Winchendon Weekly News -- May 17, 2024
From the Desk of Dr. Goguen - Superintendant's Update February 16, 2024
Watch the May 17, 2024 Student-Produced Blue Devil Weekly!
Kindergarten Registration Open for 2024-25 School Year
If you have a child that will be eligible for Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year, the registration forms and more information can be found at:
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration
Eligibility Requirements:
- Your child must be five (5) years of age by August 31, 2024.
- Original Birth Certificate must be provided.
- Proof of Residency must be provided (current utility bill, lease or mortgage)
- Physical examination, including vision and hearing screening by your physician, dated after August 31, 2023 must be provided.
- Immunization verification must be provided by the end of August, 2024. (Must include lead screen results.)
DESE to Conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of WPS
During the week of May 27, 2024, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Winchendon Public School district. The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child's special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.
Parents and other individuals may call Michelle Hennessy-Kowalchek, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (413) 314-6709 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the Winchendon Public Schools with a report with information about areas in which the Winchendon Public Schools meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which Winchendon Public Schools require assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.
Mount Wachusett Community College President's, Dean's, Distinction, and Excellence Lists for Spring 2024 Semester
ARDNER, MA - May 23, 2024 - Mount Wachusett Community College is pleased to announce our Dean's, President's, Distinction and Excellence Lists for the spring 2024 semester.
Students who complete a minimum of 12 semester hours are eligible for the Dean's List which requires a 3.30 to 3.99 grade point average and the President's List which requires a 4.0 grade point average.
Students who have earned between 6 and 11.5 semester hours and who have attained a grade point average of 4.0 and receive no incomplete grades are honored with placement on the Distinction List, while those who attain a grade point average between 3.3 and 3.99 are honored as Excellence List members.
President's List
Rachael Legault, Winchendon, MA
Timothy Lemire, Winchendon, MA
Dean's List
Katlin Bosworth, Winchendon, MA
Lilly Daniels, Winchendon, MA
Brendon Dellmuth, Winchendon, MA
Katie Dwyer, Winchendon, MA
Kally Leander, Winchendon, MA
Vermie LeBlanc, Winchendon, MA
Neffy Pereira, Winchendon, MA
Melissa Phatthammachack, Winchendon, MA
Danielle Sroczynski, Winchendon, MA
Drew St. Peter, Winchendon, MA
Abigail Thompson, Winchendon, MA
Jennifer Thurlow, Winchendon, MA
Jackie Toth, Winchendon, MA
Kent Yang, Winchendon, MA
Distinction List
Sue Bennett, Winchendon, MA
Adam Garcia, Winchendon, MA
David Malgeri, Winchendon, MA
Kelly Murphy, Winchendon, MA
Hyphen Sawyer, Winchendon, MA
Chloe St Peter, Winchendon, MA
Terri Stewart, Winchendon, MA
Melissa Tousignant, Winchendon, MA
Excellence List
Chelsie Alliy, Winchendon, MA
Amanda Barbaro, Winchendon, MA
Jeremy Caouette, Winchendon, MA
Halli Coulter, Winchendon, MA
Kaitlyn Doyle, Winchendon, MA
Desiree Fasulo, Winchendon, MA
Sierra Fleming, Winchendon, MA
Andrew Forest, Winchendon, MA
Timothy Haas, Winchendon, MA
Jocelyn Hunnewell, Winchendon, MA
Nicholas Macallister, Winchendon, MA
John Maloney, Winchendon, MA
Colton Mauch, Winchendon, MA
Amanda Maylin, Winchendon, MA
Robin McAuliffe, Winchendon, MA
Lindsey O'Toole, Winchendon, MA
Vanessa Prouty, Winchendon, MA
Sarah Theriault, Winchendon, MA
Christine Truong, Winchendon, MA
Javier Turner Ingham, Winchendon, MA
Ashley Wales, Winchendon, MA
MWCC Graduates Join the Nursing Profession in Traditional Pinning Ceremony
GARDNER, MA - May 17, 2024 - Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) held a traditional pinning ceremony for the 94 graduates of its Associate Degree in Nursing program on May 16, 2024 with family and friends at the Mount Fitness facility.
The Class of 2024 Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is comprised of students from either the day or evening ADN program, or were practicing Licensed Practical Nurses who returned to MWCC continue their education through the LPN to RN Bridge Program.
"You have not just chosen a degree program, you have chosen a vocation, a path of serving and of helping others, and there can really be no higher calling than that. You are going to be serving others in their most desperate times, serving their loved ones in the most trying of times," MWCC President James Vander Hooven told graduates. "Many of you have overcome challenges to be here, and you will have challenges professionally, but do not forget all that you overcame to get to this point. You are capable and you are ready to go out into the community to serve others and I am so proud of each and every one of you."
Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences, Kim Shea, DNP, RN, addressed graduates, "I would also like to say thank you to our graduates for doing the work that it takes to enter the nursing profession at this time. The path was, and is, a difficult one, and one that you did not have to choose. You may not realize it, but your choice will have a generational impact on our families, our communities and our healthcare system for many, many years. For that, we are grateful to you."
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, often a nurse.
MWCC extends a special thank you to the clinical partners who provided learning facilities for all of the graduates over the past two years, AdCare Hospital, Athol Hospital, Baldwinville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Heywood Hospital, LifeCare Center of Leominster, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Quabbin Valley Health Care, Seven Hills, Tara Vista Behavioral Health, The Highlands, The Reservoir Center for Health and Rehabilitation, St. Vincent Hospital, UMass Memorial Health Alliance Clinton and Leominster Hospitals, and UMass Memorial Medical Center.
The following Winchendon students are part of the class of 2024:
Kathleen Megan Dwyer
Catherine H. Murphy
Mount Wachusett Community College Holds Pinning Ceremony for Veterinary Technology Graduates
GARDNER, MA - May 20, 2024 - Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) welcomed eleven students to the veterinary technology profession on May 10, 2024, in a traditional pinning ceremony.
The group of students were welcomed by President James Vander Hooven, Dean Kimberly Shea, and Program Director Tara Novak, CVT, LATG.
"I am so proud of your accomplishments. It hasn’t been easy, but every step of the way, you as a group came together to meet those challenges and to overcome them," Vander Hooven told students. "These ceremonies are an acknowledgement that you are entering a caring field, and we are thankful you chose to pursue your education here at the Mount."
Addressing the gathered families and supporters, Vander Hoven continued, "They could not have done it without you. You recognized that your loved one was in search of this goal, and you were there for them, and helped them to be here this evening. Thank you."
Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, a member of the Veterinary Technology Advisory Board, also addressed the students, "The amount of passion and dedication you have already put into your field by getting to this point speaks volumes about the people you are and the impact that you are going to have on our community."
The MWCC Veterinary Technology Program extends its thanks to its partnering veterinary hospitals and local farms: Gardner Animal Care Center, Hanson Farm of North Brookfield, Hemlock Hill Farm in Ashby, Holiday Acres Equestrian Center in Rutland, and Charles River Laboratories in Worcester.
The Veterinary Technology Program staff are professors Hilary Blair, CVT, VTS, Carrie Arnold, PhD and Stephanie Pollard, MA, Laboratory Supervisor Jennifer Crandall and Laboratory Technician Samantha Johson. Also supporting the program are Jennifer Davis, CVT, Charlotte Newell, DVM, Margaret L. Delano, MS, DVM, DACLAM, Elizabeth West, DVM, Robert Shapiro, PhD, Bethany Rappleyea, DVM, and Laura Constantinescu, DVM.
The students were pinned by a family member, friend, or faculty, and then recited the Veterinary Technician Oath. The graduates are:
Victoria Axelson, Gardner, MA
Maya Berube, Shrewsbury, MA
Brianna Brewer, Millbury, MA
Jenna Cushion, Dunstable, MA
Kaycee Deforte, Leominster, MA
Julie Ghizzoni, Fitchburg, MA
Melody Karungii, Worcester, MA
Kade McCann, Whitinsville, MA
Felicia Page, Gardner, MA
Jennifer Thurlow, Winchendon, MA
Janelle Vitello, Jaffrey, NH
Mount Wachusett Community College Holds Annual Civic and Service-Learning Celebration
GARDNER, MA - May 22, 2024 - The Brewer Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement recognized 181 graduating students for their volunteerism in the 2023-2024 school year. Volunteers included 9 students who contributed over 200 hours each and 20 who donated over 100 hours. MWCC students gave over 80,000 hours of service to the community during the academic year.
MWCC President James Vander Hooven presented the President's Service and Volunteerism Awards, which are given annually to students who provide 100 or more hours of volunteer service.
"Giving back and being part of our community is a huge part of our mission," Vander Hooven said. "Nothing exemplifies that more than these students' willingness to serve and be part of something greater than themselves. It is a great honor to come together to honor you all for your service."
The Gardner School System was named Community Partner of the Year for their work with MWCC and the Early College Programs. "I want to thank Superintendent Mark Pelligrino and his team for being here," Vander Hooven added. "I truly value the partnership we have with the Gardner Schools; our relationship is one that my colleagues across the Commonwealth who do not have the same working relationship with their K-12 schools admire."
Additional awards were:
Club of the Year – The Student Government Association
Service-Learning Scholarships - Cameryn LeShane of Princeton, MA and Kyle Karaca of Fitchburg, MA.
Sharyn Rice Award for Community Leadership Award - Eliora Witkowski-Despres of Gardner, MA.
Students receiving the President's Service and Volunteerism Award were:
Students who volunteered over 200 hours:
Marco Aguiar, Princeton, MA
Katlin Bosworth, Winchendon, MA
Arlo Caisse, Baldwinville, MA
Nicole Flerra, Winchendon, MA
Mina Girouard, Gardner, MA
Alyssa Hardy, Orange, MA
Chris Johnson, Leominster, MA
Justina Johnson, Gardner, MA
Aimee Merchant, Gardner, MA
Miranda Monahan, Hubbardston, MA
Michael Mosher, Templeton, MA
Melissa Ramos, Leominster, MA
Nicole Ramos, Fitchburg, MA
Hannah Shailer, Brookfield, MA
Stacey Sweeney, Royalston, MA
Chad Tata, Leominster, MA
Rita Zaker, Marshfield, MA
Students who volunteered over 100 hours:
Andirena Ansah, West Warwick, RI
Jill Evans, Leominster, MA
Ifunanya Ezechukwu, Shirley, MA
Justyce Gomez, Athol, MA
Joshua Greeley, Athol, MA
Christina Hills, Barre, MA
Felicia Houston, Athol, MA
Michael Lanosa, Fitchburg, MA
Marlene Lopez, Leominster, MA
Mia Losey, Leominster, MA
Donatila Norberto, Fitchburg, MA
Ashley Perez, Leominster, MA
Sarah Poirier, Leominster, MA
Tutsirai Puwai, Fitchburg, MA
Maritza Ruiz Hernandez, Fitchburg, MA
Sherri Salmond, Leominster, MA
Rose Sanchez Pratts, Fitchburg, MA
Jessica Sleeper, Gardner, MA
Natalie Solivan, Fitchburg, MA
Heidi Valliere, Garder, MA