Pentucket Regional School District to Take Part in State’s K-12 Rapid COVID-19 Testing Program

pentucketporta on November 20, 2020

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew reports the Pentucket Regional School District has been chosen by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the U.S. Department of Defense to receive rapid COVID-19 tests to help identify cases of coronavirus in the district.

On Monday, Nov. 16, the district was one of 134 districts in the state chosen to receive free, rapid tests as part of the program. There are approximately two million tests available, but Pentucket officials have not yet been notified of the number of tests they will receive.

The tests are to be used for staff or students who develop COVID-19 symptoms while at school. If the individual tests positive for COVID-19, they will be sent home and given instructions regarding the next steps to take, including self-isolation protocols and additional testing requirements. These tests can only be administered to those who are already showing symptoms related to COVID-19 and the district has created isolation areas at each school for those who are showing symptoms.

The instant results will also allow for the district to start conducting contract tracing immediately after a positive result is confirmed, helping to mitigate further spread of the virus in the school community.

“Being able to start the contact tracing process moments after confirming a positive test result is vital in preventing any further spread of COVID-19 in our schools,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “Though this resource will be vital in identifying cases of the disease among our school population, it’s important to remember that any individual who is showing symptoms of COVID-19 prior to the start of the school day should stay home and contact their healthcare provider about testing options.”

School nurses will be trained to administer the rapid tests in the coming weeks. Testing will only be conducted with parent or guardian authorization. Parents and guardians will also receive consent forms that must be returned and will also be contacted directly by the school should their students become symptomatic and need to get tested.

Families and staff are reminded that any individual who is showing any COVID-19-related symptoms prior to the start of the school day must stay home and contact their healthcare provider about testing. Those who may have been exposed to the disease are asked to remain home as well, monitor themselves for symptoms and contact their healthcare provider about testing options.

The district applied for the tests approximately three weeks ago. Districts chosen to receive the first round of testing kits were those who are currently utilizing in-person learning. Pentucket is currently following a hybrid learning model.

This is the first phase of the state program. DESE will also use the information gathered from the testing completed by all selected schools to help establish protocols for future phases. The tests will also be distributed to other organizations, such as private schools and nursing homes.

For more information about the program, click here. The district will share more information as it becomes available in the coming weeks.

Four Pentucket Regional High School Seniors Named Commended Students for the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program

pentucketporta on October 29, 2020

 

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Jonathan Seymour are pleased to announce the four Pentucket Regional High School seniors have been named Commended Students for the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The four students to receive the recognition are:

  • Nathan Blanchard of Merrimac
  • Mitchell Powers of Haverhill
  • Megan Reading of West Newbury
  • Casey Pedersen of West Newbury

Letters of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation were presented to the students earlier this week.

“Congratulations to Nathan, Mitchell, Megan and Casey for these incredible honors,” Principal Seymour said. “They’ve demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their learning and these recognitions are a great, tangible example of that dedication.”

Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation have been recognized this year. Though the four will not continue in the 2021 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, the Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of the more than 1.5 million students who took the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“I am beyond proud of the well-earned recognition our students have received,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “They’ve worked incredibly hard over the course of their academic careers to set themselves up for success and have achieved that goal without a doubt.”

Additionally, Blanchard, Powers and Reading were selected for the College Board National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program based on their scores. The program, which is separate from the National Merit Scholarship program, recognizes students from underrepresented groups who have excelled on their PSAT/NMSQT and in the classroom.

Students received letters of commendation from the College Board as well.

West Newbury Fire Department Offers Fire Prevention Activity Bags for Children 

pentucketporta on October 20, 2020

WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer is pleased to announce that the West Newbury Fire Department is offering free children’s fire activity bags for West Newbury residents.

During the month of October, the West Newbury Fire Department will be offering these bags to celebrate Fire Prevention Month and teach children of all ages about fire safety.

The bags include an activity book, fire prevention pamphlets, stickers and a plastic fire helmet. These activity bags are designed to help teach children and families more about fire safety.

“During normal fire prevention months, the West Newbury Fire Department tries to ensure a presence in West Newbury school classrooms to discuss the importance of fire safety,” Chief Dwyer said. “In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to take an alternative approach to discuss the importance of fire safety by providing these educational kits. We encourage any family who would like one to reach out to us as soon as possible.”

Families can request the activity bags by either privately messaging the West Newbury Fire Department on Facebook or by emailing fire@westnewburysafety.org. Those interested in receiving a bag should provide the department with their name, address and number of bags needed.

All requests should be made prior to Friday, Oct. 30.

Once the department has received your request, a West Newbury Firefighter will deliver the bags to your home on either your doorstep or doorknob. All deliveries will be contactless.

As always, the West Newbury Fire Department encourages any residents with any fire department-related questions to contact them at 978-363-1111 or fire@westnewburysafety.org.

West Newbury & Groveland Fire Respond to Pentucket Regional High School as Precaution Following Science Demonstration 

pentucketporta on October 16, 2020

WEST NEWBURY — West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Groveland Fire Chief Robert Valentine report that their respective fire departments responded to Pentucket Regional High School as a precaution after a science experiment did not perform exactly as expected.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, the two departments were dispatched to the high school, located at 24 Main St. in West Newbury, for an alarm activation. Upon arrival, firefighters were notified that a routine science experiment went wrong when a water vapor cloud caused by the experiment was sucked out the window of one classroom and into a nearby one.

Out of an abundance of caution, the building was evacuated. Firefighters working with a HazMat team member from the Amesbury Fire Department, determined that there was no danger as the cloud consisted only of water vapor.

The experiment involved sodium and water and is a routine part of the science curriculum. Fire crews cleared the area by 9:44 a.m., and classes resumed.

The Groveland Fire Department automatically responds as a mutual aid partner when alarms are activated at the high school. Groveland firefighters provided station coverage in West Newbury in addition to providing support on-scene. Atlantic Ambulance also responded to the high school and evaluated students and staff in the two classrooms as a precautionary measure.

 

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West Newbury Fire and Police Departments Remind Residents that Use of Fireworks is Illegal in Massachusetts

pentucketporta on June 23, 2020

WEST NEWBURY — As the Fourth of July and summer celebrations approach, Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Police Chief Jeff Durand would like to remind residents that the use of fireworks is illegal in Massachusetts.

It is illegal to use, possess or sell fireworks of any kind in Massachusetts, including Class C fireworks, which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane fireworks.” Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners, cherry bombs and more. Additionally, residents are prohibited from purchasing fireworks elsewhere and transporting them into the state.

From 2010-19, 858 major fires and explosions were reported to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS) due to the use of illegal fireworks. These incidents caused 12 civilian injuries, 40 firefighter injuries and a loss of approximately $2.9 million.

“While residents can certainly enjoy an organized fireworks display this summer, they should never attempt to put one on themselves due to the tremendous risk of injury,” said Chief Dwyer. “We urge everyone to celebrate safely and to practice social distancing should you attend any organized displays in the coming months in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The West Newbury Fire and Police Departments recommend that residents only attend displays put on by a licensed professional to ensure safety.

“With summer finally here, it’s understandable that people are looking forward to celebrating the season and attend events like professional fireworks displays,” said Chief Durand. “However, fireworks that are not handled by professionals pose a very serious risk of fire and personal injury. Please keep yourself and your community safe by not engaging in the use of illegal fireworks.”

Residents should always:

  • Call 911 if anyone gets injured by fireworks.
  • Set a positive example for children by not using illegal fireworks. If kids see adults using them, they may not realize the dangers and could be encouraged to pick up matches or lighters.
  • Be careful around even the smallest fireworks. Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees and could easily cause severe burns and injuries.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the misuse of fireworks can cause death and injuries including severe burns, contusions, lacerations, eye injuries and more.

Pentucket Art Department Hosts Virtual Art Exhibit for Middle and High School Students

pentucketporta on June 19, 2020

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Fine & Performing Arts Chair Marcia Nadeau are pleased to announce the virtual Pentucket Regional Middle and High School Art Festival is now live.

The virtual art gallery became available for viewing on Tuesday, June 16 and features over 280 pieces created by students in grades seven through 12. The art exhibited includes paintings, digital art, photography and 3D sculptures. To view the online gallery, click here.

Guided and self-guided virtual tours are available for those who wish to explore the student projects. The exhibit is organized by grade and class, and clicking on the art allows you to see which student the project belongs to.

“I started looking for a format to have a virtual exhibit once I realized that we would not be able to host our Annual Arts Festival at school due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nadeau said. “It’s amazing to see what these students create and we love to be able to share their incredible work with community members.”

This is the second virtual art exhibit held this June by Pentucket students. On Thursday, June 4, the Virtual Senior Art Exhibit was published and continues to remain available online. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, community members and the media can access all of the exhibit through two viewing options: via slideshow or by visiting the Pentucket TV YouTube channel.

Each senior designed their own exhibit and chose meaningful pieces from art classes taken throughout their time at Pentucket Regional High School to display. Some seniors also chose to include a short biography, information on their inspiration and artistic process, and/or their plans for the fall. 

Graduating seniors featured in the virtual art exhibit include: Lydia Baldini, of Groveland; Samantha Bellville, of Groveland, Alexa Berkley, of West Newbury, Samuel Bissitt, of Merrimac, Madeline Conover, of West Newbury, Nathan Conway, of Groveland, Brooke Daniels, of Groveland, Sasha Davis, of Merrimac, Molly Forget, of Groveland, Kayla King, of Merrimac, Grace McIntyre, of Haverhill, Maggie Peterson, of Merrimac, Katherine Rosa, of Groveland, and Mikayla Tilden, of Groveland. 

“I’m blown away by the creativity of our students when looking at the art they’ve made and am grateful all the art teachers, including Marcia, were able to create this opportunity for students to showcase their work,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “While we unfortunately aren’t able to showcase students’ projects the way we normally do, I’m grateful for the work everyone did to allow this event to be held remotely.”

Pentucket Regional School District Announces Changes to History and Social Studies Curriculum

pentucketporta on June 18, 2020

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Assistant Superintendent Brent Conway are pleased to provide an update on the development of a new, more culturally responsible and inclusive history and social studies curriculum for the entire Pentucket Regional School District.

Over the past year, members of the district have been working to update the curriculum in order to meet the new history and social studies standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The new standards create an added emphasis on teaching students civic responsibility; focus on including more diverse materials and discussions to create a more accurate representation of different genders, races and cultures; and include more lessons on local history and indigenous groups. These changes by the state were the first revisions since 2003, though much of the content still reflected the original 1997 version even after the revision.

Using the new standards as a foundation, district officials and teachers from all Pentucket schools met to review the current curriculum to find the gaps and needs in order to align with the new guidelines. The group was co-chaired by Assistant Superintendent Conway and John Siegfried, History Department Chair for grades seven through 12. A survey was also completed by staff and families in the district.

“Our goal is to help shape students into ethical and morally responsible community members by focusing on teaching them civic responsibility and important historical periods that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve in the past, including ones that bear particular importance for people of color and women,” said Superintendent Bartholomew. “These updates to the curriculum for all of the district’s students will help us to achieve that goal and ensure they are receiving an in-depth and thorough education in world history.”

 Some of the key changes include:

  • Helping students from kindergarten to second grade develop a sense of self and their role in the local and global community by teaching them civics and promoting a global understanding of different cultures.
  • Updating the curriculum for third through fifth grade students and providing professional development opportunities for those teachers to present content and guidelines on how to discuss topics such as racism and the historical treatment of indigenous people.
  • Purchasing biographies and accessible texts for grades one through three on historical figures and world cultures that represent greater diversity and match content standards.
  • Performing an equity audit of texts and materials for grades three through 12 for content connections and diverse representations of factors such as race, gender and culture and to build broad content knowledge.
  • Ensuring that all high school classes use the practices of Social Studies, such as organizing and using information from primary and secondary sources, so that students have thorough exposure and expectations to those practices throughout their four years.
  • Creating cross-curricular connections to English language arts from kindergarten through grade 12 to help bolster students’ writing and research skills for both subjects, including the adoption of Modern Language Association (MLA) 8 format for all research projects and papers.
  • Training staff in restorative justice practices and circles to facilitate broader conversations around social justice, equity and other challenging topics in current events.

To view a full summary of the committee’s report, click here.

Over the next approximately 16 months, work will be done to implement the curriculum, starting with the purchasing of textbooks and e-editions of textbooks for students.

“These new materials will support a critical step forward for our district, and provide our students with the knowledge and support they will need to become informed and thoughtful citizens,” Assistant Superintendent Conway said. “It is vital for our children to know and understand the history of all people and cultures, and we’re especially proud to include more lessons about the indigenous groups of Massachusetts and the Pentucket region.

Assistant Superintendent Conway gave a presentation about the new curriculum to the Pentucket School Board on Tuesday, June 16. To view the presentation, click here.

Pentucket Names Terry Conant New Middle School Principal

pentucketporta on June 16, 2020

Terrence “Terry” Conant has been selected to become the new Pentucket Regional Middle School Principal beginning July 1. (Courtesy Photo Pentucket Regional School District)

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew is pleased to announce that Terry Conant has been named the new Principal of Pentucket Regional Middle School.

Conant will assume his new role on July 1, and replaces Ken Kelley, who has been selected as the new principal of the Donaghue and Sweetsir Elementary Schools.

“I could not be more excited to be joining the Pentucket family,” Conant said. “I am looking forward to meeting students, families, and staff in the upcoming weeks to learn about the traditions that make PRSD a great place to be. I would like to thank Dr. Bartholomew and the selection committee for allowing me the opportunity to lead the PRMS community as we enter the next phase in teaching and learning. I can’t wait to get work.”

Conant most recently served as the assistant principal at the newly built Beverly Middle School in Beverly. Prior to working in this new building he served as an assistant principal at the Briscoe Middle School, the now closed middle school building in Beverly, since 2011. During his 20 years in Beverly he has facilitated a professional learning community (PLC) focused on social emotional learning and school climate. He also collaborated with the creation of a grade five through eight middle school building and program with the grand opening in September of 2018.

During his tenure in Beverly, he served on multiple teams to bring educational success to the district.  He helped build the school culture, was a member of Beverly Public Schools’ data team, collaborated with content teams to discuss curriculum, facilitated the student support team, organized the sixth grade trip to Nature’s Classroom in Charlton, Mass. and was appointed as the middle school representative on the School Committee’s Curriculum, Instruction and Student Life Sub-Committee.

He was also selected to be the head facilitator of the STEAM and Technology specialists at the elementary level at Beverly Public Schools from September 2014 to June 2015 to transition to the Next Generation Science Standards and to align and develop curriculum. From 2005 until 2020, he served as the Professional Development Instructor at Beverly Public Schools.

“Terry has a truly remarkable resume– he brings with him a wealth of experience and insight, and we’re excited to welcome him to the Pentucket team,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “His background demonstrates that he’s a well rounded, thoughtful educator, and we’re confident he’ll be a wonderful asset to our district moving forward.”

Conant also worked as a technology instructor at Briscoe Middle School from 2010 to 2011 and as a sixth grade science teacher at Memorial Middle and Briscoe Middle Schools from 2002-2010. He also served as the equity coordinator at Briscoe Middle School from August 2010 to June 2011. 

From 2000 to 2011, Conant worked as the assistant varsity football coach at Beverly High School, and as the head freshman baseball coach from 2002-2011.

He’s also played in the school band, and highly values the skills and knowledge learned from the arts.

From 1996 to 2010, Conant additionally worked as the camp director for the City of Beverly Recreation Department’s Adventure Camp.

Prior to working at Beverly Public Schools Conant was a middle school math and science teacher at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish from 2000-2002. While there, he also served as the school’s athletic director.

Conant has also volunteered previously for the Beverly Little League, North Shore Flag Football League and Beverly Babe Ruth Baseball.