Education

Northern Essex Community College’s ‘Hurricane Diane’ Take Home 9 Kennedy Center Honors

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The Northern Essex Community College Theater production of “Hurricane Diane” has won nine national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Honors include The Citizen’s Award; Outstanding Achievement in Performance, Mirrorajah Metcalfe, liberal arts writing major; Distinguished Achievement in Dramaturgy, Jessica Newey; Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Performance; Distinguished Achievement in Performance, Gwynnethe Glickman; Distinguished Achievement in Performance, Olivia Barberian; Distinguished Achievement in Direction of a Play, Brianne Beatrice, Northern Essex Community College professor; Special Achievement in Production of a Play; and Outstanding Achievement in the Facilitation of a Brave Rehearsal Space. “It’s crazy our work is being honored like this. They’re looking for good art, and our art is being recognized,” said Beatrice. She will travel to Washington, D.C., later this month to accept the awards at the Kennedy Center.

Education

Haverhill Schools Highly Rank Early Literacy Program Despite Cost During Expected Tight Year

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While the Haverhill district grapples with potential cuts, public school officials made the case last week to include a new early literacy program in the budget. With the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requiring lower-income districts to demonstrate how they will improve outcomes with state aid, Superintendent Margaret Marotta said of “Wit & Wisdom,” “that’s our most pressing lever for change.”

With a projected $10.7 million deficit next year, Chief of Teaching, Learning and Leading Bonnie Antkowiak told School Committee members it would cost an additional $421,000 to adopt the program districtwide, $260,000 plus professional development for kindergarten to second grade and $138,000 plus professional development for third to fifth grade. Marotta added they could roll it out over three years, spreading out costs. Marotta called “Wit & Wisdom” the district’s “priority among priorities.” The committee motioned, in the words of member Richard J. Rosa to “approve this presentation we received tonight about our student opportunity act money as our priority for the Haverhill public schools.”

While Marotta said the district has already invested heavily in four of the five areas detailed in the 2019 Student Opportunity Act, they still need to work on a “comprehensive approach to early literacy.”

“We are really looking to improve our early literacy programs and our early literacy scores,” she said. As WHAV reported, teachers who have piloted “Wit & Wisdom” spoke favorably of the program at a school committee meeting in late January.

Education

Feds Award Essex North Shore Agricultural and Tech Money for Veterans’ Program, Upgrades

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Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School recently won $850,000 in federal aid to expand workforce development and military veteran-focused programs.

Money earmarked by Congressman Seth Moulton for the Danvers-based school will be used to expand infrastructure, including upgrading Gallant Hall’s climate control systems, windows, doors and alumni gymnasium bathroom. Money will also provide space for Company2Heroes, a nonprofit service dog training organization, specializing in dogs working with combat veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma. “We are proud of our work to provide workforce development opportunities to our day and evening students, including those with barriers to employment,” said Essex North Shore Superintendent Heidi Riccio.

Education

Activities Fair Highlights Fun Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer

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Parents can find out how to keep their young students busy this summer while keeping their reading skills from back-sliding. Haverhill Promise, a campaign for grade-level reading, hosts a Summer Activities Fair on Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Haverhill Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St. “Find great free and low-cost summer options for your kids, all in one place,” said Jessica Kallin, executive director of Haverhill Promise. “Don’t miss this opportunity to kickstart your child’s summer adventure.”

Parents will find information about read-alouds and music, camps and programs, outdoor adventures, community resources, sources for free books, and networking opportunities. There is no charge to attend and no registration is required.

Education

Haverhill Schools Won’t Accept Out-of-District Students; Marotta Explains How Enrollment Shifts

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Citing a lack of space, Haverhill Public Schools will not allow out-of-district students to attend this coming year. According to Superintendent Margaret Marotta, the school board also voted no to inter-district school choice in the past several years for similar reasons. Asked by member Yonnie Collins if there might be capacity this time, Marotta explained how enrollment starts misleadingly low, then quickly grows. “Generally, in the summer, we have some space in our classrooms, but we receive kids all school year long, and we particularly have a big bump of kids, oftentimes in early October, and in January as well,” she said. Due to families arriving from the Dominican Republic in early October—Marotta speculated flights become a little cheaper then—and a “big influx” of people moving in January, Marotta said class sizes swell.

Education

Pentucket Regional School Plans Learning Collaborative With Various Classes for All Ages

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Pentucket Regional School District has opened registration for arts; cooking; conversational Spanish; Digital Literacy for Parents, Guardians and Caregivers; and other classes starting in May. The Pentucket Learning Collaborative, geared toward adults and people of all ages, is taught by Pentucket educators. Classes run Wednesdays from May 1-29, from 5-7 p.m., at Pentucket Regional Middle High School. “Our classes are a collaborative in the truest sense of the idea,” Pentucket Schools Executive Director of Operations Jonathan Seymour said. “We’ve known for a while that creating communities where people of different generations can share experiences can lead to positive learning outcomes.”

During the five weeks, students may master skills or knowledge in everything from food preparation and greetings in Spanish, to social media etiquette, painting and illustration and caring for school-age children.

Education

Groveland’s Bagnall School Sixth Grades Graduate from DARE Program; Three Win Essay Contest

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Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall School students recently graduated from the Groveland Police Department’s Drug Awareness Resistance Education program, known as DARE, for short. Superintendent Justin Bartholomew, Police Chief Jeffrey T. Gillen and Principal James Day said about 66 sixth grade students graduated from the program Friday, April 4. Students in each class also participated in an essay contest about what the program meant to them. Essay winners were Owen Potter, Kara Walsh and Ava Tarquinio. They received a trophy and a certificate.

Education

Haverhill School Committee Member Sullivan May Vie for Early’s Whitter Tech Seat at April 25 Meeting

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In a surprising turn, Haverhill School Committee member Gail M. Sullivan appears to be under consideration for Richard P. Early Jr.’s seat on the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee. Interviews for Early’s seat will now be held at the committee’s next meeting on April 25. Member Richard J. Rosa said City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead initially advised members to turn Sullivan away. “She felt that we could not elect one of our own, even though we had been doing that for many years,” he said at last night’s meeting. After Mead consulted the state ethics commission, Rosa said it turned out the School Committee could appoint one of its members to the Whittier Tech school board.