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Drug deal on Hooksett school bus handled swiftly

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:36:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

Hooksett police responded to an alleged drug deal between students on a Hooksett school bus on Monday, March 16.

Police were advised of the incident by a parent whose child had sent a text message relating an exchange of pills between two students on the bus. The police pulled the bus to the side on Merrimack Street and questioned the involved students, who revealed the pills that had changed hands were a bag of glucose tablets, used to treat hypoglycemia for diabetics.

According to the report, the student who had accepted the bag of pills told police he thought it was candy.

After students were evacuated from the bus, a K-9 drug dog did an extensive search of the vehicle. No other substances were uncovered.

The Hooksett School Board praised Cawley Middle School administrators for quickly and appropriately responding to the alleged drug deal.

At a School Board meeting later that week, Cawley Middle School Principal Steve Harrises said the school system took swift action by immediately notifying parents of other students who were on the school bus as well as sending out a school-wide letter for all students to deliver to their guardians on Tuesday, March 17.

Press release on police, School Board dispute doesn’t satisfy public

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:18:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

A press release that was prepared weeks ago by members of the Hooksett School Board and Police Department was intended to end an ongoing debate about the existence of safety threats at Cawley Middle School.

But much to the chagrin of the involved parties, the argument is still being discussed.

Members of the community and School Board continue to voice their beliefs that the Police Department intentionally tried to cover up dozens of safe school reports filed during the past two school years at Cawley Middle School.

“Those reports did, in fact, exist,” said resident Marc Miville at a Police Commission meeting on March 17. “It seems to be somewhat sugarcoated. There needs to be another report that clarifies these (safety) reports did exist and that the Police Department didn’t admit it.”

School Board member James Sullivan said at a board meeting March 17 that the press release, prepared after representatives from the School Board and Police Commission met in a closed-door session, was ineffectual and addressed nothing about the serious concerns that have arisen about safety threats at the middle school.

“In my opinion, the press release ... was the epitome of political correctness,” Sullivan said. “It does not address the real reasons behind the meeting.”

Hooksett Police Chief Steve Agrafiotis said his department has nothing to hide.

“We don’t believe we’ve covered anything up. (Police Capt. Paul Cecelio) reported in December what the reports were and that’s the information we have. We gain nothing by hiding anything,” Agrafiotis said.

The disagreement between the School Board and the Police Commission arose several months ago when former School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette publicly addressed her concerns about safety issues in the school.

Agrafiotis, who had sanctioned a schedule change for the school resource officer to accommodate shortages within the department’s patrol unit, responded by saying Ouellette’s claims were exaggerated.

“Nobody is saying that there haven’t been problems but the problems, as reported to us, were not as extensive as people were led to believe,” Agrafiotis said.

“My staff met with the three principals and the three principals did not agree with the tone of Maura’s (statements). We talked to the superintendent. The superintendent did not agree.”

Earlier this month, the school district paid the Police Department more than $900 to comply with a Right-to-Know request to gain access to more than 50 safe school reports to back up Ouellette’s claims.

Ouellette, whose three-year term on the School Board just expired, did not seek re-election to the office. She said the debate over whether or not the safety issues occurred at the middle school has been waged too long.

“I find it absolutely ridiculous that we are still debating this issue. This is an assault on my credibility as well as the credibility of the school district and it will not be tolerated any longer,” she said. “The police reports substantiate the claims. This really has become an issue of public trust. Chief Agrafiotis needs to not only be held accountable for his statements, he needs to apologize and move on.”

The school resource officer has since been reinstated to his full-time hours at the schools, but Agrafiotis said next year’s budget may require future adjustments to current program.

“I don’t know that the budget outcome is going to be. It also depends on staffing issues, which we can’t see the in future. It also depends on how the economy goes,” he said.

Hooksett Police, school officials will finally meet

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:35:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

Hooksett school district and Police Department officials will meet in a closed-door session on Friday, Feb. 20, to air out any disagreements about alleged weapons and drug issues at Cawley Middle School. The meeting, originally scheduled for Feb. 4, has been delayed a couple of times.

School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette said after the Hooksett School District deliberative session that she had requested 51 safe school reports that were filed by the school resource officer during the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 school years in advance of the Feb. 4 meeting.

Ouellette submitted an official Right-to-Know request to obtain the files. Hooksett Police Chief Steve Agrafiotis said the reports could not be gathered in time for the scheduled meeting Feb. 4.

“She made a Right to Know request and we’re working on filling that for her,” Agrafiotis said.

Under state law, school resource officers are required to file safe school reports anytime they officially respond to safety issues on school grounds. Those incidents include weapons, drugs or alcohol possession, homicide, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, theft, arson, criminal mischief, vandalism, physical assault and threatening.

The 51 reports that Ouellette requested include every report filed at the Hooksett schools in the past two school years.

Last year, Ouellette cited incidents of drugs and weapons on campus in her argument for retaining a full-time school resource officer at Cawley Middle School. The Police Department has repeatedly countered her statements, saying her allegations must have stemmed from an unknown source of misinformation and that the specific incidents that Ouellette publicly referred to were either were exaggerated or incorrect.

The individual parties, which will include Ouellette, Agrafiotis, school Superintendent Charles “Phil” Littlefield and Police Commission Chairman David Gagnon, set the date at a Police Commission meeting on Feb. 17.

Ouellette said she hopes the meeting will help.

“I hope it will finally resolve these issues,” she said.

Hooksett Police chief, school officials to iron out disagreement on weapons in schools

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:20:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

Representatives from the Hooksett School Board and Police Commission decided meeting behind closed doors will be more efficient as they seek to air out any misunderstandings about safety issues present at Cawley Middle School. Both groups announced they will meet in a closed door session on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to address allegations that School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette made about the confiscation of drugs and weapons at the school last year.

The Police Department has denied the claims, insisting there are no records of the incidents.

Ouellette has defended her original statements, which were intended to publicly argue the necessity of a full-time school resource officer in the public schools to prevent any similar cases from happening again.

“I think we have a sense we don’t want this to go on and on and on,” said Superintendent Charles “Phil” Littlefield, who will be present at the meeting. “Certainly one would hope that if we have an intermediary meeting and we’re able to address and solve all issues, I can assure you the public will be very much aware of how we come to a resolution.”

At the time the claims were made, school resource officer Jason Defina’s full-time hours spent at Hooksett’s three public schools had been cut from 40 hours to less than eight hours per week. Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis said he ordered the schedule change because of staffing shortages. Defina’s fulltime hours at the school have since resumed.

Police Commission Chairman David Gagnon said the intent of the meeting is to clear any misunderstandings.

“There are two different versions right now,” Gagnon said. “We need to come to some conclusion about what’s going on. It’s all about what’s best for the students. We need to figure out what’s going on.”

Agrafiotis and Littlefield decided to meet in a nonpublic setting to encourage open, honest dialogue between all parties. “I hope to resolve the issue and move forward,” Agrafiotis said.

Community service a focus at Cawley

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:11:00 GMT

Editor’s note: This piece was submitted by the Hooksett Cawley School Builder’s Club members.

When some think about community service, an image of an adult usually comes to mind. Many believe that today’s children are focused more on sports, video games, hanging out at the mall and similar activities. A growing segment of Hooksett’s children, however, are focused on performing community service in school and community. A shining example of this is the Kiwanis Builders Club at Cawley Middle School.

When a few members of Kiwanis approached former Principal Ron Pedro a few years ago at Hooksett Memorial School, he had his reservations about forming such an organization. After moving to the new Cawley Middle School, however, he agreed to give it a try.

Organized just three years ago, the Builders Club has grown from fewer than 50 members to 129 this year. It is now the largest Builders Club in New England. Pedro, who is now the principal at Auburn Village School, said the Builders Club had become the most active club at Cawley. Principal Stephen Harrises and Assistant Principal Matthew Benson echoed Pedro’s excitement about the club.

The organization even has its own Web site: http://carla gallivan.googlepages.com/buildersclub0809.

One of the Builder’s Club’s largest annual fundraisers is making pizzas from scratch and selling these to Hooksett families. This year, the club made and sold 176 pizzas.

Over the past three years, the club has performed a large number of community service projects, representing hundreds of hours of service. Some recent ones include:
• Caroling and hosting bingos for seniors.
• Recycling at Cawley Middle School.
• Raising over $1,000 every year for the Hooksett Emergency Relief Committee (HERC).
• Collecting money for UNICEF.
• Hosting “Hoops and Jumps for Heart,” a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.
• Producing a video to bring attention to genocide in Darfur.
• Hosting a welcoming dance and sports event for incoming sixth-graders.
• Assisting Kiwanis, the PTA, Salvation Army and the Hooksett Garden Club with their projects. The Builders Club is a student- run organization, somewhat modeled after Kiwanis, the parent organization. Hooksett Kiwanis provides both financial and human resources to support the club.

The main objective is for Builders Club members to learn leadership skills while performing community service. The club has a board of directors consisting of club officers and class directors.

Brenda Basinow serves as president, Meaghan McGilvray vice president, Delaney Roche treasurer, Jessica Wight secretary and Lauren Nickerson webmaster.

Class directors are Maggie McGovern (eighth grade) and Emily Duchesne (seventh grade). All officers and directors are elected by their fellow members. After each candidate gives a nominating speech, the members vote by secret ballot. Teachers Carla Gallivan and Kellie Martino are advisers, coaching and guiding the organization.

Gallivan and Martino said, “It has been impressive to watch the students grow from timid sixth-graders willing to help, into self-directed leaders by the time they leave eighth grade. The club has given the students the opportunity to discover that community service is and can be a rewarding part of their life.”

Police chief asks for details on school trouble

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:27:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

When Hooksett School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette reported serious incidents of weapons and drug possession by students at Cawley Middle School in an editorial letter to The Hooksett Banner in November, officials at the Police Department were scratching their heads over where her reports had originated.

More than a month later, Hooksett Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis still isn’t sure where the serious allegations came from and SAU15 Superintendent Charles “Phil” Littlefield is ready to move past the debate.

“She might have been exaggerating. I don’t know. Maybe she misunderstood what happened,” Agrafiotis said. “If she has information that we don’t have, give it to us or go back and clarify that her information is incorrect.”

Ouellette’s letter was published in response to the drastic cutback in hours spent by the school resource officer in Hooksett’s three public schools.

Officer Jason Defina, a member of the Hooksett Police Department, had been working full time in the schools to address immediate safety issues and to act as a liaison between the department and the educational community. When his hours were cut from eight hours per day spent in the schools to only two hours per day, Ouellette and other school officials considered it a step in the wrong direction.

Agrafiotis said he had to order the cuts because of personnel shortages. His full time hours at the schools were reinstated in early November.

Now, in an attempt to clear any misunderstanding, Agrafiotis has requested a meeting with Littlefield and the police commission.

“School Board Chair Maura Ouellette made a statement to the effect that the command staff was not being truthful (about the alleged incidents),” Agrafiotis wrote in a recent letter to the Littlefield.

“The commission is concerned because it calls into questions the integrity of the staff members,” he said.

Littlefield, who said he received the letter one day before school vacation, said he has not decided how to proceed.

“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” Littlefield said. “The fundamental question I need to answer is – however we proceed – is it in the best interest of the kids and the taxpayers? I think there have been some misunderstandings up until now. Everybody is going to have to put those misunderstandings aside because it’s not in the best interest of the kids or the taxpayers.”

He added that although there may be some disagreement over past incidents that may or may not have occurred, the school resource officer program is vital to the everyday workings of the schools.

Several members of the Hooksett Police Department attended the Jan. 6 meeting of the School Board, but did not speak.

The board has scheduled a meeting with the Police Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at Cawley Middle School, to hash out everyone’s concerns.

“We certainly need to get this cleared up,” said School Board member Jim Sullivan, adding that the dispute is serving as poor public relations. “We need to get answers to some questions.

PCs are cheaper but schools buy Apples

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:02:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

Popular ad campaigns aside, if 13-year-old Aidan White had his pick, he said he would choose a Mac.

“I think it’s a little bit easier and quicker,” Aidan said, discussing the pros and cons of PCs and Macintosh computers as his seventh-grade French class at Cawley Middle School worked on multimedia presentations. “I actually like Macs because there are more programs on them. There are some pretty cool things.”

But for David Pearl, a member of the Hooksett Budget Committee and a technology volunteer at Underhill Elementary School, it comes down to dollars and cents.

That’s why Pearl has a hard time justifying a $10,000 price tag for 10 new MacBook laptops when PC laptops are currently on the market for about $400 each.

The school district purchase is particularly concerning, he said as he recently addressed the Hooksett School Board, considering the new MacBooks are being used solely by 6- and 7-year-olds at Underhill Elementary School.

“The issue that I have right now is they purchased 10 MacBooks to be used by first- and second-graders,” Pearl said. “I feel like (the computers) are being bought without any plan. I would feel more comfortable spending the money if there was some sort of plan.”

But Bailey Rigg, the technology director for the school district, insists there is a plan in place and the purchase of the 10 laptops in August for Underhill Elementary School is just a small part of the grand scheme.

The 10 MacBooks for Underhill were included in a $60,000- dollar Macintosh order that included 40 iMacs, the desktop equivalent of the MacBook, and 20 additional laptops spread throughout Hooksett’s two other schools. The recent purchase brings the district’s computer count up to about 500 computers or one computer for every five students. Rigg said 95 percent of those computers run on the Macintosh platform.

“Those 10 MacBooks that we put in Underhill this year are the best machines they have in that school,” Rigg said. “The kids are getting a wonderful amount of technology.”

The brand new computers were paid for using money from a leftover fund balance at the end of the 2007-08 school year. Hooksett voters approved the purchase through a warrant article last spring.

Pearl said he has no qualm with administrators integrating technology into the elementary school curriculum or spending money on new computers. In fact, he was part of a team that spearheaded a fundraising campaign to donate 30 PCs with new flat screen monitors to the school free of charge. Every Friday, he teaches students a keyboarding class at Underhill using the donated computers.

“There were some kids who were very computer literate and we realized there were some kids were getting absolutely nothing as far as instruction,” Pearl said. “We wanted to level the playing field.”

But, he said, there is no good reason the district needs to purchase such sophisticated Macintosh hardware when students at these very young ages are only just being exposed to computers and a PC laptop equivalent is available for less than half the amount spent on MacBooks.

Hooksett Superintendent Charles “Phil” Littlefield said there’s no argument PCs are less expensive that Macintosh computers.

But, he said, the School Board made a decision in 2001 that the district would adopt a predominantly Macintosh platform and, to that end, the administrators are sticking to the decision with the recent computer purchases.

“It’s not about the piece of hardware, it is about the extent we can enhance teaching and learning in the classroom with the technology,” Littlefield said. “My position on this is that it was a decision that was made long before I came on board. We’re going to make purchases that are consistent with that decision. We’re done fairly well striking deals with Apple to get favorable prices on hardware that supports and runs the software that our kids are using. That, to me, is cut and dry.”

Along with the Hooksett School District, Littlefield also oversees the Candia and Auburn school districts, both of which use Microsoft operating systems. He said it is useless to debate the pros and cons of Macintosh versus Microsoft but added that although the Apple platform is more expensive, it is generally considered more user-friendly.

“I’m not going to get into the debate over which is better,” he said. “Myself, I’m a PC person. When I came here, I didn’t really know the state of New Hampshire was so Apple-oriented. I grabbed an Apple, put it here in my office and tried to see what people were so impressed with. The next morning, I went to the store and bought one for myself.”

The software that comes pre-installed on the computers is another reason Amy Gillam, the integration technology specialist at Cawley Middle School, says the Macintosh platform is preferred in an educational environment, even for students in the first and second grades.

“When the students are doing a multimedia piece, all the applications on the Macs really speak to each other,” Gillam said. “We’re not teaching operating systems, we’re teaching the software applications.”

Danette Noboa, a second-grade teacher at Underhill Elementary, used the 10 new Mac- Books computers to help her students research information about children’s book author Tomie DePaola.

“They love using these computers,” Noboa said. “Technology is their life. For them to succeed, they have to learn how to use this technology and how to gather the information.”

Cawley clips South Meadow, collects crown

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Ken McKiernan’s old team had already done it. It was time for his new team to do the same. Four days after the Cawley Middle School team he coached in prior years won the Class M girls soccer championship, McKiernan led the boys to a 4-3 title-game win on Oct. 24.

Cawley’s victory over South Meadow capped an undefeated season for the Hawks, who went 11-0-1 on the year. The tie came against South Meadow and provided extra incentive heading into the finale.

“They had the same record as us, and we only faced them that one time during the year,” said McKiernan. “I think it was definitely good for the boys to play a team they hadn’t beaten. They had to play their best against that team, and they did.”

McKiernan said the strong, spirited play of his four captains – forward Austin Sprague, stopper Rick Prindiville, forward Tyler Gahara and goalie Chris Moquin – was the driving force behind the undefeated season.

Cawley played with intensity, something McKiernan said he needed to rein in at times. “The boys were excitable, and had a lot of energy,” he said. “Trying to keep them under control was one of the challenges at times.”

Also having an important role for Cawley during the season were Tyler Cornellier and Blake Cornellier, eighth-grade twin brothers.

Among the seventh-graders who contributed for the Hawks were Jake Parker, Matt Paradis and Austin Camberis.

With the big leads the team built throughout the season, McKiernan said he began preparations for next season by finding minutes for the talented, largely untested players as well.

“We’re looking promising for next year,” said McKiernan. “We tend to try and get as much experience for the younger players during the year. It really works out well. We had three or four seventh-graders who started, so they’re ready to go next year.”

Cawley girls dominate in all facets while prepping for next year

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:47:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Greg Shaw didn’t have to worry about ensuring all 26 players on his roster saw action on the field.

During an undefeated season and Class M girls soccer championship, his Cawley Middle School team cruised to victories and gave him the chance to secure playing time for the majority of his squad.

On Oct. 20, the team completed its 14-0-1 season with a victory against Hampstead in the title game, winning 4-0. That lopsided outcome followed another laugher for the Hawks – an 8-0 victory over Weare in the semifinal contest. The squad’s lone blemish was a tie with Class L Derry.

Shaw’s roster included 13 eighth-graders, and 11 started during the season. Yet the coach, with an eye on the future, wanted to ensure playing time for all his athletes, including eight seventh- graders and five sixth-graders.

“I purposely took that many (younger athletes) because graduating 13 players, I would only have a few returning players next year,” said Shaw. “When we got big leads I could get them experience and start looking toward next year.”

The sixth-graders, all of whom watched – and helped – their older teammates dismantle Class M foes, were Sara Bartczak, Madison Bennett, Emily Crocetti, Lauren Scarpetti and Sarah Thompson.

“Between sixth grade and eighth grade the pace of the game is a lot faster, and a lot more physical. I pulled up eight seventh-graders so they could get that experience for next year,” said Shaw. “They’ll be the core starters for next year’s team.”

That group includes Chelsea Desmarais, Emily Duchesne, Emily Gregoire, Amber Hochstetler, Ashley Lodge, Alexandra Nelson, Montana Roberts and Lauren Shaw.

The elder Shaw coached the boys last year, and he said there wasn’t simply one reason for the girls’ success in 2008.

“Defense was a key. We allowed very few goals throughout the year,” he said. “If you looked up through the middle of the field, there wasn’t one area that jumped out. We were very well balanced. There were no glaring weaknesses on our team.”

Forward Nicole Rust led the offense with 42 goals on the year. She teamed with Lindsey Read to fuel a formidable attack. Sarah Vaillancourt, Colbie Cookson, Sam Somers and Alexandra Pellerin anchored the defense. In net, goalie Alexis Lievens combined with her defense to hold opposing teams in check. Tri-captains Corrine Auger, Meghan Menard and Catherine Power joined with Margaret Mc- Govern to control midfield play. Classmates Taylor Barker and Bryanna Pearson were first off the bench and completed the eighth-grade contribution.

“The girls (graduating) are one of the most talented groups of players I’ve ever coached, so I expect a lot of them to play at the high school level and play well,” said Shaw. “Previously you’d get four or five players and work around them, but we had an entire team.”

Annual Firefighter’s Challenge brings out student competitiveness

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:25:00 GMT

BY LAUREN SAUSSER

Oct. 31 happened to be one of many Cawley Middle School eighth-graders’ favorite day of the year. But not because it was Halloween.

More than 200 students gathered on the soccer field, and all were dressed in a rainbow of colors – depending on their assigned homeroom classes. Each group was belting out an original chant at the top of their lungs, and it was all part of the annual Firefighters Challenge, which pits homeroom against homeroom in a series of competitions including a reallife simulation of a firefighter training course.

Chris Moquin, 13, was one of the students chosen by his peers to complete the drill. Prior to the whistle being blown, he expressed hesitation over the course.

“I’m excited. I’m a little nervous, too,” Chris said.

Chris and his competitors were challenged to complete a series of drills including raising a ladder, pounding a wooden block and hoisting weights. Tony Vazquez won the challenge for the boys. His brother Taylor won it two years ago. “(I) don’t think that they have ever had brothers both win it before,” said Tony’s mother, Barbara Vasquez.

Cawley Middle School Principal Steve Harrises said the date of the event is one the students mark on their calendars.

“They look forward to this the moment they get to Cawley as sixth-graders,” Harrises said. “It’s good community. I love the fact that it includes everyone. This is such a great day. It’s one of those traditions of Hooksett schools.”

The Firefighter Challenge capped the end of Red Ribbon Week in Hooksett schools, which teaches kids to promote positive messages like drug and fire prevention.

Eric Uitts, a Hooksett firefighter, helped coordinate the event, and he said his department has – since the program started 10 years ago – always enjoyed spending time with the middle school students.

“It’s a way for us to get in the schools and spread our fire prevention message,” Uitts said. “We all love it. It’s a good time, and the kids really get into it.”

Eighth-grader Marcus Bessette, 13, said it has been his favorite day of the school year. “I like how everyone is participating and cheering for the other teams,” Marcus said. “Everyone is acting like friends today.”

Cawley boys win title following extra effort

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:14:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Playing Hampstead in the Tri-County Class M title game, the Cawley Middle School boys were faced with a 4-4 tie following 70 minutes of regulation play, two 10-minute overtime periods and two five-minute sudden death overtimes.

But in the final seconds of the 100th minute, seventh-grader Tyler Gahara, who tallied all four of the Hawks’ previous goals, found a rebound at his feet and swiftly drove it into the back of the net.

“That was the most exciting soccer game I have ever been a part of,” said assistant coach John Lyscars. “It was a great battle of two evenly matched teams.”

Following the marathon affair, Cawley celebrated not only the Tri-County crown, but also retribution against the lone team to tarnish its otherwise flawless record.

The Hawks finished 14- 1, including the postseason, having lost at Hampstead, 2-1, earlier in the season before a 2-0 home shutout win later in the year.

Prior to the final matchup, the Hawks had allowed 10 goals all season.

“Everyone thought the championship game would be a defensive battle, and it was anything but,” said Cawley head coach Greg Shaw. “We really dominated all four overtime periods, and that had a lot to do with our conditioning in that we just had more stamina than they did.”

Hampstead went ahead first before the locals notched the next two goals to take the lead.

But the opposition showed equal fortitude, planting two more goals. The back-andforth battle continued as the teams reached the end of regulation.

And while Gahara accounted for all the scoring, Shaw said it was seventhgrade goaltender Chris Moquin who impressed late in regulation when he stopped three point-blank shots, which would have sent Cawley home as runner up.

Athletics director John Frazier said the title highlights the school’s attitude and standards.

“Our program values (athletic) development and sportsmanship,” he said. “As the development of (the student- athlete’s) abilities and winning a championship are the two main goals of our program, in addition to providing a healthy outlet for our players, it was just enormously successful.”

For Shaw, the championship is also an exclamation point on a plan come to fruition.

“Last year, we went to the semifinals and lost. This year was a more balanced team, and the key to this year’s success was that last year I took six sixth-graders and those six really became the core of this year’s team,” said the mentor of Gahara, Moquin, Austin Sprague, Rick Prindiville, Blake Cornelier and Tyler Cornelier.

But the leadership of Shaw’s eighth-graders was equally important to his team’s success.

Captains Andrew Kafegelis, Scott Bernard and Mark Lyscars steered the Hawks, while the solid play of James Smith, John Godbout and Trevor Reno kept the team on an even keel. Shaw pointed out Smith’s unexpected contribution to the championship run.

“He was in his first year playing, and having graduated four starting defenders last year, my greatest fear was obviously on defense,” he said.

“James was definitely my surprise player of the year.”

Other eighth-grade contributors were Tyler Legue, Ken Frasch and Chris Manning, while seventh-graders Brad Haskins, Sam Ward and Daniel Roberts were title winners in their first year on the team.

Shaw said he fielded a large roster – 21 players strong – to again afford young players invaluable experience, including sixth-graders Aidan White, Jacob Parker and Jenness Peterson.

He added he expects a similar result next year, perhaps even greater dominance.