Picture of the Week

Our boys ice hockey team co-ops with Lunenburg, which includes 10 Ayer Shirley students. On Wednesday they beat Hopedale and are the CMASS Division 3A Champs! 

They face-off  Greenfield in the Div. 3A State Finals at Holy Cross tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, at 3pm. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults, and can be purchased in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/MIAA.  Go Blue Knights!!!

Pictures of the Week

It was such a joyful experience to serve lunch this week to every student at Page Hilltop. The students were just as thrilled. A big thank you to our food service workers. They work hard and are so nice to the students.

ASRHS Drama Has Some Spring Musical “Magic to Do” Just for You

AYER/SHIRLEY, MA: ASRHS Drama Club’s next production is the Tony Award-winning Stephen Schwartz musical, “PIPPIN.”  As told by a traveling troupe of actors led by a cunning and charming Leading Player, “PIPPIN” is the story of a young prince, heir to the throne of King Charlemagne. Pippin certain he is extraordinary, is searching for his own “corner of the sky.” He attends university certain that he will find a fulfilling purpose in life, but it falls short. He dabbles in battle, licentious entanglements and savvy political maneuvers, but only discover that true happiness is more complicated than he thought. “PIPPIN” is both a humorous allegory about growing up and a dark tale of the danger of false appearances and empty promises.

Says Senior Chris Govang, who is portraying the Leading Player as well as acting as dance captain and serving as one of the Co-Presidents of the ASRHS Drama Club, “It’s a really fun show, and getting to work with people who share my enthusiasm for it is fantastic.”  The cast also includes Julia Alo, Alexis Blackwell, Lolly Capasso, Alexis Feigley, DeJah Fleurancois, Theresa Krifka-Dobes, Jerry Maillet, Anthony Mavilia, Meliyah Marinez, Mason Pyatt, Claudia Ramos-Mercado, Kate Reardon, Gaby Rosales, Maggie Serratore, Ava Sherriff, Cassidy Wenstrom and Kyrie Wick. The show is directed by JulieAnn Govang, with an almost entirely student-staffed pit orchestra led by Music Director Tim Ketterer.

Sponsored by ALO Seamless Gutters of Littleton, “PIPPIN” will play March 20 and 21 at 7pm; and March 21 and 22 at 2pm in the Laura S. Leavitt Auditorium at Ayer Shirley Regional High School, 141 Washington Street in Ayer.  Tickets reservations can be placed by phone, or tickets will be available at the door and in advance at the Hazen Memorial Library in Shirley.  They are $12 general admission; $5 for students and senior citizens.  For more information about the show, the ASRHS Drama Club, or to reserve tickets ahead of time, call (978) 772-2545 or visit ASRHS Drama online at www.jacneed.com/ASYD/AyerShirleyDrama.htm.

Alo Seamless Gutters prides themselves on providing the highest quality installation techniques developed over many years of continuous service. From the initial estimate/consultation to the actual installation, they provide the finest workmanship with superb customer service. Alo Seamless Gutters takes care of all your rain control needs: new installations, repairs, replacements, cleaning, adjusting, re-directing, inspecting and evaluating. Call Alo at (978) 732-0042 or visit them online at www.AloGutters.com.

Pictures of the Week

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Page Hilltop students had lots of fun this week making crazy Valentine hats in Mrs. Cowley's art classes. Mrs. Cowley is a wonderful art teacher, and the students produce fantastic art work!

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, we wish our wonderful students and their families, a fun-filled and fantastic vacation week! We thank you for your continued support and cherish your partnership. Let's continue to grow together and make ASRSD the best school district in the Commonwealth!

Pictures of the Week

Look at our budding Grade 5 band students learning to play the trumpet!  

We are so happy to be able to offer band to Grade 5 students at both elementary schools.

It was a pleasure to be present for girls' basketball Senior Night!  

The only senior on the team is Riley Murphy. Congrats, Riley! You will be missed!

Riley is flanked by her lovely family.

Picture of the Week

Computer Science for All!

We are very excited about new opportunities for our students next school year.  One of these opportunities is the implementation of Computer Science education in Grades K-12. A computer science education will prepare our learners for their future. The business world needs engineers, programmers, and technologically competent workers. Computer science education promotes important skills such as collaboration, creativity, and communication. We have disparities in young women’s engagement in STEM fields. We want ALL students to engage in Computer Science.  This past Wednesday and Thursday, the Leadership Team and I participated in a District Implementation Planning Workshop with the goal of creating inclusive and sustainable K-12 computer science education in ASRSD. We are looking to the future because our students are at the heart of all we do.

Page Hilltop Panther News Show

Did you know the Page Hilltop students have a news show? They sure do. It is called "Panther News".  Kristin Mayo, Digital Literacy teacher at Page Hilltop, is the producer and oversees the student reporters. The episode below features the new teachers at Page Hilltop. Take some time to watch this six minute video. You will love it. To see all of their episodes, please visit the district website and click District Videos. We love all of our new teachers!

Student Accolades Keep Coming!

ASRHS students, Olivia Oestreicher, Junior, and Chris Govang, Senior, are joining the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) 2020 All-State Chorus.  Congratulations, Olivia & Chris! We are very proud of you.

Have you had a chance to hear Olivia and Chris sing? Well, come to the high school spring concert on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30pm. You just might hear them sing!  Or perhaps, attend the spring musical, "Pippin", showing March 20-22, and see our well-accomplished student actors. If you love singing, do not miss the show.

Olympic Bound? Qualify for the US Track & Field Nationals?

Sam Folger is a junior at Ayer Shirley Regional High School. His dream is to make the Olympic Trials. His goal is to shave 4 seconds off his best time and make the cut in the 200 butterfly. Good luck, Sam! We are rooting for you!

See the full press release!
https://www.telegram.com/news/20200119/in-central-mass--olympic-aspirations-motivate-local-swimming-standouts

Dana Maloney set a school record in the 1000 meter at the 26th Coaches Invitational this past Saturday. He is just one second off of qualifying for Nationals.  Dana has three meets in which to qualify for the Nationals; the League Meet, Central Mass Championships, and Division 5 State Championship. . Go Dana! You got this!

Pictures of the Week

We love our student showcases at School Committee meetings. This past Wednesday night, January 22, 2020, students from Lura A. White, Levi Cenedella, Kindergarten, Ethan Hunt, Grade 1, Kate Walker, Grade 2, Dylan Pliskaner, Grade 3, Chloe Woodward, Grade 4, and Aadie Patel, Grade 5, shared their opinion pieces. The writing prompt was, "Which is a better pet?  A cat or a dog? The students did a fabulous job and the majority felt dogs make s better pet.

Levi-    "I like dogs because they are playful."

Ethan- "Dogs are patient pets. Dogs can keep you very healthy."

Kate-  "The first reason why dogs are the best is that they make a good friend. For an example it helps people meet new people."

Dylan-  "I like dogs because they snuggle with you."

Chloe-  " I think dogs are better than cats because they are active animals. They have brain powers and they are very hard workers. While dogs are really smart and can learn165 words in its lifetime, a cat can only learn 35."

Aadi-    "I would pick a cat because no one likes noise. Cats are much quieter and sleep most of the day. Cats need much less exercise. You will be happier by just letting your cat chase a ball in your living room."

LAW teachers, Mrs. Stephanie Hemenway, Grade 4, and Ms. Courtney Powell, Grade 1, attended the meeting to support their students, Thank you!

Picture of the Week

Had the pleasure of visiting Ayer Shirley Regional High School today. During lunch I happened to catch these two fine, young men deep in discussion on international politics. China, Iran, Hong Kong, economics, trade... Very impressive discussion!

Picture of the Week

Our fabulous high school teachers actively engaged in stations during their faculty meeting on Thursday, January 9, 2020. #collaboration #weareateam

Congratulations Cole!

Cole is a Grade 5 student at Page Hilltop, and he entered the attached essay in Scholastic's Kid's Flaunt Contest. Students were asked to write a three paragraph essay about what makes them different and how they flaunt it. Cole won 1st place!   Cole was joined by his family at the School Committee meeting last night and read his essay. Congratulations, Cole! You can read his amazing essay here.

Two Important Items

1. I recently became aware of an opinion from the Labor Department that states IEP meetings qualify for Family and Medical Leave (FMLA). Please see the full article below.

'https://parents-together.org/labor-dept-says-iep-meetings-qualify-for-family-and-medical-leave/

2. It is important we take care of our mental and physical health. This article, "Five ways to improve your mental health in 2020", is a must read. The article provides successful, scientifically proven strategies that when practiced will keep you in good health.

Welcome to 2020

Welcome to 2020! We wish our families and friends all the best. May your hopes and dreams ring true!

Please see a very special donation made by a Grade 3 student at PH! On December 30, Alex Powell shaved his head and donated his hair to Children with Hair Loss. He also raised $300 for One Mission, which is a pediatric cancer charity that does whatever it takes to get kids through cancer.

A selfless act from an amazing Grade 3 Page Hilltop student. We are all very proud of him.

Please check out the ASRSD Robotics Newsletter.

Sending all of our families warm wishes for a wonderful holiday. May 2020 be your year!

Picture of the Week

Page Hilltop 4th and 5th Grade Chorus, and Ukulele Club rocking it out at the Page Hilltop winter concert.

What a testament to Mr. Tulli High School Teacher

What a wonderful recognition of high school teacher, Mr. Steve Tulli.  This is also a testament to the lasting impact educators have on their students.  Congratulations, Mr. Tulli!  Well deserved.

Simon Stock is currently a Captain in the U.S. Army who has served four deployments (the second one to Afghanistan). This particular video was taken on November 11, 2019 in Kabul, Afghanistan as he was supporting the America's partner nations for Operations Freedom Sentinel and Resolute Support. The exact flag that is pictured in the frame was flown in honor of Captain Stock's high school teacher Mr. Steve Tulli who he had at, then, Ayer High School for technology/engineering, as well as an advisor to the Leadership Education Program established in fall 2004 in partnership with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. This past Veterans Day in 2019 marked the 21st annual program that Leadership Education students have participated in honoring and recognizing local veterans from Ayer and Shirley, as well as from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Tulli is in his 23rd year in Ayer (29th year overall in teaching).

Captain Stock was a junior in high school when the Leadership Education Program when Mr. Tulli and Staff Sergeant Matthew Meadows first introduced the program at Ayer High School. He was one of the program's first student squad leaders, and was an active participant in many of their activities. Upon graduating from Ayer High School in 2006, Captain Stock enrolled in the ROTC Program at Norwich Academy, and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The flag sent to Mr. Tulli from Captain Stock was sent from the 6th Battalion Special Forces on November 13th, shortly after it was packaged from being flown along with flags of other NATO countries on November 11th. It is signed by Command Sergeant Major Maurice Jackson (Senior Enlisted Leader) and Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army James E. Rainey (Senior Commanding Officer).

Pictures of the Week

Look at these engaged high school students in their Dollars and Sense class taught by Mrs. Dautel. Olivia Oestreicher was making a presentation to the class on an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Future stockbrokers?

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all ASRSD families a wonderful Thanksgiving. May you enjoy a nice meal in the comfort of family and friends during this special holiday.