Pelham News : graduation

147 graduate from Pelham High School

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:29:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Despite the weather forecast, members of the Class of 2009 had a warm send-off on Friday, June 19, as parents, relatives, friends and teachers looked on under clear skies.

The 147 graduating seniors received their diplomas on the sun-soaked Pelham High School athletic fields amid calls to both embrace the future and hold on to the past. Salutatorian Gina Guimond called on her classmates to remember those who had helped them pass through the obstacles and overcome the challenges on the path to graduation.

“Not all of our successes have come easy. We all owe many things to those individuals who guided us along the way,” said Guimond. “Four years ago, we walked into high school as scared little freshmen. Now we’re leaving as adults ... Our journey together is just ending, but a new one is beginning.”

Valedictorian Cassandra Costello echoed Guimond’s sentiments, urging her classmates to remember all the individuals who offered help and wisdom during the trials and tribulations of the years leading up to their graduation.

“Look at these people who have helped make all of this possible. Think of all the times they were there pushing us.” she said. “These people have taught us a lot. Be that motivational voice in somebody else’s life.”

Costello also called on her classmates to follow their dreams.

“Don’t ever forget your dreams. Figure out your passions,” Costello said. “Here’s to hoping none of us fail.”

Class President Christine Downs urged her fellow graduates to seize the day, for every day of their lives from high school on forward. Though they have spent much time looking to the future, Costello told her classmates to change their focus to the present and put worries about tomorrow and regrets from yesterday aside.

According to Principal Dorothy Mohr, the members of the Class of 2009 set a school record for the highest number of students to take advanced placement classes during their high school career. As a whole, the group earned 906 college credits before graduation, she said. Mohr also recognized Nathaniel Libby, Ryan Daigle and Joseph Doyon for entering the armed forces upon their graduation.

“You have learned to accept responsibilities for your actions,” Mohr told the graduating class of seniors. “Now put action and motion into your dreams.”

Pelham’s top 3 ready for next step

Salem Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:34:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Four years ago, Cassandra Costello graduated first in her class at Pelham Memorial School. Now, she’s the top student again. Costello is the valedictorian of Pelham High School’s Class of 2009.

“I’m excited about graduating, but I love Pelham High School at the same time,” said Costello, 18, who will address her class as valedictorian at the school’s Friday, June 19, graduation ceremony. “I’m going to miss a lot of my teachers and friends, so there’s kind of mixed feelings.”

This fall, Costello will begin her study of modern languages at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. She wants to be a high school Spanish teacher.

“She has a great command of the language,” said Spanish teacher Allison Walker, who’s been a mentor to Costello. “She’s very energetic; she has a passion for it. I feel she’s going to be very good.”

Spanish has been an important part of Costello’s academic life. She’s president of the Spanish Honor Society, took all the Spanish courses the school offers, and studied Spanish literature at the advanced placement level as an independent study.

She also learned how a teacher does her work. While taking a Teaching in the 21st Century course as part of the Future Educators Academy, Costello helped develop a project assignment with Walker for her Spanish III students, presented it to the students, helped answer questions, and observed the students as they presented their work. Costello has also helped Walker tutor students.

“(Teaching) is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

In addition to her class work, Costello competed in lacrosse and field hockey, and participated in National Honor Society, Peer Outreach, and served as a student ambassador.

The No. 2 senior, the salutatorian, is Gina Guimond, 17, who will attend Northeastern University in Boston and is interested in health science. She’s been active in student government, NHS, Peer Outreach, lacrosse, field hockey and the school’s dance team.

“I can’t believe (graduation) is coming,” said Guimond. “I’m ready to move on. I’m so excited about college, but again I’m going to miss (Pelham High). I’ve put so much time and effort into this school.”

Dawn Ely, 18, who is the class essayist, the No. 3 senior, will attend Ithaca College in New York, where she will major in writing. She’s interested in editorial work or communications.

“I had a lot of really inspirational writing teachers here at Pelham (High),” said Ely. “I’ve taken essay writing, college writing, creative writing and they’ve all helped me really develop myself as a writer.”

She’s competed in tennis, and has been active in the drama club, prom committee, and in the French and National honor societies.

Guimond and Ely will also address their class at graduation.

There are 145 seniors.

All three students took honors and AP classes, and will receive scholarship money at the colleges they’re attending. They credit the support of others, including parents, friends and teachers, along with selfmotivation, for their success.

“There are so many teachers here who absolutely love what they do in every subject,” said Guimond, who credits teacher Lauren Streifer for turning her on to biology. “Every one just loves the subject areas they teach and it helps the kids.”

At times, the students found themselves doing school work at unusual times to get their work done. Costello has worked through lunch. Guimond has hurried to the library between classes to finish papers. Ely would do homework and read during drama club rehearsals when

not on stage.

And there were times when they didn’t always get enough sleep.

“Juggling school work, friends, sports, outside life, and all the clubs – it was hard,” said Guimond. “Time management was something that we learned.”

“Kind of,” said Costello, with a laugh.

“I’d say juggling all that was a challenge in itself but now looking back on it I’m happy I did it,” added Guimond. “Because now I know what to do … at college, where we’re going to have a lot harder homework, a lot more things to do.”

D grade back at Pelham High School

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:34:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Pelham High School freshman Stephanie Picanso failed her Algebra I class this year.

Had there been a D grade in the school district’s grading system this year, her 68 average would have been a D instead, and she might not have to take the class over again in her sophomore year.

Her mother, Christine Bobola, explained she enrolled Picanso, 15, in public school for the first time this year after putting her through Catholic school for her early school career.

Picanso had a lot to get used to, just getting into high school and transitioning from a private school format as well, Bobola said.

She thought a level one Algebra I class would have been right for Picanso, who had been in level one classes prior to entering Pelham Elementary.

“We had to learn the hard way, but an F is a really hard way to learn that she should have been in a level two,” Bobola said, adding Picanso worked hard to keep up with the level one standards for the class. “It wasn’t like she got a lazy man’s F,” Bobola said.

After testing out a grading system that eliminated the D grade, the Pelham School Board recently decided to bring back it back.

Superintendent Frank Bass said the School Board wanted to reinstate the D as a way for parents and teachers to be more aware, when progress reports come out, of a student’s standing in their classes.

“We look at the D as a warning signal, as a yellow light, if you will,” Bass said. “The board wanted to take it a step further and say we’d still like to create this safe harbor for those students who, despite the best efforts of the school and parents, reside in the D range.”

Without the grade, students who got a 69 average or below in a class failed.

With the grade added back into the grading system, students could pass with a 65 average. Anything 70 or above would be a C, said Bass.

The real test, Bass said, will be after the first progress reports come out in the 2008-09 school year. Bass said he wants to take stock of how many students are in the D range on their progress reports, and out of those how many students get their averages up into at least the C range.

If parents and school administrators see a D and treat it as a warning, they may be able to coax the student into getting their average up in the class, said Bass.

“We want the parent to know, we want the kid to know and, of course, we want to know,” said Bass. “I think it will be interesting from my own perspective to see where kids end up after the first semester.”

Bobola said adding the D back into the grading system is the right thing to do, but wishes that letter had been around when her daughter entered a public high school for the first time, an adjustment for the freshman on several levels.

“I mean, obviously she didn’t get a good grasp of the knowledge, but I’m not sure as far as her having to repeat it, how that has damaged her for the rest of her high school years,” Bobola said.

Pelham seniors celebrate, remember friend

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:04:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

When Pelham High School’s Class of 2008 donned their caps and gowns and received their diplomas, they honored the memory of a student who should have been with them – Michelle Lemieux.

Fifteen months after Lemieux died as the result of a car accident, she was fondly remembered at the school’s Friday, June 13, graduation ceremony.

Flowers sat on an empty chair in the front row. Green tassels and ribbons were worn in her memory. Lemieux was born on St. Patrick’s Day and green was her favorite color.

“In her life, Michelle taught us to laugh and to smile often,” Dorothy Mohr, the school’s principal, told the audience. “In her death, she taught us to watch out for each other, to cherish the comfort of friends, and to value the ability to reach out to others.”

Throughout the evening, Mohr and other speakers offered words of encouragement and praise to the 155 graduates.

They were recognized for donating 15,035 hours of community service. Some graduates each donated more than 250 hours – far greater than the 40 hours each student was required to perform in order to graduate.

Class essayist David Pereira, the third-highest-ranking student, told his fellow graduates that “the tassel was worth the hassle.”

“Each one of us has put the time and effort to make it here tonight,” said Pereira. “Our determination and willpower has been present in each of our experiences here. It’s what links us as a class.”

Jennifer Gray, the valedictorian, told her classmates that they shouldn’t be afraid to fail. Failures will bring you closer to success, she said.

“Learn from those failures and push forward,” Gray urged. “Leave the faint of heart behind and take those leaps of faith into the unknown, for the reward may be larger than the risk.”

William Semrau, a retired U.S. Coast Guard captain, came to the ceremony to officially present Daniel Trainor with an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Superintendent Frank Bass recognized graduates who plan to serve in public service, health careers and in the military.

Bass told the graduates that they should never let anyone discourage them from achieving their dreams.

“I ask that you shoot for the stars, and don’t be surprised if you make it,” he said. “There are no boundaries, no limitations that you can’t overcome.”

Crossing the finish line – Pelham’s 152 seniors move on

Salem Editor — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:27:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Pelham High School’s class of 2007 is an incredible group of people, Tim Mallard told his fellow graduating seniors.

“As we have run in this race we call high school, we have stuck together and formed an alliance,” Mallard, the class president, said during the Friday, June 15, graduation ceremony. “We committed to each other and focused on crossing the finish line as a team.”

Throughout the evening, the 152 graduating seniors were reminded of the qualities that make them special and their accomplishments – including devoting 10,139 hours to community service – during the past four years.

“I don’t know what it is about our class, but we just have amazing unity and camaraderie,” said Mallard, who occasionally donned glasses in the shape of 2007 during the ceremony. “There are no social cliques with our seniors, only cool people. For whatever reason it is, we just go together like, well, peas and carrots.”

The class of 2007, said Principal Dorothy Mohr, was lively and amusing. They knew how to have fun, respect others and accept responsibility, she said.

Mohr cited their numerous athletic, extracurricular and academic accomplishments, which she said provided solid foundations for the students’ aspirations.

“We have accomplished so much as a class in these last four years of high school, ending tonight,” class essayist Bethany Murphy said. “And beginning tonight, we embark on new journeys to make new goals and achieve new heights in our futures.”

Those futures are made up of diverse paths. Plans include military service, college, beauty school, apprenticeship programs, art school and work.

“I want to be a nurse eventually,” said Sarah Perez, who is working as a caregiver, as she was putting her cap on before the ceremony began. “I like taking care of the elderly a lot.”

Joe DeVita, who will study culinary arts at Southern New Hampshire University, wants to be a chef.

Bobby Trudel, who has joined the Air Force, plans to be a military police officer.

Tom Snelders is headed to Miami International University of Art and Design. He wants to design visual effects for movies and commercials, and may someday work in Hollywood.

“That’d be fun,” he said. “That’s on the list of things to do.”

Shannon Reis will study hospitality management at Middlesex Community College in Lowell. She hopes to be a party planner in Boston or Disney World.

Her friend, Galyn Helliwell, starts classes at Continental Academy of Hair Design next month.

“I’m going to try to open my own salon,” she said.

Angela Ziogas, meanwhile, will study human services at Endicott College. She wants to get a master’s degree in social work and work as a counselor with at-risk high school students.

“I like helping people, and I don’t like working in an office,” she said.

The ceremony was filled with cheers and applause, and spiced with humor, balloons, beach balls tossed in the air, and decorated graduation caps. It was a happy day for parents, too.

“It’s wonderful,” said Susan Kerr, whose daughter, Kelsey, was among the graduates. “I’m so proud.”

There was also a bit of solemnity. The graduates wore ribbons and carried flowers in memory of three classmates – Stephanie Chakar, Kyle Campbell and Christopher Edwards – who have passed away.

Mohr said the memories of their smiles, laughter and inspirations will live on.

“I think this class is awesome,” said science teacher Scott Hazen, who hugged several graduates after the ceremony. “It’s a class I’ll remember in all my years teaching. There was a personality to them.”
At times, they could be frustrating. Sometimes, they would make him laugh.

“Seeing them grow up and mature was the best part,” he said. “With every kid, I think I made a connection.”