Newburyport School Notes
Bresnahan Elementary School Principal Kristina Davis and Assistant Principal Bill McGowan accepted a specially designated Environmental Steward Award during Saturday's Eco-Awards and Earth Day Celebration at the Bartlet Mall. The school and its Green Team group of volunteers, led by parents Ryan Fisher and Elena Hogan, were presented with the award for forging a green path in the district. They were the first to eliminate paper communications and newsletters, which has resulted in more than 13 trees being saved, and instituted a reusable container contest in the lunchroom that has made students and parents more aware of how much packaging is needlessly sent to landfills each year. The school also recently enacted a "no idle zone" in the parent pickup line to reduced emissions and increase awareness.
Mayor John Moak presented Davis and McGowan with the award "for embracing the importance of environmental awareness within and beyond the school community; offering educational information and experiences that foster more conscious, eco-friendly choices for students, parents and citizens; implementing numerous eco-friendly initiatives from creating a no-idle zone on school property to maintaining a significant recycling program; and preparing youth that will become tomorrow's leaders to act in a sustainable manner in all aspects of their lives."
Davis said the award will be framed and showcased in the school entrance sometime this spring, so that students, parents and staff can enjoy their joint accomplishment.
¢¢¢
Middle school students and staff from River Valley Charter School are committing to "getting their hands dirty" on May 1 as a way to showcase the importance of community service to the local organizations that serve the neediest in local communities. More than 70 participants from the school's Free the Children group will be fanning out across town to help care for homeless animals at the Merrimack Valley Feline Rescue Society, prepare and serve meals at St. Paul's/Among Friends Soup Kitchen, and perform spring cleanups at area cemeteries and parks.
"I am very impressed with the desire of the students to help the local community, especially this year with the current economic state," said Colin Gibney, the supervising adult of the student-run school group.
Gibney said the school's Free the Children group has raised approximately $1,000 for children of impoverished nations and wants to now focus on the needs of their local community.
"(May Service Day) is about seeing that service is something you can do out in your local community, by using your hands, and not just about sending a check off in the mail," Gibney said.
The students will be volunteering their time at the Women's Action for New Directions (at the Newburyport Waterfront Peace Garden), the Merrimack Valley Feline Rescue Society, Camp Kent in Amesbury, The Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, the Veteran's Cemetery at Old Hill, and St. Paul's/Among Friends Soup Kitchen.
¢¢¢
The Molin Upper Elementary School is approaching the end of its second year in operation, and the Elementary PTO is asking for help to make the school's office space appear more permanent. In order to make the main office environment more welcoming and efficient for parents, staff and students, the parent-run organization is seeking donations from parents and the community for a paint job and some secondhand furniture to adorn the space.
The PTO wish list includes $200 for painting materials for the front office, $300 to frame three large pictures and $200 to build a front reception desk. The school group is also seeking $150 to purchase an organizing shelf unit for lost and found items, wooden blinds for the windows, and donations of secondhand items, such as file cabinets, a coffee table, upholstered chairs, a room divider and some shrubs for the outside entrances.
Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, contact Maureen Murphy at 978-463-7437 or Joanna Tsiantas at 978-465-1405.
¢¢¢
The Kiwanis Club of Newburyport is offering a $500 scholarship this year in memory of Edward J. Kelly and invites students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of character, scholarship and ability in sports to apply. Relatives of Kiwanis members will be given first priority for selection. The application deadline is April 30.
¢¢¢
The Alumni Association will present the annual Teacher's Tea on April 28 at 2:15 p.m. in the Clipper Café at Newburyport High School. The annual event provides an opportunity to give thanks and recognize NHS staff and faculty for their service.
¢¢¢
Respected world class climber Janet Bergman will be visiting Newburyport's MetroRock rock-climbing center on Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m., and the first 20 female NHS students who register are invited to attend her seminar for free, compliments of MetroRock neighbors Mark and Teresa Richey of Mark Richey Woodworking.
The Richeys have offered to cover the cost for participating young women as a means of empowering them with Bergman's dynamic presentation. Sign-up sheets are available in the high school's main office.
¢¢¢
Lynne Hendricks covers Newburyport schools for The Daily News. She can be reached at wiehe@verizon.net.
