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Northern Essex Community College is preparing to honor “Pioneers of Change” during Hispanic Heritage Month with several events at its Haverhill and Lawrence campuses. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. In 2001, Northern Essex became New England’s first federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution.
Haverhill’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council and the city’s Special Education Department are providing an introduction or refresher to operations and procedures, overview of various SPED programs and the new Individualized Educational Plan form and information on how to become involved. The first SEPAC meeting of the 2024-2025 school year takes place Monday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m., at Haverhill High School Library, 137 Monument St. Attendees are advised to park in Lot E, past the tennis courts. Spanish and Portuguese translations will be available.
The Northern Essex Community College men’s soccer team kicked off its 2024 campaign Saturday afternoon and dropped a hard fought battle to perennial division two contender Mercer County Community College by a 4-1 final score. The Knights fell behind 1-0 in the game’s ninth minute before Knights sophomore and returning National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-American Jadiel Bomfim, of Nashua, N.H., knotted the game at a goal apiece. He took a long ball down the right side and dribbled through a trio of Viking defenders and drilled a shot past the keeper and into the upper right corner of the net. Mercer took a 2-1 lead into halftime as they scored on a free kick from 22 yards out with three minutes remaining in the opening half. The game remained 2-1, until Mercer added a pair of second half goals in the 72nd and 86th minutes.
Somebody Cares New England, founded to support low-income families, plans a free “Back to School Bash” this Friday. The event, designed to celebrate the start of the new school year, features two bounce houses, a dual inflatable waterslide and a variety of treats, including cotton candy, popcorn and pizza. There will also be basketball, volleyball and a selection of carnival-style games. The event takes place Friday, Sept. 6, at Somebody Cares New England, 358 Washington St., Haverhill It will be split into two sessions to accommodate different age groups: 4- 6 p.m., for Haverhill youth ages 11 and under, accompanied by an adult; and 6:30-9 p.m. for Haverhill youth ages 12-18.
The Haverhill High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC is hosting its annual 9/11 remembrance Ceremony 23 years to the hour of the 2001 attacks. Retired U.S. Marine Corps First Sgt. David W. Grinstead, senior marine instructor, said all teachers and students are welcome to attend Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 8:46 to 9:10 a.m., at the 9/11 monument in front of Haverhill High School, 137 Monument St. The Junior ROTC will also have its Prisoner of War/Missing in Action ceremony Friday, Sept.
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Northern Essex Community College is remembering its second president, Dr. John R. Dimitry, as leading with “compassion, tenacity and a dedication to equity, which remain embedded in the fibers of NECC to this day.”
Dimitry, who served the college from 1975 to 1996, died this week at age 95. “Dr. Dimitry’s leadership at Northern Essex Community College forged pathways of opportunity and equity, ensuring that education could serve as a beacon of hope and change for countless individuals,” says current college President Lane A. Glenn. “We are deeply grateful for Dr. Dimitry’s numerous contributions to Northern Essex and we share our sincerest condolences with his loved ones”
When Dimitry was 17, he left high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army, earned his GED certificate and, upon his discharge in 1948, earned a bachelor’s degree. He subsequently served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954 when he was called to active duty. After the war, he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees and began his lifetime career in education.
The Haverhill School Committee and administrators last Thursday discussed steps to avert bus driver shortages and communications issues in advance of children returning to classes Tuesday. At the request of Vice Chair Paul A. Magliocchetti, representatives of NRT Bus said they believe they have enough drivers and staff for the start of the school year. Haverhill office Operations Manager Michelle Perez said the company is contracted to provide 35 of the big school buses and has a driver for each, 15 special needs minibuses with 11 regular drivers and temporary replacements from its van fleet for the remainder and eight more completing training for commercial driver’s licenses. “We’ve got the routes, the drivers are doing dry runs, going through all of their checks and that’s pretty much where we’re at right now,” she said. School Committee member Thomas Grannemann however, questioned whether NRT has adequate staffing to fill in for any absent drivers.
Haverhill schools are launching, what Superintendent Margaret Marotta calls, “key initiatives” for the new school year that starts Monday for staff. These include the kindergarten through fifth grade rollout of “Wit and Wisdom” English language arts curriculum, the second year of Eureka Squared math, expansion of special education with substantially separate classrooms and an increase the number of multilingual learner teachers. “Together, we will work to reduce chronic absenteeism, enhance family and community engagement, and ensure that every student feels a true sense of belonging in our schools,” Marotta said in an email welcoming school staff back for the new year. The superintendent said the key initiatives are “all aimed at ensuring the well-being and success of our students.”
A Haverhill woman was recently named chief financial officer at Urban College of Boston, a private, nonprofit two-year college. Erline Tanice, a community college graduate herself, previously served as the finance director at Commonwealth Corporation and bring both financial leadership expertise and a commitment to the community. “We are thrilled to welcome another high-caliber executive to the team. Erline’s record of impact and transformation in the finance realm speaks for itself. She joins a talented team that is equally committed to our mission,” said Yves Salomon-Fernandez, president of Urban College of Boston.