Student’s Representative Report to the School Committee
by Bridget Carl, Sandwich High School Student
FORESTDALE
The students in the Forestdale CSD program enjoyed an excursion to the SHS pool during the week before vacation. Mrs. Strano and her staff along with Mrs. Tremarche and Mrs. Cahill joined the students as they swam, laughed, built community and practiced water safety. Mrs. Strano worked closely with Wendy Pierce in order to make this opportunity possible and they are already working on a plan for a repeat trip.
A few new club opportunities have developed recently for students at the Forestdale School. About 30 Grade 1 and 2 students have been participating in a coding club before school for a couple of weeks. The club introduces students to computer coding and has the students working collaboratively to build animated projects using code. Another before school club will be starting in a couple weeks, Rise and Shine, is an opportunity for students to start their day with music, sound, visualization, breathwork and connecting with nature,in order to learn to identify how they are feeling and be reminded that they can choose how they feel and how they start their school day. This program is offered through a Wellness Grant in partnership with a local non-profit. The PTA’s popular Lego Club will also be starting next month, sign up forms have already gone out and the response has been great. These clubs join Forestdale’sexisting offerings through the Recreations program and the very popular BOKS program.
Next week the students will be celebrating Read Across America week. The week will be filled with a series of events focused on celebrating reading and the joy that comes from spending time with a good book.
OAK RIDGE
At Oak Ridge students have had some wonderful opportunities that have built their bodies and their minds. First, students participated in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. Thank you to our Wellness teachers, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Novaro and Mrs. Goins for coordinating this great event. Our 4th graders also got to learn more about Whales through the generosity of the PTA’s Culture Events Committee. The kids loved learning about these amazing mammals.
Next week we will be celebrating Read Across America week and Dr. Suess’s birthday!
Finally a reminder to families that school will be closed on Tuesday, March 1st for voting and that Spring Portraits are on March 8th.
STEM
The next STEM Academy dance is scheduled for March 4. In addition to the dance many games from the popular Snack Shacks will also be available for students.
Several of Mrs. Hyde-McGuire’s science students attended an evening field trip to the Werner Schmidt Observatory to examine the current technology used for studying the solar system. The students will apply this information to the development of models of the earth, sun, and moon systems in their science class.
All 6th grade parents are invited to meet with Mr. Newton on March 8 at 9:30 to begin discussion of this year’s STEMabration.
The STEM Spirit Week culminates this week with the final Door Decoration Contest by all the advisories.
The students in Mrs. Morris’ English classes have begun a project on how they can make a contribution to solving the world contaminated drinking water crisis. The students have formed several committees to address these issues in a variety of ways including science, public relations, art, technology, and music.
The students were inspired after reading “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park and attending a Skype session with the author.
SHS/STEM ATHLETICS
Congratulations to…
- Bella Collentro for signing her National Letter of Intent to attend Stonehill College and play soccer.
- Anna Hurley for signing her National Letter of Intent to attend St. Michael’s College and play field hockey.
- To senior wrestlers Matt Landry and Bryon Hopkins on winning state titles at this past weekend’s MIAA D3 Wrestling State Championships at Taconic HS (Pittsfield, Mass.).
- To Kaitlyn Scott, Megan Forrester, Dan Fortier, and Billy Dykas for qualifying to compete in the MIAA D2 Swimming & Diving State Championships at Boston University this past weekend.
- To our boys & girls basketball teams and coaching staffs for already qualifying to compete in the MIAA Tournament.
- To our first-year gymnastics team for competing admirably in the Cranberry League this past season.
SHS
SHS is busy cheering on its many post season athletes as documented in Mr. Murphy’s great report. Students are back from vacation working on scheduling for next year while seniors are on the final push with college and post secondary decisions. It is time to sign up for spring sports which begin the third week in March for SHS and for STEM. The rehearsals are in full speed for the opening of this year’s musical Into the Woods which promises to be a great show!
Underclassmen are planning a wide variety of activities including a special night to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless population. Stay tuned for more information. All is well at the castle!