Dracut High School

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2024!

I hope each of you enjoyed a peaceful holiday break with the opportunity to relax or reconnect with family and friends. In schools, as in our personal lives, the start of the new year offers the chance to reflect on the “old” and commit to the “new.”

This year, we have been reflecting on the use of cellphones during the school day. When instructing, teachers compete with an endless array of videos, games, music, instant messages and, at times, “anti-social” social media. These distractions create obstacles to teaching and learning, a phenomenon that has expanded exponentially in recent years. Even students whose cell phone use is always outside of class are impacted negatively when their teacher’s time, effort, and energy are diverted by the ubiquitous use of cellphones by their classmates.

Smartphone technology is now in all corners of the world, bringing universal access to information not thought possible only half a generation ago. Indeed, it has been said that the typical middle school student today walks around with more computing power in one hand than that used to put Neil Armstrong on the moon. The task that remains is to teach our students that smartphone technology, and the algorithms developed by “big tech” to capture the time and focus of adolescents, must remain a tool to advance their learning and understanding of the world and not become the very instrument that interferes with, however unintentionally, their learning, growth, and social development.

We will be continuing these efforts, in 2024 and beyond, as we continue to educate students in the proper use of smartphone technology.

May you realize all your new year’s resolutions,

Rich Manley, Principal

Each month, the faculty and administration nominate students whose character, qualities, and contributions to our school make DHS a better place to learn and work and recognize them as Middies of the Month. This month, we recognize and congratulate (L-R) Kervina Joseph-9, Charlie Wilkie-10, Jullida Khau-10, Brad Volpe-11, Taisha Prince, 12.

Dracut High School was recently awarded Bronze status by the College Board. Of course, participation rates and test scores have always been a consideration in evaluating the success of a school's Advanced Placement program. We are especially proud to receive this recognition awarded to schools "who provide all students the chance to participate in AP, including students of underrepresented populations."

Our newly refurbished Dracut High Fitness Center is now open every day after school from 2:00 to 4:00. The Fitness Center is supervised and all students are welcomed to take advantage of this facility. Students who are not currently participating in a sport are especially encouraged to use our new Fitness Center. It's cold outside so come by and "warm-up" with a visit to our new Fitness Center.

The DT Hockey team lines up on the ice at the start of their recent 5-0 victory over Groton-Dunstable High.

Food Services Director Nathan Langevin is joined by the Dracut High School "lunch ladies," the unsung heroes of our school. The full sign above reads "Lunch Ladies Rock." We agree. Our history teachers would explain to our students that the poster is a modern day take on the famous World War II poster of Rosie the Riveter, proving that interdisciplinary approaches to learning can be found everywhere in our school!

Mr. Langevin, can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you come to be a school food services director?

I have been in the culinary field since I was 14 years old. I am a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, where I received my degree in Baking and Pastry. I have worked in all aspects of the culinary arts field. Some of the highlights of my culinary background are working at Walt Disney World. Some of the people I have cooked for over my career are Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Buffet, Tiger Woods, and Bill Clinton.

How did you get into school food service?

I wanted a change from food manufacturing, where I worked, and was writing a business plan to open a bakery when I saw an opening at Andover High for a pizza maker. I got hired and worked my way up from that position to Production Supervisor, which included overseeing four schools in Andover. From there, I went to Billerica as the Nutrition Coordinator, and that is how I got to Dracut.

Again this year, all students receive free school lunches. How does this work?

Governor Healey signed the Universal Free Meals for K-12 students into permanent state funding, which means that all Massachusetts students attending a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program can enjoy a daily free lunch at no cost to their families as well as free breakfast at schools participating in the School Breakfast Program. Dracut participates in both the lunch and breakfast programs.

Are there nutritional guidelines that the lunches must follow?

Yes, there are both state and federal nutritional guidelines we must meet for each grade level.

What are the favorite food choices of students?

Some of the favorite meals here at Dracut High are the chicken filet, “Taco Day,” General Tao's chicken and, of course, our pizza.

Now that you have been at Dracut for a few months, do you have any ideas for future food service?

We are going to expand the culinary awareness and pallets of our students by adding Indian and African foods to the menus, like chicken tiki marsala and jollof rice with grilled curry chicken.

What is a fun or interesting fact about you that students would be surprised to learn?

A fun fact about me is I am a BIG Disney World fan. On school vacations, you will find me park-hopping and enjoying the Disney culinary offerings, including BOMA at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for their African cuisine, the California Kitchen at the top of the Contemporary Hotel where I can eat while watching fireworks over the Castle, and the “grey stuff” at the Beauty and the Beast Castle; it really is delicious!

What is your favorite class at DHS? Spanish 4 Honors because I had really great classmates. We did a fun and interesting project where we had to make a cooking video but the instructions were entirely spoken in Spanish.

Of your co-curricular activities, which have been the most enjoyable? I have most enjoyed serving on the Student Council. We go to really exciting conferences with other student councils in the area. I have been on the Executive Board since my sophomore year, and I am currently the president.

What is your favorite movie? The live-action Aladdin. First, I’ve seen it on Broadway and second, the soundtrack to Aladdin is amazing.

What is your favorite book? It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. It was deep. I cried.

What is your favorite food? Tacos, but with a soft tortilla, of course. Hard shells aren’t that good, (unless they are the Doritos shells from Taco Bell), and then they are “Muy bueno.” (See question one, above!!)

Who is your favorite artist? Taylor Swift. I have been to two of her concerts, and I am going to another one next October.

What is your best memory from your time at Dracut High School (so far)? My best memory is when I went to the Senior Prom last year when I was a junior. I had never danced so much in my life!

What are your plans for after high school? I plan to attend a college that is yet to be determined and graduate with a master’s degree in physical therapy.

If you achieve your goals, what will you be doing in 2034? I will be working as a physical therapist in a medical facility and will have earned my doctorate in physical therapy.

You have had a successful career at Dracut High School. What advice would you give to students in our incoming Class of 2028? Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your teachers are here to help you!

Dr. Carney, where did you receive your education?

I attended the College of the Holy Cross for my undergraduate degree in history, where I also earned my social studies teaching license, and later earned my master’s degree at Fitchburg State College. My most recent degree, a doctorate in curriculum and learning, is from Boston University.

Why did you want to become a teacher?

I knew I wanted to be a history teacher ever since I was a sophomore in high school. I remember thinking that history was the best subject because, ironically, you never run out of new things to learn! I had wonderful teachers in high school who inspired me to follow in their footsteps. Now, I am an adjunct professor and I teach future teachers.

How did you become the vice principal of the Freshman Academy at Dracut High School?

I planned to be a history teacher for my entire career. However, after teaching for many years at Dracut High, I began to consider a position in school leadership where I could use my training and education in a school leadership role.

What is unique about students who are in grade nine?

The transition from middle school to high school is possibly one of the biggest transitions in a student’s life. I love working with ninth grade students because of how much they grow in just one school year.

Dr. Carney, what is a fun or interesting fact about you that your students would be surprised to learn?

I attended Holy Cross on an athletic scholarship and played collegiate soccer for four years. I was also the girls’ soccer coach at DHS when I began my career. So, I think students would be surprised to learn that, even though I now focus my career on academics, I have a pretty extensive athletic background.

One other “fun fact" about me? My “bucket list” includes travel to all seven continents; I’m 4/7ths of my way there!