Winchendon Weekly News school newsletter - Wednesday, May 10

Community Happenings newsletter - Wednesday, May 10

---

SNHU Announces Winter 2023 President's List

Myron Foote of Winchendon has been named to the Winter 2023 President's List by Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The winter terms run from January to May.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Mount Wachusett Community College Confers 450 Degrees and 229 Certificates to 609 Students During Commencement Ceremonies

GARDNER, MA - May 17, 2023 - Mount Wachusett Community College celebrated the academic achievements of its graduates during the college's 58th Commencement on May 17, 2023. A total of 609 students, including 21 veterans, graduated, with 450 associate degrees and 229 certificates being conferred.

MWCC President James Vander Hooven welcomed graduates and guests, "Welcome to this celebration of our students. You have all overcome a pandemic to be here, and many of you have overcome the challenges of parenting, caring for loved ones, part or full-time work, and a myriad of other responsibilities to be here. We applaud you."

Student speaker Anna Lago, who immigrated from Brazil in 2019 without speaking any English, completed her associate degree requirements in December. She returned to The Mount after completing her first semester at the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design in order to attend commencement with her classmates.

"At MWCC we learned how to ignore our limits, believe in our power, take and manage our time, and follow our path," Lago said. "We also learned that we are free to write our own stories. It was a pleasure to write a happy ending with you all."

Commencement speaker Dr. Mattie Castiel, Commissioner for Health and Human Services for the City of Worcester and member of the Commonwealth's Health Policy Commission Board addressed graduates, "Our journeys are filled with challenges. Yet to this day, I have never forgotten where I came from and what it took to graduate. Graduation taught me that I can do anything, to trust myself and that I can overcome any obstacle to reach my goals like you have today. As you leave Mount Wachusett Community College, you embark on a new journey, full of challenges, opportunities, and possibilities.

"You will be required to take risks, learn new skills, and step out of your comfort zone. You will encounter moments of self-doubt and fear, but I urge you not to let them hold you back.

We may have been told we weren't good enough. Doubts and fears may always be present, but today, you should be proud of what you have accomplished!"

The Alumni of the Year award was presented to Dr. Kimberly Shea. Shea graduated with her associate in nursing in 2006, and after gaining years of clinical experience, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Drexel University and returned to MWCC as a full-time faculty member. In 2019 she earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Regis College. She now leads the MWCC School of Nursing as its Dean.

President Vander Hooven recognized seven faculty members who have received the honor of Emeritus status for their outstanding contributions and service to the college. They are Daniel Donovan, M.B.A.; Margaret Jaillet, PT, DPT; Kathleen McGinn, M.Ed., LMT; Rosanne Morel, Ed.D.; Paul Swerzenski, M.S.; Susan Taylor, M.S.; and David Wyman, M.A. - Posthumously

A Certificate and Associate Degree in Automotive Technology were awarded posthumously to Megan Anne Bower, who passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident on September 22, 2022.

"Megan was born to help others. She lit up the room with her smile and held her own in the garage, serving as a mentor and friend to many," Vander Hooven noted. "The Auto Tech family is a tight community and losing Megan was devastating. Her legacy and impact on the program, faculty and fellow students will live on forever."

MWCC graduates from Winchendon are:

Aidan R. Bourque
Jacob Robert Carter
Maxxuelle O S Chanthachack
Sydney Catherine Comire
Paula C. Craig
Amy Marie Fasulo
Danielle J. Fitzpatrick
Nicole Elizabeth Flerra
Chelsea L. Harris
Tiffany M. Shammo-Sluder
Danielle Marie Knight
Patsala Lor
Jacob Mahan
Kaitlyn M. Peabody
Kelsey Lynne Pelkey
Ian A. Plourde
Joyce Rodriguez
Chloe Marie St Peter
Kikelomo Oluwabukola Tetteh
Ann M. Vaillancourt
Breanna Bethany Whittier

Mount Wachusett Community College Celebrates Dental Hygiene Graduates in Pinning Ceremony

GARDNER, MA - May 15, 2023 - Mount Wachusett Community College held a pinning ceremony for the seven members of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2023 on May 12, 2023. The pinning ceremony represents the passage from student to registered dental hygienist.

"Congratulations to each and every one of you, it takes enormous work to get to this point in such a rigorous program," MWCC President James Vander Hooven told graduates. "You have chosen a caring profession and you are going to be working with people who are in great need of your care, your help, and your empathy, and for that we all thank you."

Guest speaker was Matthew Mara, DDM, who currently serves as an Assistant Professor of General Dentistry in the Office of Global and Population Health at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He is deeply committed to education, having served two years as a Teach for America Corps Member before earning his Master's in Curriculum and Teaching from Boston University's Wheelock School of Education in Health Professions. He works in private practice in Worcester and Boston's South End. He believes strongly in community college, his mother served as faculty and Director of Early Childhood Education at Quinsigamond Community College.

"It is an exciting time for the dental profession," Mara noted. "As students of the pandemic the lessons that you have learned will allow you to think more critically as you enter the clinic and profession knowing of potential risks and exposure. You made the decision to join this profession during a global pandemic, and for that I applaud you."

The Dental Hygiene Class of 2023 graduates are:

Jillian Achbady, Watertown
Kathryn Bessette, Erving
Marlene Boucher-Ripley, Rutland
Rosa M. Collazo, Westminster
Lais Dias, Acton
Sarah Direda, Worcester
Emily Jacob, Leominster
Amber Kear, Rindge, NH
Eliana Mello, Princeton
Alejandra McPherson, Ayer
Shelby Ponusky, Amherst
Svetlana Prive, Dracut
Christopher Starbard, Gardner
Ann Vaillancourt, Winchendon

Open Kindergarten Registration Starting March 1

Dear Parents:

If you have a child that will be eligible for the 2023-2024 Kindergarten school year, you will need to fill out the registration forms that can be found on our website at www.winchendonk12.ore/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 AM - 2 PM

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, 2018 (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 oflease.
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. Click here to view and download a list of needed vaccinations.

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 25th before your child will be permitted to start school. These forms can be faxed by your doctor to the school at 978-297-3944.

Kindergarten Screening will be conducted, as required by State and Federal school laws. Screenings will be Wednesday, May 31; Thursday, June 1, and Friday, June 2. You will receive a letter with a sign up link for a screening appointment after you have registered.

We share the excitement of your child entering Kindergarten and look forward to both of you being a part of the Winchendon Public Schools. Please be aware that screenings will take place at Memorial School but your child will be attending Kindergarten at Toy Town School due to the school econfiguration. We are excited to have you be a part of the first year of our Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten building. Please feel free to call the school at (978) 297-1305, with any questions or concerns you may have.