Week two is nearly complete, and the school year is off to an excellent start. Always a period of adjustment when summer ends, and school begins, but this year we have the additional adjustment of a later start time. The students seem to be enjoying the later start time. CCHS was recently featured in a Back to School segment on WBZ Channel 4. In the segment, CCHS students, Chris Johnson, Teddy Storrs, and Bella McKinney were encouraged by the change that afforded some additional sleep.
The tragic consequences of the recent hurricanes are hard to fathom. It serves as an unnecessary reminder of how quickly life can turn. With Hurricane Harvey recently devastating Texas, and Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida after devastating the Caribbean, it now appears Irma has company with two more hurricanes forming in the Atlantic. Disaster is not meted out in a tolerable tempo. As a school community, we would like to contribute any support we can. Student Government members met early Wednesday morning to brainstorm potential CCHS relief efforts. More information will be forthcoming as they intend to make this a community wide-effort.
Also, students in our Pathways Program have been serving coffee and treats to CCHS staff members with all proceeds benefiting hurricane victims. Pictured below students and staff can be seen enjoying the delights.
All parents are invited to attend our annual Back to School Night on Thursday, September 14, 2017. The program will begin in the auditorium at 7:00 pm. Please be advised, there is a limited supply of parking, and we recommend carpooling if possible. Please park in the lower lot outside the school's dining commons.
The guidance counselors will be available to introduce themselves to the parents/guardians of freshmen during D, E and F blocks. Here are the locations: Jeff Block - Learning Commons Room 241 Rachele Brown - Student Support Suite Room 228 Katie Goldrick - Learning Commons Room 247 Caryn Haskins - Student Support Suite Room 224A Tom O’Connor - Student Support Suite Room 230 Matt Rudmann - Learning Commons Room 242
Exchange Students From China
The tragic consequences of the recent hurricanes are hard to fathom. It serves as an unnecessary reminder of how quickly life can turn. With Hurricane Harvey recently devastating Texas, and Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida after devastating the Caribbean, it now appears Irma has company with two more hurricanes forming in the Atlantic. Disaster is not meted out in a tolerable tempo. As a school community, we would like to contribute any support we can. Student Government members met early Wednesday morning to brainstorm potential CCHS relief efforts. More information will be forthcoming as they intend to make this a community wide-effort.
Also, students in our Pathways Program have been serving coffee and treats to CCHS staff members with all proceeds benefiting hurricane victims. Pictured below students and staff can be seen enjoying the delights.
All parents are invited to attend our annual Back to School Night on Thursday, September 14, 2017. The program will begin in the auditorium at 7:00 pm. Please be advised, there is a limited supply of parking, and we recommend carpooling if possible. Please park in the lower lot outside the school's dining commons.
Freshmen parents are invited to attend a program with guidance staff and school leaders at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Auditorium. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about the life of the school.
The guidance counselors will be available to introduce themselves to the parents/guardians of freshmen during D, E and F blocks. Here are the locations: Jeff Block - Learning Commons Room 241 Rachele Brown - Student Support Suite Room 228 Katie Goldrick - Learning Commons Room 247 Caryn Haskins - Student Support Suite Room 224A Tom O’Connor - Student Support Suite Room 230 Matt Rudmann - Learning Commons Room 242
Following a short opening assembly for all parents at 7:00 p.m., you will travel through a typical, albeit abbreviated, school day (all eight blocks, A through H). Please click here for the evening’s schedule. From A-Block on, during an eight-minute period, you will meet classroom teachers and receive a general overview of what students will be learning during the school year. Teachers look forward to more personalized conversations during Parent Conferences on Thursday, November 9, 2017, or sooner by request.
During lunch blocks, directed studies or open blocks, you will have “Open Campus” (free time) to tour the building, visit the Learning Commons (library), the Art Gallery or student radio station, WIQH.
Please arrive with your son/daughter's schedule in hand. If you do not have a copy of the schedule, please retrieve one in the Aspen Parent Portal. If necessary, we can print one in the main office; just make sure to leave extra time to allow for this.
We have included a map to help you maneuver around this magnificent building. To help assist you, student guides will be located at various locations throughout the building.
We look forward to seeing you next Thursday!
6:00 - 6:45 PM Freshman Parent Info Session (Auditorium)
7:00 - 7:20 PM All Parent Meeting (Auditorium)
Exchange Students From China
Last week we welcomed 13 exchange students along with teachers and the principal from Hang Zhou Changhe High School in China. CCHS teacher Bo Feng was instrumental in making this a pleasant experience for all involved. It has been a successful event thanks for the help of our lovely community, and CCHS students and staff who worked hard to make this an enriching experience for all.
Principal Xu emphasized that our students and community are the most welcoming guests they have among their exchange programs in Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. We are proud of our students, our school, and the exchange program.
CCHS student Justin Moy had this to say about his experience.
"The exchange student hosting experience has been very rewarding. Even though we learn about the Chinese culture and its language actually getting to host a student from China bridges the gap between academic and real life.
I had the privilege of hosting Liao, a very outgoing student from Hangzhou Changhe Highschool. One of the most fun parts of hosting the students is introducing them to different aspects of American culture. On the first day we had Liao help make Nachos. He absolutely loved the tortilla chips and on the last day we gifted him a bag of them which greatly excited him. At the same time it is interesting to learn about their culture and try out my language skills. One of the new words I learned was 扇子 which means fan when I tried to say my sister likes fans. Liao was funny and had a good enough understanding of English to get my family's humor. Overall it was a very exciting, educational and rewarding experience."
Principal Xu emphasized that our students and community are the most welcoming guests they have among their exchange programs in Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. We are proud of our students, our school, and the exchange program.
CCHS student Justin Moy had this to say about his experience.
"The exchange student hosting experience has been very rewarding. Even though we learn about the Chinese culture and its language actually getting to host a student from China bridges the gap between academic and real life.
I had the privilege of hosting Liao, a very outgoing student from Hangzhou Changhe Highschool. One of the most fun parts of hosting the students is introducing them to different aspects of American culture. On the first day we had Liao help make Nachos. He absolutely loved the tortilla chips and on the last day we gifted him a bag of them which greatly excited him. At the same time it is interesting to learn about their culture and try out my language skills. One of the new words I learned was 扇子 which means fan when I tried to say my sister likes fans. Liao was funny and had a good enough understanding of English to get my family's humor. Overall it was a very exciting, educational and rewarding experience."
Shark Bowl for CCHS Students
By Peter Bagley
Have you ever had a great idea for a new business? Are you interested in learning about business? Concord Carlisle High School is excited to provide the opportunity for students to participate in an after-school program and events provided by Harvard University, Wheaton College and MIT focused on developing start-ups, new ventures, and business skills.
Have you ever had a great idea for a new business? Are you interested in learning about business? Concord Carlisle High School is excited to provide the opportunity for students to participate in an after-school program and events provided by Harvard University, Wheaton College and MIT focused on developing start-ups, new ventures, and business skills.
This is an after-school program that meets once a week starting in September where a student will participate in a hands-on college level entrepreneurial education program supported by a text, on line resources, mentors and guest speakers. The program curriculum is powered by “Idea Into Action” curriculum from Babson College and will focus on Social, Civic, Commercial and Environmental solutions.
Ø 7 class sessions after school @ CCHS
Ø Change Maker Boot Camp at Wheaton College on Saturday, October 7th
Ø Weekend Pitch Conference @ Harvard University on November 11th
Ø Course includes: Text, Online Resources, and Start-Up Tools
Ø A “Shark Bowl” competition on November 18th
Ø Food & snacks are provided for all students at each session
An information session will be held in the Library Commons on Wednesday, September 13th at 2:45. For additional information, please contact program coordinator, Peter Bagley at: pbagley@hsprograms.org
CC Teacher Spotlight
Throughout the year we will spotlight Concord Carlisle staff members. The second addition of teacher spotlight features one of the founding members of Rivers & Revolutions, Tracie Dunn.
http://www.concordcarlisle.org/blog/2017/09/04/tracie-dunn/
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| Bella McKinney |
Madeline Gage, Paul & Nathalie Shnadig, & Bella McKinney
Several CCHS students participated in Outward Bound projects over the summer. I have included portions of the press release below. Nice job, all.
Madeline Gage, a sophomore from Concord, Massachusetts, recently embarked upon a 14-day Summer Expedition to Panama with Outward Bound Costa Rica. Alongside other students from around the world, Madeline learned to scuba dive surrounded by tropical coral reefs and volunteered in the conservation efforts to protect endangered sea turtles.
The course began with a multi-day service project in the San San Pond Sak wetlands, located on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Here, the group worked with local biologists to protect the endangered leatherback sea turtle population by building habitats, cataloging nests, measuring, weighing & releasing hatchlings and performing night patrols to protect mama turtles as they lay their eggs.
“I learned that if you're in a hard situation, you’ve just got to push through,” said Madeline. “I was out in Panama which was a boat ride, a car ride, another boat ride and a plane far away from my house and my parents, and I need to learn to be independent, and that really helped show me that I could push through things if I really need to. Giving up is not the right way to do things.”
Paul Shnadig, a 17-year-old teen, and his sister Nathalie, 15, from Concord, Massachusetts, recently embarked on a Summer Expedition to Panama and Costa Rica with Outward Bound Costa Rica. On this unique 3-week course, the pair participated in the conservation efforts of endangered sea turtles, learned to scuba dive, and surfed off Costa Rica’s famous beaches.
The course began with a multi-day service project in the San San Pond Sak wetlands located on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Here, the Schnadig siblings and their group worked with local biologists to protect the endangered leatherback sea turtle population by building habitats, cataloging nests, measuring, weighing and releasing hatchlings and performing night patrols to protect mama turtles as they lay their eggs.
Back in Costa Rica, Paul and Nathalie, alongside fellow students, visited several beaches along the Pacific coast where they honed their surfing skills. When they weren’t catching waves, they were put to the test to earn their ASHI First Aid and CPR certifications. The group also participated in a service project on Outward Bound’s rainforest base, contributing to trail maintenance and planting. Of the experience, Paul said it was, “very challenging but worth it in the end.” He added, “I see myself as more of a leader now.”
“Overall, the experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and was very eye-opening,” commented Nathalie. She added, “I was in constant contact with nature and I had never done anything like this before.”
Isabella McKinney, a 17-year-old member of the US Girl Scouts of Concord, Massachusetts, recently completed a 10-day Catching Waves course with Outward Bound Costa Rica. Alongside Girl Scouts from all over the country, Isabella contributed to a service-learning project and learned to surf in the warm water breaks of the country’s Pacific coast. After settling in on Outward Bound’s base in Costa Rica, the group kicked off the adventure with a zipline tour through the rainforest canopy, a visit to the vibrant artisan market of San Jose and a day of whitewater rafting on the Pejibaye river known for its Class III and IV rapids.
Isabella and her fellow Girl Scouts then headed to Playa Uvita in the Puntarenas region for their first taste of surfing and, guided by their instructors, they learned how to read waves, tides and currents.
When they weren’t catching waves, Isabella and her fellow students volunteered at a local school where they refurbished the classroom with a good lick of paint.
“I learned that stepping out my comfort zone will never be easy but always worth it,” said Isabella of her trip. “I’ve never been camping before so that was a pretty wild experience,” she added.
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| Picture by Nancy Lane |
CCHS Senior Spencer Royal
Concord-Carlisle boys soccer plans on dishing out more Royal treatment.
CCHS Social Media
If you are interested in following us on social media, here are the links:
Facebook @concordcarlislehs
Twitter - Mike Mastrullo @MJM_CCHS
Twitter - Brian Miller @CCHSAPMiller
Twitter - Leslie Knight @LPK_CCHS
Instagram @concordcarlislehs
Blogger @cchsmm
Robotics Sculpture
By Michael Hamblin
Tensegrity is a term coined by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960’s to describe a structural engineering system in which compression members, the beams, are held together by tensioning cables in such a manner that the beams do not touch each other. Such structures can have the appearance of floating in space. The tower in front of the cafeteria was assembled by the CCHS Robotics team as an exercise in applying tensegrity principles.
The structure is modeled after the Needle Tower at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. Once assembled the structures are incredibly strong and light. Our tower weighs less than fifty pounds and if lowered to the ground can be picked up in tact and carried by one person. The 3205 at the top of the tower is the Robotics league ID number for the CCHS Robotics Team.
Guidance and Counseling September Newsletter CLICK HERE
Student Health 101
By Nancy Slocum
Are you interested in learning more about how to manage stress, finding new workouts, and/or winning free money? Student Health 101 is an online wellness magazine free for CCHS students (and faculty and staff) that encompasses those aspects, and much, much more. Each month, you’ll receive a brief email on CCHS Student News and CCHS Faculty News reminding you that a new month's issue is available.
Are you interested in learning more about how to manage stress, finding new workouts, and/or winning free money? Student Health 101 is an online wellness magazine free for CCHS students (and faculty and staff) that encompasses those aspects, and much, much more. Each month, you’ll receive a brief email on CCHS Student News and CCHS Faculty News reminding you that a new month's issue is available.
There is also a permanent link on the Learning Commons home web page.
To "opt in" to receive notifications for CCHS Student Health 101 go to:
http://getsh101.com/get/concor
High School Remediation Project
By John Flaherty
The work on the high school campus is remediation and capping of hazardous materials contained in soils from a former landfill. The landfill was in operation prior to construction of the old high school building in 1960. The capping project was approved at Concord and Carlisle Town Meetings this past Spring. Completion of the project is expected this Fall and the area will be grass covered initially. The skateboard park will be accessible after completion of the capping effort.
Pictures from the exchange program with students from China.
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| CCHS teacher Bo Feng |
