The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
April 28, 2019 - Volume 1 - ISSUE 29
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
May 6-17 - AP Exams
May 14-16 - Art in Bloom
May 20-23 - Senior Finals
May 21-23 - Early Release for Seniors Only
May 23 - Senior Prom at Venezia, Dorchester
May 27 - No School – Memorial Day
May 28 - Senior Banquet
May 29 - Scholarship Night
May 30 - Community Evening School Graduation 6:00PM in Performing Arts Center
May 31 - WHRHS Graduation 6:00PM in Gymnasium
Rolling Celtics Visit Whitman-Hanson!
From Whitman-Hanson Athletic Director Coach Rodgers...
We are excited to be bringing a very special opportunity to the Whitman-Hanson community. WH Athletics has partnered with Independence Associates to bring the Rolling Celtics to our school on Friday May 3rd at 6:30pm. This organization plays wheelchair basketball and these athletes are very impressive.
The real benefit of this program is to give our students an opportunity to gain a sense of empathy for those living with disabilities. Our students will be impressed with the courage and determination of these athletes. The program includes a demonstration of how wheelchair basketball is played and everyone in attendance will be offered the chance to participate. The coach of the team will teach our students and other adults how the game is played.
Admission is free but donations will be accepted.
We all hope to see you there!
Learn more about Independence Associates in the video below.
First Smack Down a Success!
AND THE WINNER OF THE WHRHS SMACKDOWN 2019 is
“Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds
A Newbery Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Honor Book
A Printz Honor Book
A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner for Young Adult Literature
Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
Winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award
An Edgar Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fiction
Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner
An Entertainment Weekly Best YA Book of 2017
A Vulture Best YA Book of 2017
A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of 2017
Thanks to all that helped make our first annual Smack Down a fun time for all
- All of the students and staff that read and recommended a book!
- Mrs. Floeck and the ELA team!
- The Selection Committee!
- Mr. Casey and his broadcast class!
Special thanks to the book defenders!
Damara Brandao
Noelle Cataldo
Keryn Cordo
Sean Coughlin
Sean Dolan
Antonio Gervasio
Kyle Gervasio
Jacob Hill
Olivia Johnson
Becca LaValle
Abigail Pulling
Catlin Veneto
Happy Reading!
WHRHS LIBRARY
Defenders are ready to go!
The line to sign in was long!
Standing room only!
Superintendent Szymaniak Addresses Questions and Clarifies the Regional Budget Process
Mr. Szymaniak takes this opportunity to mention and begin to explain some of these items in the video below. Take the time to view this video. It's important to understand how your students' education is funded.
Summer Academy at Bridgewater State University!
The Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE) at Bridgewater State University is excited to announce that registration for the Summer Science Academy for Students Entering Grades 4-12 is now open!
The Summer Science Academy offers one-week science classes for students entering grades 4-12 in the fall of 2019. This unique program allows students to work as scientists and is designed to inspire students about science while providing them with the foundations necessary for further scientific exploration.
Attention Parents of the Class of 2019 Graduates!
PET has partnered with Flowers Forever in Whitman to offer Graduation Flower Bouquets for only $20! CLICK HERE to order online at our website
Order online by May 18th and your bouquet will be ready for you to pick up at the door entering the Graduation Ceremony on May 31st. All proceeds go directly to Panther Ed Trust to fund future enrichment programs!
Be Part of the Solution!
If you would you like to get involved with PET, join us at an upcoming meeting:
May 6th and June 3rd at 7:00pm in the High School Library
Thank you for your support!
Follow us on Twitter @PantherEdTrust
Like us on Facebook Panther Ed Trust
Dr. Christopher Jones
That's the Stuff!
This week's message is about taking time to identify, enjoy, and then repeat those times that really help us rejuvenate.
Think about it. How often do we take the time to appreciate what we have and who we are with? An important part of staying sharp so that we can continuously improve is practicing the act of slowing down, focusing, and appreciating the smaller, more personal and important aspects of our life.
We have to be present for all the times that make the harder times possible if we are to reach our full potential.
Take this challenge: What's your stuff and how often do you connect with it? Take not of it so that you can remember that feeling and get back to the place that gave it to you. I talk more about this in the video below. Check it out...
Our Story...
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
Counseling - Mrs. Ruth Carrigan
ASVAB- ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) testing will be offered at Whitman-Hanson on Tuesday, May 14th from 1:45 – 4:30 PM. Students in grades 10 - 12 interested in exploring opportunities in the military are encouraged to check in with Mr. Amado to find out more and to sign up for the test. He can be reached at Domingo.Amado@whrsd.org.
Service Academy Night – Any students interested in attending one of our nation’s service academies are invited to a Service Academy Night on May 3rd at Mass Maritime Academy from 6 – 8 PM. The program will be held in the dining hall. Attendees will learn about the Congressional nomination process, gain insights into the type of candidates sought by the academies, and have a chance to ask questions of service academy graduates. Representatives from all of the major service academies, Mass Maritime Academy, and Norwich University will be in attendance. If you plan on attending the information session, please register by calling Congressman Keating’s Plymouth District Office at 508-746-9000 or email Michael.Jackman@mail.house.gov
If you have questions regarding any of the programs mentioned, please feel free to check in with your child’s school counselor. They are assigned by student's last names:
A-B Mrs. Carrigan
C-F Mrs. Garrett
G-L Mrs. Selig
M-P Mrs. Cunha (Covering for Mrs. Bianco)
Q-Z Mr. Amado
Administrative Assistant Mrs. Getchell
Marine Biology Club - Ms. Courtney Jones
Spring Whale Watch Trip!
The Marine Biology Club is hosting a whale watch on Sunday May 5th, from Plymouth Harbor (Captain John’s). Attendance at this event is not mandated by Whitman Hanson Regional High School and Whitman- Hanson will not be providing transportation or chaperones. Students wishing to attend should sign up with Ms. Jones in room 300. Final payment is due 5/3 so we can provide a head count to the boat operators. Tickets are $21 per person (children under 3 are free) and students are encouraged to bring friends and family members.
Students are required to organize their own transportation to and from the Captain John’s dock in Plymouth (near the rotary by East Bay Grille). The trip runs from approximately 12-4PM, so students should plan to arrive by 11:30AM to obtain their tickets and find a seat on the boat. If you are planning to park, please arrive by 11-11:15 as long term, public parking (over 2 hours) is about a 5-10 minute walk away from the dock.
Please note: this event is not school sponsored; however Ms. Courtney Jones from the science department will be in attendance. Please follow Ms. Jones on Instagram @cvj75 or on Twitter @marinebiorules for updates the day of the trip. If the trip is cancelled due to bad weather, please check those pages for updated information.
There are amenities available on the whale watch boat including: restrooms, a snack bar and a small shop to purchase souvenirs. Those in attendance should plan to bring food/beverages or cash for food and/or souvenirs, hat and sunglasses, warm clothes (it can be 10-15 degrees cooler on the water than on land), sunblock and a camera with extra batteries.
Whitman-Hanson Goes to Ireland, England, and Wales!
While most students scattered for April break last week and left the school behind them, a group of 77 students stayed with their teachers and embarked on a nine-day adventure. This group boarded a plane and headed for Europe, where they spent time touring Ireland, Wales, and England.
Why did they do this? The whole purpose of international travel at Whitman-Hanson is to support and enhance the academic experience of students. Even the most provincial of souls recognizes that traveling changes everything – your understanding of history and your place in the world somehow seem different. Additionally, travel inevitably leads to a richer, fuller life, one with a more global outlook. How else will you truly understand the multiple perspectives of the world without travel? How else will you attain the skills and empathy of a global citizen without immersing yourself in foreign cultures across the globe? How can you be a productive citizen of the United States without understanding the world at large?
It’s probably best if we hear directly from a few students who were on the trip…
1) My favorite parts were getting to explore the major cities like London and Dublin, and seeing historical places for the first time in person after we spent time learning about them in school (Book of Kells from freshman year in World Civ, art, castles and landmarks from AP Euro, Shakespeare from all of my English classes, the British uniforms we discussed in APUSH, etc.). I wanted to go on this trip because after falling in love with Costa Rica on last year’s trip, I knew I had to seize as many opportunities to travel as I could. Additionally, with great grandparents that came directly to America from Ireland, I viewed this trip as a chance to explore my heritage and see where my roots lie. Overall, this trip was something that can never be replicated and that I’ll remember for a lifetime. There is something so special about traveling with a group of kids that have grown up alongside you and with the teachers that have shaped you into who you are today. On top of that, I found myself becoming close friends with schoolmates I had never talked to before and gaining a new respect for teachers I never had in the classroom. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
2) I decided to go because these trips are great opportunities to visit countries or places I may never go to (and/or do things I’d never do in those places) with the students and teachers I love to spend time with. It was an overall fantastic trip!! I had an amazing time seeing all the beautiful sights of England, Ireland and Wales and experiencing the culture of each and every place. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to go as I enjoyed spending time with some of my favorite friends and teachers while making new friends as well!
3) My favorite part of the trip was definitely spending time in rural Ireland, seeing landscapes that I had only ever seen in photos. It was truly such an amazing experience to be able to witness the mountains, wildlife and overall picturesque countryside with my own eyes, because a camera can’t begin to capture how amazing it is. I decided to go this year because of how amazing the trip to Costa Rica was. While this trip was different in many ways, it was totally worth it. I loved the new food, customs, phrases and accents we learned! I always love getting to become close to the students and teachers that we spend a whole week with. It was truly a once in a lifetime trip!!
Check out a short video with a few pictures below...
Sports and Entertainment Marketing - Mr. Brian Maiorino
On Tuesday, Mr. Maiorino’s Sports & Entertainment Marketing classes attended the Franklin Park Zoo to learn how a non-profit business in the family entertainment industry goes about marketing. The students heard from two members of the Zoo New England staff, one from the marketing department and another from the education department.
Students learned about the zoo’s target markets (families with children and 21+ young adults) and how they go about attracting and retaining those customers. Examples of print advertising, digital advertising and cross promotions/partnerships were shared and discussed. In class, students have been learning about all of these concepts, but now they were able to see them come to life with a real business - one many students admitted they had already been customers of by previously visiting the zoo at some point.
Finally, students learned from the education representative about the variety of animals at the zoo, costs to maintain the zoo and support the animals, and how this plays a part in marketing by informing the public about issues such as endangered species and the effects pollution has on animal environments. Students ended the day with free time to explore the animal exhibits before heading back to school where the day of events was debriefed and discussed further.
Nurse - Mrs. Margaret Baker
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. Vision and hearing screenings are currently in progress!
Flu Information
Flu season is waning but still active! Please Note: There were approximately 80,000 deaths during the 2017-2018 flu season- it is not too late to receive your flu shot for yourself and /or your family! The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. Please contact your child’s physician to schedule a flu shot. Many pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, and Duval’s offer flu shots. The vaccine is free with a copy of your child’s insurance card. Remember- the flu can be deadly!
We all love the coming of spring! However, spring allergies soon appear with increased pollen counts and the blooming of leaves and plants. How can you tell the difference between a common cold and seasonal allergies? Here is a very helpful article to reference which will help you decide: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/10/cold-flu-or-allergy
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 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
Earlier this year, we were disappointed when volleyball coach Ashley Balbian resigned due to the demands of her classroom teaching. It is impressive to see a professional like Ashley put the best interests of her students ahead of her own passion for volleyball. She is an incredible teacher and we are so lucky to have her here at Whitman-Hanson.
The good news for our volleyball players is we have an excellent replacement. The Whitman-Hanson athletic department announced Friday the hiring of Samantha Richner as the schools new varsity girls volleyball coach. Richner, who is a 2013 Whitman-Hanson graduate, is currently a 3 sport coach at the school (cross country, winter track and spring track) and also is on the Whitman Middle School staff. During her time at as a student at Whitman-Hanson she excelled at both volleyball and track.
“I have great memories of watching Sam compete here at Whitman-Hanson and couldn’t be happier to bring her on staff. She is a great role model for our girls and I am confident they will enjoy playing for her,” Whitman-Hanson Athletic Director Bob Rodgers said. “When I first heard several years ago Sam was pursuing a career in education my first thought was I hope someday we can get her to coach with us.”
After graduating from Whitman-Hanson Richner went on to Bridgewater State University where she studied education while playing both volleyball and track. She was captain of track and was a 3 time NCAA qualifier and earned All-American honors. She was also named the 2016/2017 female athlete of the year at Bridgewater State.
“I went here and understand how special the opportunity it is to play for Whitman-Hanson,” Richner told the team in an introductory meeting on Thursday. “I love the game of volleyball and I hope to help each of you have the same kind of experience I did.”
Whitman-Hanson volleyball competes during the fall season in the Keenan Division of the Patriot League.
In action this week, the baseball team remained perfect behind the strong right arms of seniors Rian Schwede and Ethan Phelps. Schwede won his third game in as many decisions beating Plymouth North, 6-1 on Tuesday (PN’s run was un earned). On Thursday, Phelps went 6 plus as the Panthers beat Hanover, 7-2 to improve to 6 and 0. The big hitter for the W-H was Mike Cook, who broke open a 1-0 game in the top of the fourth with a bases-loaded double to make the score 4-0. In the seventh Schwede led off with a double of his own and catcher Derek Frank walked before Cook roped his second double of the day to knock in to more W-H runs. Chris Zalewski knocked in Cook to close out the Panther scoring.
The softball team picked up its first win of the season outlasting Plymouth North, 7-6. After trailing 4-1 in the fourth they came back to win 7-6. Erin Burke pitched a complete game giving up 7 hits with two strikeouts. Whitman-Hanson Panthers collected 12 hits with Sophia Molinari, Reese Codero, Annie Cook, Victoria Ryan, and Kaylee Corbett all managing multiple hits.
In Girls track, The hurdles relay team of Ally Bartlett, Dorothy DiMascio-Donahue, April Keyes and Samantha Perkins took 5th place at Saturday’s D2 Relays. Outstanding performances from Olivia Borgen, Nora Manning, Rylee Hurley and Isabelle Amado also contributed to a great day
In the boys track Relays, Zachary Standish did very well in Javelin. Cullen Poth did well in Discus . Nic Fernandes did well in Long Jump. Our Triple Jump team finished in 8th but Matt Bunszell Scott Mateus and Dan Kline all jumped their season best.
The girls tennis team defeated Hanover Thursday 5-0. At 1st singles Lexi Connolly didn't drop a game and won 6-0,6-0, at 2nd singles Abby Pulling won 6-1,6-3 and at 3rd singles sophomore Julia Benviewon 6-4,6-2. The first doubles team of Chloe Wilson and Divya Kumar won 6-1,6-1 and at 2nd doubles Nandita Kumar and Kyla Faghan won 6-3,7-6(7-5). The Lady Panthers are 4-3.
The boys tennis team is in a bit of a rebuilding mode this year. They lost both of their matches this week.
The girls lacrosse team split a pair this week. The highlight was the 16-5 win over North Quincy. N. Quincy scored first and then WH went on 9 goal run. At half time it was 10-4. In the second half the Panther's only let in one goal and kept scoring. The defense held strong stopping some strong drives toward goal - anchored by Gabrielle Trongone, Chloe O'Neil, Marissa Connell and Joli Flamos. Brooke Beauregard and Ava Barry played well splitting time in goal. On the offense there was a strong showing with a record high 9 goal scorers - Zoe Lydon 3G 3A, Sami Whitman 4G 1A, Taylor Ross 3G,Brooke Connors 2G 1A, Riley Bina 1G 2A, Katie Mulligan 1G, Savannah Poirier 1G, Emily Berthiaume 1G, and Gabrielle Trongone 2A. WH is now 4 and 4 on the season and 2 and 4 in the Patriot League.
Boys Lacrosse won both of their games this week to even their record at 5-5. The Panthers took it to the Hull Pirates with an 18-8 win Wednesday. The athletically gifted Ryan Downing (5g, 2a) led the charge with an explosive 5 goals and 2 assists. Sean Joanis (2g, 4a) also had a big game for the Panther offense as he put up 6 points on the day. Mason Gorman (3g, 2a) and Shane Ross (3g, 1a) were solid contributors at both ends of the field. The middie duo combined for 9 total points and 6 goals between them. Will Polito (2g, 2a) and Griffin Nickerson did a great job at the face-off ‘X’ for WH which helped the Panthers control the possession game for the day. Senior attackman, Riley White (2g, 1a) and sophomore Kyle Hamilton (1g) were solid on the front end all game with patience and precision for the offense. Senior goaltender Mario Troiani anchored the back end with senior captain Ryan Trongone as the WH defense held a potent Hull offense to only 8 goals. WH boys lacrosse will travel to Plymouth North for a Patriot League duel tomorrow (Monday 4/29).
One final note, all user fees are expected to be current as of Wednesday. Parents and students can see their balance by logging into Infinite Campus and clicking on fees. Any student with an outstanding balance will be not be allowed to participate until the payment is made or an acceptable payment plan is arranged with Coach Rodgers or Mrs. Horton in the main office.
Sports Short Wrap Up!
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