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Hudson~Litchfield News
Hudson~Litchfield News Volume 22 Number 42 May 4, 2012 20 Pages Board of Selectmen, National
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7- 11 by Doug Robinson
Since 1984, National PTA® has designated the first full week in May as PTA Teacher Appreciation Week, a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating our children. PTA events at the national, state, and local levels celebrate the outstanding contributions teachers make. Teacher Appreciation Week begins on the 7th until the 11th of May. During this time, students are offered the opportunity to show teachers how thankful they are for their support. It it’s time for students and communities to demonstrate how much our teachers mean so that we can have a better future. Teachers, the people who educate us, and give us the vital knowledge which we need to live our lives. They encourage, support, discipline and prepare us for the road ahead and now it’s time for us to show them our appreciation. The 8th of May will mark
Teacher Appreciation Day and students all across America will show their appreciation by rewarding their teachers with lovely gifts. These gifts can come in a variety of shapes and sizes – remember, it’s the thought that counts.
“NEA (National Education Association) and its affiliates continued to observe National Teacher Day in March until 1985, when the NEA Representative Assembly voted to change the event to Tuesday of the first full week of May. The origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day’ writes the NEA. The NEA, along with its Kansas and Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge City (Kan.) Local, lobbied Congress to create a national day to celebrate teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day for that year only. Some schools may have a special schedule lined up which will provide many outlets for students and communities to show how much a specific teacher or school system means to you them. Teachers will also be able to recognize the positive effects, which he or she has on students, which is sure to give everybody involved in education a huge boost. Litchfield School
Superintendent commented, “Teachers are the lifeblood of learning, and instill a passion for learning in students. Although technology has made vast advances in how we learn, nothing takes the place of the human factor of the teacher in the classroom. We all remember the teacher
who inspired us in a given field and gave us the confidence to achieve more than we ever imagined.
On National Teacher Day, thousands of communities take time to honor their local educators and acknowledge the crucial role teacher’s play in making sure every student receives a quality education.
Police Department, Latino Commission Settle Misconceptions
by Kristen Hoffman The NH Latino Commission spoke before the Hudson Board of Selectmen and members of the Police and Fire Department during a special meeting on April 30. The group addressed the board in order to find definitive answers regarding rumors that the small town may hold some racially charged stances in regards to past events. The Latino Commission is a group of independent, multicultural Granite Staters appointed by Governor John Lynch. The group looks out for the well being of not just Latinos in the state, but all minorities.
Board of Selectmen members Roger Coutu,
Richard Maddox and freshman member Nancy Brucker attended the meeting along with Hudson
Police Chief Jason Lavoie, and Captains Bill Avery and Robert Tousignant.
According to Board Chair Roger Coutu, he was contacted by the commission’s chair, Enrique Mesa to address some of the rumors he, and other members of the Latino Commission, had heard about Hudson. Back in 2005, Hudson made national headlines
when they enlisted the help of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with routine operations, an action that some on the Latino Commission, and others in the community saw as racial profiling.
According to Chair Coutu, Monday’s meeting had nothing to do with the previous controversies, but instead was a chance for the town to catch up with the Latino Commissions. Coutu stated several times that the meeting could have occurred during a regular selectmen’s meeting,
Urritia making closing statements at the meeting.
According to Urritia, the rumors of racial profliling in Hudson is water under the bridge.
and they did not have to hold a special, daytime meeting. State Representative Alejandro Urritia addressed
Captain Robert Tousignant listens to the discussion.
Tousignant later said that in his three decades in the force, he’s never witnessed an act of racial profiling.
Members of the Governor’s Latino Commission listen to State Rep. Alejandro Urritia address the Board of Selectmen at their unprecedented morning meeting.
the crowd first. Urritia has lived in Hudson for 23 years, and stated that he has never seen an instance first hand that would lead him to believe Hudson was not a welcoming community to minorities. He added that the issue was brought to the committee’s attention, so it was beneficial to bring it up in a public hearing in order to get the situation straightened out, “If people think the town of Hudson is not welcoming, it is the responsibility of the [town] of Hudson to change that,” he said. He added that he needed to spread
continued to page 17- Misconceptions Sixth Annual Walk and Run for Jay
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And they’re off.
by Lynne Ober Sunday was bright, cool and very breezy as runners and walkers signed up for the sixth annual Walk and Run for Jay O’Halloran. Jay, an Alvirne High School graduate, was
a vibrant 40 year old, who was full of life and loved people when he lost his battle with cancer on December 22, 2005. As a child, Jay had cancer, but seemed to have beaten it until it returned. Although he fought against the disease, Jay lost his battle with Leukemia. Jay had a strong passion for ice hockey and he played for many years as well as coached the Nashua Panthers Hockey Team. He enjoyed the outdoors, mountains and oceans of New England. Because Jay touched many people’s lives during his short time here on earth, it was no surprise that family
and friends decided to honor his memory with a scholarship fund that benefits graduating young men and women from Alvirne High School. Karen Bonney, Alvirne High School Athletic Director, was on hand to explain the cross- country course to the runners and walkers before she took her post as the event’s official timer. Participants completed one lap of the land around Hills House before entering the woods and returning to finish on the grounds of Hills House. “This is our cross country course,” said Bonney, who noted that the path around Hills House had been mowed. “It was a very cool day for running,” said Russ
First female runner enters the wooded section.
Ober, “and I’d forgotten how much more you work when you run on grass and dirt, but it was a fun event.”
Campbell High Receives Award for State Innovation
submitted by NH Department of Education The Education Commission of the States (ECS) will honor New Hampshire’s State Board of Education and Department of Education with the prestigious Frank Newman Award for State Innovation at the 2012 National Forum on Education Policy in Atlanta on July 10. The award recognizes the state’s bold high school reforms that replace the time-based system of Carnegie units with competency-based learning and the innovation taking place in New Hampshire K-12 schools. Since the 2008-2009 school year, New Hampshire high school students earn credits based on their mastery of competencies in each course, no matter how little or much time they need. Working with their teachers, students develop individual learning plans that can include traditional classes, online courses, internships, and working with mentors.
NH Education Commissioner Virginia M.
Barry, Ph.D., said, “New Hampshire educators find that when they adhere to high standards, while introducing multiple ways of achieving that high standard, students attain better outcomes.” Barry commended the Nellie Mae Education Foundation for its invaluable support. The department continues to work with foundations, Stupski, William and Flora Hewlett, and others to gain support for innovation. Business leaders in NH support schools efforts to innovate in our K-12 schools.
In 2010-2011, NH achieved an 86.6 percent
graduation rate and the state’s dropout rate is steadily decreasing. Students benefit from personalized plans including extended learning opportunities and internships. Elementary schools are addressing competencies with strategies focused on individual student progress. “We know students learn in different ways
and at different paces. New Hampshire has boldly faced the challenges of individualizing education for students and is showing the rest of the country it can be done,” said Roger Sampson, ECS President.
Since 1988 the ECS Frank Newman Award for State Innovation has recognized states and U.S. territories for innovative education reforms or programs that improve student outcomes on a large scale. Criteria for this award include initiatives that are bold, replicable and hold valuable lessons for other states, and have bipartisan, broad-based support. Commissioner Barry said, “This award would not be possible without the bold and forward thinking of our NH educators and I am pleased to announce the formation of the Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence an honor that recognizes schools and districts that aspire to excellence by
continued to page 17- CHS Receives Award continued to page 17- Run for Jay
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Staff photos by Lynne Ober
staff photos by Kristen Hoffman
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