The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
May 31, 2021 - Volume 3 - ISSUE 32
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
June 2 - Senior Parade at 1:00PM
June 4 - Senior Graduation at 6:00PM
June 7 & 8 - MCAS Biology (Grade 9)
June 16 - Last Day of Classes (Half Day)
Mr. Jeffrey Szymaniak
Vaccine Information!
REMINDER!
In collaboration with the Hanson and Whitman Fire Departments, the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District is able to provide access to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to Whitman-Hanson students ages 12 and over to help protect them against COVID-19. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Vaccination is one of our many important tools to help stop the pandemic.
This is a Pfizer vaccination and will require a second dose. Additional information will be provided once you receive the first dose on one of the two dates you choose below. Pre-registration is mandatory. The after-school vaccine clinic will take place at the Hanson Middle School and is free of charge. All students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
First round Inoculation dates and links to pre-registration (choose one date):
June 9 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
https://www.maimmunizations.org/appointment/en/reg/6045129739
OR
June 11 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
https://www.maimmunizations.org/appointment/en/reg/5129679084
Honor Societies Team Up for Service
The National, French, and Spanish Honor Societies have teamed up to collect new school supplies for School on Wheels MA (SOWMA), an organization who provides homeless children with backpacks full of supplies for the new school year in the fall. We'll be collecting donations from May 17 to June 4. Collections boxes can be found in the main office, the school counseling office, and rooms 274, 272, and 268. Please see either Mrs. Amaral, Ms. Hathaway, or Ms. Ferrara with any questions.
Don't Miss Out!
We have ordered a finite amount of yearbooks from the publisher. When they are all reserved, we will not be able to get more. We recommend buying your books soon to guarantee a copy is reserved for you.
WHITMAN & HANSON DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PLANS 59TH ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT!
Whitman & Hanson Dollars for Scholars is making plans for a virtual Awards Night ceremony to be viewed on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The virtual program will be available on the WHCA TV You Tube channel with an additional link at the DFS website.
Students will be notified by mail a week prior to Awards Night. Scholarship Certificates will be available to be picked up outside the high school on Sunday, June 6, between 10AM – 1 PM. **** please note time is subject to change
There will be three certificate pickup times grouped alphabetically by last name.
a. Last names beginning A - F - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
b. Last names beginning G -M - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
c. Last names beginning N - Z - 12:00 AM - 1:00 PM
For updated information on all DFS activities, please visit the Dollars for Scholars website at:
Whitmanandhanson.dollarsforscholars.org. For information on Local and Community Awards, please contact the WHRHS School Counseling Department.
Dr. Christopher Jones
Small Acts - Big Impact
Sometimes we think we need grand gestures to make a big difference. This thinking makes us miss the chances that present themselves to us every day. If we perform a small gesture, we often lift that person so they in turn do the same for others. Even better is when people who witness the act are lifted up and then move forward with a better outlook and repeat the behavior.
Take the challenge in the video by stepping away from frustration and tension, lifting up by empathizing, and spreading positivity. Let me know how it works out!
Our Story...
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
Mrs. Ruth Carrigan - Counseling
Scholarship Night - DATE CHANGE - A virtual Scholarship Night for Local and Community Scholarships will premiere on Tuesday, June 1. A link to the virtual program will be provided and all students receiving Local and Community Scholarship will be notified by email the week prior to the program.
Preparing High School Students with Disabilities for College Success
On Wednesday, May 26th from 12 - 1 pm, MEFA will offer a webinar Preparing High School Students with Disabilities for College Success. Transitioning to college and finding appropriate support services can be challenging for students with disabilities who have utilized an IEP in high school. This webinar will feature panelists from Westfield State, Bridgewater State, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) as they share details of the resources available to students with disabilities as they transition to post-secondary education. Click this link for more information.
Post-Secondary Planning for Juniors
Juniors, it is time to think about your plan for after high school. Please use this link to schedule a planning appointment with your school counselor. Please be sure to check out the following:
Panther Pathways Virtual Career Connections Fairs - View recorded sessions from 7 different career clusters
Panther Pathways Virtual College Visits - View recorded college admissions sessions from 10 colleges/universities
SAT - Students interested in signing up for a Fall SAT should keep an eye on the College Board website (www.collegeboard.org). Registration for 2021/2022 SAT dates will be available in early July. WHRHS is scheduled to be a test center in October 2021 and May 2022. If you qualify for free/reduced price lunch, please check in with your counselor about a fee waiver for the SAT.
Interested in attending a US Service Academy? . In order to be considered for appointment to the US Naval Academy, the US Military Academy at West Point, the US Air Force Academy, or the US Merchant Marine Academy, you need to receive a nomination from a federal, approved source. If interested in finding out more, please see your school counselor for an application, checklist and a brief guide to the service academy process. Please note that completed applications for juniors are due by Friday, October 15, 2021.Congressman Keating’s office hopes to hold a Service Academy Info Session in Fall 2021.
Need to speak to your counselor?- Please know that whether we are in hybrid or full remote learning, your school counselor is here for you. If you have questions or need support, please reach out for assistance.
Student Support Center
Ms. Rivera (Administrative Assistant)
School Counselors
Mrs. Carrigan (Director)
Adjustment Counselors
Science - Mr. Mark Stephansky
Science Mini-Poster Presentations
Students from Mr. Stephansky’s AP Biology classes present their findings from a recently conducted experiment where they transformed E. coli bacteria with a gene that allows them to glow green under ultraviolet light. The students presented their procedures and their efficiency at transforming the bacteria.
Below - The mini-poster results from the bacterial transformation lab.
Grade 9 and Science MCAS
Students in Grade 9 biology classes will be sitting for the Massachusetts science MCAS test, one of the three exams students must take and score a passing grade on in order to receive their high school diploma. The bonus for grade 9 students is that this is the only MCAS test they have to take this year. They will sit for their other two MCAS exams in English Language Arts and Mathematics when they are in grade 10. The Science MCAS tests are scheduled for June 7 and June 8, 2021. Students are practicing and preparing for the exams in their biology classes.
English - Mrs. Amy Floeck
Next Steps
The English Department would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the class of 2021! Under very unique circumstances, you have thrived and successfully completed your high school career. We hope that you take a look back and fondly remember your times in ELA class and remember the important life lessons we discussed through our literary studies. Please know our doors are always open, and we look forward to hearing about your future endeavors.
To our returning students, please remember to check the website for the 2021 Summer Reading information. All students will be responsible for choosing one book from the summer reading list and writing a reflective piece when we return in the fall. If you are enrolled in an honors or AP course, please see below for the additional reading assignments that need to be completed.
All AP and honors students must choose one book from the Smackdown list as well as the following books/short stories and/or posted assignments:
Ms. Margaret Baker & Mrs. Susanne Ford
Nurse’s Corner - Spring 2021
There has been great progress in the fight against Covid 19 and we have finally turned the corner! However, there is still an indoor mask mandate in place for all public schools in Mass; even if one is vaccinated. It remains more important than ever to adhere to the CDC guidelines of: wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, and maintaining social distancing in order to have success. Here is a useful tool that will help you in deciding whether to send your child to school: the Covid 19 Signs and Symptoms Check List. Please keep your child home if he/she is exhibiting any of the symptoms on the list and if you have any questions -call the school nurse for further assistance. Please be advised that the school nurses must follow the Mass. Department of Public Health Mandates in deciding if your child must go home if he/she is ill during the school day. Please be advised that if it is necessary for your child to be quarantined as a close contact to a positive case that the school MUST adhere to the protocols as defined by the Mass. Department of Public Health. Also, if your child is an athlete and happens to test positive for Covid you must submit a written doctor’s note clearing your child to return to play sports This is per the MIAA and there will not be any exceptions to this protocol. The school and the school nurses do not have any leeway in state Covid protocols and we are obligated to enforce them. Please send in to the school nurse any documentation if your child has been vaccinated for Covid-19.
The WHRSD has implemented a confidential Covid 19 phone line. Please feel free to leave a message at any time for advice or follow-up from our District Nurse Leader Lisa Tobin RN. The phone number for the Covid line is 781- 618-7450. There is further information available on Covid19 on our website.
Meningococcal Vaccine Requirement
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is requiring a second dose of the Meningococcal vaccination for all students in the 11th grade. Please send in your child’s documentation of the vaccine into the clinic as soon as possible.
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 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!
Ms. Margaret Baker RN, NCSN Mrs. Susanne Ford RN
Clinic phone: 781-618-7452
Clinic fax 781-618-7409
Athletics - Mr. Bob Rodgers
Spring Tournaments Starting!
The Patriot Cup tournament gets underway this week with all of our teams participating (track and field and wrestling is still up in the air at this time). Here is the link to the Patriot Cup brackets.
The format for the Patriot Cup is unique in that the top 2 seeds in each division get to play a non elimination game in which the winner advances to the semifinals and the loser simply drops into the regular bracket. Our baseball team just barely lost the league title with a tough one run loss at Plymouth North Friday but they still earned the number 2 seed in the Keenan. With that, they play a non elimination game Thursday at Plymouth South.
Our boys lacrosse team gets to host Plymouth South in the first round on Tuesday as Plymouth’s facility is not available to hold a game.
Softball and girls tennis will both travel to Quincy on Wednesday.
Girls lacrosse plays at Quincy on Tuesday (the game is at Creedon Field in North Quincy).
Boys tennis will host North Quincy on Tuesday.
Please remember to follow us on Twitter @whathletics as schedules could change. Also sub varsity games will also continue to be played which will be posted online. Win or lose, teams will continue to play until 6/15. At which time, teams can elect to play in the stats tournament if they wish.
Wrestling and track still has regular season action on the schedule. We are working on post season plans for them.
The football team will hold its banquet (no food just awards) on Tuesday at 5pm at the site of graduation. The new coaching staff will meet with all players and parents and players Monday night at 6:30PM in the bleachers.
Finally, any senior who is planning to play sports in college (doesn’t have to be on scholarship) should wear something from their college to graduation rehearsal as we will take a group picture on the logo of the turf field after the rehearsal.
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCSJones
Twitter: @DrCSJones