Pentucket Regional School District Students Participate in German American Partnership Program

pentucketporta on September 11, 2023

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew is pleased to share that Pentucket Regional High School students will participate in the German American Partnership Program (GAPP).

The German American Partnership Program (GAPP), supported by the United States State Department, allows students from the U.S. and Germany to visit a secondary school in the other country. More than 400,000 American and German students have participated in the program since its establishment nearly 50 years ago.

Pentucket’s last GAPP exchange took place in 2014. For the past two years, German Teacher Stephen Petersen and Pentucket German IV students participated in a virtual exchange program, the German American Virtual Exchange (GAVE), with students from Stadtgymnasium Emsland in Rheine, Germany.

Pentucket students will finally meet their virtual exchange partners in person this year, as they engage in the GAPP. Students from Germany will visit Pentucket from Oct. 2-15, where they will live with host families to experience American family life firsthand.

Throughout their visit, students will also have the opportunity to get a feel for the Massachusetts educational system through shadowing a Pentucket student who is learning German at the high school, and visiting a district elementary school, Whittier Tech, and Boston University. Students will also get to take a trip to Boston, Newburyport, a local farm, and the beaches on Plum Island.

“In the past, life-long connections have been made between Pentucket and German students through this program,” said Pentucket Regional Middle High School Foreign Language Department Chair Linda Hackett. “We are excited to be bringing back the GAPP to Pentucket and are confident that our students will benefit from the connections made with the students from Germany.”

The Pentucket School Committee approved the program for the 2023-24 school year last spring.

Plans are being made to take Pentucket students to Rheine in June 2024.

German GAPP Coordinator Christophe Kotte, left, and the students who will visit Pentucket this fall. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)

Pentucket Regional School District Invites Community to 2023-2024 Budget Presentation

pentucketporta on January 23, 2023

WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and the Pentucket Regional School District invite the community to a presentation devoted to an update of the current 2022-2023 school budget and the spending plan being developed for 2023-2024.

The presentation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Middle-High School. This is a joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen and Finance Committees in the sending communities of Groveland, Merrimac, and West Newbury.

Superintendent Bartholomew will provide an overview of the current budget and the impact of a failed Proposition 2½ override on education this year. Superintendent Bartholomew also will review the District’s budget process, and explain the challenges expected in the 2023-2024 budget.

The meeting will begin with a public comment period. Each speaker will be limited to two minutes. Residents interested in speaking are asked to contact Marianne Naffah by 9:30 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

“We encourage parents and anyone with an interest in education to attend and learn more,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “Community feedback is important as we develop a budget that meets both students’ needs and the educational vision of our communities.”

Pentucket Regional High School to Transition Back to Hybrid Learning This Week

pentucketporta on October 12, 2020

High School to be Reopened, Athletics to Resume Tuesday, Oct. 13

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew is pleased to announce that the Pentucket Regional High School will transition back to a hybrid learning model tomorrow after going fully remote at the end of last week due to two positive student COVID-19 cases and approximately 25 identified close contacts among students.

Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13, the high school will go back to hybrid learning and all athletics activities will be able to resume. Other schools in the district will continue with their current normal operating plans.

As of Monday afternoon, the overwhelming majority of test results were back for those close contacts, and the results were negative. There are still some students that are awaiting results, but thus far, there have been no additional positive cases.  All close contact students will continue to self-quarantine for the required 14 days.

Last week, the district was made aware of two students with positive COVID-19 cases. One student had last been in school on Friday, Oct. 2 and tested positive that night. The second positive student case had not been in school since Tuesday, Sept. 29 and tested positive last Monday, Oct. 5.

In an effort to allow the local health agents to get the most accurate data on those 25 students, the district made the decision to temporarily switch to a fully remote learning model on Thursday and Friday of last week and postpone all athletics activities.

All close contacts of those two students have been notified by local and/or state health officials of the need to self-quarantine. If you were not contacted by a local or state public health official, you are not considered a close contact.

The district is still urging students to practice social distancing and avoid gathering in large groups, even outdoors.

Out of an abundance of caution, the high school was thoroughly sanitized and disinfected last week. All schools will continue to be cleaned and disinfected daily.

“We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we work through the many issues that are brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “We are glad to be able to re-open the high school tomorrow for hybrid learning and continue with our athletics programs. We will continue to keep families updated with the latest news and information as we progress through the school year.”

Students and staff are also urged to continue following state guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 including:

  • Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well. Students should stay home from school should any new or unexplained illness, no matter how mild, develop. This precaution is meant to keep all staff and students safe. To review COVID-19 symptoms, visit the CDC’s website by clicking here.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, please adhere to social distancing guidelines and keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
  • Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

 Children may worry about themselves, their family and friends getting sick with COVID-19. Tips for talking to children about COVID-19 can be found here.

 

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