Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Bruins' Willie O'Ree Retirement Ceremony, CCHS Debate Team

Semester 2 is upon us and we embark on the remaining second half of the school year. Another challenging year dealing with COVID, but I am filled with hope and optimism that our future is better than our past. Please read on for more information and some exciting news. 

Lunar New Year 2022

Happy Chinese New Year! Today, Tuesday, February 1st marks the beginning of a New Year -- the Lunar New Year. This day is also known as the Chinese New Year. Separately, we also bid farewell to the Year of the Ox and welcome the Year of the Tiger.

 CCHS staff member Bo Feng made this piece using a wood-burning technique  (pyrography) that is truly awe-inspiring.  Needless to say, in addition to being a great teacher, Bo is an amazing artist.

Black History Month

The month of February is Black History Month. We honor the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history. This year's Black History theme focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness and considers activities, rituals, and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well. 

Bruins Retire Willie O'Ree's Number With Two METCO Students

I  am extremely excited to share a video of two talented METCO students.  Dallas and Toryn Jackson made their mark on the ice on January 18th, 2022 when they participated in the Willie O'Ree retirement ceremony with the Boston Bruins.  Willie O'Ree "the Jackie Robinson of hockey" changed history and opened the proverbial door for other underrepresented people to play in the NHL. 

Both Dallas (class of 2021) and Toryn (class of 2024) spent many weekends for several years participating in a Boston-based hockey league affiliated with Mr. O'Ree.  In a recent interview, Willie O'Ree said that besides being Black and being blind in my right eye, I was faced with four other things: racism, prejudice, bigotry, and ignorance.  He broke the NHL's color barrier in 1958 with the Bruins, one of six teams at the time. He played 45 games with the Bruins, despite being legally blind -- scoring four goals and recording 10 assists. Please view the video and join me in congratulating the Jackson sisters!

- Heidi Harris, Director, CCHS METCO Program

CCHS Debaters Win Awards at Malcolm Bump Memorial Tournament

    

On Saturday, January 22, CCHS sent 12 debaters to the online Malcolm Bump Tournament (Montrose New York - Hendrick Hudson High School), and the team won 4 awards. This was the largest group of CCHS debaters to attend any tournament this academic year, and the success showed the growth of the team.

In the Varsity Division, debate co-presidents Molly Branigan & Richard Li had a 3W-1L record to earn the trophy for 10th place. Wilbur Moffitt & Alex Li also had a storing 2-2 record in varsity.

In the Novice debate, the team of Ryan Valentine & Jonathan Peppercorn placed 8th (3W-1L0 in a field of 112 debaters, and individual speaker awards went to Ryan (10th) and Jonathan (7th). Also debating in novice were Felicity Zhang & Eleanor Yoshida, Asher Sun & Mads Reeves, and Joe Park & Jameson Velez.

The College Guidance Network (CGN) & School Schedule and Calendar Information

All,

I am writing to remind everyone of the schedule next week that ushers in the second semester. We are nearing the halfway point of the year. How can this span of time feel like both the blink of an eye and an eternity?  

Monday is a professional day for staff and a long weekend for students. Tuesday, January 25, is a make-up day for all students who missed an exam. Students and teachers should coordinate individually concerning timing and locations. Only students completing a missed exam will be in school on January 25.

The start of the second semester is delayed one day to accommodate for the make-up date.  

The second semester begins on January 26th with a regular schedule.

January Assessments, Reflections, & Review

College Guidance Network (CGN)

FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN CLASS OF 2023

Concord Carlisle High School has partnered with the College Guidance Network (CGN) to help your family plan for college. Your family (parents/guardians & students) now have access to CGN School, which includes free live programming and on-demand resources to supplement the work and collaboration between CCHS counselors and students. Counselors will continue to provide seminars and individual meetings with students to guide and support them through the college planning experience.   

CGN School is an online platform that includes:

• Live college planning seminars to guide you through every step of the process. Seminar topics span from building your college list to writing application essays, applying for financial aid, and more.
• Live college guidance episodes, including Q&As with admissions experts. 
• The Special Interests Series supports specific college admissions needs, such as athletic recruitment, the performing arts, learning differences, and more. 
• Dozens of on-demand videos, podcasts, and toolkits with information to help you navigate every step of the college admissions experience. 

Please check your email for the one-time activation link and instructions to create an account!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Corinne Herr, CCHS Girl Scouts

Dr. King helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. His is a message of hope, and during difficult times things can seem very bleak; Dr. King said it best, "only when it is dark enough can you see the stars." If time permits, I encourage you to listen to it; don't just read the words, actually listen to the address.

Dr. Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream"

Read on for information regarding an annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, CCHS Girls Scouts, and a hardy congratulations to Corinne Herr for winning the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year Award.  A great honor.  

Annual Celebration to Honor the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Andrew Nyamekye

Saturday, January 15th marks Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 93rd birthday, and January 17th is the federal holiday recognizing the Civil Rights leader. In partnership with Bedford Public Schools METCO Director/DEI Coordinator Akil Mondesir, our school communities will honor Dr. King's life and legacy with a virtual event on Friday, January 21, 2022, at 6:30 pm on Zoom. 

Our keynote speaker is Ron Jones, an Emmy Award winner and Executive Director/Artistic Principal of Dialogues on Diversity. Mr. Jones will present a performance lecture titled: MLK and the Strength of Shared Dreams. Through live character portrayal and video, MLK and the Strength of Shared Dreams depict how MLK’s “Poor Peoples Campaign” was a turning point in intersectional advocacy. A broad cross-section of cultural groups came together to fight against poverty. Had King lived to be the face of this young movement, it would have changed the way we look at race and social issues. We believe that it would have been a great leap forward in our American Civil Rights Story. 

I hope that you will join us for this event on January 21st. Please click here for the event flyer, and RSVP in order to receive a zoom link in advance. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Andrew K. Nyamekye, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Concord and Concord-Carlisle Public Schools at anyamekye@concordps.org.

2021-22 Gatorade Massachusetts Volleyball Player of the Year

Please join me in congratulating CC's Corinne Herr '22 upon being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Volleyball. This means that Corinne is the player of the year for the entire state of Massachusetts and she is the first female athlete at CC to win this prestigious award. Click here for the press release. Congratulations, Corinne!

"...Still Girl Scouts After All These Years" Boston Globe Article

Featured in a recent Boston Globe article, CCHS Seniors, Ariana Mostoufi, Susannah Snell, Isabella Synnestvedt, Ahria Desai, Marjorie Haddad, Catie Barry, and Amelia Hammond reflect on their girl scout experience, as well as their commitment to service projects, that has kept their troop together for the past 10 years.

Principal's Blog: Midyear Exams Information

 Happy snow day.  Enjoy the long weekend. Important Information on the anticipated midyear exams.

January Assessments, Reflections, and Review

CCHS Music, CCHS Theatre, Tori Postler, Anyuu Inomoto Fong, & Audrey Mirak

It is with great pleasure that I share my last blog of 2021 featuring highlights from our talented students; however, before I do, I feel compelled to acknowledge that we all suffer from some form of COVID exhaustion. 

Still, recent events compel me to reiterate the importance of simple safety measures intended as an antidote to the inevitable relaxing of our senses that accompany two years of COVID mandates. 

Wearing a mask is now a mode of consciousness that has become instinct, but the proper wearing of a mask (fully covering mouth and nose) lacks needed consistency. Also, I reiterate the importance of cleaning your personal space when arriving at a desk. 

The nightly news spreads plenty of fear and anxiety.  To counter pockets of grim, I encourage everyone to spreads a bit of joy more liberally than division and fear. If nothing else, the holidays should bring kindness; lest one not forget, often the shortest distance between two people is laughter, even if covered by a mask. 

I sincerely hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday break. I look forward to 2022 with great optimism that our future will be better than our past.  Come what may.  

Michael J. Mastrullo

Principal

Concord-Carlisle freshman takes first prize in state violin competition

Congratulations to Anyuu Inomoto Fong for winning first prize in violin at the Massachusetts statewide competition. She will represent the state as she competes against delegates from other states in the northeast region. 

Read the story here!

Calendar and Schedule Information

Below you will find a calendar with some important dates (coordinated assessment days, no assessment days, reading days, exams, etc) and also the mid-year exam schedule:

End of Semester 1 Calendar - Winter 2021/2022

Midterm Exam Schedule January 2022

CCHS Music

The CCHS Orchestra, Jazz Band A, Repertory Band, Concert Band, Combined Chorus, Melodies, Bel Canto Singers, Men's Chorus, and Select Choir recently held indoor concerts, the first since December of 2019. Despite the challenges of last year and the continuation of distancing, masks, and bell covers, the student musicians put on polished and professional performances that were well received by the limited capacity audience.

Close to 200 instrumentalists and singers performed over the course of two concerts and students were excited to finally share their music with an audience; a luxury taken for granted no longer, as live performances were missed by all. Thank you to the CCHS community for your support and to our music families for making these nights so special for all involved.  Congratulations to Deb, David, and to all those who make the event possible.

Click Here to hear a clip of the CCHS Orchestra

Click Here to hear a clip of the Select Choir

- David Gresko, Director of Bands and Orchestra

- Deborah Smith, Director of Choirs

PRISM Concert

​This unique concert was a non-stop surround sound musical kaleidoscope, showcasing the talented student musicians of the Concord-Carlisle High School Bands and Orchestra. A variety of musical styles and ensembles were on full display throughout the performance.  The students were so impressive.  

CCHS Senior, Tori Postler, Commits to Northeastern

Tori Postler signs the National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play field hockey at Northeastern. The NLI is a binding NCAA agreement for Division 1 student-athletes. 

Tori’s parents, Mike and Theresa, and brother Zach (2025 - football player) were in attendance. Jacqui Turner, our field hockey coach, and members of the team were also there. Congratulations Tori!

CCHS Senior, Audrey Mirak, Commits to UNH

Senior Audrey Mirak signed her National Letter of Intent to play D1 lacrosse at the University of New Hampshire. Audrey led the team in scoring last season with 64 goals and 18 assists in 14 games and is a team captain this spring. She was also a mentor on the Unified Basketball Team this fall. Congratulations Audrey!

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream 

CC Theatre proudly performed William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream on our beautiful outdoor stage under the stars on October 21-23.  With over 70 students in the cast and crew, including numerous student leaders in charge of stage management, carpentry, props, lighting, sound, costumes, hair, makeup, scenic art, graphic design, house management, and accessibility, we sold out our final two performances.  Congratulations to all students in the cast and crew!  Stay tuned for details about our spring musical!

PRISM Concert - CCHS Instrumental Music, December 11 at 7:00 pm

PRISM ​is a non-stop, surround sound musical kaleidoscope, showcasing the talented student musicians of the Concord-Carlisle High School Bands and Orchestra. A variety of musical styles and ensembles will be presented throughout the performing space, creating an interactive experience for the audience. You have never seen a concert like this!

We have approximately 50 additional tickets now available to the public for our popular Prism Concert on Saturday, December 11th at 7 PM. Please visit  https://ticketstage.com/T/CCHS to get your tickets today! These seats are general admission ($12/$8) and seats will be assigned and available at check-in.  

-David Gresko, Director of Bands and Orchestra

August Lee-Kovach, Harlem LAX Gear Drive, Apple Picking, Senior Aerial Photo

It is with pride and pleasure I share some interesting and inspiring information from CCHS.  

 August Lee-Kovach to publish NYT Crossword Puzzle*

August Lee-Kovach, of Prospect Street, a 14-year-old freshman at Concord-Carlisle High School, has had two of his crossword puzzles accepted by the New York Times, and the first will be published in the paper this Saturday, October 9. This is the result of over two years of perseverance developing his puzzling craft.

August started trying to solve crosswords when he was nine at Cape Cod with his parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. “Someone would read the clues,” he says, “and people would call out the answers. I thought of the right answer sometimes.” He also would solve crosswords with his dad. “More accurately, I would sit and watch him fill in the puzzle. But now I can solve Monday and Tuesday puzzles on my own.” (Puzzles get harder throughout the week from Monday to Saturday.)

August got the idea of making a crossword when he was ten. His dad told him that, many years ago, he had submitted a puzzle to the New York Times, but it was rejected. “Will [Shortz] wouldn’t accept made-up entries like ALSOS or LTD EDTN,” the reviewer had said. August convinced his dad that they should give it another try. They read “How to Make a Crossword Puzzle,” by the New York Times puzzle editors and constructors, and he was inspired.

At first, August and his dad collaborated on puzzles. At 11, August made his first solo crossword. “It was a ‘meh’ puzzle,” he says. But he made more, and with each one he got better. The rejections were hard. He submitted more than ten puzzles, some with his dad and some solo, and all were rejected. But the reviewers at the Times encouraged him and made helpful suggestions each time, and he took their advice.

Finally, in December 2020, he got an email saying that one of his solo puzzles was accepted. It was a themeless puzzle with a lot of long words and an open grid, usually the toughest kind to solve. They told him it would be published on a Saturday—as it turns out, this Saturday.

August continued submitting puzzles (there was time during the pandemic), and after seven more rejections, another of his solo puzzles was accepted. This time it was a themed puzzle, but a tricky one that will be published in the Times on a Thursday. 

It is hard for August to say his favorite part of making puzzles. There’s developing a theme: “Coming up with a theme can be grueling,” he says, “but once you have a good idea, it’s fun thinking up examples.” There’s filling in the words: “I like it that I can put in whatever words I want. That’s where you get to make the puzzle your own.” And there’s writing the clues: “A good clue has word-play. It misdirects the solver without making it obvious that it is a misdirect.”

What has he learned from all this? “Words, and how to play with words,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot of common knowledge . . . and not-so-common knowledge that nobody should ever need to learn because it’s so random—like Brian Eno or an etui (a small ornamental case).”∆

*This article first appeared in the Carlisle Mosquito

Harlem Lacrosse Gear Drive

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Concord-Carlisle High School Community for its support of GEAR2GOALS, a student-led gear drive that is now in its 4th year of collecting gently used lacrosse gear and athletic clothing for student-athletes in the Harlem Lacrosse - Boston program.

Founded by Simon Cataldo, a CCHS grad, Harlem Lacrosse is a school-based nonprofit that is now established in five cities across the US. Harlem Lacrosse provides lacrosse instruction, academic support, mentoring, leadership, as well as college and career readiness training to its student-athletes. GEAR2GOALS grew out of the camaraderie among young people playing lacrosse together in Concord, Harlem, and now Dorchester, and its success would not be possible without the support of CCHS - its staff, coaches, students, athletes, parents, and also our youth lacrosse leagues. Many, many thanks for making this year’s drive a huge success! (www.gear2goals.com)

- GEAR2GOALS Volunteer Team

Team Willow Field Trip

Team Willow spent the day at Shelburne Farms in Stow, MA.  The team spent the day picking apples and pumpkins, hanging with the farm's animals, doing poetry, learning to throw golf discs, and sampling fresh cider doughnuts and apple cider.  It was the first time that the entire team was together and provided a nice opportunity for the team to get to know each other, without masks, on a beautiful fall day.

Here is the jam board they made for the Poetry proportion of the day.

Launch Field Trip to Carlson Orchards

Several Launch members visited Carlson Orchards to do some apple picking.  The weather could not have been more beautiful! They started off by enjoying some delicious pizza before showing off their apple picking skills. 

Other Launch members stayed on campus and watched Hocus Pocus.  What a fantastic Halloween movie!  

Once the crew returned from apple picking, everyone was able to sample some apple cider and enjoy an apple cider donut.

Class of 2022

Veterans Day

Today, 11 November, we pause to thank the men and women of the armed forces. We officially thank them as a nation annually on 11 November, but they deserve a thank you every day. 

Lest one not forget the roughly 1.4 million active members of the military all enlist voluntarily. A fact so ingrained it is easy to take for granted. 

Stating the obvious, but young men and women voluntarily serve in the United States means those who wish not to serve don't have to serve. This fact should not be taken for granted. 

The sacrifice made to serve our country can only be known by those serving, but the tremendous sacrifice is broader than the men and women in uniform. Mothers, fathers, siblings, husbands, wives, and children of military members all sacrifice greatly. I am proud to say that my grandfathers, uncle, and father all served in the Army.  

In this country, we can trace the beginning of our democracy to the very founding of our nation. It began with a call to arms, where citizens from all across this country, from towns like Carlisle, and Concord, and cities like Boston ushered aside their peaceful life to fight for the cause of freedom and democracy. As the adage goes, "freedom is not free." It comes at a cost, and sometimes it is paid with the ultimate sacrifice.  

Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines than at any point in my lifetime. Regardless of what side of the aisle you align yourself with politically, we should all agree the men and women of our nation's military deserve our gratitude. Thank you to all men and women who have served, and continue to serve our great country. 

With Gratitude,

Michael J. Mastrullo

Fall Choral Concert 11/2, at 7:00 pm, CCHS Auditorium

 

LIVE and IN PERSON: The CCHS Chorus, Melodies, Bel Canto, Men's Chorus, and Select Choir will be presenting their first Fall Concert since November 2019!  The concert is being videotaped by Minuteman Media Network and will be broadcast on your local cable channels within a few weeks.  Featuring a wide array of musical genres and styles, from classical to contemporary, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

- Deborah Smith, Director of Choirs