Highlander Times

Winter break is upon us. Friday, December 20 will be a half day. Students will not return to school until Monday, January 6. We hope you all have a wonderful break with friends and family. We also acknowledge that this can be a difficult time of year for some of our students and their families. Please reach out to your student's community or to our SFLC if your family is in need of resources. And please consider donating a gift card (or money via the PTSA - link below in the "Action Needed" section) to help others in need.

Reminders: The winter concert and student art show are Thursday, December 19. The art show opens at 5 pm and the concert begins at 6:00 pm. Comes see and hear our talented students!

The winter sports season is also underway. Games and meets begin next week. The full schedule for all teams is here. Please show your support for our hardworking Highlanders.

If you are interested in serving as a crossing guard (any weekday morning, approximately 7:00-8:15 or 8:30) please email me at akersten@k12.somerville.ma.us.

Thank you,

Principal Kersten

Mark your calendars for PTSA General meeting, Tuesday, January 7th, 7:30. We’re holding this via Zoom, as it’s the heart of winter. Link here: https://mit.zoom.us/j/97341388237

Agenda items include:

• Updates on March 22nd SHS Fundraising event at Dante and late spring social events
• Treasurer’s report
• Launch of PTSA 2025-2027 Board election activities: We need three volunteers to serve on the PTSA Nominating Committee, which is responsible for finding qualified candidates to run for PTSA Officers, and we will be establishing a Nominating Committee during this meeting. (More information about Nominating Committee and Officer responsibilities here: Nominating Comm and Officer descriptions.docx. All Officer positions are up for re-election in June. If you can’t make the meeting, but would like to serve on the Nominating Committee, contact Kim Doherty and the PTSA at SHSPTSA1@yahoo.com

• Please also mark your calendar for a PTSA Spring Fundraising Social event at Dante's in Somerville Saturday, March 22nd, 7:00-11:00PM. We will have light snacks, music, and gift basket raffles. Details including ticket purchasing access coming soon.
• Meantime, consider joining the PTSA Event Planning Committee to help flesh out details for the Dante event, and plan a second event, in late spring. Would you enjoy a salsa dance band? A potluck dinner? An eighties dance party? Something else? Bring your ideas to the planning committee. Next meeting via Zoom, Monday, January 13, 7:30, here: https://mit.zoom.us/j/94036453338 If you can’t make the meeting but want to help with planning, email Laura Beretsky at beretsky@yahoo.com.

The PTSA and SFLC work together to provide gift cards for food to our SHS families in need during the holiday season. Please donate if you can, as the need is great! You can donate via Venmo @SHSPTSA1 or drop off gift cards to the high school main office.

We are looking for winter gear in good condition. If you have coats, boots, mittens, hats and gloves that you can donate, please drop them off in the SFLC donation bin by the main office. Thank you in advance for helping keep our students warm! NOTE -WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY TO TAKE CHILDREN'S CLOTHES OR SUMMER CLOTHES AT THIS TIME!

• December 19: SHS Winter Concert (6pm) & Art Showcase (5pm)
• December 20: Half day - Winter Recess begins at noon
• January 6: First day back for students
• January 8: School Improvement Council 6:30-8:00pm
• January 11: FAFSA Completion Event for Seniors & Families
• January 13-17: Prom Tickets on sale
• January 17: Course Selection Process Begins
• January 20: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• January 22: College and Career Kickoff for Juniors and Seniors
• January 22-24: Access Testing/MidTerms - Special Schedule
• January 23: An Evening of Song
• January 24: Last Day of Quarter 2 - Grades Close
• January 27 - 31: 8th Graders Visit Somerville High School
• January 30: Parent/Guardian Conferences 3:00-5:00pm
• February 1: Spring Sports Registration Opens
• February 2: MCAS Science Tests - Biology/Physics Session 1
• February 3: MCAS Science Tests - Biology/Physics Session 1
• February 7: Somerville Choral Festival
• February 8: Massachusetts Thespian 2025 Festival

Last Thursday through Saturday, the Highlander Theatre Company staged four performances of Mamma Mia to large audiences. The end of the play featured a sing and dance-along that got everyone to their feet. The set, the music, and the performances, supported by an excellent tech crew, were spectacular.

Tony Williams led a talk with SHS students! Tony Williams, the artistic director of The Urban Nutcracker and former principal dancer with The Boston Ballet, spoke with students during X-block last Wednesday. He discussed his life journey as well as ways to support diversity in dance, answering questions at the end. It was an enriching experience for all.

The pre-Thanksgiving pep rally featured several events, including a three-legged race, a wheelbarrow race, and musical chairs. The chorus sang, seniors from fall sports were recognized, and the cheer team pumped everyone up. A great time was had by all!

Clerk Michael Sullivan extended his sincere gratitude to students Samaira Bedi and Ambika Bhardwaj for their participation in the Middlesex Superior Court Youth Art Program 2024. The submissions hang in the 5th floor corridor at Middlesex Superior Court, 200 Trade Center Drive, Woburn.

Dear Somerville Community,

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated to our Winter Clothes Drive. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide over 20 students with essential items to brave the winter season.

As a reminder, our Winter Clothes Drive will continue until February. We kindly accept only lightly worn winter clothing items suitable for high school students.

Thank you again for your kindness and support.

With much gratitude,

The SFLC Team

Congratulations to Lisa Brewster-Cook for winning this year's staff ugly sweater competition! Competition was stiff this year -- staff brought out some truly hideous fashion -- but Lisa's waving elf brought home the trophy.