TMHS Principal's Newsletter
March 2018
From the Desk of Kristen S. Vogel
Today a senior told me that there are only 22 days until his Senior Project begins! Now some of his joy with only 22 days has to do with the fact that he does not have to come to school to sit in classrooms each and every day this spring! However some of his happiness is from the fact that he gets to pursue an internship or research project that was of his choosing and interest. He gets to do something he is passionate about for 5 weeks! His final five weeks of school will have purpose for him. This is a big reason why we have started this Senior Project option for our students, and 115 seniors will be participating. A sense of purpose is really important as they embark on higher education and/or a career. They are more likely to choose a major or a career that has meaning to them when it feels purposeful. The senior project gives students the opportunity to find purpose in work or research. And at the end of the project they will have to be able to talk about the purpose of their work at an exhibition. In February, I read an article in the Wall Street Journal, called "Why Teens Need a Sense of Purpose". The article presents some interesting research about engagement levels among teenagers and the importance of both parents and schools in fostering a sense of purpose. The research shows that students who have a purpose for what they are doing are more engaged. At TMHS, we are proud of our work at building a sense of purpose for our students before they graduate! This month we recognized 65 senior members of National Honor Soceity and 88 new inductees. All of these students had to participate in individual community service projects and/or participate in chapter community service projects. Also, many of our students participate in community service projects as members of a club or as a member of an athletic team. Giving back to the community or to the school is one way that students develop and foster their sense of purpose. Almost all of our clubs and athletic teams are involved in a community service project. And now with Senior Project we are providing an opportunity for students to fully engage in a purposeful internship or project. Before your student becomes a senior, we encourage you to talk with them about what they are passionate about and plant some seeds for a future senior project!
Here is the link to the full article, "Why Teens Need a Sense of Purpose." https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-teens-need-a-sense-of-purpose-1518264001
Campus Parking Reminder
THANK YOU TMHS PAC!
The TMHS PAC provided an astonishing dessert bar on Friday, March 16, to thank the TMHS faculty and staff for taking amazing care of their children on March 1st! We were so delighted with all of their thoughtfulness and the incredible presentation of desserts bestowed. We grazed all afternoon! Thank you again for making us feel so appreciated.
March Hats Off
NHS Induction Ceremony
On Monday, March 12th, we inducted 88 juniors and seniors into the William DiGregario Chapter of National Honor Society! Congratulations to our 65 seniors and to our newest members!
National Student Walk Out
On Wednesday, March 21st, approximately 500 students participated in the National Student Walkout to show their support of the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Red Rangers at the Garden- Division 1 State Finalist
Congratulations to our Tewksbury/Methuen Girls Red Ranger hockey team for their amazing season! We are so proud of your effort, teamwork and sportsmanship!
Trevor Ayotte and "If We Had Only Known"
On Monday, March 19th, Trevor Ayotte spoke to the entire student body about his battle with substance abuse. Students also saw the documentary "If We Had Only Known" about a Massachusetts student who died from consuming Xanax and alcohol while in college.
SEAL OF BILITERACY
The Seal of Biliteracy is a national movement to recognize high school students who have achieved by the time of graduation proficiency in two or more languages. The MA seal was signed into law on November 22, 2017 and the Language Opportunity Coalition (LOC) is running a pilot, currently in its third year and including more than 70 districts across Massachusetts. Tewksbury Public Schools has joined the districts piloting this program and anticipates awarding graduating seniors with this prestigious seal this year. In order to be recipient students must attain proficiency level in standardized tests such as the AP, AAPPL, STAMP, MCAS, and ACCESS.
robotics team at March competition made it to the quarter finals
World Language Students Visit MFA
During term 3 French IV and Spanish IV students have researched and prepared presentations on famous artists. As a highlight of this art unit we visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
As a culminating activity students will set up their own gallery to share what they have learned with their classmates and the community. Please come see their display at our Culture Fair on April 3rd from 6-8:00pm.
World Language Culture Fair
Due to the snow days, the World Language Culture Fair has been rescheduled to April 3rd from 6-8:00pm. Come see our students display their knowledge and hard work on different cultural topics that they have become an expert in. We will also have a student-curated art gallery and student-let tour of well-known Hispanic and French art. There will even be hands-on activities and prizes for younger attendees.
Junior Prom
On Thursday evening, March 29th, we had our Junior Prom at the Tewksbury Country Club! The kids had a wonderful dinner and danced all night! A big thank you to the following teachers and staff for chaperoning this special event for our juniors: Kelsey Ring, Mary Jo Kelleher, Conner Bourgoin, Jade Scarpa, Heather Ware, Jessica Simpson, Doug Pratt, James Ryser and of course the class advisor, Julie Fabiano!
Below is a picture.
Seeing How It’s Done
On Thursday, March 22nd, Mrs. Gordon’s A block Environmental Science class toured the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region One laboratory in Chelmsford, MA. Students were given an overview of their responsibilities including monitoring air, soil, and water for toxins and pollutants in all of New England. The tour included presentations in several specialized laboratories. Students also had the opportunity to see the fleet of mobile laboratories and a variety of watercraft used in regional bodies of water including the Merrimack River, Boston Harbor, and the New England coastline.
Pictured below from left to right: using fluorescence to measure bacterial contamination, using a cellphone app to report contamination, water quality monitoring instrument for harbor buoy, harbor buoy used offshore.
Planting Partners
Spring is on its way, and the students in Mrs. McGregor Fay’s class and Mrs. Gordon’s C block Environmental Science class are preparing to plant this year’s campus vegetable gardens. The two classes recently joined forces to produce paper pots in which to plant seeds to grow indoors and then transplant outside when the weather is warmer. The pots are easily marked, biodegradable and fun to make! Pictured below are students from both classes working together in pinch pot production sessions.
SENIOR GRADUATION INFORMATION
83rd Commencement Exercises - Friday, June 1 at 6:00pm in TMHS Gymnasium
An email has been sent to all seniors' school email to register for graduation tickets. If you do not receive it, check your spam folder. Tickets will be issued to each senior by Eventbrite (an eTicket service). Each senior will be allotted up to four tickets for guests due to the limited space in the gymnasium. If more tickets are needed, you may request up to four additional tickets via the eTicket service. These tickets are not guaranteed. Any additional tickets may be requested via a waiting list. Please contact Mr. O'Leary, Assistant Principal, (seoleary@tewksbury.k12.ma.us) with any questions regarding tickets.
YEARBOOK UPDATE
The order for the 2018 Yearbooks has been placed with Jostens. We have sold 80% of the yearbooks that are being printed.
If you haven’t reserved a copy, do not wait. Order one at jostensyearbooks.com or bring in a check for $70 made out to TMHS Yearbook to Mrs. Sullivan in A103.
The final pages of the Yearbook will be submitted on March 30th. I would like to thank my yearbook staff for an excellent job on the 2018 Yearbook!
Mrs. Susan Sullivan
Yearbook Advisor
Donors Choose Purchase
Another successful Donors Choose purchase for AP Psychology. A request was made for additional books for the extra credit reading program. Within two weeks, donors had fulfilled the request and the books have now arrived at TMHS. Students are eager to get their hands on this new material. A big THANK YOU to all the donors who helped with this purchase!
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS
Our girl's hockey played in the state championship at the Garden! This is a co op team with Methuen and 16 of the 22 players are TMHS students!
To celebrate them we held a pep rally for them at the end of the day on Friday, March 16th. We all wore our school colors! The girls were so excited that they were recognized and cheered on at a pep rally- it never crossed their minds that we would do such a thing!
Fine and Performing Arts Department News
The Tewksbury Memorial Theater Company competed at the preliminary round of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG )One Act Festival on March 3rd at St. John’s Prep in Danvers. Their production of The Great Nursing Home Escape earned actors Lydia Joyce'18 and Tyler Paulding'20 awards as Featured Actors for the METG All Star Cast. Congratulations Lydia, Tyler, and the entire cast and crew!
UPCOMING FINE & PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS
The Tewksbury Memorial High School Theater Company
Musical Jekyll and Hyde
Tickets are $7 for students and senior citizens and $10 for adults.
Please note the show is PG-13.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
7:00pm
Dr. Christine L. McGrath Performing Arts Center
Friday, April 27, 2018
7:00pm
Dr. Christine L. McGrath Performing Arts Center
Saturday, April 28, 2018
2:00pm & 7:00pm
Dr. Christine L. McGrath Performing Arts Center
The 34th Annual Tewksbury District Art Show
Featuring Art Students K-12
Friday, May 4, 2018
6:30-7:30pm TMHS Band & Chorus Concert
Dr. Christine L. McGrath Performing Arts Center
7-9:00pm Public Showing of Art Exhibit
TMHS Cafeteria
Saturday, May 5, 2018
10:00am-2:00pm Public Showing of Art Exhibit
TMHS Cafeteria
TMHS Marching Band Clinic
All students grades 5-12 are welcome!
Sunday, June 10, 2018
9:00am-3:00pm
TMHS Gymnasium
Calendar of Events
April
3 Culture Fair 6-8:00pm
4 Mr. TMHS
10 Senior Assembly at 12:41pm
13 Half Day
13 Report Cards Issued
13 Senior Dinner Cruise
16-30 No School - April Recess
26 Hats Off 12:15pm TCC
26-28 Drama Musical 7:00pm
27 Admin Chat 7:30am
28 Drama Musical Matinee 2:00pm
30 School Council Meeting
Tewksbury Tribune
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Tewksbury Tribune online school newspaper is back! Go to: www.tewksburytribune.com to read all the school news that's fit to print!
Tewksbury Memorial High School
Email: kvogel@tewksbury.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.tewksbury.k12.ma.us/high/
Location: 320 Pleasant Street, Tewksbury, MA, United States
Phone: (978) 640-7825
Twitter: @tmhstweets