Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 1

36 Tsienneto Road, Derry, NH 03038

(603) 437-8477 ◦ www.urteachers.org www.facebook.com/urteachers ◦ Twitter: @urteacher Summer/Fall 2013

Family Matters

TUR phases out GED

program

1

Letter from the Executive

Director

2

GED Graduate Profile 3

Volunteer Spotlight 4

A World of Unknown

Boundaries

5

Upcoming Events 6

Parent Education

Schedule

7

Inside this issue:

The Upper Room joins the state in phasing out GED program

Beginning Fall of 2013, GED program replaced by HiSET program

Beginning in the fall 2013 semester,

The Upper Room, A Family

Resource Center (TUR), joins the

State of New Hampshire in

phasing out the GED (General Ed-

ucation Development) test in favor

of the HiSET (High School

Equivalency Test) program as its

exclusive provider of high school

equivalency testing. The HiSET

test measures the same

competencies as the current GED

test, but offers many advantages

including affordable test fees, making it a more

accessible option for TUR participants.

“The great new thing about HiSET is that it not only

identifies completers, but also indicates those who are

college and career ready. A plus for capable and bright

students who want to move on to higher education,”

said Brenda Guggisberg, TUR’s GED/HiSET coordina-

tor.

This past May, nearly 30 students graduated from

TUR’s GED program, and many plan to continue their

education at community colleges and trade schools.

Nineteen year-old Joey Palermo had a difficult time

adjusting to the challenges of a larger school after his

family moved during his senior year. He opted to try

It was a beautiful day for a celebration!

2013 GED graduates celebrate on May 31st.

» See GED/HiSET, Page 3

Supporting young families

TIPS prevents child abuse and neglect through education

Over twenty-five years ago the Teen Information for

Parenting Success program, or TIPS, launched The Up-

per Room in support of pregnant and parenting teens.

Through peer-to-peer support, parent education and

community resource and referrals, TIPS has impacted

the lives of countless Southern New Hampshire fami-

lies.

In 2013 alone, TIPS has given over fifty families, 129

moms, dads and children, the skills they need to

have happy, healthy relationships in their homes

and communities.

During her senior year, Samantha Mack, 19, was

introduced to TIPS by a Pinkerton Academy guid-

ance counselor, after she found out she was preg-

nant with her daughter.

“TIPS helped me a great deal. I had a difficult

pregnancy and a difficult time after I gave birth to

my daughter. The people in the program are a

» See TIPS, Page 6

Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 2

Board of Directors

Kimberly Bavaro, Executive Director, The Upper Room

Jacob D. Wiesmann, Acting President,

Parkland Medical Center

Daryl Arsenault, Immediate Past President,

Citizens Bank

Marcia Briggs, Treasurer, Retired Teacher

Gale Stanley, Secretary, Centre School of Hampton

Jack Briggs, Retired, PSNH

Anne Engelhardt, Quilter

Katie Floyd, City Year

Heather Francouer, Citizens Bank

Michelle Keyworth, Greater Nashua Mental Health

John Oudjeusden, Promises to Keep

Jennifer Peabody, Peabody Funeral Home

Advisory Board

Donna Cavalieri, Centre School of Hampton

John Dulmage, Personal Financial Advisor

Through over a dozen programs and services,

The Upper Room offers education, support and

resources to help individual and families

“make it” in today’s world.

A Letter from the Executive Director

From the moment you

announce your pregnancy to

the world you are bombard-

ed with advice: sleep when the

baby sleeps, potty train by a

certain age, use discipline and

reward to raise a happy child,

etc. The well-meaning advice

comes from everywhere: your family and friends,

your pediatrician, and, increasingly, the internet.

It can be difficult to make sense of it all. It can be

even more difficult to know what is best for you

and your family.

Loving your child is instinctual, parenting is not.

Parenting is a learning process. Parent Education

classes, like those offered at The Upper Room (see

pg. 7 for a full schedule), are an important part of

that process.

Parent education bridges the gap between

broad parenting concepts and practical methods.

Through interaction with other parents, ongoing

reinforcement, and individualized support, you

can uncover what works best for you and your

family.

Parent education is not just for parents who face

severe problems with their children’s behavior.

Investing in a parent education class does not

mean that you are a “bad parent”. In fact, it

means that you are the very opposite.

Parent education is an investment in your

personal growth and your children’s future.

Committing time and resources to attend

parenting classes is an indication of a parent’s

dedication to their children and families.

Parents who attend classes often feel more confi-

dent and empowered in their parenting skills.

They are able to alleviate current issues and pre-

vent future problems. It’s a win-win for mom and

dad and the kids.

Sincerely,

Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 3

2013 GED Graduate Profile

After eight months of preparation, twenty-nine candi-

dates took the GED exam and passed. On May 31, The

Upper Room celebrated their dedication and achieve-

ment with a graduation and celebration brunch. Special

thanks to Pinkerton Academy for supporting the cele-

bration brunch, guest speakers Bill Foye and Jacob

Wiesmann, and the parents, family and friends of the

graduates for their support.

Dylan Borrelli, 18

At 18, Dylan felt the world

crumbling around him. He

struggled to overcome

many personal obstacles,

including drug and alcohol

addiction, to make a better

life for himself. Dylan be-

came single-minded in his goal to get his GED and

move on to higher education.

At this year’s graduation ceremony, Dylan was award-

ed with Outstanding Achievement Award by TUR

teachers for his commitment to academic excellence.

“You can’t get anywhere without an education,” Dylan

remarked. “So, I put my head down and did the work”

Dylan is enrolled at Manchester Community College

for the fall and hopes to begin a career as a licensed

drug and alcohol counselor.

TUR’s program after researching alternative programs.

He thrived in the program because of the flexible

schedule and individual attention.

“If high school doesn’t seem right,” Joey said after the

2013 graduation ceremony. “Then look into a GED-

type program. Everyone fits somewhere.”

Through the support of the Granite United Way, Pink-

erton Academy and other funders, over 300 students

have graduated the program since it began ten years

ago. TUR offers this high school alternative, which pro-

vides individualized educational opportunities, career

exploration and self-development, to any student seek-

ing to advance their education.

New Hampshire is the second state to announce that it

will use the HiSET program and joins an increasing

number of states, educators, policymakers and em-

ployers looking for a high school proficiency exam that

includes elements critical to providing out-of-school

youth and adults with proof of their readiness for

higher education or the workplace.

For more information about the GED/HiSET program

visit the website at:

www.urteachers.org/programs-ged.

GED/HiSET

Continued from Page 1

Congratulations 2013 GED Graduates!

Kevin Bemis

Dylan Borelli*

Zachary Calabro

Jesse Collins

Kyle Coombs

Tyler Coombs

Gianna D’Allessandro

Michael Devine

Chelsea Geneau

Lindsay Kimball-

McInturff

Joshua Landry

Russell Lewis

Dennis Marion

Nathan Minor

Adam Nalen

Joseph Palermo

Meagan Peterson

Anthony Plourde

Gina Pucillo

Dillon Rodriguez

Shealynn Santagate

Alexis Stark

Taylor Stimson

Jonathan Taylor

Monica Teele

Jonathan Tryder

Joshua Weirman

Joseph Wilhelm

Nicholas Willette

*Awarded Outstanding Achievement Award

Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 4

Volunteer Spotlight

The Greater Derry Juvenile Diversion program, now in

its 19th year, provides an alternative to court for first-

time juvenile offenders. After an in-depth intake inter-

view, youth and their family meets with the Communi-

ty Review (CR) Team, a dedicated team of volunteers,

to formulate a learning contract of tasks the youth must

accomplish to atone for their crimes.

The members of the CR Team listen, question, and em-

pathize with the youth, but still hold them accountable

for their actions. The CR Team is thoughtful in their

deliberations and creative in the development of the

contracts. The Greater Derry Juvenile Diversion pro-

gram could not do this work nor maintain a historically

low recidivism rate of 12.3% without the dedication of

the CR Team members. A heartfelt thanks to the CR

Patience and Empathy: Community Review Team serves unique justice to at-risk Rockingham youth

Team from everyone at The Upper Room, for your

dedication and service.

Pauline Blazon-Schulter 19 years

Patricia Kimplen 14 years

Laura Wilmoth 13 years

Corinne Dodge 11 years

Laura Noble 10 years

Susan Dionne 10 years

Jaqueline Paton 8 years

Jeremy Lane 8 years

Martin Paton 7 years

Daryl Arsenault 6 years

James T. Bavaro 5 years

Catherine DiCampo 5 years

Richard Gaudreau 4 years

Anna Helbling 3 years

Jane Alagna 3 years

Stephanie Howland 2 years

Frank LeBlanc Joined in 2013

Interested in joining the Community Review Team for

the Greater Derry Juvenile Diversion program? Contact

Diane Casale at (603) 437-8477 ext. 14 or email at

dcasale@urteachers.com. You can start making a differ-

ence in the lives of your community’s youth today! (Volunteer opportunities for the CR Team are limited and based on a

strict vetting process.)

“If, as a team, we can help one child or

young adult become a better person by

allowing them the opportunity to work

toward having their mistakes forgiven and

they pay it forward in the future, then we

have helped shape that life.” — CR Team

In Pictures

Special thanks to North Ridge Church for hosting a food drive and for

their generous food donation to TUR’s Food Pantry. A team of

volunteers stopped by with a busload of food on June 16th.

Pinkerton Academy volunteers from this year’s Youth Day of Giving

Back helped clean and organize TUR’s facilities. Over 30 students

spent May 21st aiding local nonprofits throughout Derry.

Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 5

The Upper Room Funders

The participants, board and staff of The Upper Room offer our sincerest thanks for the generous support from the com-

munity. The Upper Room is a private, nonprofit organization serving nearly 15,000 individuals and families annually. This

work would not be possible without the generous contributions of individual donors, local businesses, foundations,

churches and community groups. THANK YOU!

Alexander Eastman Foundation

BAE Company & Employees

Bank of America

Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund

Brownell Financial Services

Citizens Bank

Cogswell Benevolent Trust

Daniel Webster Council

Dollar Bill’s Auction Outlet and Wholesale Co.

Derry News

Derry Rotary Club

Derry Village Rotary Club

First Parish Congregational Church

First Choice Networks

Give Back Foundation

Granite United Way

Greater Derry Track & Field

Halcyon Club

Ladies Benevolent Society

Liberty Mutual Company & Employees

Londonderry Rotary

Mom’s Club of Derry

NORA Systems

NorthStar Financial Planning

Revive Salon and Spa

Oak Foundation

Pinkerton Academy

Loretta Porter

Charlene Puzzo

RGK Foundation

Frank Robinson

TJX Fund

Towns of Chester, Derry, Londonderry and Salem

Women’s Fund of NH

A World of Unknown Boundaries: One Man’s Appalachian Trail Journey

On March 14, 2013, Londonderry native, Tom Bever,

set out on the journey of a lifetime: thru hike the

Appalachian Trail— 2,180 miles from Springer

Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine.

The hike fulfills Tom’s childhood dream, he’s been

hiking since he was three years-old, and also allows

him to flex his charitable muscles. Tom is hiking for a

cause: The Upper Room.

Family, friends and strangers can follow his journey

via www.hikerstories.com and contribute to The Up-

per Room. So far, Tom has raised over $2,200 for The

Upper Room’s programs and services with the goal of

raising $10,000 by the end of his hike.

Donations can be made directly to The Upper Room

by mail or online in Tom’s honor, or you can send

Tom a donation and care package at one of his mail

drops (more information can be found on his website).

As of Tom’s last up-

date in July, he offi-

cially passed 1,500

miles through Wash-

ington DC and Great

Barrington, MA.

He’s made many

friends, hiked in var-

ying conditions, and

never wavers in his

journey.

After a brief pit stop

in Londonderry for the 4th of July holiday, Tom con-

tinues his journey to Maine.

Everyone at The Upper Room is cheering Tom on!

Follow his trek at www.hikerstories.com.

Tom takes a break for ice cream.

Photo via: www.hikerstories.com

Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 6

Upcoming TUR Events

DerryFest 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

10 am– 5 pm

MacGregor Park, Derry

Stop by our booth at this year’s

DerryFest and join the fun!

12th Annual Family Matters

Auction

“A Night in Paris”

Friday, November 1, 2013

6– 10 pm

Promises to Keep, Derry

Join us for a fun evening of food,

entertainment, auctions, raffles and

games with a Parisian flare. All

proceeds benefit TUR’s programs

and services. Tickets available online

now at www.urteachers.org.

great support system,” said Mack. “I've started

to make a better life for my daughter thanks to

the resources and help that I’ve received.”

TIPS program coordinator, Janis Lilly has seen

many changes in the last year, including more

active involvement of young dads.

“This year saw a record number of young fathers

attending the program and participants have

much greater educational success than those that

don’t participate,” commented Lilly. “We also know

that TIPS has a direct correlation to the fact that we currently do not have

any families with open DCYF abuse or neglect cases.”

Isolation, stress and worries about money can lead to abuse and neglect, es-

pecially in fragile families. TIPS reduces many of the risk factors for abuse

and neglect and empowers young parents to help themselves.

“My life is definitely better since being part of TIPS. I've grown into a better

person and a better mother,” remarked Mack. “TIPS is a safe place. You can

be yourself and not have to worry about being judged because you have a

child at a young age.”

TIPS is funded by the Alexander Eastman Foundation, Bank of America

Foundation, Citizens Bank Foundation, Heritage United Way, the Oak Foun-

dation, and the support of generous donors. To learn more about the TIPS

program or to help please visit the website:

www.urteachers.org/programs-tips.

Baby Matthew puts his best

foot forward for TIPS!

TIPS

Continued from Page 1

Family Matters Summer/Fall 2013 7

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