IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
December 8, 2023 - Early Release (10:50)
December 12, 2023 - Mid Point of Term 2
December 26 - January 1 - Holiday Break
January 15, 2024 - No School/MLK Day
January 19, 2024 - Early Release (10:50)
January 22, 2024 - Semester 2 (Term 3) Begins
STUDENT COUNCIL FUNDRAISER
The Peer Leaders are collecting book gifts for the children at Seven Hills again this year.
Look for the fireplace display in the front commons and choose a mitten.
Each mitten has a book title requested by a child at Seven Hills.
Shop and wrap your gift.
Please return your wrapped book with the attached mitten to Ms. McManus in the library by December 15th.
Thank you for participating & spreading JOY to others!
CLASS OF 2025 - STUDENT COUNCIL FUNDRAISER
BUY A YEARBOOK AD FOR YOUR SENIOR
If you would like to buy an ad to celebrate your senior's milestone, follow this link to GDRHS’s Herff Jones Yearbook Order Center page where you can buy and create a unique yearbook ad for them.
Ad sizes: full-page ad, 1/2-page ad, a 1/4-page ad, or a 1/8-page-ad. Costs vary according to size.
Thank you, The Key Yearbook Staff
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - NASHOBA SHOOTING STARS
Love to ski or ride ? We invite you to share your love of the sport this Winter. Be a ski or snowboard buddy. Help our enthusiastic Athletes improve their ski skills.
The Nashoba Shooting Stars seeks on-snow and off-snow Volunteers who share our passion to help our 42 developmentally challenged Athletes to ski and ride safely, have fun and improve their snow sports skills. Just Say yes, and join us as we “Celebrate Inclusion “ in Winter 2024 through the power of sports. Your responsibilities as a Volunteer - maintain safety, be a friend and share your skills !
Our Ski Season : Our season begins in early January and ends in early March.
Everyone is welcome to apply as Volunteers on our team. Please consider providing community service with the Nashoba Shooting Stars this Winter.
Team Practices :
Our team practice schedule for Winter 2024 will begin after the Holidays in January 2024 and will include :
Sunday Afternoons at Nashoba Valley - 2:00 to 4:00 PM - All Athletes Beginners to Advanced Levels
A full team practice. We ask that every Athlete, Beginners to advanced, attend our Sunday Afternoon Practices at Nashoba Valley.
Tuesday Evenings at Nashoba Valley - 6:30 to 8:30 PM - Intermediates and Advanced Athletes - includes some gate training.
Tuesday Eve practices - Intermediate and Advanced Athletes fine tune their skills on less crowded slopes.
Wednesday Evenings at Wachusett Mountain - 5:30 to 7:30 PM - Beginners, Novices through Early Intermediates - for skills growth.
Wednesday early evening practices at Wa Wa - Beginners to Early Intermediates grow their skills while staying within their " comfort zone ".
Saturdays - Whole Day at Gunstock Mountain - beginning 8:30 AM when lifts open - Saturdays in Winter 2024 - All Levels. Family friendly Gunstock Mt. - is a super special opportunity to ski and ride on trails that match your skills level - whatever it may be. Athletes may use the Nastar Race Course to train on the Ramrod Race Course ( Blue / Intermediate ). If there is enough interest, we will also offer gate training on a closed to the public Introductory Level Course, Try me Slope ( Green / Beginner ). Consider joining us for Saturday Fun Days at Gunstock
Volunteers are asked to commit to attend one or more practice time. Share the fun ! Sign up to be a Volunteer / Buddy with a friend or family member and double your fun ! We are pleased to provide letters of reference and verification of service hours for employment or academic needs or whatever upon request.
Contacts : Bob and Judy Russell for Nashoba Shooting Stars, Special Olympics of MA.
at bobjudydj@verizon.net and Tel: 978-448-3087 Cell : 978-337-2326 ( Judy )
Home Address : 7 Otter Lane, Groton, MA 01450
Please consider this opportunity to enjoy Winter Sports together with a deserving Special Olympics Athlete during the Winter of 2024. Join the fun by contacting our team today !
MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
Dear Parents/Guardians of 10th Grade Students,
We will conduct state-mandated Vision and Hearing Screenings for all 10th grade students on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
School-based vision and hearing screenings are intended to help identify common vision and hearing problems and do not serve as a replacement for regular comprehensive examinations by a doctor. If your child requires additional evaluation based on the results of the screening you will be notified by the nurse.
If you would like your child EXCLUDED from the screening OR if your child is being monitored by your healthcare provider, please opt out with the link below by Monday, December 4, 2023.
Click Here for the Vision & Hearing Opt Out Form
Please contact the school nurse, Cheryl Shea @ 978-448-6362 ext. 1018 or cshea@gdrsd.org if you have any questions.
Thank you.
FROM SEPAC
UMass Lowell Center for Autism Research and Education (CARE) is recruiting for our “Horizons” College Preparation Mentoring Program Spring 2024:
Horizons is a college preparation mentoring program for neurodiverse (e.g. autistic students, students with ADHD, learning disabilities etc.) high-school juniors or seniors (or recent graduates) who plan to go to college. High school students meet as a group on Zoom once a week for an hour with trained UMass Lowell student mentors, 4.30-5.30pm EST on Tuesdays beginning in February 2024. Horizons runs for 7-weeks. Students do not need to be planning to attend UMass Lowell. The goal of Horizons is to help neurodiverse high school students have a better idea of what college will be like, to feel more confident about going to college, and to be more successful when they transition to college.
Our curriculum covers a range of topics depending on the interests and needs of the students. Examples of topics include:
• Time management and organization strategies
• Problem solving and self-advocacy
• Identifying and accessing supports on campus
• Reducing stress and self-care
• What will a typical day at college look like
• Navigating through your major
• Choosing classes
• What to bring to college
• Finances
• Social side of university
• JR high students can also discuss why go to college; how to apply; choosing a college, etc.
There is a $75 fee for the Horizons program (scholarships are available) which covers all seven weekly meetings, an Orientation session, and weekly communication with parents/caregivers. More information can also be found here: https://www.uml.edu/Research/Autism/services/Horizons.aspx
Please contact Ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu with any questions and to request an enrollment form.
UMass Lowell Center for Autism Research and Education (CARE)
The Network: a social networking group for neurodiverse adolescents and young adults. We typically meet in-person the first Wednesday of the month 6-7.30pm for an activity such as bowling, movies, axe throwing, escape room, sports events etc. We also meet online (Discord server) the third Wednesday of each month 6-7.30pm to chat and play Jackbox games. The main goal of The Network is to provide an opportunity to meet others you may have things in common with and have fun.
The Network costs $100 for the year (pro-rated; and scholarships are available).
Please contact Ashleigh_hillier@uml.edu for more information.
GUIDANCE NEWS:
OPPORTUNITIES WITH BAE SYSTEMS
"BAE Systems’ is pleased to share that our FOCUS and Women in Technology Programs are currently accepting applications from high school students interested in participating in Winter 2024 sessions. Students will need to sign up for a Tallo account to apply.
Information about these programs can be found on the respective websites, listed below.
Women in Technology details:
Dates: Jan 16 through May 7 (no class Feb 27 or April 23)
Time: Tuesdays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Locations: Southern NH BAE Systems facilities (Hudson, Merrimack, Nashua)
Eligibility: Female identifying students in grades 11 & 12
Application link: https://app.tallo.com/talent/opportunity/view/52d210c0-cf6b-4aff-a85d-f44f055bd141
Application deadline: December 16
Website: www.baesystems.com/wit
FOCUS details:
Dates: January 10 through March 20
Time: Wednesdays from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Nashua Canal Street facility
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
Application link: https://app.tallo.com/talent/opportunity/view/c56a6628-5cc1-412f-862c-e232a51d67aa
Application deadline: December 12
Website: www.baesystems.com/focus
CREATE AN FSA ID (FROM MEFA)
"Though the FAFSA won’t be available until December, seniors applying to college and their parents can, and should, get an FSA ID now, which they’ll need to log in to the application. Who exactly needs an FSA ID? Every student will need to establish one, as will at least one, and sometimes two, parents / guardians. Our graphic provides the details."
Use this PDF to help in determining who will need an FSA ID:
https://image.email.mefa.org/lib/fe3a11727164047e751477/m/1/4df7e8ce-399a-4ee2-ad45-ca29afb0eed5.pdf