Boothbay Region High School

Newsletter

January 31, 2008

 

Dear Parents and Community Members,

 

As always, there are many things going on during the academic day and in the hours after school officially closes.  This newsletter contains many notes of interest; We hope youÕll look it over carefully and pay special attention to those items that pertain to you or your high school student.  And please remember, if you have questions, accolades,  or comments, we are happy to hear from you.  We can be reached at 633-2421, or by email:

Jack Tourtillotte, Principal – jtourtillotte@brhs.boothbay.k12.me.us, or

Joel Austin, Assistant Principal – jaustin@brhs.boothbay.k12.me.us.


 

FAMILY BINGO AND YARD SALE

Hey all.  The School Climate Committee has planned a FAMILY BINGO NIGHT on Feb. 8th.  We will have our YARD SALE from 5:30-6:30 and then play Bingo from 6:30-8!  Sounds like fun.  We will be asking for a donation at the door (or you may bring a prize to get your family in for free). 

 

February 4 - 8, 2008 is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week

Since 2006, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week is a time during which schools, law enforcement, public officials, and others conduct programs and activities for youth that promote awareness and prevention tips, as well as offer suggestions on healthy teen relationships.

The American Bar Association, the campaignÕs sponsor, developed an online toolkit that includes: teen dating facts; warning signs of teen dating violence; and prevention recommendations; a 30-minute DVD featuring teens candidly discussing their experience with dating violence, getting help, and ending the relationship; a teacherÕs guide; and the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Initiative poster. Toolkit elements can be used in curricular and extracurricular programs.   For more information and to see the toolkit, visit www.abanet.org/publiced/teendating.shtml.

 

BRHS, in conjunction with the Lincoln County Domestic Abuse Prevention Council and New Hope for Women, is sponsoring repeat performances of ÒJake and CarolineÓ at the High School during this week.  Last yearÕs production was well received by the students and faculty and we are pleased to have this opportunity again.  We recognize the very serious nature of this problem and know that we need to take steps to inform our students of the risks inherent in violent relationships. 

 

AFS TEACHER FROM CHINA 

We have a male teacher from China coming to our schools starting on Monday, March 17.   Manon Lewis has excitedly agreed to host him at the High School for part of his stay with us.  We are looking for a host family for his stay in the Boothbay Region, from about March 15 through the first week in June.  If you are interested in knowing more, or know you would like to be a host family, contact Jane Stevens at the Elementary School, 633-5097.

 

NEWS FROM MRS. SIROIS

The Freshmen World Cultures classes are filming their second video program, a series of panel discussions on current events in South Asian nations like India and Pakistan.  They have researched countries and belief systems found in this area of the world, followed situations in Afghanistan, and read books or short stories set in this part of the world, many by native authors.  We will move on to Southeast Asia next, where the Vietnam War is of great interest and students begin to read and hear from local people caught up in the Pacific theatre during World War II.

 

Alternative Education students attended their third play at Portland Stage.  FULLY COMMITTED, a rollicking, one-man show set in a restaurant.  They have been studying the Constitution, written laws, and are looking forward to visiting the Maine State House soon.

 

LIBRARY NEWS

We are pleased to announce that the BRHS Library Catalog is now online! You can search the libraryÕs holdings by author, title, keyword, or subject. We currently have over 11,000 items, including books, videos, DVDs and magazines. Please visit the BRHS home page at www.boothbayschools.org and click on BRHS Library Catalog in the left margin to begin your search.

 

Among the new fiction titles we received in January are The Gathering by Anne Enright (2007 winner of the Man Booker Prize), The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Empire by Orson Scott Card, Snakehead (Alex Rider series) by Anthony Horowitz, Forever in Blue (Traveling Pants series) by Ann Brashares, The Named

(Guardians of Time Trilogy) by Marianne Curley, and the Dive, Island, and Everest  trilogies by Gordon Korman.

 

We recently acquired the following nonfiction books: Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi, The Top Ten of Everything 2008 by Russell Ash, The World Almanac and Book of Facts: 2008, Cracking the SAT: 2008, and The 6 Most Important Decisions YouÕll Ever Make: a Guide for Teens by Sean Covey.

 

Our monthly book display for January highlighted the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contributions to the Civil Rights movement. Dr. King was remembered nationally on his birthday, January 21. February is Black History Month and our monthly display will reflect that. We will feature books about famous African Americans and their achievements in the arts, sciences, and sports.

 

Our science fiction display saw a great deal of usage during the month. We have an extensive science fiction collection and many fans of the genre. Featured authors include Orson Scott Card, Madeline LÕEngle, Ursula Le Guin, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlen.

 

We held our own version of the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary in the library by allowing students to vote for their favorite presidential candidates. Results were tallied throughout the day generating excitement among the students. BRHS students were engaged in the process and interested in the 2008 election. Some of them will be voting for the first time in November!

 

 

 

Deadline extended for New York trip

High school music teacher Mary Miller is excited to announce an incredible event happening next school yearÉ 

Boothbay Region High School students have been invited to be part of a major event in NYC in the fall; a musical Salute ÒRemembering 911.Ó  Students will be placed in a combined chorus with a nationally recognized guest conductor rehearsing and directing the group for a concert at a state-of-the-art theater in downtown Manhattan, near the World Trade Center Site, on October 26.   You do not need to be a music student to participate (just excited at the opportunity).  The concert will also feature speakers and guests comprised of individuals who had firsthand experience of the tragic events of 9/11.  Participants in this concert will not only have the opportunity to perform in the memorial concert but they will also have a chance to take in much of what New York has to offer including:

·         Powerful performance of the National Anthem at the World Trade Center Site

·         Meet music students from across the nation

·         See the sights of New York City such as Time Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue

·         Attend two Broadway shows.

·         A ferry ride to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Cost for the trip is only $799.99  which includes:

All of the above plusÉ

·         Breakfast and Dinner  

·         Hotel

·         Transportation (comfortable motor coach which will also provide transportation throughout our stay)

 

Please consider being part of this extraordinary event!  Call Mrs. Miller at 633-2421 if you have any questions.  A deposit of $75.00 is due by February 8, 2008.  Please make checks out to BRHS and bring them to your music teacher as soon as possible.

 

SPEAKING OF NEW YORK:

Mary Miller is also organizing a kamakazi trip to New York City in April.  On Friday, April 4, a comfortable coach will leave Boothbay at approximately 4:30 AM and return on Sunday evening.  This will give people the chance to take in a show or two, go to a museum, have a great dinner, visit some attractions, or do something else that NYC has to offer.  A minimum number of people are required for the trip.  Call Mrs. Miller 380-7398 for information.    Students are encouraged to go but must be accompanied by an adult.

 

DRAMA/CHORUS FUNDRAISER

The drama and chorus are selling singing telegrams for Valentines Day.  Cost is $20.00 per song.  They will deliver them on February 11 and 12 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.  Please call Mrs. Miller at 380-7398 for more information.

 

SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER NEWS

The School Health Center is busy during the winter months with coughs and colds and asthma flare-ups.  Remember, cold air can trigger bronchospasm, so use those scarves to warm up the air a little before it gets to your lungs.  Also, it's not too late to get a flu shot.  Our flu season starts gearing up about now and goes until the end of March, so you can still protect yourself from getting the flu with a shot.  You can also prevent the spread of influenza by covering your cough, washing your hands, and staying home when you are sick.

 

Our School Health Advisory group has formed a Girl's Group, an after-school forum for girls to discuss their concerns and current issues.  This is a great place to come and talk about teen issues for girls.  Please come on Thursdays after school at the School Health Center.  We have also worked on getting a greenhouse going at the high school.  Mr. Phillips is spearheading the project.  Look for new developments in the spring!

 

Check out the Webzine!  We have a group of students online who are talking about issues of concern to them.  Join them at the www.boothbayschools.org website.  Click on Student Health Webzine.  February's focus is Sexually Transmitted Disease prevention and education.  Look for a big push for increasing physical activity in March as we launch our March into May program...a contest to increase physical activity, measured and reported by competing teams.

 

The School Health Center is open to students and staff every morning with Lori Grinnell, School Nurse, and on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-12 and Friday afternoons from 1-3:30 with Anne Barker, Nurse Practitioner.  If you want to make an appointment, please call Lori at 633-5097, or the Family Care Center, at 633-7820.

 

On November 16, twelve BRHS students attended the Fall Convention of the Maine Junior Classical League hosted by Sacopee Valley High School.  They participated in academic testing, certamen (college bowl) competitions, and a  spirit contest.  Competing with Class A schools sending up to 40 delegates, our small contingent scored extremely well.  The Latin II Certamen team --Joey Morgan, Drew Schmid, Tiffany Tsang, and Ian Weiss--placed fifth out of fifteen schools. The Latin I Certamen team--Nick Greenleaf, Spencer Myshrall, Nate Schwehm, and Drew White placed fourth out of fifteen teams.  Earning individual ribbons in academic tests such as Latin grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary, derivatives, and mythology were:  Latin II--Joey Morgan, Drew Schmid, and Ian Weiss; Latin I--Nick Greenleaf, Nate Schwehm, and Drew White.