Volunteers build dugouts at Three Rivers

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:46:00 GMT

BY TAMMY BOUCHER

The newly constructed Three Rivers School softball team dugouts are a hit – and it was a real team effort to bring these much-needed structures to reality.

When the Pembroke School Board earlier this year reached out to the Pembroke Action League for Schools (PALS) to see if the organization could be of assistance with the project, the answer came back immediately – yes.

The weather to undertake the project was not as responsive, however, and Saturday, April 19, was the first good weather day to begin construction.

Volunteers from PALS, Jeff Dumont Builders, the Three Rivers School Softball Team, the School Board and Pembroke School District Grounds and Maintenance all played a role in making it happen.

“It’s all about showing a little hometown spirit. Nothing is more satisfying than helping the Pembroke community,” said Jeff Dumont of Jeff Dumont Builders. Dumont’s company donated materials and labor for the project.

Donations were also received from Lowe’s, Home Depot and Big Jim’s. Many people assisted with the effort by donating food, transportation or equipment. PALS will pay for any costs associated with the project that are not covered by donations.

To help raise funds to cover the costs, the organization will host a PALS Night at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats game on June 27. For more information, contact Tina Newberry at 661-2041 or tina@tinanewberry.com.

“The community really came together to support us in this effort,” said Tina Newberry of PALS. “It is truly amazing what a community can accomplish by working together to impact our children’s educational experience.”

PALS, a group of parents, teachers and interested community members, works to enrich education in Pembroke by assisting with activities within the schools, providing cultural events such as musical, theatrical and literacy programs and helping fund purchases for the schools that are “not within the budget.” The dugout was one such project.

Principal is taped to wall for laughs and money

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:00:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

Students at Three Rivers School in Pembroke had their revenge on Principal Deb Bulkley when they taped her to the wall and left her there for more than an hour.

The “prank,” which Bulkley agreed to, was part of a Hugs Across America community service project.

By the time all of the students in the school had taken their lunches on Friday, Nov. 30, Bulkley was completely suspended from the wall with hundreds of pieces of duct tape.

It’s a good thing she wore long sleeves, she said, so the tape wouldn’t hurt coming off.

The taping was an effort to raise money for a few boxes of bears from Hugs Across America, which sends teddy bears to children in hospitals across the country.

The stunt was the result of a student council vote. Pembroke Hill School did the same thing last year and decided to help out Three Rivers by donating the remainder of the money they made toward the teddy bears.

Students paid a dollar for a yard of tape or $2 for 3 yards. Since the sixth grade raised the most food for the school’s Thanksgiving food drive, each of them got a free piece of tape with which to bind Bulkley.

During the taping, it was unclear whether the amount of tape applied would suspend Bulkley. “I used to be a science teacher and I’m interested to see if this will hold me here,” she said.

As the seventh-graders applied their tape during the last lunch of the day, Bulkley said she felt pretty secure and was confident that the tape would hold her.

She was right.

A round of applause and cheers from seventh-graders erupted in the Three Rivers’ cafetorium as Bulkley hung from the wall, laughing and getting a little red in the face.

She had been standing on a chair with her back to the wall for more than an hour through every single lunch.

The kids were excited to see their principal detained.

“I’ve been waiting the entire year for an opportunity like this,” said seventh-grader Thomas Dodd, 12, as he securely applied his yard across Bulkley’s midsection.

The fundraiser made about $200, said organizer and Three Rivers teacher Deirdre Martin, enough for one box of teddy bears. The bears will go to the pediatrics ward at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua.

Pembroke News : Three Rivers School

Volunteers build dugouts at Three Rivers

Principal is taped to wall for laughs and money