TITAN TIMES M A G A Z I N E
FALL/WINTER
SUPERINTENDENT'S NOTE FALL/WINTER Welcome to the latest issue of Titan Times Magazine. As we look ahead to a new decade, I am excited for the opportunities ahead. As always, I would like to say thank you to our incredible and dedicated staff. We have had an extremely productive start to our school year. This was only made possible by the commitment of our students and staff to the teaching and learning process. Demanding academic excellence in conjunction with our Athletic, and Visual and Performing Arts departments, has led to an atmosphere of excitement in the Pembroke Public School District. As we continue to strive for excellence in all that we do, I want to thank our community members for their continued support and commitment to these goals. The upcoming months promise to be equally exciting and with the new year upon us, our thoughts turn to “what will our students need from us in order to have the best possible experience when they return in January?” To that end,
Exciting News S T A Y T UNE D!
we stay focused on our District Goals, as well as the priorities and
In 2020, Pembroke Public Schools will be
organizational infrastructures required to achieve these goals on behalf of
launching a new transportation software
every student: academic achievement, social-emotional learning, technology integration and communication.
in partnership with First Student.
Preparations are underway for a successful second half of the year as we plan
FirstView ,First Student's bus tracking
the best ways to guide our students through course selections, welcome
and parent communication app contains
parents at Kindergarten Information Night and prepare for Camp Bournedale as well as our promotion and graduation ceremonies. These events all
helpful features like estimated bus
represent new beginnings and growth opportunities for our students, and for
arrival times, customizable alerts, and
us as a team.
built-in customer support.
Thank you to the town of Pembroke for the continued support of our schools, our teachers and our students. I look forward to celebrating the successes and the work that our students and staff do every day to make us proud.
Stay tuned for more details in February and be on the lookout for the launch of this exciting new technology.
I hope you and your families have had a restful winter break and enjoyed spending time with loved ones. I look forward to crossing paths with you in our classrooms, our athletic events, our musical performances, our meeting places and all across the district in the new year. Sincerely,
ERIN OBEY, SUPERINTENDENT | 02
TITAN TIMES MAGAZINE
Issue 8
TABLE OF CONTENTS Pembroke Cares
Thank you to the town of Pembroke for the continued support for our schools, our teachers and our students.
Exploring Co-Teaching An Update from the Department of Student Services
News & Noteworthy News around town.
Culture of Kindness How Pembroke Public Schools promote a positive culture.
Keeping Connected How to connect with us and stay in the know with all things Pembroke.
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STAPLES 02 Superintendent's Note 20 Visual & Performing Arts 22 Athletics 24 Titan Tech
WWW.PEMBROKEK12.ORG QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS, OR COMPLIMENTS? REACH OUT VIA TITANS TALK!
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#PPSFIRSTDAY19
WELCOME BACK TITANS CHECK OUT THE PPSFIRSTDAY VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER BACK TO SCHOOL 2019
When you see the codes like the one to the right, simply open the camera application on your phone. The scanner will link you to videos or websites with more information about the topics on these pages. | 04
#PPSFIRSTDAY19
WELCOME BACK 2019
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PEMBROKE CARES While the first official day of school for students was on August 28, teachers and staff returned to their buildings much earlier to prepare and get their classrooms ready for the 2019-20 school year. On August 26, teachers, staff and administrators came together for a welcome back convocation to set the tone for the
Having a full bucket increases the likelihood of having a positive outlook, and we make the choice every day to fill one another’s buckets, or dip from them. These choices profoundly affect our productivity, our health, happiness and ultimately our relationships. As part of this theme, local businesses were asked to help fill school employees’ buckets. More than 24 local companies donated 30 raffle prizes to Pembroke teachers as part of the second annual Pembroke Cares program. These donations from local companies are just one of the many examples of small local companies helping to
upcoming school year.
support Pembroke schools and staff. Buckets were
This was a day to celebrate our staff. While the
compliments to their colleagues. These positive
first two days of the 2019 school year consist of professional development and planning for the year ahead, the goal was also to reconnect with colleagues and encourage a climate of positivity. The theme for the staff convocation was bucket filling. The theory behind bucket filling is that each staff member has an invisible dipper that can either be used to fill other people’s buckets with positive emotions, or dipping from others' buckets by saying or doing things that will decrease their positive emotions. The theory is that when others buckets are filled, we also fill our own, and likewise, if we dip from others' buckets we diminish ourselves.
also set up around the buildings for staff to write messages will be shared weekly as a way to continue to “fill buckets” throughout the school year. Over 85 messages have been submitted by school staff so far this year. The following is the list of local companies who donated: The Lucky Dawg, The Omelette Factory, Dairy Twist, Secret Physique Studios, Angel Pizza, Lil Dukes Ice Cream Shoppe, Row & Ride Indoor Rowing and Cycling Studios, A Slice Above Pizzeria, Starland Sportsplex & Fun Park, Disch’s Route 53 Tavern, Orta Restaurant, Smoosh Smoothie & Juice Bar, Sherwin Williams Paints, Charlie’s Too Restaurant, Kindred Spirit Gifts, China Wok Restaurant, VERC Briteway Car Wash, Etoile Dance & Yoga Studio, The Juice Station, Emerald Yoga, The British Beer Company, Stellwagen Brewery, Green Koala Gift Shop and Nailed IT DIY Studio South Shore.
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Community Feedback About Our Teachers
"Love all of our Pembroke teachers!"
Our students, faculty, and staff are doing amazing things each and every day. Please share your good news and stories with us! Upcoming events, kudos for a job well done, or anything else you think we should know about! Click the " Titans Talk" icon on our website homepage.
"THE KIDS LOVE THAT SHE THROWS HERSELF INTO ACTIVITIES WHOLEHEARTEDLY. HER ENTHUSIASM IS TRULY APPRECIATED!"
"We can’t thank them enough for embracing our son this year, giving him confidence in his work, and supporting him in every possible way."
To see the first day of school slideshow shown to the teachers, scan the QR code with your camera.
"Our family can't express enough how blessed we have been. Their warmth, patience, and care have been perfectly paired with structured, organized environments... the perfect combination for a kid like my son. The extra emails to check in, staying late at teacher conferences to answer all my questions... I can't express with words how much they have helped our family. I'll be grateful for both of them for the rest of my life."
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SAY HELLO TO NEW STAFF
WELCOME TO PEMBROKE
Pembroke High School Katherine Lewis, Special Education Teacher Gina Kelly, Biology Teacher Andrew Baker, Chemistry Teacher Alice Bradford, Spanish Teacher Tiffany Killeen, Special Education Teacher Julianna DeCina, Paraprofessional James Geary, Paraprofessional Bonnie McCarthy, Paraprofessional Pembroke Community Middle School Michael Rosen, Science Teacher Jennifer Richardson, Science Teacher Lisa Rutledge, Special Education Teacher Anne Marie Haylon, Social Studies Amanda Carr, School Social Worker (PCMS/HES) Bryantville Rachel Bittenbender, Psychologist Katharine Krampf, Music Teacher Meghan Grier, Grade 1 Teacher Mary Glavin, Paraprofessional Zachary White, Custodian Hobomock Katie Dugas, Paraprofessional North Erica Nali Swift,Principal Meg Leach, Nurse Alicia Carafone, Paraprofessional District Sarah Roberts, Physical Therapist Irina Naryshkova, Elementary Strings Teacher
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MEET MS.CARR & BODIE Pembroke Public Schools welcomed a few new additions to the staff this fall, including School Social Worker, Ms. Carr and her comfort dog. His name is Bodie and he is a labradoodle. His official title is, "comfort dog". Comfort dogs are slightly different than therapy dogs. Comfort dogs are there to meet the needs of all students and staff, while a therapy dog is typically used for a specific student needs and objectives. Bodie will be splitting his time between Hobomock Elementary School and Pembroke Community Middle School. Last year, the comfort dog program was piloted at Bryantville Elementary School. In addition to Bodie, we will also have some freelance comfort dogs at the other schools in the district as we expand the program. Some may wonder why comfort dogs and what purpose do they serve in education? The idea started as part of the social emotional health and wellness initiative throughout the district. Pembroke strives not only for academic excellence, but also strives to address the needs of the whole student. An important part of academic success comes from addressing social and emotional needs. Some children have higher levels of stress or anxiety and what better way to alleviate some of those stressors than a dog? If a child comes to school stressed, they will not be able to focus on their academics. Bodie helps students redirect those emotions, forget about life stresses and focus on being at school.
Bodie will benefit every single student, not just students who need help with social and emotional learning. He can help students take breaks, listen as they read aloud to him, or simply just be a calming presence in a classroom as they prepare for an exam. By having a comfort dog in the school, we anticipate that our students' grades, attendance, behavior and overall well-being will improve. We can then review that data, identify what benefits Bodie has provided to the middle school and one elementary school, and look to expand upon the program in the future. Bodie is a member of the Titan family now. When he is not working at the school, he goes home with his owner and social worker, Ms. Carr.
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Kindness First
Promoting a culture of community and kindness
In our school community, we are committed to providing a high-quality education in a safe and nurturing environment designed to inspire a love of lifelong learning. Now more than ever, our students look to us as role models. We take great pride in our efforts to make sure that every student feels welcomed, nurtured, safe, and valued. Our schools provide a comprehensive educational program delivered by professional and dedicated staff who are committed to ensuring student success at all levels. Pembroke Public Schools is a great place to develop academically, socially and emotionally due to a personalized learning environment designed to build a strong and empathetic community of learners. We encourage participation in extracurricular activities and urge our students to take advantage of the many programs, sports, clubs, and activities available. We believe that the participation in extracurricular activities enriches their overall educational experience which helps to foster leadership and collaboration skills while instilling a sense of school pride and community. We have a strong tradition of excellence in education, in and out of the classroom and our goal is for all students to find success in both. Last year we spent a lot of time focused on school pride, promoting a culture of kindness. We believe that a "kindness first" environment emphasizes respect for others, promotes responsible decisions, and creates a positive atmosphere that teaches empathy, strengthens the school community and increases positive behaviors. Students are the driving force behind creating a kindness first culture and the administration and teachers worked with them to facilitate and recognize these efforts. Not only are students seen and celebrated for doing simple acts of kindness but you can also feel the culture of kindness weaved into the daily lives at Pembroke Public Schools. At the beginning of the year, students helped spread kindness with post-it notes placed around the school with positive welcome back messages. Posters promoting self-worth, friendship and acceptance were seen throughout the halls. Throughout the year at the elementary level, leadership awards are presented to student leaders demonstrating qualities such as kindness, selflessness, and courage. At the secondary levels, murals representing Titan pride and the kindness first mentality are painted throughout the halls. The Pembroke Community Middle School and their students were chosen as the “Best Buddies Massachusetts Outstanding Middle School Chapter” for 2018 and each year a random act of kindness breakfast is held at Pembroke High School to celebrate students who demonstrated the kindness first mentality by doing something good for others. Last year the art department worked with student’s grades K-12 to create self-portraits that reflected their unique identities and also raised over $550 for The Students Rebuild Organization, which benefits students and their communities across the globe with education and peacebuilding efforts. These are just a few of the many examples of the kind of inclusive and positive culture we are striving for at Pembroke Public Schools. | 10
We believe as leaders that we have the opportunity to give students a gift, the gift of showing them how to be kind, empowering them to care for themselves and others. The gift of knowing we care. We cannot tell what challenges a person is going through just by looking at them which is why it is so important to be kind to everyone all of the time. We believe a simple act of kindness can change someone’s day and even inspire that person to pass it on. Follow us on social media, every Wednesday we feature a positive message found on the walls of our halls!
Bucket Fillers
#BucketFillerFriday
Setting the Example with Bucket Filling As a way to continue the momentum set on the first day for teachers and staff, we have continued with the Bucket Filling theme. All of the buildings have bucket filling cards that staff has been using to share positive messages with one another. These positive messages are shared weekly as a way to continue to “fill buckets� throughout the school year. Over 100 messages have been submitted by school staff so far this year. | 11
Titans Give Back Pembroke Students Give Back to the Community in Many Different Ways
PEMBROKE GOES WICKED GOLD
Helping Give Cancer the Boot! Pembroke High School and Pembroke Community Middle School went ‘Wicked Gold’ this past September to raise money for childhood cancer. Thank you to everyone who participated in the spirit day, GO GOLD for Childhood Cancer! At both the high school and middle school, students showed amazing spirit and during their fundraiser weeks, raised money towards helping give cancer "the boot". Thank you again to everyone who participated and for all of your generous donations to this great cause!
Feeding the Homeless During the Pembroke High School volleyball season each team – varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen had the opportunity to prepare bagged lunches and deliver them to Father Bill’s/MainSpring Homeless Shelter in Brockton. Over a two-weekend span, the girls prepared and delivered more than 180 bagged lunches to the shelter to feed the increasing number of homeless people in the area.Upon delivery of the bagged lunches, the girls received a tour of the facility and got detailed descriptions on how the facility runs and how much it helps the homeless.The Brockton facility was chosen due to its dire need for bagged lunches as they are a bigger facility than the Quincy site.
Pajama Day Food Drive Thanks to the generosity of all of our students and their families as well as our staff we are happy to announce we had over 2,000 food items donated to the Firehouse Pantry! | 12
TITAN TOWN NEWS
THE LATEST STORIES OF OUR STUDENTS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
MAKING STRIDES FOR BREAST CANCER On September 29, 2019, Pembroke High School students took to the streets once again to raise funds for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. They raised over $1,200.00 doing the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Boston.
WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S Pembroke High School Student Council organized a team to walk in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, September 14, 2019. They also held a, "Wear Purple" spirit day for Alzheimer's Awareness. Students who did not wear purple could purchase a purple necklace with proceeds going to the Walk To End Alzheimer’s Foundation. The students raised over $860.00.
TRUNK OR TREAT Despite a postponement due to rain, the Pembroke High School Student Council held another successful Trunk or Treat event. This community event includes bounce houses, face painting, music and more! Students did an amazing job of decorating their trunks and entertaining the community children.
Golf Team Winter Clothing Drive
The Pembroke High School golf team and their families collected backpacks, warm clothing, hats and gloves to distribute to all three elementary schools for families in need. They also collected 147 pairs of socks for World Homeless Day. | 13
Exploring C0-Teaching OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES UPDATE
Last fall Pembroke Public Schools launched a Pilot Program exploring the Co-Teaching Methodology.
What is Co-Teaching?
Co-Teaching Models
Co-Teaching is an effective, evidence-based instructional strategy that allows special education students to be included in classes in order to have instruction delivered by content area experts at the same time they are being supported by a special education teacher in order to specialize the instruction.
Once a teacher and co-teacher have decided what they are teaching, they also have to decide how they are going to teach.
Why is Co-Teaching Effective? Increased student interaction with teachers Increased group work and student-to-student interaction Increased use of research-based practices including differentiating instruction and direct instruction in learning strategies Students gain a sense of equality and efficacy Students ability to access material while being supported Teachers report enjoying working with another professionally
Six co-teaching models exist for co-teachers to maximize the impact: One teach One observes: One teacher teaches while the other collects purposeful data Station Teaching: Educators teach in different small groups Parallel Teaching: Class is split, and educators instruct groups Alternative Teaching: A small number of students are selected for intense instruction by one educator Teaming: Both educators instruct class together for fast-paced group instruction One Teach, One Assist: One educator provides assistance to individual students
In Conclusion The success our the co-teaching pilot can be credited to the dedication of our teaching staff. Co-teaching requires a lot of planning and collaboration to be effective. Our teachers have really risen to the challenge and the pilot program is going very well due to all of their hard work.
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OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES
calender of events 2019-2020
1/27
January 27, 2020: Managing Anxiety-presented by District Social Workers
3/23
March 23, 2020: Behavioral Management-Managing and Reducing Challenging Behaviors -presented by Kathleen Dorn, BCBA
5/11
May 11, 2020: How to Manage Social Conflict (including the use of the Social Thinking Curriculum)-presented by District School Psychologists
ALL EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT HOBOMOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S LIBRARY AT 6:30 PM
To watch videos from these presentations, check our website www.pembrokek12.org under Student Services.
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MINDFULNESS Social-Emotional Health & Wellness
At any given moment, students across the district can be found hushed in their classrooms. Occasionally, over the loudspeaker, school counselors break the silence with a calm voice sharing a mindful exercise. “Feel your breath come in and out,” echoes through the buildings in a calm, steady voice. These mindful moments, help students pay special attention to their breathing and help them to focus. Teachers follow-up with these breathing exercises with lessons on mindfulness that students can use if they want to calm down such as mindful listening, deep breathing and sending kind thoughts. A sharp rise in student stress levels has prompted school districts throughout the region to incorporate mindfulness into the curriculum. Students are trying hard to be present in the moment, a challenge in today’s distracting environment. Embracing the social-emotional aspect of learning supports students by integrating stress-reducing techniques into the course of their day.
A STUDENT AT HOBOMOCK PRACTICES YOGA WITH DR. PENELLA DURING AN EARLY MORNING CLASS BEFORE SCHOOL. | 16
Supporting the development of students’ social and emotional competence is one of the foundation blocks of PPS, inextricably tied to academic success. To succeed academically and become empathic, engaged and ethical citizens, students need opportunities to develop social and emotional competence. Pembroke’s SEL approach fosters resiliency, responsibility, supportive relationships, and reflection and provides opportunities for students to develop and practice important social and emotional learning competencies.
Today, more than 200 faculty members have been trained in mindfulness and best practices on how to integrate it into the curriculum. The district has also expanded the student services team with the addition of social workers, and school psychologists in every building.
HOW PHYSICAL EDUCATION IS TAKING SHAPE A new program at all three elementary schools is taking physical education to a new level. The goal is to teach students about wellness beyond just physical activity. This approach included both a nutritional component as well as a social/emotional piece. The approach is intended to help students better understand their personal growth and development. As part of the program, students learn healthy eating habits in addition to meditation and calming techniques. This program is an expansion of the Wellness Curriculum already in place at the secondary levels.
EMBEDDING MOVEMENT BREAKS INTO ALL AREAS OF EDUCATION Across the district, mindfulness can take on different forms. Some elementary classrooms feature a “recharge station,” where students can sit quietly to take a break if they feel overwhelmed before returning to their seat. For a student experiencing an anxiety attack, guidance counselors or teachers might take them on a walk around the building. Students can also be seen early in the morning before the day begins practicing yoga. These yoga classes begin with a meditation where students state their goals of the day: to push themselves, to quiet their thoughts, or to improve concentration. Other classes might pause between lessons with a minute or two of deep breathing. In addition to building mindfulness into the curriculum, students are also encouraged to take gross motor breaks in sensory hallways,choose flexible seating and enjoy visits from our new comfort dog, Bodie. | 17
Pembroke High Achievers
Congratulations to the 2019 Abigail Adams Scholarship Recipients! This scholarship is based on their performance on their STE (Biology), ELA, and Mathematics MCAS tests.
Pembroke High School Term 1 Honor Roll 12th-grade high honor students Karli Belyea, Katelyn Belyea, Abigail Bizzozero, Gillian Canniff, Zoie Curtin, Patricia Egan, Kylie Gates, Emily Kane, Kelly Morrissey, Michael Nogueira, Isabella Pizzi, Ryan Raleigh, Jaqueline Rogers, Maxwell Saia, Bridget Smith, Uma Tam and Kelsey Wu. 12th-grade honor students Alyssa Alther, Sophia Antoniotti, Rebecca Aretino, Hailey Barros, Ryan Barry, Sophia Blomberg, Sophie Booth, Martha Bosworth, Joy Bowler, Matthew Buzalsky, Brendan Capuzzo, Ryan Cobb, Sophia Considine, Kevin Coombs, Amanda Costello, Kayla Daly, Danielle DeCastro, Julia Evans, Fionna Feerick, Lisa Freeley, Ethan Gaiser, Katherine Galligan, Sarah Goodman, Colin Graham, Leah Greene, Grant Hall, Laura Hallett, Michael Harkins, William Harkins, Caroline Heffernan, Caroline Hickie, Meredith Hinthorn, Katherine Holmes, Molly Horner, Christopher Jackman, Pallavi Karra, Timothy Kiley, Allison Kilnapp, Samantha LaBrie, Ryan Lamie, Caroline Linscott, Amanda Little, Dylan Lundberg, Sophia Maalouly, Bailee McCarthy, Ryan McIver, Jason McKee, Brandon Murdock, Paul Murphy IV, Matthew Newman, Saoirse O’Ciardubhain, Ryan Parmenter, Zachary Phinney, Bridget Price, Ryan Price, Elizabeth Rankin, Gavin Razzaboni, William Reggio, William Robatzek, Mackenzie Ryan, Niamh Sheedy, Anthony Sheehan-Alvarado, Izabel Souza, Benjamin Stanton, Caitlin Sullivan, Connor Sullivan, Robert Surprenant, Abigale Trask, Lauren Trongone, Katelyn Tropeano, Lauren Twigg, Jadon VanDerMolen, Madisyn Vieira, Jack Wengryn, Hailley Wilson, Jace Wilson, Kathleen Wolongevicz, William Wolongevicz and Ashley Zechello. 11th-grade high honor students Kathleen Cobb, Elizabeth Hayes, Delaney Miller, Grace Petitpas, Michael Shubert, Julia Spillane and Jack Willshire. 11th-grade honor students Angelina Adams, Alexa Alhadeff, Margaret Amendolare, Shea Barton, Syndey Boussy, Gabryelly Caetano-Dutra, Elizabeth Carter, Marly Cassford, Isabella Celli, Luke Chapman, Emily Chmielinski, Abigail Dahlquist, Miranda DeMita, Cassandra Doehling, Michaela Ford-Selter, Doc Frattasio, Hannah Gerlach, Jaclyn Gregorio, Jenna Hendriksen, Jillian Hendriksen, Olivia Hillstrom, Elizabeth Hinkley, Daniel Hoare, William Hoban, Lillian Hodge, Katelyn Howe, Katarina Hrivnak, Corrinne Johnson, Lily Jones, Isabella Kane, Janinia Kay, Braden Kelbaugh, Grace Kelner, Angelo Kesaris, Stella Lane, Rachel Langlois, Mason LaPlante, Jack Maclay, Katherine Mahar, Ryan Mattinson, Ella Merlan, Hannah Morgan, Ryan Nagobads, Haley Nason-Stallings, Tory O’Malley, Julia Olszewski, Kaitlyn Pearson, Sophia Pizzi, Samantha Polin, Amelia Prescott, Ethan Putlack, Sydney Rappaport, Isabelle Rosano, Sean Rowell, Jordan Roy, Lucas Saia, Maya Savage, Gabriel Semonian, Joseph Shine, Mikayla Shubert, Ashleigh Spellman, Caroline Spellman, Samuel Steele, Gianna Verna, Tyler Wilson, William Yarranton and Brooke Young.
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10th -grade high honor students Vanessa Ahola, Elizabeth Buckley, Lily Budak, Lauren Canniff, Nora Cleary, Michael D’Angelo, Alexandra Dakin, Brianna Donachie, Allison Flaherty, Dean Freeley, Carleton Gough, Evan Grimm, Daylin Harvey, Ava Jackson, Rachael Johnston, Izabelle Jonsson, Charlotte Littlefield, Isabella Macwilliams, Jae Martin, Kaleigh Murphy, Shane Radke, Sofia Rosas, Aree Tam, Olivia Terkelsen and Kalie Walker. 10th-grade honor students Caitlin Abban, Sarah Baio, Stephen Bekhit, Mitchell Biagini, Sarah Bradley, Nicolas Burke, Abigail Burns, Madelyn Campbell, Jacob Cogburn, Sara Conley, Thomas Considine, Jaden Curtis, Anna Damien, Sophia DeSimone, Sarah DeYoung, Kylee Dinneen, Natalie Donlon, Erin Doran, Megan Dorsey, Amanda Duperre, Margaret Eva, Abigail Flynn, Isabella Fox, Madeline Gannon, Hannah Giese, Michaela Gorman, Amanda Greene, Connor Guimares, Daniel Hatch, Abigail Heffernan, Nolan Holloway, Chloe Holt, Jillian Horner, Hannah Jenkins, Evan Kates, Kyli Kealey, Abigail Kennedy, Sydney Killham, Mackenzie Lagner, Beau Lane, Alexandra Lee, Matthew Lewis, Vanessa Locke, Connor Lockhart, Daniel Maki, Emma McCarthy, Mandy McCue, Luke Merlan, Audrey Messner, Emma Milchunes, Ethan Monroe, Daniel Moore, Kathryn Moriarty, Jaqueline Murphy, Evan Norman, Liam Norman, Hailey Norton, Molly Panos, Matthew Parmenter, Jillian Pillard, Samantha Raleigh, Emily Roberts, Olivia Roberts, Payton Roy, Joey Saunders, Jaime Scholl, Evie Schultz, Jordan Shine, Alison Stone, Michael Tremblay, Kailee Turvey, Matthew Vega, Grace Weston, Andrew Williams and Davis Yarranton. Ninth-grade high honor students Holly Beaudoin, Joseph Beck, Garret Bolan, Aidan Callahan, Matthew Clark, Michael Driscoll, Brody Graham, Benjamin Lynch, Cassandra Sparrow, Brady Spencer, Lily Ward, Dylan Warrell and Meghan Wu. Ninth-grade honor students Ryan Baker, Emily Balkam, Nicole Balkam, Matthew Bergamesca, Aidan Blake, Liam Brennan, Jacob Bunszel, Torie Burrill, Colby Chase, Amber Chmielinski, Anna Christie, Hannah Cibotti, Allison Coburn, Dylan Crockett, Declan Crowley, Madison Curran, Eva Dannison, Madeline Darby, Ryan Darby, Samuel DeMille, Morgan Dubois, Joseph Dwyer, Kristen Farrell, Ashlynn Gallagher, Jessica Gedutis, Catrena Ghattas, Natalie Gonzalez, Michael Gouthro, William Guthro, Parker Hackett, Paige Harrison, Mathew Harvey, Allison Hogan, Nathaniel Holmes, Reagan Hughes, Evan Jacobson, Benjamin Kane, Owen Kane, Liza Koplovsky, Sarah Leach, Christian Leary, Kaitlyn Leonard, Deanna Linscott, Stephen Locke, Ashlin Loud, Haley McCarthy, Samantha McKenna, Brady McKeown, Brianna Medico, Brandon Nguyen, Maya O’Dette, Aiden Peacock, Noah Petillo, Joshua Phinney, Payton Pietraszek, Alicea Reynolds, Anthony Rizzitano, Brooke Roche, Ella Rothhaar, Katleyn Saunders, Luke Savoie, Erin Scarselli, Savannah Searfoss, Zachary Shute, Shelby Smiley, Cole Straub, Sydney Straub, Ethan Sullivan, Adeline Sweetser, Jack Taylor, Connor Thistle, Keelin Toler, Jack Tosone, Nathan Tosone, Anthony Troiano, Cassie VanVeghten, Ryan Ventura, Nicholas Verna, Abbie Waters, Adam Wengryn, Kaleb Wiggin and Allison Zeoli.
ALUMNI NEWS ONCE A TITAN ALWAYS A TITAN
Nora Vasconcellos Class of 2011 Pembroke Alumni, Nora Vasconcellos has been breaking down barriers and trailblazing the way for women in skateboarding for years. The first-ever female skateboarder for Adidas has recently launched a six-piece capsule collection of unisex footwear and apparel, paying special homage to her hometown. The collaborative collection and ad campaign featured Pembroke in the product designs as well as the photography. Way to do us proud, Nora!
Christian Pulselli Class of 2019 Christian Pulselli is a wellknown name among the soccer community. As a 2019 graduate of Pembroke High School, he certainly left his mark on the athletic programs. Christian was named to the Patriot League All-Star Club as a sophomore. He also was a Massachusetts High School State Track Champion in the 300-meter dash and on three-relays. He went on to attend Michigan State University making himself known as an active contributor to the men's soccer program his freshman year. He appeared in all 22 matches (six starts), his first season with the Wolverines. Go Blue!
M.J. Baird Class of 2015 Pembroke High School Class of 2015 Alumni M.J.Baird has taken the broadcasting world by storm since graduation. M.J. was very active during his time at PHS, as class president, a national honor society member and honor roll student. He went on to attend Quinnipiac University, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. M.J. most recently moved to Wichita Falls, Texas to take a broadcast position with KFXD, Channel 3 as their weekend sports anchor/reporter. Congratulations M.J., we cannot wait to see where your career takes you.
COMMENDED STUDENT- CLASS OF 2020 Marc Talbot, Pembroke High School Principal, announced earlier this month, that senior Elizabeth Rankin has been named as a Commended Student in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented to Elizabeth earlier this month. Elizabeth has not only demonstrated her potential in this competition, but with her many achievements during her time at Pembroke High School. Elizabeth is an active member of the Model UN Club, Amnesty International, and the French Club. She is also a member of the National Honor Society. Elizabeth was chosen and participated in the Girls State Leadership program in 2019, participated in the Boston Invitational Model United Nations Conference in 2019 and was nominated as James Otis Scholar. She has also received Undergraduate Excellence Awards in Visual Arts, AP English Language & Composition and French. In addition to her many academic achievements she is also a wellrespected student-athlete known for her abilities as a Varsity Cross Country and Track star.Over 1.5 million students took the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) last October and entered the National Merit Scholarship Program, a nationwide competition for recognition and awards conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).About 34,000 Commended Students are being recognized by school districts throughout the nation for their remarkable academic promise. Although these students will not continue in the 2020 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students. Those students who receive the recognition of Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding for potential success.
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Meet the 2019-2020 Pembroke Association for the Performing Arts Board President- Kerri Zeoli Vice President- Marna Blomberg Treasurer- Patty Hoban Secretary- Jen Johnson
Save the Dates January, 2020
Board Members:
8 Hobomock Winter Concert - 6:30 PM @ PHS
Jen Mahar Heather Cobb Jenn Merlan Mark Norman Pamela Roy
9 North Winter Concert - 6:30 PM @ PHS6 10 & 11 Senior District Music Festival (off-site) 16 PCMS Term 2 Winter Concert – 6:30 PM @ PHS
"The Pembroke Association for Performing Arts is dedicated to promoting and maintaining enthusiastic interest in all aspects of the performing arts programs in Pembroke High School."
25 All-State Music Festival Auditions – off site February, 2020 1 Jr.& Sr. SEMSBA Auditions 7 & 8 PHS Thespian Troupe Winter Play- 7:00 PM
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
19/20
For more updates check the VPA page on our website!
March , 2020 4 Springfest Directors (seniors) Meeting @ 5:00 PM 5 - 7 All-State Music Festival – Boston 10 All-Band Night 6:30 PM @ PHS GYM 11 All-Choral Night 6:30 PM @ PHS GYM 13 & 14 Junior District Music Festival - (off site) 16 PHS Spring Festival Auditions 5-8 PM 17All String Night 6:30 PM @ PHS Auditorium 20 & 21 Senior SEMSBA Music Festival (off site) 27 PPO Rehearsal for Chamber Singers @ Memorial Hall in Plymouth 28 PPO Concert for Chamber Singers – 8:00 PM @ Memorial Hall in Plymouth 26 Auditions for Solo & Ensemble Concert 2:00 –4:00PM April, 2020 2 PHS Solo & Ensemble Concert at 6:30 PM @ PHS 17 PCMS Musical Performance -@ PHS 7:00 PM 18 PCMS Musical Performance - @ PHS 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM 28 PHS Spring Concert I – Choirs 6:30 PM 30 PHS Spring Concert II – Band & Orchestra 6:30 PM May, 2020 1 & 2 Jr.SEMSBA Music Festival all day (off site) 5 PHS Arts Festival 6:30-8:00 PM 8 PHS Music Banquet 6:00 PM 15 PHS Thespian Spring Festival & Induction 7:00 PM 22 Music In The Parks Trip 25 Memorial Day Parade – PHS Marching Band 26 Hobomock Spring Concert 6:30 PM @ PHS 27 Bryantville Spring Concert 6:30 PM @ PHS 28 NorthSpring Concert 6:30 PM @ PHS June, 2019 6 PHS Graduation @ 10:00 AM 9 PHS Marching Band Orientation (for rising 8th graders, and grades 9-11) 6-8:30 PM
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES CHECK THE VPA PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE
ARTS BUZZ >
DETAIL >
PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY
COLLABORATIVE TEACHING
Pinhole Photography brought to you by Ms. Lazarus's photo students at PHS. A big thank
This fall, students from Mrs. Motta's art class at Pembroke
you to Maggie Carberry Pasquan, Boston area
High School shared their talents with third graders at
mixed media artist for sharing her arts
Hobomock Elementary School. Prior to meeting, the third
expertise and parent support of for the arts.
graders wrote descriptive letters to their high school "buddY" describing their visions for their pumpkin project. The high school students came up with a design according to their descriptions. The two classes came together to create a variety of pumpkins, each with a unique design.
Stay Tuned for the Thespian Troupe#7127 Winter Production on February 7th and 8th!
PORTFOLIO PREP Students are working hard on their portfolios using a variety of materials and methods.
WALL TILE PROJECT Studio Honors students at Pembroke High School have been busy working on 3-D wall
DETAIL >
tiles for a texture wall project.
THE MUSIC MAN
The Music Man is the very definition of a classic Broadway musical. The Music Man is a feel-good story with simple, universal themes. While some of the references may seem dated
For additional photos from the show, check our our album on Facebook.
now, some are timeless: The power of music is a remarkable thing, especially when it’s made together. We are very proud of the troupe's performance of this classic musical.
FUNDAMENTALS OF ART The Fundamentals of Art students at PCMS painted the autumn-themed windows.
DISTRICT MUSIC FESTIVAL
DETAIL >
The Pembroke Music Department is thrilled to announce that 20 PHS students have been accepted to the 2020 Southeastern District Music Festival and 8 students have been accepted to the 2020 Southeastern Junior District Music Festival. For a complete list, please visit our website.
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ATHLETICS UPDATE
The student-athletes should be proud of the tremendous efforts put forth this fall season. Although the season had its up and downs, the students demonstrated great
FALL STATS Girls Soccer- 4-10-4
sportsmanship and commitment. While not every team took home a championship or
Boys Soccer 10-6-2
qualified for a tournament, every athlete competed to the best of their abilities and
Volleyball 7-11
showed great fortitude both on and off the field. Through all of the ups and the downs, all of the student-athletes showed a commitment to their sport that they should be very proud of.
Girls Cross Country 3-1 Boys Cross Country 1-3 Field Hockey 10-8-1 Golf 10-8 Football 1-10
We look forward to the winter season of hockey, track, wrestling, swimming, basketball, and gymnastics. Go, Titans!
Scan the QR Code below to follow Pembroke Athletics on Social Media!
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FALL SPORTS RE-CAP SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
CAPTAINS
FOOTBALL Grant Hall
FOOTBALL Kory Horn Jack Eggers
BOYS SOCCER Brendan Capuzzo GIRLS SOCCER Katelyn Tropeano GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Fiona Feerick BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Conor Sullivan GOLF Delaney Miller FIELD HOCKEY Julia Spilliane VOLLEYBALL Kelsey Wu CHEER Hannah Giese
SPORTSMANSHIP Football Sean Devine BOYS SOCCER DIego Urquizo GIRLS SOCCER Abigail Bizzozero GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Hannah Kaplan BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Max Christianson
BOYS SOCCER Max Saia Will Wolongevicz Noel Heeran GIRLS SOCCER Jillian Hendricksen Jenna Hendriksen Katelyn Tropeano Caroline McAuliffe GOLF Robby Surprenant Sam Dyckman FIELD HOCKEY Katie Galligan Emily Kane Holly Sullivan VOLLEYBALL Lauren Trongone Olivia Abban Sophie Antoniotti CHEER Brianne McSweeney Caitlin Graham
PATRIOT LEAGUE TITLES/AWARDS Girls Soccer placed 5th in the League. 3rd place in Fisher Division. Girls Cross Country placed 2nd in the Patriot League Championships and 6th place at the EMASS D3 championships.
GOLF Robby Surprenant
Golf swept Plymouth South for the first time in many years; defeated Hanover for the first time in 3 years; finished in second place overall.
FIELD HOCKEY Kate Holmes
Sophie Antoniotti had her 1,000th career dig.
VOLLEYBALL Jennifer Galley Cheer MIa Cappa
PATRIOT LEAGUE ALL-STARS FOOTBALL Grant Hall BOYS SOCCER Max Saia Will Wolongevicz Noel Heeran Luke Saia Lucas Crowley GIRLS SOCCER Caroline McAuliffe Jillian Hendricksen Jenna Hendriksen GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Abby Obermann Ashleigh Spellman Sophia Pizzi Caitlin Abban Martha Bosworth Sarah Leach BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Conor Sullivan Will Regio GOLF Chris Sullivan Robby Surprenant FIELD HOCKEY Katie Galligan Miranda Demita Lisa Freely Megan Dorsey VOLLEYBALL Sophie Antoniotto CHEER Caitlin Graham Avery Kibbe Colleen McKillop Olivia Snyder
Cheer placed 2nd at the Patriot League Meet.
STATE RECOGNITIONS Boys soccer qualified for the MIAA Tournament- fell to Duxbury in the PK's. Luke Saia was selected as a EMASS All-Start & Patriot Ledger Scholar Athlete. The Golf team made an MIAA Tournament appearance for the first time in two years. Volleyball was 16th seed for the MIAA Tournament- Hosted and lost 3-3 to King Phillip. Cheer placed 6th at the Regional Meet.
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TITAN TECH NEWS Digital Citizenship. Our Digital Citizenship Online Guide is full of resources for families to teach their children about internet safety and responsibility. We have also added a Social Media Resources section to our website to help you and your family navigate social media.
Massachusetts STEM Week Scan the QR code to check out the video created in 2018 by Erika Christensen and Zach Dolan of PACTV that highlights Massachusetts STEM Week in our schools.
CLEVER Clever is a one-stop login center for district-wide websites at Pembroke Public Schools. For additional information, visit the Technology page on our website. Get a CUE Podcast Get a CUE. Twice a month, MassCUE will be sharing a best practices using a technology tool that teachers can use with students. Tune in with our very own Brandon Hall and different co-hosts every other week to hear all that is happening in the world of educational technology! Visit the Get a CUE podcast to hear all episodes!
Project Lead the Way Pembroke Public Schools has launched a new STEM Curriculum at Pembroke Community Middle School with a grant from Project Lead the Way. Middle school is the perfect time in a students academic career to take STEM education to the next level, and this hands on curriculum boosts classroom engagement, drives collaboration and inspires those "Ah ha: moments that excite students in their learning.
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The PLTW Curriculum aligns with the Common Core State Standards and provide all of our students with an accessible STEM Curriculum.This activity, project and problem based (APB) instructional design centers on a hands-on approach with real-world activities and projects that help our students understand how the knowledge and skills they are developing can be applied in everyday life.This approach provides our students with opportunities to work collaboratively, identify problems, apply what they know and find solutions all while leading their own learning.For more information about Project Lead the Way visit www.pltw.org.
TECHNOLOGY NOW
UNDER THE SCOPE TECH BUZZ >
DETAIL >
PODCASTING
FLIPGRID Students have been using FlipGrid to
Podcasting has taken the media world by storm and
write and film alternative endings to
now students at Pembroke High School have access to
their favorite stories. They listen and
their very own podcast studio.
discuss different ways a story could end before finishing the final chapter.
These students from Mr. Gould's World History Class are recording a podcast debate about if the French Revolution was a success or a failure.
SKYPE Elementary students have been using Skype to talk in person with content area experts for a variety of topics, bringing the outside world to life without leaving the classroom.
GREEN SCREENS Filming in front of a green screen has allowed students to put themselves in a variety of backgrounds. Some have done mock weather reports, others have been on the hit ABC Show, Shark Tank and even the preschool students have gotten in on the action!
DETAIL >
MEET THE INNOVATORS
Pembroke Public Schools are proud of how all of our teachers have embraced technology and found meaningful ways to integrate these tools into their classrooms. This year, we had a large number of teachers attend the professional development conference, MassCue. In addition, we also had four of our teachers present at the largest Education Technology Conference. MassCue. Proving that not only have our educators embraced technology but they quickly becoming the education technology leaders Congratulations to the presenters,, Brandon Hall, Adam Newall, Hillary Kniffin and Jessica Lazarus.
MAKERSPACES All of our schools have been creating makerspace environments. At the elementary level this may take place during library time, whereas at the secondary level it may be in the for of a new Chrome Lab.
3D-PRINTING
DETAIL >
Students at Pembroke High School have been learning how to create 3D designs using a state of the art 3D Printer. Last year a senior, Cooper Grund built prosthetic hands for children as part of the International Build a Hand Project. To the right, you can see a 3D model of their teacher Ms. Lazarus!
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KEEPING CONNECTED A PARENT’S ROLE IN AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITUATION
TALK TO YOUR CHILD(REN) Talk with your children about the importance of following instructions in the event of an emergency. Discuss your families emergency-related arrangements and inform school officials if you anticipate being unavailable for an extended period of time. Advise your children NOT to use cell phones unless permitted. Unauthorized cell phone use could put people at risk.
KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION UP-TO-DATE SEE SOMETHING- SAY SOMETHING
Provide accurate contact information to your child's school, including alternate phone numbers for you and family/ friends you have arranged as
Notify school and/or officials if you see or hear of anything
your backup. Update your child(ren)’s demographic information in School
that could create a danger at school. Encourage your
Office Pro promptly if this information changes.
child(ren) to do the same.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER
OUR COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL GUIDE WEBSITE
MOBILE APP
ALERTS
MEDIA
Follow local media when serious conditions arise that might result in a school delay, early dismissal, or school closure.
VIRUAL BACKPACK
SOCIAL
Special Annoucements
DO NOT CALL OR GO TO YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL Calling the school during an emergency will only tie up phone lines that must be used for emergency communications. Please do not go to your child’s school unless you have received direction to do so from the school
Emergency Alerts
or district officials. Traffic around the school may interrupt emergency responders from entering/exiting the campus. You will be notified of a reunification location, if necessary.
Community & Public Relations
CHECK THE CHANNELS FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Event Promotion
Automated calls and other communications will be made after an emergency situation has been stabilized and clear, accurate information and/or directives can be provided.
Forms & Documents
Pembroke Public Schools a variety of channels of communication when sharing information about an emergency, cancellation or delay. PTO & Community Notices
Please make sure all email, phone numbers, and other emergency contact information are up-to-date. in School Office Pro. If you are not receiving
REMEMBER
broadcast emails, and/or automated calls, please call your school.
The first order of business during a crisis is to ensure the immediate safety of students and staff. It is very important for parents,
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guardians and students to remain calm and follow the recommended guidelines in the event of an emergency. This allows school personnel and emergency service providers to work to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff.
HOW DO YOU SPEND A SNOW DAY?
#TINKERTIME TAKE THE SNOW DAY CHALLENGE AND SEND US YOUR PICTURES! 1. READING A BOOK 2. BUILDING SOMETHING OUT OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS 3. HELPING A NEIGHBOR 4. GETTING EXERCISE
EMAIL TITANPRIDE@PEMBROKEK12.ORG
EMAIL TITANPRIDE@PEMBROKEK12.ORG
STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS NEXT YEAR FOR WAYS TO TRACK TRANSPORTATION DELAYS USING FIRST VIEW!
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#TITANTOWN #TITANPRIDE
We are off to a great start for the 2019 school year. We look forward to seeing what 2020 brings! THERE’S MORE TO OUR STORY! Keep up with all things Pembroke Public Schools by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, check out our website for important updates and announcements. Want access to everything all in one place? The Pembroke Public School District is excited to offer a free comprehensive K-12 mobile app, for students, parents, and teachers. Go to the App Store or Google Play and search for “Pembroke Public Schools”.