagues. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success.

College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.

Commonwealth Ballet Nutcracker

Congratulations to CCHS seniors: Marina Ricker, Livvy Capello, Maddie Smith, Elle Ricker, Nahia Saenz de Viguera Washa, and Christina Drake who dance for the Commonwealth Ballet Company. This past weekend was their final performance of The Nutcracker having performed in 9 shows this season. It is so great to see and celebrate the successes our students have outside of CCHS.

These seniors spend months rehearsing and have a tough schedule on top of school work, with many dancing 5-6 days a week. Last Sunday was a sold-out show and their last Nutcracker performance at the Casey Theater, Regis College, in Weston as they graduate the company next year. Again, congratulations to Marina, Livvy, Maddie, Elle, Nahia, and Christina for this extraordinary accomplishment! 

Debate Team News

On Saturday, December 16, ten members of the CCHS Debate Team attended the annual Natick High School Holly Festival Speech and Debate tournament, while Felicity Zhang attended the Blake School competition in Minneapolis, MN.

At the Natick HS Holly Festival, all 6 of our Public Forum debaters stepped up to varsity and two teams earned qualifications for the Massachusetts State Championships on March 29 & 30, 2024! The teams were Caroline Haskell & Wren Worobey, Aashir Rana & Evan Moffitt, and Henry Gaasch & Max Klimashov. At the John Edie Debates at the Blake School in Minneapolis MN, Felicity Zhang continued her success in the national level Lincoln-Douglas Debate by clearing to elimination debates and adding to her team leading 1052 NSDA points. 

Congratulations, Debate Team for your continued success!

PRISM23

Congratulations CCHS Band, Choir, and Orchestra for their outstanding PRISM23 performances on Friday, December 15th, and Saturday, December 16th. This one-of-a-kind performance is a non-stop musical kaleidoscope presented in surround sound by dozens of student-led ensembles. Bravo, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Chris Noce (Director of Bands and Orchestras), Sarah Grina (Choral Director), staff, sound support, and everyone involved who put in countless hours of preparation for these amazing performances! We can’t wait for PRISM24!

Midyear Exam Schedule

You can also access the Midyear Exam Schedule here. 

Upcoming Dates

Day	Date	Time	Event
Mon-Fri	Dec 18 - 22	All Day	Coordinated Assessment Days: December Break
Friday	Dec 22	11:15 AM	Early Dismissal Schedule
Friday	Dec 22	All Day	No Homework Night: December Break
Sun-Sat	Dec 24-30	All Day	December Break

Quote of the Week:

“There is no small act of kindness. Every compassionate act makes large the world.”

― Mary Anne Radmacher