Student artwork displayed has been provided by this year’s painting and drawing and photography classes.
Island Food Pantry : Beginning January 22 and continuing until February 16, boxes will be placed in homerooms to receive food for the Island Food Pantry . They’re looking for the following items:
Soups / Stews / Ravioli / Chili
Granola Bars
Canned vegetables
Produce (apples, oranges, etc.)
Peanut butter / almond butter
Tuna/canned chicken / salmon
Juices
Value Cards: For the remainder of the school year Freshman can receive a Value Card by a teacher or administer in the building if they are showing authentic acts of the high school’s common values. The common values are Resilience, Compassion, Community, Accountability, and Curiosity. This week classroom teachers will be discussing in more detail how your can earn a Value Card. At the end of the month anyone that received a card that month will be put into a raffle where three students can win a $20 voucher to the school store.
Angst is a 56-minute film and virtual reality experience that explores anxiety its causes, effects and what we can do about it. The filmmakers’ goal is to have a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety. Angst features candid interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they’ve learned about it. The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources and tools.
Each week we will introduce a student or staff member to our entire school community!
For this week’s interview, we talked to Lizzie Williamson, who is a senior, and Harold Lawry, who is a junior- you can catch them both in this year’s school production of West Side Story THIS WEEK!
How long have you been acting?
Lizzie Williamson: I have been acting for four years-starting my freshmen year with Brooke Ditchfield (the director) in her musical theater class and have participated in the annual musicals.
Harold Lawry: I have been acting for decades. I participated in all my middle school plays.
Do you think that you might continue acting, dancing or singing in college?
Lizzie Williamson: I hope so! As I look at schools I am seriously taking into consideration which schools have strong theater programs. I’m thinking about majoring in musical theater.
Harold: Yes! I want to continue acting for the rest of my life. I think acting is a great way to explore yourself. I don’t want to pursue a career in acting though.
What is your role?
Lizzie Williamson: I play Anita who is part of the Sharks Gang from Puerto Rico. Our side talks about the struggles of immigration and my character focuses on the problem of sexual assault.
Harold: I play Action. A sporadic right hand man to Riff in the Jets. He’s always itching for a fight.
How have you prepared to play your role?
Lizzie Williamson: This summer I started taking weekly voice lessons with Ms. Chandler. I knew I needed to improve my vocals so I was eager to train and learn. I’ve been dancing all my life so it worked out well that my part has a large dancing role. I am also the dance captain so I help teach choreography to the ensemble which I love doing. I’ve talked with Connect to End Violence to talk about my sexual assault scene and about how to keep myself safe, both in real life and in the play. I’ve also watched the movie over and over as well as listened to the music and spent a significant amount of time learning lines, songs, choreography and blocking.
Harold: I have learned his lines, rehearsed his steps and acted well.
Do you feel like you relate to your character in real life?
Lizzie Williamson: I love my character; her fire and how sassy she is. She loves her family, and friends and loves to dance which definitely relates to myself.
Harold: Well he does the things that he feels like he needs to do. My last line is a rebuttal to Doc, one of the few adults in the play, who says,“you make this world lousy.” I respond with “it’s the way we found it doc.” I feel like Action is a victim and believes that society makes him the way he is.
What inspired you to participate in the play this year?
Lizzie Williamson: West Side Story is one of my all time favorite productions. Working with Brooke is always fantastic. She really builds up the ensemble to something more than a company- it’s like we are a family. I always look forwards to practice!
Harold: I have listened to the music and over time realized it is going to be one of the hardest shows ever. That is what really peaked my interest in being a part of the show. I also wanted to be a part of the show because this musical changed how music was view in the industry. Brooke and the whole department has always built on the what they do the year before and aren’t afraid to do something crazy. The whole team and every member are vital to the performance and I am so thankful for every person involved.
What is your favorite part of this year’s production?
Lizzie Williamson: Sharing the common goal of performing a production that we’re all proud to show off. Hearing people sing and dance and watching their improvement has been amazing. I love how willing everyone is to participate. There’s a role for everyone who wants to be a part of the production.
Harold: I think when it’s over. The greatest joy as an ensemble is the feeling that we’ve done something for people, gave them fulfillment. We’re all very thankful of what we have accomplished as a family. The feeling of pride is huge at the end of the each show.
On February 1st-3rd Six string players and 29 singers participated in the All Cape and Islands Music Festival in Barnstable. All the students who auditioned in November were chosen to participate. These students worked hard, studying and practicing with high school students from the Cape and Nantucket in Band, Orchestra, Mixed Chorus (girls and guys), and Treble Chorus (all girls) for the concert on Saturday, Feb. 3.
WEST SIDE STORY- The Musical
Thursday through Sunday: February 15th, 16th and 17th at 7pm, and Sunday the 17th at 2pm.
Freshman Gabby Carr started the meet with a 17th place in the 200 freestyle (2:06.32). That’s the highest individual finish ever for the Vineyard at the Sectionals. Senior co-captain Lia Potter dropped over a second in the 100 butterfly (1:04.79) to place 24th . Gabby had a terrific 500 freestyle. She dropped over 10 seconds to finish in 5:37.82, good enough for 19 th place and a school record. That time qualified Gabby for the state meet, her second individual state event (with the 200 freestyle). The girls 200 freestyle relay dropped their time by over 2 seconds (1:50.07, good for a school record and 22nd place). Freshman Yayla DeChiara led off with a 27.64. Freshman Eleanor Hyland broke 30 seconds for the first time, splitting 29.54. Lia Potter broke 27 for the first time (26.94) and Gabby Carr anchored in 25.95, her first time under 26 seconds. Fresh off the relay, Yayla DeChiara placed 20th in the 100 backstroke (1:07.04). The Vineyard saved the best for last in the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay. Gabby Carr led off with a 58.17. Lia Potter went second and split 58.93. 7th grader Annabelle Brothers did her best time (1:01.93) and Yayla Dechiara anchored in 59.73 to finish in 3:58.76. The Vineyard beat the state qualifying time of 4:01.68 by almost 3 seconds and lowered their own school record by over 8 seconds.
The last meets of the year will be the Division 2 State Championships to be held next weekend at Boston University. The girls swim on Saturday and the boys will swim on Sunday. For the girls, Gabby Carr will swim the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. The girls will also have the 400 freestyle relay of Yayla DeChiara, Lia Potter, Annabelle Brothers and Gabby Carr. For the boys, Evan Sauter will swim the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. The boys will also have a 400 freestyle relay with Harrison Dorr, Rauiri Mullin, Oliver Dorr and Evan Sauter.
MVRHS Poetry Out Loud School-Wide Contest will be held on Wednesday, February 14th during Flex. We are hoping to have at least 10 brave students participating, but are encouraging more. There is still time to participate! If you want to memorize a poem and recite it, please do! The only requirement is that the poem be chosen from the poetryoutloud.org website (the judging criteria and examples of exemplary recitation can be accessed through that site as well). We hope to have a list of participants established by Tuesday, February 13th, so if you want to participate, please see Ms. Ferrone or Mr.D’Agostino before that date.
The Yard- Breakdancing
Come to a movement workshop where you will learn the history and the basics of breakdancing . Tuesday, 2/13. **Performing Arts/The Yard in the PAC Lobby**
Tribal Youth Meeting
Weekly Tribal Youth Meeting with Tribal Leaders will be held on Tuesday, 2/13 & 2/20 . **Sign up for Tribal Youth Meeting under Assistant Principal**
Poetry out Loud
Compete or come cheer on the brave students who perform poetry out loud on Tuesday, 2/13 in the library. ** Sign up under English/Poetry out Loud**
Uproot Meeting
Meeting on Tuesday, 2/6 in Room 112 (Mr. Graves’ room). CONNECT to end violence group, Uproot: Students Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. **Sign up for Title 1/Uproot **
Meditative Coloring
Meditative coloring is a great way to destress and relax. Wednesday, 2/14 . **Sign up for Ms. DeOliveira RM 115**
Diversity Speaker Series:
Gretchen Underwood Gretchen Underwood will speak to students on Friday, 2/16: “Gangstas: How Harriet Tubman and other gangstas made ME possible.” **Asst Principal/Diversity Speaker Series**
Employer Speaker Series:
Will Coogan Will Coogan will speak to students on Wednesday, 2/21 about his career path that ended up with ownership of two Island restaurants. ** Work Study/Fran Finnegan, Room 215 **
Diversity Speaker Series:
Makenzie Brookes Makenzie Brookes will speak to students about refugee resettlement in the USA on Thursday, 2/22: **Asst Principal/Diversity Speaker Series**
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**
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**
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**
2/5
Girls Hockey: Lost against Bishop Stang 2-5
2/6
Boys Basketball: Home against Mashpee @4:30
2/7
Girls Hockey: Away against Scituate @4:00
Boys Hockey: Home against Bishop Stang @4:30
Girls Basketball: Home against Bishop Stang @4:30
EVERYTHING CANCELLED
2/8
Girls Basketball: Away against Bishop Feehan @5:30
Boys Basketball: Home against Bishop Feehan @4:30
2/10
Boys Hockey: Lost against Bourne 2-1
2/12
Varsity Boys Hockey: Home against Bishop Feehan @2:30
JV Girls Hockey: Home against Sandwich @4:30
2/13
Boys Basketball: Home against Old Rochester @4:30
2/14
Varsity Girls Hockey: Away against Sandwich @4:00
2/16
Girls Basketball: Away against Cardinal Spellman @5:30
2/17
Boys Basketball: Home against Weston @1:30
Varsity Boys Hockey: Home Tournament @7:00