Rochester Memorial Teachers’ Association

on June 3, 2014

Dear Rochester Families,

The Rochester Memorial Teachers’ Association would like to express their delight for the wonderful specially prepared luncheon meals and desserts during the week of May 26th. The sandwiches, the soups, the salads, the CHOCOLATE (!!!!) were very welcomed treats. Quotes from around the copying machines follow: “I love this week. Everything is delicious, and I don’t have to make my own lunch!” “I look forward to Chocolate Day every year.”

Clearly, the RMS staff appreciated your efforts. Thank you for your consideration, planning, and cooking! We were well fed last week!

Sincerely,

Anne Fernandes,

Secretary, The Rochester Memorial Teachers’ Association

Good Friday Decision Upheld

on June 3, 2014

The decision to make Good Friday a full day of school in the 2014-2015 school year was upheld on June 2, despite the efforts of some community members to persuade the joint committees to change their minds.

Some Christian Tri-Town residents left the Joint School Committee meeting angrily, with some of them lashing out at the committee, including Maggie McGee of Rochester, who called some committee members “atheists and non-religious” on her way out, adding that they would have to “answer to God one day.”

Both joint committees made a motion to rescind the March meeting vote that eliminated Good Friday as a day off, and the regional committee approved it, but it did not fly with the superintendency union side of the table, resulting in an impasse that blocked the rescission.

Chairman of Superintendency Union #55 Sharon Hartley said this had never happened before, and there was some confusion as to how to proceed after both sides disagreed – as well as some contention.

The matter was still up for discussion, and both sides of the issue spoke out about their concerns, mainly about the “data” that was presented, along with the data that was not available for consideration, such as a claim that the district’s attempt to eliminate Good Friday back in the ‘80s was a failure.

Both principals at Old Rochester Regional stated that during informal discussions with faculty and staff regarding Good Friday, an anonymous poll showed that roughly 25 percent of employees would take the day off as a personal day.

“That’s a huge number of professionals,” said committee member Christine Marcolini of Marion.

Committee member Robin Rounseville of Rochester said, for her, religion was the issue and the committee should not factor religion into the equation of crafting the school calendar.

“Strictly from a secular position,” stated Marion School Committee member Christine Winters, she reminded the committee that no one reached out to the community for input on the likelihood that they would keep their kids home on Good Friday. “How productive is that day going to be?”

We tried doing away with Good Friday 20 years ago, said Marion School Committee member Jay Pateakos. “And it failed miserably.” Rounseville said things have changed in 20 years.

ORR School Committee Chairman Jim O’Brien said Bourne eliminated Good Friday as a day off 14 years ago.

“They don’t have a problem at all,” said O’Brien.

Mattapoisett member Jim Muse said he voted in favor of making Good Friday a regular school day, saying, “It is simply a religious day of observance … and this is a public school system.” He continued, “A public school should not have one single religion identified.”

Discussion among school committee members continued before allowing some of the dozens of residents in attendance to address their concerns.

Newly elected ORR committee member Cindy Johnson said she supported her fellow colleagues in their decision to make Good Friday a full day of school.

“There should be a separation between the sacred and the secular,” said Johnson.

Isabel Gomes McCann, a resident of Rochester, identified herself as “profoundly Christian,” and spoke in favor of the committee’s decision to make Good Friday a regular day. She said Good Friday is treated like Ash Wednesday, in that there is no “day of obligation.”

She also said she was offended by others’ claims that the Good Friday change was “an attack on religion,” when “in Libya, a woman was stoned to death because of being a Christian.”

“It’s just a subtle way of removing God from our schools,” said McGee, who gathered about 700 signatures opposing the decision to nix Good Friday. “It’s not okay.”

Marion resident Joseph Napoli said he was on the committee in the ‘80s when it made Good Friday a school day and “two-thirds” of all the teachers did not show up, depleting the substitute teacher budget.

“I see a division of people,” said Napoli. “You’re dividing people.”

As Marion resident Shaun Walsh pointed out, the district only keeps its records for seven years, so the data behind the prior move to change Good Friday is not available.

Walsh said he called the superintendent of Bourne Public Schools who, according to Walsh, told him that out of 300 staff, only one teacher and two paraprofessionals requested the day off.

“I don’t think 25 percent of our staff are going to do that to our students,” said Walsh.

David Pierce of Mattapoisett said he was disappointed by the decision and added that the possibility of 25 percent of teachers taking the day off creates “a secular purpose for taking that day off.”

Former Rochester School Committee member Michelle Cusolito, who voted for eliminating the Good Friday holiday, said this is a public school and Good Friday is a religious holiday.

“Many of you probably go to work on that day,” said Cusolito. “Why can’t teachers go to work that day?”

Superintendent Doug White admitted he could not guess what will happen next Good Friday, but his concerns were about “safety and education.”

Mattapoisett School Committee Chairman Jim Higgins, who was late for the meeting and missed the first vote to rescind the prior decision, motioned to reconsider the motion to rescind the decision, which was again voted down.

Some committee members commented that they were insulted by some of the remarks that some residents made that evening, including O’Brien who defended the board against accusations that the committee “ducked this issue.”

Also during the meeting, the joint committee voted in favor of recording and televising their meetings beginning with the next school year.

The committee also conducted its annual superintendent’s evaluation.

By Jean Perry

Birding at East Over Reservation

on June 3, 2014

On Sunday, June 8 at 7:00 am, The Trustees of Reservations and the Paskamansett Bird Club will sponsor a bird walk at East Over Reservation in Rochester. The Reservation’s wide open fields provide ideal habitat for bobolinks, bluebirds, orioles and other grassland birds. Join local bird expert Bill Gil to explore this protected landscape and its avian residents. The walk is free and will begin at the parking lot located on Clapp Road in Rochester. Bring binoculars. To register and for more information, call 508-636-4693 ext.103, email kheard@ttor.org, or visit www.thetrustees.org.

William D. Carruth, Sr.

on June 3, 2014

William D. Carruth, Sr., 70, of Rochester, died May 31, 2014 at St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford. He was the husband of Susan M. (Curley) Carruth and the son of the late Ralph and Mildred (Hinckley) Carruth.

He was born in St. Louis, MO and lived in Carver before moving to Rochester 28 years ago.

Mr. Carruth worked as a laborer at Pilgrim Station in Plymouth where he worked for the last 30 years. He was a member UWUA Local 369.

He enjoyed old cars, trains, collecting many things and renewable energy.

Survivors include his widow, Susan M. (Curley) Carruth; his son, William D. Carruth, Jr. of Rochester; 2 daughters, Jennifer Morris of Colonial Heights, VA and Melissa Carruth of Rochester; a brother, Alan Carruth of NH; 3 sisters, Joan Carruth and Phyllis Carruth both of NH and Patricia Pearce of Rockland, ME.

His visiting hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.

Donations in his memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Amendment to Permit Denied

on June 2, 2014

In spite of submitting an updated plan that included a state-of-the art closed septic system, John Williams of Brandt Island Realty Trust did not receive approval to increase the number of bedrooms at the previously permitted development. Noting that originally the plan called for an assortment of two and three bedroom homes, Williams was seeking to change that to all three-bedroom units and a bio-clear septic system. The developers wanted to have the more marketable three bedroom single-family homes versus the less attractive two bedroom units.

After four hearings and hours of debate and conversation including several heated exchanges with abutters to the site, Williams could not convince the board that the amendment was worthy of approval. Williams walked away with what he came in with, the original permit that allows for 90 bedrooms total. The vote was two to three. Voting to approve the amendment were John Mathieu and Ron Merlo. Voting to deny the request were Tom Tucker, Karen Field, and Mary Crain.

Earlier in the evening the board had an informal conversation with Highway Supervisor, Barry Denham regarding problem with storm water drainage at the Appaloosa Lane development. Before hearing from Denham, Chairman Tom Tucker read from a letter received from residents of River Road. He read in part, “…we have been pushed from one board to another, with no help…” The letter referred to stagnant water filling what should be dry drainage ponds, and water flooding their basements. The signatories were Hathaway, Cook, and Lapienski of 11 and 13 River Road.

Denham said that he wrote a letter to the Planning Board in 2007 stating that the engineered drainage plan wasn’t working. He wrote again in 2010 with the same concerns resulting in GAF Engineering coming before the board with a new drainage plan. However, Denham said that in the last six months the new ponds weren’t working any better than original ones. “They don’t work…it makes for a lousy situation for the residents and River Road.” He went on, “Something has to be done to relieve those home owners.”

Ron Merlo said that the matter had been given to the town’s counsel for his review and recommendations. Counsel’s reply to the board was that the impacted residents maintained a “vested interest” in what was taking place on Appaloosa and that they had a right to relief. Merlo moved that they give the matter back to counsel for legal proceedings.

Denham said, “I hate to see the developer just walk away.” Chairman Tucker said, “We have to bring him in and see what can be done.”

Other business attended to were two Form A requests. One was for Buzzards Bay Coalition for Lot #5 on Brandt Island Road to “create one lot which meets or exceeds the minimum frontage and area requirements”. That request was approved. The other was for The Preserve at Bay Club, Field Stone Drive to provide “sufficient frontage on Fieldstone Drive and Sufficient area.” The board was unable to approval the request in the absence of the original plans. The request was tabled until the next board meeting to allow those documents to be submitted with the request.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is June 16 at 7 pm in Town Hall.

By Marilou Newell

The Death of Industrial Arts

on June 2, 2014

In the early days of public education, a course of study known as “industrial arts” was common in high schools across the country. These vocational classes included everything from mechanical drawing to automotive repairs, from furniture making to electrical wiring. The classes offered practical skill training primarily to two types of students: The male student who demonstrated a real interest and aptitude in an industrial art, or the male student assessed as a low achiever needing, and hopefully benefiting from, vocational training.

For many years, freshmen students from the general school population were required to take a few semesters in one or more ‘shop’ classes. These students most likely would not transfer to an industrial arts curriculum, but they would have a chance to explore a ‘trade.’

Most of the kids I knew in high school enjoyed the time spent in shop class. And what a novelty when during the ‘60s, girls could take wood shop and boys could take home economics. Equal opportunity at the shop class level had arrived. It was good for us, just as music and art were, but don’t get me started on those maligned enrichment classes.

As public education became more intent on measuring and testing students and as Federal and State guidelines promoted and required more reporting on the academic achievement (think MCAS and PARCC) via ‘data,’ the financial burden of offering classes that were deemed less important could no longer be supported. A quick check on the evolution of achievement testing philosophies brought me to the website http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/87/Charting_Success.pdf, where I found the following statement: “In recent years, interest has spiked in data-driven decision making in education – that is, using various types of data, particularly quantitative assessment data, to inform a range of decisions in schools and classrooms (Marsh, Pane, & Hamilton, 2006). This is a natural result of technological changes, the advent of test-based accountability systems under No Child Left Behind, and the increased availability of quantitative data due to accountability reforms. The increased emphasis on using data is based on the belief that assessment data and other student performance data can be important levers for improved teaching and learning. Many schools, districts, and states have invested resources in tools designed to provide teachers, principals, and other key stakeholders with ready access to (and analysis of) information regarding student performance throughout the school year…

However, the field has yet to produce reliable evidence regarding the relationship between data use and teacher or school effectiveness at raising student achievement…” Please don’t send me hate mail.

My point is that as public schools have been pushed to operate more like corporations, some educational considerations have gone out the window like industrial arts. It seems to me that in general public education, it’s a numbers game and as long as a certain percentage of students are at or above the line, the administrations of these schools have achieved their goal. I am not faulting the teachers or the administrators. I am saying that with tightening budgets and increasing demands to produce educational results that may pull the U.S.A. out of the academic doldrums, there isn’t room for Industrial Arts. More’s the pity.

Thankfully, vocational education has come out of the shadows. Institutions of ‘trade’ based education are no longer places where students are sent if they fail at ‘regular’ public school. Today, vocational schools provide a high level of technical training in a wide variety of subject matter from commercial food preparation to cosmetology, nursing, machine repair, electrical, plumbing, automotive, to facility management (to name a few) for both boys and girls. And unlike years gone by, kids graduating from vocational technical high schools may also pursue a four-year degree. Perfect!

We are fortunate to have great vocational technical schools within driving distance. But are we dissuading our kids from pursuing a career in the trades? Are we still telling our children not to get their hands dirty unless they absolutely have to? Presently, we can’t offer students in public schools a tiny taste of a ‘trade’ as once was the case. We’ve segregated the themes of learning.

Somewhere along the way as modern societies evolved, we lost the value we placed on people who could ‘do’ things and replaced it with people who could ‘think’ things. We’ve lost sight that the people that ‘do’ things also have to ‘think’ things. So we told our children to use their brains, not their brawns, and become MBA’s. Today MBA’s are a dime a dozen, struggling to find employment while a good carpenter is a rare find.

When I worked in the electrical industry, there was a full-court press on to enroll young people in apprentice programs across the nation. I was fortunate to meet many students studying the electrical trade and was encouraged that they saw a future in becoming master electricians or journeymen, or electrical engineers. These men and women were some of the most focused, intelligent, and driven people I’ve ever met.

During the mid-1990s, the IBEW (unionized) and IEC (non-union independent) tracked electrical apprentice enrollments. They were shocked at the steep decline in numbers. Projections were showing that in as little as ten years, the number of qualified electricians would be less than half of the pre-recession number. That might not mean anything to you unless you need an electrician, and when you do find one he or she is most likely not a spring chicken.

People in the trades that are worth their salt are exceptional for the variety of things they must know. They must be customer service and business oriented, while possessing the patience and understanding of a social worker or sometimes a marriage counselor. They have to be visionaries with a high degree of technical competency and academic training. In other words, they have to have a business suit and work shirt set of skills.

I’m not saying we should encourage our children to take vocational education over general public school curriculums. What I am saying is that it is a crying shame that students in general public education settings no longer get a chance to try areas of study that might one day prove to be their yellow brick road to success.

When all is said and done, I think if teachers could candidly speak their minds they would agree that less testing and more teaching would help not hurt our children. I think teachers might like to see some of the money invested in testing materials being plowed into teaching materials. I think teachers should have a seat at the decision-making table when it comes to allocating available funds. My guess is that if teachers were allowed to make more decisions – instead of government telling school boards “test, test, test” – our students would, in fact, be better educated overall. As taxpayers, we should be screaming “stop the madness!”

By Marilou Newell

Local Runner Shows Big Heart

on June 1, 2014

“I’m running fast, and I’m running a lot right now,” said Sarabeth Morrell, an English teacher at Old Rochester Regional High School. Morrell is currently running 30 to 40 miles per week, training for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. on October 26, 2014.

“My personal goal is to run this fast enough to be able to qualify for Boston next spring,” said Morrell. Thus she’s training for speed. Morrell, who normally runs at nine to ten minutes per mile, hopes to bump her average down to seven to eight minutes per mile.

A runner for most of her life, Morrell is no stranger to the strenuous 26.2 miles of a marathon. Before she had kids, Morrell ran several marathons. It’s only now that her children are older that she again has the time to train – but this time, she’s running for a cause.

“I used to do it for myself and for my own athletic challenges,” explained Morrell, “but now it seemed like as I’m older … I wanted to combine my love of running with helping out an organization.”

That’s when Morrell decided to join the Homes for Our Troops team in the Marine Corps Marathon. This team raises money for Homes for Our Troops (HFOT), an organization that builds homes for post 9/11 veterans who have lost limbs in war.

“This organization is important because of the state of the world in which we live,” said Morrell sincerely, “We have veterans coming home with injuries who can no longer take care of their families.”

With her own husband being a Marine Corps veteran, Morrell feels blessed that her family hasn’t had to face the struggles of seriously injured veterans’ families. She felt she could help those who weren’t so lucky by supporting HFOT in the Marine Corps Marathon.

The HFOT team currently has 25 to 30 members, but they hope to reach 50 members. Eventually, the runners will begin training as a team. For now, they’re focused on individual training and fundraising.

The Marine Corps Marathon requires that runners involved with a charity bib raise at least $500 before registering. The HFOT team is a little more ambitious: they’ve set a goal of $100,000 for their team. Through the generosity and the determination of the runners and other donators, the team has raised nearly $18,000 so far. Each day, they make more progress.

This summer, the HFOT team will be running local fundraisers to reach their goal. In the meantime, they rely on the altruism of the community. For more information, please visit http://hfotmcm14.kintera.org.

By Renae Reints

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Scholarship Winners

on June 1, 2014

For over 60 years, The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club has been striving to help young people in their educational pursuits. This year, the Club is happy to award four scholarships to students from Old Rochester Regional High School.

The selected students are: Amanda Carreiro, daughter of Anne and Jeff Carreiro. Amanda will attend Northeastern University to pursue a career in medicine or literature. Callie Gomes, daughter of Bethany Ratcliffe and Stephen Gomes. Callie plans to study nursing at UMass Dartmouth. Elizabeth Machado, daughter of Jane Finnerty and James Machado. Elizabeth hopes to become an elementary education teacher and will attend Endicott College. Robert Magee, son of Paul and Mary Magee. Robert is looking forward to a career in pharmacy and will attend Wingate University.

All four students possess excellent academic achievements, have done multiple community service tasks, and have participated in several extracurricular activities.

The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club especially thanks the community for its support of our Garden Tour and “Taste of the Town” (during Harbor Days). These fund raising activities make our scholarships possible. Congratulations to Amanda Carrier, Callie Gomes, Elizabeth Machado, and Robert Magee!

Women’s Center 19th Annual Golf Tournament

on June 1, 2014

The Women’s Center (TWC) is preparing for its 19th Annual Golf Tournament, which will be held on Monday, June 16 at the Fall River Country Club, Fall River, MA. Registration begins at 11:00 am with a shotgun start of 12:30 pm. All proceeds from this charity golf tournament benefit programs and direct services for victims of domestic and sexual violence at The Women’s Center.

“This tournament raises much needed funds for local domestic violence, rape crisis and child trauma services,” said Pamela MacLeod-Lima, Executive Director of TWC. “Shelter for families escaping violence, counseling, medical and legal advocacy, child trauma services and community outreach and violence prevention programs are just some of the services offered at TWC. In these trying economic times, stress levels are at their highest. With a service area encompassing 14 cities and towns throughout the Southcoast region, demand for our services continues to rise while budgets cuts continue at all levels of government, community organizations and private funders.”

There is still room for individuals and businesses to sponsor a golf foursome or showcase their business as an event sponsor or on a Tee Sign ($100). Many thanks to our event sponsors: Bristol County Savings Bank (Golf Shirt Sponsor); Bearing Specialties (Hole in One sponsor); DTZ- a UGL company (Cart Sponsor); and Subway on Brayton Avenue, Fall River (Lunch Sponsor). Sponsorship opportunities are still open for a Dinner Sponsor, which includes a Tee Sign, golf foursome, and special recognition at the Awards Dinner. Golf fees include box lunch, golf cart, golf shirt and gift bag, and the Awards Dinner. There will also be a Silent Auction and Raffle with several great get-a-ways and sports memorabilia.

“This tournament is one of our largest fundraisers,” said Rebecca McCullough, Development Director for TWC. “Support from the community is vital for TWC to continue to provide free and confidential services to victims of abuse, violence and trauma. Sponsoring a golf team ensures that local victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have access to the healing and life-saving services they need. It’s a fun day for a great cause.”

For further information and a golf brochure, contact Anne Patacao, Marketing and Events Coordinator, at 508-996-3343, Ext. 38, email apatacao@thewomenscentersc.com, or visit www.thewomenscentersc.com.

Students Experience Health Science Careers

on June 1, 2014

Junior students in the Human Anatomy and Physiology class of Old Rochester Regional High School went to Buttonwood Park Zoo last Tuesday for a job shadow field trip. The students met the zoo’s education coordinator, veterinarian technician, and zookeeper, and learned a little about each occupation.

“They talked to us about their education, how they got to where they were at,” said Mary Cabral, an anatomy teacher at ORR, “What was interesting, I thought, was that it was not a direct route. They majored in one area, worked in some other field, and then finally ended up where they were at this point.”

Each of the zoo’s employees who participated in the job shadow did plenty of volunteer work after graduating from college. This allowed them to gain more experience before securing a job at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

“They were advising our students to internship, to volunteer, to kind of check things out before you make a commitment to a full-time career – make sure you really like it,” explained Cabral.

Cabral felt like the job shadow was a valuable experience for all the students, even those not planning on going into an animal science career. “Even if it was one piece of information, like volunteering or doing internships, something that might not be specific to that particular job,” said Cabral. “I think that everyone took away something.”

These job shadows are not a new type of field trip for the students of ORR. Teachers affiliated with the Junior Achievement program of New Bedford have been making these types of connections with businesses in the area for years.

Cabral has been connected with Junior Achievement for about eight years. While this was only the second time she’s taken her anatomy class to the Buttonwood Park Zoo, Cabral has done many job shadows with past classes. She’s taken her anatomy class to a physical therapy clinic in Dartmouth and the Eye Health Vision Center, also in Dartmouth.

The Forensic Science class has visited the Bristol County House of Correction, as well as the Third District Court of New Bedford, while technology classes often visit Titleist, a company in New Bedford that makes golfing materials. Each of these job shadow trips brings a new understanding to the students involved.

“It’s a great experience,” said Cabral, “I think it’s important for [the students] to be able to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and see how it’s applied in the real world, how people actually use these skills in their careers.”

With this ideal in mind, Cabral is planning a Health Science Career Fair along with the school’s nurse, Kim Corazzini. Students from Cabral’s anatomy class will be presenting at the career fair. They’ve been doing research on health science careers of their own interests.

The school has also invited at least ten professionals to make presentations about their careers. Presenters will include a holistic emergency room doctor, a nurse practitioner, an EMT, a nutritionist, a nurse instructor from UMass Dartmouth, a social worker, and a representative from the South Coast Hospital group who will speak on health careers that are a bit outside the box.

Along with these professionals, there will be four college admission officers present at the career fair. UMass Dartmouth, Bristol Community College, Fisher College, and the Spa Tech Institute will all be represented.

Both ORRHS students and members of the community are invited to enjoy the Health Science Career Fair. The event will be held in ORR’s cafeteria on May 29 from 12:45 to 4:00 pm.

In other news, the senior class had their last day of high school last Tuesday. They celebrated with the annual senior picnic. After attending classes for the first two blocks of the day, the senior class spent the remainder of the school day relaxing with their friends on the football field. The Police Associations generously donated pizza for the seniors to enjoy, while parents brought baked goods from home.

“It was fun being able to hang out with all our friends for the last time in one place,” said Brianna Perry, a senior, “It hasn’t quite hit me yet that I’m not going back to ORR.”

While most seniors look forward to new adventures in the coming years, some seemed a little sad as they signed the yearbooks of friends they’ve known since elementary school. “Bittersweet” seems to be the seniors’ word of choice when describing their approaching graduation, despite all the upcoming festivities.

After wrapping up final exams this week, the senior trip to Six Flags will be on June 2. The following Wednesday, June 4, will be the senior prom at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA. Senior awards night is at 7:00 pm on June 5, followed by the senior assembly from 9:15 to 10:40 am on June 6 in the high school gymnasium. Finally, on June 7, the seniors’ graduation ceremony will be held on the football field at 12:00 pm.

By Renae Reints