November 2015
S o ut hw i ck Re gi o nal
S c h oo l N ew sl e tt e r
Special points of
interest:
93 Feeding Hills Road, Southwick, MA 01077

Students and
Teachers Honored
Teacher Honored by Southwick Rotary

Around the School

Scientists at Work

Scholarships!

Winter Sports Sign
Ups

New Business
Started
Inside this issue:
CTec Students of
the Month
2
Authentic Learning 3
Opportunities
Solar Ovens
4
Guidance News
5-6
Nurse News
6
Entrepreneurs
6
Athletics News
7
Art News
8-9
Yearbook Info
910
Team Atlantis
11
Team Avalon
12
Team Olympus
13
Volume 11, Issue III
Southwick, Massachusetts, October 14,
2015 . . . .
Southwick Rotary President Richard Anderson announced the names of the recipients of the 2015 Outstanding Vocational
and Community Service Recognitions as
follows:
They are –

Charles Dunlap, Director, Southwick
Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)

Janet Grunwald, English Department Chair, Southwick Regional School

Steven Nielsen, President & CEO, Dycom Industries, Inc.
Richard Atkinson, Track Coach, Southwick Regional School
The objective of the award is to recognize individuals who have embodied the
characteristics of Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self.” In making the announcement,
Anderson said “Rotary selects individuals who have demonstrated excellence in his
or her vocation and have performed community service that results in long-lasting
value to the community, programs that support the elderly, the less fortunate, the
environment, and most importantly our youth and future leaders of the community.”

The awards program is now in its 20th year and has recognized 54 individuals and
three nonprofit organizations.
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Honored Students
Each month, the Lower Pioneer Valley Collaborative recognize individual students from each program
that have demonstrated some of the following:

The ability to apply effectively the skills taught.

Exemplary behavior towards other students and staff.

An above average willingness to work and accept new work.

An outstanding attitude of cooperation.

Continued good attendance in the program.

A strong desire to contribute to the program and Career TEC.
It gives me great pleasure to present the following students as Student of the Month for September and October.
Donathan Johnson, Carpentry II
Michael Theroux, Carpentry II
Andrew Masso, Design & Visual
Communication
Dustin Covey, Culinary II
Crystal DeCaro, Culinary II
Joshua Jerin, Design & Visual
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AP History Trip to Historic Deerfield
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Authentic Learning Opportunities
Mr. Romeo's Advanced Placement US History class made their annual Deerfield Field trip this past October to
examine how people lived in New England during the 1700s. Students examined artifacts, visited homes, and explored the local cemetery in this historic town that was at the center of the famous 1704 Massacre. Tour guides
provided insights and shared their stories with the AP students, who were asked to make connections to their
class room lessons. This exercise in authentic learning has helped the students gain a deeper understanding of
the past, and provides a firm foundation for future lessons in American history.
Environmental Science Trip to Mount Tom
This fall's environmental science class went to Mt. Tom and was
able to walk a beautiful trail that showed us a great view of the
valley. We also witnessed the micro-burst damage that destroyed so many trees on the western side of the mountain. Students enjoyed identifying the many trees that we know
from our own school yard as well as learning new species that
are not common in Southwick. The students were also intrigued
by an old
quarry
site on
the
property. Finally, our day ended with the
Springfield recycling center showing us what happens to
all our recycled waste and how it is sorted and then sold
to manufactures of recyclable materials. It was a great
field trip.
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Around SRS
7th Grade Solar Ovens
Students hard at work using scientific principles to create solar
ovens.
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Guidance News
November College Visits:
Nov. 9- Daniel Webster
Nov. 12- Westfield State University
Nov. 13- Lasell College
SAT DATES:
November 7
School Code
December 5
222-020
January 23
March 5
May 7
June 4
Register online at:
www.sat.collegeboard.com/register
~~
ACT DATES:
December 12
February 6
April 9
June 11
Register online at:
www.actstudent.org
NOVEMBER 20, 2015: REPORT CARDS ISSUED~~
COLLEGE PREP NIGHT: Wednesday, November 18 at 6:00pm
The annual College Preparation Night is a “must” for all college-bound juniors and their parents. It
is our hope that this program will be an aid in coordinating the cumbersome process of college
preparation and selection. Each family attending the session will receive an extensive packet of information. The guidance staff will spend some time reviewing this material as well as other related
topics. In addition, three college admissions personnel have offered their time to participate in our
program. In finalizing our plans, the Guidance Office will be mailing home a reservation form. Please
return the completed form to the Guidance Office by Tuesday, November 17th.
HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DECISION DAY
Tuesday, December 1st will be Decision Day at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School for any
seniors who are interested in attending Holyoke Community College in September 2016.
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT: Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:00pm
The annual College Financial Aid Night is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:00pm in the
high school auditorium. A MEFA representative will conduct a comprehensive presentation about
navigating the college financial aid process to parents and students in Massachusetts. All families who
attend will receive a booklet that includes slides of the entire presentation information about tax
benefits, a seminar glossary, a draft copy of the FAFSA form, information about the CSS/PROFILE,
and other helpful advice about seeking financial aid. The Guidance Office
will be mailing home an invitation to the seminar to each student in the
senior class. We would also like to extend an invitation to any members
of the junior class who would like to get a “jump-start” on the financial aid
process. We look forward to a large turnout on the 2nd. Please contact
us at 569-3011 with any questions.
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Guidance News, Continued
***SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS***
Please continue to review the up-to-date scholarship listings in the guidance office!!!
JUNIORS!!!
THE “STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE” RICHARD ATKINSON SCHOLARSHIP
IS AVAILABLE IN GUIDANCE
CHECK OUT OUR WEBPAGE UNDER GUIDANCE
Nurse News
Parents of 7th and 10th graders will receive letters that were sent home as a reminder to
get your students updated physical and immunizations in to the nurse.
Also don't forget if you play a sport you need a physical dated within 13 months of the
sport you will be playing.
Marcia Lamoureaux, School Nurse
New Business at SRS!
We are Slanyards! A new student business from the Economics class. We are getting ready to sell our
lanyards near the holidays during lunch periods. Many thanks to teachers and students around the school for
helping us out by filling out survey questions about their interests in lanyard designs. We are offering a free lanyard to the person who submits the best original design by email ([email protected]) in our design contest
ending November 10th! We will be selling our lanyards and the contest winner’s design for $3.00. We only have
a limited supply of lanyards, so get yours fast before they’re all sold out! Profits will be donated to Breast
Cancer Research.
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From the Athletics Director
WINTER SPORTS SEASON
Any student who wishes to participate in a winter sport must have had an updated physical that is no older than
13 months. A physical form must be filled out by your doctor and approved by the school nurse before being allowed to play.
WINTER SPORTS OFFERED
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Cheerleading
Wrestling
Boys and Girls Indoor Track
Boys and Girls Skiing
Also, each student-athlete and at least ONE parent/guardian must attend a mandatory meeting on Monday,
November 23, 2015 at 6:30 in the auditorium. If you already attended the fall meeting and filled out the StudentAthlete Handbook forms then you are all set for the winter. If you did not check off a winter sport on the permission slip, you will need to obtain a new form and add the sport and sign it. This will be a ONCE A YEAR mandated meeting. If your child participates in another sport, and you attended this meeting, you will be set for the rest
of the year.
Winter Pre-Season try-outs occur Monday, November 30, 2015.
Practice schedules for the remainder of the preseason will be distributed by the coaches on opening day.
Dates to Remember:
Mandatory Parent Meeting-
November 23 (6:30)
Winter Pre-season Begins-
November 30
Fall Awards Banquet- (sponsored by B.O.S.S) November 17 (6:00) Cafeteria
B.O.S.S will provide pizza for all attending but they ask that each team member bring some of the following…
Desserts-Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Girls Cross Country
Fruit or Salads- Field Hockey, Girls Volleyball, Boys Cross Country
Bottled Water- Golf
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Art News
Thinking of an Art Career?
In addition to the standard applications and essays required for college acceptance, the Advanced Art and Portfolio Preparation classes work towards preparing a portfolio for admission to an art college or university. To
help students with this task, colleges and universities from the New England area send a member of their admissions team to make presentations about their programs for these prospective students. Admission counselors are usually working artists and sometimes former students from the college or university that they represent. They show students work created at their school in each major area, explain the application process and
discuss their programs. To date we have had a presenter from Massachusetts College of Art and Design or
MassArt (the only public art school in the country) and the University of Hartford will be visiting us in November.
Admission Counselors shared the following information
with us:
College and University art programs generally require all
art students to complete foundations courses during
their first two years of school.
Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Multi-Media, Fashion
Design, Architectural and Interior Design, Illustration,
Art Education, Art History and Museum Education, Animation, Jewelry Design, Photography, Fine Arts
(Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics) are some of the
areas that students can specialize in. College and Universities Art programs are taught by working artists with
Masters and/or Doctoral Degrees and offer students insight in to the day to day work of artists.
Completing an internship is required for students to gain
real life experience in their major area of study.
The art world is very competitive so students are encouraged to apply to competitive programs. Look for programs that require strong academics and a portfolio. Students who get accepted into competitive programs can
be confident that they will be successful once they are in the program and will be prepared for future employment.
Ask school representatives about their acceptance rates to see if they accept most of their applicants. This can
suggest that they aren’t competitive and are more interested in your money than making sure you are qualified.
The one exception to this rule is community college programs. While they require a portfolio they are likely
to accept all students if space is available. However, these programs are designed to be affordable and reduce
college debt. Other students may need extra time to develop a solid portfolio and improve academically. Keep
in mind the programs are still rigorous.
We are lucky to be within driving distance of Holyoke Community College as it is among the top five community colleges in the country for best practices and has an excellent Visual Arts Program. At HCC, Students can
complete foundation art classes and get an associate’s degree in Fine Arts, Electronic Media, Graphics, and Photography. While enrolled at HCC, students can take courses at UMass Amherst.
Many students believe that they need to create a portfolio with works in the area that they want to major in.
For example, students who want to major in Animation may think they have to have animated drawings and
characters. Admission Counselors report that in actuality, schools are looking to see if students are able to draw from
direct observation, have lots of ideas, and can solve problems. Once a student is accepted into an art program the school
will teach them what they need to know for their particular field. Mastering working from direct observation is key to
growth and success in any art field whether it is photography, fashion design, ceramics, multi-media, or industrial design.
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Art News, Continued
Visual Arts Teachers, Ms. Jennifer Coughlin and Ms. Joanne Krawczyk will be attending a Professional Development workshop on November 3rd at Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, MA. Women's Work: Feminist Art from the Collection, is a special exhibition currently on view at the Smith College Museum of Art that explores how feminist
issues are addressed by artists. Teachers will participate in conversations with curators and museum educators modeling age-appropriate strategies for engaging
high school students with contemporary art as well as ideas for cross-curricular
units of study. Later in the month, students in Advanced Art and Portfolio Preparation will take a field trip to the museum to learn about the museum’s collection.
Celebrate Your Student’s Milestone! - 2016 Yearbook
Yearbook ads are a great way to celebrate student success and
milestones and reflect on the person your student has become.
Show your pride and support for your school at the same time.
Visit jostensadservice.com to create your recognition ad today!
Ad Layout Pricing Full Color:
Full Page—$200
1/2 Page—$150
1/4 Page—$75
1/8 Page—50
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V o lu me 1 1 , I ssu e III
Business Ads for the 2016 Yearbook
Make a difference in the lives of students and families in our school—support the Scanner High
School yearbook!
For the past 45 years, our school has produced a yearbook to preserve school memories for students and their
families. The yearbook is a strong tradition in our school and we strive to deliver the best possible yearbook for
our students every year. To help us create a high-quality yearbook at a price that all families can afford, we
count on the support of local businesses through advertising.
We would appreciate your support!
Advertising in the Southwick Regional School yearbook provides an excellent opportunity for you to get the
word out about your business. The most important reason to advertise in the yearbook is to send a strong message to other area families that you support our school. Additional benefits include:
Increased exposure—Students and their families look over their yearbooks repeatedly over the years, so
your ad will be seen time and time again!
Targeted audience—Advertising in the yearbook is targeted directly to young people and their families.
Value—The yearbook ad is a great value. Price information for various sizes and types of yearbook ads is enclosed. Compare these to a one-week ad in the newspaper or a radio spot. What a bargain!
Please call today to talk about the advertising options available. You can contact Melissa Trzasko, yearbook adviser, at (413) 569-6171 or Jostens directly at (800) 358-0800. We are certain you will find the perfect way to
advertise your business while helping support your student’s yearbook.
Sincerely,
The 2016 Yearbook Developers
Southwick Regional School
Advertising Pricing for Full Color
Ads
Full Page—$250
1/2 Page—$175
1/4 Page—$100
1/8 Page—$50
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Team Atlantis
The school year is in full swing as we’re moving closer to winter. In science the 7th grade is finishing up their roller coasters and will be presenting them soon, while the 8th grade is solving issues with Coral Reefs.
Grade 8 ELA will be jumping into the Career Unit. We're looking for Parent volunteers to come in for our second annual Parent Career Day, Nov. 25th all morning (a letter went home with your student or your received
the letter at Parent/Teacher conferences) You can discuss the career paths you have chosen and help prepare
the students for the presentations they will do during their Career Fair:
December 17, 8:30 A.M. (Snow date
December 18, 2015, 8:30 A.M.
Grade 7 will dive into Nonfiction and begin to take on the role of a person in history. We will explore the research process and also put on a fair. The dates for this are TBA.
Please also note: Students receive calendars in class that tell them the Term's agenda. These are useful tools to
keep them on track!!! Please continue to check in with them.
In Social Studies, the 7th grade did an amazing job on their civilization presentations! They are now starting to
learn about Mesopotamia with our DLE student Ms. Duggan.
8th grade has finished learning about Ancient India and will go on to learn about Ancient China. Their study
guide for this unit is already passed out.
In Reading, all small groups are nearing the end of our first group reading books. We have had great discussions
surrounding these texts and are eager to begin new group books shortly.
A reminder: Students must have an independent reading book with them on a
daily basis. This should be a book of interest that students will be reading and
writing about in class on a daily basis.
V o lu me 1 1 , I ssu e III
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Team Avalon
We are finding that students are already running short on writing utensils. Please be sure your student is stocked up
on pens and pencils!
Spanish classes have completed their review of last years curriculum and are wrapping up the first term with a cul-
tural exploration into the Día de los Muertos celebration which will lead them to their Term 1 project. Once they
have completed this we will begin new material. – Srta. C
Mrs. Fitzgerald's 8th grade math classes have started Algebra concepts and the Algebra classes are moving to graphing inequalities. Mrs. Fitzgerald is available for extra help on Tuesday after school and Thursdays if there is no
department or faculty meeting scheduled.
Tri-weekly science articles are due periodically throughout the year. Consult Edline to get the most recent due
dates. Science books will be coming home soon. Make sure your child has a paper bag to use as a book cover. I will
help them cover it, if needed. – Mr. Schoenthal
In Reading, all small groups are nearing the end of our first group reading books. We have had great discussions
surrounding these texts and are eager to begin new group books shortly. A reminder: Students must have an independent reading book with them on a daily basis. This should be a book of interest that students will be reading and
writing about in class on a daily basis. “Everyone is a reader, some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.” – Mrs.
Welker
Happy fall my fellow historians! As we go into the month of November (already?!!) we will be focusing on multiple
areas of the globe! We will work to finish our units on ancient China and move into European history next! Get
ready for some new projects, activities, and some new critical thinking pieces as
well! Remember to keep up the good work on homework and to prep for any upcoming tests! We are already into November and we're not slowing down! Have a
great month! -Mr. Abbe
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Team Olympus
Thank you to all the parents who attended parent teacher conferences in October. It was great to meet you!
Grades will close on November 10, so please check Edline and make sure all work is in! We are working with students to get material they owe to us.
In Ancient History we are learning how to hunt and gather in the Old Stone Age! Students have also been learning
about the early achievements and advancements of Paleolithic humans by examining the archaeological finds at Border Cave in South Africa and Catal Huyuk in Turkey.
In science we are wrapping up the physics unit and the building of roller coasters. Our STEM teacher, Mrs. Grady
has arranged for employees from Six Flags to come and give a presentation to the students about their jobs in the
engineering and marketing fields on the 16th of the month.
Math classes are finishing up their work on Rational Numbers. We are beginning our understanding on expressions
and equations. We will start solving one-step and two-step equations. Please be sure that your child has a pencil for
class. In Spanish class we have learned to tell time and say important dates on the calendar. November 1st and 2nd is
Latin America's famous Día de los muertos celebration.
In Reading, all small groups are nearing the end of our first group reading books. We have had great discussions surrounding these texts and are eager to begin new group books shortly. A reminder: Students must have an independent reading book with them on a daily basis. This should be a book of interest that students will be reading and
writing about in class on a daily basis. Everyone is a reader some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.
The school year is now in full swing so please check that agenda books are being filled out each day and assignments
are being completed.
Education—Inspiration—Excellence
Mission and Beliefs
Mission Statement: Southwick-Tolland Regional High School strives to provide a
safe, supportive, respectful environment dedicated to the academic, personal, and cultural evolution of every student.
Joe Turmel, Principal
[email protected]
Serena Shorter, Asst. Principal
[email protected]
Ben Taglieri, Asst. Principal
[email protected]
93 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
(413) 569-6171
www.stgrsd.org
S.T.R.H.S. Core Values and Beliefs About Learning
The Southwick-Tolland Regional High School learning community believes that our school
must...

challenge all students to excel and become confident, engaged learners through the
establishment of high academic standards

promote the academic, emotional, social, and physical growth of students while encouraging responsible citizenship

work together with families and the community to actively promote quality education

provide a safe environment fostering a culture of civility, creativity, and respect for
diversity

provide students with quality facilities, relevant materials, and personalized instruction
in order to promote excellence in education