Duxbury High School WEEKLY NEWS

Web site: HUwww.duxbury.k12.ma.usUH 130 Saint George Street, Duxbury, MA 02332 phone: 781.934.7650

MARK THESE DATES

October 25th

Fall Choral Concert 7:30 PAC

October 26th DHS Picture Retakes

October 27th,28th&29th

Fall Tournament Of Plays

October 29th Town Meeting

9:00 am PAC

October 24, 2011

Dear parent/guardian: We held our Homecoming Day events this past Friday and the Homecoming Court was presented during the football game in the evening. These students were selected by their peers and have my congratulations: Ninth Grade: Kaylee Jones and John Bartley Tenth Grade: Jillian Woodgate and Mike Ellis Eleventh Grade: Haley Murphy and Zach Lenhardt Twelfth Grade: Sophie Fitzpatrick, Sarah Jones, Deidre Murphy, Jack Guilfoile, Connor O’Keefe, Andrew Buron Homecoming Queen: Stephanie Fariello Homecoming King: P J Lanman Many thanks to the DHS PTO for helping with the Senior Breakfast and the Homecoming events. Also, thanks to the Student Council and Advisor Lew Alberti for putting together the Homecoming events that were enjoyed by all. Our fall athletic teams have been enjoying much success! Please see the Athletic site on the DHS website (www.duxbury.k12.ma.us -- select Duxbury High School and the Athletics tab) for specific information. The Music program will be hosting the fall Choral concert this Tuesday October 25 at 7:30pm in the PAC. The fall Band Festival will be held next Thursday, November 3 at 7:30pm in the PAC. Please consider attending these events in support of our very talented student musicians and singers. The DHS Fall Tournament of Plays will be held on October 27, 28, and 29, 2011 in the Good Knight Theater beginning at 7:30pm. Those in attendance will be treated to three class plays that are always entertaining to watch. I urge you all to attend on any of the show nights in support of our Drama Program. Picture retakes for DHS students are slated to occur this Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Students received their pictures last Thursday and will need to bring their original package to the auditorium during their respective lunch period. Those students who did not get their photo taken can pick up a form in the main office to bring with them. Update from the Duxbury School Building Committee Please participate in the decision on the proposed new school building: Town Meeting Vote: THIS Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 9:00am in the PAC. No absentee voting. Residents must be present to vote. A two-thirds majority is needed to approve Article 1: Construction Funding for the New Middle School and High School Childcare is available: Before and After Dark Community Education 781-934-7633 Duxbury Student Union 781-934-2290 (Halloween program) DHS Girls Volleyball Team, contact Barbara Vetsch, 781-934-5727 Town Election: Next Saturday, November 5, 2011 7:00am – 4:00pm. Absentee ballots are available now at Town Hall. Thank you and have a great week!! Andrew Stephens

The DEF Phone-a-thon is coming up in mid-November, and we're reaching out to you to help us get the word out at the high school about the event. Once again, we'll be asking students to help us out on the phones (with the chance to win an iPad and other incentives), as well as staff members. Could we talk at some point about getting sign-up sheets in the office, contact with NHS and generally promoting the event? Last year DEF raised $48,000 in the phone-a-thon; it has become DEF's primary fundraiser for the grants it awards back into the schools.

From the Guidance Office: AP Payment: Bills will be sent home to students who are enrolled in AP courses that will test at the end of this year. Payment is $87 and is due to the Guidance Office by November 4th. Please make checks payable to Duxbury High School. All students who are enrolled in an AP course are required to sit for the AP exam at the end of the course. Non-payment will result in the “AP” designation being removed from the student’s transcript. If you have questions, please see your Guidance Counselor. Seniors: If you are applying to college this year, you must submit the Transcript Request Form, at least three weeks prior to your first deadline. It is VERY important that you pay attention to this otherwise it may impact our ability to send your transcript packet on time to meet that deadline. Transcript Release Forms are available on the website as well as in the Guidance Office. You are also reminded that SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly from Collegeboard or ACT in order for your colleges to receive them. See your Guidance Counselor with any questions. Communication Reminder: If you need to reach a Guidance Counselor please send us an email, make an appointment, or call the office. Most days we are unable to accommodate walk-in appointments due to our extremely booked schedules this time of year. We ask that you give us 24 hours to respond to emails and voicemails. If it is an urgent situation, please state that to the person who answers the phone and we will work to address it. Do not use email for urgent situations. Repeated calls and voicemails are not necessary – we will return all emails and calls as soon as we possibly can. We thank you for your patience and understanding. Service Academy Night A congressional staff member will be on hand to discuss the federal academy appointment and nomination process. All interested students and parents in grades 9-12 are invited to attend on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers, MA starting at 6:30pm. For more information please contact Capt Ed Bryant, USCGR at 978-356-5453 or captecb29@aol.com Upcoming Events: Tuesday, November 8th at 7pm – MEFA College Financing Wednesday, November 16th at 7pm – Recruitment and Admissions SAT: November 5, 2011, December 3, 2011, January 28, 2012, March 10, 2012, May 5, 2012, June 2, 2012 (June not held at DHS) To register for a test date please go to www.collegeboard.com ACT: December 10, 2011, February 11, 2012, April 14, 2012, June 9, 2012 To register for a test date please go to www.act.org

Didn’t pick up your Duxbury School calendar at open house? Calendars are still for sale at Rock Paper Scissors and Expressions or print an order form at http://www.duxbury.k12.ma.us/domain/104. Buy your calendar set for $15 or get 2 sets for $25. They make the perfect gift for your new neighbors, grandparents and more.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR DUXBURY MUSIC PROMOTERS? The Duxbury Music Promoters is a parent and community-based organization whose mission is to encourage, promote, and support the music education of students in the Duxbury music system. Nearly 1,400 students participate in Duxbury's school music program from grades 5 through 12.Visit our website at: http://www.duxbury.k12.ma.us/domain/106 . The Duxbury Music Promoter website can be found on the Duxbury Public School website under Organizations. Click on the Membership link, print out your Membership Form and mail it to: P.O. Box 2477, Duxbury, MA 02331. Memberships received by Nov. 1 will be entered in a NOOK drawing. Interested in volunteering? Enter your name and interest on the Duxbury Music Promoter's website Volunteer page: HYPERLINK "http://www.duxbury.k12.ma.us/Page/2773"http://www.duxbury.k12.ma.us/Page/2773

HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL STUDENTS PERFORM on OCT. 25 AT 7:30 PM in the PAC On Tuesday October 25, the Duxbury High School Choral Ensembles will have their fall Choral Concert at 7:30 pm in the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. The Concert Choir program will feature For Good, with soloist Jacqui Nolan, Softly featuring soloist Rachel Jones and "Only Hope", from the movie " A Walk to Remember". The Chamber Singers, who will be performing at Carnegie Hall this coming spring, will be singing that includes "Salmo 150" by Ernani Aguiar, "Will You Teach Me" with oboe soloist Nora Seres, "In These Delightful Pleasant Groves" by Henry Purcell, Inscription of Hope by Z. Randall Stroope and the spiritual "Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho". The choirs will be accompanied by Mrs. Katrina Potts.

Come learn more about being an Exchange Student with AFS Intercultural Programs Information Night Tuesday, November 1st, at 7:00 pm at the Duxbury High School Library Bring your interest and questions about being an Exchange Student! Parents are welcome. Questions? See Mr. Massicotte

PTO News

Thank you to all those that made Homecoming such a memorable event for our students. Special thanks to Karen Falcone and Denise Woomer who turned the student lounge into a spectacular dining venue for the Senior breakfast. The decorations were fabulous! Thanks too to Kelly and Gia Inello, Laura Smith and Chris Coakley for their help in decorating the gym for the Pep Rally. And to Ann Connelly and Shari Shane who served much appreciated water and snacks to the over 300 students that attended the Homecoming dance.

If you haven’t joined the PTO or purchased your calendar, it’s not too late! Please visit the PTO “tab” on the DHS website to pay online or to download an application.

Coming this Wednesday, October 26th from 5:00pm – 6.30pm Model Club Inc., a top local agency, representing talent of all ages for the Boston and NY markets is hosting an open call at the DSU. If you have an interest for acting but not sure how to break into television and film, please attend this session. Bring three headshots (they do not need to be professional photos) for Model Club to keep. Free to DSU members, $15 for nonmembers. You will be required to fill out an application form, meet briefly with Model Club Talent Agent, Chelsea Gibson and attend a short question and answer session. Register by emailing admin@duxburystudentunion.com. Volunteer Opportunities. The annual Halloween Howl for Alden age students is Friday, October 28th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Participants enjoy Halloween games like EAT YOUR BRAINS OUT, Terri's tantalizing terrifying trunks, mummy wrap contests & Thriller, Monster Mash & Rocky Horror dance offs. If you want to volunteer, in costume and enjoy interacting with highly spirited children from 6.15pm – 8.30pm, email admin@duxburystudentunion.com or stop over after school. Special Town meeting is Saturday, October 29th and for kids that means Special Howl Meeting. Parents discuss new schools while kids have some LOL fun of their own. Halloween games, contests & prizes in typical wacky DSU spirit. If you are interested in volunteering and having a ton of fun doing it, sign up at admin@duxburystudentunion.com. The shift is 8.30am – 12.30pm.

NEWS FROM THE DUXBURY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

UPCOMING PUBLIC FORUM ON NEW SCHOOLS

The Duxbury School Building Committee is pleased to announce that Duxbury’s proposed co-located middle school and high school project was unanimously supported by the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts School Building Authority on September 28. The next step in proceeding with the project is to obtain local authorization from Duxbury voters for final design and construction funding. Members of the SBC and School Committee, along with Duxbury architect Dennis Daly of Mount Vernon Group, will hold a series of public presentations to update the community on the project. The public is encouraged to become informed about the project prior to the October 29 Special Town Meeting and November 5 Election. A Town Meeting article and a ballot question will request voter approval for construction funding.

• Saturday, October 29, 9am, Town Meeting at the PAC • Saturday, November 5, 7am-4pm, Town Election at DMS

A copy of Mount Vernon Group’s schematic design submission, renderings and floor plans are available for public review at the Duxbury Free Library and at the superintendent’s office. More information is available on the school website, www.duxbury.k12.ma.us.