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
Matthew Li- Bassoon
Matthew Murphy- Trombone
CCHS Music Performance
CCHS Music Performance
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| 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.
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| 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?
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.
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| 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:
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 website.
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/
CCCC
By Steve Wells
Attention CCHS Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors,
A follow up to remind you about the Concord-Carlisle Community
If you would like to learn more about the program, you can visit our website at www.cchs-connections.org, e
If you are interested in applying for a spot in the program, you can apply online at:
The deadline to apply is Thursday, December 8th.
Winter Break Drivers Education
A follow up to remind you about the Concord-Carlisle Community
If you would like to learn more about the program, you can visit our website at www.cchs-connections.org, e
If you are interested in applying for a spot in the program, you can apply online at:
www.cchs-connections.org/apply
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/
