Whalers' Monday Message
Nantucket High School Inspires
Principal's Perspective - Dr. Buckey
Wednesday was our first early-release day of the academic year. Our teachers had the opportunity to hear Joseph Case High School Principal, Mr. Brian McCann share his journey with social media and how it has impacted his school. Additionally, Principal McCann included professional development on the accreditation process and how his school monitors and shares information on their 21st Century learning expectations. The PD day ended with four of our own sharing their experience at the NEASC Model Schools Showcase. Assistant Principal Psaradelis, science teacher Elissa Gilgen, science department head Patrick Gregorich and Wellness teacher Anthony Suppa took staff through how schools are transitioning to the revised 2020 accreditation standards and process. From feedback faculty and staff enjoyed the day and found it insightful. Pictures from our PD day are included with the Message.
Thursday brought Mike Smith to campus for a community presentation, which he followed on Friday with an assembly for students. Mike was available to students in the cafeteria during lunches before the assembly. We are grateful to Friends of Nantucket Public Schools and The Community Foundation of Nantucket for making Mike Smith's visit possible. He captivated audiences and his message impacted and motivated our students and staff. Mike remained on island for the weekend and participated fully in our Homecoming parade and games. Pictures from Mike Smith's visit are included in the Message.
Friday was the annual Hispanic Heritage Festival in the NHS cafe. I believe they said this was the ninth year our Diversity Club has celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which goes from September 15 to October 15. I want to acknowledge the handwork done by our Diversity Club advisor, Ms. Jackie Echeverria. The cafe was filled with students, staff and families. They had speakers, presentations, an accomplished Costa Rican guitarist and singer in addition to an impressive buffet of delightful food. I have included a photo from the festivities.
And then there was the weekend. What amazing weather for all of the festivities. I personally enjoyed being able to participate with the Cross Country team for a staff and community 5K after the parade. While I ran Cross Country myself in high school, it was clear that was a longtime ago. Despite my slower than high school performance, it was wonderful to be a participant with the students, some of my colleagues and members of our island community. The day just kept giving as Whaler Pride was celebrated with volleyball, field hockey, boys soccer, girls soccer and football. There's something special about Homecoming in the life of any school, but Nantucket just takes it to another level. At halftime of the Whaler football game, we crowned our homecoming king and queen - Carter Snell and Caroline Richards respectively - and announced all of the week's winners in the various competitions - participation, hall decorating and parade floats. Mr. Maury has included a completed review of the Homecoming games and Spirit Week competitions in his update in the Message.
Last week was also the public release of MCAS scores from last spring. The official presentation of our results will happen this week at Tuesday's School Committee meeting. I will share more in depth about the NHS' results in next week's Message. This week is also Red Ribbon Week.
As always, please let us know how you like the Monday Message, what we can do to improve it and anything you would like to add.
Dr. B
Inspirational Quote of the Week
John F. Kennedy
Whaler Pride Athletics - Mr. Maury AD
What a great Homecoming weekend. The weather was perfect and our kids were amazing. Terrific display of school pride and spirit by all.
NHS Football
The Whalers finished off the regular season with a big 53 - 0 win over MAC League opponent Holbrook/Avon. The Whalers win capped off a full slate of games on "Homecoming Saturday". The Whalers finish the regular season with an an overall record to 6 wins and 1 loss and 4 wins - 0 losses in MAC League Division play. The Whalers have for the 3rd consecutive year finished undefeated in League play and have won the MAC Comprehensive Division Championship for the 4th straight year.
The NHS Varsity Football Team is seeded # 2 in the Division 7 South Sectional of the MIAA State Tournament. The Whalers will host # 7 Monomoy Regional High School here this Friday evening in a round 1 State Tournament game with 5:00 PM scheduled kick-off.
The JV Football Team is scheduled to travel to West Bridgewater High School today (Monday - 10/23) with a 3:30 PM scheduled kick-off.
NHS Girls Soccer
In 3 matches played this week the Lady Whaler Soccer Team had a record of 1 win and 2 losses. The girls lost on the road to league opponent Rising Tide by a 8 - 3 score on Monday; defeated Cape Cod Tech on the road on Thursday by a score of 6 - 0; and played great but lost a tough match to Rising Tide Charter School on Homecoming Saturday by a score of 4 - 3. The NHS Varsity Girls Soccer Team now has an overall record of 4 wins, 9 losses, and 2 ties. The Lady Whalers are 4 - 6 - 2 in Cape and Islands League play.
This week the Lady Whalers varsity squad is scheduled to host Falmouth Academy on Tuesday at 4:00 PM; host Sturgis Public Charter East on Thursday at 4:00 PM; and travel to Sturgis Public Charter West next Monday for their final game of the season with a 3:30 PM start.
The Lady Whalers JV team defeated Cape Cod Academy 8 -0 in their only match of the week on Tuesday. The JV Lady Whalers will travel to Sturgis Public Charter West with a 3:30 PM kickoff next Monday for their final game of the season.
NHS Boys Soccer
The Whalers Boys Soccer Team had a marathon week playing 5 games over the 7 day stretch. The Whalers finished the week notching 4 wins and a tie. The Whaler varsity squad traveled to Rising Tide Charter School last Monday and defeated the Herons by a score of 2 - 0; on Tuesday the Whalers easily (8 - 0 score) defeated Cape Cod Academy in an away game; on Thursday the Whalers hosted Cape Cod Tech and won a well played match by a score of 3 - 0; in their Homecoming game on Saturday the Whalers defeated Rising Tide by a 6 - 0 score; and on Sunday the Whalers hosted Barnstable High School and earned a hard fought 1 -1 tie. With this busy week the Whalers improve their overall record of 13 wins - 2 losses and 2 ties. The Whalers have a record of 13 wins - 1 losses and 1 tie in Cape and Islands League play.
The varsity boys soccer team has 2 games remaining on their regular season schedule. The Whalers will travel to Falmouth Academy on Tuesday for a 3:30 PM start and then travel to Sturgis Public Charter Est on Thursday for a 3:30 PM start.
The JV Whaler boys hosted Barnstable on Sunday in their only match of the week earning a 0 - 0 tie.
The JV boys soccer team will play their final game of the season at Sturgis East on Thursday with a 3:30 PM game time.
NHS Golf
The Whaler Golf Team finished their regular season play this week playing 3 matches in 3 days. The Whalers defeated Sturgis East in a home match on Monday (10/16/17) by a score of 123 - 105; on Tuesday the Whaler golfers lost on the road to Sturgis East by a score of 107 - 93; and then lost their final match of the season at Saint John Paul II High school by a score of 82- 54. The NHS varsity golf team finished the regular season with an overall record of 8 wins and 6 losses and a identical 8 - 6 record in Cape and Islands League play.
The Whaler golf team will be playing in the South Sectional of the MIAA State Tournament today (Monday - 10/23/17). Ben Lombardi, Tyler O'Keefe, Sydney Higgins, Kai Ottani, Dawson Cunningham, and Will Harris will be the 6 Whaler golfers representing our Nantucket team in today's South Sectional match. Congrats on a great season and best of luck to all in today's State Tournament match.
The JV golf team finished off their season in great fashion by notching 3 more wins. The JV golfers defeated Sturgis East at home on Monday (61-17); defeated Sturgis East in an away match on Tuesday (70 - 20); and defeated Saint John Paul II in an away match on Wednesday (85 - 58). The JV golf team finished their season with an overall record of 9 wins and 1 loss.
NHS Girls Volleyball
The NHS Volleyball Team notched 2 wins in 3 matches this week. Playing 3 home matches this week the girls played well but lost (3 - 0) to Division 1 Dennis Yarmouth High School on Monday; defeated league rival Saint John Paul II by a 3 - 1 score on Tuesday; and defeated Abington High School on Homecoming Saturday by a 3 - 0 score. The Lady Whalers Volleyball Team now has an overall record of 6 wins and 8 losses. The girls are 4 -3 in Cape and Islands League play. The Whalers will host Sturgis West in a final league match on Tuesday (10/24/17). With a win in Tuesday's match the NHS Volleyball team will clinch 2nd place in the Cape and Islands league for volleyball and earn a qualification for state tournament play. The Lady Whalers will finish their season with road matches at Sandwich on Thursday (4:00 PM) and at Milford on DSaturday (11:30 AM).
The JV girls volleyball team picked up 2 wins in 3 matches this week. The girls lost to DY on Monday by a 2 - 0 score; defeated Saint John Paul II on Tuesday by a 2 - 0 score; and defeated Abington on Saturday by a score of 2 - 0.
NHS Cross Country
The Whaler Cross Country team hosted Cape Cod Academy this past Tuesday and notched wins for both the boys team (25 - 32) and the girls team (15 - 48).
On Home coming Saturday the NHS Cross Country Team hosted a "Fun Run" against NHS faculty and Nantucket community runners. KUDO's to NHS representatives for running in this event; John Buckey (best staff time !); Liz Reinamo (most "talkative"runner !); Aileen Fredericks ( 2nd best staff time !); and Erin MacIver (AD good sport award !).
The cross country team will complete their regular season at the Cape and Islands League meet scheduled for Tuesday (10/31) at Cape Cod Academy with a 3:30 PM start.
NHS Field Hockey
The NHS Varsity Field Hockey Team had a tough week losing all 4 games played. The Lady Whalers lost at home on Monday to Division 1 power house Dennis Yarmouth by an 8 - 0 score; lost on the road at Monomoy Regional on Thursday by a 3 - 0 score; lost to Seekonk 4 - 1 on Homecoming Saturday; and lost on the road to Martha's Vineyard Regional on Sunday by a score of 3 -0 . The Lady Whaler field hockey team currently has an overall record of 4 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie. The varsity field hockey squad is currently 2 - 2 - 1 in Cape and Islands League play.
The JV Field Hockey team went 1 - 3 this week. The JV Lady Whalers fell to DY by a 5 - 0 score; lost to Monomoy by a 2 - 1 score; defeated Seekonk by a 3 -1 score; and lost to MVY by a score of 1 - 0.
The Lady Whalers have a busy week with 4 games remaining on their schedule. The girls are scheduled to travel to Sandwich on Tuesday; host Sturgis East on Wednesday; host Fairhaven on Friday; and travel to Seekonk on Saturday.
2017 Homecoming Results
Homecoming King - Carter Snell
Homecoming Queen - Caroline Richards
Float Competition
- 1st Place - Field Hockey Team
- 2nd Place - Junior Class
- 3rd Place - Girls Soccer Team
- 4th Place - Sophomore Class
Spirit Week Dress Up
- 1st Place - Senior Class
- 2nd Place - Juniors
- 3rd Place - Sophomores
- 4th Place - Freshman
Hall Decorations
- 1st Place - Senior Class
- 2nd Place - Junior Class
- 3rd Place - Sophomore Class
- 4th Place - Freshman Class
GO WHALERS !!