@NipmucRegional

As we move into the last week of school for the year, we wanted to wish all of the Nipmuc families a wonderful holiday. This will be the last edition of the newsletter until the New Year. We are looking forward to welcoming all of our students back on Tuesday, January 3, and starting the new year off filled with excitement and new opportunities.

We’re excited to share a series of short updates about the future-focused work taking place at Nipmuc Regional High School. The journey toward living our mission - we empower all learners to thrive - will never end. However, we’re excited to share our progress, get your feedback, and chart the course toward the future of learning at Nipmuc. Check out this week's post below.

Last week, Mr. Gorman and Ms. Nieves traveled 16 students from their engineering classes to the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. They learned how biologically-inspired design is carried out at Harvard and had presentations from PhDs about their current work. Three groups of students presented their own biologically-inspired designs to the Wyss Institute faculty and received feedback on their designs. The business director told the students, "You think like we do here at the Wyss Institute." Congratulations to Mr. Gorman, Mrs. Nieves, and all of the students that participated!

Thank you to those students from the Class of 2023 that completed the first two deadlines (verifying your name for your diploma and ordering your cap, gown, and tassel).

Seniors that haven't verified their name for their diploma please make sure you verify your name by clicking here by tomorrow as the diploma order will be placed prior to the holiday break. If the form isn't filled out by Wednesday, December 21, we will plan to order the diplomas based on how the name appears in PowerSchool.

For those students that haven't yet placed your order for your cap, gown, and tassel, you can find the order form here. The deadline for ordering is this Wednesday, December 21.

Please email Mrs. Buzzell at abuzzell@mursd.org if you have any questions.

Last Wednesday, December 14, senior students attended a scholarship presentation in the auditorium with Mrs. Miklavic, Nipmuc's scholarship coordinator. Students were given a presentation that included where to find scholarships, how to access them in Naviance and FAFSA information. You can see the full presentation by clicking on the button below. Please reach out to Ms. Leigh-ann Miklavic with any questions at lmiklavic@mursd.org.

We had so much fun playing games after school together that we want to do it again! We will meet monthly -dates to be determined- in the Media Center from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. No need to sign up. Teachers and students alike are welcome! Bring your own game (board or electronic) and hop in with a team or on your own. Other games will be made available as well if you don't have any from home. Join us for a fun and low-key way to hang out with friends.

Free COVID-19 Test Kits

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. Click here to order yours.

Mental Health and Substance Use Resources for Parents/Caregivers and Students
For more information and links to helpful resources from the Massachusetts Medical Society, click here for parents and click here for students.

Risks Associated with Stick and Poke Tattoos

Stick and poke tattoos have been around since ancient Egypt but saw an increase in popularity during the pandemic. These at-home tattoos may lead to infection (sometimes serious) and can often be permanent, contrary to misconceptions that they will fade with time. Please consider speaking with your child about the risks associated with these tattoos. Click here for an article from the University of Wisconsin or reach out to your child’s primary care provider for more information.

211 HELP Steps

211 HELP Steps is the online platform of Mass 211. From any desktop or mobile device, individuals can search and then connect to local health and human service resources across the Commonwealth. Programs that are included support basic needs such as food security, housing, childcare, transportation as well as resources for mental and emotional health. Click here to access this site.

The Nipmuc Drama Guild is having a fundraiser! Drama magnets and stickers will be sold from January 3 to January 6 during all breaks and lunches. During that time, magnets will be sold for $5 and stickers will be sold for $2 while supplies last. All the money collected from this fundraiser will go to supporting the Nipmuc Drama Guild’s spring musical. We thank you for your support!

We are excited to host Nipmuc’s Financial Literacy Fair on January 13, 2023! The fair will consist of sophomore and junior students choosing a career and then based on their salary, they will create a monthly budget. Students will go booth to booth, interacting with community partners and making smart financial decisions. They will have the opportunity to participate in fun activities throughout the fair and even enter to win some prizes! If students did not already do so in advisory, they will need to complete this survey in order to make the financial literacy fair as realistic as possible. Many thanks to seniors Ava Whitney, Erika Duplessis, and Rissa Montano, who are assisting with the Financial Literacy Fair as a part of their DECA project.

The Nipmuc Chapter of the National Honor Society is currently accepting applications from qualified sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Interested students can review the application requirements on the chapter's website and should join the applicant Google Classroom using code qyexter for additional information, support, and to submit their applications. The deadline to apply is January 28th. If you have any questions please email Mr. Evans at cevans@mursd.org.

Attention Nipmuc Ski Club participants! There will be a mandatory pre-season meeting to review club expectations and protocols for the upcoming Nipmuc Ski Club season that begins after vacation. Please meet in the cafeteria on Tuesday, January 3rd from 2:10pm - 2:30pm. Our first ski day is Wednesday, January 4th where we will plan on leaving Nipmuc at 2:10pm that day and return by 9pm.

What is a novel in verse? Find out at our upcoming Nipmuc Book Club with the Taft Library on Tuesday, January 10th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Media Center when we discuss the novel in verse book, "Clap When You Land" by National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo. Join us for light refreshments, a fun conversation and awesome insights from your peers. Sign up with Ms. Townsley at atownsley@mursd.org and swing by the Media Center for your copy of the book. There will not be a book club meeting in December.

The ASVAB, or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam, is offered to students who are interested in learning about their vocational aptitudes. The ASVAB is a timed multi-aptitude test that helps to determine which jobs would be best for you. Taking this exam does not mean that you have to make any commitment to join the military. The exam will take place on March 16, 2023, during the school day. Results will be interpreted on May 9, 2023, during the school day. For more information on the ASVAB, please visit the following website:

http://official-asvab.com/index.htm

If your student is interested in taking the ASVAB exam, please reach out to Leigh-ann Miklavic at lmiklavic@mursd.org to get your student signed up. The deadline to sign up is February 1st.

This coming April, the Nipmuc ICED Epic Challenge program is hosting a student symposium at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center outside Washington, DC! We are seeking corporate sponsors for this exceptional educational event. If your company is interested in sponsoring the 2023 Epic Challenge Student Symposium, please contact Mr. Gorman at jgorman@mursd.org for more details. We look forward to partnering with you on this event!

2023 Epic Challenge Student Symposium Corporate Sponsorship Levels

Bronze – $250

• Small logo on the back of the participant shirt

• Listing in the event program

Silver – $500

• Medium logo on the back of the participant shirt

• Listing in the event program

Gold – $750

• Large logo on the back of the participant shirt

• Listing in the event program

Platinum – $1000

• Headline ad/logo on the back of the participant shirt

• Listing in the event program

Benefactor – $2500

• Logo on the front of the participant shirt

• Logo on the event name badges

• Logo on the event banner

• Listing in the event program

Do you see something that belongs to you? The lost and found table is located outside the main office and will be here until December 23. We plan to donate any of the items not claimed over the holiday break.