Community Happenings newsletter - July-August, 2023

Happy Summer Vacation!

Summer is finally here!

Central Office will maintain the following Summer hours through late August:
Monday: 8:30am-3:30pm
Tuesday: 8:30am-3:30pm
Wednesday: 8:30am-3:30pm
Thursday: 8:30am-3:30pm
Friday: Closed

We wish all our Winchendon families a happy, safe and restful Summer break!

UMass Amherst Announces Spring Dean's List

University of Massachusetts Amherst has announced the Dean's List for the Spring, 2023 semester. In order to qualify, an undergraduate student must receive a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a four-point scale. The following Winchendon students were named to the list:

Yang Yi Chen
Abigail Whitney Parks
Jonathan Polcari

MWCC Veterans Services Receives 2023 Operation Money Wise Grant

GARDNER, MA - July 27, 2023 - The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasurer's Office of Economic Empowerment, the Division of Banks, and the Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation announced the recipients of the 2023 Operation Money Wise grants.

The Operation Money Wise grant provides resources for financial education programming to veterans serving institutions and agencies in Massachusetts. A total of $64,432 is being awarded to 14 organizations through a Division of Banks settlement over alleged unlawful lending practices.

"Our Operation Money Wise grants support Massachusetts veterans and their families with the education and information they need to improve their uniquely challenging financial situations," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg in a statement from the Office of Economic Empowerment. "This year's grantees will offer important, timely resources that help bring increasing economic stability to the service members who dedicate their lives to keeping our country safe."

This fall, MWCC will offer financial literacy workshops to local veterans, student veterans and members of the general student population at no charge. Though the schedule is still being formulated, typical subjects include credit cards, purchasing a home as well as awareness of popular scams.

For more information, contact Ann Reynolds, 978 630 9190, areynolds1@mwcc.mass.edu.

Sizer Awarded $9,000 for Future-Focused Education

Sizer brings in career experts from all areas including public service (students are Dominic Gionet of Fitchburg and Matthew Amendola of Sterling).
Photo courtesy of Sizer School

Brody Wolski and Zoey Ellis of Fitchburg meet with college reps during On The Spot College Decision Day in December.
Photo courtesy of Sizer School

Future-focused education at Sizer School is getting a boost just in time for the 2023-2024 school year made possible, in part, by a grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.

On June 28, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts awarded the Sizer School Foundation $9,000 for Future-Focused Scholarships. This grant is made available through the Community Foundation's Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant Program.

"I look forward to providing a variety of scholarship opportunities for our current Seniors. The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts has opened up doors for all of our students - college and career-bound alike," said Sizer's College & Career Access Counselor, Jessica Burris.

Burris, along with Sizer's Manager of Grants and Finance Operations, Jill Connell, put together Sizer's grant proposal on behalf of the Sizer School Foundation, Inc.

As written in the proposal, "With the funding from the Career Readiness Educational Access Grant, our goal is to reduce the financial burden of higher education, trade schools, or certificate programs (which are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid), in order to promote a higher labor/ workforce participation rate in the region and encourage more students to consider college or continuing education training."

"The concept of the Sizer Scholarship Program is to provide several students with additional funds to support their dreams."

With the $9,000, Sizer has created multiple scholarships including an English Language Learner Scholarship, a First Generation Student Scholarship, a First Responder Scholarship, a Supporting the Arts Scholarship, and a Getting into the Trades Scholarship. For full details and a list of all the scholarships being offered in 2023-2024, visit www.sizerschool.org under College & Career Readiness.

A Sizer School education is future focused, providing students with experiences and opportunities to learn how they can achieve their individual future goals.

College and career representatives are invited to Sizer throughout the year. Informational booths are set up in the lobby for all students to visit. Sizer holds an annual College Fair for 9th-12th grade students, inviting representatives from 2- and 4-year colleges, and certification programs.

STEM and Trade field trips allow students to learn more about related career paths.

And in 2023, Sizer teamed up with MassHire to begin hosting a Career Fair.

Sizer also gives students access to Dual Enrollment opportunities at multiple colleges, and Juniors and Seniors can participate in Early College High School.

Burris explains, "Sizer offers Early College High School and Dual Enrollment in a unique way - Sizer students have the liberty of choosing several types of courses at Fitchburg State University, effectively matriculating them into Fitchburg State's campus and giving them a true college experience before they graduate from high school.

"It is a unique and wonderful opportunity, and students who take full advantage of both programs end up graduating high school with a significant amount of transferable college credits," she said.

For 20 years, Sizer School has been sending graduates into the world who THINK for themselves, CARE about others, and ACT creatively and responsibly. Learn more at www.sizerschool.org.