The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
November 4, 2018 - Volume 1 - ISSUE 9
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
November 6 - No School – Election Day
November 8 - Delayed Opening
November 8-9, 13 – MCAS ELA Retest
November 9 – Quarter 1 Grades Available on Parent Portal, Appointment Plus Open for Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 12 – No School – Veteran’s Day
November 14 - All honor society applications due
November 14-15 – MCAS Math
November 15 – Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment Only 12-2PM, 6-8PM
November 17 - Senior yearbook photos & bios are due
November 21-23 – Thanksgiving Break
November 26 l- Winter Sports Start
November 29 - Delayed Opening
November 29 – Grade 8 High School Orientation 6:30PM
November 30 - Career Connections Fair 8:30AM – 9:30AM, in the Library.
December 6 – National Honor Society Induction 6:30PM in Performing Arts Center
December 7 - Early Release – professional development
December 11 – High School Winter Concert 7:00PM in Performing Arts Center
December 13 - Delayed Opening
December 22 - January 1 – Holiday BreakE-Sports is Here!
Dr. Christopher Jones
The Power of a Smile
We often get so involved in ourselves that we forget there are many chances to interact with other people. These missed opportunities could mean the difference between a good or bad day for many people. How many people ( and how often) do you greet with a smile each day?
Its important for us to make certain that we are present with our surroundings. It is easy to blame cell phones or ear buds, but there are many times I see people looking down or far off in thought. I also notice many people (myself included at times) saying "hi, how are you" without really caring about the answer. These same people (again, me included) also have the same answer memorized. It's easy and cuts down on interaction; letting us further isolate ourselves.
Here is the story. Life isn't supposed to be easy or isolated. So take the challenge in the video. Furthermore, I challenge you to call me out on it if I am not present when speaking to you.
Watch the video, take the challenge, and challenge others to follow suit.
Our Story...
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
Counseling - Mrs. Ruth Carrigan
Whitman-Hanson Career Connections Fair
Students in grades 9 – 12! Thinking about what you might want to be when you grow up? Maybe you’ve thought about it, but just aren’t sure where to start. The School Counseling office invites you to the annual Career Connections Fair on Friday, November 30th in the library during A block (8:30 – 9:30). Come talk to some really cool professionals and see what their careers are all about! All are welcome to join us for an hour of informative conversation and displays! The program will feature approximately 25 career professionals representing fields of business, management, marketing, law enforcement, art and design, protective services, health care, architecture, communications, skilled trades (HVAC, electrician), technology, and more! Research shows that the single most popular influence on students’ career paths is exposure to various careers. You might find something that will spark your passion! Students in all grades are encouraged to attend. Check your e-mails from the School Counseling office for our sign-up form and permission slips! Any questions can go to Ms. Carrigan or Mr. Jeghers in the counseling office. Sign up for the Career Connections Fair by following this link: Career Fair Sign Up!!
Dual Enrollment - Bridgewater State University and Massasoit Community College – Spring 2019
Information is now available for Spring 2019 Dual Enrollment classes at Bridgewater State University and Massasoit Community College. Dual Enrollment gives high school students (primarily grades 11 and 12) an opportunity to take college classes and receive both high school and college credit. At BSU, this program is open to qualified students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students with a GPA of 2.50 – 2.99 will be considered on a case by case basis. Massasoit Dual enrollment is available to students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Instructions and application materials were sent to grade 11 and 12 student email accounts this week. After reading these documents, interested students should contact their counselors with any questions. The deadline to apply for the Bridgewater State Dual Enrollment Program is November 27, 2018.
US Service Academy Visit
A midshipman from the US Naval Academy will be visiting Whitman-Hanson on Monday, November 19th at 9:30 AM. Students interested learning about the US Naval Academy or learning about the application process for the US Service Academies are welcome to attend. Please see Mrs. Getchell in the School Counseling Office to sign up.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Exam
All graduating seniors are eligible to compete for the ALF-CIO scholarship. To qualify, students must register on-line by December 14, 2018 at: www.massaflcio.org/scholarships The exam will be administered at Whitman-Hanson on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.
Students Take On 5K!
Student Environmental Awareness Club
Mrs. Margaret Baker & Mrs. Kathleen Joyce
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
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 the month of December.
Flu Information
Flu season has returned! 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 generally free with a copy of your child’s insurance card.
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 either Ms. Baker at 781-618-7452 or Mrs. Joyce at 781-618-7430 with 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 - Mr. Bob Rodgers
Important Sports Announcement!
More than 400 students attended our pre season winter sports meeting on Thursday. We offer 10 sports during the winter season, most of which are non-cut. We still have plenty of room for more students to join even if you have never played a sport before. If you have any questions or I can help direct you to a new sport stop by my office and I would be glad to guide you.
During the meeting on Thursday we reviewed the most important rules and policies to make sure students understood the expectations. One of the key points we discussed is the role academics play with athletics. We talked about raising the bar of expectations in the classroom. Students are always allowed to arrive to practice late if they are making up work or getting extra help.
The student athletes also viewed a video posted on Twitter by a high school football coach from San Diego. Coach Kurt Hines talked about the concept of coaches who play favorites. Very often, student athletes and sometimes their parents, will claim their coach plays favorites and somehow this is the reason the student is not achieving the level of success he/she thinks they deserve. The truth is most coaches DO play favorites but it's not simply because the coach likes the player, their parents or the way they dress. Most coaches play favorites to student athletes who buy into the core values of the program, arrive early and stay late, workout tirelessly in the off season, treat teammates like family, respect coaches, are coachable, don't make excuses, accepts whatever role the team needs and displays the level of character needed to be successful on and off the field. See below for the video from coach Hines!
The Whitman Hanson girls' soccer team advanced to the quarter finals in the division 1 south tournament with a 3-1 win over Wellesley on Saturday night. Despite their offensive pressure the Panthers were unable to score in the first half. In the second half Olivia Borgen got the Panthers on the board when she took a cross from fellow freshman Kelsee Wozniak and slipped it behind the keeper. Freshman Nora Manning doubled the lead shortly after when she took an Anika Floeck feed and tucked the ball in to the back of the net. With 2 minutes remaining Wellesley got a goal back and then Senior Samantha Smith closed it out with a blast from 25yds out. The defensive unit of Sam Perkins, Courtney Woodward, Erin Wood and Olivia Johnson were outstanding for Whitman Hanson. Alexis Billings and Ava Melia also had strong games in the midfield. Keeper Skylar Kuzmich made 6 saves in goal. The girls will play host to Hingham Tuesday night at 6pm in the quarterfinals.
The cheerleaders won another championship on Saturday winning the Patriot League championship at Whitman Hanson. The team has competed in 4 events this fall and they have won all of them. The next stop is the regionals next weekend. Coaches Alyssa Hayes and Keryn Cordo did a terrific job in running the event on Saturday. The parents were also amazing in making everything run so well.
In cross country, Sophomore Theo Kamperides was named a Patriot League All-Star after leading the Panthers to a 5th place finish at the Patriot League Meet. Theo finished 12th overall on Pembroke High School's 5K course in 17:58. The Girls finished 8th behind Junior Tori Boss who finished in 21:50. Also running well were Brandon Hager, Adam Solari, Liam Cafferty and Evan Jewett for the Boys. For the girls, Maeve McDonough, Niki Kamperides, Sarah Boulger and Dorothy DiMascio-Donahue filled out the top 5.
The football team outlasted Bishop Feehan Friday night, 21-20 in the consolation round of the post season. Ethan Phelps had 17 carries for 116 yards with 3 touchdowns. Mike Connors had 11 carries 66 yards and 15 tackles while Billy Martell had 12 carries for 84 yards. It looked like Bishop Feehan tied the game with 30 seconds left but they decided to go for the win and a 2 point conversion. The Panthers defense came up big with the stop to win the game. Whitman Hanson will wrap up the regular season on Friday night at Bridgewater Raynham. The final game of the year will be at home against Abington on Thanksgiving.
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