Harwich High School Social Studies Chair, Richard Houston, has been recognized as a “Christa’s Teachers Honor Roll” recipient from the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence at Framingham State College.

High school health instructor Angelina (Angie) Chilaka was a featured speaker at the Human Rights Celebration that took place on December 9, 2006 at Cape Cod Community College. Joining Angie at the celebration were Harwich High School students Jessica Comeau and David Nixon and principal Kevin Turner.

Thirteen high school juniors scored in the Advanced range in both the ELA and Math sections of the 2006 MCAS. The students were: Colleen Beckler, Patrick Blute, Caitlin Chin, Kalyn Conner, Corey Daley, Ian Doherty, Hannah Greenspan, Michelle Hemeon, Glenn Mallory, Gillian Smith, Emily Steen, Kory Thacher, and Lauren Wildman.

Casey Keyes, senior class president, currently ranked number one in her class, was recently honored by superintendent Dr. Carolyn Cragin, with the Superintendent’s Scholar Award. The award is presented annually to an outstanding member of the senior class.

Harwich High School is pleased to announce that their joint Blood Drive with the Harwich Chamber of Commerce and the America Red Cross brought in 60 pints of blood.

Math educator Katie Casavant has implemented a new “Peer Tutoring” program for all math students. This program allows higher level mathematics students, with teacher recommendation, to volunteer their time as tutors for Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Geometry students. The volunteer tutors earn Community Service Learning credit for the hours they accumulate. The program takes place on Tuesday afternoons from

2:15-3:30 p.m.

High school math teacher Denise Sessler joined selected teachers from across the Commonwealth at the request of the Massachusetts Department of Education to review and discuss the 2006 MCAS exam test questions. Sessler, selected from a large pool of interested educators, currently serves as the “expert in residence” with regard to the math MCAS exam. She will continue to meet with educators from across the Harwich district to assist in preparing for the MCAS exam each spring.

Social studies educator John Dickson has implemented a unique way for his Psychology students to learn about the developmental stages of life. He sends them to Harwich Elementary School to work with Mrs. Smith and Mrs. D’Urso and their students. This is the sixth year that the high school students have worked with the elementary students on this project.

Leading the charge for the Barnstable County Youth Congress are several Harwich High School students. David Nixon, Andrew Kennedy, Jessica Comeau, Kyla MacAskill, Maribeth Falvey, Allison Parent, and Madison Hogan all serve on the Congress as they begin to plan for the first ever Cape Cod Leadership Lock In. The overnight Lock In will mirror the one that Harwich High School has implemented for the last three years. The County Lock In is scheduled for early February at the Cape Cod YMCA. Representatives from several Cape high schools also participate in the Youth Congress and Lock In.

First year physical education teacher Stacy Brunell has certainly inspired the Harwich High School Cheerleading squad. In previous years the squad fielded from 10-16 students. This year, however, 28 students are participating. For the first time in years, Harwich is able to field both a JV and varsity squad.

The high school administration, in coordination with the Harwich Police Department and Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, held the second annual Community Drug Forum on December 6, at the Harwich Community Center. In addition to a discussion and demonstration of how Sheriff’s Department drug dogs are used in the schools, this year’s forum included a program addressing internet safety.

Over 200 students attended the high school Winter Ball on December 8 in the school cafeteria.

The third Saturday School of the year was held on December 16 with sixteen students scheduled.

The annual Winter Concert was held December 21at 7:30 pm in the auditorium.

The high school Renaissance Breakfast, recognizing outstanding student academic achievement, was held on December 22 at 7:45 a.m. in the cafeteria. Parents and students at the event were joined by members of the Harwich Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Chamber president spoke to the importance of a strong high school program and the positive relationship of the business and school community.

The Winter Pep Rally and Baseball Ceremony was held December 22 in the gymnasium. The rally, organized by the high school Peer Leaders, had events involving all of the winter athletic teams as well as a special ceremony presenting last year’s 2006 Massachusetts State Championship baseball team with their championship rings.