Granite Fitness gives $2,500 to SEED: Seacoast education news
Granite Fitness gives $2,500 to SEED
DOVER — The Seacoast Educational Endowment for Dover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting academic excellence in Dover, N.H. public schools, recently accepted a $2,500 donation to promote health and wellness at Dover Middle School.
Granite Fitness and Performance is a best in class training facility located on Locust Street in Dover. As a life-long Dover resident and athlete, Granite Fitness owner Ian Duffy is committed to giving back to his community. “It is so important to introduce good health and fitness habits to adolescents and teens,” said Duffy. “Staying fit can help improve academic performance, build confidence, and decrease the risk of chronic disease.”
Studies show regular physical activity can help teens learn to meet the physical and emotional challenges they face every day. The donation will help DMS to purchase kettlebells in assorted sizes, cast iron dumbbells, and storage racks. All of this equipment will be used in the DMS physical education program.
In its tenth year, SEED is entirely funded by community giving to provide Dover educators access to tools, training, and curriculum not otherwise available through traditional school budgets. To learn more about SEED, please visit www.DoverSEED.org.
NHED to deploy new Statewide Student Information System
CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Education announced that it will be deploying a new, web-based Statewide Student Information System intended to save schools significant money and time.
The new data collection system, which was approved by the Governor and Executive Council, will be available to all New Hampshire public schools and districts. NHED’s Division of Education Analytics and Resources is contracting with Alma Technologies, Inc., of Portland, Ore., to purchase and deploy the Statewide Student Information System.
“This contract will replace the existing i4see system that was first implemented in 2001 and is difficult to adapt to everchanging federal and state reporting guidelines,” said Frank Edelblut, education commissioner. “The new system leverages technological advancements and is designed to empower educators by enabling real time data collection that will improve analysis and reporting. This upgrade will also enhance efficiency across New Hampshire’s school system, while simultaneously creating significant monetary and labor savings.”
The $2,489,900 contract with Alma Technologies will conclude in December 2026, with a five-year extension option. The project, which has been a priority for NHED since 2017, will initially be funded with a competitive State Longitudinal Data Systems grant that was awarded to the Department in 2020; the remaining state funds for the project were allocated to NHED in the last state biennium budget.
“Alma is excited to be selected as NHED’s State Level Solution,” said Andrew Herman, Alma co-founder and CEO. “We are unwaveringly committed to this partnership and supporting New Hampshire’s modern and progressive approach to education. Alma looks forward to partnering with both the New Hampshire Department of Education and New Hampshire K-12 districts to successfully carry out their educational visions.”
There are currently 38 school districts and 10 charter schools in New Hampshire that utilize Alma. School districts will still have autonomy to select their own vendor, however priority pricing will be offered by Alma. This is the first State Level Solution contract issued by Alma Technologies.
Monarch School executive director set to retire next year
ROCHESTER — The Monarch School of New England announced that Executive Director, Diane Bessey, will be retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
"I have found my life's work at the Monarch School of New England. It has been a privilege for me to work with such dedicated staff members, who are committed to ensuring students and their families have every opportunity possible,” said Bessey.
Bessey served as the Monarch School of New England's Physical Therapist from 1998 to 2006, at which time she was promoted to Program Director. She assumed the Executive Director position in 2009.
Raymond Benoit, vice president of the Monarch School of New England Board of Directors, stated, “Diane’s steady leadership has seen the school through some challenging times, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. The school has come through in a very strong position, with well-established programs and a waiting list for students. The Board of Directors has every confidence that the program at MSNE will continue to flourish and grow, thanks to the foundation established by Diane’s hard work.”
Jean Parsons, president of the Monarch School of New England's Board of Directors, added, "The Board is profoundly grateful for Diane's 25 years of service. Under her leadership, the school has expanded its facilities and increased student enrollment. Her commitment has also ensured that the Monarch School of New England stayed ahead of important initiatives in special education, such as preparing young adults with disabilities for community-based workforce development."
Parsons continued, "The Board of Directors has formed a committee which has defined the strategy and timeline to search for the next Executive Director of MSNE. We anticipate the process to begin after the new school year begins in the fall. We’re looking at this as an opportunity to identify who will guide the school’s journey through the next 25 years. Since Diane is staying on through the end of the school year, we anticipate a smooth transition.”
About the Monarch School of New England: The Monarch School of New England is a nonprofit day school for students 5 to 21 years of age with significant disabilities. The school supports students with special needs to reach their greatest potential, through a comprehensive approach which integrates both education and therapy, ensuring successful transitions to school and the community. To learn more, visit: monarchschoolne.org.
GBCC Social Sciences Dept. Chair publishes article in Anthropology News
PORTSMOUTH — Dr. Aimee E. Huard, professor and chair of Social Sciences at Great Bay Community College, is getting national attention for a course she designed to help students make better choices about college and careers.
An anthropologist, Huard recently published an article in Anthropology News highlighting how Great Bay students use ethnographic methods to analyze shifting workplace cultures. The piece, Exploring Careers with Ethnography is based on Huard’s experience with her popular course, Introduction to Ethnography: The World of Work. Anthropology News is the American Anthropological Association’s award-winning member magazine, published on the web and bimonthly in print.
Introduced four years ago, the course approaches the working life as a cultural system of norms, and students explore careers through the cultural meaning entrenched in workplace expectations and values. They use anthropological research techniques to evaluate myths and stereotypes and gain insight into what motivates people who are successful in their careers. Through their own research based on interviews with working professionals, students have an easier time seeing the difference between a job and a career.
In an interview, Huard said she was pleased to highlight the work of a community college and community college students in a prestigious professional journal. “In a lot of literature, the focus is on four-year students. You don’t see a lot of attention paid to community colleges, so having something published in a journal as widely read as the Anthropology News, that is important,” Huard said. “Community college students do truly excellent work under sometimes challenging conditions. Most are working full time, most have outside obligations, and the fact that they are this devoted to their education needs to be celebrated and highlighted.”
The article considers the world of college students as they grapple with the purpose of college and with choosing careers. Article Link: www.anthropology-news.org/articles/exploring-careers-with-ethnography/
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Granite Fitness gives $2,500 to SEED: Seacoast education news
