Education

Providence College Awards Whittier Tech Senior Full Basketball Scholarship

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Grace Efosa, a senior at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, yesterday was awarded a full scholarship to attend Providence College next fall. Efosa accepted a four-year basketball scholarship to Providence College, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 school that is awarding only two full scholarships this year. “It’s still unbelievable that I got a scholarship for Division 1, especially since I haven’t played for that long,” Efosa said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Efosa signed her acceptance letter in Whittier Tech’s gymnasium, while sitting at a scoreboard table in front of a crowd of her peers. Sitting beside her was her mom, Esosa Omorodion, brothers Angel, 11, Yuki, 15, Junior, 16, and sister Ebe, 12.

Education

New Northern Essex Culinary Arts Center to Prepare Students for Commercial Kitchen Jobs

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Expansive views of the Merrimack River, nine kitchens, six classrooms and much high-tech greeted those getting a first look yesterday at Northern Essex Community College’s new downtown culinary arts center. Led by developer Salvatore N. Lupoli and Northern Essex President Lane Glenn, the media and guests toured “The Heights,” the 10-story mixed-use glass tower now under construction. Besides pointing out physical facilities, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program Manager Denis Boucher discussed the philosophy behind the showcase kitchens. “We’re going to try to use as many local as we can, but we’re going to have to go a little bit further out as we see that we can’t get product from the local farmers,” he said,

Boucher previously taught nine and a half years at New England Culinary Institute, Vermont, founding father of the Vermont Fresh Network which connected farms to restaurateurs and chefs. Northern Essex will occupy two floors of the building with one floor housing classrooms, computer lab, shared conference room and the college’s administration of the MassHire job training and employment office.

Education

Northern Essex Prepares for January Downtown Culinary Arts and Hospitality Move-In

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Work is progressing so fast on downtown developer Salvatore N. Lupoli’s 10-story “Heights” mixed-use complex that Northern Essex Community College is planning on moving in during January. Northern Essex President Lane Glenn, Lupoli and the college’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program Manager Denis Boucher plan a walk-though the Merrimack Street site tomorrow. Two floors are dedicated to Northern Essex’s culinary and hospitality programs.

According to the college, wall studs are in place; plumbing, gas lines and electrical wires are roughed in; and wiring for audiovisual components throughout the space is underway. Next steps include installing the kitchen hood/fire suppression system, drywall and then equipment installation and finishing details. Plans call for classrooms, laboratories and a teaching kitchen.

Education

Haverhill Promise Promotes Early Literacy, Civics With ‘Book Election’

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The adult voters of Haverhill have spoken to elect a new Mayor, City Council and School Committee—and as it turns out, the children of Haverhill Public Schools have sounded off, too. As part of Haverhill Promise’s first-ever “book election,” first-, second- and third-graders across the city exercised their civic duty and cast ballots for one of three books chosen by Haverhill Public Library staff to encourage early literacy. Haverhill Promise plans to give each child in grades 1-3 a book to take home at the end of this month, and to coincide with the election, the group decided to let the students vote as a class on which book they’d receive. First graders could choose from books by Mo Willems, Tedd Arnold or Dav Pilkey, while a National Geographic book about cats and dogs was among the picks for second grade students. Third graders had a chance to pit Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid’s “Rodrick Rules” against “Judy Moody and Stink” and “Geronimo Stilton” stories.

Education

Whittier Tech Model United Nations Team Competes at Boston Statehouse

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Model-minded and ready to wave their flags! Students from Haverhill’s Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School headed to the Boston Statehouse Oct. 25 to compete in a Model United Nations competition. Representing Kenya, Whittier Tech students Alanna Stafford and Isabelle Piscitelle were named Best Delegates in Negotiation at the conference after they developed a solution to solve world hunger and malnutrition by creating a food bank. They traveled to Boston with Whittier history teacher Stephanie Hatchell and UN Advisors Jana Brown and Scott Robertson.

Education

JG Whittier Seeks Donations to Help 540 Students and Families This Thanksgiving

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The John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School is getting ready to talk turkey—and needs the Haverhill community to help! The Concord Street school plans to host a free Thanksgiving dinner for students and their families. Ahead of the Nov. 21 event, a committee of teachers, administrators and support staff—who will cook, serve and clean—have set up a GoFundMe page seeking monetary donations prior to Nov. 14.

Education

VIDEO: Haverhill Chamber, School Leaders Tout ‘Exciting’ City Change

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Haverhill is riding high, says the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, thanks in large part to the school system and Superintendent Margaret Marotta. In a new video released last week, Chamber President Dougan Sherwood calls the “stories of the schools in Haverhill” an important part of the fabric of the city, with Marotta pointing to the last 12 months as an “exciting” time of change in the Haverhill Public Schools’ system. Among the highlights: The removal of sports fees and the introduction of a maker-space and technology programs at Haverhill High School, Marotta says. School Committee member Richard J. Rosa also applauds the addition of the “Letterland” program and the Schools’ partnership with Haverhill Promise, a community-based effort to get all students in the city reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade. “The community in which Haverhill Public Schools sits in is vital to its success.

Education

Haverhill Schools’ ‘Revising Protocols’ After Bradford Elementary First Grader Goes Missing After Recess

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Haverhill Public Schools are revising their protocols around student safety in the wake of an Oct. 21 incident in which a Bradford Elementary School first grader wandered off after recess. According to Superintendent Margaret Marotta, the boy was “recognized as missing” by school officials and officially thought to have gone to the bathroom, but actually made his way to the nearby wastewater treatment plant. When he was not located, Marotta said, the school called 911. When school officials were on the phone with Haverhill Police, other staff members searched the school and neighborhood.