The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
September 29, 2019 - Volume 2 - ISSUE 5
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
October 5 - SAT at WHRHS
October 10 - Delayed Opening
October 14 - No School – Columbus Day
October 15 - Lifetouch Picture Retakes – Grade 9-11 PAC
October 16 - Credit for Life – Grade 12, PSAT – Grades 10 & 11, Freshman Elections & Presentation – Grade 9
October 18 - Early Release – District Professional Development
Homecoming Dance!
This year's Homecoming Dance is Saturday Oct. 5th from 7 -10 pm in the gym. Come enjoy the fun, music, and free photo booth!
Get your tickets early and save two dollars! Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at door.
Outside Guest forms were emailed to students but are also available in rooms 210, 304 and Main Office – those forms must be back in by Oct 1st. ALL outside Guest tickets MUST be purchased in advance. NO outside guest tickets will be sold at the door.
Get Your's Now!
Yearbooks are the best possible deal.
Price will go up October 25, 2019.
Parent Recognition Ads are available now. Choose from a variety of sizes and prices.
Senior photos and bios are due by Nov. 25.
All links and info needed are online 24/7 at https://whpanthers.wixsite.com/yearbook
Dr. Christopher Jones
3 Ways Its All About Habits
We all have habits. Some of them are good and well, others are...not so much. We realize this, but often don't stop to think about how we create and break habits by replacing them with another. Unfortunately, this happens more with losing our good habits because we have picked up a bad one. Clearly we need to recognize this before we act, but once we have, here are three steps to help you form the good and get rid of the bad.
Start Right Now
No matter how small the step, take it immediately. Don't fall victim to the false promises of starting tomorrow or after the upcoming weekend. You do not need a milestone in time to start, you just need to start. Think about how many people wait until the New Year to make a change or create a habit. Now think about how many of those people stay with it long term.
Tell Someone
Accountability is a key part to succeeding at creating habits. Everyone likes the feeling they get from accomplishing something. This is often driven by not wanting to feel as if we have failed. Once we tell someone what we are going to do we create the situation where we are responsible for doing what we have said or explaining why we failed. If we want to make this feeling even stronger, just share it with more than one person.
Make and Appointment With Yourself
We often get so busy that we forget to take care of or stay true to personal goals. We make appointments for everything from repairs to the dentist. This ensures that nothing else gets in the way of what we need to get done. Want to build a habit of focus on getting something done? Make an appointment with yourself to complete what matters to you. Put it in your schedule and honor that time no matter what it is for.
The important thing to remember is that we gain habits by pushing out others; bad or good and whether or not we want to. Make sure to reflect on your habits and make sure they are all good for you. If they aren't, follow the three steps to improve them.
I go into more detail about this in the video below. Take the time to watch, offer your opinion, or share if you find value in it.
Our Story...
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
Mr. David Floeck
Safety/Security
I wanted to remind all parents and visitors to the school that they must check in to the security office with a valid license before entering the building. Students who arrive to school after the 7:05 start must also check in to the security office and must present their student identification to enter the building. Our security staff doesn’t know every student in the building so they must check student IDs to insure that student attends the high school. All students should have a student ID; if they do not have an ID they should contact the security office (located in the main office of the high school) to obtain a new card. We appreciate your assistance as safety and security remains a top priority.
Mrs. Ruth Carrigan
College Fair – Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 1 for a regional college fair from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. This year the fair will be held at Silver Lake Regional HS, Route 27, Kingston, MA. Approximately 100 admissions officers representing colleges, universities, post-secondary schools, and military branches will be in attendance. Bring a bag to take home college admissions materials.
Common App Thursdays – During the month of October, counselors will be available every Thursday on a drop in basis during the school day to provide help with the Common Application. Any seniors needing assistance with their Common Apps are welcome to stop by School Counseling Office during Academic Seminar or Lunch. If you need help after school, please check in with your counselor to make a plan.
AP Exam Registration Deadline
Students enrolled in AP (Advanced Placement) classes who will be taking AP exams in May are reminded that AP exam registration forms and exam fees ($94 per exam) are due on October 15. Students that receive free or reduced priced lunch are eligible for a reduced exam fee of $40 per exam. Information on payment plans can be found on the AP Exam Registration Forms that were sent home with students enrolled in AP classes earlier in the month. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Carrigan at Ruth.Carrigan@whrsd.org
PSAT Administration – The PSAT will be administered to all students in grade 10 and 11 during the school day on Wednesday, October 16th. The PSAT/NMSQT assesses the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills students need for college and beyond. The PSAT is a great practice for the SAT and will help determine college and career readiness of students.
Credit for Life Fair - - The Credit for Life Reality Fair will be held for members of the senior class on October 16 during the school day. The Credit for Life Fair is a nationally recognized program designed to help high school students develop personal financial management skills that they will use throughout their lives.
Getting Ready for College - Early College Planning - Our annual Getting Ready for College - Early College Planning workshop will be held in the PAC from 6:30 - 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 24th. This program is geared toward grade 9 and 10 students and parents and will cover Mass State College/University Admissions Standards, making the most of the high school experience, choosing classes to enhance the college application, Naviance Family Connection for college and career planning, and college admissions and services for students with disabilities.
FAFSA Workshop for Seniors and Parents - Senior parents that would like assistance filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) are invited to attend our FAFSA Workshop on October 30 at 5 PM. Parents attending will work in WH computer labs to complete their FAFSA applications with the help of representatives from American Student Assistance. Space is limited and pre-registration is necessary. Please follow this link to sign up for the program: https://forms.gle/rYvHYP64XJZSfL9j9
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Amy Floeck
A Chance to be Heard!
Any student in grades 9-12 are welcome to participate in the annual VFW Voice of Democracy competition. This year’s topic is “What makes America great?” “Student entries should be submitted (along with a completed entry form and audio recording) to our local VFW Post 697. The deadline for both contests is October 31, 2019. A complete entry form along with the rules may be found here!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars address is:
VFW Post 697
95 Essex Street
Whitman, MA 02382
Mrs. Margaret Baker & Mrs. Kathleen Joyce
~Panther Health Clinic~
Too Sick For School ?
Sometimes it is a tough call as to when your child should stay home, so here are a few guidelines to help you make the decision whether or not you should keep your child home. We realize that many of you work outside the home and it is sometimes difficult to keep your child home. However keeping children at home when they are sick makes a tremendous difference in preventing the spread of illnesses throughout the classroom.
Fever:
Fevers are generally signs of infection. Your child’s temperature should be less than 100 degrees for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or Motrin, before they can return to school. While your child is at home, encourage them to drink plenty of fluids and get rest, which will allow them to recover from their illness.
Stomach Ache, Vomiting, Diarrhea:
A child with vomiting and or diarrhea should be kept at home until their symptoms have resolved for approximately 12 hours, and the child has demonstrated they can keep food and liquids down.
Cold Symptoms, Cough, Sore Throat :
Your child may attend school if their symptoms are not associated with a fever. They should also be free from significant discomfort from their cold symptoms so they are able to participate in their schoolwork. If your child has symptoms of a persistent cough or thick, yellow/ green nasal discharge that lasts longer than a week or he/ she complains of an earache, you should consult your Doctor for possible treatment. If your child has been diagnosed with Strep throat, they may return to school after being on antibiotics for 24 hours to assure that their infection will not be contagious to others.
Red Eye:
Red, irritated, itchy eyes with drainage could be caused by a bacterial infection, allergies, or a virus. If the white part of the eye appears red and produces a yellow or green crusty discharge with matted lashes, your child may have conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis or “pink eye”, as it is commonly referred, is a contagious infection, which needs to be treated by a Doctor. Your child may return to school after 24 hours of prescribed treatment.
Absences:
Please call the sick line when your child is going to be absent. Send in any physician notes when your child is seen by his/her MD. If your child is out for 5 consecutive days, they must return with a physician note clearing them to return to school.
Assistive Devices:
In the school setting assistive devices are casts, crutches, orthopedic related boot and braces, wheelchairs, etc. Any student needing to utilize an assistive devise must have supporting physician documentation for such.
Dental:
Any student returning to school after a dentist or orthodontic appointment where a local anesthesia, numbing medication is used must have physician documentation to return to school.
Medication Administration:
Any student requiring medication to be administered at school by the school nurse must have written physician documentation and signed parent consent. Please note that students are not permitted to transport medication to/from school per the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District Policy, therefore an adult must deliver the medication to the school nurse. Please deliver the medication to the school nurse in a pharmacy or manufacturer labeled container, bottle or box. Please ask your pharmacy to provide a separate container/bottle/inhaler/epi-pen/diastat for school and home. No more than a thirty day supply of the medication should be delivered to the school.
If you are called to pick up your child because of illness, he/she must be picked up swiftly. Please be sure that Infinite Campus has the most recent up-to-date emergency contact information, so that we have someone who can act on your behalf, if we are unable to reach you. This person should live locally.
Thank you in advance for helping us ALL stay healthy!
WHRH School Nurses:
Margaret and Kathy
Athletics - Coach Bob Rodgers
We are a week away from our first Whitman Hanson Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions as we will hold the banquet Sunday October 6 at 5pm at Pembroke Country Club. Tuesday is the final day to purchase tickets (www.whathletics.com). Whether you were a teammate with one of the inductees, played for one of the three coaches, just love Sue Moss or simply want to show your Panther Pride, please consider joining us for this tremendous event.
It was a terrific week in WH Athletics with several huge performances.
Jason Murphy exploded for 245 yards rushing on 13 carries and 4 touchdowns to lead the football team to a 34-14 win at Silver Lake in the league opener for both teams. Jason was 6 for 11 passing for 76 yards while also getting it done on defense with an interception and 6 tackles. CJ Guiliani had 53 yards on 12 carries. The Panthers had 378 yards as a team. Leading the way on defense were Guillani 2 sacks and Zach Boisjolie.
The field hockey team broke through in a big way this week recording their first two wins of the season including a huge 2-1 road upset over Pembroke (Boston Globe top 20). Senior Captain Maddy Tassey scored in the first half with a helper from Junior Captain Lauren Clark to give the Panthers an early lead in the contest at around the 15 minute mark. Before the half, the Titans were able to score to tie up the game. During the second half, the Panthers and Titans were forcing each other to the brink with aggressive drives to their opponent’s net. Panther Goalie Madi Savicke and her defense were turning away a number of Titan Scoring chances. Maddy Tassey found the back of the net again for the Panthers with just under 4 minutes left in the game, Lauren Clark got the assist, to seal the victory for the visiting Panthers.
The boys soccer teams split a pair by the same 2-1 score beating Quincy but losing to Duxbury. Jason Brodeur scored all 3 goals this week while the defense and Andrew Sullivan continue to play well. The team is 3-4 and will try to get back to .500 when they travel to East Bridgewater tomorrow.
The girls soccer team has a busy week with 3 games and easily won the first 2 over Quincy and Duxbury. It was a heartbreaker though Saturday as Weymouth scored with 15 seconds left to beat the Panthers 2-1. Olivia Borgen had the lone goal for WH.
The golf team has hit a little skid dropping all three matches this week but the team played well despite the results. It was a close one against Hanover losing by just three strokes. Senior captain Matt Korzec and junior Aidan Miller were the true 1 and 2 as they shot a 4 over 40 and 5 over 41, respectively.
The volleyball team played the iron this week as they competed well against league powers Quincy and Duxbury. The girls dropped both matches but did become just the second team this season to win a set against Quincy. The highlight of the week was a 3-0 win at Silver Lake. Sophomore Lily Welch led the way with 10 kills. Not too far behind Welch was fellow sophomore Abby Martin with 7 kills. Senior Brooke Beauregard stepped up to the plate as libero with 5 digs and 4 aces; Beauregard led the team in aces. The panthers are now 3-2 in the league and 6-2 overall.
The Whitman-Hanson Boys Cross Country team (2-1) fell to host Marshfield 23-32 on Wednesday. Junior Theo Kamperides was the Panthers top finisher placing 3rd overall in 15:09on the 2.85 Mile course. Also scoring for Whitman-Hanson were Senior Captain Brandon Hager (5th, 16:00), Sophomore Nathan Tassey (6th, 17:08), and Senior Captains Nick Hanley (8th, 17:17) and Adam Solari (10th, 17:37.)
Sports Short Wrap Up 9/23/19 - 9/29/19
There is so much going on with all our athletic teams, but you can catch up on all of it by reading Athletic Director Bob Rodgers' update and watching this weekly round up of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Panthers' athletic teams in action!
Hit subscribe and follow to catch them all!
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