Panther Press

September 23, 2024 - Volume 7 - ISSUE 3

Welcome to the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Newsletter! It is designed to keep everyone (parents, students, staff, and community members) informed of the many events that are happening in and around the school. It contains links, pictures, and videos so that you have a more interactive experience and the ability to learn more about various topics.

Communication is incredibly important to understanding so we ask that you share our news as much as possible. We also welcome feedback! It is the only way to continuously improve. So, please interact, get involved, and let us know what you think by contacting us and sharing our news!

9/27/2024 Freshmen Parent Coffee with the Counselors 7:30AM in Courtyard Cafe

10/2/2024 Panther Release Day

10/2/2024 College/Post-Secondary Options Fair 6:00-8:00PM at WHRHS

10/3/2024 Homecoming Football Game - more information to follow

10/4/2024 Homecoming Dance - more information to follow

10/8/2024 Picture Make-up Day

10/9/2024 School Based SAT for Registered Students

10/11/2024 Early Release - Professional Development

10/14/2024 No School - Columbus Day

10/24/2024 PSAT for Registered Grade 10 & 11 Students

11/1/2024 Early Release - Grading Day 45th Day of School

11/1/2024 Meet the Teacher Opens for 11/7 Parent-Teacher Conferences

11/4/2024 Quarter 2 Begins

11/4/2024 Quarter 1 Report Cards posted on Parent Portal

11/5/2024 Staff Only - Election Day

11/6-11/7/2024 ELA MCAS Retest

11/7/2024 Credit For Life Fair for Grade 12 Students

11/7/2024 Parent-Teacher Conferences 12-2PM In-Person, 6-8PM Virtual

11/11/2024 No School - Veteran's Day

11/12-11/13/2024 Math MCAS Retest

11/20/2024 Panther Release Day

11/27-11/29/2024 Thanksgiving Recess

The All Saints Thrift Shop in Whitman (located across from the town park) offers gently used items (clothing, toys, books, etc.) for sale to the community. We recognize that many families in our community struggle with food insecurity and also may not have the financial means to afford new clothes as the weather turns from Summer to Fall and Winter. We are here to help.

We are open every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00am-2:00pm. We're also open the First Friday each month from 4:00pm-7:00pm and offer a $5 bag special. Fill a bag with clothing and pay only $5.00 for the entire bag!

Get involved in Whitman-Hanson. I am looking for members to join the School Council!

School Council consists of parents, students, and staff. We meet for an hour in the evening approximately each 6-7 weeks. We discuss the budget, handbook, school improvement plan and all things concerning how to make Whitman-Hanson a better place for everyone.

It's as easy as emailing and letting me know you are interested. Once I hear back from people I will set the calendar for the year to make sure people can attend.

If only we were more present on a day to day or moment to moment basis.

The saying, "We never appreciate a moment until it becomes a memory" was shared with me the other day. It is something important on which to reflect. Do you have any memories born from moments you didn't appreciate as they were happening?

Check out the video below and let me know your thoughts. Give being more present a shot.

We kicked off our college and career series during WIN block on Thursday with an admissions representative from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)! Next up is Bentley University on September 25th! Students can sign-up in their MyFlex app.

All Whitman-Hanson students and families are invited to the annual College/Post-Secondary Options Fair on Wednesday, October 2nd from 6:00-8:00pm at WHRHS. Admissions officers representing nearly 80 college, technical school, and military options are expected to attend.

Join MassEdCo for a FAFSA Demo Night exclusively for WHRHS students and families on Thursday, October 24th at 6pm. This is a VIRTUAL event.

Join MassEdCO to learn a step by step process to completing the FAFSA. The 25-26 FAFSA will launch on December 1st, 2024 but we will give an overview on what the process will look like. If you are unable to make the workshop, we do assist students/families in 1-1 remote appointments Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm. Please give our office a call at 508.586.3100 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions. To register for the virtual FAFSA workshop, please follow this FAFSA Workshop Flyer and Registration Link

We invite parents and guardians with students in grade 9 to join the school counseling staff for Freshmen Parent Coffee with the Counselors on Friday, September 27th at 7:30 AM. In this informal session, you will get a chance to meet your child's school counselor, and we will be available to answer questions and provide tips and advice to help you and your students make a successful transition to high school. Follow this link to sign up: Freshmen Parent Coffee with the Counselors Registration Link.

On Thursday, November 7th, the School Counseling, Related Arts Departments, and High School Administration will be hosting our annual Credit for Life Fair for the Class of 2025 where SENIORS learn the real-life budgeting and money management skills they will use throughout their lifetime. We are currently seeking parent and community volunteers to help out!! Scan the QR code if you are interested in helping out as a booth volunteer at this great event!

'Navigating the College Search for Students With Learning Differences' Workshop with Curry College - October 1st

By attending 'Navigating the College Search,' students and families will receive critical information to support their college search process as they pursue institutions with the proper academic support to help them succeed. Highlights of some key offerings of Curry's Program for Advancement of Learning (PAL), will also be featured. Students and families may register for the workshop here.

Whitman-Hanson Regional School District is committed to the health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and families. We have partnered with Care Solace to help students and families navigate the mental health care system and find available providers. Care Solace is now available for use at no cost to you. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance. All information entered on the Care Solace tool is completely confidential and securely stored. Fore more information please visit our website and/or reach out to your child's counselor https://caresolace.com/site/whrsd

If your child is struggling or having a difficult time please do not hesitate to reach out! Here is also a link to local mental health resources!

Our Transitional Vocational Program students visited the pre-school and helped with the students! It was a great experience for everyone involved!

Students in grades 9-11 have been working hard to complete their IXL diagnostics in their Math classes. Once completed, students will be able to access a personalized skill plan. IXL has found that students who spend a minimum of 30 minutes working on their skill plans per week show the most growth with Math skills over time. Although students will be given class time to work on their minutes, IXL can be accessed at any time, so students can get extra practice time whenever they would like. IXL has skill plans to prepare students for the PSAT and SAT, as well.

Key Benefits of IXL Learning Platform:

1. Personalized Learning: IXL's adaptive technology ensures that each student progresses at their own pace. It identifies your child's strengths and areas of growth, creating a personalized learning path to help them master concepts before moving on to more advanced topics. This way, no student feels left behind or held back.

2. Comprehensive Curriculum: IXL covers a wide range of Math topics, aligning perfectly with our curriculum. From foundational concepts to complex skills, IXL offers a structured path to mastery, enabling students to build a strong foundation while also challenging them to excel in their studies.

3. Immediate Feedback: One of the most valuable aspects of IXL is the instant feedback it provides. Students receive real-time explanations for incorrect answers, fostering a deeper understanding of concepts and encouraging them to learn from their mistakes.

4. Engaging Practice: Learning becomes enjoyable when it feels like a game. IXL incorporates interactive elements that engage students while they practice. This gamified approach motivates students to put in the effort required to succeed.

5. Progress Tracking: As educators, we understand the importance of monitoring your child's progress. IXL provides detailed progress reports that allow us to see how well your child is performing, helping us tailor our teaching approach and interventions to suit their needs.

6. Flexibility and Accessibility: With IXL, your child can practice anytime, anywhere. This flexibility promotes independent learning, and helps students reinforce their understanding of concepts.

In Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl, flexible seating refers to the concept of not assigning students to fixed seating arrangements, but instead allowing them to change groups and locations regularly. This strategy is designed to encourage collaboration, engagement, and active thinking. This year Mrs. Edkin has transformed her classroom using several flexible seating options for her students.

Many students are studying the Renaissance in their History classes. Students participate in a Renaissance role play in Ms. LaMarca's class.

Students at the History Club table.

At the request of the student council, we are trying something new this year. The homecoming football game is being held on a Thursday (10/3), the dance is on Friday (10/4) and the Hall of Fame Inductions are on Sunday (10/6). Tickets are still available for the hall of fame inductions at www.whathletics.com.

Now an update on our teams -

Our volleyball team was perfect this week winning all 3. The highlight was a 3-1 home win over Hingham (25-19, 24-26, 25-22, 25-17). Senior Sophie Ennis showcased her powerful serve, leading a 9-point service run that helped the Panthers secure the first set — She also recorded the match-winning kill in the fourth set. Junior Brooke Steele contributed significantly, as one of the team’s leaders in both kills and digs with a total of 9 kills, while Senior Captain Caroline Gray added 10 kills of her own. With this victory, the Panthers improved to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the league. They will be back in action on Monday when they host North Quincy.

Our girls soccer team has also been playing great winning both games this week. Elizabeth Kowlski erupted for four goals to lead Whitman Hanson to a 6-0 shutout over Patriot league opponent Pembroke. Kowlski scored 2 in each half while Madeleine Fitzgerald added two second half goals. Keeper Addison Hughes and the defensive unit of Brooke Bell, Shelby Bell, Caleigh Mahoney and Emily Mahoney recorded their 4th shutout of the season.

Boys soccer has a bright future with many young players contributing in key roles. Unfortunately, wins have been tough to come by. The Panthers fought hard at Pembroke but two first half goals and a third in the second half sealed the deal for Pembroke leading to a final score of 3-0. Whitman-Hanson is back at home on Tuesday night hosting Hingham.

Whitman-Hanson football (1-2) dropped a non-conference game to Plymouth South Friday on the road in the rain. Brady Markowski set the tone on both side of the ball for Whitman-Hanson, scoring their lone touchdown and securing a huge 4th down reception. He also forced a fumble on defense.

Lukas Hamilton added an interception and DeVaughn Marshall recovered a fumble. Whitman-Hanson has a bye next week before they open Patriot League play against Silver Lake.

Whitman-Hanson Boys and Girls Cross Country hosted Silver Lake Regional at Burrage Wildlife Recreation Area in Hanson, Tuesday afternoon.

The Whitman-Hanson Girls (0-2) lost 21-36 to a talented Silver Lake team on the 5K course. Sophomore Rachael Sirignano placed 2nd overall for the Panthers in 23:45. Also scoring for Whitman-Hanson were Senior Chloe Handlin (5th, 24:22), Senior Willa McKay (8th, 25:22), Sophomore Lindsey Brzuszek (10th, 25:22), and Sophomore Kaylah Randow (11th, 27:08).

Whitman-Hanson Boys moved to 1-1 on the season losing to Silver Lake despite the win by Junior Captain Ben Andrews who covered the 5k course in 17:58. Others scoring for the Panthers included Freshmen Jackson DeLue (7th, 19:41), Jayden Brzuszek (8th, 20:04), and Dylan Meredith (9th, 20:27) and Sophomore Caeleb Rouse (10th, 20:32).

Field hockey is still searching for their first win but they are battling tough. The Pembroke Titans slipped past WH, 1-0 . The game was scoreless up until the fourth. Panthers Sophomore Goalie Calliegh Vurpillatte had made many impressive saves throughout the contest. Senior Captain Brooke Kreckler did well at bringing the ball up the left side against a tough Pembroke defense. Sophomore midfielder Tayla DeLue made many offensive and defensive plays throughout the game.

The Whitman-Hanson Varsity golf team shot a season low 238 Sunday at Ridder Farms but still came up short against a talented Marshfield team which posted an impressive 227. Low stick for the Panthers was Senior Cap Matt Carroll with a season best 37. Next best were senior Captain Cooper Britton and junior Kaden Serkiz with 38s. Both teams played some great golf in very challenging conditions today. No rest for the Panthers as they go on the road Monday with a trip to South Shore CC versus Hingham High School.

Interested in more videos, reflections, and where a many of these ideas come from and are expanded on? Don't forget to check out and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

Email: christopher.jones@whrsd.org
Website: https://whs.whrsd.org/
Location: 600 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA, USA
Phone: (781) 618-7020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCSJones
Twitter: @DrCSJones