New Parent Information Night, Presidential award: Education news

Portsmouth Herald
·9 min read

Oyster River participates in districtwide Coding and Cocoa event

Mast Way Elementary School students participating in coding activities during districtwide Coding and Cocoa event.
Mast Way Elementary School students participating in coding activities during districtwide Coding and Cocoa event.

DURHAM — The Oyster River Cooperative School District shared that students of all grade levels recently participated in the District's annual Coding and Cocoa event.

Coding and Cocoa is held the first week of December each year, during which students take part in Hour of Code activities and celebrate Computer Science Week.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, students participated in coding activities based on their age group as parents, guardians, students, and community volunteers from Liberty Mutual and the Postal Naval Shipyard assisted the district's four digital learning specialists who organized activities for their respective schools.

Elementary school students engaged in block coding activities.

At the middle school, fifth- and sixth-grade students explored block coding, and seventh- and eighth-grade students explored script coding, which included HTML and JavaScript.

More than 150 high school students participated in coding activities and the Robotics Team demonstrated their robot. Additionally, 30 high school students and members of the high school Code Runners coding club served as mentors to support elementary school classes.

A Mast Way Elementary School student works with a Oyster River High School student during districtwide Coding and Cocoa event.
A Mast Way Elementary School student works with a Oyster River High School student during districtwide Coding and Cocoa event.

"Our computer programming courses at the high school are very popular classes but only a percentage of our student body can take those classes,” said Oyster River High School Digital Learning Specialist Celeste Best. “This event allows all students to try coding from simple block coding up to writing your own script and it is a great way for students to try something new in a fun and festive way."

All participants were invited to enjoy hot cocoa after the coding activities as a reward for their efforts.

“Our students are a part of a future that will require global citizens to be innovative and adaptive problem solvers,” said Superintendent James Morse. “It was great to see students engaged and excited about learning and developing their coding skills. I would like to thank all of our students, volunteers, including our community partners, and our digital learning specialists for coordinating this interactive event to celebrate Computer Science Week.”

Barrington fourth grader gathers donations at school for Willand Warming Center

Benjamin Deely, a fourth-grader at Barrington Elementary School, stands in front of several boxes of donated goods, which he and his family recently delivered to the Willand Warming Center of Strafford County in Somersworth. Ben collected the goods during a donation drive at his school earlier this month.
Benjamin Deely, a fourth-grader at Barrington Elementary School, stands in front of several boxes of donated goods, which he and his family recently delivered to the Willand Warming Center of Strafford County in Somersworth. Ben collected the goods during a donation drive at his school earlier this month.

SOMERSWORTH – Benjamin Deely, a fourth-grader at Barrington Elementary School, recently delivered several boxes of donated goods to the Willand Warming Center, the result of a donation drive at his school.

According to Ben, the idea came to him over Thanksgiving dinner. He said his mom, Laura, asked everyone around the table, if they could only receive one gift this holiday season, what would it be?

"My grandma went first," Ben said. "She said she wanted donations for the warming shelter." Ben's grandmother, Wendy Whittle, is a volunteer at the Willand Warming Center.

Ben said he raced upstairs, grabbed a $5 bill from his wallet and set it down on the table. When he returned to school after the Thanksgiving holiday, he said he asked to speak to Barrington Elementary School Principal Rich Boardman about starting a donation drive at the school.

According to Ben's mother, Laura Deely, Boardman is a strong proponent of empowering and engaging students, and quickly supported the idea. Boardman and Ben met several times to coordinate the project, which aimed to collect socks, hand warmers, hot chocolate packets and paper goods. Ben’s friends helped decorate boxes that were displayed in the school lobby. It didn't take long for the boxes to fill up.

Ben and his family, including his grandmother, delivered the donations to the warming center on Friday, Dec. 23.

Benjamin Deely, a fourth-grader at Barrington Elementary School, center, stands next to boxes of goods collected during a donation drive at the school. He is joined by, left, Susan Danforth, a volunteer at the Willand Warming Center of Strafford County in Somersworth, and Barrington Elementary School Principal Rich Boardman.
Benjamin Deely, a fourth-grader at Barrington Elementary School, center, stands next to boxes of goods collected during a donation drive at the school. He is joined by, left, Susan Danforth, a volunteer at the Willand Warming Center of Strafford County in Somersworth, and Barrington Elementary School Principal Rich Boardman.

“We really appreciate Ben’s donations," said Tory Jennison, Population Health Systems Chief for Strafford County. "His project showed his school community how one person can have a huge impact on the comfort and safety of others."

Jennison added that community support for the most vulnerable comes in many forms, including food and basic necessities.

"Ben’s help is part of a wonderful family effort - we’re grateful for the friendly kindness his grandmother Wendy brings every time she volunteers," Jennison said. "This donation drive was a great example of the power that each one of us has to make a positive difference. We thank Ben and his family for their giving spirit in support of our vulnerable folks this holiday season."

The Warming Center of Strafford County is located at 30 Willand Drive in Somersworth, and operates as needed through winter. Strafford County, through a partnership with the cities of Dover, Somersworth and Rochester, has contracted with SOS Community Recovery Organization to operate the warming center this season.

People who need help getting to the Warming Center can always call 603-742-2709 between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. for assistance when the center is activated.

The Warming Center continues to seek volunteers and meal donations. Volunteers can sign up at https://signup.com/go/XvTNnpp. Those able to provide meals can sign up at https://signup.com/go/xaWRjPB.

For more information, contact the Warming Center at 603-742-2709, 603-969-1305 or via direct message to the Warming Center of Strafford County Facebook page www.facebook.com/warmingcenterofsc.

Mast Way Elementary School staff member named State Finalist of the Presidential Award for Excellence

Mast Way Elementary School Digital Learning Specialist Susan Leifer has been named the 2022 New Hampshire State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Mast Way Elementary School Digital Learning Specialist Susan Leifer has been named the 2022 New Hampshire State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

DURHAM – The Oyster River Cooperative School District shared that a Mast Way Elementary School instructor has been named the 2022 New Hampshire State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Digital Learning Specialist Susan Leifer was nominated for the award in February by a parent. After 11 months of submitting essays, lesson plan samples, community projects, and other documentation of her teaching and community outreach, Leifer was selected as State Finalist.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is a high honor bestowed by the United States government to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science educators who have deep knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas and beyond.

As State Finalist, Leifer will be considered for national recognition. National Level Awardees for Leifer's cohort will likely be announced in March 2024.

"I am honored to be a New Hampshire State Finalist. The entire process has been a wonderful opportunity to look back, reflect and analyze the why and how behind my teaching. It has also afforded me the opportunity to completely understand how fortunate I am to work in such a supportive and encouraging district and State," Leifer said. "I began teaching because one principal believed in my abilities, but I became the teacher I am today because hundreds of teachers, students, staff, parents, IT professionals, and administrators believed in me and helped me along the way."

Each Presidential Awardee receives a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, and an all-expenses paid trip for an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. In addition, awardees join a national cohort of award-winning teachers, providing opportunities to impact teaching on a state and national scale.

"I don't know of anyone more deserving of this recognition. Susan's knowledge and skills of STEM concepts and her effectiveness of integrating them into the general curriculum and her own classes is highly valued at Mast Way," said Principal Misty Lowe. "She is extraordinary, works exhaustively, and is always pushing the envelope to provide the absolute best for Mast Way students and families, before, during, and after school."

To learn more about the PAEMST application and selection process, click here.

Maple Street Magnet School to host new Parent Information Night, school lottery

ROCHESTER — Superintendent Kyle Repucci and Principal Erin Mahoney share that the Maple Street Magnet School is hosting a Parent Information Night for prospective parents to learn about the school in advance of the annual school lottery on Wednesday, Feb. 1, fro 6 to 7 p.m, at Maple Street Magnet School, 27 Maple St., Rochester.

The Maple Street Magnet School, a project-based learning community with a focus on community and sustainability, will host an informational night for parents who are considering the school.

"Students and educators at the Maple Street Magnet School bring hands-on learning to life using outdoor learning spaces to learn about the community they live in and to explore how the work they do can improve their local and regional environments," said Principal Mahoney. "We invite any family from Rochester that is interested in learning more about our school to join us on Feb. 1."

Families that are interested in sending students to the Maple Street Magnet School can pick up application packets from Superintendent Repucci's office starting on Feb. 1. The deadline to return the application packets to the Maple Street Magnet School is March 10. The lottery will be held on March 16.

Rochester School District and HRCU provide a pathway to finance and banking

An intern from the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center helps another Spaulding High School student with a banking transaction at the HRCU (Holy Rosary Credit Union) branch inside the Technology Center.
An intern from the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center helps another Spaulding High School student with a banking transaction at the HRCU (Holy Rosary Credit Union) branch inside the Technology Center.

ROCHESTER — Superintendent Kyle Repucci shared that the Rochester School District and HRCU (Holy Rosary Credit Union) have successfully worked together for nearly two decades to give students a unique pathway from the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center into banking and finance fields.

"Having HRCU as a partner allows our students to have the most authentic real-world learning opportunity in a very safe and supportive environment," said Superintendent Repucci. "HRCU's instructor teaches our students financial concepts in the classroom and our students put these concepts into practice while working in the HRCU branch located in our school."

As part of HRCU’s mission of providing financial education opportunities to encourage financial wellness, HRCU funds a teaching position at the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center for the Banking and Financial Services Program that provides instruction on banking and related financial topics.

The program is one-of-a-kind among career technical centers in the state of New Hampshire and has impacted dozens of students since it was launched in 2006. This year there are 16 students taking exploratory classes and two student interns in the Banking and Financial Services Program.

An intern from the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center helps assists a member at the HRCU branch inside the Technology Center.
An intern from the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center helps assists a member at the HRCU branch inside the Technology Center.

In addition to funding a teaching position, HRCU operates a branch inside of the Creteau Center, which gives students a chance to do job shadowing and to work as interns in a live financial institution environment. The branch is open to the public Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and includes an ATM.

"Opening up a branch at the Creteau Center allowed us to provide many services more directly. It provides students with the recourses necessary to managing their own funds," said HRCU President and CEO Brian Hughes. "In addition, many of the interns in this program are hired at HRCU, which helps them start their professional careers, not just in banking."

Hughes said the program is possible because HRCU is a not for profit financial institution, which means the credit union has an opportunity to give back to the local community. "To help students find a career path and provide financial education early on, makes the partnership with the Rochester Schools very rewarding." Hughes added, "The credit union also provides college scholarships to students who complete the program with an A."

To learn more about the Banking and Financial Services program, click here.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New Parent Information Night, Presidential award: Education news