MHS Students Join Forces to Raise Awareness of World Down Syndrome Day
In a show of solidarity, the classes Frye and Ellis wear mismatched tie-dyed socks together. The event was intended to educate and also promote and be inclusive, and link others together in honor of World Syndrome Day. Photo courtesy of Candice Frye.
Photo courtesy of Candice Frye
Murdock High School students from Candice Frye's Sociology class and Mrs. Ellis' class combined efforts to collect 267 pairs of socks in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) on Friday, March 25. Students shared a well-earned early afternoon "breakfast," where young people from different classes and walks of life affirmed that there are more shared commonalities than differences in our world.
Socks look like chromosomes, and people with Down Syndrome have three copies of their twenty-first chromosome, Frye explained. To help get the word out about WDSD, students placed donation boxes in participating Winchendon businesses, along with starting a sock competition among all the first period classes to see which class could collect the most pairs of clean socks. The competitive sock drive will also benefit students and children in need, as socks are well known to be the number one item requested for both homeless shelters and children in foster care. The socks were delivered to the MHS clothing pantry, and the Winchendon Community Action Committee (WCAC). Mrs. Ellis' class came in first with 112 of the 267 pairs of socks.
The intention of WDSD is to raise global awareness about Down Syndrome, and to educate both the public and students. Down Syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder which is caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. The extra chromosome is currently believed by medical science to occur by chance. The disorder is typically associated with delay in physical growth, characteristic facial features and mild to moderate intellectual disability.
Ellis explained, "The important piece of this was the awareness piece. The entire event was to collect socks for those in need, while promoting the awareness of Down Syndrome, and that was our goal and I feel like we accomplished that. For Trisomy 21 which was March 21, we not only put together the collection of crazy socks, but also together wore unique socks. Students in the class were very proud to be contributing to the class with their donations, and to be able to do something that everybody else was doing at the same time."
Students in Frye's Sociology class found the event to be very positive. Student Cassidy Lauziere said, "I feel like it was a really good experience for all the students, because socks are the number one requested item in all the homeless shelters. Not enough kids have enough socks. So being able to come together and help with this, I am proud of us, I am really proud of us, I feel like this was a really good joint accomplishment." Student Victor Perez added, "Lots of peopled wanted to help. I spoke to my girlfriend's parents and they even donated to this cause. I think we need to help because people in need don't have it and are not as fortunate as we do. It's really good to be able to help people who feel like they have no hope, and we should be the hope and there to help them have it."
Student Camille Hart joked, "I was out shopping with my mom and I was like, 'Oh by the way mom, we need socks!'" Asked why it's important to place the needs of others before self, Hart replied, "I think in a community where everybody needs help in some way, that if you're giving back to others then you know you have that trust in your community that someone might do the same for you. Building up that sense of community in everyone, and helping out anywhere you can, also helps you feel connected with everyone."
Asked to summarize the importance of the event and seeing students learn the importance of helping others at a young age, Frye replied, "Students tend not to feel that they are in a position of power, and when we collaborate with other groups both in the school and out in the community, they start to see that even the smallest interactions with other people bring them successes. We really want our students to leave Murdock High School with a feeling of being part of the community at large, and how to give back to the community, so we really want them to feel the positive aspects of reaching out to other people."
Attending the event and celebratory breakfast was MHS Vice Principal Doug Sochovka. The Courier asked Sochovka how he felt about what was accomplished by the student sock contest and the event where they became involved to help the less fortunate. Sochovka explained, "These teachers are teaching our young students about the value of an inclusive environment, and this was a great way to partner both classrooms to benefit those in need and educate about Down Syndrome Awareness Day. They celebrated 'Crazy Sock Day' and also with this great donation of socks where they crushed it with over 250 pairs of socks at 267, and they all surely earned this joint breakfast they are celebrating with."
As the collected socks are going to both the MHS clothing pantry and the WCAC, Sochovka added, "As we have some students who come through with DCF, we find sometimes they don't have hygiene products, and socks, and other things. We get donations of shirts and pants and other items as such, and the one thing you tend to miss is the socks. This collection is a huge help, and also helps to build on things like a best buddies program and a Special Olympics in the future here and other joint causes."
To learn more about World Down Syndrome Day online, see www.worlddownsyndromeday.org.
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, MHS students collected socks for their school clothing pantry and local CAC Pantry, as socks look like chromosomes, and people with Down Syndrome have a third copy of their 21st chromosome. With a goal of 250 pairs, students and families collected 267 pairs exceeding expectations.
Photo by Keith Kent
MHS students of both the classes of Candice Frye and Mrs. Ellis pose with each other, just before a celebratory late day joint breakfast in honor of their accomplishments for charity and recognition of World Down Syndrome Day.
Photo by Keith Kent
WPS Superintendent King Seeking Members for DEI Task Force
On Wednesday, March 30, Winchendon Public Schools Superintendent Thad King sent the following open letter:
Dear Winchendon Teachers, Students, Parents/Guardians, and Community Members:
As you may be aware, last year for the first time the district convened a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force. The work of that task force was supported by our facilitation partners at Radical Empathy. This year, Radical Empathy has been providing DEI training to the District Leadership Team as well as facilitative support to DEI teams at both the high school and middle school. In the coming months, they will also support new DEI teams that will be forming at the elementary schools. Meanwhile, HEAL Winchendon has been supporting the community at large and local organizations in the community to enhance inclusivity, and gathering information about DEI issues.
We are planning to re-convene the District DEI Task Force for two virtual meetings this spring, as follows:
Thursday, April 7th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and
Thursday, May 5th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
At these meetings, we will hear a synopsis of the data HEAL has been gathering across the community and then, with that data in mind, work collectively to set one or two DEI-focused goals for the schools and community.
We have several open spots on the DEI Task Force and we would welcome new members to fill them! If you are interested, please email my Assistant, Liz Latoria (llatoria@winchendonk12.org), to express interest and to let us know if you would be able to participate at one or both of these upcoming meetings.
Thank you!
Thad King,
Superintendent of Schools
Watch the March 25, 2022 edition of Murdock Student-Produced BLUE DEVIL WEEKLY
Congratulations
Winchendon Public Schools Educator of the Week
Linsey Laserte
March 30, 2022
Elementary Visual Arts Teacher, Linsey Laserte, has worked at WPS for three years. Ms. Laserte is responsible for the beautiful student artwork that decorates the halls of Memorial and Toy Town Elementary Schools. She is always positive and upbeat, and her energy is contagious. When asked about her work, Ms. Laserte states, "What I love about being an educator is seeing my students express their thoughts and practice creative problem-solving skills every day. Their enthusiasm for learning about art is inspiring! I enjoy displaying art throughout the hallways of my schools; it is incredible to see how proud students are of their work and how eager they are to share their creations with their peers."
Thank you, Ms. Laserte for dedicating your time to help our students develop self-confidence and a love for art!
Monty Tech Drama Club Presents Freaky Friday: The Musical
FITCHBURG, Massachusetts - March 30, 2022 - After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, Monty Tech's Drama Club returns to the stage this weekend with their production of Freaky Friday. The public is invited to attend performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The musical is an update on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films of the same name, exploring what happens when a mother and daughter unexpectedly swap bodies for a day.
Lead roles in the production will be played by students Lillian Maxwell of Athol, Alivia Martin of Barre, Sam Burak of Winchendon, Kiana Cintron of Fitchburg, Adriana Padilla Salgado of Fitchburg, and Lauren Hare of Sterling. Additional performers include Kaleb Shepard of Gardner, Benjamin Wilder of Fitchburg, Elsa Guerra of Winchendon, Lindsey Blauser of Fitchburg, Andrew Cardosi of Princeton, Mason Mello of Royalston, Asia Sanford of Fitchburg, Zach Plante of Fitchburg, Madeline Smith of Athol, Abigail Barr of Gardner, Jenelle Remy of Sterling, Laela Boardman of Sterling, Julia Zarozinski of Westminster, Alyssa Goulet of Barre, Yanelis Ortiz of Gardner, and Addison Kellysawyer of Princeton. Monty Tech Drama Club advisor and art teacher Bethany Johnson is directing the show, while fellow Drama Club advisor and English/ELL teacher Francis Freel serves as producer.
Johnson shares, "We're delighted to share Freaky Friday with audiences this weekend. This production wouldn't have been possible without the help of our esteemed music director Debbie Moylan and our talented choreographer Bryan Landgren. The show is happening because so many wonderful folks faithfully support the arts at Monty Tech."
Freel is also grateful to be back in production mode. "It was a great pleasure and privilege to work with such a talented and dedicated group of young performers," he says. "Their effort and resiliency impressed us time and again throughout the rehearsal process. We're all immensely proud of what they have accomplished and are certain you'll share that pride when they take their bows this weekend."
Show times are Friday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. The show runs two hours with a ten-minute intermission and will be held in the Monty Tech Performing Arts Center at 1050 Westminster Street, Fitchburg. Freaky Friday is rated PG-13 for mild language in songs, but all ages are welcome at the production. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door.
Monty Tech is a public high school that serves 1,435 high school students from 18 cities and towns, providing a comprehensive academic program and cutting-edge vocational-technical programs. To learn more about the school, visit montytech.net.
Sam Burak of Winchendon
Photo courtesy of Julie Blazar
The cast of Freaky Friday
Photo courtesy of Julie Blazar