The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
October 17, 2021 - Volume 4 - ISSUE 8
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
October 19 - Picture Retakes
October 23 - Homecoming Dance
October 26 - Fall Concert
October 28 - Delayed Opening
November 4 - Quarter 1 Ends
November 5 - Early Release (Grading Day)
November 5 - Meet the Teacher Scheduling Opens for Parent-Teacher Conference Appointment Scheduling
November 9 – Parent Portal Opens for Quarter 1 Grades
November 9-10 – MCAS Math Retest
November 10 – Early Release – Parent-Teacher Conferences by appointment only 12-2PM & 6-8PM
November 11 – NO SCHOOL – Veteran’s Day
November 16-17 – MCAS ELA Retest
November 18 – Delayed Opening
November 24-26 – NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Day
November 29 - Winter Sports Start
November 4, 2021 is the end of the 1st Quarter!
Don't be caught by surprise. Make sure you reach out to your teachers and counselors if you are struggling or have concerns!
HELLO CLASS OF 2022 - SENIORS!!!
Your time is now!
ALL SENIOR PORTRAIT IMAGES AND BIOS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30TH.
The following information is intended to provide answers to any potential questions regarding yearbook. If any more information is necessary please feel free to email us anytime.
- First, if you had/have your portrait taken through Prestige you will need to select one image as your "yearbook pose" from the session as soon as you can access them. Information on how to do so has been included on the appointment cards sent home. Photo packages can be accessed via the Prestige website (https://shop.prestigeportraits.com/shop/home.html)
- Second, Images taken by private photographers should fit the following requirements. Vertical shot, preferably head and shoulders, ¾ view, inside or outside. The image must be at least 300PPI and a minimum of 2” by 3” to meet the resolution required for printing. Portraits should be submitted via the private upload link found on the information page of the yearbook website. (www.whpanthers.wix.com/yearbook) This is the preferred method as it filters directly into our editing software. If need be, there are alternative processes.
SENIOR BIO FORM - https://forms.gle/eRkW8wkFmoxCZvk79
Along with the links to the photo submission the yearbook website also has links to create personalized recognition ads for your parents. The sizes range from ¼ to full page ads, prices vary by size. They can be completed and paid for entirely online. It is also possible to have the ads put together offline, please contact us if that is the best option for you. All proceeds go towards keeping the cost of the book lower for our students and support for our yearbook staff.
If you have any questions or concerns, let contact Mr. Casey or Mrs. Maher.
Thank you for your contributions!
Taste Test!
On Monday October 25th, we will be hosting a taste test with COCOVIBE during all lunches!
COCOVIBE is an organic electrolyte drink. It comes in 5 flavors: Plain coconut water, or coconut water with either apple, passion fruit, pineapple, raspberry, and watermelon. We hope you stop by for some samples and let us know what you think.
To learn more about COCOVIBE, please visit their website!
Dr. Christopher Jones
Be Persistent; Be Like The Ocean
We have goals that we want to achieve in life. We don't always call them that, but no matter how we label them there are things we want to achieve.
We all have obstacles that that get in our way. Some are small, but some are so large they make us think they can't be overcome. So we start to slip and let go of where we want to be because progress is slow. We miss the connection between the small steps and the larger outcome.
That's where persistence comes in to play. Taking small steps, showing up day after day eventually wears down the obstacles to our success. That's when it happens quickly. All the steps suddenly add up and allow us to push forward and reach our goal. Often, those who don't see the commitment call this lucky because they don't understand the compounded effort of consistency. They just see the breakthrough. Chase that breakthrough by taking the steps along the way. Every. Single. Day.
I explain more in the video below. I would love to hear your thoughts. If you found any value in this video share it and hit subscribe to get each one as they come out.
Our Story...
Not everyone outside the walls of our awesome school get to see the fantastic things going on each day. This short video is meant to showcase some of the great things occurring at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School during the week!
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
School Counseling - Mrs. Ruth Carrigan
College Essay Project - We are excited to welcome college admissions representatives from UMass Boston, Rhode Island College, Stonehill College, Sacred Heart University, Massasoit Community College, and Boston College for the culminating activity of our College Essay Project. Earlier in the year, students crafted their essays with English teachers and then shared their essays with our college admissions partners. Over the coming week, our college partners will visit classes to share feedback and suggestions prior to early action application deadlines.
Common App Help - Seniors, do you need help getting your Common App started or completed? “Common App Wednesdays” will run through the end of October. Come on down to the School Counseling Office during an academic seminar for assistance. If you need help at another time, please reach out to your school counselor to set up a Common App Help session. During the week of October 25th, we will expand the schedule to offer Common App Help all day on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Attention AP Students/Parents - October 29th Deadline - AP Exam Registration/Payment forms have been shared with students taking AP classes. Forms and payment (either full payment or minimum $40 deposit per exam) are due on October 29, 2021. All checks should be made payable to WHRHS. If you need a copy of the form, follow this link . Students may also pick up a copy of the form in the school counseling office.
Getting Ready for College - Early College Planning - Our annual Getting Ready for College - Early College Planning workshop will be held virtually from 6:30 - 8:00 PM on Thursday, December 9th. This program is geared toward grade 9 and 10 students and parents and will cover Mass State College/University Admissions Standards, making the most of the high school experience, choosing classes to enhance the college application, Naviance Family Connection for college and career planning, and college admissions and services for students with disabilities. To sign up, please follow this link.
Panther Pathways Visits - WHRHS is hosting a series of in-person visits this fall to help students with post-secondary planning. All visits will be held in the School Counseling Office at 1:45 pm on the days indicated. If your student would like to sign up, please follow the links below:
10/18/2021 at 1:45 PM St. Anselm College
10/19/2021 at 1:45 PM Bryant University
10/20/2021 at 1:45 PM Merrimack College
10/25/2021 at 1:45 PM Western New England University
10/26/2021 at 1:45 PM Suffolk University
10/27/2021 at 1:45 PM Bentley University
10/28/2021 at 1:45 PM Wheaton College
11/02/2021 at 1:45 PM University of Maine
11/03/2021 at 1:45pm Plymouth State University
11/04/2021 at 1:45 PM Curry College
11/09/2021 at 1:45 PM Navy
11/17/2021 at 1:45pm Massachusetts Maritime Academy
11/18/2021 at 1:45 PM Lesley University
If you have any questions, please reach out for assistance.
School Counselors:
Mr. Amado
Ms. Rivera (Administrative Assistant)
School Adjustment Counselors:
Mrs. Siden
Ms. Dalton
Science - Mr. Mark Stephansky
Modeling DNA
Students in Mr. Stephansky’s AP Biology class modeled a molecule of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), as they studied the structure and function of the major biological macromolecules. As the model is assembled from individual nucleotides, the famous double helix structure emerges.
Does Leaf Litter Constitute an Ecosystem?
Students in Mr. Stephansky’s Environmental Science class collected leaf litter from the school grounds and brought it into the classroom in order to see what types of organisms can be found within the biomass. Below, Logan Earl and Riley Conway gather their cup of leaf litter.
English - Mrs. Amy Floeck
Upcoming Events:
Any student interested in the Voice of Democracy competition, the deadline is quickly approaching. Please make sure to submit your application and materials directly to the VFW Post 697 in Whitman. This year’s topic is “America: Where do we go from here?” Req 175 - 2021-22 VOD Entry Form Final
The Poetry Out Loud National Educational Arts competition date is still being finalized, but interested students should use the following link to learn more: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/
Whitman-Hanson English Honor Society: Applications for junior and senior students are available in room 350. Please see Mrs. Diogenes with any questions.
In the ELA Classrooms:
As we are now midway through the month of October, our freshman and sophomore students have completed IXL benchmark testing and are coming to a close with their short story units. Whether preparing for final tests or collaborating on writing, students have been working diligently to demonstrate their knowledge.
Public Speaking
Fall 2021 – Nurse’s Corner
Welcome back to school! We are excited to be back to full in-person learning and happy to see all our students back in the building every day.
However, there is still an indoor mask mandate in place for our district even if one is vaccinated. The Delta variant of Covid is active and so we must still take precautions. It is very important NOT to send your child to school sick! This is a good standard in general but especially living in the times of Covid! It remains more important than ever to adhere to the CDC guidelines of: wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, and maintaining social distancing in order to have success.
Here is a useful tool that will help you in deciding whether to send your child to school: the Covid 19 Signs and Symptoms Check List. Please keep your child home if he/she is exhibiting any of the symptoms on the list and if you have any questions -call the school nurse for further assistance. Please be advised that the school nurses must follow the Mass. Department of Public Health Mandates in deciding if your child must go home if he/she is ill during the school day. Please be advised that if it is necessary for your child to be quarantined as a close contact to a positive case that the school MUST adhere to the protocols as defined by the Mass. Department of Public Health.
Also, if your child is an athlete and happens to test positive for Covid you must submit a written doctor’s note clearing your child to return to play sports. This is per the MIAA and there will not be any exceptions to this protocol. The school and the school nurses do not have any leeway in state Covid protocols and we are obligated to enforce them.
Please send in to the school nurse any documentation if your child has been vaccinated for Covid-19. There is further information available on Covid19 on our website.
Meningococcal Vaccine Requirement
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is requiring a second dose of the Meningococcal vaccination for all students in the 11th grade. Please send in your child’s documentation of the vaccine into the clinic as soon as possible.
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 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!
Ms. Margaret Baker RN, NCSN
Clinic phone: 781-618-7452
Clinic fax 781-618-7409
Athletics - Mr. Bob Rodgers
Post Season is Coming!
These are exciting times at Whitman Hanson with many of our teams poised to make the post season. While the old 50 percent standard will still earn teams automatic qualification to the state tournament there is also a power ranking system which could allow some other teams to qualify. The MIAA is releasing the rankings once per week on their website but the Boston Globe is updating them daily. You can find each sport here - https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/?p1=BGMenu_Sections
Also, we hope to see alumni at the football game Friday as we celebrate homecoming with the Panthers taking on Plymouth North. At halftime we will hold our Parade of Champions where we honor all of the championship teams from 2020 (due to the pandemic they never had their parade) and 2021. In addition many clubs and activities will be on hand to hold fundraisers and showcase their offerings.
Now to our weekly update….
The volleyball team clinched a spot in the tournament with an impressive win over Hingham, 3-1 (25-14, 18-25, 25-22, 25-14) Senior Captain Lily Welch dominated on the court with 17 kills and 8 total blocks. Fellow Senior Captain Abby Martin notched 8 kills against the Harbormen while Senior Riley Scott secured the back of the court with 12 digs. The Panthers are now 8-5 in the league and 9-5 overall; they are back in action on Monday when they play Silver Lake. The team’s next goal is to earn a home game in the tournament and to do that they need to finish in the top 16.
The Football team lost to Patriot League opponent Marshfield 41-13 but that score does not indicate how close this game was for much of the night. The Panther defense played tough and physical, causing three turnovers helping WH hold a 13-6 lead late in the first half. Senior Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder had a strip sack and fumble recovery in the first half, while senior Bobby Hunter forced another fumble in the second half. Junior Sam Pace added an interception. Offensively, the Panthers ground attack combined to rush for 129 yards, with senior Jake Guiliani leading the way; seniors Andrew Cloutman and Josh Googins and juniors Cam Burrows and Will Frazier also had success on the ground. Burrows and Cloutman each added a touchdown pass for the Panthers, with Hunter and junior Matt Phelps each catching one for a score.
The Panther Cross Country Boys and Girls teams traveled to the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth Saturday night to run under the lights in the (Large Schools) McIntyre Twilight Meet. Adriana Kelly and McKenna McCarthy got things started with outstanding finishes in the Girls Freshman 2.1 Mile race. Adriana placed 13th overall in a field of 184 in a time of 13:38 while McKenna placed 25th in 14:12. In the Boys Sophomore 5K race in which 268 athletes competed, the team of Logan Bourgelas (32nd, 18:19), Alex Kehayias (42nd, 18:54), Gavin McCarthy (53rd, 19:11), Ryan Crowley (57th, 19:15) and Shane Johnson (63rd, 19:22) combined to place 9th overall among the 29 teams entered. Senior Captain Nathan Tassey ran a 5K Personal Record of 16:39 in the Boys Varsity race placing 27th in a field of 365 runners. Senior Captain Gordon Johnson (123rd, 17:53) also had a great outing for the Panthers. The Girls Varsity 5K race was the final event of the evening and Whitman-Hanson was again led by Senior Captain Myah Kamperides who placed 48th of 287 athletes in a season best 20:22.
The Panther golf squad lost their final match of the season at home vs the Pembroke Titans, 230-245 to end the season at 4-12 overall. Despite the loss, it was the team’s best overall score at home, led by senior captain Pat McBroom, who will continue his season Tuesday in the D1 South Sectional Qualifying round at Acushnet Valley, shooting a 3 over par, 37 Freshman Cooper Britton also had his best performance of the year, carding a 4 over par, 38. And sophomore Blake Belcher continues to show his improvement and capabilities with a 7 over par, 41. It was the last time that five of the six seniors would get to represent the black and red colors, including Jack Carron, who joined the team this year, but had a major impact on the program as a whole. Cam Murray, a four year player, has come a long way since his freshman year in more ways than just his golfing abilities, along with captains Drew Sullivan (3 year player), Matt Casarano and Chris Ross (both 4 year players). Lastly, it was senior manager Jack Dunn’s last match day with the team as well. Joining the team as a freshman, Jack has done so much over the past 4 years with the program. He has been the support for so many players, taken candid pictures and videos of the team, and even earned a spot in a match this past year. He represents everything it means to be a Panther and the coaches and program as a whole will surely miss having him around next year. Congrats to the entire team, especially the seniors, on a great season. The team may not have many wins in the standings, but there sure have been a lot of moral victories on a team of hardworking, resilient, and respectful individuals.
The Whitman-Hanson Field Hockey Panthers played at home against the Hingham Harborwomen and lost 5-1. The story of the game was penalty corners. Hingham scored 4 out of their 5 goals off of penalty corners. They one open field goal in the third. The Panthers played good defense in the open field. The Panthers were able to get on the board with a penalty corner goal of their late in the fourth. Senior Midfielder Joli Flamos scored by lifting the ball high from the top of the arc. The team still has a good shot at the post season due to their difficult schedule and how that affects the power rankings.
The highlight of the week for boys soccer was a 2-2 tie at Plymouth North. The hosts (8-2-3 overall) tied the score off a corner kick with 2 minutes 5 seconds left in the match. W-H (1-7-4 overall) goals were scored by Ethan Fostello and Manny Osorio while Jayden Stafford assisted once. This was a great game for the Panthers who are only two spots out of a playoff spot.
While the girls soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Hingham Thursday, 2-1 to end any hope of a league title, earlier in the week the girls made a loud statement by avenging an earlier season loss by beating Plymouth North, 3-1. Olivia Borgen scored all 3 goals in the win. The defense of Megan Bizier, Makenna Marshall, Emily Leitch and Skylar Jordan was outstanding in front of keeper Ava Patete who made 5 saves for the win. Ava Melia, Nora Manning, Kayla Cassidy and Lauryn Fostello all had strong performances.
Our cheerleading team wowed the crowd Friday with a terrific halftime performance at the football game. This was only a sneak preview though for the competition season which opens Saturday at Duxbury. The video of Friday’s performance can be found on our Twitter @whathletics.
Sports Short Round Up 10/12/21 - 10/17/21
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCSJones
Twitter: @DrCSJones