March 2014

High School

http://nrhs.sau4.org

YEARS

Newfound Regional



2010 NH Secondary School of Excellence

Principal’s Message

At Newfound Regional our goal is to provide a Personalized, Competency-Based Education For Every Student. Among other things, this means we must create conditions for the personalization of learning. We are intentional in how we attempt this. At the high school we subscribe to the principle that each student should be known and valued. Our system of Advisories is one tool for accomplishing this. We know that academic growth is the first priority. But this can only occur in a supportive school environment. A culture that “promotes the students’ sense of belonging to the school is crucial. Our Project Promise after school clubs and activities are another tool that assists with this sense of being part of the school community. This type of personalized learning environment, where students own their own learning, will also decrease dropout rates. When Newfound became one of only 11 schools in the state to achieve a “0” percent dropout rate, it encouraged us to continue and strengthen our personalized learning goals.

Wednesday, March 5 Noon-5PM NRHS Gym Sponsored by NRHS STudent Council

Newfound Regional High School has been notified that David Gibson, Kelly Gallagher and Megan Geldermann have received a Certificate of Merit for advancing to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program, by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment. All Finalists will be considered for National Merit Scholarships to be offerred in 2014. Congratulations to all three!

Meet Our Project Promise Director Lori Lane is the new Project Promise After School Program Director. She took over in November for Beth Colby who held this position for many years and left very big shoes to fill. Lori plans to continue the great work that Mrs. Colby did for this school district and the Project Promise program. Lori grew up in Lancaster, NH and continues to live there with her husband, John, and their two children, Conner and Keelin. Conner is a junior at Keene State College majoring in Physical Education. Keelin is a senior at White Mts. Regional High School who plans to study architecture and enter a ROTC program in order to serve her country after college. Professionally, Lori has worked in public schools for the last 26 years. The first fourteen years of her career, she worked as a guidance counselor in Berlin and Stratford, NH as well as Canaan, VT. The last eleven years, she was the Career and Technical Education Director at the Arthur T. Paradice CTE Center at White Mts.

Project Promise Director Lori Lane

Regional High School. After spending her entire career in the North Country, she is excited to venture below the Notch and bring her skills to the Newfound Area School District. As a parent who worked the entire time her children were growing up, Lori understands the importance of quality, affordable and accessible after school programming for families. She plans to continue to work with all stakeholders – parents, community members, as well as building and central office administration to make sure that Project Promise continues to meet the needs of the community, is fiscally responsible and offers quality services for all children.

March 2014 ~ Page 2 ~ Music News ~ A Newfound senior has been selected to participate in the 2014 Plymouth State University All-New England Festival Jazz Band. The festival, to be held on Tuesday, March 11, will feature performances by the PSU Jazz Ensemble, and a Jazz Ensemble comprised of students representing high schools from across New England. Representing NRHS will be David Gibson, a senior who plays alto saxophone with the Band and Jazz Band. He is also on the Math Team. David was nominated for the festival by Music Director, Edward Judd, and was selected from a field of over 100 nominees. The festival concert, which will be held in the Silver Center for the Arts, will begin at 5pm. It is open to the public, however, seating will be reserved. Tickets may be obtained by calling the Box Office at 535-ARTS.

High School Years

One Act Competition

The results are in! After a fabulous night of entertainment, congratulations to the Class of 2015 on their selection of Best Play , and to Christina Crosby and Keegan Tracy as Best Actors . All Star awards were presented to Grace Page, Josh MacLean, Catie Roman, Cole Eastman, Cody Rose, and David Gibson.

~ Math News ~ The math department offers a Running Start course, Topics in Applied College Math (offered as MTH 120 at NHTI-Concord). Running Start is a program where successful completion of the course earns the student both high school credit and transferable college credits. One of the more difficult areas of study in this course is the Consumer Mathematics and Financial Management section. This area of study hopes to open the eyes of the young consumer with respect to day-to-day finances. With our high school students venturing into the world of car payments, credit card selections, home mortgages, personal tax returns, and retirement accounts, this section of the Running Start course could impact our students greatly. The IRS Tax Codes, tax brackets and deductions seemed to be quite challenging for the 38 students who are enrolled in the course. Numerous discussions about equity and ease of filing developed. Adding to that topic was the Social Security and Medicare deductions and how they are collected nationally. The classes were looking at different standards and numerous taxable situations. The most mathematically challenging topics of home mortgages and amortization appeared to be one of the most relevant to the students – pitting variable rate mortgages against the fixed rate and balloon loans. Then the classes looked at the benefits of repaying a home loan early, paying additional principal monthly, and the pros and cons of escrow accounts. Lastly, the effect of credit scores and closing costs were added to the discussion. The end result of this area of study was that our students were able to make educated decisions about some of the most difficult financial decisions of their lives - understanding the complexity and ramifications of the decisions that are about to make.

Top Art Honors The Plymouth Friends of the Arts held its annual Juried High School Exhibition at PSU’s Silver Center in February. Students from thirty different high schools submitted work for adjudication. NRHS senior Shelyn Ullmer had two of her pieces selected for exhibit, a pastel drawing and a painting. Her works, seen here, will be on display at the Karl Drerup Art Gallery. Shelyn hopes to study art at college. Congratulations to David Gibson and Jesse Austin who recently finished first and second at Newfound’s Poetry Out Loud Contest. They will now represent NRHS at the next level of competition.

From our nurse’s desk Barbara Kelly, NRHS School Nurse

According to the American Psychological Association: teen stress levels surpass the amount of stress reported by adults “potentially setting themselves up for a future of chronic stress and chronic illnesses.” Encourage your teen to identify their triggers for stress and help them to problem solve. Hopefully February vacation will provide additional time to do this. Also, do you want to learn more about living with epilepsy as an adult, teen or parent/caregiver? “Living Well With Epilepsy” is a free seminar being offered by the Epilepsy Foundation of New England on April 5th at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, NH. For more information contact: Mary Crowell at 603-455-0160 or email at [email protected] Wishing everyone a safe and healthy vacation!

Barbara Kelly may be reached at [email protected] or 744-6006, ext 105

March 2014 ~ Page 3

High School Years

Athletic News By Athletic Director Peter Cofran

The boys’ basketball team participated in the NHIAA/WMUR/NH Food Bank “Hoops for Hunger”, Jan. 21-24. Through the generous support of those attending the games, over 150 lbs. of food items were donated to the food pantry at Bristol Community Services. In addition, there was a monetary amount donated. The NRHS Leos Club also donated $100 towards this very worthy cause. The Food Pantry reaches more than 75 families and provides food for over 3,000 meals a month. Thanks to all who helped the less fortunate in our area. Allison Symonds was selected by the Manchester Union Leader/Sunday News to be the recipient of their $1,000, William Loeb Scholar-Athlete Award. This award is open to all high schools in NH and presented to a senior athlete, male or female, who displays the most outstanding balance of academic, athletic and extra-curricula accomplishments. Allie was recognized at the Leaders: A Celebration of Sports Champions banquet held in Manchester on Feb. 9th. Allie is the 2nd Newfound Allison Symonds and student to have received Principal O’Malley this award as Emma Erler was the recipient in 2009. All of us are very proud of Allie, who will be attending the University of New England in the fall. Allie is a starter on the girls basketball team, and at the time of this article being written, was in first place in Division III with a 17-1 record as they await their playoff schedule. The boys basketball team is 4-11 as they head down the final stretch. The team is playing hard and looking to get back into the tournament after not making it last year. The ski teams participated in their State Meet on Feb. 10th and 11th. With the boys finishing a respectable 6th, and were led by Evan Collins and Cam Pigeon. The girls ski team had an outstanding State Meet and although finishing 5th, they were only one point out of third place.

Susan Colby, Executive Director of Bristol Community Services, happily receives the donation from our athletes and Leo members. The spirit team will be participating in their tournament on March 9th at Pinkerton Academy. They have shown steady improvement this season. Spirit member Becky Norton has done an outstanding job this year singing the National Anthem. The last 2 home games, teammate Tara Morin has joined her . The winter sports awards program will be on Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30pm. Spring sport sign ups will start on March 3rd with all practices beginning on the 24th.

ADDICTION:  THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DESTROYER

In the wake of the news of the heroin death of a genius actor, heroin is getting a lot of attention.  Addiction is addiction, but I always worry a little more about alcohol, mainly because of its availability, its connection with “good times” and the general acceptance of its effects.  This actor died with a needle in his arm, alone.  Had he been with someone, perhaps he could have gotten help because of the seriousness of the situation. But when someone passes out after drinking too much, most young people think it’s amusing.  Likewise, if someone can drink huge amounts and not fall down, young people tend to admire the fact that the person can “really hold his liquor.”  But passing out from too much alcohol is a drug overdose and over 1,100 young people a year die overdosing on alcohol.  And the person who can hold huge amounts of alcohol?  That person is the one who is most likely to develop an alcohol problem. If, as a parent, you suspect your child of using substances, FOLLOW THE MONEY! Where is this kid getting the money to use? Now heroin is becoming as easy, and in some cases, easier to obtain than alcohol.   So, while there is all this hoopla about heroin, it would be good to remember that when this genius actor came out of rehab he went to his neighborhood bar and ordered a beer.   On Tuesdays, Ms. Janet Sullivan, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, is available for confidential counseling in Room 305A.

Students of the Month

Principal O’Malley recently announced the Students of the Month for February. Each month students are selected by the subject area teachers to be recognized for his/her outstanding achievement in the individual academic areas or for promoting a positive school culture. Congratulations to the students selected this month! Art.... Tyler Tibbets Music.... Megan Stubbs Business....Kelsey Danahy Physical Education.....Spencer MacDonald Computers..... David Gibson Science..... Toni Memmolo English....Cassandra Kneeland Social Studies..... Hannah Drake Health.....Jasmine Patten World Language.....Brittney Garcia Math..... Alissa Keeler Technology Education..... Allison Smith On-Line Learning...Elizabeth Rowell Family & Consumer Science.....Alexa Ethier Spirit and Service Award Jesse Austin, Sequoia Brisk, Christina Crosby, Keegan Fleming, Jayda Fleury, Nicole Hayes, Sam McClory, Aaron Normandin, Daniel Opitz, Catherine Roman, Lauralye Waring, Raegan Yarborough

March 2014 ~ Page 4 Facilities Committee

The Newfound Area School Board is seeking two community members to serve on the newly created NASD Facilities Committee. The goal of the committee is to review, develop, and propose a ten year Capital Improvement Plan that will provide for safe, healthy, accessible, and well maintained facilities in the Newfound Area School District. Community members seeking a role on this committee should have an understanding of facilities and facility needs. This will be an ongoing committee that will meet at various times throughout the school year and summer. If you are interested in participating on this committee, please send a letter of interest along with your qualifications to: SAU #4 Central Office, 20 North Main Street, Bristol, NH 03222. Applications will be received up until Wednesday, March 19, 2014. It is anticipated that the School Board will appoint members at their March organizational meeting.

High School Years

Upcoming Events: March March March March March March March

5 - Blood Drive at NRHS 10 - NASD Board Meeting 12 - Winter Sports Awards 19 - Caper Conference 24 - NASD Board Meeting 25 - Early Release Day 26 - Parent Teachers Association

Check out our website for more information! SAT Prep Course begins March 8th.

Worth Quoting . . . No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb

March Facts. . .

The word ‘March’ comes from the Roman ‘Martius’. This was originally the first month of the Roman calendar and was named after Mars, the god of war. March was the beginning of our calendar year. We changed to the ‘New Style’ or ‘Gregorian calendar in 1752, and it is only since then when the year began on the 1st of January. The Anglo-Saxons called the month Hlyd or Hraed monath which means stormy or rugged month.