Education

Haverhill YMCA Celebrates 16 Nominees for Wednesday’s Naming of the 2024 Educator of the Year

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Sixteen local educators are in the running to be named the Haverhill YMCA’s 2024 Educator of the Year Wednesday. The names of nominees were submitted by their peers based on what makes them “outstanding educators,” how they nurture the potential of every student, what encouragement they provide and their involvement in the community. In addition, the YMCA’s Commitment to Community Awards will be presented to Dr. John and Debra Maddox for their strong advocacy of grade-level reading and summer learning loss programs and community philanthropy, supporting many nonprofits, including the Haverhill YMCA. The family shared one of the motivations behind their resolve. “Deb worked as a school nurse in Haverhill for a couple of years.

Education

Public May Weigh in on Shared Whittier Tech and NECC Campus; Official Questions Openness

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An interim report discussing the possibility of a shared campus for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College is the subject of two focus groups starting Tuesday. According to a statement on a public sign-up page, information and ideas collected will not be shared outside of a planning group, described as “creative, big-picture thinkers,” and participants who check a required confidentiality box. “To ensure everyone feels comfortable speaking freely, please do not repeat the conversations within your listening session outside of the session itself and do not share the names of those in attendance,” the statement reads. Haverhill School Committee member Richard J. Rosa, however, said he chose not to participate because of the required confidentiality agreement. “As an elected official, I have a responsibility to be transparent and accountable to my constituents.

Education

Podcast: Haverhill Schools Cheer Whittier Modular Classrooms, Rising Steel at Consentino

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(Additional photograph below.)

Major milestones are taking place for Haverhill Public School students with integration of modular classrooms at John Greenleaf Whittier School and steel reaching its peak at the new Dr. Albert B. Consentino School. During an appearance this week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, Superintendent Margaret Marotta paid special attention to the $160 million replacement Consentino project and $3 million temporary Whittier additions. “If people take a ride by the Consentino, the steel is up. It’s looking like a building. It’s pretty exciting, and the modulars are up over at Whittier, so we have a lot going on,” she explained.

Education

Haverhill High School Plans College Financial Aid, FAFSA Night Nov. 26

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Getting help paying for college is the aim of Haverhill High School’s college planning and financial aid night with Kevin Fudge of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. Sponsored by the School Counseling Department, junior and senior parents and guardians will learn how to apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid—or FAFSA. The program promises to make fun out of an otherwise boring topic. Fudge is described as an entertaining presenter and provides the ins and outs of FAFSA, which opens Dec. 1.

Education

Northern Essex Community College Wins Seven Marketing Awards at Conference

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The Northern Essex Community College Marketing-Communications Department came away with seven awards from the recent National Council of Marketing and Public Relations District 1 Conference. The college received seven Medallion Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges, during the conference in Baltimore, Md. Northern Essex won the most awards of any Massachusetts college. Among Medallion Awards, the college won gold in the categories of Communications Success Story, Long Form Writing, Newsletter and Radio Advertisement; silver in Radio Advertisement and Newsletter and bronze in Successful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Marketing. Northern Essex Community College competed among colleges from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec; and the United Kingdom.

Education

Haverhill School Board Member Not Expected to Attend Closed-Door Session on Her Arrest

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The Haverhill School Committee meets behind closed doors Monday night to consider its response to the arrest of one of its members, but the focus of attention is not expected to attend. Haverhill School Committee Vice Chairman Paul A. Magliocchetti told WHAV member Cheryl A. Ferguson told him Thursday night that she will not take part in the meeting at 7 p.m., in the School Department office conference room in City Hall. As WHAV reported last Wednesday, first-term, Ward 3 Haverhill School Committee member Ferguson faces a charge of alleged indecent assault and battery on a teenage boy she saw outside Tuesday night at a convenience store. Magliocchetti said Monday’s special meeting was called after he consulted with School Committee lawyer David Connelly. “We have to take these charges very seriously.

Education

In WHAV Interview Education Chief Says Students Won’t Take Test Seriously if Not Grad Requirement

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Tutwiler Also Responds to Petition Before Haverhill School Committee

State Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, in a one-on-one interview with WHAV Wednesday, defended the state’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System—or MCAS—graduation requirement, saying students won’t otherwise take the test seriously. A ballot question voters will consider by Tuesday would, if passed, remove the graduation requirement. Massachusetts is just one of fewer than 10 states that impose exit exam requirements for students to graduate. Tutwiler, however, told WHAV MCAS will become “useless” if the graduation requirement is removed. “Students will not take it with the same level of seriousness as they would if it’s a graduation requirement,” he said.

Education

Virtual Workshop Explores IEP Basics for Parents and Professionals

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Haverhill’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council is hosting a virtual workshop with The Federation for Children with Special Needs on “Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP.”

The program is designed to guide parents and professionals through the essentials of the Individualized Education Program. It covers the IEP’s structure, purpose and impact on a student’s educational experience. Topics include eligibility, the importance of the IEP and how it’s developed. Additional sections discuss addressing student and parent concerns, establishing student profiles and visions, assessing present levels of performance, planning post-secondary transitions, setting goals and understanding accommodations, modifications and procedural safeguards. The workshop is Monday, Nov.