“...committed to excellence with pride and unity.” Core Values: “ Committed to Excellence” Shepherd Hill Regional High School is dedicated to educate, challenge and empower students to suc ceed in the 21st century. With “Pride and Unity”, we foster intellectual achievement, civic responsibility and personal growth. Beliefs about Student Learning: Through quality instruction in a safe and stimulating learning environment, we encourage students to be inquisitive, resourceful, and responsible learners. By cultivating respect and a strong work ethic, we are confident that our students will excel in the present and meet the demands of the future. Principal’s Message—Mary A. Pierangeli Semester 1 has concluded and we have begun the second half of the 20142015 school year. By the time you receive this Newsletter; second quarter report cards will have been distributed. Parents should review these report cards with Upcoming Events their children and provide praise or encouragement where appropriate. Our Good Luck goal is for each student to reach his or her full potential. Parents can help to ensure student success by requiring good student attendance, insisting on punctuality, supporting teacher expectations and monitoring class assignments.  Feb. 1—Super Bowl Grinders Delivered Parents are encouraged to sign up for iParent at www.dcrsd.org/shepherdhill to  Feb. 2—MCAS Retest (Biology) assist with monitoring student progress. For students, this is an appropriate  Feb. 3—MCAS Retest (Biology) opportunity to reflect upon progress made and to rededicate oneself to  Feb. 4—AFL-CIO Exam continued excellence or to much needed improvement. While this is true for all  Feb. 4—Yellow Dress Assembly (8:30 a.m.) students, it is especially critical for seniors. Regrettably, each year some  Feb. 6 & 7—Central Mass. Show Choir seniors find that they have not met the minimum requirements for graduation  Feb. 13—3rd Qtr. Progress Report Grades Close and face the disappointment of not participating in commencement exercises.  Feb. 16-20—NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)  Feb. 20—Cheerleading Invitational Don’t put yourself in that situation! There is still time to turn things around. Efforts continue to provide students with information to encourage good  Feb. 22—FAFSA Day (1 p.m. @ Qunisigamond Community College) decision-making and mature, responsible behavior. The first of these was  Feb. 22—Captain Richard Phillips presentation participation in “No Name Calling Week,” a national effort aimed at ending at Nichols College (7 p.m.) name-calling and verbal bullying of all kinds. Information was provided  Feb. 24—Italy, Switzerland & France Parent during morning announcements and during advisory to increase students’ Meeting in the Auditorium (6:30 p.m.) awareness of ways in which name-calling, bullying and harassment have a  Feb. 27—3rd Qtr. Progress Reports Issued negative impact on all people and to encourage students to treat one another  Mar. 5—EARLY RELEASE at 11:15 a.m. with compassion and resect. All students were encouraged to sign a poster in Parent/Teacher Conferences (1-4 & 6-8 p.m.) the cafeteria taking a stand against bullying and name calling. I thank guidance  Mar. 6—Dodgeball Tournament (6 p.m.) counselor Ms. Incutto and P.E., Health and Family/Consumer Science  Mar. 7—English AP Saturday Session @ Sutton Department Coordinator Ms. Gustafson for their efforts with this endeavor.  Mar. 9—Team Orientation Meeting (6:30 p.m.) Additionally, on February 4th grade 10 students will attend our annual  Mar. 13—NO SCHOOL (Pr of. Dev. Day) presentation of the “Yellow Dress” sponsored by our Students Against  Mar. 14—Prom Dress Swap (11 a.m.—3 p.m.) Destructive Decisions (SAAD) group. This presentation by Deana’s  Mar. 17—Spring Band Concert (6:30 p.m.) Educational Theater is a dramatic one-woman play based on the story of a  Mar. 21—Science AP Saturday Session @ SH victim of dating violence. It is a compelling portrait of the reasons that we  Mar. 22—Winter Percussion/Guard Show (noon) must address relationship violence in a comprehensive manner by providing  Mar. 24—MCAS ELA Long Comp. students with early warning signs of abuse and offering suggestions on coping  Mar. 24—Open House (8th Grade Orientation) with unhealthy situations. This powerful presentation is another aspect of our  Mar. 25—MCAS ELA Reading Comp. I & II bullying and violence prevention initiatives. I thank SAAD advisors Ms.  Mar. 26—ELA Reading Comp. III  Mar. 27—Choral Spring Concert (7 p.m.) Govoni and Ms. Rodriguez for their efforts with this presentation. As we begin the new semester, I am pleased to announce that our efforts to  Mar. 28—Math AP Saturday Session @ Sutton develop partnerships with Nichols College continue. The Accelerator Program is continuing during semester 2 with Shepherd Hill students enrolled in a business communication course at Nichols allowing them to earn college credit while still in high school. Additionally, several English classes will join Nichols college students in reading the New York Times bestseller, “A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips. the book is the true story of the Maersk Alabama, a United States flagged cargo No School ship captained by Massachusetts native, Richard Phillips. The ship was seized off the coast of East Africa in 2009 by Somali pirates and Captain Phillips was taken hostage. A tense five-day Feb. 16-20 (Winter Vacation) Mar. 13 (Pr of. Dev. Day) standoff ensued until Captain Phillips was rescued by Navy SEALS. Captain Phillips made every effort to safeguard his crew when the pirates boarded the ship and used every ounce of courage to stay safe during his captivity. His bravery is a model for all. The book was made into a movie in Early Release 2013 with Tom Hanks starring as Captain Phillips. As part of Nichols” Bicentennial celebration, Mar. 5 at 11:15 a.m. Captain Richard Phillips has agreed to speak on campus on Sunday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. The Page 2 SHRHS February 2015 Principal’s Message (cont.) film will be shown prior to the presentation. Our students have been invited to attend. I thank Nichols College and Brian McCoy, coordinator of the Bicentennial celebration, for donating paperback copies of the novel to our school and for providing our students with an opportunity to meet the author and participate in this exciting presentation. I am also pleased with Shepherd Hill’s 2013-2014 drop-out data and the four-year graduation rate recently released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The final dropout rate for Shepherd Hill Regional High school and DudleyCharlton Regional school district is 0.6% and the four year graduation rate is 95.2%. This is an improvement over the 2012-2013 drop-out rate of 0.9% and four-year graduation rate of 93.9%. Each statistic provides a particular and distinct perspective on a school’s success in keeping high school students in school. The annual dropout rate provides information about one particular school year and all students enrolled in the school in that year. The four-year graduation rate provides information about a particular group of students over the course of a typical four years in high school. It should be noted that some students complete graduation requirements in a fifth year or earn a GED. Thus, the four-year graduation rate is not a final indicator of the number of students who, in fact, earn a diploma. At the high school level, the annual dropout rate and the four year graduation rate is part of the school’s MCAS accountability data. I am especially pleased to report that this year’s rates have met or exceeded our 6-year or 2016-2017 goals of 0.6% for the drop-out rate and 90% for the four-year graduation rate. Our winter athletic season will soon be concluding. I would like to commend our players and coaches for a terrific season. I am certain that some of our teams will be involved in play-offs. The hard work, determination and achievement of our athletes truly illustrate our school’s mission, “committed to excellence” with “pride and unity.” Go Rams! Progress Reports The midpoint of the third marking quarter is the week of February 9-13. Progress reports will be distributed on Friday, Feb. 27. The reports display approximate grades in all your child’s subjects. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s guidance counselor at 508-943-6700. Report Cards Report cards were distributed at the close of school on Friday, January 23. If you haven’t seen a copy, please ask your son/ daughter for it! If you have any questions, please contact your child’s guidance counselor at 508-943-6700. OVER 30 LOCATIONS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS FREE Help Applying for Financial Aid for College Sunday, February 22, 2015 Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester 1:00 p.m. Families will receive:  Free assistance completing the FAFSA  Access to experienced financial aid administrators and FAFSA experts to answer questions  Guidance on the financial aid process and next steps after filing the FAFSA Thursday, March 5, 2015 (1-4 & 6-8 p.m.) Following the issuance of mid-term progress reports, our parent-teacher conference are scheduled for Thursday, March 5. Ther e will be an ear ly r elease for students at 11:15 a.m. All teachers and counselors will be available between 1-4 p.m. and again between 6-8 p.m. Par ents ar e encour aged to visit with teachers. Please contact the school if you are unable to be present but would like to set up conferences with your child’s teacher(s). Page 3 SHRHS February 2015 News from the Guidance Department Guidance Counselor email addresses as follows: Mr. Scott Gauthier .......... sgauthier@dcrsd.org Mr. Corey Gendron ........ cgendron@dcrsd.org Ms. Lisa Incutto ................. lincutto@dcrsd.org Mr. James Laliberte ......... jlaliberte@dcrsd.org Ms. Diana Swidrak ......... dswidrak@dcrsd.org The PSAT’s were distributed this past week to all sophomores and juniors who took the examination. The College Board provides useful tools to help students with the selection of a major and a college or technical school. Students should create a College Board account at www.Collegeboard.org/student. Once created, students should use their access number from the PSAT results and utilize the free resources available such as MyRoad—a career exploration tool. At some point during the month of February, it is my goal to have sophomores create a College Board account during a directed study. The information is extremely valuable and helpful towards their college and career planning. In next month’s newsletter, dates for a Student/Parent Junior Planning Night and spring National College Fairs will be posted. This is very important for juniors; however, also helpful for all who have plans of attending college after high school! Term 3 is off and running. Monitor grades closely through IParent or by contacting your assigned guidance counselor. Stay in touch with teachers of subject areas your child has difficulty with. We want our students to do well; however, if they waiver at times, we cannot lose when both school and parent(s) are working together! I am delighted to inform all parents that we now have school based counseling services @ SHRHS. Our provider is Community Health Link. If you wish counseling support, we will need you to complete an application and provide your medical insurance information. We will soon have counseling support one day per week. Stay warm! Spring is not too far away! Scott J. Gauthier Director of Student Resources Michelle Tracey was accidentally left off the 1st Term Honor Roll list. She received Recognition status for the 1st Term. Congratulations Michelle! Advanced Placement Exam Schedule May 4 - May 13, 2015 as follows AP Chemistry AP Spanish Language Mon., May 4, 2015 Thurs., May 7, 2015 (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) AP Environmental Mon., May 4, 2015 (8 a.m.—12 p.m.) AP U.S. History Fri., May 8, 2015 (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) AP Calculus AB or BC Tues., May 5, 2015 (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) AP Biology Mon., May 11, 2015 (8 a.m.—12 p.m.) AP English Literature Wed., May 6, 2015 (8 a.m – 12 p.m.) AP Eng. Lang. & Comp. Wed., May 13, 2015 (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) AP Physics 1 (Alg. Based) Wed., May 6, 2015 (12 p.m. – 4 p.m.) AP Statistics Wed., May 13, 2015 (12 p.m. – 4 p.m.) http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/cal/cal2.html Students may register for multiple Advanced Placement exams. Registration is through the guidance office (Mr. Laliberte). Payment must be in the form of check or money order payable to SHRHS. Cash will not be accepted. Mass Insight Education AP Program will supplement the cost of exam fees for ELA, math, and science. The cost for each exam in ELA, math, and science will be $70.75 if you have enrolled in the course. If you are not enrolled in the course but want to take the exam, the cost will be $91.00. History, Spanish and any other exam outside of ELA, math and science will be $91.00 per exam. Students enrolled in ELA, math, or science AP courses are required to take the exam. All other exams ar e optional. However, students are encouraged to take exams in each of their AP classes. Should a student not pay for a required exam, a bill will be assigned by the main office that will be due prior to the end of the student’s Shepherd Hill career. The registration period is currently open and will conclude on Wednesday March 18, 2015. Students on free/reduced lunch are eligible for a reduced cost per exam. The reduced price will be available mid-March so students are asked to wait until the price becomes available before paying. Any questions should be directed to Mr. Laliberte at 508-943-6700 x172 or jlaliberte@dcrsd.org. http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/about/dates Page 4 SHRHS S A T P R E P February 2015 JUNIORS! A complete SAT preparation program is at Shepherd Hill in time for the Saturday, May 2, 2015 test. Reserve your spot today! Each session will cover both English and Math Prep Session 1 Wed 2 Mon 3 Wed 4 Mon 5 Wed 6 Mon 7 Wed 8 Mon 9 Wed Date 3/11 3/16 3/18 3/23 3/25 3/30 4/1 4/6 4/8 Mon 4/13 10 Wed Time 2:30 – 6:30 pm* (Pre Test) 2:30 – 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. 2:30 – 5:00 pm no class 4/15 2:30 – 6:30 pm* (Post Test) Cost of the program: $299 Deadline to register is Wed., March 4 If you have questions or would like to register for the program, please email or call: Lisa Incutto, Guidance Counselor (lincutto@dcrsd.org) (508) 943-6700 ext. 171 The Spring SAT at Shepherd Hill is Sat., May 2nd. Deadline to register for the exam is Mon, April 6, 2015. Register now at www.collegeboard.com. Mon 4/20 & Wed 4/22 no class (April Vacation) 11 Mon 12 Wed 4/27 4/29 2:30– 5:00 pm 2:30 – 5:00 pm * = 4 hour class for full length practice test MCAS Testing for Spring 2015 Grade 10 The Massachusetts Department of Education has published the testing schedule for the Spring of 2015. The entire 10th grade English Language Arts test will be given at the end of March. The 10th grade Mathematics test will be given in May. The 10th grade Biology test will be given in June. Student attendance for the testing sessions is extremely important for your child. The following schedule is provided for your planning purposes: Date March 24 March 25 March 26 May 12 May 13 June 2 June 3 Subject ELA—Long Comp. ELA—1 & 2 ELA—3 Mathematics 1 Mathematics 2 Biology 1 Biology 2 Time 8:00-11:30 a.m. 8:00-11:30 a.m. 8:00- 9:30 a.m. 8:00-11:30 a.m. 8:00-11:30 a.m. 8:00-10:15 a.m. 8:00-10:15 a.m. SAT Testing SAT testing will be held at Shepherd Hill on Saturday, May 2nd. Please register online for the test at: www.collegeboard.com Honor Roll From time to time, grades may be changed after report cards have been issued (due to calculation error, students completing work for an incomplete grade, etc.) It is strongly suggested that students check the honor roll lists that are posted in the showcases in the cafeteria two weeks after report cards are issued. These lists are posted for a period of one week before the information is sent to the local newspapers. Should students discover a mistake in their honor roll status on the lists, the Guidance Office should be notified. Page 5 SHRHS College Acceptances—Class of 2015 Awad, Michael—Nichols College Bellino, Alexander—UMASS Dartmouth, Coastal Carolina University Berry, Michelle—Unity College, Green Mountain College, Long Island University, Becker College, University of New England Bishop, Riley—Wentworth Institute of Technology, Assumption College, Nichols College, Anna Maria College Brewer, Nicholas—Nichols College Casamassa, Miranda—Salem State University Chamberlain, Rebecca—Salem State University, Fitchburg State University, Worcester State University Champagne, Kali—University of Southern Maine, Penn State Abington, University of Maine at Farmington Coleman, Kathryn—Bay Path College Crowe, Valerie—Lasell College, Temple University, SUNY University at Stony Brook daSilva, Gabriel—Nichols College Doherty, Hannah—Worcester State University Donnelly, Roisin—Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Trinity College Dublin Ireland, UMASS Dartmouth Dow, Megan—College of the Holy Cross Dowd, Bryanna—Bay State College Faldetta, Kendra—Salem State University, Suffolk University Foss, Michael—Elon University, Providence College, UMASS Amherst, Clemson University Gardner, Soultana—Nichols College Gatsogiannis, Sean—Merrimack College Gaudet, Darien—Worcester Polytechnic Institute, UMASS Amherst Gevry, Kaitlin—Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Gilligan, Daniel—Susquahanna University Gingras, Kelsey—American International College, Fitchburg State College, Quinnipiac University, University of Hartford Hanks, Christopher—College of the Saint Rose, University of New Haven Harper, Kelsey—University of Hartford, Curry College, Keene State College, Springfield College Jadin, Peyton—Quinnipiac University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Jolin, Chloe—Johnson & Wales University Kicilinska, Monika—Worcester State University Kingman, Cody—UMASS Lowell, Merrimack College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Kiritsis, Zoe—UMASS Lowell Leclerc, Emily—University of Vermont, University of Maine at Orono, Roanoke College Lindstrom, Christopher—Boston College Mackay, Michael—Western New England University Maesto, Emily—Nichols College, Worcester State University Manseau, Sarah—New England Culinary Institute, Johnson & Wales University, Culinary Institute of America Manzi, Talia—University of Alabama, UMASS Amherst McAleer, Victoria—Westfield State University, Keene State College Niro, Scott—Keene State College Oliver, Scott-University of Tampa, St. Leo University, Florida Southern College, University of Southern Florida Pollier, Rachael—University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Temple University Premo, Brian—UMASS Amherst February 2015 Ray, Gabrielle—Ohio State University, UMASS Amherst, Clemson University Schultz, Juleanna—University of Hartford Seagrave, Nicholas—Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Western New England College, Chestnut Hill College, SUNY University at Stony Brook Seifert, Brittany—Nichols College Sequeiros, Brittany—University of Hartford, the Citadel Smith, Abigail—Manhattan College, Keene State College, Emmanuel College, Curry College Smith, Caitlin—Salem State University, Endicott College, Keene State College, University of New Hampshire Stachowicz, Joanna—Manhattan College Sudyka, Justyna—Western New England University, Temple University, University of Hartford, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, University of New England Tonelli, Andreana—Curry College, Mt Ida College Vangos, Daniel—UMASS Amherst Veber, Sarah—Framingham State University Vincent, Gavin—UMASS Lowell, Western New England University, Assumption College Walker, Brooke—Salem State University, Quinsigamond Community College, Springfield College, University of Southern Maine Wang, Fay—UMASS Dartmouth, Clemson University, Case Western Reserve University White, Benjamin—UMASS Amherst Wilson, Lauren—New England College Woods, Kaitlyn—Castleton State College, Husson University, Springfield College, Keene State College, Seton Hall University, University of New England Page 6 SHRHS SHRHS Drama Club presents February 2015 at Shepherd Hill Saturday, March 14th (Snow Date: Sunday, March 15th) 11 a.m—3 p.m. $5 admission Cost of dress is $15 All are welcome! Why pay hundreds for a dress you will only wear for a few hours? Get your prom dress for only $15!! “Students Give Back” Proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation Prom dress donations are being accepted now. Please see Kim Mazejka or drop them off in the front office. Donate a prom dress and get another dress free! Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2 7 p.m. SHRHS Auditorium Tickets: $10 for adults $5 for students and seniors Children 5 and Under are FREE! During the month of January Student Council held a student teacher trivia contest, their very own Lock-In and participated in a leadership conference (Lead the Stampede) held at Nichols College on January 30. Student Council has multiple trivia sessions throughout the school year. They are in the library and cost $5. We were pleased to see an alumni team come back to challenge the teachers. It was a close match throughout, but in the end the teacher team prevailed. The Lock-In was a night filled with activities. It started at 8 p.m., and ended at 8 a.m. A big thanks to Roberto Martinez, Michaela White, and Michael Rapoza for planning a great night! We would also like to thank Tim White, our guest speaker. Student Council is in the midst of planning our annual dodge ball tournament. This is one of our biggest events and we are looking forward to it. In the month of February we are planning a workshop afternoon for the Dudley Middle School Council members. Dodge Ball Tournament Thursday, March 6, 2015 6:00 p.m. Team forms can be picked up in the main office, Ms. Swidrak’s office (guidance) and Mrs. Piehl’s room (301). Cost is $5/player Spectator Admission is $5 Page 7 SHRHS February 2015 Congratulations to the Math Team for their 1st place finish at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton on Wednesday, January 7th. Special congratulations go to seniors Nick Seagrave and Lance Harms and to freshmen John Davison for earning the highest points for the Shepherd Hill Team! Congratulations also to junior Justin Carbonneau for earning the second highest points and to senior Jenna Nesta and junior Rebecca Davison for earning the third highest points. Students also competing were senior co-captains Justyna Sudyka and Michael Foss and Brian Mayville, Jeffrey Morrissey, Matthew Spahl, Zachary Abate, Rachael Pollier, Jennifer Morrissey, Scott McKinstry, Gabby Ray, Roisin Donnelly, Sara Cohen, Taylor Gallegan and Scott Niro. The team is looking for war d to their last meet on February 25th at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton. Dudley-Charlton Education Foundation Challenge Appeal The Dudley-Charlton Education Foundation, Inc. is excited to announce our sixth annual appeal is underway. This year your gift can have twice the impact! For the third year in a row KARL STORZ Endovision, Inc., an international leader in the production and sale of medical instruments and devices with a facility in Charlton, has agreed to match total donations from individuals/families, up to $7,500. Now is a great time to give! With your gift, through the DCEF, educators in our district are able to write grants to fund the implementation of creative and exciting ideas that enhance the school experience for our students. With your investment, the DCEF can continue to fund programs and projects that truly make school come to life for our children. The DCEF first offered educator grants in 2010, funding 5 grants at $9,800. Through the generosity of our donors, by spring 2014, 59 grants have been funded totaling over $154,500. The foundation is a volunteer, non-profit organization that works to strengthen community support and to fund programs that encourage innovation and enrichment in the Dudley-Charlton school district. Tax-deductible contributions can be made by check payable to Dudley-Charlton Education Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 92, Dudley, MA 01571. To pay by credit card, please visit the foundation’s web site at dcedfoundation.org. We will recognize donors in print unless requested otherwise. In last month’s article we discussed the Keep W arm, Keep Safe campaign and how it relates to proper maintenance of your heating system in order to prevent fires in your home. Another area that comes to mind that requires periodic maintenance is your clothes dryer. In recent years statistics indicate that over half of all dryer fires occurred in 1 & 2 family homes. You can prevent dryer fires by following these safety rules. Clean the filter screen after each load. This will help keep the vent hose clear of lint. If accumulated lint clogs the vent hose, the dryer could overheat causing a fire. Also, clean the hose that vents to the outside at least twice a year. Make sure there is not a lint build up on the outside vent cover. Vacuum around the motor area to remove excess dust and lint build up. Don’t leave clothing or other combustibles too close to the dryer. The heat from the dyer may be sufficient to ignite them. Never leave a dryer in use unattended. Always turn off the dryer before leaving the house. Also, a reminder the open burning season for brush has begun on January 15th and ends May 1st. The open burning regulations along with the permit that is required is available at fire headquarters. Captain David J. Konieczny Fire Prevention Officer Page 8 SHRHS February is Heart Disease Awareness Month: Go Red for Women! Pump it up Pride and Unity  February 6th is National Wear Red Day. However, we are also extending the RED OUT DAYS to February 13th and 27th. Please wear red to school to help the Hill raise awareness regarding Heart Disease.  Show your support! Heart Disease Pride & Unity T-Shirts will be sold for $7.00 during the month of February from Ms. Gustafson in room 207 and during selected lunches. Heart Disease Statistics at a Glance Since its inception, the American Heart Association (AHA) has led efforts in research, prevention and treatment of heart disease, providing knowledge-based solutions for people of all ages. And every year, the AHA works together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies to compile the most comprehensive and up-to-date statistics on heart disease, stroke and other vascular diseases. These statistics are used by health researchers, clinicians, healthcare policy makers, media professionals and consumers, serving as a major source for monitoring the cardiovascular health of the wider population. Here are some of the latest findings. General Statistics  Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.  Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.  An estimated 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease.  Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.  Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease.  The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women and men, and are often misunderstood.  While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.  Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.  Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies. February 2015 What Causes Heart Disease? Heart disease affects the blood vessels and cardiovascular system. Numerous problems can result from this, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. Heart disease can take many other forms as well:  Heart failure or congestive heart failure, which means that the heart is still working, but it isn’t pumping blood as well as it should, or getting enough oxygen.  Arrhythmia or an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which means the heart is either beating too fast, too slow or irregularly. This can affect how well the heart is functioning and whether or not the heart is able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.  Heart valve problems can lead to the hear t not opening enough to allow proper blood flow. Sometimes the heart valves don’t close and blood leaks through, or the valve leaflets bulge or prolapse into the upper chamber, causing blood to flow backward through them. How Can I Prevent It? Many things can put you at risk for these problems – one’s you can control, and others that you can’t. But the key takeaway is that with the right information, education and care, heart disease in women can be treated, prevented and even ended. Here are a few lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your risk:  Don’t smoke  Stay active  Manage your blood sugar  Eat healthy  Get your blood pressure under control  Lose weight  Lower your cholesterol  Know your family history Information provided by: goredforwomen.org Page 9 SHRHS Mrs. Robidoux Students enjoyed learning and singing carols during the Christmas holidays. All classes got some exposure to singing and cultural experiences of the holidays in French, Spanish and Mandarin speaking countries. Although many Chinese people are not practicing Christians, many do have Christmas trees and celebrate the holidays with family and friends. During the next few weeks the Mandarin classes look forward to learning about the Chinese New Year celebrations and will eat typical foods. Students have regional food projects which will be enjoyed in class by all. They will also be participating in a New Year celebration with guest speaker, Helen Li. This will involve cooking, questions, eating, etc. It will be a fun experience for all. The recent Midterm Exams were a great assessment tool to gauge the progress of all students in the Foreign Language program. Although many students find larger exams extremely difficult, they are a good practice for college expectations. Overall, teachers were pleased with the results of these exams. As students exhibit their growing knowledge, they are better able to communicate in their language of study. We encourage our students to develop their skills and to enter language study as early as possible. This will enable the student to reach a higher level of competency. In our everchanging, competitive world, knowledge of a foreign language is an important element of success in the 21st century workplace. The French classes had a guest speaker in December, Mrs. Zajac. She enthusiastically told the story of Canadian folklore involving a flying canoe. The students listened attentively to her French rendition and saw her display of paintings revealing the interpretations of many artists. The students were given the surprise homemade cookies and were asked to draw an ending to the folklore. It was enjoyable for all. We appreciate the visit! SHEPHERD HILL SPORTS ACADEMY SPRING TRAINING CLINICS 9 a.m.—12 noon BASEBALL—Saturdays February 21, 28, March 7, 14 LACROSSE: Sundays: February 22, March 1, 8, 15 Prepare for your season the Shepherd Hill way! For more information contact the Sports Academy Office at sportsacademy@dcrsd.org February 2015 National Honor Society inductions will take place in the spring. Any student grades 10-12 who is not already in the National Honor Society and has a cumulative non-weighted GPA of 3.5 or higher will be invited to apply for nomination into the Honor Society. The application process consists of leadership, community service and character. Those students who are invited to apply will need a recommendation letter from an adult who does not work in the high school. They will also need to list the community service they have completed since they have been in the high school. Things they have done in middle school or prior are not included. Congratulations to Coach Jim Hackenson who won his 500th game January 16th vs Leominster at home. Coach Hackenson is in his 35th year coaching the Rams Varsity Girls Basketball team. Many friends and family came to the momentous event. Appropriately, many of his former players were also in attendance to help him celebrate. Great job, Coach. We are proud of you! Page 10 SHRHS February 2015 News from the Athletic Department Inclement Weather Some things to remember about inclement weather, postponements and cancellations:  Early release means no after school activities. All athletes ar e expected to go home at dismissal.  School cancellation means no subvarsity practice or freshman games. Varsity practices and V/JV games are played at the discretion of the building principal and should be considered TBA until a decision has been made. Some varsity coaches may choose not to practice. Spring Registration As far off as it may seem, the spring sports season is quickly approaching. The registration period for spring sports will be from February 9-28. All spring athletes should register online during this timeframe. Go to the Athletics page on the Shepherd Hill website. First Day Spring try-outs / practice begin Monday, March 16th. Team Schedules and Rosters Team schedules and rosters can be found on the school website under athletics. Shepherd Hill Winter Invitational Friday, February 20, 2015 6:00 p.m. Admission: $7 adults; $5 students and senior citizens; Children under the age of 5 are free The Shepherd Hill Varsity will be performing an exhibition before the start of the tournament. You'll also see our district school, Charlton Middle School, competing at the Hill Invitational. Varsity cheerleaders will be competing as follows:  Mid Wach League Championship—Sunday, February 22nd at Wachusett Regional High School  Central Mass Regional Championship—Sunday March 1st at Springfield High School  State Finals—Sunday, March 8th at Wachusett Regional High School. All candidates must have an up-to-date physical on file in the nurse’s office. Physicals must be dated within the last 13 months. Eligibility expires 13 months from the date of your last physical, even if midseason. Please plan accordingly and schedule your appointments prior to that expiration. Head Injury Pre-Participation Forms must be completed prior to each season. The Pre-Participation Form from the fall or winter season is invalid for the spring. Candidates will not be able to try-out / practice unless these requirements are fulfilled. Team-Orientation Meeting The mandatory Team Orientation meeting will be Monday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. If you attended the fall or winter Team Orientation meeting, you only need to attend the individual team session beginning at 7:00 p.m. Athletic Fees During the Fall 2014 Season the JV Cheerleaders were once again undefeated for the third season in a row. The Varsity Cheerleaders won the Mid Wach League scoring the highest of the day with a 93.75 breaking the school record, they also won the Division 2 Central Mass Regional Championship and ending the Fall Season with a third place finish at the State Cheerleading Championship in November 2014. The $150 spring athletic fee is due Tuesday, March 10th. In or der for a student to begin practice or try-out, this requirement must be satisfied. To fulfill this requirement, the fee, or a written request for an extension or payment plan must be submitted. Waivers are granted to those students who qualify for the Free & Reduced Lunch Program. Page 11 SHRHS February 2015 We’re proud to announce that FANTASY has been selected from a pool of over 1,000 singers to compete in WGBH’s first ever season of Sing That Thing! This is a new local TV series designed to showcase the best amateur choirs in Greater Boston and beyond in a contemporary production model that will reveal the passion, vitality, and timeless appeal of the choral experience. Sing That Thing! will highlight choirs representing local churches, schools, and communities. To purposefully accommodate a deliberately broad range of singing styles and repertory, Sing That Thing! will have four competition categories: High School, College, Adult Small Group, and Adult Large Group. The choirs will perform before a panel of judges comprised of Boston-based arts luminaries and will receive feedback not only on such traditional metrics as Intonation, Rhythm, Blend, Diction, and Dynamics, but also on such factors as Complexity, Versatility, Stagecraft, and Audience Appeal. Fantasy will proceed to this next round of competition the second week of February. The top 2 High School Choirs will be asked to return to WGBH in March for a master class and a brief studio session wherein they will be presented with a composition to prepare for the final program. Good luck, Fantasy, as you prepare for the next level of competition. A link to view Fantasy’s audition video can be found at http://shepherdhillchorus.com/fantasy.html Fantasy Page 12 SHRHS February 2015 TTones Illusion Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival February 6 & 7, 2015 It is time to start thinking about the Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival on February 6th and 7th. True to Shepherd Hill tradition, this festival remains the premier New England Show Choir event. We will continue with the TWO DAY format—Junior High groups will perform on Friday evening and Senior High groups at two separate showcases on Saturday. Shepherd Hill “TTones” will perform at the end of the 6:30 Showcase on Friday, “Illusion” will perform at the end of the 9:00 AM Showcase on Saturday, and “Fantasy” will close the 4:00 PM Showcase. Reserved tickets sell out early. Check shepherdhillchorus.com for an updated list of performing schools and online ticket reservation form. We are looking for parent and alumni volunteers to staff the festival. Anyone interested in helping out should contact Connie Galli at cgalli@dcrsd.org. Shepherd Hill Regional High School 68 Dudley-Oxford Road Dudley, MA 01571 Phone: 508-943-6700 Fax: 508-943-5956 “...committed to excellence with pride and unity.” NEWSLETTER We’re on the web! www.dcrsd.org The Shepherd Hill Show Choirs Present Central Massachusetts " DUDLEY-CHARLTON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Friday, February 6, 2015 Saturday, February 7, 2015 (See Page 12 for more details)