Student artwork displayed below has been provided by this year’s painting and drawing and photography classes.
A new social media site is emerging for young adults and teens. It is similar to Instagram, where users post photos on their own page. Users can share anyone’s photos, creating a network of friend’s photos. Also, direct messaging was recently added to the app. “VSCO” can be used as an app on your phone or through a website on your computer.
Many students use their actual name as their profile username and are posting photos of themselves with friends, photos of nature and anything else you can think of, including drugs and alcohol, provocative photos and more.
Our concern is the student’s lack of education and understanding of the risks associated with this potentially dangerous behavior. Publicly posting photos on the internet provides a great level of accessibility into their private lives. Many students also put the link to their VSCO account in their Instagram profile, clearly identifying themselves while posting photos that you, as a parent/guardian, may not want the rest of the public to see . Lastly, the only privacy setting is location sharing.
Please be aware of your child’s social media pages, their privacy settings within each app and educate them on the publicity of the photos they are posting.
Students/Parents:
12/9
Girls Hockey: L 1-0 against Brookline High School Boys Basketball: W 51-34 against Cash
Girls Basketball: W 46-29 against North Quincy
12/12
Boys Basketball: L 64-34 against Sandwich High School Girls Basketball: L 55-36 against Sandwich High School Boys Hockey: L 5-2 against Sandwich High School Swimming: Boys – L 72-81 against Apponequet
Girls – 92-47 against Apponequet
12/13
Girls Hockey: L 6-1 against Hanover/Cohasset Swimming: Girls – W 88-78 against Brockton High School
Boys – L 84-38 against Brockton High School
12/15
Indoor Track: Away against Southeastern RVT HS Girls Basketball: W 51-42 against Cardinal Spellman
12/16
Boys Hockey: L 5-3 against Silver Lake Reg. High School Swimming: Boys – W 83-73 against Brockton High School
Girls – L 82-81 against Brockton High School
12/17
Boys Basketball: L 71-35 against O’Bryant High School Girls Basketball: W 64-43 against Boston Latin Academy
12/19
Swimming: Away against Dighton-Rehoboth @4:00
12/20
Boys Basketball: Away against Weston @3:30
Girls Hockey: Away against Barnstable @ 4:00 in Hyannis Boys Hockey: Away against Attleboro High School @2:30
12/21
Indoor Track: Away against West Bridgewater @3:30
12/23
Boys Hockey: Away against Nauset Regional High School @2:00 Girls Hockey: Home against Sandwich @1:00
12/27
Boys Basketball: Away at Winchester Holiday Tournament
12/28
Girls Basketball: Home against Fenway High School
Boys Hockey: Away against Oyster River High School @7:15 (UNH Tournament)
12/29
Boys Hockey : Away against Portsmouth High School @5:00 (UNH Tournament) Girls Hockey: Away against Fontbonne Academy @1:30
12/30
Boys Hockey: Away against TBD @TBD (UNH Tournament)
What is your role at MVRHS?
I am the IT director and one half of the tech support team (Richard Hammond is the other half). We are basically the first line of defense for day to day issues that students and teachers might have. We try to plan for the future to prevent problems before they happen.
What college did you go to?
I am mostly self-taught, with a sprinkling of organized education and training throughout but I did not attend college.
Why did you choose this career?
Every job I have had has been technology-related. Ever since I was little I have loved computers and electronics and I continue learning along the way. I started in the education system in 2011 at the Oak Bluffs School and was there for four years. I then decided to come here after Woody announced his retirement.
What does this job take?
Constant awareness. You have to constantly be monitoring to make sure everything is running smoothly. A teacher’s job is to teach and it’s my job to make sure they can do that with technology. Whatever we don’t know how to fix, we figure it out. Problems that are presented to us aren’t always fixable immediately and it may take some time. Many times, there are multiple ways to solve a problem, it just takes time to figure out which way to go.
Students have been talking about creating a new WiFi network with a code of conduct, would that be something MVRHS would consider down the road?
We already have an acceptance use policy in the handbook the students are supposed to sign. However, we are open to input on how to refine the current system, but a code of conduct is already in place.
Why did the school take down the WiFi in the first place?
There were network issues and most of them involved the guest WiFi.
Currently we are collecting data on how the network works. After these two weeks, we will be able to compare all the networks used by the school like apples to apples. This is just the testing process. After the break, the WiFi will be back, but we’re not sure to what extent. It’s hard to say if there will be an immediate solution, but some form of the WiFi network will be back.
What does MVRHS hope to get out of turning off the WiFi during this time?
We are looking to find a way to bridge the gap between the free use of WiFi and school-oriented WiFi and to change the current open unrestricted network to something more academic based. It is only off for two weeks, but just because there is no guest WiFi doesn’t mean there’s no internet access. Our school has plenty of Chromebooks and desktops in classrooms that are online through another WiFi network.
What specific issues came up that resulted in the need for shutting down guest WiFi?
A lot of the WiFi usage was being taken up by social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat as well as other non-school related sources like Netflix. The guest WiFi should be set up with boundaries that are more education-oriented. That being said, this network will be constantly evolving. If a student can’t get on a certain site, we’ll check it out and see if we should allow students to access that site.
What do you think is one misconception that students may have about the WiFi or the technology at MVRHS in general?
That everything is outdated or obsolete. The number of WiFi points has almost doubled from 2016 to 2017. We went from having 35 access points to 60. Sometimes the issues that arise with the WiFi, besides the heavy load, are because these WiFi signals may interfere with each other or materials in the wall stop the connection. Unfortunately this is why some rooms have poor WiFi. We then go in and rewire it to try to fix the issue. For example, there are two access points by guidance, but room 101 still does not have great WiFi, so we are trying to figure out a way to get that room WiFi while not messing up anyone else’s connections.
Yearbook Survey in Flex:
Click here!
Chess Club with Mr. McCarthy
Every Friday in Room 419. Come ready to play and learn the game of chess.
** Sign up for Chess Club with Mr. McCarthy under English**
Community Arts Project
Every Thursday, learn about the different ways you can celebrate diversity in our community. Any and all artists, sculptors, researchers, and writers are welcome.
**Sign up for Ms. Shoquist in room 326**
Make your Senior Square for Yearbook during Flex Block
ANY FLEX BLOCK Tuesday -Friday through the month of February. Students can expect to spend about 2 Flex Block periods on making their square! ** Sign up for Ms. Todd in room 404**
DECA- Business Club
Flex Block Thursdays through early January Business club members will be preparing for the District Competition.
**Please sign up with Mr. Jakusik**
Peer Tutoring in Room 203 with Mr. Lavers TUESDAY through FRIDAY
Peer Tutoring with Mr. Lavers will be in Room 203 during FLEX time. Mr. Bonneau will be in Room 113.
**Sign up as usual for Mr. Lavers, but note the change in room**
Meditative Coloring- December 20th.
Meditative Coloring is a great way to destress and relax. There will be a five minute introduction to the activity, a five minute time frame to pick a design then the rest of the period is used to work on your design. It is intended to be relaxing so there will be soft music playing in the background and students participating are expected to work silently.
**Sign up for Mrs. DeOliveira in room 115**
Tribal Youth Meeting
Weekly Tribal Youth Meeting with Tribal Leaders TUESDAYS in the ACR.
**Sign up for Tribal Youth Meeting under Assistant Principal**
School Year Abroad Presentation:
On Thursday 21st, come hear about the opportunity to spend your junior or senior year in China, France, Italy or Spain. While abroad, students will receive credits toward graduation while getting close attention in the college counseling process. The program offers financial aid, grants and merit scholarships.
**Sign up under Foreign Language/Spanish and choose School Year Abroad Presentation**
Holiday Decoration for Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Patients:
Join Susan McHugh, the nursing teacher, and create Christmas ornaments and decorations to bring to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Decorations will be made in the CTE Nursing room on Thursday, 12/21.
**Sign up under “Unknown” and choose “Holiday Decoration Making”**
Uproot Club
Meeting on Tuesday, 12/19 in Room 112 (Mr. Graves’ room). CONNECT to end violence after school group at MVRHS, Uproot: Students Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, meets every other Tuesday during Flex.
**Sign up for Guidance/Uproot **
Freshmen Flex Block- SWEAR
All Freshmen will be pulled on Wednesday, December 20th for a discussion during flex block to learn about the SWEAR program (Stand With Everyone Against Rape). SWEAR is a rape and sexual assault prevention and awareness program led predominately by males – focusing on the fact that rape and sexual assault is not just a women’s issue, but a men’s issue as well. The mission of SWEAR is is to educate young men and women on the myths, stereotypes, and repercussions of sexual assault and rape.
**Do not be alarmed if you’re pulled by a teacher you do not recognize. Appointments are locked. All Freshmen report to the PAC on Wednesday during Flex.**
CCCC Dual Enrollment for Psychology 101 (Free Class for MVRHS Juniors and Seniors)
Information session about enrolling in Psychology 101 (CCCC Dual Enrollment offering) is Tuesday, Dec. 19 in the LCR at 9:15 am. If students are still interested in signing up, please see Mrs. MacDonald in Guidance ASAP.
**Sign up for Ms. MacDonald under Guidance for flex or be sure to get a pass from your assigned Flex**