The Panther Press
Official Newsletter of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Welcome!
September 20, 2020 - Volume 3 - ISSUE 2
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
September 28 - Lifetouch Student Pictures Grades 9-11 Cohort A & In-Person Students
October 2 - Lifetouch Student Pictures Grades 9-11 Cohort B Students
October 12 - No School – Columbus Day
October 14 - District Professional Development (Afternoon)
October 14 - Grades - 10-11 Tentative PSAT
October 20 - Lifetouch Picture RetakesDr. Christopher Jones
Use Your GPS
GRACE: During times of difficulty it's important to not only offer other people grace, but yourself as well. We all make mistakes and stumble from time to time. The key to success is to learn and improve from them. Don't ever be hard on yourself for not being perfect. Instead focus on improving step by step, day by day, and for the long term.
PERSISTENCE: True, long lasting success doesn't ever come easy. It takes commitment and the ability to persist through obstacles. How often have you stopped short of your goal just to later find out you were one more step away from reaching your destination. Persistence is about being determined to take one more step towards your goal even when you don't feel like it or want to walk away. It takes a clear vision on where or more importantly, who you want to be.
SUPPORT: Often we are confronted with issues that are too large for us to overcome on our own. Understanding this and seeking out the support we need is the final key to these steps. Support isn't about getting someone to remove any obstacles blocking your path. It is about finding someone or something to help you overcome them on your own. One last important point about support is that often, the more you recognize others' need and provide it for them, the more readily available to you it is when you are in need.
Our Story...
Take a look and feel free to comment...this is our story...and everyone is part of it.
Mr. David Floeck
Dismissal Procedures:
A reminder to all parents that parent pickup at the end of the school day will begin at 1:50. Parents arriving to campus prior to 1:50 will be directed to line up in the lower parking lot(Junior lot) until all the busses have been loaded and exit the campus. Once the busses have exited, parents will be directed to head up to the school to pick up their child. Parents should use the outer loop(loop closest to the school) to pick up your child. Thank you for adhering to our dismissal procedures so we can insure the safe dismissal of all of our students.
Remote Learning Protocols:
Week one is in the books an what a successful week it was. It was great to have students back in the building even with all the new procedures and guidelines. I wanted to remind all students of the expectations when they are participating remotely.
- Find an organized and appropriate work space where you have all your materials at your disposal.
- Log into your classes on time and remember to mute your audio when logging in.
- Turn on your camera so you can effectively interact with your teachers and the students within the class.
- Remember that when logged into your classes you are held to the same expectations as if you were physically in the class. Appropriate behavior must be maintained at all times.
If students are not acting appropriately, the teacher will remove them from the class and they will be referred to the main office for further disciplinary action.
This school year is presenting all of us with unique opportunities to teach, learn and interact differently. It takes all of us to insure that we maintain a safe and nurturing learning environment where all our students can learn and be successful. I look forward to continuing to work together and experience all these new opportunities with all of you.
Mrs. Ruth Carrigan - Counseling
Need to see your counselor?
Please know that your school counselors are here for you. We know that 2020 has been a stressful year for many. Students, if you need help or support, please reach out to your counselor by following the link below. It will bring you to an appointment request form. We monitor the form and respond to appointment requests during the school day from 7 AM - 2 PM. School Counselor Appointment Request. If we can help in any way, please let us know.
Senior Parent Coffee with the Counselors - College Planning - On Wednesday, September 23, we welcome senior parents to join us for a virtual college planning program. Although we can't work with you in person, we welcome you to grab a cup of coffee and join us for this virtual program. We will start at 8 AM, and the program will last about an hour. This session will be recorded and posted to our website after the program. To sign up, follow this link: Senior Parent Coffee with the Counselors - College Planning Sign Up
PSAT - Preliminary SAT- We invite students in grades 10 and 11 to sign up to take the PSAT. Taking the PSAT is a great way to kick off your path to college if that is your plan. The PSAT will be offered on the national test date of Wednesday, October 14th. Students/families will need to arrange transportation to and from school on PSAT day. In addition, they should bring a calculator and several number 2 pencils. Students should arrive by 7:30 am and should complete testing by approximately 11 AM. Please follow the PSAT Sign Up Link to register for the exam. The deadline to sign up is October 2, 2020.
Freshmen Parent Coffee with the Counselors - We invite parents in grade 9 to join the school counseling staff for a virtual program on Wednesday, September 30 at 8 AM. In this informal session, we encourage you to grab a cup of coffee and join us for conversation. You will get a chance to "meet" your child's school counselor, and we will be available to answer questions and provide tips and advice to help you and your students make a successful transition to high school. Follow this link to sign up: Freshmen Parent Coffee with the Counselors Registration.
We are continuing our Panther Pathways Virtual Visits for the 2020/2021 School Year. All visits will take place on Wednesdays at 1 PM. We are adding colleges/universities to our list each week. If you would like to sign up for a virtual college visit, follow the appropriate links below.
Virtual Visit/Workshop - Click Link to Sign Up
9/23 at 1 PM Bridgewater State University
9/30 at 1 PM Emmanuel College
10/7 at 1 PM Stonehill College
10/14 at 1 PM University of New Hampshire
10/21 at 1 PM Curry College
Prudential Spirit of Community Award - Students in grades 5 - 12 who have made a difference through volunteering over the past year may want to apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award program. This prestigious award program has honored nearly 100,000 middle and high school students at the local, state and national level over the past 25 years for volunteer work. Applications are available at http://spirit.prudential.com/ or http://www.nassp.org/spirit. The deadline to apply on-line is November 20, 2020.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your school counselor.
Mrs. DeMello - Covering for Mrs. Garrett
News from the Support Team
Athletics - Mr. Bob Rodgers
Here We Go!
As of today, the Massachusetts rules regarding attendance at large events are dictating how we are handling spectators. The Patriot League has voted to allow fans only for the home teams. Visiting fans will not be allowed to enter any stadium or gym. For home games, once the user fee is paid, each family will receive 2 lanyards. These lanyards must be worn in order to attend the games.
As a reminder, all parents and students should be following us on twitter @whathletics. We post many updates and important information.
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