NHS Principal News
September 13, 2022
Hello Clipper Families,
With the opening of school behind us, I have enjoyed walking into classrooms and participating in lessons with students. From students practicing rules of exponents in algebra to rationalizing evidence in history class to mapping body systems in anatomy, it is clear students and teachers are acclimating back to school routines. Please see below for updates in the following areas:
- Back to School Night (Thursday, Sept 15 from 5:30 – 8:00)
- Hidden in Plain Sight (Information on products teens use to hide drugs, alcohol, vapes)
- College and Career Fair (Monday, Sept 26 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM)
- Seal of Biliteracy Opportunity Update
- Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp
- Recognitions
Have a great night and Go Clippers!
Andy Wulf
Principal
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT SCHEDULE (click here)
This Thursday is our Back to School Night. Starting at 5:30 PM in the auditorium, the administrative team will provide an overview of school year objectives and then parents will have the opportunity to follow their student’s schedule. Teachers will share course syllabi and give a summary of goals for the year.
Please be sure to download a copy of your student’s schedule from Aspen x2.
- 5:30 – 5:55 – OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL YEAR GOALS (AUDITORIUM)
- 6:00 – 8:00 – FOLLOW YOUR STUDENT’S SCHEDULE
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT – Visual for Parents at Back to School Night
During the Back to School Night, with support of NYS and the Newburyport Police Department, parents will have the opportunity to learn about products teens use to hide drugs, alcohol, and vape devices. Here is a link that takes you to a virtual site for this information, and on Thursday, parents will be able to view these products firsthand.
Vaping in school continues to be an area we are working to eliminate. Teacher duties have been adjusted to help with greater oversight and we have implemented a pass system for bathroom use during class time. Students who are found vaping in school, participate in an intervention program off-site and on-site. Our objective is to curb their addiction.
COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR
Co-sponsored with the Institution for Savings, our College and Career Center is holding a regional college and career fair on Monday, September 26. By becoming a regional fair, this has allowed us to expand the number of participating colleges and organizations from 40 organizations to now over 100. I want to commend our College and Career Center on the organization of the event and I’m very appreciative to the Institution of Savings for sponsoring it.
Please click on the link here for more information.
EXPLORING NEW PROGRAM – Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps
As we continue our efforts to expand offerings that support possible college and career paths, we are in the process of applying for the Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (CGJROTC) Unit program. This link will take you to a description of the CGJROTC Unit Program. Whether or not we are accepted, we are looking to get a sense of the percentage of students who would consider participating in this program while in high school. Please use this google form to let us know if your student would consider participation in the Coast Guard JROTC program. (Only complete this form if your student has a potential interest.)
MASSACHUSETTS SEAL OF BILITERACY
Here is an update regarding the Seal of Biliteracy from Asst. Supt. Lisa-Marie Ippolito. As with prior years, Newburyport Public Schools will be offering the Avant STAMP Assessment to Newburyport High School in early 2023 at no cost to you. If your child is interested in participating in the assessment to determine their eligibility for the Seal of Biliteracy, please look for detailed information that will be coming later this fall.
RECOGNITIONS
Ben St. Lawrence will be part of the annual National Down Syndrome Time Square video presentation and Buddy Walk. Ben has done work to raise money to support the Down Syndrome community. Through his participation in the Buddy Walk this coming Saturday, he was selected to have his picture displayed throughout Times Square. We are excited for Ben’s recognition. Here is a link to a recent article in the Newburyport News.
Jennifer Masone and Sasha Leydon have done extensive work to destigmatize mental health. Through working with the Bring Change to Mind organization, they will be kick-starting our local chapter so that students have peer groups and resources to receive support around mental health needs.
I’d like to commend Viive Godtfredsen - for her work facilitating a bat house project as a Gulf of Maine Institute intern. She facilitated the construction of bat houses at the Nock and continues to work on getting them installed with cameras on the High School’s campus this coming year. This is a very interesting project that will allow for the study of bats in the region and provides a strong example of the power of having an internship while in high school.