Principals Say Schools on Track for Improvement

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Old Rochester Regional Junior High School Principal Kevin Brogioli and ORRHS Principal Michael Devoll gave a status update on their school improvement plans to the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on November 18, saying they are pleased overall with progress so far this school year.

Brogioli said the new student advisory program, although still a work in progress in some regards, is on track for success.

Beginning this school year, junior high students on Tuesdays and Thursdays in their homerooms “check-in” with their homeroom teacher advisors and work together towards what Brogioli said was the ultimate goal of the program: “To build teacher-to-student relationships and student-to-student relationships.”

Twice a week, students are greeted by their advisor and engaged in discussion over “the news of the day,” which Brogioli said could be a provocative statement of some sort or current event news in the community or beyond. On Thursdays, the students and their advisors engage in an activity that works within the framework of “getting to know you,” the current theme of the advisory program.

The period lasts 24 minutes, which gives the advisor time to spend two minutes with each student – the amount of time Brogioli said research has shown to be effective in building the teacher-student relationship.

“We realize it’s a work in progress and, depending on who you talk to, some students love it. Some students hate it … so we are working on getting the kinks out of it,” said Brogioli, later adding, “Some groups are coalescing very well right now, other groups because of the makeup of the kids or the comfort level of the staff member, they’re not there yet. It’s a work in progress.”

The advisory program addresses one of the school’s strategic goals, that of social/emotional development and support.

“We think it’s something that’s good for kids,” said Brogioli.

Principal Devoll said the high school’s strategies for meeting the needs of its students have been implemented, specifically, core values have been established, the two homework-free nights have been implemented, and a Gay/Straight Alliance club is now offered and has been expanded to include transgender students.

“I feel confident that we’ve done everything on this list,” Devoll said. “Done, doing, or on its way…”

As for the community relationship goal: “I cannot say the same here,” Devoll stated.

Some activities such as promoting homecoming week in the elementary schools were rather ambitious and fell by the wayside this year while focus was fixed on other priorities.

“But I think it’s a good idea,” said Devoll. He said he still hopes to start an art exhibit of elementary student work at the high school and to coordinate an inter-district K-12 science fair.

Devoll also said implementation of a new student tech help desk is imminent, with eight students already signed up to assist other students with technical problems and questions about their personal devices.

Also during the meeting, Director of Student Services Michael Nelson alerted the committee to an anticipated revision of the school district’s physical restraint policy, saying, “In a nutshell, they’re prohibiting certain types of restraints, revising and adding training requirements, and acknowledging increased reporting opportunities for the district.”

Superintendent Doug White announced the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s final vote to adopt a hybrid exam incorporating elements of the MCAS and the new PARCC high stakes tests in an 8-3 vote on November 17.

High school will continue to take the MCAS through 2019, and seventh and eighth grades will take the hybrid test, which will consist of MCAS-like questions chosen by the state in a PARCC testing format – via computer, and with less test-taking time. Students will take one exam only in ELA and Math, in one session.

The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is tentatively scheduled for December 9 at 6:00 pm in the ORR junior high media room.

By Jean Perry

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Students Anticipate Beebe Renovations

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The Beebe grill has long been a popular hangout spot for Tabor Academy students. With a pool table, couches, and food for sale, students often gather around booths, eating food, working, or just spending time with friends. There has long been talk of renovating the space, adding new features and making the Beebe even more enjoyable.

To start, the pool table, which used to cost a small fee per game, will soon be free of charge. In addition, a Foosball table will be added to the room. Six new couches and coffee tables will be added, expanding the number of people the space can accommodate. Right now, the couches overlook the ice rink, so students can watch the games from the comfort of the warm Beebe. The addition of more couches will allow more people to come enjoy games or hang out together.

The major renovation, however, comes in the form of Uncle Jon’s. The local coffee shop is just slightly too far to walk to during the day without permission, as you have to cross Route 6 to get there. So, to ensure that Tabor students can satisfy their cravings for their food and drinks, Uncle Jon’s is coming to Tabor. Starting when students return from Thanksgiving break, café products will be available to purchase in the Beebe, in addition to its usual offerings.

Tabor students are ecstatic at the prospect of a quick and delicious way to get their coffee fix.

“I can’t wait to have Uncle Jon’s on campus,” says senior Lily Blouin. “I’m looking forward to Uncle Jon’s coming to campus…”

Claire Brito, Blouin’s roommate, agrees, saying, “I believe that an iced chai … can fix any bad day.”

Looking towards the future, Tabor plans to expand the Beebe even more. Starting with longer hours, the Beebe will be open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm every day. Plans are already in the works to add a café bar with stools as well as enhance the patio, covering it with a Tabor Red awning. Chairs and games could be added outside as well. The new and improved Beebe, with extra room and activities, will give Tabor students a much-needed space to relax and spend time with friends.

By Madeleine Gregory

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Elizabeth (Redington) Saunders

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Elizabeth (Redington) Saunders, beloved wife of the late John “Jack” Saunders, Sr, formerly of Walpole, MA, passed away peacefully in her 100th year on November 23, 2015 surrounded by the comfort of her family at the Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham, MA. Elizabeth was the daughter of the late Patrick and Mary (Corliss) Redington, originally from Galway, Ireland. She was very proud of her Irish heritage.

Elizabeth was born in East Boston on January 9, 1916 and met her late husband of 57 years, while she was working in Onset, MA during WWII when Jack was in the Army stationed at Camp Edwards. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed baking, sewing and knitting. Jack and Elizabeth traveled extensively around the United States and the Caribbean. Elizabeth loved her home and maintained many beautiful gardens. She also worked for 10 years in the cafeteria at Walpole High School during the late sixties and early seventies. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant at Blessed Sacrament in Walpole for 55 years.

Elizabeth, as a loving mother, was predeceased by Diane Saunders, and is survived by Robert Saunders of Mattapoisett and his wife Kathleen, Jacquelyn Savignano and Paul Follett of North Attleboro, Judy Saunders and Peter Cameron of West Newton, and John Saunders, Jr. and his wife Mary Beth of Merrimack, NH. Elizabeth is also survived by her grandchildren Robert Saunders and his wife Alison, Keri O’Brien and her husband Timothy, Andrew Saunders, Megan Saunders, Jessica Savignano, Suzanne Savignano, and three great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth was predeceased by three brothers, Joseph, John (Buddy), Francis and two sisters, Mary and Josephine. As Auntie Lea, she is survived by many nieces and nephews that she dearly loved to visit with at family gatherings.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend calling hours from 9am to 11am, on Saturday, November 28 at Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Home, 50 County Road, Mattapoisett, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Rita’s Church, 113 Front Street, Marion, MA at noon. Private interment will be held on November 30 at the National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elizabeth’s memory to Maristhill, 66 Newton Street, Waltham, MA 02453 or Good Shepherd Community Hospice, 90 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459. For directions and online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Time Takes its Toll…

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The bell at the First Congregational Church has been silent for many years now. A newer electric bell installed about 15 years ago was much easier to ring than the 1,600-pound bell that had lived atop the church in the center of Rochester since 1892. But on November 20, the historic bell rang out its resounding D-note toll one final time from the top of the church steeple before it was lowered via crane to the ground, the final stage in the structural renovations of the church.

“There’s a lot of history in that bell,” as Bruce Rocha of Fisher & Rocha, Inc., contractor for the church renovations, put it. The bell was cast in 1892 by the Blake Bell Company of Boston owned by William Blake, an apprentice of Paul Revere III, grandson to our famous bell maker Paul Revere. Revere started the company Revere and Sons in 1801, which was passed down to his sons Joseph Warren Revere and Paul Revere Jr. The company evolved into the Blake Bell Co. in 1890.

It took a crane crew about an hour to extract the bell from its very tight living quarters towering above Rochester Center. Rocha said they were just lucky that the crane head was able to squeeze in to retrieve the bell.

The weight of the bell on the church tower’s structural support was simply too much to justify keeping in a bell that was no longer used.

            The bell remains part of the history of the old church, and after it is stored for a period of time and refurbished, the bell will be returned to the grounds of the First Congregational Church of Rochester and put on display.

By Jean Perry

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Girls XC Finishes 5th at All-State Meet

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Even more so than last week, the fall sports season at Old Rochester Regional High School is officially winding down. As football had a bye week to prepare for their Thanksgiving Day showdown with Apponequet, the only team still left competing was Girls’ Cross Country, which raced in the Division 2 All-State Meet at Stanley Park in Westfield where they took fifth place.

Girls’ Cross Country: The Lady Bulldogs returned to Stanley Park in Westfield for the All-State Meet this week, coming off their incredible victory at last week’s D-5 State Meet in Wrentham. They had run this course back in October for the Bay State Invitational, where they fared quite well. In Saturday’s race, three of the team’s seven runners – senior captain Nina Bourgeois, sophomore Madisen Martin, and sophomore Madeline Scheub – ran career bests as coach Cindy Tilden’s team came in fifth overall. The team was led by Bourgeois (19:39), Martin (19:50), senior Madeline Meyer (20:00), Scheub (20:09), and junior Riley Shaughnessy (20:29). They were followed by junior Avery Nugent (21:08), and senior Emily Josephson (22:23). The girls’ season will continue as they head to the Nike Northeast Regional Cross Country Meet on Saturday, November 28. Participation in that meet will be a first for the ORR Girls’ Cross Country program, which represents how far they’ve come and just how much they’ve achieved in this incredible season. They will be joined by standout freshman Adam Sylvia of the boys’ team, who will be competing as an individual at the Thanksgiving weekend meet.

Below are the overall fall team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of November 22.

Boys’ Cross Country: (6-1-0)(6-1-0); Girls’ Cross Country: (7-0-0)(7-0-0); Golf: (17-1-0)(16-0-0); Football: (4-6-0)(4-4-0); Volleyball: (13-11-0)(8-9-0); Field Hockey: (9-7-4)(8-2-4); Boys’ Soccer: (9-11-2)(8-8-2); Girls’ Soccer: (10-9-2)(9-6-1).

By Patrick Briand

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Schools Highlight Points of Pride in Test Results

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Not all of the PARCC exam results are out yet, but MCAS and the science portion of the 2015 PARCC results were discussed during the November 19 meeting of the Joint School Committee, with the principals from each of the five schools giving a brief overview of their school’s performance.

Sippican School fifth graders scored 11 percent higher than the state average in the advanced and proficient categories in the science MCAS. Principal Lyn Rivet said she was especially pleased that the fifth graders performed well on the majority of Physical Science questions as well as Life Science.

At Old Hammondtown School, Principal Rose Bowman was happy to report that Mattapoisett fifth graders scored 12 percent higher than the state average for Earth and Space Science/The Earth in the Solar System. Mattapoisett, said Bowman, scored highest in Life Sciences and Characteristics of Plants and Animals questions, where 94 percent of students answered them correctly.

At Rochester Memorial School, Principal Derek Medeiros was happy that RMS students also scored higher than the state average, by 10 percent, in the advanced and proficient categories. They performed best in questions pertaining to Technology/Engineering, outperforming the state by 13 points. They also outperformed the state average by 12 points in Earth and Space Sciences questions.

Medeiros said the RMS students are benefitting from the use of Chromebooks in the curriculum, which they use during their science block.

Grade 8 MCAS Science data reflected a 52 percent proficiency level, soaring above the 39 percent state proficiency average. ORRJHS Principal Kevin Brogioli said he was pleased with the upward trend in MCAS Science scores, which have increased since 2013 when the school was one percent above the state average, climbing to 6 percent above in 2014 and 11 percent above in 2015. Students scored the highest in the open response questions.

“What we’re most proud of is this uphill average,” said Brogioli. “I like the upward trend.”

At the high school, Principal Michael Devoll gave the results of the entire MCAS exam taken by high school students last year – high school did not participate in PARCC – and pointed out that in ELA, the school moved from a 47 percent advanced scoring to a 53 percent, and the advanced/proficient category increased from 94 percent to 98 percent. Failures went down, from 3 to 1 percent.

Devoll said there is only one school in ORR’s cohort that scored higher than ORR.

In Math, advanced went up from 56 to 63 percent, and the advanced/proficient category went up by two more points, up to 89 percent. Failures were reduced from 5 to 3 percent.

In Science, advanced/proficient rose from 56 percent to 63 percent, and failures reduced from 3 to 1 percent.

“We’re moving high numbers in the right direction and reducing our failures,” said Devoll. “I only expect our scores to continue to rise….”

The next meeting of The Joint School Committee is scheduled for January 21 at 6:30 pm in the ORRJHS media room.

By Jean Perry

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Cultivating the Creative Spirit

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When one walks down the art hallway at Old Rochester Regional High School, the art on the walls hangs proudly, allowing everyone to admire the skills of their peers. Currently, black and white portraits smile warmly at students who shuffle to their math-wing classes.

Last week, two of these outstanding artists were selected to be featured in an exhibition at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery in Westport, Massachusetts. The exhibition was titled “Cultivating the Creative Spirit,” and it showcased the artwork of high school students from Old Rochester, as well as artwork from students at Dartmouth High School, Durfee High School, Fairhaven High School, Greater New Bedford Voc Tech, and Tiverton High School.

Elizabeth Davis and Madeline Morris were selected to display their artwork at the gallery. Davis’ piece was a skeleton created with markers and water, to create a watercolor effect. Morris’ piece began as an assignment for art class, and Prismacolor colored pencils were used to create a life-like recreation of a chicken head.

The exhibit at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery was set in the center of the already existing exhibit, which meant the emerging artists’ artwork was front and center, quite literally. As Old Rochester Art Department teacher Joanne Mogilnicki said, “Up and coming artists are mentored and celebrated by the art that’s already on the walls from professional artists.”

Being selected to display artwork for this event was not easy. Hopeful participants submitted artwork to Mogilnicki, who then selected Davis and Morris as the most appropriate representation of the skills of Old Rochester students. Davis and Morris were then asked to select the artwork that they felt was the best portrayal of their skills, and that art was sent to a board of judges at the Dedee Shattuck Gallery to be approved or rejected. Both students were approved by the panel and were allowed to display their work for the event.

The environment of the event was very supportive of the up-and-coming artists, as Mogilnicki pointed out.

“A lot of the work on the walls had red dots [sold stickers] on them, so you could see that people actually support artists and buy work and bring it home and hang it,” said Mogilnicki. “So there’s this whole culture out there that people don’t necessarily know about unless they’re actively involved in it, and that’s viewing art, appreciating art, and having art around you when it’s possible … being around other high school student artists, and seeing their work.” She continued, “It gives you a perspective of what’s out there amongst other students or people their age that are involved in making and are interested in the arts.”

As for Morris and Davis, they enjoy the art class at Old Rochester, as it challenges artists to discover their strong suits.

“We get to experiment and dabble in different media,” said Morris. “Sometimes she’ll [Mogilnicki] have challenging projects that maybe you don’t necessarily like to do, but it helps you grow to see what you’re good at and what you need improvement in.”

“She [Mogilnicki] likes us to be really open, so everyone can do what they want,” Davis said. “We have people that do fashion design and some people that do prints and stuff, but she likes us to do different things sometimes.”

With such a large amount of possible mediums available, Davis and Morris have been able to discover a few favorites to work with.

“I really like using paints, but in weird ways” said Davis, to which Morris immediately responded, “And I really hate paints because I’m terrible at them. I like to use colored pencils and charcoal, that kind of thing.”

This artistic diversity was showcased at the exhibit, in the artwork from the high schoolers and the professional artwork that regularly hangs on the walls of the Dedee Shattuck.

As a final piece of advice, Morris invites growing artists to expand upon their talents the way she did.

“Even the things you look at from last year, you’re like, ‘Why would I do that, it looks terrible?’ But we just drew all the time,” said Morris. “That’s how I got better. I just drew, and even though it was really bad, I still continued to draw.”

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Or, more appropriately for Davis and Morris, practice makes an exhibition at the Dedee Shattuck.

By Sienna Wurl

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Sean Michael Perry

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Sean Michael Perry, 39, of Mattapoisett, died suddenly November 23, 2015. He graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School, obtained an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts/Chef Training from Bristol Community College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with Honors from UMass Dartmouth. Sean worked in Amsterdam, Netherlands for one year at the laboratory of Christiaan Levelt,, PhD at the Opthalmic Research Institute (now the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience). For 16 years, he worked in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate Susumu Tonegawa at the Picower Institute for Learning & Memory at MIT, in Cambridge. As a senior lab member, he was relied on for expert knowledge on a wide range of subjects: including IT support and data management, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, imaging and microscopy, animal handling and management. Sean also had the rare gift of having patience without bounds, and being able to teach and coach others regardless of their age or past experience. He was responsible for training all new lab members in fundamental skills, and lab alumni from around the world would defer to him for advice.

Sean also enjoyed and exceled in a wide variety of pursuits outside of work, including power boating, sailing, and fishing. In his first year in the North Atlantic Shark Fishing Tournament, he was on the team of the Beagle, which came in first place. He was also an accomplished competitive marksman in the New England area, placing in the top five in two separate competitions this past year. Sean was a former on call firefighter in Mattapoisett, and plowed snow for the Mattapoisett Highway Department. His other pastimes included photography, playing piano, working with animals, welding and metal sculpting. Sean was a humble and self-taught master of all trades. If you had a question – and many people did, from cooking to DIY construction projects – Sean always had an in-depth answer.

Sean is remembered as a kind and gentle soul by his parents Diane and Dennis Perry; sister Laura Perry; co-worker, cousin, and dear friend Candy Carr; godparents Kathy Carr and David Perry; mentor and uncle Andy Carr; and an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins around the country. He was a true and loyal friend to many throughout his life.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 8 PM at the Saunders Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday Dec. 5 at 9:30 at the Funeral Home, with burial following in Cushing Cemetery. Remembrances may be made in Sean’s name to a charity of your choice. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Rochester TA Seeking Fairhaven Position

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Rochester Town Administrator Michael McCue is currently one of three final candidates selected by a Fairhaven subcommittee to fill the position as Fairhaven’s very first town administrator.

The Rochester Board of Selectmen hired McCue in August of 2014 after town administrator of seven plus years Richard LaCamera retired. McCue was the town administrator of the Town of Avon at the time, and selectmen commented last year that McCue’s background in working with a small town like Rochester, with a population of about 5,200 people, was an attractive quality.

“The Fairhaven opportunity is a chance for further professional development,” said McCue on November 24.

Fairhaven, with a population of just less than 16,000, triple the size of Rochester, is in the process of switching its current position of executive secretary to the selectmen to a town administrator, the first for the town.

McCue was also recently a final candidate for the town administrator position of the Town of Attleboro, but was ultimately not selected for the position.

“The candidacy in North Attleboro was based on the proximity to my home,” said McCue. “It was literally a ten minute drive.” He added that the short commute for McCue, who resides in Mansfield, would have had a positive impact on his family.

Selectman Naida Parker said on November 24 that she was disappointed when McCue first informed selectmen a couple of months ago that he was looking elsewhere for another town administrator position that would further his career.

“I do appreciate the fact that he has given us a heads up,” said Parker. “Rochester’s a really small town. I don’t know if it offers the challenge or the opportunity to move up.”

Parker said she and many who work in the town would miss McCue’s presence should he leave Rochester, and she is happy working with him, she added.

“A number of these positions have come up recently,” Parker said. “Sometimes the timing of things are in such a way… Who knows if another will open up, sometimes not for twenty years or so…”

The Fairhaven Board of Selectmen will hold interviews for the three candidates during a scheduled public meeting on December 5 before making a final decision.

“I truly enjoy working in Rochester and this is not an exercise based on my wishing to leave at all,” McCue said.

By Jean Perry

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Upper Cape Tech Open House

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Administrators, faculty and current students welcomed nearly 400 prospective freshman students and their families into the school last week for an evening filled with interactive demonstrations of the various technical offerings for students from the towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Marion, Sandwich and Wareham. The 1,300 visitors in attendance were able to explore activities in several areas. For example, in Automotive Technology there was a simulation of a motor vehicle accident in which the airbags were deployed. In Engineering Technology, an area of the shop was sectioned off for robots while a submersible remotely-operated vehicle was functioning in a test tank. Students prepared Bananas Foster and several other desserts in the Culinary Arts kitchen, while hair styling demonstrations and beauty and fashion tips were offered in the newly-renovated Cosmetology salon. In the Carpentry shop, there was a mockup of a shed and porch where students were installing side walling, shingles, and trim.

Roger D. Forget, Assistant Superintendent / Principal of Upper Cape Tech, stated that “it was amazing to see our current students actively engaged with prospective students demonstrating with pride the skills they have learned in their technical areas while at Upper Cape Tech.”

In addition to the technical demonstrations, the eighth-grade students were able to get a realistic picture of what it might be like to be a freshman at Upper Cape Tech. Sessions were offered on the admissions process, freshman exploratory program, cooperative employment program, academic offerings, extra-curricular activities, and college and career planning.

Students interested in applying for admission to Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School for the fall of 2016 should apply online at apply.uppercapetech.org.