Carlos, Gizel making first trip with SHGO

V O L U M E
UPCOMING EVENTS:
•
3/31
V
I S S U E
I I I
M A R C H
1 0 ,
2 0 1 4
Carlos, Gizel making first trip with SHGO
Early Release
•
4/4
3rd Quarter Grades Close
•
4/21-4/25
April Vacation
•
4/28
Early Release
WHAT’S INSIDE
Staff Spotlight
2
Media Moment
3
Sports Zone
4
High Fives
5
Around Campus
6-10
Express Yourself
11
Just for Fun
12
B Y N IK O I
S IGNAL R EPORTER
Case Manager Gizel
Hampton and Senior Child
Care Specialist Carlos
Davenport have traveled
to the Dominican Republic
to help the local community.
The trip is part of Seven
Hills Global Outreach,
which tries to help communities around the world
by partnering with local
organizations to create
sustainable development
projects.
Carlos and Gizel won’t
be alone on the trip. They
will be joined by employees of other Seven Hills
affiliates, as well as students from Clark University in Worcester.
While in La Represa,
Carlos and Gizel will participate in a number of
activities aimed at helping
Two Stetson School staff members are traveling to La
Represa, Dominican Republic, to help the community build
levees.
the community. They will
be working to build a
levee system to help with
flooding issues. They will
also partake in activities
with the community’s children, and work with
nurses involved with the
trip to help educate the
village in basic first aid,
hygiene, and wellness.
Carlos said he is very
excited to be participating
in the outreach trip. He
said it will be his first international trip, and he
has always wanted to visit
(Continued on page 2)
Spring full of the promises summer will bring
Spring is, by far, my favorite
time of year.
When the snow starts to
melt, and we start to receive
reports of the Red Sox spring
training, we know that summer is right around the corner.
However, this year spring
means even more. We are
heading into the second year
of the Fresh Start Organic
Garden. Last year, we did
great, but it was a new experience for everyone involved.
This year, we have a much
better sense of what needs to
be done, and we hopefully will
be able to plan much better.
Even with snow on the
ground, we plan to start our
first seedlings in just a couple
of weeks.
Last year, I found a passion
for agriculture through our
school garden. When it began,
I didn’t have any experience
with it at all.
This can be important lesson for everyone. Get out
there and try new things! If I
had let my lack of experience
keep me from trying, I would
have never discovered this
new interest, and would have
never had the amazing experiences that I did last summer.
So, when new things are
offered to you, give them a
shot. You never know, you
might plant a seed that grows
into a lifelong interest.
Shawn Ilinitch—Editor
PAGE
2
Mary looks to introduce activities to her classes
Staff Spotlight
Mary has also started an
incentive box in her classes.
Students can earn tickets by
New Social Development
displaying appropriate behavand Careers teacher Mary
iors and participating in class.
Byszek says she is always
She said she hopes the box
open to suggestions from stu- will help to promote good
dents and staff to help imbehaviors.
prove her classes.
Mary said her favorite subWith that being said, she
ject is English. She said she
already has some activities
especially enjoys creative
she hopes will make the two
writing. Outside of Stetson
electives more interesting for School, she works part-time
for a newspaper and literary
students.
First, Mary is introducing an magazine.
“extreme couponing” activity
Mary also said that her fato some of her social develvorite day of the week is
opment classes. Students will Monday because it’s a fresh
look through advertisements
start to the week.
to develop shopping lists,
Mary said there have been
while using coupons to try to
things she has liked about teachsave as much money as possiing Careers. She said she likes
ble. She said social developthe computer program students
ment is supposed to prepare
can use to explore careers and
students as they transition to
colleges, but it has been tricky
the “real world,” and this acto get all of the computers up
tivity can help them gain a
and running and to get full stuvaluable skill.
dent participation.
BY ARLYS D
SIGNAL REPORTER
...Stetson staff traveling to the DR to give assistance
“It’s a sacrifice, but it’s
well
worth it,” said Gizel.
the Dominican Republic.
Both
Carlos and Gizel
Gizel, on the other
said
they
will miss their
hand, has been a frequent
families while they are
traveler, even from a
gone. For Carlos, family
young age. Like Carlos,
she said she is looking for- also means his church, but
he said he will be very
ward to helping the community of La Represa, but excited to report back to
she also wanted to partici- his parishioners about the
work he was able to acpate in the trip to honor
complish while on the trip.
her late uncle, who loved
to visit the Dominican ReCarlos said he will also
miss the students here at
public.
Stetson School.
To participate in the
trip, Carlos and Gizel had
“They really inspired me
to do this,” he said. “I’m
to use vacation days, and
they are paying for the
going to be really anxious
to share the details of this
trip themselves.
(Continued from page 1)
STETSON
SIGNAL
trip when I get back.”
Both Carlos and Gizel
said they hope to give
back to the community
and to give the villagers a
better perspective of
Americans.
One day of the trip will
be dedicated to recreation. The group will go on
a tour of the colonial area
of the Dominican Republic, and will get to spend a
few hours on the beach.
Carlos and Gizel left for
the Dominican Republic
on March 1 and returned
on March 8.
VOLUME
V
ISSUE
III
PAGE
3
Media Moment
Give electronic music a try
BY JOSH F
SIGNAL REPORTER
Drake’s latest album
not a disappointment
BY MAURICE W
SIGNAL REPORTER
I f y o u w e r e a fa n o f D ra k e’ s
p r e v i ou s a l b u m s , in c l u di n g T a k e
C a r e , y ou w i ll e n j o y h i s l a t e s t e f f o rt , N o t h i n g W a s t h e S a m e .
Th e a l b u m , re le a s e d in S ep t e m b e r 2 0 1 3 , f ea tu r e s s on g s su c h a s
“ S t a rt e d f ro m th e B ot t o m , ”
“ W o r s t Be h a v i o r,” “ H o l d O n ,
W e ’ r e G oi n g H o m e , ” “ T h e L a n g u a g e,” a n d “ Po u n d C a ke .”
Fa n s o f a r t i st s l ik e Li l W a yn e,
Bi g S ea n , a n d Tr e y So n g z wi ll
p r o b a b l y b e fa n s o f D ra k e a s w el l.
H e r eg u l a rl y w o rk s w it h su c h a r t is t s .
Th i s a lb u m i s a b l en d o f H ip
H op , Bl u e s , a n d R & B. I t i s a b ou t
D ra k e’ s li f e a n d th e s t ru g g l e s h e
h a s f a c e d. M y fa v o r it e s o n g s in c lu d e d “ F u rt h e st Th i n g ,” “ O w n
I t, ” a n d “ Al l M e .” D r a ke in c lu d e d
m a n y s a m p l e s o f ol d - s c h oo l s on g s
on t h e a lb u m , i n c lu d in g m u s i c
f r o m P u f f D a d d y , t h e W u - Ta n g
C la n , a n d W h it n e y H o u st on .
D ra k e, 2 6 y ea r s o l d, wa s b o r n
in T o ro n to , C a n a d a . “ N o th in g
W a s t h e Sa m e ” i s h i s f ou r th a l b u m . H i s o th e r s i n c lu d e T a k e C a r e ,
Thank Me Later, and So Far Gone.
EDM (Electronic Dance Music) is
one of my favorite genres of music.
Nowadays it seems that more and
more artists either are putting fusions of this type of music in their
songs or are forming collaborations
with other artists. Collaborations are
very popular at the I-Heart Radio Las
Vegas concert that comes around
each year.
Dubstep is, in a sense, hard to explain. It is somewhat its own genre
developed as a sub-genre of other
types of music. Dubstep has a fusion
of drops and hard beats in some
songs. A few good examples of this
are featured in songs such as
“Animals” by Martin Garix, “Cinema”
by Skrillex, and “Turn It Down for
What?” by Lil John.
Within in these songs are examples
of hard beats and techno beats with a
fusion of bass and “wub.” Wub is the
term given to a specific sound that
literally sounds like a deep voice saying wub, wub, wub.
Hardstyle (dance) is a genre of its
own, but at the same time it’s a subgenre of other styles. Most hardstyle
features the same type of sound, but
there are differences from artists to
artists and songs to songs.
Hardstyle features include a mostly
continuous deep bass sound with
multiple techno and dubstep-fused
sounds put together. Singing or other
beats may be mixed in. It may sound
like its just random sounds mixed up
together, but its not.
I really do enjoy this type of music.
I think it’s cool. I really like artists
such as Cedric Gervais, Steve Aoki,
Benny Benassi, Krewella, Avicii, Martin Garix, John Martin, CLND, and
Swedish House Mafia. I recommend
these artists to people who want to
try this type of music out. On the
other hand, if you already like this
type of music such as hardstyle, I
recommend the artists Headhunterz,
Bass Modulators, and Techno Boyz.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE STETSON SIGNAL!
TALK TO SHAWN TODAY!
PAGE
Sports Zone
4
Stingers finish successful season
The highlight of our season may
have been our first game against
RFK. We started off doing well,
The Stingers basketball team
taking a lead in the first quarter. In
recently wrapped another sucthe second quarter, however, we
cessful season that included only a began to slack and RFK was up by
single loss.
12 points at half-time. Coach Kyle
This season was all about learn- kept his calm and gave us motivaing. Coach Kyle Johnson did a
tion. We slowly worked our way
great job of teaching us and allow- back and ended up with the vicing us to have fun along the way.
tory.
The best part of our practices
The Stingers had an awesome
was the camaraderie that develtime this season, learning a lot and
oped. Over the course of the
having fun along the way. Thanks
season, we became a real team
to Kyle and Recreation CoordinaThe Stingers were led by coach
with players that motivated each
tor Abby Day for setting up our
Kyle Johnson this season.
other to always do our best.
season.
BY OVIDIO J
SIGNAL REPORTER
March madness comes to REC gymnasium
game will include four, eight-minute quarters, and
will be held on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Abby said teams will also be rated on a sportsThe Sixth Annual Unit Basketball Tournament
manship system from 0-4. She said teams need to
kicked off over the weekend.
average at least two sportsmanship points to be
The tournament, coordinated by Recreational
eligible to play in the championship game.
Coordinator Abby Day and Residential Supervisor
Abby said teams will be coached by their residenKyle Johnson, was held up because of student moves tial staff.
on residential units. They decided to wait until the
“I’m excited,” said Abby. “The teams are very
moves were complete to make the teams.
good this year and this is a very popular tournaEach team will play three guaranteed games, Each ment.”
BY MAURICE W
SIGNAL REPORTER
Bowling Leaders
STETSON
Players
Unit
Score
1
Juan O., Chris H., Kameron B.
Cutting Lower North
75.33
2
Alex C., Damani B., Cristian S.
BDT
73.55
3
Xavier W., Kevin B., Joseph I., James H.
Cutting Lower South
71.5
4
Arlys D., Justin R., Nick D.
Cutting Upper North
65.57
5
Maurice W., Braeden M., Dante K., Srdjan M.
Cutting Lower South
63.75
SIGNAL
HIGH FIVES
High Five to Luis C for his polite behavior
and diligent work ethic! (Mary B)
High Fives to all students for waiting
patiently for the unit basketball league
to start! (Abby D)
High Five to Rashaad S for
starting to participate in class!
(Mary B)
High Five to Juan O for great
effort and focus in Rec Group!
(Abby D)
High Five to Angel M.R. for
making huge connections in
reading! (Carrie L)
High Fives to my service learning class
for starting a program to recycle water
bottles on the residential units! (Kevin S)
High Five to Paul L for
making it to class and
completing assignments!
(Mary B)
High Fives to the group home students who did a
great job helping the maintenance department
with snow removal! (Joe A)
High Five to Jose B-V for
doing a great job in your
ISP! Remember, consistency
is key! (Beckey G)
High Fives to the BDT clinical group for
its continued hard work in group sessions!
(Nicole C)
High Five to the Stingers basketball team
for a great season and for showing great
sportsmanship! (Abby D)
High Five to Damani B for being polite
and appropriate in class and not giving
in to peer negativity! (Mary B)
High Fives to Arlys D and Braeden M for
their dedication to Social Development
High Five to Niko
and great project presentations! (Mary B) I for all your great
High Fives to Damani B and
work in treatment!
Alex C for doing a great job
(Beckey G)
bowling as a team! (Abby D)
High Fives to Ovidio J and Roy W for
doing a great job delivering supplies!
High Five to Joseph I for participating and
(Dannie P)
getting involved in Student Council and
basketball! (Nicole L)
Second Quarter Honor Roll List
Principal’s List
Quantrae C
Luis C
Juan O
High Honors
Alex C
Josh F
Niko I
Dante K
Jonathan K
Johnny M
Braeden M
Srdjan M
James R
David W
Honors
Matthew B
Arlys D
PAGE
Around Campus
6
Shawn named Employee of the Year
BY TYREIK H
SIGNAL REPORTER
Teacher Shawn Ilinitch was
recently recognized as Stetson
School’s “Employee of the
Year.”
the chance to learn about
where their food comes from.
She said staff have also been
able to purchase fresh produce. Furthermore, the garden
has helped to establish relationships in the community.
Vice-President Kathleen
Shawn also serves as an
Lovenbury said Shawn received
advisor to the Student Council,
the award because of all of the
according to Kathleen, and he
things he is involved in around
helped with another major
campus.
project in that role.
Kathleen said one of the
The Student Council raised
major projects Shawn created
more than $1,000 to help
was the Fresh Start Organic
Seven Hills Global Outreach.
Garden here on campus. She
The money will help to build a
said it was particularly impressanitary bathroom facility in
sive because Shawn had no
Sierra Leone.
gardening experience when he
Shawn also created and
started the project, but was
edits
the school newspaper,
able to learn a lot during his
The
Stetson
Signal, in addition
first season.
to his regular teaching job.
Kathleen said the garden
Shawn said he was proud
has been a great asset to camwhen
he learned he would be
pus because students have had
Shawn Ilinitch displays the
plaque he received in his
classroom.
receiving the award.
“It’s always great to be recognized for the work that you
do,” he said.
Shawn said he loves his job.
He said the best part is when
he sees students improving and
starting to make better
choices.
Service learning class aims to recycle water bottles
BY QUENTRAE C
SIGNAL REPORTER
tles into the landfill per week.
To prevent this, Kevin Snyder’s
class has joined the Green Team, a
Did you know that every hour
program of the Massachusetts De2.5 million recyclable bottles are
partment of Environmental Protecbeing thrown in the trash and that
tion. The Mass DEP has started the
one ton of paper can save up to 17
Statewide School Environmental
trees?
Education Effort to protect the
At Stetson School, most students environment from all of the terrible
tend to throw away the plastic wa- pollution it has been undergoing.
ter bottles that they receive from
Kevin said he hopes his service
the café. Often, we see water botlearning class can help Stetson “to
tles and other recyclable objects in
go a little greener. His class’s Green
trashcans more than they we do in
Team has been going on since last
recycling bins.
spring, when it started a compostIf students on campus drink an
ing program on campus. The effort
average of three bottles of water
was expanded this quarter to try to
per day on campus, we are putting recycle water bottles here on cammore than 1,000 plastic water bot- pus.
STETSON
SIGNAL
Teacher Shawn Ilinitch, who coordinates the Fresh Start Organic
Garden here on campus, said the
composting program will be a huge
help.
“Compost can be really valuable
to gardens,” Shawn said. “Some
crops even require the rich soil that
compost can provide.”
The Green Team has placed blue
recycling bins on every unit. These
bins should be used for water bottles only. Please do not put any
bottles that have deposits.
The Green Team is also always
open to suggestions from other
students and staff for other ways to
make the campus greener.
PAGE
7
Plans for new admin building in the works
BY TYREIK H
SIGNAL REPORTER
Plans are currently underway to construct a new
administration building here on campus.
The new building would be located across from
the current Main Building, and would face the school
building.
Eventually, the Main Building will probably be
demolished, but the hope is to keep the clock tower
somewhere on campus.
Vice-President Kathleen Lovenbury said the goal
is to bring the entire campus together. Currently,
many offices are scattered throughout campus, including some down the road at the Sykes Building.
Kathleen said the new building would include
offices for business, admissions, marketing, nursing,
information technology, human resources, the program director, and for herself, among others.
Furthermore, said Kathleen, the new administration building will be a welcoming place for all visitors
to campus.
Right now, there are no set dates for construction of the new building, but the hope is that it will
be started sometime this year.
Staff Shout Outs
Shout Out to all campus
staff for all of their hard
work as we continue to
grow our census! (Joe A)
Shout Out to Rick D for keeping the school safe and
for being kind and caring to staff and students!
(Rachel H)
Shout Out to Kyle J for coaching the
basketball team! (Abby D)
Shout Out to Taylor P for running
her groups in a way that inspires
her students to be open and honest!
(Mary H)
Shout Out to Vince K for his continued
help in creating a sensory integrated
space! (Rachel H)
Shout to Vance H and the ABCs
working to establish the intake
classroom! (Shawn I)
Shout Out to Mary B for being so
proactive and positive! (Nicole L)
STETSON
SIGNAL
Salute to Benard K for
refereeing the basketball
games! (Abby D)
Shout Out to Shannon M for
keeping the school running!
(Nancy B)
Shout Outs to the staff involved in the
basketball season for boosting students’
self-worth and having a wonderful
impact! (Mary H)
PAGE
8
Welcome to the team!
Donna Williams
INTERVIEWED BY DAVID W
How long have you been teaching, and what influences you to become a teacher?
I’ve been teaching on and off for more than 20 years. It’s in
my blood. Everyone in my family was a teacher and all my
friends are teachers.
What is your favorite subject to teach?
I love teaching good literature. Nothing beats a good story.
What do you find to be most challenging about your job?
It is hard knowing that I can’t accomplish everything I want to
for my students each day.
What do you like most about teaching here?
I enjoy getting to know my students.
How do you plan to help kids change?
I will try to point them in the right direction to make the right
choices and to meet them where they are at.
How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for four years: one year in a high school
severe special needs classroom and three years in a collaborative high school behavior program. This is my first experience teaching at a residential school setting.
What is your favorite subject to teach?
I have my bachelor’s degree in history, so my favorite subject
is history. I feel history is so important because it never
stops living and breathing and our youth has the power to
change or create history.
What do you find most challenging about your job?
It’s difficult having students on different academic levels. It’s
also challenging to motivate students to see the importance
of their education.
What do you like most about teaching here?
I enjoy how every staff person here at Stetson School works
collaboratively to help students academically, socially, and
emotionally, and to give them the tools they need to become
successful adults.
STETSON
SIGNAL
Kaitlin Morris
INTERVIEWED BY JONATHAN K
PAGE
Around Campus
9
Neil teaching math, social skills through table tennis
BY ARLYS D
SIGNAL REPORTER
Teacher Neil Bresky is
teaching one of the more
creative Friday afternoon
vocational courses this quarter – Math and Social Skills
through Table Tennis.
The class has two components. Students spend part of
the class in Neil’s classroom.
It is here that they learn
about some of the mathematical concepts related to
table tennis. They also learn
about the history of the
sport, the rules, accomplishments of famous players, the
types of rubber on paddles,
and different spins and styles.
Teacher Neil Bresky plays a game of table tennis during his
Neil also stresses the importance of good sportsman- Friday afternoon class.
ship in the classroom before
that gets you moving. He said
students move to the gym to most importantly good
he started playing table tenplay their matches. They play sportsmanship.
games according to the rules
Neil said he likes ping-pong nis when he was 15 years
old.
while practicing the concepts because it’s an active sport
learned in the classroom,
Snow Sculptures
Congratulations to the Group Home
(left) and Intake (below) units—the
winner’s of the snow sculpture contest
held over February Vacation.
STETSON
SIGNAL
PAGE
Around Campus
10
Fresh Start Organic Garden preparing for year two
BY MAURICE W
SIGNAL REPORTER
After an exciting first season,
Fresh Start Organic Garden is
ready for a bigger and better year
two.
The garden was started by
Teacher Shawn Ilinitch’s service
learning class. Last year, the class
maintained the large garden near
the softball field, raising more than
$1,150 through sales of its fruits,
vegetables, flowers, and herbs.
Shawn said this year the garden
will be expanding. He said his class
will also maintain the smaller garden plot near the Alden Field. He
said this plot will focus on perennials, including more berries, flowers,
and herbs. He said raspberries,
black raspberries, and strawberries
have already been planted.
The bulletin board outside of Shawn’s classroom explains the
efforts Fresh Start Organic Garden’s second season.
another greenhouse or hoop house als and equipment.
closer to the large garden plot.
Shawn said he is really looking
forward to getting started this
Shawn said the garden also
year. He said he hopes to get many
received cash grants from Whole
Shawn said the field near the
more students involved, as more
Foods Market and the Wal-Mart
softball field will continue to be
Community Foundation for $2,000 help will definitely be needed. He
used mostly for fruits and vegetasaid he also hopes to provide more
and $250 respectively. He said
bles, including many of the crops
some of these funds will be used to produce to the cafeteria and to
that were grown last year.
purchase seeds and equipment, and classrooms as healthy snacks.
Shawn said the garden has been his class is still figuring out how it
Finally, Shawn said he hopes
very fortunate to receive a number would like to spend the remaining that residential units might be able
funds.
of grants over the winter.
to use some of the produce to
First, the garden received
$2,500 from the Greater Worcester Improvement Foundation. This
grant will allow the garden to purchase its own rototiller, install a
drip irrigation system, and to build
The final grant received by the
garden the Healthy Sprouts Award
from Subaru and Kids Gardening.
He said this grant totaled $500,
and included some cash. It also
included some educational materi-
learn how to cook healthy meals.
However, he wants those residential units who get produce to perform some garden tasks so they
can really appreciate where their
food comes from.
Get your garden t-shirt!
Get
Involved!
The Fresh Start Organic Garden is selling 100% organic
cotton t-shirts! They cost $15 for students and $20 for staff.
We have gray in stock, and can special order pink, yellow, and blue, as well as hooded sweatshirts ($35)
STETSON
SIGNAL
PAGE
11
Express Yourself!
Hollow
BY KAMERON B
As I wake up I feel hollow,
as I push away there goes tomorrow.
With no memory, such as you,
I look into the sky, crying, thinking about you.
With no memory of you, only makes me hollow,
as I search into the sky,
hoping to see you tomorrow.
Pain is petty, memories are morals.
Death is departed for life to take.
My memory of you will fade every week.
Arlys D
As I fall asleep, I become departed.
Memories lost, nothing such as you,
as tomorrow comes,
I create new memories.
Jonathan K
Luis C
STETSON
SIGNAL
Paul L
PAGE
12
Just for Fun
What animal is best at hitting a baseball? A Bat
Rebus Puzzles
Why did the police officer go to the baseball game? He
heard someone had stole second base
What did the baseball glove say to the baseball? Catch
you later
SUDOKU
Upcoming Menu
Monday, March 10
Breakfast: Pancakes
Lunch: Sausage Pizza
Dinner: Rib-A-Que
Friday, March 14
Breakfast: English Muffins
Lunch: Ham and Cheese Wrap
Dinner: Meatloaf
Tuesday, March 18
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Chicken Burrito
Dinner: Shepherd’s Pie
Saturday, March 22
Breakfast: Raisin Bread
Lunch: Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Dinner: BLT Toritilla Wrap
Tuesday, March 11
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs
Lunch: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Dinner: Baked Cod
Saturday, March 15
Breakfast: Waffles
Lunch: Chicken Quesadilla
Dinner: Turkey Sub
Wednesday, March 19
Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins
Lunch: Grilled Chicken
Dinner: Pastrami on Rye
Sunday, March 23
Breakfast: TBD
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: TBD
Wednesday, March 12
Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins
Lunch: Cheeseburger
Dinner: Macaroni and Cheese
Sunday, March 16
Breakfast: Bagels
Lunch: Chicken Caesar Roll-Up
Dinner: Turkey Burgers
Thursday, March 20
Breakfast: Danish
Lunch: Taco Meatballs
Dinner: Kielbasa
Thursday, March 13
Breakfast: Bagels
Lunch: Baked Chicken
Dinner: Taco Salad
Monday, March 17
Breakfast: Omelet
Lunch: Lasagna Roll
Dinner: Italian Grinder
Friday, March 21
Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole
Lunch: Chicken Wings
Dinner: Ham and Cheese Sandwich
STETSON
SIGNAL
All Meals Subject to Change
REBUS ANSWERS: 1. For Instance 2. Back to square one 3. A cut above the
rest 4. small talk 5. two left feet 6. Get up and go