The Peak - May 2024

Monthly News from the Wachusett Regional School District

The 1st Annual Central Tree Middle School Room 134 Craft Fair was held on Wednesday, May 29th and it was a huge success. Students have been working hard all year to make crafts to be sold at the fair. The items ranged in cost from $0.25-$5.00 with all proceeds will go back into Student Activities account for learning and enrichment activities.

Thanks to our amazingly talented students for all their efforts and the final products did not disappoint. Thanks, also, to the staff members involved, particularly Mrs. Andrus, for bringing this event from vision to reality.

- CTMS Principal, David Cornacchioli

On May 29th, members of the 8th Grade Robotics Club at Mountview Middle School demonstrated their autonomous robots and a homemade computer to family and friends in the club's third annual Showcase. These students have been building robots since November and shared the robots they built over the course of the year by video, and did a live demonstration of their most recent robot and the computer.

These students have imagined, designed, built, wired and programmed these robots from scratch, beginning with VEX V5 hardware, electronics and metal pieces. A trio of students within the group built their own computer by ordering the parts online, assembling them and building the housing out of cardboard. They then installed an operating system and connected the PC to the internet, and successfully ran video games with sophisticated graphics on the computer.

All the students in the club navigated roadblocks throughout their builds with clever solutions and a lot of perseverance. Congratulations to these budding engineers!

Members of the 2024 Robotics Club include:

Jameson Camell, Alyssa Davis, Brandon Davis, Greta Dionne, Will Doane, Quinn Fenlon, Kellen Garrett, Aiden Gjylapi, Sofia Golsch, Marek Homme, Sam Johnson, Travis Kwiatkowski, Parker Landry, Magnus Larsen, Fin Ludden, Jacob Murphy, Spencer Nastanski, Ollie O’Malley, Edward Parker-Gagne, Matt Prendergast, Jaxson Small, Mason Stebulis, Will Steidler, Kai Veien, Rocco Villnave

- Marie Lane Vogel, Grade 8 Engineering & Technology Teacher

Naquag Elementary School Counselor, Alexandria Georgiadis, received a grant from the Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism to fund a Communication Board for the school's new playground. This board will help ensure that all of our students can communicate effectively with staff and peers at recess.

Thank you, Ms. Georgiadis for making this happen!

5th grade students at Glenwood Elementary School recently participated in the school's annual Invention Convention. Students become inventors as they work through all the phases of the design process. From identifying a problem to creating a prototype and marketing their final product, the children work their way through the same steps that inventors use. All of this work culminates with an event to share their inventions with the school, as well as family and friends.

Great work, Glenwood Inventors!

This month, Paxton students took part in the school's Disability Awareness Program, WE ARE PCS! WE ARE ONE! This curriculum was developed by Understanding Our Differences and is an interactive disability awareness program that teaches children to see the person and not the disability. The multi-year curriculum designed for students in grades 3-5 covers Autism Spectrum Disorders, Physical Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities.

Thanks to Molly Domineck, Dawn Ertel, and Sally Loverin for their work on this important program.

Mountview Grade 7-Blue students at simulated ancient building techniques and design in a recent Temple Building project. The students created their interpretations of the Parthenon of Athens after studying a unit on Greece. They were required to use accurate measurements, incorporating math skills and Language Arts skills through the write-up describing their temple and choices.

Great work, Mountview Builders!

Celtics mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun and the Flight Squad visited WRHS on Tuesday, May 28th to perform their amazing high flying show in the school gym. This all began when Lucky received a letter from one of our Life Skills students requesting a visit. From there, WRHS Faculty member Betsy Orfao worked out the details with Lucky and his team to make it happen. Students from throughout the building were able to stop by and enjoy the show.

Thanks to Lucky and the Flight Squad for stopping by!

Third graders at Mayo Elementary School have created friendships throughout the year by sharing letters with volunteer pen pals from the Wachusett area. The Senior Pen Pal program, which is now more than 40 years strong, began with the hope of creating connections through authentic writing opportunities. Third grade teachers at Mayo partner with the Holden Senior Center to manage this beloved tradition. With two in-person gatherings each year and shared topics for the periodic letters throughout the school year, the bonds created by Holden area senior citizens and third graders at Mayo are a gift for all!

- Mayo Principal, Carolan Kasper

Licensed engineer and soil evaluator Mr. Green (Coach Lar to the boys' soccer team) shared his expertise of soil with the 6th grade sciences classes as part of a unit on mixtures and separating mixtures. Thanks to the Sterling DPW for digging the holes so that students were able to see a local example of the various layers of soil. This was a great way to springboard a discussion on how the layers and the makeup of what was in the soil might relate to the various environmental changes in this area over time.

- Chocksett Interim Principal, Kathryn Miville

Students in Mr. Jaffe's class explored the field of Aerospace Engineering though the process of designing a parachute. They considered how a planet’s conditions would affect a parachute, and then carried out experiments to test the effects of different design variables on parachute performance. After a test run, students were given the opportunity to redesign their parachutes using different materials and designs.

Note: These students are trained experts. Don't try this at home!

Trail Day has been a long-standing tradition at TPS, a connection built between Mass Audubon Wachusett Meadow, TPS Staff, and students. Each year, 22 students from Grades 5-8 are trained by Clair DeGutis to learn the TPS trail system and prepare to guide students and staff along trail hikes during Trail Day. Smaller trail guide teams are created connecting 5th and 7th graders, and 6th and 8th graders, with the goal that the more experienced trail guides have the opportunity to mentor the younger, newer trail guides.

Not only do students learn the trails, but also the flora and fauna found on those trails. During trail hikes with students from Grades Kindergarten to sixth, this group of students educate their peers about the natural world right outside of our classroom doors. They share information, answer questions, and provide a taste of what the trail systems at TPS have to offer. It is a day to celebrate TPS and the unique science opportunities that our school offers our students and community.

- TPS Principal, Ace Thompson

The fourth grade students at Davis Hill Elementary participated in the school's annual Invention Convention. The students were challenged to develop solutions to problems that they found in their daily lives. Their creativity, ingenuity, and hard work was readily apparent in the inventions they proudly displayed and demonstrated.

Well done, Dragons!

Mountview Middle School Art Teacher, Scott Petersen coordinated and organized the school's 8th Annual Art show at the Gale Free Library in Holden. The event drew a nice crowd for the opening reception and student artwork was displayed on the second floor of the library through most of May. The exhibit celebrated the work of more than 20 students in grades 6, 7, and 8.

Thank you, Mr. Petersen for making this happen and to the talented students who contributed their artwork.