Plymouth Public Schools

Plymouth Education Foundation’s 10th Annual Valentine Gala

Administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and members of the community are cordially invited to attend the Plymouth Education Foundation’s 10th Annual Valentine Gala on Saturday, February 8, 2020. This black-tie optional event will take place at Waverly Oaks Golf Club in Plymouth, from 6:00 – 11:00 PM. Individual tickets are $100. A table of eight may be purchased for $725.

Highlights of the evening will include dinner, a cash bar, live music, dancing, and raffles. Former Superintendent Of Schools, Barry Haskell will receive the Adele Manfredi Excellence In Education Award, in honor of his exemplary commitment to education and the community. Indian Brook Elementary School Principal, Erica Manfredi, will present the award in memory of her late mother.

Visit http://www.plymoutheducationfoundation.org/news/gala to purchase your tickets.

2nd Annual History Day Competition

The Plymouth Public Schools Social Studies Department held the Second Annual History Day competition yesterday. The National History Day program is a rigorous independent research project in which students must choose a topic related to the annual theme, conduct extensive research using primary and secondary sources, and create a final product that tells the story of that topic, its relation to the theme, and its significance in history - no small feat!

Plymouth’s History Day competition is the culmination of seven months of research and synthesis by our hard-working and dedicated students from 9th, 10th, and 11th grade honors classes.

This year’s theme is Breaking Barriers in History; a theme that reminds us that progress is a compelling and ongoing narrative in our shared history. What are the ‘barriers’ we face as individuals and as a society? How do we break these? What do we gain by breaking barriers? Students told the story of their chosen topic through detailed exhibits, comprehensive websites, and captivating documentaries.

A job well done to all! Congratulations to the final winners who will be advancing to the South Shore History Day Competition at Foxboro High School in March.

We'd like to extend a very special thank you to Mr. Powers, Social Studies Coordinator; Kristen DiGravio, Educational Secretary; the North and South Social Studies teachers, and all of the judges, staff, volunteers, and sponsors for another successful History Day competition.

Register for Camp Invention

Imaginations will soar this summer in the all-new Camp Invention program, Elevate! Campers in grades K-6 will spark their creativity and build collaboration skills while controlling their very own flight simulation robot, protecting Earth’s ecosystems, designing the ultimate sports complex and learning the value of their ideas! Local educators will lead fun, hands-on STEM activities inspiring children to ask questions, overcome obstacles and be confident in their innovative ideas. Visit invent.org/camp or call 800-968-4332 to register. Use promo code SUM25 to save $25 (expires 3/31) or SUM15 to save $15 (expires 5/12).

Please note that this camp is already 33% sold and that we anticipate the program will sell out. Get registered today! Opportunities exist for students in GR7-12 also. Contact Mary Lavin at mlavin@plymouth.k12.ma.us or Alison Riordan at ariordan@plymouth.k12.ma.us for more information about these opportunities.

Winter Fun

Although we haven’t really had snow this winter the preschoolers have been having fun doing winter time activities inside. Students have been learning about what clothes you wear in hot and cold weather and practicing putting on winter gear in the dress up area. This week we have shaving cream skating in the motor room which works on strength and balancing. Miss Gabby’s students have been learning about melting and experimented with hot water and salt, melting their ice cubes at the science center. In Miss Kim’s class they have been practicing their fine motor skills while drawing snowmen.

King George III sighting at FFES!

King George III (aka E.A.P.C. Union President, Tom Pinto) visited Mr. Carlin's 5th grade class to help students understand what it was like to be a Boston colonist in the mid 1700s. Students learned what the political slogan "no taxation without representation" and what that actually meant to those colonists and why the King's refusal to allow them representation in the British Parliament ultimately led to the American Revolution.

Peer Leaders/Early Act Ceremony

Hedge School hosted a Peer Leader/Early Act ceremony in collaboration with Plymouth Rotary Sunrise Club. Select Grade 5 leaders pledged to help our community and received Early Act pins, sweatshirts and a delicious lunch. Peer Early Act Leaders mentor younger students, play an active leadership role in the Hedge Community as well as support community programs beyond the school.Thank you Chick-Fa-La for donating lunch and Sunrise Rotary Club for sponsoring our group.

Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination encourages participants in project-based challenges that are designed to build confidence and develop extraordinary creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.

Participants explore STEM/STEAM concepts in a hands-on environment
Creative problem solving: Learn how to think, not what to think
Kid powered; team driven: Energize students to own all decisions, creations, and results
Friendly competition: Motivate teams to reach for the stars, while also rooting for each other

IBES has three teams competing this year in the regional event which will take place on March 7th at Plymouth South Middle School.

Artist Rob Surette visits SES!

Artist Rob Surette visited SES this week. Not only was Rob Surette’s artistic talent showcased — his message was incredible. Be yourself, you can do anything, strive to be better, be kind to yourself and others, be empathetic, be creative. Just get out there and do it! You can be anything and do anything you want to do! Everyone can be a HERO!

The SES PTA was so proud to bring this meaningful message to all of our students. In addition the PTA has also purchased the painting that was done of Martin Luther King (painted in just 4 minutes!). This painting will be displayed in the school.

Aladdin Jr.

Last weekend over 130 students from PCIS participated in 2 sold out performances of Aladdin Jr. at Plymouth North High School. In addition to our cast, crew, and prop masters, we had an incredible production team comprised of PCIS theatre alumni from Plymouth North High School. Thank you to all of the staff and PCIS families for your continued support of our PCIS Theatre Program! A very special congratulations to the entire cast and crew a spectacular run!

What's Coming Up Next at PCIS?

Hero of Harlem Essay Contest: 1st place $20 to Amazon. 5 essays will win! See the Spot Light on Literacy Wall for more information. Essays due to Mrs. Hamel by March 2nd.

PCIS strings students led by Mr. Palombo are working hard to prepare for their 2nd annual Valentine’s Concert on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00PM in the PCIS Cafeteria. Memorable melodies from the movies and TV are featured in this concert, including songs from The Lion King, The Wizard of Oz, SpongeBob, and more! Students and families can enjoy a dessert after the concert. Come out and support our talented students - free admission!

Kindness Week Starts on Monday!

Dribble, Dash, Dunk

Back on December 3, the first day of tryouts, it seemed as if the basketball season would stretch on forever. Now, just two months later, the final game of the season is just around the corner. Along the way, there were games against Pembroke, Whitman, Falmouth, Silver Lake, and, of course, PCIS. The last regular-season game takes place Tuesday, February 11 against cross-town rival PCIS. The excitement doesn't end there, however. On February 28, the PSMS staff take on the boys and girls teams for the Seventh Annual Basketball Bonanza. Currently, the score stands tied at 3-3. Who will take home the bragging rights this year?

Foreign Language NHS

On Wednesday, January 22nd the PNHS Foreign Language department was proud to hold its first induction into two newly established chapters of the Société Honoraire de Français and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. Students who met the rigorous academic criteria were eligible for induction into the Foreign Language Honor Society.

This year, 42 French students and 57 Spanish students, ranging from the third to fifth year of language study, have become members of the Foreign Language Honor Society. The newly inducted members will meet for the first time in early February to plan events and activities for Foreign Language week later this year. In addition and as needed, members will serve as peer tutors.

The student-elected co-presidents who represent each language's Honor Society this year are Adam Capozzi (French) and Caleb Kerr (Spanish). This year's delegates, selected by their teachers based on their exceptional language ability and pronunciation and who conducted significant portions of the ceremony in their respective languages, were Brooke Cayting (French) and Janelle Clancy (Spanish).

Harvard Model UN

On Thursday, January 30th through Sunday, February 2nd, thirty one Plymouth North Students attended the Harvard Model United Nations Conference held in Boston. Students represented the country of Indonesia and discussed international topics ranging from social and humanitarian, political and financial. The students were very engaged in the process of discussing and debating issues in an effort to reach a formal resolution as a body of nations. Parliamentary procedure was used as students role played the positions that the representatives from Indonesia would take in the actual United Nations. There were over 4,000 high school students in attendance from all over the country and world. It was both an educational and fun experience for all.

Massachusetts 2020 Scholastic Art Awards

See the attached photo of Plymouth South Graphic Design & Visual Communication students who won Honorable Mention for their entries in the 2020 Scholastic Art Awards. Congratulations to Mikayla McNeely, Ainsley Richardson and Angelina Andrews who were chosen out of nearly 320,000 original works in 29 categories of art and writing.