Our GHS Unified Basketball Team is in full swing!  I had a chance to participate in a scrimmage with them this week and was dominated by the Lewin twins.  The team has been practicing hard and has it's first scrimmage against Oxford on Saturday.  Congratulations to the entire team for all of their hard work and progress and good luck on Saturday!

Here is Brian Forbes shooting the lights out in the Municipal Center gym.

K-6 English Language Arts Curriculum Committee

Thanks to Jen Mannion, co-facilitator of the K-6 ELA Curriculum Committee and principal of North Street Elementary School, for presenting on the process for organizing our new learning standards around essential questions and enduring understandings.

Through Jen's leadership with Doreen Parker, fellow facilitator and the principal of South Grafton Elementary School, the team is designing grade-level curriculum focused on inquiry and deep conceptual knowledge.

This work would not be possible without the work of many dedicated English teachers:
Susan McCullen
Michelle Tynan
Robin Barron
Julie Mehne
Cathy Perch
Ceil Phillips
Rebecca Mastoras
Tracy Norton
Heidi Shorr
Gayle Akillian
Jen Leonard
Brittany Powers
Gina Baldassarre
Hillary Kreisburg
Katie Cederberg
Tiffany Beausoleil
Lynn Loiseau
Kerri Clarke
Lisa Rice
Sera Thompson
Beth Thulin
Kristin Parone
Norma Baker

Sam Berns Passes Away

Sam Berns, an inspirational young man from Foxborough, passed away on Friday after a long struggle with Progeria.  He is the focus of a new documentary titled "Life According to Sam" and presented a great Ted talk about his philosophy on life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36m1o-tM05g
He did an awful lot in a relatively short amount of time and will be greatly missed.

Teen Night Out

Tonight I had the opportunity to attend the Teen Night Out at Grafton Middle School. Many thanks to Diane Blessing, Marcia Pereira, Kim Booth, Deb Gonzalez, Mary Brosnan-Quilliam and the students of The Family and Community Leaders group for making this great event possible!

Scholar Recognition - Noelle Scarlett

I had the pleasure of attending the Worcester County Superintendent Association's Scholar Luncheon this afternoon with GHS principal, Jim Pignataro.  

Grafton High School senior, Noelle Scarlett, was recognized for her many exceptional accomplishments.  Noelle is currently Valedictorian of her class.  She has received the Rensselaer Silver Medal Award for  outstanding achievements in both math and science. She was inducted as the vice president of National Honor Society at GHS. Noelle has excelled in the arts. She has participated in over 40 Theater productions, both in the cast and crew throughout her life. She was chosen as a "special extra" in the indie film "The March Sisters at Christmas Time". She also performed with the Boston Pops at the Hanover Theater in Worcester. Along with her theatre accomplishments, Noelle has earned her black belt in Goju- Ryu karate do. Congratulations to Noelle on her many accomplishments and the well-deserved recognition she received today!

                                  (GHS Principal, Jim Pignataro and Noelle Scarlett, GHS senior)