Animal Adventures Visits Memorial School

On a recent visit to Memorial School, Animal Adventures shared animals from the rainforest and desert with the first and second grade classes. Students learned facts about bearded lizards, ferrets, chinchillas, pythons, alligators, and a special guest--a kinkajou!
Photos by Katrina Fleming

Kindergarten Registration Is Still Open - Don't Forget to Register Your Kindergartner!

If you have a child that will be eligible for the 2022-2023 Kindergarten school year, you will need to fill out the registration forms that can be found on our website at www.winchendonk12.org/o/mes. They are located under the Menu dropdown, Kindergarten Registration. You can download and fill in the forms. Hard copies are also available at Memorial School. Once completed, you will need to return them to Memorial School along with the items listed below. You can do this any number of ways:

1. Fax: 978-297-3944
2. Email: mmacewen@winchendonk12.org
3. Mail: Memorial School, 32 Elmwood Road, Winchendon, MA 01475
4. Drop off: In person between the hours of 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

No child will be admitted to Kindergarten without having met the eligibility requirements listed below.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. If your child is five (5) years of age by August 31 of the forthcoming year, he/she is eligible.
2. BIRTH CERTIFICATE- Original must be brought with you.
3. PROOF OF RESIDENCY - Current utility bill, or copy of lease.
4. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION INCLUDING VISION AND HEARING SCREENING BY YOUR PHYSICIAN MUST BE DATED AFTER AUGUST 31, 2022.
5. IMMUNIZATIONS - VERIFICATION WILL NEED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE END OF AUGUST. This must include lead screen results. Read or download complete immunization requirements (PDF)

Each child MUST have a physical examination completed by your physician. A signed printout from your child's doctor's office listing all the required information is also acceptable. Students cannot start school without a completed physical. We recommend calling your physician today to schedule an appointment as it sometimes takes several months to get one.

All completed immunization/examination forms need to be in the School Nurse's Office by Friday, August 26th before your child will be permitted to start school. These forms can be faxed by your doctor to the school at 978-297-3944.

There will be a Parent Orientation on Wednesday, May 18 from 6-7 at Memorial School. More information will be provided. A Kindergarten Screening will be conducted, as required by State and Federal school laws. Screenings will be Wednesday, June 1, Thursday, June 2, and Friday, June 3. You will be contacted as these dates get closer to schedule an appointment.

We share the excitement of your child entering Kindergarten and look forward to both of you being a part of the Memorial School family. Please feel free to call the school at (978) 297-1305, with any questions or concerns you may have.

MWCC Graduates Join the Nursing Profession in Traditional Pinning Ceremony

GARDNER, MA - June 1, 2022 - Mount Wachusett Community College held a traditional pinning ceremony for the graduates of its Associate Degree in Nursing program on May 19, 2022 with family and friends at the Mount Fitness facility.

The Class of 2022 is the 49th class to earn their Associates Degree in Nursing. The class was made up of 96 students who were enrolled in either the day nursing program or were licensed practical nurses who returned to MWCC to continue their education through the Bridge to Nursing program. The class includes Nicole A. Leeper of Winchendon.

Each student was given the opportunity to share a few words of thanks for the love and support shown by their friends, family and faculty through their education before receiving their pin from their chosen faculty, friend or family member.

"The fact that you have made the decision to enter this field, after you already knew what was happening in the world around us, speaks to your character. The fact that of all of the fields, of all of the paths that you could have chosen to travel at that moment, you chose a field that is committed to compassion and caring for others," MWCC President James Vander Hooven told graduates. "For that I salute you, I appreciate you, and I know that you will leave this program to go out into the world and save lives."

"I also have to commend our nursing faculty," Vander Hooven continued. "I thank them for their commitment to our students and to the nursing profession - moving it forward with a new generation of nurses. The work you have done has been beyond description and I thank you for it."

"It's been a long couple of years learning to be a nurse, but also trying to do it in the middle of a global pandemic. This has been difficult, not only because of the curriculum, but because many of you also contracted COVID-19 along with your friends, family members, and co-workers. Many have suffered great loss, we've faced these difficulties together and we have grieved together," Dean of Nursing Kimberly Shea told students. "Through this you have persevered, showing tremendous grace and kindness to all of those around you. You have mastered the art of flexibility. You have demonstrated the ability to pivot in whatever direction needed. You have risen to the challenge every time. You have fought for this, and you have won. We are so incredibly proud of you."

Local Students Earn Degrees from the University of Vermont

BURLINGTON, VT (06/02/2022)-- This year's commencement at the University of Vermont-the 221st in its history-marked a return to a traditional celebration outdoors on the University Green after two years of re-imagined ceremonies due to pandemic restrictions.

The following local students graduated from the University of Vermont during commencement ceremonies in May, 2022:

Carley Treshinsky of Winchendon graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the Graduate College.

Erik Weihenmayer, one of the most renowned adventurers of the 21st century-best known as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest-urged graduates and family members to emulate a climber in their lives, not to quit or settle comfortably like a camper half-way up the peak. "Climbers understand life's an ongoing, never-ending process of reaching out into the darkness," he said, "reaching towards immense possibilities."

The ceremony was especially meaningful for UVM President Suresh Garimella--his third as president but the first one on the Green. Garimella conferred degrees on an estimated 3,332 graduates, including 2,558 bachelors, 515 masters, 131 doctoral and 118 medical degree recipients. Degree recipients hail from 44 states; among the graduates were 122 international students from 27 foreign countries. Approximately 1,057 of the graduates are from Vermont. The graduating class includes approximately 415 students of color.