Pentucket Regional Middle High School to Host First Annual Turkey Toss

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Brenda Erhardt are pleased to share that Pentucket Middle High School will be hosting the school’s first annual Turkey Toss.

WHEN:

Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

WHERE: 

Pentucket Stadium, 24 Main St., West Newbury

WHAT: 

Pentucket Regional Middle High School will be hosting a Turkey Toss on Tuesday. The event will feature three rounds of toss and catch with a 10-pound turkey. Participants will then be scored on the farthest throw and a successful catch.

There will be three event divisions: students, staff, and public safety.

In the student division, students in grades 9-12 will participate. Each grade will be represented by three teams and each grade will compete against one another.

In the staff division, faculty and teachers will compete against one another while representing a certain grade. The points collected in this division will be given to the grade the winning staff members represent.

The public safety division will include West Newbury police officers who will be competing against one another.

Winning teams within each division will receive a First Annual Turkey Toss Trophy and bragging rights.

All turkeys will be donated to a local food pantry following the event.

Community members are encouraged to attend. Music and concessions will be provided.

This event will conclude Pentucket Regional Middle High School’s Spirit Week which takes place Monday Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17.

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PHOTOS: Pentucket Regional High School Stadium Opening Celebrated, Student Athletes Recognized

The Pentucket Regional High School varsity football team takes the field at the opening game of the school’s new football stadium against Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School on Sept. 8. On Friday, Oct. 27, the school celebrated the opening of the new stadium by recognizing the School Building Committee, School Committee, and all of the school’s fall athletes and band members. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Brenda Erhardt are pleased to share that Pentucket Regional High School celebrated the opening of its new football stadium during a halftime ceremony on Friday, recognizing fall athletes and those who made the new stadium possible.

The Pentucket Regional School Committee, the Building Committee, and all fall athletes and band members were recognized at halftime of the Pentucket Regional High School varsity football team’s 27 to 20 victory over Northeast Metro Tech.

Fall athletes dressed up in their uniforms or Halloween costumes as they took the field at halftime to be recognized, and community members in the stands were asked to recognize the band and committee members who made the new stadium possible.

The stadium was built as part of the $146.3 million project that also saw a new middle high school built.

“We are blessed to be able to enjoy a new middle high school and all new athletic complex, and that blessing is the result of the hard work of members of our School Committee and Building Committee,” said Superintendent Bartholomew. “It was also a pleasure to recognize all of our hard working fall athletes and band members in this new and wonderful stadium.”

The stands were full during the game against Northeast Metro Tech on Friday evening, when Pentucket Regional High School recognized all those involved in the construction and planning off the new football stadium. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

Members of the girls soccer team took the field in Halloween costumes as they were recognized during a ceremony celebrating the opening of Pentucket Regional High School’s new football stadium. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

Members of the girls volleyball team pose for a photo after taking the field to be recognized during a ceremony celebrating the opening of Pentucket Regional High School’s new football stadium. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

From left, School Committee Members Wayne Adams, Chris Reading, and Marie Felzani were recognized during a halftime ceremony celebrating the opening of Pentucket Regional High School’s new football stadium. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

Students attended the game wearing Halloween costumes, cheering on their fellow students as the Pentucket Regional High School varsity football team defeated Northeast Metro Tech 27 to 20. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

Senior cheerleaders take the field as student athletes are recognized during halftime of the Pentucket Regional High School football game on Friday, Oct. 27. Pentucket recognized all those involved in the stadium’s construction, as well as all fall athletes, during a ceremony at halftime of the game. (Courtesy Pentucket Regional High School)

Road Construction Will Limit Access to Pentucket Middle-High School Campus

WEST NEWBURY – The Pentucket Regional School District announces that there will be limited access to the Middle-High School campus in the coming weeks due to planned roadwork.

Crews will begin tearing up roads on campus on Friday, June 16. Visitors will have access to only the Middle-High School building. Anyone with business at the Middle High School is asked to enter the property via Farm Lane. Entry remains through the front doors. For departure, visitors will loop around the building to reconnect to Farm Lane.

Further, the site of the former Middle School will be closed off. There will be no public access to the track or tennis courts through the campus during construction.

Crews will then resurface and line all roads on campus.

Work was scheduled to begin following the final day of classes on Thursday, June 15. Work will be completed by Aug. 1, well before the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and the District thank the Pentucket community in advance for its patience during construction.

A map of the traffic pattern may be found here: PRSD – Site Logistics after 6.15.2023

Pentucket Regional School District Provides Update on Air Quality Testing at Middle High School Campus

WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew wishes to provide an update regarding air quality testing at Pentucket Regional Middle High School after reports of a strong odor in a science lab.

Vertex Companies of Norwood tested air quality in the building from Friday, May 5, through Monday, May 8. Test results show zero levels of any concerning substances, including hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. Tests also detected naturally occurring carbon dioxide at levels well within state and federal guidelines.

Vertex inspected the air handling unit leading to the science lab. No breeches were observed.

Some wet and dirty air filters were removed from a rooftop air handler unit after the emergency response. The district’s HVAC contractor inspected the unit and performed maintenance to seal the unit from future water penetration.

Vertex is continuing to investigate the cause of the incident. The District expects to receive a final report in the coming days.

On May 1, Pentucket Middle High School students and staff were evacuated from the building because of an unknown odor in the science labs located on the third floor. Four students received medical attention at a local hospital. The state Department of Fire Services and state hazmat team also responded to assist with the investigation. The West Newbury Fire Department and West Newbury Inspectional Services continue to support the school district.

*UPDATE* Pentucket Regional School District Provides Update on Middle High School Evacuation

WEST NEWBURY – Chief Michael Dwyer and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew wish to provide the following update about this morning’s evacuation of Pentucket Regional Middle High School.

A hazardous materials response team has completed an initial investigation, and has determined that the source of a strong odor in the middle school wing was a refrigerant leak from a rooftop HVAC unit. The unit was shut off, and the District’s licensed HVAC contractor will confirm a leak occurred and provide necessary repairs.

The Middle School wing has been vented to disperse the odor.

At about 9:42 a.m. on Monday, May 1, seventh-grade students in a science lab on the third floor of the middle school complained about a strange smell. No experiments were in progress and no chemicals were in use.

The complaints triggered a series of procedures and protocols, including a building evacuation and response by mutual aid from surrounding communities. The evacuation was coordinated by the West Newbury Police School Resource Officer.

Mutual aid responders included West Newbury Police, Boxford Fire, Georgetown Fire Ambulance, Groveland Police and Fire, Haverhill Fire, Merrimac Police and Fire, Newbury Fire Ambulance, Rowley Fire, West Newbury Fire, East Kingston, N.H., Fire, and Newton, N.H., Fire, as well as Action Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, and Trinity Ambulance.

Salisbury Fire provided station coverage.

A hazardous materials response team from the State Department of Fire Services responded, as well as Rehab Five.

Thirty-nine students were evaluated at the scene. Two students were taken by ambulance to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution. Two other students were brought to the hospital by their parents. All four students were treated for symptoms including nausea and throat irritation.

No faculty or staff member required medical attention.

Superintendent Bartholomew, High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, and Middle School Principal Terrence Conant canceled remaining classes. After-school activities scheduled for Monday night have been postponed.

Faculty and staff will be able to retrieve personal belongings once given authorization by first responders. Administration is working on a protocol to allow students access to their belongings.

The school district will continue to update parents and guardians as more information becomes available.

*UPDATE* Pentucket Regional Middle High School Evacuated Due to Reports of Odor

WEST NEWBURY – Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Superintendent Justin Bartholomew report that Pentucket Regional Middle High School has been evacuated following reports of an odor.

Superintendent Bartholomew, High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, and Middle School Principal Terrence Conant have decided to cancel remaining classes, and are working to facilitate an orderly dismissal.

Superintendent Bartholomew has sent an email to Middle School and High School parents regarding dismissal procedures. Students who drove to school and have their car keys will be allowed to drive home. Students who evacuated the building without their keys will be allowed to take the bus.

After-school activities scheduled for Monday night have been canceled.

At about 9:41 a.m. on Monday, May 1, seventh-grade students in a science lab on the third floor of the middle school complained about a strange smell. No experiments were in progress and no chemicals were being used at the time.

The complaints triggered a series of procedures and protocols, including a building evacuation and a mutual aid emergency response from surrounding communities. The evacuation was coordinated by the West Newbury Police School Resource Officer.

Mutual aid responders included West Newbury Police, Groveland Police and Fire, Merrimac Fire, West Newbury Fire, as well as Action Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, and Georgetown Fire Ambulance.

Thirty-nine students were evaluated at the scene. One student was transported to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution, for symptoms including nausea.

The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. A Tier 1 hazardous materials response team is on scene. Their work is likely to take several hours.

The school district will continue to update parents and guardians as more information becomes available.

Pentucket Spotlight on Excellence: Merrimac Schools Give Back to the Community

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Stephanie Dembro wish to share that the Merrimac schools are participating in a multitude of charitable programs to give back to the community.

Throughout November and December, students at Dr. Frederick N. Sweetsir School and Helen R. Donaghue School have been participating in service programs.

One such program is the annual Holiday Helper Program, which has assisted local families in need for more than 30 years. Holiday Helper brings together a number of community groups and organizations to provide support during the holiday season. Kathleen Sullivan coordinates the annual Holiday Helper Program with Kathy Devaney.  Devaney assists local Merrimac families by collecting and providing new clothes, canned food, new books, and gift cards during the holiday season.

As part of the program, the Merrimac schools are running a canned food drive and book drive to provide non-perishable goods and books of interest.

It’s amazing to see the canned goods pouring in and to see each book needed purchased by a staff member!” said Principal Dembro. “Merrimac has truly stepped up this holiday season to support our local community. We are thrilled to be part of a community that supports one another.” 

The Merrimac schools also are supporting Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. To date, the schools have raised more than $700 toward its $5,000 goal. Donations will help to grant unique wishes that renew hope and uplift the spirits of children with critical illnesses. Those who wish to donate can do so here. The portal will remain open through June 2023.

As part of the schools’ fundraising efforts, Grade 3 Teacher Kathleen Terceiro is collecting Letters to Santa for the Macy’s Believe Campaign. For every letter written to Santa, Make-A-Wish will receive a $2 donation. The letters will be delivered by Terceiro to the Peabody Macy’s on Friday, Dec. 16.

Pentucket Spotlight on Excellence: Alumni Introduces Page School Students to Service Dog

WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Emily Puteri wish to share that a Pentucket Regional High School graduate recently returned the Page School to teach students about service dogs.

Julia Reading, a student at Kent State University and a 2019 Pentucket graduate, visited on Nov. 23. Reading visited each classroom in grades K-6, and explained her volunteer work with Paws 4 Ability, a national non-profit organization that helps to train service dogs for children, adults, and veterans with physical challenges.

Reading visited with Lavender, a Goldendoodle puppy who traveled with Reading to Massachusetts from Ohio. Reading explained what Paws 4 Ability does, how it trains its service dogs, and proper service dog etiquette.

“The students loved having Julia in,” Principal Puteri said. “She will be coming back for a visit, hopefully this month, which the students will love. These visits have the added bonus of helping to socialize Lavender for her future partner!”

“These visits add so much to our students’ educational experiences,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “Julia’s visit shows the difference one volunteer can make, and teaches students how they can be kind and compassionate to those who may have physical limitations.”

West Newbury Police Provide Update on Car Found Outside Page School

The West Newbury Police Department would like to provide an update on an incident in which a vehicle and driver were found in a heavily-wooded area near the Page School on Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, at approximately 10:30 a.m., West Newbury Police and Fire responded to the school for a report of a vehicle parked in the woods near the school.

The vehicle was found about 500 feet off the road in a wooded area by a resident who was out for a walk. That resident contacted police, who found the vehicle’s driver sitting outside of the vehicle exhibiting symptoms consistent with exposure and possible hypothermia.

The West Newbury Fire Department used a Gator off-road-vehicle to transport that individual back to the road, and from there an ambulance transported the individual to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport for treatment.

The vehicle is of interest to police in Newburyport and West Newbury, who are investigating an incident in which a vehicle crashed through a gate at a municipally owned property on Emery Lane in West Newbury and then crashed through another gate on a portion of the property that connects to Curzon Mill Road in Newburyport.

That incident remains under investigation by West Newbury and Newburyport Police.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Page School was placed in secure mode, meaning no one was allowed to enter or leave the building. Pre-K students were dismissed as scheduled at 11:15 a.m., and the school day continued as normal aside from students being kept inside throughout the day.

There is no danger to the school community.

The established school safety and security policies in place in the Pentucket Regional School District were followed, and police, fire and school officials are all in contact with each other.

Police will have an increased presence around the school as a result of the investigation into the vehicle.