Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, 12.4.24

Girls Soccer Team wins Division 2 State Championship

Congratulations to Masconomet’s Varsity Girls Soccer Team for winning the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Division 2 State Championship.  The Team defeated Duxbury, 5-0, on November 23 in Worcester to clinch the state title.  They finished with a season record of 22-0-1 and a truly dominant 101-6 goal differential.  Congratulations to Head Coach Allison Lecesse, her coaching staff and to the entire team.

Masconomet Cheerleading takes 2^nd Place at State Meet

Congratulations to the Masconomet Cheerleading Squad for finishing in second place in Division 2 at the 2024 Massachusetts School Administrators Association State Meet on 11/24 in Worcester.  The team finished second to Billerica by earning a score of 88.5. Great job!

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Masconomet Middle School Leaders Testify Before State Antisemitism Commission

Middle School Principal Philip McManus and school counselor Jessica Goldberg shared their experiences with the Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism during a Statehouse hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Antisemitic acts have increased in recent years, with the Anti-Defamation League of Boston reporting that incidents in New England tripled from 2022 to 2023.

Principal McManus and Ms. Goldberg shared the impact the discovery of swastika graffiti on campus had on the school community, and the importance of continuous communication with stakeholders. They were joined by Deborah Coltin, Executive Director of the Lappin Foundation in Beverly, which provided antisemitism education services and support following the incident.

Commission members were particularly interested in the school’s quick and strategic response, leading to positive response from parents and the school community.

The Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism was created in July and was charged with soliciting feedback from across the state on proactive measures to reduce the incidence of antisemitic attacks. Members include representatives of the House and Senate, municipal government, education, and law enforcement, including Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker.

The Middle School and district are committed to continuing its work with the Lappin Foundation around educating students about antisemitism and the Holocaust, and maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming school community.

(Testimony may be viewed here, beginning at 2:23:00)

Masconomet Middle School Holds Successful Food Drive

Masconomet Middle School held a successful Food Drive prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The entire middle school collected 2,790 food items to donate to local food pantries, which is the most that has been collected in several years.  The 8 Blue Team won the school-wide competition to donate the most food items with 872 items collected! Donated food was delivered by the Middle School Student Council on November 27^th to the First Church in Boxford, Trinity Church in Topsfield, and Acord Food Pantry in Hamilton.  Thanks to everyone who donated for your generosity!!

Masconomet High School’s Days of Giving

The Peer Leading program is excited to share with you that Masco’s Days of Giving will run from Monday, December 16th, to Friday, December 20th!

Masconomet High School’s Peer Leading strives to create, and stress, the importance of community within and outside the walls of Masconomet. This holiday season, the Peer Leaders are seeking donations of gifts and/or gift cards for adolescents aged 11 and up.  This age range is to ensure that all children have a merry and bright Holiday season. All collected items will go directly to students and families in the Tri-Town! All donations can be dropped off outside of the Library or House B each morning from 7:00-7:30 during the Days of Giving.

December Parent Coffees

Our next High School Parent Coffee will be held on Friday, December 6 in the High School Library at 8:30 AM.  Our next Middle School Parent Coffee will be on December 13 in the Middle School Library at 8:30 AM. Parents are asked to check in at the main office to sign into the building.  They will then be escorted to the library for the Parent Coffee.

HS Winter Band and Chorus Concert on December 10 at 6:00 PM

Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon on December 12

Our annual holiday luncheon for senior citizens in Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield will be held on December 12 in the Masconomet Auditorium.  Our Masconomet High School Band and Choral Groups will perform.  Thanks to the Institution for Savings and Sol Bean Juice Bar and Kitchen for sponsoring this event. Interested senior citizens should contact their local Council on Aging for more information.

School Cancellation Notification Procedures

As we enter the winter season and the possibility of inclement weather, I wanted to share with you our procedures for communicating school cancellations and delayed openings.   

School cancellation or delayed opening announcements will first be communicated through “passive” means, such as Instagram and local news media outlets and then later through direct telephone contact through our Blackboard Communication System.

Once the decision is made to cancel or delay the start of school, it will be communicated through the following outlets:

1. All Media Communications will be sent out as soon as a decision has been made regardless of the time, and should be before 5:30 AM on the morning of the cancellation/delay.
   • Instagram:  follow @masconometsuper.  This will always be the first place for school cancellation and delayed opening announcements.
   • WBZ TV (Channel 4) and WBZ Radio 1030 AM.  www.cbsboston.com
   • WCVB (Channel 5) www.wcvb.com
   • WHDH (Channel 7) www.whdh.com
   • WYCN (Channel 10) www.nbcboston.com
   • WFXT (Channel 25) www.myfoxboston.com
   • NECN www.necn.com
   • Masconomet Website on the front page under “Superintendent News and Announcements.” www.masconomet.org
2. Direct Contact Communications through Blackboard via telephone and email should be sent out prior to 8:30 PM if a decision to close or delay school has been reached on the evening prior or at 6:00 AM if a decision is made on the morning of the cancellation or delayed opening.

Please remember that conditions may vary widely across the three communities during a weather event.  Parents always have the final authority to make the decision that it is unsafe for their child to travel to school.

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