Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Michael Devoll are proud to announce that Old Rochester Regional High School AP Seminar students recently shared their Team Multimedia Presentations, successfully completing AP Task 1.

            Students worked in teams to identify a problem and conduct individual research before creating a Team Multimedia Presentation. Each presentation explored a research question related to the group’s subject, with topics including “Designer Babies: The Misuse of Genetic Enhancement,” “The Effect of Childcare Prices on Families,” “Bee Population Decline in Massachusetts” and “The Effects of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare within Massachusetts.”

            Teams from Kathleen Brunelle’s and Andrew Apperson’s AP Seminar classes presented their research on December 16 in the media center.

            AP Task 1 was the first of two performance assessments students complete during their AP Seminar experience.

            Superintendent Nelson congratulated the students on their achievement.

            “It is fulfilling to see the AP Seminar students work together to achieve a common goal,” Superintendent Nelson said. “Their ability to pivot from independent research to collaborating on the presentations was impressive. The teamwork they demonstrated in AP Task 1 will continue to benefit them both in and out of the classroom, and we are proud to see our students practicing these skills.”

            Principal Devoll recognized the successful Team Multimedia Presentations.

            “I’d like to congratulate Ms. Brunelle’s and Mr. Apperson’s AP Seminar classes on their impressive AP Task 1 presentations,” Principal Devoll said. “Each team found success in identifying a problem, conducting research and working as a team to create a final presentation. Both classes performed well in Task 1, and I am confident they will thrive in the final performance assessment.”

            This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in and around the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay. Last week, Colonel Henry Knox began the trek back to Cambridge with artillery from Ticonderoga, 1200 Americans under Colonel Benedict Arnold and Brigadier General Richard Montgomery are outside Quebec, ready to strike the city, and the Continental Congress authorized General George Washington to assault Boston at his discretion.

            On December 24, 1775, the issues with food and supplies faced by the army seem to never dissipate. The General Orders, issued by Washington, seek to further enforce food rationing by allowing the following to each soldier through the winter: corned beef and pork, four days in a week; salt fish; one day; fresh beef, two days; “as milk cannot be procured during the winter season, the men are to have one pound and a half of Beef, or eighteen ounces of pork per day.” They are also allowed rice, beer, butter, peas, beans, onions, and whatever else is available, though supplies dwindle, especially in the cold. Generally, it is not enough for any active soldier, though it is all they can spare.

            Many soldier’s contracts are up on January 1, meaning a mass shortage of troops occurring at the beginning of the new year. This exit is to include Major General Philip Schuyler in Albany and General Richard Montgumery, currently outside Quebec City. Both Schuyler and Montgomery had written to the Continental Congress in recent days, expressing their desire to leave the army. Washington writes to Schuyler on December 24, saying, “I am very sorry to find by several paragraphs, that both you and General Montgomery incline to quit the service – let me ask you sir, when is the time for brave men to exert themselves in the cause of liberty and their country, if this is not?” In his pleading message, Washington states he too is facing great stresses, saying “but we must bear up against them, and make the best of mankind as they are.” He doesn’t have much to offer besides words, and concludes, “Let me therefore conjure you and Mr. Montgomery to lay aside such thoughts – thoughts injurious to yourselves and excessively so to your country which calls aloud for gentlemen of your abilities.” To lose these two men would imperil any operation in the north, Washington thinks. The next week will change things.

            It’s Christmas, and Washington spends much of the day at his table, working and rampantly drafting letters. To John Hancock and Congress, he urgently requests the expedition of payments to troops as well as further highlighting the lack of gunpowder and ammunitions. He also warns of various plots by Loyalists to disrupt supply and postal shipments.

            Speaking of Loyalist plots, on December 26, Washington writes to Virginia politician Richard Henry Lee, warning him of letters he has intercepted intended from Lord John Dunmore to General William Howe. Washington warns of “his diabolical schemes,” which would involve arming the enslaved to rise up in rebellion. This plan by the British is not of anti-slavery, as they are slavers themselves, but merely a way to disrupt the southern colonies.

            On December 28, similarly to what he did to Schuyler and Montgomery, Washington makes an appeal to honor and patriotism. Referring to their tenure expiring in less than a Week, he says, “the General recommends to them to consider, what may be the consequence of their abrupt departure from the lines; should any accident happen to them, before the new army gets greater strength, they not only fix eternal disgrace upon themselves as soldiers, but inevitable ruin perhaps upon their country & families.” He also offers reenlisting troops to option to choose their company. The day prior, he ordered all new recruits to Cambridge to bolster numbers around Boston, fearing a potential collapse of the lines come January 1.

            By December 30, it had been snowing on and off for a week. A blinding nor’easter had again blown over Quebec City. Supplies, moral, and temperatures are dangerously low, all while smallpox is rampant through the American camp. Time for the siege is running out, as the Americans have no ability to starve the city out before reinforcements can arrive once the Saint Lawrence River thaws. There is also the fact that much of the army’s contract was up in two days. Brigadier General Montgomery gives orders to move on the city. That night, the struggling army advances towards the city walls.

This Week in Revolutionary War History

By Sam Bishop

90% of Americans 65 and older take at least one prescription medication. Half take 4 or more and 15% take 8 or more. The number of medications taken rises with age.

            Add to that the many over-the-counter (OTC) pills such as pain relievers, acid suppressors and supplements that people take, and we are talking about a lot of medications.

            While most of these are probably needed, some are not and some are harmful to your health.

            There are many reasons people take medication they should not be using. A common reason is that we see many doctors, and each may be unaware of what the others are prescribing. This can lead to duplication – two pills with very similar actions – or to harmful interactions between medications.

            Many medications are particularly dangerous to older people. These include muscle relaxants, sedatives and antihistamines, which can lead to dizziness and falls and/or confusion. A very valuable resource in this area is the Beers list of medications that may be harmful to older individuals, maintained by the American Geriatrics Society. It is easily available on-line – just Google “Beers list.”

            While medicine has very few “always” or “never” rules, if you find that you are taking medication(s) on the Beers list, ask your doctor about this. You may be healthier stopping them.

            I often saw patients taking two different strengths of the same medication. Clearly the dose was changed but the person did not know they were to stop the original pill, and the pharmacy kept refilling both.

            There are numerous drug-drug interactions, many dangerous. One pill may affect the way the body handles another, leading to higher than safe levels of one or both. When they are prescribed by the same practitioner, a good electronic record will pick this up, but this will not happen if the prescribers do not share a common record.

            If you have a primary care doctor, a valuable visit is the “brown bag visit.” Put ALL your medications, including OTC pills, in a bag and let your doctor review what you are taking. You may be surprised to find how many should be stopped.

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer