The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
February 16, 2020 - Volume 2 - ISSUE 23
Welcome to the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Newsletter! It is designed to keep everyone (parents, students, staff, and community members) informed of the many events that are happening in and around the school. It contains links, pictures, and videos so that you have a more interactive experience and the ability to learn more about various topics.
Communication is incredibly important to understanding so we ask that you share our news as much as possible. We also welcome feedback! It is the only way to continuously improve. So, please interact, get involved, and let us know what you think by contacting us and sharing our news!
Important Dates to Plan
February 26 – Senior Scholarship Meeting during Period 5
February 28 – Senior Cap and Gown Measuring during Lunch Period 4
March 2 & 4-5 - MCAS ELA Retest
March 3 - No School for Students – Presidential Primary Election
March 5 - HS Delayed Opening
March 6 & 9 - MCAS Math Retest
March 13 – Alumni/Community Band Concert 7:00PM in Performing Arts Center
March 17 - Shakespeare & Company Grade 12 students
March 18 - Naviance Night 6:30PM in Room 159 & 161
March 19 - HS Delayed Opening
March 24-25 - MCAS ELA Grade 10 Students
March 26 - Spellman Contest 6:30PM in Performing Arts Center
March 27 - District Early Release – Professional Development
March 27 - Junior Prom – Canoe Club 7-10PM
April 1 – Quarter 3 Ends
April 2 – HS Delayed Opening
April 2 – Quarter 4 Starts
April 3 – Early Release – District Grading Day
April 8 – Quarter 3 Progress Reports available via Parent Portal
April 8 – “Meet the Teacher” available to book Parent-Teacher Conferences
April 10 – No School – Good Friday
April 14 – HS Early Release – Parent-Teacher Conferences by appointment only 12PM-2PM & 6PM-8PM
April 16 – HS Delayed Opening
April 20-24 – No School – Spring Break
DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS TO HOLD “A TASTE OF WHITMAN AND HANSON”
Whitman & Hanson Dollars for Scholars will be celebrating the 13th Annual “A Taste of Whitman and Hanson” on Thursday, March 5, at the VFW Post #697 in Whitman from
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Up to two dozen local restaurants and food service providers will be offering samples from their menu to the general public.
Tickets are $15 per person in advance and $20 at the door with limited capacity. Ticket sales begin on February 15th at Duval’s Pharmacy, Ford’s Insurance, Sandy’s Coffee Corner and the Town Clerk’s Offices in Whitman and Hanson. Tickets may also be purchase online at Eventbrite.com.
A list of participating restaurants will also be available at that time. All proceeds from the evening will benefit Dollars for Scholars in the form of scholarships at Awards Night.
For more information, please contact Michael Ganshirt at 781-252-9683.
2019-2020 SEPAC meetings
All meetings held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6-8pm
in the Whitman Hanson Regional High School library
Please check out our website for more information
March 10th – BCBA Presentation - (6-8pm Middle & High School)
April 14th – Occupational Therapy Presentation - 6-8pm
May 12th – Speech and Language Presentations on Language Pragmatics (meeting will be held in WHRHS Courtyard Café due to Arts in Bloom being held in the WHRHS library) (6-8pm Middle & High School)
June 9th – Planning 2020-2021 meetings, general discussion - 6-8pm
Dr. Christopher Jones
Be Flexible in Your Focus
We often talk about how important it is to be focused on our goals. While this is an essential strategy if we are to accomplish what we set out to do, it can also serve as a negative if we do not stay agile or flexible in our thinking. Especially if or inevitably when, we hit obstacles along the way.
When we run into a barrier to our success we sometimes get even more frustrated because we stay rigid in our thinking when it comes to possible solutions. This is because we are so focused on the goal that we are only able to see the end according to the plan we originally created. When this happens it is important to apply the idea of the not too tight but not too loose strategy to our thinking.
Doing this will allow us to step back, objectively study the situation, and create new avenues of success based on a different perspective. Think about the familiar saying:
Go through your obstacles.
If you can't go through, go over.
If you can't go over go around.
It is not about avoiding. It's about understanding that while you need to focus on the result, you also need to be willing to see and take the different paths that may be necessary to get there. Success is ultimately found in the process; not the destination.
Check out the video below for more on this topic.
Our Story...
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
Mrs. Ruth Carrigan
Naviance Night
The WHRHS School Counseling Office is pleased to invite grade 10 & 11 parents/guardians to Naviance Night for Parents on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. This program includes a hands-on workshop in WHRHS computer labs that will teach you how to do conduct a comprehensive on-line college search. You will get acquainted with Whitman-Hanson’s Naviance Family Connection program that offers:
- College Match – narrows down choices by location, size, surroundings, and more.
- College Look Up – read profiles of specific colleges
- Scattergrams – matches your student’s GPA and SAT scores with recent graduates to find great college choices for your child
Student Trooper Program
Please see the link below for information regarding the MA State Police/American Legion’s Student Trooper Program that will be held at the Mass State Police Academy in July. This program is open to male or female students ages 15 to 17 who are in good academic standing and are interested in the field of law enforcement. Space is limited and the deadline for completed applications (including payment and American Legion authorization) is April 20, 2020. Students are encouraged to apply early since space is limited. This is an excellent program for students interested in the field of law enforcement. For more information on the Student Trooper Program, please refer to the program information on the link or check in with your school counselor: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/student-trooper-program
Massasoit “On the Spot” Admissions
Scholarship Assembly for Seniors - Wednesday, February 26, G Block
A scholarship assembly for seniors will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 during G Block for all seniors. Information will be presented on both Dollars for Scholars and Local and Community Scholarships. All seniors who are planning to attend post-secondary education should plan to attend.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your school counselor.
Dollars for Scholars
Applications are now available on the DFS website at www.whitmanandhanson.dollarsforscholars.org. Completed DFS applications must be completed and submitted online on or before March 15, 2020.
If you have any questions on any of these programs, please reach out to your school counselor.
Mrs. Carrigan - Ruth.Carrigan@whrsd.orgMrs. Garrett - Maureen.Garrett@whrsd.org
Mrs. Selig - Courtney.Selig@whrsd.org
Mrs. Cunha - MaggieCate.Cunha@whrsd.org
Mr. Amado - Domingo.Amado@whrsd.org
Ms. Kelly Tanis
Students Connect to the Community!
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, February 29, 2020 - Nutmeg Show Choir Festival Windsor Locks High School in Connecticut
Friday, March 13, 2020 - “Alumni/Community Band” Concert 7:00 pm W-H PAC.
March 20-21, 2020 - Senior SEMSBA Festival
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - Show Choir Competition, Andover MA
Monday, March 23, 2020 - Show Choir Chipotle Fundraiser 5pm-8pm Derby Street Chipotle
Show Choir/Pit Band
They will continue to work hard to prepare for their first competition, the Nutmeg Show Choir Festival on February 29, 2020 at Windsor Locks High School in Connecticut.
Raffle Ticket sales for the VIP parking spot will be on sale at lunch at the end of February to win this prime parking spot for the month of March.
On March 23rd, show this flyer to your cashier at the Hingham Chipotle and help support High Frequency!
Chorus
The new semester has started and we are working hard and improving our talents for the 2020 spring concert. We have some beautiful arrangements for you to hear!
Congratulations to the following students on making senior SEMSBA!
Julian Anderson - Tenor - 11th Grade
Lianne Leavitt - Soprano - 12th Grade
Emma Rogers - Soprano - 11th Grade
Band
The new semester has started and we are hard and improving our talents for the 2020 spring concert.
The High School Concert Band is preparing for the “Alumni/Community Band Concert on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm in the W-H PAC.
Congratulations to the following students on making senior SEMBSA!
Nora Rooney - Orchestra Violin - 11th Grade
“Something Natural” A Capella Group
We are so excited to be working on new, fun songs for the spring concert!
New members always welcome!
Drama Club
Meetings are Mondays & Fridays 2:00-3:00
We have been having so much fun already in rehearsals with this talented cast!
If you have any interest in getting involved, please email Brookescriven@gmail.com
Ms. Margaret Baker & Ms. Lisa Tobin
Nurse’s Corner - Winter 2019
The Mass. DPH requires the school to do the following health screenings each year:
- Height and Weight, including BMI –grade 10
- Scoliosis Screenings- grade 9
- Vision and Hearing –grade 10
- SBIRT Screenings- grades 9 and 10
Please contact the school RN if you DO NOT wish your child to participate in any of the health screenings in writing. Scoliosis screenings will begin in the spring.
Vaping
We have all heard about the increase in vaping in recent years- especially in children. There have been at least 34 reported deaths due to vaping in 2019 in the US. Vaping remains under investigation by the Mass. DPH and the CDC.
Attached are 2 pertinent articles from the Surgeon General of the U.S.:
- a fact sheet about vaping in youth
- a parent tip sheet for talking to your child about e-cigarettes. that offers further resources.
Medication during the School Day
Please refer to the student handbook or the Health Services website regarding medication to be administered by the school RN during the school day. All prescription medications must be in the original prescription bottle with a written MD order and signed parental consent form. These forms may be downloaded from the website. Students are NOT allowed to carry medication with them during the school day. Please call Ms. Baker at 781-618-7452 or Mrs. Tobin at 781-618-7430 for any questions regarding medication.
Please do not hesitate to call the clinic at any time with any questions/concerns concerning your child’s health- we are here to keep your child healthy!
Athletics - Coach Bob Rodgers
The wrestling team displayed once again why it’s such a terrific sport to be a part of as the entire program hosted the MIAA south sectional wrestling tournament on Saturday. Every player, coach and parent pitched in to pull off the tall task of hosting all of the D2 south schools. On the mat, our team also fared very well placing 7 wrestlers in the top 6 places. The Panthers were led by 138 pound Captain Damari Goldsmith-Greene with a second place finish. Two wrestlers finished in 3rd place including 160 pound Senior captain Steve Brooks and Senior Tyler Cullinan at 170 pounds. Finishing in 4th was Junior Declan Hanaphy at 285 pounds. WH had one 5th in Sophomore Joe Boss at 106 pounds and two 6th place finishers including Sophomore Pat Collett at 152 pounds and Freshman Maddox Colclough at 195 pounds
The Panthers will be sending 4 wrestlers to the State Tournament next Friday and Saturday at Milton HS. Also attending as an alternate is Joe Boss. Pat Collett and Maddox Colclough will also attend as double alternates. Winning the Sectional Tournament was Sharon HS with 225 points. Whitman-Hanson finished a respectable 7th with 109.5 points.
The boys basketball team opened the season by losing to league rival Hingham but since that time, the team won every league game and won its 4th league title in the last 5 years and finished with a 13-1 Patriot League record. Overall the Panthers have won 16 games in a row and is currently ranked 5th in the state and number one in division 2 with an 18-2 record. On Friday Senior captains Stevie Kelly (15 points) and Ben Rice (13 points) led Whitman Hanson to a 66-44 win over Silver Lake on senior night. All of the seniors played well (Colby Ahern, Xavier Depina, Jonathan Zeidan, Liam Keane, Tom Vassil and Alex Shea). The team will now host division 1 power Brockton on Tuesday night at 6:30pm.
The Whitman Hanson girls basketball team (13-5, 9-5) defeated Silver Lake by the final score of 61-53 Thursday night. The Panthers were paced by four players in double figures. Seniors Olivia Martin and Brittany Gacicia had 17 points and 13 points respectively. Junior Rylie Harlow added 10 points and sophomore Abby Martin chipped in with 11 points. The team has a great chance to lock up a first round home game if they can do well in the Abington Tournament this week. They take on Rockland tomorrow at 2:30pm.
The Whitman-Hanson Girls Track team concluded its season at the Division 3 Championship Friday evening with some very impressive performances. Senior Captain Samantha Perkins (9.54) and Sophomore April Keyes (9.41) set personal records in the 55 Hurdles. Sophomore Isabel Amado ran well in the 1000 Meter race (3:16) and Freshman Isabel Miller also matched her season best in the High Jump at 4' 8". The 4 x 200 Relay team of Emma Rogers, April Keyes, Samantha Perkins and Ryley Hurley ran its best time of the season (1:54.13) as did the 4 x 400 Relay team of Isabel Amado, Tori Boss, Courtney Woodward and Ryley Hurley (4:28).
On the boys side:
- 55m Dash Open: Jake Caterer 7.10
- 600m Run Open: Matt Avery 1:32.94
- 1,000m Run Open: Nick Hanley 2:48.12
- 1 Mile Run Open: Liam Cafferty 4:50.3
- 2 Mile Run Open: Theo Kamperides 10:05
- 55m Hurdles Open: Graham Stewart 8.82
- Shot Put Cullen Poth 39'10.5"
- Long Jump Jake Caterer 19'6
- 4 x 200m Relay: Jacob Donovan, Dyllan Burns, GrahamStewart, and Jake Caterer 1:39.64
- 4 x 400m Relay: Chris Blackman,Graham Johnson, Mike King, and Dyllan Burns 3:48.8
- 4 x 800m Relay: Liam Cafferty, Nick Hanley, NathanTassey, and Chris MacDonald 9:19.9
- Men's Long Jump Open: Caterer, Jake: 20' 4.5" (Patriot Meet #5 01/22/20)
- Men's Shot Put Open: Poth, Cullen: 39' 11" (Patriot Meet #2 12/20/19)
Boys hockey had a great senior night beating Southeastern, 4-1. Senior R.J. Flynn was outstanding in net earning the win. Panthers goal scorers were Adam Solari, Ed Collins, John Ward and John Hagan. Chris Stoddard had two assists. Kevin Willis and Jack Allen had solid games on defense.
The Whitman Hanson /Silver Lake girls hockey team beat Pembroke 2-0 at Bridgewater Arena to get to 10-8 on the season and qualify for the state tournament, Alyssa Murphy had both goals with assists from Abbey Powers and Emily McDonald. Kat Gilbert got the shutout in net. The next game is Monday 2/17 at 3:00 vs. Bishop Stang at Hetland Arena.
Sports Short Wrap Up 2/3/20 - 2/9/20
There is so much going on with all our athletic teams, but you can catch up on all of it by reading Athletic Director Bob Rodgers' update and watching this weekly round up of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Panthers' athletic teams in action!
Hit subscribe and follow to catch them all!
Contact Us
Email: christopher.jones@whrsd.org
Website: https://www.whrsd.org/our-schools/whrhs
Location: 600 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA, USA
Phone: (781) 618-7020
Twitter: @DrCSJones