SHS Warrior Call
Respect: Earn It, Give It, Live It!
Welcome!
ISSUE 4 - January 29, 2016
Welcome to the Seekonk High School Newsletter! It is designed to keep everyone (parents, students, staff, and community members) informed of the many events that are happening around the school. It contains links, pictures, and videos so that you have a more interactive experience and the ability to learn more (if you wish) about various topics.
As always, we welcome feedback! Let us know what you think by contacting us and sharing our news!
SHS Core Values
Seekonk High School is committed to creating a safe, supportive environment where our students can develop the skills necessary to become independent thinkers and problem solvers capable of addressing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The staff, students, family, and community members will collaborate to create an atmosphere of compassion, appreciation of diversity, and mutual respect. We will provide stimulating academic and extracurricular programs that are relevant and engaging so we can meet the needs of all learners.
PHN Peer Tutoring will be every Thursday from 2-2:30 in the library. Please sign up in guidance for the subject you wish to cover.
Athletic Registration for the 2016 Spring Sports Season begins on Monday, 2/1/16 and ends on Sunday, 3/13/16. Physicals scheduled through the School's Nurse, will be on Monday, 2/14/16. It is extremely important that if an athlete suspects that their Sports Physical Exam is going to expire "prior to" or "during" the Spring Sports Season, they should contact Mrs. Rok, to schedule a Sports Physical Exam on that day.
On the Spot Admissions for Bristol Community College will be at Seekonk High on Thursday, Feb. 4th. This opportunity is fee to seniors but you must sign up ahead of time.
The Winter Ball will be held on Saturday, February 6th, at the Venus de Milo from 6:30pm to 10pm.
Opportunities Fair
Graduating Seniors are invited to attend this program facilitated by the School to Career Partnership on February 25th. The Opportunities Fair is designed to allow graduating seniors who are not planning to attend a four year college to explore the options available for military, vocational training programs, volunteer opportunities, or entering the workforce. Students interested in attending may see their guidance counselor or Ms. Louro. Transportation to and from the event will be provided by the school.
Some of the participating organizations are: Electric Boat, Bay State College, Lincoln Tech Institute, MTTI, New England Institute of Technology, IBEW 223 Local 51 Plumbers, Pipefitters, Refridg., Mohawk Rubber, National Guard, U.S. Army, Bristol Community College, Community College of Rhode Island, Massasoit Community College, Navy, and Kaiser University.
Notary Services are available for residency documents at every school in the district. If you are submitting residency paperwork, just bring it to the school and we will notarize it for you when it is submitted!
For Future Planning:
Thursday, May 5 - Honor Societies - Induction Ceremonies @ 6:30 PM
Saturday, May 14 – Prom at the Viking Hotel in Newport from 6:30-10:30 PM
Friday, May 27-Saturday, May 28 – Senior Trip to Six Flags and Lake George
Wednesday, June 1 - Senior Class Night @ 7 PM
Friday, June 3 - Graduation @ 6:30 PM
Students Present technology to the school committee!
Moving Forward with Results
I wanted to highlight the beginning of the second semester reminding everyone, sudents and parents alike, that this is a great opportunity to wipe the slate clean and begin anew. Report cards will be going out next week. I hope everyone has had a good first semester and is ready to improve during the second. I have included my report card letter for you to read ahead of time.
I have also written a post about Three Ideas for a Successful Mindset on my blog. The message is simple: set some new goals and do what it takes to reach them. Have a great week!
Please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone (508-336-7272 ext. 124) if you have any questions. I also post information on my blog and tweet (@DrCSJones) as often as possible. Please feel free to follow both for tips and updates.
The school report card has been published
MCAS scores and what they mean for the high school have been published. Please be sure to read this cover letter and the overview of the school's report card. Much more detailed information may be found at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website.
Guidance News - Mrs. Whatley
On the Spot Admissions!
An admission counselor from Bristol Community College will be at Seekonk High on Thursday, Feb. 4 for an On the Spot Admissions day. This opportunity is fee to seniors but you must sign up ahead of time. Interested students should see their guidance counselor for details.
Who We Are - Getting to Know Our Staff
Various staff members are being asked to share 5 things about themselves in an effort to let everyone know about who makes up Seekonk High School's community. This week is:
Mrs. Jennifer Borden
When I tell the students I have been in their spot, I really have! I graduated from this very high school 20-something years ago. When I did, I swore I would never return. After almost a decade in working for big corporations, I realized I wasn’t making the difference that I wanted to, so I took a long term sub position here. I figured out this was where I was supposed to be, went back to school, and filled the position when it became open. Sometimes things are just meant to be!
I am trying to learn something new all the time. I have taken classes in calligraphy, water colors, knitting, quilting, you name it! Right now I am trying to teach myself Italian. My grandparents spoke it and I want to be able to pass it along to the next generations.
My motivation in life came from one statement by a classmate when I was in high school. He told me I was too smart for anyone to date me. That is when I decided it didn’t matter what others thought about me. How I feel about myself is all that matters.
I am really just a big kid. Some of my students describe me as “adultish”. My diet is more like that of a kid than an adult. I really love sweets. I think it helps me connect to my students and I like being able to relate to them.
I really like Star Wars A LOT! I have seen all the movies more times than I can count and my daughter was Princess Leia for Halloween. When the new movie came out, I went multiple times with different people so nobody knew how many times I had already seen it. Even my Christmas sweater is Star Wars!
Warrior Cries!
Mr. Joel Cordeiro...our health teacher. "He absolutely went above and beyond for my son during midterms." - Anonymous Parent
Mrs. Ashley McVeigh...for filling in as the English teacher for the OnTrack program while Mrs. Mirza is on maternity leave. Mrs. McVeigh has gone above and beyond the expectations of a substitute teacher. She has collaborated with staff, connected with parents, and adapted lesson plans to suit the needs of her students. Mrs. McVeigh's level of care and concern as a teacher in a temporary position speaks volumes about her exemplary professionalism. SHS is lucky to have her! - Mrs. Janet Fitzgerald
Mrs. Mary Walek (formerly Mary Butler)...for her outstanding work with our students here at Seekonk High School. She always goes above and beyond for our students and she has made a fantastic addition to the Seekonk High Faculty. Thank You! - Ms. Kayla Nastari and Mr. Ben Gibbons
Angela Cunard...for really stepping up to the plate and heading down to New Orleans to teach a biotech class (Saturday session) after being invited to teach the class by the AP Board. It is a real honor to be chosen by the board to actually teach a class and it must show through because of the passion she exhibits about the topic of biotech. - Mr. Dave Bonneau
Bianca Pearson-Jones...SHS's newest art teacher, for quickly becoming an invaluable fashion inspiration and listening ear for many of our students. - Mrs. Suzanne Larson
Mrs. Valerie Tripp Gordon...SHS library aide, for her amazing lamination skills, for keeping the library in good order and for never losing her cool! - Mrs. Suzanne Larson
Special education teachers and paraprofessionals! This is a tough time of year for them and they should know that what they do for the students does not go unnoticed and really sometimes seems like a thankless position… So thank you!!! :) - Mr. Dave Bonneau
Sports with Mr. Crippen
This Thursday, February 4th, Seekonk High School will host the South Coast Conference Championship Swim Meet at 3:30 in the Ellis Mayers Natatorium. D-R, Apponequet, Old Rochester and Seekonk will compete for the title. Good luck to Coach Cameron’s squad.
With only six games remaining the 7 win and 7 loss Seekonk High School Girls Basketball team is poised to make its first MIAA State Tournament appearance in twenty years. The team needs to win three of its remaining six games to qualify. Good luck to Coach Daluz and all the ladies.
Seekonk High Social Studies teacher Ms. Kristin Nelson is busy pairing students and athletes together in preparation for Seekonk High School’s first “Unified Sports” season this spring in Track and Field. All interested parties are asked to contact her at the high school. Be sure to visit the website for more details!
It’s a Special Duck-livery!
Send a rubber duck to your student and help the Model UN team go to Boston! Make a student’s day with a cute quacker, complete with a personalized message attached with a ribbon around the neck. The cost is only $3 per duck and includes delivery right to the recipient’s classroom during last period on Thursday, Feb. 11!
Students can order ducks during all 3 lunch periods for the next 2 weeks. Family members can PRINT OUT THE ORDER FORM HERE and send it into the main office.
Please Give a Quack and Help the Model UN team!
Free E-book and Audiobooks for SHS Students!
SHS students now have access to the Commonwealth eBook Collections by using their Seekonk High library usernames & log-ins. Students can access an exciting collection of new and popular fiction, non-fiction and audio books and access them through an app on their phone or personal device.
Visit the SHS Library homepage or click here to take it for a test drive today!
Students should log in using their SHS Library username/password. Need help? Stop into the library or send Mrs. Larson a e-mail!
From the Nurse - Mrs. Patricia Rok
Vision, hearing, height and weight screenings for grade 10 students and scoliosis screening for grad 9 will begin in the next few weeks. Any child who did not get screened during first semester will be screened according to the MDPH mandated screenings regulations. Please email Mrs. Rok if you do not want your child screened.
I encourage parents to read the letter from the National Association of School Nurses about teen cough medicine abuse. Check out this fact sheet concerning perscription medication at home. You can also access more information about cough medicine abuse online at StopMedicineAbuse.org.
Contact Information
Email: jonesc@seekonkschools.org
Website: http://shs.seekonk.sharpschool.com/
Location: 261 Arcade Avenue, Seekonk, MA, United States
Phone: (508) 336-7272
Twitter: @DrCSJones