News from February/March 2020 Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members, This newsletter comes to you later than planned. The articles below were all written in February and early March, but the closure of schools and the need to transition to remote teaching and learning necessitated new priorities. Now that the school year has ended, we can take some time to revisit what was happening when the Novel Coronavirus first impacted our lives. I hope you will take the opportunity to read this newsletter, look back, and celebrate the accomplishments and distinctions that marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring. All but two of the articles below are exactly as previously written, as they deal with things that took place in January, February, and March and are not ongoing. We felt it was necessary to amend the two articles in the Department News section to bring them up to date. The first deals with the start of site work on the AHS rebuild, which moved from February to April. The second one describes the new SummerFun! program, which has moved from on-site to online. Registration is still open, and I hope you will read the article and consider the wonderful options available for enrichment this summer. I want to mention that we celebrated School Counseling Week in February. This was a good time to reflect upon how this role has changed in our schools and to thank these talented professionals for their dedication and hard work. As I reported in my News from September 2019, the role of these individuals has expanded considerably from traditional guidance. Today our School Counselors address social emotional development and mental health and wellness in addition to academics, advanced education, and careers. School Counseling Week helps us recognize the valuable contributions these individuals make to our students and our schools. They are critical team members in our mission of serving all students. I know you will enjoy the Visual Art Showcase that is currently posted on the APS home page. The Showcase presents the wonderful artworks that Peirce students created in their classrooms. Look for the following icon in the left-hand navigation column and click to see the show.

In closing, I want to let you know that the Scholastic Kid Reporter I introduced you to in my News from October 2019, Claire Handler, has more great articles posted. In Senator Markey Runs for Re-election, Claire captures the candidate’s thoughts on the threat of climate change. Climate change also comes up in Biden Campaigns in New Hampshire, when Claire has a chance to question this candidate at a New Hampshire rally. Both articles feature some fun pictures of our Kid Reporter and these two veteran politicians. I hope you can spare a moment to take a look. Enjoy the News from February/March 2020 to learn about more of the wonderful things that have gone on in our schools.

Best regards, Kathleen Bodie, Ed.D Superintendent of Schools Headline View Safe & Supportive Schools Seventh Grade SBIRT Conversations Aimed at Substance Use Prevention, Intervention Every seventh grade student who participates in the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program that began in February will have a brief, confidential conversation with an Ottoson Nurse, School Counselor, or Social Worker designed to help prevent students from starting alcohol, marijuana or other drugs and to intervene in cases where such usage has begun. Read more> Ottoson Speaker Discusses the Significance of the N-Word in “To Kill a Mockingbird” Anti-racism educator Dr. Carroll W. Blake discussed the origin and historical significance of the N-word with our eighth grade students as they began their study of Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Learn more> Department News Updated--Site Changes to Facilitate Arlington High School Rebuild Begin Detailed plans on the changes that began on April 20 were well described by our chosen partner Consigli Construction at the AHS Building Project Forum on February 5, as the AHS Building Project Committee reviewed the overall status of the rebuild and answered community questions. Read more> Updated--Register Now for Arlington Community Education Online “SummerFun!” You will be amazed by the scope of choices available to create dynamic vacation experiences for your children in the Arlington Community Education online SummerFun! program. Learn more> Professional Development Visual Art Teachers Explore the Integration of Social-emotional Learning and the Arts An overnight retreat and an on-site workshop offered by The Inspired Classroom provided our Visual Art educators the knowledge, experiences, and strategies to integrate the arts with social-emotional learning. Learn more> Grant News ONR Grant Enables Two AHS Science Teachers to Participate in Professional Development An Office of Naval Research Grant made it possible for two Arlington High School Science teachers to learn from Woods Hole scientists and explore science curricula designed for investigative, inquiry-based learning. Read more> Three Continuing Scholar Awards Granted by the Arlington Education Foundation Congratulations to the Ottoson, Thompson, and Hardy teachers who have received AEF Continuing Scholar Awards that enable them to grow as educators and benefit their students. Read more> Awards & Distinctions Performances at Regional Mathcounts Competition Leads to Wildcard Spots for State Contests Congratulations to all members of the Gibbs and Ottoson Mathcounts® teams on their performances at the Metronorth Chapter Competition this month, and good luck to those moving on to state competition in March. Learn more>

AHS Students Demonstrate Heat Transfer Using Infrared Cameras at LearnLaunch Conference Four confident and enthusiastic Arlington High School students answered questions as they demonstrated the use of infrared cameras to explore thermal heat transfer during the Innovations Showcase at the LearnLaunch 2020 Conference last month. Read more> Hardworking AHS WGBH High School Quiz Show Team Thinking Ahead to Next Year After their defeat to Acton-Boxborough, the AHS WGBH High School Quiz Show Team is keeping up their practice schedule, preparing for a local Quiz Bowl, and are determined to be a “force to reckon with” when they return next year. Learn more> Three Visual Art Teachers included in “Those Who Can, Teach” Exhibition Two Ottoson Visual Art teachers and one from Arlington High School had their beautiful work included in the Nave Gallery art exhibit that celebrates the work of regional teachers who are committed to their own art practice. Read more> Ottoson Mathcounts Video Challenge Team Earns Spot in Quarterfinals Congratulations to the eighth grade members of the Square Hippos on having their Mathcounts Math Video Challenge entry selected as one of 59 quarterfinalists from the 473 national submissions. Read more> AHS Honors Orchestra to Play at Carnegie Hall I am delighted to report that the 2020-2021 Arlington High School Honors Orchestra, conducted by

Instrumental Music Director Sabatino D’Agostino, will be participating in the New York Invitational Music

Festival to be held at Carnegie Hall on March 8, 2021. Learn more>

Academics & Enrichment Stratton Parents and Children Reason, Solve Problems and Have Fun Learning at Math Night There were board games, tactile block and shape games, geometry activities, problem solving, measuring, and much more at the second Stratton Math Night that gave families the chance to listen and learn with their students as they engaged in mathematical thinking and reasoning. Read more> Latest “Colors of STEM” Poster at Brackett Highlights Biomedical Engineering Researcher Another poster in the rotating series that profiles prominent American STEM professionals of color tells the story of MIT Biomedical Engineering Professor and researcher Sangeeta Bhatia who uses nanotechnology to find ways to fight human disease. Learn more> Dallin Science Expo Night Showcases Inquiring Student Scientists This year’s Science Expo shared 53 posters highlighting student experiments and inventions, illustrating how the young people learned “cool things” beyond what is presented in the classroom through projects that fostered a sense of wonder and discovery. Read more> New Eighth Grade Civics Course Generates Engagement, Excitement, and Civil Dialogue Enthusiasm for the new Civics course is evident as our students engage in a variety of activities designed to help them understand the foundations, development, documents, institutions, and structure of the United States government at all levels and their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Learn more> Artist and Entrepreneur Visits Arlington High School About 40 AHS Visual Art students got to meet and participate in a unique hands-on printing project with commercial artist Dave DeAngelis, founder and owner of Emulsion Printhouse. Read more> “Thurgood” Brings the Legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall to Life at Arlington High School Thanks to the support of the Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, our juniors and seniors had the opportunity to learn more about the life and work of Thurgood Marshall, the first African

American justice of the Supreme Court, when the New Repertory Theatre of Watertown brought the one-man play Thurgood to AHS. Read more> Big/Little Project Unites High School and Preschool Artists in Collaboration Drawings created by Menotomy Preschool students were interpreted in sculpture by high school Studio Art students, and the two groups came together for a joint exhibit during the Big/Little Project. Learn more> Annual Mock Caldecott Challenges Students to Think Critically about Book Illustrations Bear Came Along, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and written by Richard T. Morris received the most votes in the fifth APS Mock Caldecott, a project that encourages our elementary children to think critically about new books and the beautiful illustrations they contain. Read more> Creative Highlights Gibbs Vocalists and Musicians Deliver Spirited Winter Concert Over 200 students took part in the Gibbs music program, and it was wonderful to see the Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, Keytones, Chorus, Concert Band, and Jazz Workshop perform last month. Read more> Ottoson Media Group’s “Teens Cook: French Edition” Now in Fourth Season For the fourth year, members of the Ottoson Media group are researching recipes, filming, directing, and hosting a terrific French cooking show on ACMi that they create with the help of Francoise Matte and Cecile Penot-Dietrich of French In the Kitchen. Learn more> AHS Student Directors Present Evening of One-Act Plays Continuing an Arlington High School tradition, a totally student-driven process created an evening of wonderful theater, as five young directors treated the audience to four one-act plays. Learn more> AHS Music Tech and Honors Orchestra Concert Showcases Student Talent and Interests The third annual collaboration between Arlington High School Music Technology students and the Honors Orchestra was an amazing evening that interspersed classical and contemporary orchestra performances with a variety of student-created work that included recorded, synthesized original songs, videos, and live performances that ranged from pop to Trap beat style rap. Learn more> Athletic Highlights Winter Season Ends with League Titles and Super 8 and Tournament Play It was an exciting end to the winter season as the Spy Ponders captured three Middlesex League titles, and four teams entered tournament play, including Boys Hockey who competed in the Super 8 seeded Number One in the state. Read more> Boys Hockey Shares State Championship after Final Game Cancelled After being ranked number one in Massachusetts, winning 20 straight games, and going into the championship contest undefeated in the Super 8 Tournament, Boys Hockey was awarded the title of 2020 Co-State Champions when the restrictions on large gatherings prevented the final game from being held. Learn more> Continue to read the full News from February/March 2020 Newsletter Safe & Supportive Schools Seventh Grade SBIRT Conversations Aimed at Substance Use Prevention, Intervention The Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program began for seventh grade students the end of this month. SBIRT is a state-mandated program that started in 2016. The goal is to

help prevent students from starting alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use, and to intervene in those cases where usage has begun. The one-on-one confidential sessions are brief and voluntary. Parents have the option to have their child opt-out if they wish. Ottoson Nurses, School Counselors, and Social Workers will speak with every seventh grade student. Each student receives individualized information based on the results and risk assessment. Young people who have a positive screening are referred to the School Counseling Department for further evaluation, treatment, and/or counseling. Data from the conversation is not included in a student’s school record, and results are not shared beyond the SBIRT team. Students who are not using dangerous substances will have their healthy lifestyles reinforced by the interviewer. Support services will be offered to any young person who reports using substances or is at risk for future use. Although it is difficult to tell what the long-term benefits of SBIRT will be, the screening opens a dialogue and begins a trusting relationship between the student and screener so that effective change can occur. Substance abuse is a health hazard that shows no mercy, and SBIRT provides a valuable opportunity to educate our young people on this danger. We are glad that we are able to offer this program to our students. Ottoson Speaker Discusses the Significance of the N-Word in “To Kill a Mockingbird” It is very important that our young people grow up recognizing the power of words that have been used to diminish or dehumanize groups of people. They need to understand how and why such words have been used so that they can understand the hurt they can still cause and why they are unacceptable today. This is why Ottoson invited Dr. Carroll W. Blake to speak with our eighth grade students as they began to read Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. This classic novel takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during 1933-35, a time and place where the n-word was commonly and even casually used. The author uses the word in order to illustrate the society in which the novel takes place. Dr. Blake has a history of working in anti-racism education. He currently heads C.W. Blake Associates, a consultancy group that conducts Diversity and Cultural Proficiency workshops. His background includes serving as a middle school principal and assistant principal, METCO Director, and Executive Director of the Achievement Gap Office and Lead Executive Coach for Male Educators of Color in Boston Public Schools. At Ottoson, Dr. Blake went into eighth grade English classes to discuss the origin and historical significance of the N-word, and spent time exploring its use and context in To Kill a Mockingbird. The organization Facing History and Ourselves says that “The dehumanizing power of this term and the ease with which some Americans have used it to describe their fellow human beings is central to understanding the themes of identity and human behavior at the heart of the book.” Hearing from Dr. Blake as the study of To Kill a Mockingbird began laying the groundwork for thoughtful discussion and reflection. Department News Site Changes to Facilitate Arlington High School Rebuild Begin Important note: This article has been updated from the original to reflect changes due to school closings and the COVID-19 pandemic. On February 5, the Arlington High School Building Project Committee hosted a town-wide forum to discuss the changes that are coming to the AHS building site. Our site has a lot of challenges, and our chosen partner Consigli Construction presented detailed plans for how they will maintain safety and separation, minimize disruption to the community, and maintain proactive communication. Preliminary site work began the week of April 20, with the installation of the perimeter fencing around where work is beginning. The current construction schedule is April 20, 2020, through April 2025. It is

important to note that every effort is being maintained to protect the health and safety of the community and workers on-site during this unusual time. The AHS Building Project website contains the full presentations delivered at the February 5 forum. The Construction Update that was presented that night contains detailed information on what will be taking place in the first stages of the work and reviewing this will help you understand the upcoming changes. Detailed information on what it will mean if you have children in grades four through 12 can be found in the Project Update. The AHS Building Project website is a wealth of information about the project and process and I encourage you to explore it. You can expect many changes throughout the construction period and I invite you to sign up for weekly Construction Updates so that you keep up with the latest information. All the Construction updates can be found on the Arlington town website here. You may also want to subscribe to the bi-monthly e-bulletins which deliver general project updates and you may also submit questions by email. Register Now for Arlington Community Education Online “SummerFun!” Important note: This article has been updated from the original in order to provide the latest information on the “SummerFun!” program which is being offered online this year. When you think about things for your children to do during summer vacation, you will want to consider the amazing online options that Arlington Community Education (ACE) is offering this year. There is still time to register for the wonderful courses that are part of SummerFun! There are over 100 enrichment classes available for students in grades one through nine, all taught by experienced classroom teachers. Options include topics such as crafts, cooking, fitness and dance, language, fantasy, music and theater, nature explorations, science, technology, engineering, and art. Classes will be held over six weeks, beginning June 29, and both morning and afternoon sessions are available. At-A Glance shows all the different courses, when they are offered, the price for participating, and the name of the instructor. Additional information, including class descriptions and the supplies needed to participate, can be found here. Register now for a fun, creative, and adventurous summer of learning. I want to thank ACE Director Jen Rothenberg and her dedicated staff for all the work they have done to transition SummerFun! from an on-site to an online experience. This popular program has been an important part of our educational offerings for several years, and we are pleased to be able to continue giving our young people the opportunity to take part during these difficult times. Professional Development Visual Art Teachers Explore the Integration of Social-emotional Learning and the Arts This winter our Visual Art teachers at all levels have been taking advantage of the opportunities for learning available from The Inspired Classroom. This organization offers training that provides educators with the knowledge, experiences, and strategies to help them integrate the arts with social emotional learning (SEL). Visual art, music, poetry, dance, and theater fit naturally into an SEL framework that strives to develop student competencies of self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. High school, middle school, and elementary art teachers attended an overnight Winter Social-Emotional Artistic Learning (SEAL) Retreat held at the Essex Woods Meeting and Retreat Center in early February. Working together with attendees from several states, the teachers became involved in workshops and hands-on activities that had them exploring the connections between what they were doing and the ways the movements or art creation encouraged SEL skills.

Additionally, all 10 Kindergarten through eighth grade Visual Art teachers participated in an on-site workshop led by Elizabeth Peterson, founder of The Inspired Classroom. Both opportunities were made possible thanks to the Arlington Education Foundation Development and Expansion Grant that supports the implementation of Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB). The funds awarded make it possible for all 14 Visual Art teachers in the district to engage in multiple forms of professional development. This will enable our teachers to gain the skills necessary to implement TAB and integrate it with SEL and the Studio Thinking Philosophy that forms the basis of the current APS curriculum. Grant News

ONR Grant Enables Two AHS Science Teachers to Participate in Professional Development Thanks to an Office of Naval Research STEM Resources and Professional Development grant worth over $10,000, AHS Science teachers Graham Daley and Jayce McG have recently completed three days of Professional Development centered on oceanography. A total of 26 high school STEM and Special Education teachers from across Massachusetts and Rhode Island attended the workshops that were held at the East Bay Educational Collaborative in Rhode Island. Ms. Daley and Mr. McG returned home very excited about the content and how it touched on a variety of scientific disciplines, the resources that are available to us, and the ways they can share what they have learned with their colleagues.

The first day featured a colleague of Dr. Robert Ballard, founder of JASON Learning. This project has

created an extensive science curriculum that includes hands-on labs, digital games, simulations, articles, and videos designed to incorporate inquiry-based learning into every lesson. The focus of discussion at the workshop was the curriculum Physical Sciences: World of Waves, but after attending the training, Ms. Daley and Mr. McG are now able to access the full spectrum of materials that are part of JASON Learning. Examples include Climate: Seas of Change, Ecology: Resilient Planet, and Energy: Infinite Potential. The second day was dedicated to ocean science and they heard from three post-doctoral fellows who work at the Woods Hole Research Center in Falmouth, Mass. Additionally, the attendees were introduced to the Scoutlier digital platform from Aecern LLC, also located in Woods Hole. This tool is tailored to high school science and engineering, works with Google Classroom, and is currently free for teachers and students. With this product teachers can create their own assignments or choose from templates or an assignment library. Attendees were able to spend time working in groups to give it a try. Scoutlier can also be used to collect and organize student information. Our two teachers were particularly excited by the third day, which centered on understanding the types of resources available from Lab-aids, an organization dedicated to creating and publishing science curricula. Their programs are geared toward investigative learning and contain lab-ware and books for hands-on activities. Mr. McG was pleased to discover that there are Lab-aids programs such as forecasting, carbon cycle, and climate change that should work well in the semester course on weather and climate that he is developing. He will be giving these a try in his existing classes this spring.

Both teachers appreciated the opportunities the sessions provided to work in small groups or at stations and try out different lessons, experiments, and kits offered by the providers. Ms. Daley finds it inspiring to be able to take a break from the daily routine to uncover new ideas. Both are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from the speakers and meet and share insights with fellow high school science teachers. The three days enabled Ms. Daley and Mr. McG to “add to their toolbox” to the benefit of their students, their fellow AHS Science teachers, and themselves. I want to thank Larry Weathers, former APS K-12 Science Director, for applying for the grant that allowed Ms. Daley and Mr. McG to participate in this valuable training. Three Continuing Scholar Awards Granted by the Arlington Education Foundation I am happy to report that the Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) has chosen to provide support to three teachers who are pursuing experiences that will benefit their teaching practice and our students. The following educators have just received Continuing Scholar Awards. Ottoson seventh grade World Language teacher Sarah Jane Franford will be attending the Escuela Playa Spanish Teacher Training Program at the Cervantes Institute in Malaga, Spain in July. Participating in this program is a return to Spain for this former OMS student who earned her master’s degree there in 2007. In her personal statement to AEF, Ms. Franford notes that Spanish is evolving from one that was once dominated by masculine grammar, giving way to the genderless “elle”. She believes that staying current in the language she teaches is key to motivating her students to pursue further study. Ms. Franford intends to use her time wisely, interviewing local people, recording everyday conversations, and collecting artifacts she can share with her classes. Thompson fourth grade teacher Sarah Marie Jette will be attending Narrative Medicine and the Creative Impulse at Columbia University in April. Ms. Jette recognizes the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom and believes that this support is greatly needed for helping students with their writing. She describes this course as being “…focused on developing powerful narrative skills that include empathy, compassion, radical listening, and creativity.” Ms. Jette believes that she will come away with an increased understanding of “…how to reach more learners…” and that it will allow her to expand her teaching of writing. Hardy First Grade Teacher Katherine Picarde attended the Learning Disabilities Association of America 57th Annual International Conference held in Orlando, Florida this month. She believes that this is a wonderful opportunity to enable her to learn about new research-based strategies that can be applied to students with various learning disabilities and ADHD. It will also enhance her understanding of “…the educator’s role of fostering student psychological beliefs that shape learning.” These three awards illustrate the continuing interest our educators have in expanding their professional knowledge in ways that will help them reach and motivate their students. I thank AEF for supporting this work. Awards & Distinctions

Performances at Regional Mathcounts Competition Leads to Wildcard Spots for State Contests

There is terrific news on the accomplishments of the Gibbs and Ottoson Mathcounts® teams to share with you this month. The ten-member Ottoson and eight-member Gibbs team did very well when they competed in the Mathcounts Metronorth Chapter Competition in Melrose on February 8—Ottoson placing ninth out of 24 schools and Gibbs finishing sixth overall. This is the first year that Gibbs students have competed. Then a couple0f weeks later the team’s coach, math tutor and parent volunteer Jonathan McIntyre, was notified that two wildcard placements had been awarded to Arlington for state competition--one for team and one for individual. The Gibbs team and OMS seventh grade student Kenneth Lu will take part in the state contest at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston on March 7. Click here to learn more details about the February 8 competition and the wildcard choices. Mathcounts is a national program that holds competitions for students in grades 6-8. Gibbs and OMS team members were chosen based upon their attendance at Math Team Practices, scores on a January contest, and the amount of work done on an online practice tool. To get ready for competition, the teams met on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings. I want to congratulate all the students who took part in these challenging competitions: Gibbs team members Jiahe Liu, Xitiz Shakya, Yaxin Zhang, and You-Yan Wang; Individual Gibbs competitors Zach Phan, Daniel Elkin, Yujia Wang, and Mihir Roday; Ottoson team members Ethan Phan, Jessie Ma, Andy Simcoe, and Kenneth Lu; Individual Ottoson competitors Immy Serifovic, Jin Choi, Ivy Wang, Allison Dixon, Magalie Frechette, and John Archibald. I want to thank Mr. McIntyre for his leadership of the Gibbs and Ottoson Math Teams. Please see the Gibbs/Ottoson Math Team webpage for more information. Good luck to those who will be participating in the state competition!

AHS Students Demonstrate Heat Transfer Using Infrared Cameras at LearnLaunch Conference I am pleased to report that four Arlington High School students took part in the LearnLaunch 2020, Across Boundaries Conference Learning Innovation Showcase in January. Nishaad Vinayak, Dinor Nalbani, Ritika Gurjar, and John Cha joined 19 other student teams from schools across Massachusetts to present examples of experiential learning. Their presentation, Exploring Thermal Principles Using Infrared Camera Technology, illustrated a hands-exploration of the scientific principles of heat transfer. The Innovation Showcase was in a room containing a small stage and tables where each school could demonstrate their project. Every student team was given one minute on stage to briefly describe their project and encourage attendees to visit them. After giving their pitch, our students staffed the table. As each teacher, administrator, or student attendee came by, they answered questions, did demonstrations, and explained the details. The Arlington table contained several infrared cameras that were set up with demonstrations that mimicked some of the labs the students had done in class last year. For example, one demo had a camera set up over a metal and a plastic spoon. The heat transfer that occurred when someone touched the end of each spoon was visible through the camera and it was clear that the heat transferred up the metal spoon faster than through the plastic one. Another example illustrated how heat moved from hot

water to warm up a paper card. Cameras were also available so that attendees could look at other things in the room. AHS Science teacher Mark Petrozzino, who taught the students last year, indicated that the young people really enjoyed the experience. They were thrilled with the amount of attention at their Showcase table, and their one minute presentation was a big hit with the Conference attendees. While every other school gave a pretty straightforward description of their projects, our students did a short skit which was very well received. The AHS team was asked to join some fifth grade students from another school to give a short pitch to the entire conference at the end of the Keynote speech! Mr. Petrozzino had this to say about the experience: “I don’t think the show could have gone any better. Our students did a really great job before and during the show and they were just a really nice bunch of kids to work with. Their confidence in front of an audience of mostly adults really stood out and their enthusiasm could not be missed. The show was not a competition, but if it had been, our kids would have taken home gold. They were really good.” I want to thank Nishaad, Dinor, Ritika, and John for volunteering to take part in the Innovations Showcase and representing Arlington so well. I thank former Science Director Larry Weathers for submitting the application, and Mr. Petrozzino for supporting and directing our involvement. I also thank the Concord Consortium for lending our team several infrared cameras that were used in the demonstrations. This was a terrific opportunity for our students to illustrate the personalized classroom learning that they had experienced.

Hardworking AHS WGBH High School Quiz Show Team Thinking Ahead to Next Year Congratulations to team members Peter Berggren, Nick Moylan, Khalil Waldron, and Anshu Armandla and alternates Owen Hamilton and Armaan Merchant for qualifying and competing in the WGBH High School Quiz Show. AHS Latin teacher Edward Foley, who coaches the group, reports that this year’s team worked very hard to prepare themselves. They met at least twice a week, every week, to practice, whether or not he was available to assist. Several strategies were employed. Sometimes they would watch old episodes of the show. Other times they quizzed each other, choosing random questions from various books of trivia they had assembled. The team put up a valiant effort on the show that aired February 15, but they were unable to defeat Acton-Boxborough, and will not be moving on. Since their defeat, the students have lost no time in getting back to work. They are keeping up the same schedule of practice they established before the competition and seem more determined than ever to be ready for next year’s qualifying event. Additionally, they have decided to compete at one of the local Quiz Bowls in April. Mr. Foley has this to say: “I am extremely proud of them not only for their hard work but also for the way they encouraged each other, the initiative they showed in their approach to practice, and the good humor they displayed throughout the whole process. Their enthusiasm, patience, and discipline made them a pleasure to work with. I am quite confident that they will be a force to be reckoned with the next time they

converge on WGBH studios!” I thank Mr. Foley for his leadership of the team. Kudos to everyone who participated, and we look forward to next year.

Three Visual Art Teachers included in “Those Who Can, Teach” Exhibition I am pleased to report that Ottoson Visual Art teachers Polly Ford and Kayla McKenna, and AHS’s Aimee Archambault had artwork included in the recent Those Who Can, Teach exhibit at the Nave Gallery in Somerville. The annual exhibit highlights the works of regional teachers who are committed to their own art practice and bring their enthusiasm for, and skills in, art-making to their students. The beautiful pieces shown above the headline, from left to right, were done by Ms. Archambault, Ms. McKenna, and Ms. Ford. We are always gratified when the talent of our teachers is shared with the greater community. Congratulations to all three of you on your inclusion in this unique exhibit. Ottoson Mathcounts Video Challenge Team Earns Spot in Quarterfinals Congratulations to the Square Hippos, Ottoson’s eighth grade Mathcounts Math Video Challenge team, on having their Coordinate Geometry video chosen as a quarterfinalist in this year’s contest. This national program enables middle school students to create an original video that shows math in a real-world setting. Each five minute video creatively tells a story revolving around a mathematics problem provided by the Mathcounts organizers. The entry submitted by team members Benjamin Schneider, Henry Garden, Jaemin Kung, and Phil Watson, The Case of the Decorated Envelope, was one of the 59 quarterfinalist entries selected from the 473 videos submitted. I want to thank Ottoson Math Club advisor Shukti Fischl for her leadership of the Club and for suggesting that members consider entering the Challenge. Please click here to see other entries to this year’s contest. This is a very creative and fun way for students to consider and illustrate the role mathematics plays in our daily lives. Great job Square Hippos! AHS Honors Orchestra to Play at Carnegie Hall Playing Carnegie Hall is the dream of every performer, and I am delighted to share the news that the members of the 2020-2021 Arlington High School Honors Orchestra will have this experience. The group has been accepted to be part of the New York Invitational Music Festival to be held on March 8, 2021. This festival is offered by Super Holiday Tours, an organization that specializes in providing unique performing arts experiences for students. Scroll down the Super Holiday Tours home page to view a short video and hear from students and directors who have participated in previous festivals. Congratulations to AHS Instrumental Music Director and Honors Orchestra Conductor Sabatino D’Agostino and the talented members of the orchestra. I look forward to reporting on this wonderful event next March.

Academics & Enrichment

Stratton Parents and Children Reason, Solve Problems and Have Fun Learning at Math Night For the second year in a row, the Stratton Math Night, held on January 30, drew a huge crowd of parents and children engaged around thinking and learning mathematically. Math Coach Elizabeth Van Cleef isn’t completely sure why everyone had such a great time, but it is clear that the families enjoyed working together. The event provides a chance for the adults, who learned mathematics differently when they were young, to see how their children are doing it now. This increases their understanding of what happens in the classroom on a day-to-day basis. There were plenty of activities to choose from at the tables located throughout the cafeteria. Colored balloons aligning to the PRIDE colors for each grade level helped the families determine the best activities to engage in with their children. Ms. Van Cleef chose games from the curriculum, being careful not to jump ahead to things not yet covered, and she purchased others that she believed were particularly good for family engagement. Examples include Roll Around the Clock, Fraction Track, and Adding to Compare Fractions. A couple of tables featured board games. One of the most popular activities was Which One Doesn’t Belong? A space was created so that the students could create their own images, and this worked out very well. This activity is a great way for people to talk about their ideas and develop reasoning skills and logic. For every image, there are generally several arguments for which one doesn’t belong. The geometry activities, which included Pattern Block Puzzles, Power Polygon Exploration, and Half-Yellow, were also very popular. The gym was the site of the non-standard units of measurement exploration. There was plenty of space to measure the length of the room using life-sized figures ranging from Olaf, the snowman from Frozen, to The Princess Bride’s Andre the Giant. A life-sized cutout of Grade 2 teacher Mrs. Doherty was provided as an intermediate size between those two extremes. In a nod to an old Boston tradition, some students even measured the gym using themselves as the measurement unit. A sensory room was available for students who wanted to be in a quieter space. In this area, families could check out an activity from a sensory kit, use it, and then return it before the end of the night. Additionally, Librarian Doreen Cameron set up and staffed a table of mathematics books. This enabled families to explore the available volumes that support fun mathematics thinking. As attendees roamed the cafeteria, they were able to answer data questions that had been suggested by Stratton classrooms. These included:

• Would you rather be a monkey or an elephant?

• Do you like baths or showers?

• How many teeth have you lost?

• How many children do you have?

• What’s your favorite meal: Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?

• What do you like to play during recess?

• Do you like vegetables? After the event, the questions and answers were returned to the individual classrooms for analysis by the students. Not only is Math Night a lot of fun but it is a great way to showcase the mathematics curriculum. It takes a tremendous amount of work to create this exciting event and I want to thank Ms. Van Cleef and her co-leader, Math Interventionist Stewart Deck, for their leadership. I also thank all the volunteers who assisted: the thoughtful and committed fifth grade students who helped out at the tables, the fantastic fourth grade volunteer, Hardy Math Specialist Shana Namm who ran the Problem-Solving activities. Stratton PTO members, and all the others who staffed tables and helped with set-up and clean-up.

Latest “Colors of STEM” Poster at Brackett Highlights Biomedical Engineering Researcher It is wonderful to see the latest Colors of STEM poster hanging across from the Brackett Library. This is the fifth in a series of posters that highlight the contributions of people of color in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. The rotating exhibit is made possible thanks to a 2017 Innovations in Education grant from the Arlington Education Foundation. The project, spearheaded by parents Atwood Cheung and Nancy Chew, is designed to help promote diversity, inclusion, and tolerance among Kindergarten through fifth grade students and provide them with role models of color who are generally underrepresented. Parent Julia Goodman, the graphic artist who designs the posters, is another key contributor to this ongoing project. The newest poster features biomedical engineer Sangeeta Bhatia from Lexington, Massachusetts. She works in nanotechnology looking for ways to fight human diseases. Ms. Bhatia discovered her passion for engineering after taking a 10th grade biology class and visiting an engineering lab. Her many awards include the 2014 Lemelson-MIT Prize which recognizes her innovations. The poster project is a wonderful example of parents and teachers coming together to illustrate that great ideas and contributions to society come from all groups of people in our country. Colors of STEM provides an important avenue for children to see successful professionals who look like themselves, get a deeper understanding of what they may be able to achieve, and of the careers they can pursue. Click here to find out more.

Dallin Science Expo Night Showcases Inquiring Student Scientists Dallin hosted its sixth annual Student Science Expo on January 30, an evening dedicated to sharing student experiments and inventions. Participation was voluntary, and all grades were welcome. Students in Kindergarten through second grade could work on a project with a parent, and older students could work alone or in teams of up to four people. The young scientists took one of two approaches: use the engineering design process to invent something new to solve a problem in our community or world or answer a scientific question by conducting an experiment. To get the ideas flowing, Dallin held a Science Day in mid-December several weeks before the Expo where 20 scientists from the community—many of them Dallin parents—did demonstrations to illustrate science concepts. This enabled the students to see some exciting science from many different fields, helping to inspire questions that the young people wanted to learn more about. On the night of the Expo, attendees picked up a program and were free to walk around and explore the 53 posters that were on display. Some were interactive, and the student scientists were available to assist and answer questions. Here are a few examples of the questions that were explored:

1. Is tap water better than bottled water? 2. What is the evolution of bacteria and why is it important? 3. What is the best way to clean your hands? 4. What is the best performing airplane wing? 5. Are you a code cracker? 6. How can we get all the garbage out of the ocean? 7. What happens when you mix different materials with vinegar? 8. How do microscopes zoom in?

Dallin Assistant Principal Samantha Karustis loves this annual event because, “STEAM activities provide hands-on/mind-on learning opportunities for students that foster curiosity and exploration. It builds on their natural inquisitiveness and hopefully ignites a passion for learning.” She reports that student and parent feedback was positive and very enthusiastic. Students liked that they got to learn “cool things” that they wouldn’t be able to study in school and that they were able to see their friends’ posters. Parents loved the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the project and the way the Expo allowed their children to collaborate with others in their grade. Creating and executing successful events like this require many volunteer hands and I am grateful to everyone who participated. Special thanks go to Marc DiGregorio, Tracy Callahan, Ben Davenny, Ashutosh Gupta, Stephen Wilson, Brian Faull, Stacie Greenland, Caroline Bjune, and Ekaterina Zagriadskain, the members of the Dallin STEAM Committee, who meet monthly to support science and art education. I also thank Ms. Karustis, Dallin and APS Staff members Dennis Vivieros and Susan Burns, and the Brackett and other facilities folks who helped out with the tables. Congratulations to all the student scientists.

New Eighth Grade Civics Course Generates Engagement, Excitement, and Civil Dialogue “We are just starting to become more involved with things going on in our community, and our world, because we are old enough to go out alone and have our voices heard…I didn’t know about things like Gerrymandering, or the tribes that were here before the Europeans. I really like this type of history.” The quote above comes from one of the eighth grade students who are taking the new Civics course. In 2018, The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the History and Social Science Framework, that improved upon the original curriculum framework issued in 2003. One of the notable additions is the “increased emphasis on civics at all grade levels, including a new grade 8 course on civics;” Our eighth grade Social Studies teachers have been working with K-12 History and Social Studies Director Denny Conklin to create the civics curriculum that has been introduced this year. At this point, four units have been completed: Influences & Foundations of American Democracy, Founding Documents & Colonial History, Democracy in Action, and E Pluribus Unum (Federal Government.) The topics are presented through a variety of activities that may include games, research, projects, and advocacy. During a School Committee presentation on the new course, Civics teacher Lucy Conroy shared how the students are getting involved in understanding the topics and trying their hand at civic engagement. For example, when studying how a bill becomes law, the students identified issues of interest and used the Massachusetts Legislative Bill Tracking and Stakeholder Engagement Platform to determine if there was anything pending. After finding a piece of legislation that fit the issue and doing research into the topic, the students wrote letters to their members of Congress to advocate for the bill. In the same presentation, Mr. Conklin shared some learning experiences the students had that particularly impressed him. One was the exploration of the Iroquois Nations Great Law of Peace, which had the young people understanding the legacy of native peoples and how a lot of ideas that are part of our government today came from the Iroquois Confederacy. Another was Creating Third Parties. In this example he talked about how groups of students were conferring on the creation of a third party, discussing how to take ideas from the current parties and including their own values and goals for society in the new one. Ms. Conroy reports that the teachers are very excited about the way the classes are going. She is amazed by the students—their interests, how they enjoy talking about current events and relating these to what they are learning about the Constitution and how our government works, and the quality of the work being done in the activities. The young people are very enthusiastic about expressing their viewpoints and really care about what is happening. Mr. Conklin believes they are having great success in helping the students learn how to have respectful, mature discussions. He believes that teaching them to engage in civil discourse is one of the greatest benefits of the Civics course. This helps to develop empathy, promotes inclusion and respect for diversity, and is a skill they will use throughout their lives. As the year progresses, the students will consider the topics of State and Local Government, Racial Equality, Women’s Equality, Immigration, and Equality for Everyone. The year culminates with a Civic Action Project. Eighth grade teachers Eric Bakke, Nikki Hoctor, Todd Sundstrom, and Ms. Conroy are coming together regularly to share ideas as they evaluate and refine the new curriculum. I want to thank them and Mr. Conklin for their commitment to making sure their students are engaged and excited as they learn about our democracy and what it means to be a citizen of the United States. Artist and Entrepreneur Visits Arlington High School Visual Art students had the wonderful opportunity to meet and work with a professional artist when Dave DeAngelis visited AHS teacher Annie Rebola’s classes to talk and work with the young people. During the two-day visit, Mr. DeAngelis discussed the field of commercial art and explained his transition from a college art student to a successful entrepreneur who owns his own company, Emulsion Printhouse. He

then worked with about 40 students on a unique hands-on printmaking project that included a T-shirt design competition. The young artists were asked to create a design related to the theme of Varsity Art. Students then chose one of these designs to be printed by Emulsion on over 40 complimentary T-shirts. I want to thank Ms. Rebola for hosting this visit and enabling her students to understand more of the possibilities open to them to pursue their art in the future. “Thurgood” Brings the Legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall to Life at Arlington High School “Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall earned this appellation for being a change agent of monumental significance….A relentless crusader for equal treatment under the law, he challenged the system while working within it, exposing its contradictions and attacking the rigged system that discriminated against significant portions of America’s citizenry.”—Director Benny Sato Ambush, New Repertory Theatre In January the New Repertory Theatre of Watertown brought their production of the one-man play Thurgood to AHS, giving our juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn more about the life and work of Thurgood Marshall. Born in 1908, Justice Marshall lived through some difficult times in our nation’s history and committed his life to using the law as a tool for justice. He became the first African American justice of the Supreme Court in 1967, where he served for 24 years until his retirement. The play included challenging material, including a discussion of lynching and the use of the N-word. To prepare the students for what they were about to see, English teachers addressed the use of dehumanizing language and History teachers presented some historical context about Thurgood Marshall prior to the performance. The week after the play, all junior and senior Advisories participated in a lesson written by K-12 History and Social Studies Director Denny Conklin that asked students to reflect upon the role individuals can play in bringing about change. They considered what was surprising, intriguing, and/or troubling about the play, and were asked to think about how they can draw on Justice Marshall’s life to think about actions they can take in their own community. Commenting on his goals for sharing this play with our students, Mr. Conklin had this to say: “For the History Department, our goal is always to help students see the wide variety of individuals who are upstanders, and especially to see Civil Rights leaders that go beyond the ‘big names’ like MLK Jr. and Rosa Parks. We also try to look at the way that a person’s identity impacts the choices they make, and this was apparent in the play. Marshall’s own challenges in getting into law school because of segregation as well as the segregation his mother faced impacted his decision to use the legal system as a vehicle to tackle racial equity.” This was the first time that this play has been presented at AHS, and I thank the Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee for reaching out to us and paying for the performance. Big/Little Project Unites High School and Preschool Artists in Collaboration A wonderful collaboration between Arlington High School Visual Art students and those in the Menotomy Preschool has been taking place. First, the young students in Sif Ferranti’s preschool class went to AHS teacher Annie Rebola’s art room and created drawings that centered on deserts and mountains, their current theme of study. When these were finished, the two teachers worked with the artists to capture their verbal statements about what they had created. The next step was to give teams in Ms. Rebola’s Studio Art class the drawings and texts so that those students could interpret the pictures in sculpture. The original drawings and the resulting sculptures will be displayed side-by-side throughout the AHS Media Center, and the preschool and high school artists will get to meet each other and talk about the works. The Big/Little Project was a wonderful way for young students to begin learning how to think about their own work, and then see how what they had done could be interpreted by older artists. I thank Ms. Rebola and Ms. Ferranti for providing this opportunity to their students.

Annual Mock Caldecott Challenges Students to Think Critically about Book Illustrations I am happy to report that our elementary library staff has again selected picture books to review and evaluate in our own version of the Caldecott Medal awards. Just like those chosen by the Association for Library Service to Children, all books nominated in our contest must be published by an American publisher during the previous year and feature an illustrator who is a citizen or resident of the United States. This year’s nominees were:

• Another, illustrated and written by Christian Robinson

• Bear Came Along, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and written by Richard T. Morris

• Field Trip to the Moon, illustrated and written by John Hare

• Going Down Home with Daddy, illustrated by Daniel Lyons and written by Kelly Starling Lyons

• My Papi Has a Motorcycle, illustrated by Zeke Peña and written by Isabel Quintero

• ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market, illustrated and written by Raúl the Third

• What Miss Mitchell Saw, Illustrated by Diana Sudyka and written by Hayley Barrett

• Daniel’s Good Day, illustrated and written by Micha Archer

• How to Read a Book , Illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Kwame Alexander

• A Stone Sat Still, illustrated and written by Brendan Wenzel Before voting begins, the elementary library staff review the books with their students, helping them look for illustrations that are unique, surprising, and innovative. Discussions include the design elements that are used, such as cover art, text placement, and use of color. Different techniques and art materials that artists use to create books are explored. The children are encouraged to think deeply about how a book is created. Students vote at all seven elementary schools. This year’s top choice in Arlington Public Schools was Bear Came Along. Field Trip to the Moon came in second and Another was third. Bishop Librarian Alison Vaishnaw reports that Another was the top choice among her students. She believes that they were intrigued by the idea of parallel realities, connecting portals, and alter egos suggested by the book. They also liked the clear and bold illustrations which worked well when sharing the books in a group setting. This book does not have text, and the illustrations were effective in conveying the story to a classroom group. Although none of our chosen books was awarded the top prize in the official Association for Library Service to Children contest, Bear Came Along and Going Down Home with Daddy were cited as Caldecott Honor Books. My Papi Has a Motorcycle and ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market were cited as Pura Belpré Award Honor Books. These awards honor Latino/Latina writers and illustrators. This is the fifth year that the APS Mock Caldecott has been held in our schools, and it is truly a fun way to get our children thinking critically about new books and the beautiful illustrations they contain. I want to thank Dallin's Rebecca Aaronson, Pierce's Renae Nichols, Brackett's Nancy Alfonso, Bishop's Alison Vaishnaw, Bishop and Hardy's Justine Bloch, Thompson's Jamie Webster, Stratton's Doreen Cameron and Christie Collins, Hardy's Danielle Jensen, Elementary Library/Digital Learning teacher Jennifer Lauchlan, and Stacy Kitsis of AHS for creating and executing this year’s contest. I also thank Pam Watts, Head of Children’s Services at Robbins Library, for working with our library staff to make the selections. Your annual collaboration makes this a truly town-wide event. Creative Highlights Gibbs Vocalists and Musicians Deliver Spirited Winter Concert It was great fun to attend the Gibbs winter concert on January 29 in the OMS Wood gym. Over 200 students take part in the choral and instrumental music programs at Gibbs, and the concert featured six groups--Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, Keytones, Chorus, Concert Band, and Jazz Workshop.

String teacher and conductor Jing-Huey Wei got the musical evening going strong with the 17 members of the Chamber Orchestra. Their two pieces, Mozart’s Minuet from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Fiddle Tunes No. 3, conjured up images of 18th century dancers and country folk doing spirited reels. This group was followed by the Orchestra whose two pieces, the Bizet’s March from Carmen and the majestic theme from Game of Thrones were well-played with plenty of energy. The audience next heard from the vocalists. The Keytones, around 20 voices strong, performed first, accompanied by Music teacher and director James Ham on guitar. Two contemporary songs made up their set, beginning with the Beatles’ Can’t Buy Me Love and ending with Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. The much larger Chorus delivered three numbers full of nice harmonies, first swaying to the music of a Ghanaian welcome song, then presenting the gentle This Shall Be For Music, and ending with a lively African -American spiritual. Band teacher Paula Demetrio then led the Concert Band in two numbers, beginning with a march and ending with a piece called Integrity that included some great tympani parts that were very well played. The evening ended with the Jazz Workshop, delivering Moten Swing complete with solos and special guests—Mr. Ham on bass and Michael Peipman on trumpet. It is wonderful to see so many Gibbs students involved in making music, and I congratulate everyone who took part. I thank Ms. Wei, Mr. Ham, and Ms. Demetrio for leading these groups and giving our young people the opportunity to experience ensemble playing and singing.

Ottoson Media Group’s “Teens Cook: French Edition” Now in Fourth Season I am pleased to tell you that the Ottoson Media Group, coordinated by OMS Librarian and Media Assistant Edith Moisand, is producing the terrific cooking show Teens Cook: French Edition for the fourth year. This wonderful project has Group members working with Francoise Matte and Cecile Penot-Dietrich of French In the Kitchen to create ACMi shows that feature seasonal culinary delights. Ms. Moisand, who has known Francoise for 23 years, came up with the idea when they were together one day having a very delicious French snack, and the show has blossomed from there. Ms. Moisand meets with the two French cooks to discuss the recipe that will be filmed for each episode. Some logistics are required, such as having a second batch of dough refrigerated and ready to roll out, so the students don’t have to wait on the set too long without filming. ACMi Youth Coordinator Kevin Wetmore, who produces the show with Ms. Moisand, is responsible for all the technical aspects. He brings the equipment, extra lights, etc., and gives guidance to the student in charge of directing the episode. Together they make sure that the young people operating the expensive equipment work with care. Most filming takes place from 2:30-6:30 pm on Tuesday afternoons in Cecile’s Showroom/kitchen on Lowell Street, where she also teaches cooking classes. There are generally five students involved in each episode--two or three working behind the camera, a student director, and a student host. The young people take turns filming with the handheld camera,

which is the most difficult job as physical stamina is required to handle it. A slightly taller operator is also needed since it often must be lifted high in order to get the best shot above a bowl or casserole dish. The director working from the computer has to be actively engaged and anticipate what is coming up on camera so that the best flow of on-screen images will be obtained. In order to get the best possible shot, instructions are whispered to the students on camera. Ms. Moisand says that working on the cooking show is great training and helps the camera operators become fully operational to film more difficult things like Ottoson concerts. Media Group members also research the recipes that they are going to film. If there is an interesting history, the student host shares this with the audience. The participants talk about their mistakes and discuss ways to improve the job after each filming. Ms. Moisand does the editing. The goal is to create eight episodes a year. Three episodes of Season 4 are now available: Guimauve, Raspberry Buche, and Valentine’s Day Cookies, as well as the episodes from Seasons 1, 2 and 3. The best part of doing the cooking show is when everyone eats together. Ms. Moisand reports that the plate of goodies disappears in a few minutes, and she can see big smiles on the faces of the crew. Kudos to seventh grade camera operators Spencer Finn, Mazen Abukhalaf, Wesley Demers, and Ruhaan Sharma-Soneja who are learning the craft and honing their skills on the show. I also salute eighth grade directors Leo Young and Andy Simcoe who have been working on the show since they were in the sixth grade, this year’s host and good teleprompter reader Calista Lemperness, and Vera Sotello-Newhall who hosted the first episode this season. I thank Ms. Moisand and Kevin Wetmore for their leadership and congratulate everyone on creating such a fun program to watch.

AHS Student Directors Present an Evening of One-Act Plays On January 21, 22, and 23, 19 actors took their direction from fellow classmates as they performed four one-act plays. This year’s plays were based around characters who experienced a “meet cute”, and Arlington High School Drama teacher Michael Byrne reports that most did not go in the direction one usually expects from that trope. The performances marked the culmination of a process that began many months ago when the aspiring directors submitted detailed applications for consideration. Once chosen, the directors got to work holding auditions, choosing the cast, and assembling a creative team that

included costume, prop and set coordinators, and stage managers. Rehearsals began in November after the fall play. The directors were seniors Eileen Tucci and Bridget Hall, junior Franco D’Agostino, and sophomore co-directors Sierra Farrington and Paige Goodsell. All were chosen based upon their descriptions of why they had selected the plays they wanted to direct, what they believed the play was about both literally and metaphorically, and the themes or visual pictures that they would use throughout the production. Mr. Byrne emphasizes that the entire process--from application, through casting, rehearsals, and final performances--is completely student-driven. The wonderful evening of theater that results is a testimony to the talent of our young people, not only to perform, but also to conceptualize, lead, and be part of a group working toward a common end. I am grateful to drama teacher Michael Byrne for providing our students with this opportunity to challenge themselves and share their gifts with the community. Congratulations to directors Eileen, Bridget, Franco, Sierra, and Paige and their casts and crews. Music Tech and Honors Orchestra Concert Showcases Student Talent and Interests For the past few years, the AHS Music Technology students have collaborated with our vocalists and instrumentalists to create evenings of magical creativity and inspiration. The third annual Music Tech and Honors Orchestra Concert that was held in February featured 19 performances and music videos that showcased the talent of our young composers and musicians. As the attendees took their seats, beautiful original pieces played in the background, setting the mood for what was to come. A string quartet got things started with Glazunov’s lyrical String Quartet in A Major, delivering a performance that can best be described as transcendent. This was followed by a variety of student-created work, including recorded, synthesized original songs, a video with a silly tone that drew comparisons to the pop group Big Time Rush, and live performances of vocalists and combos presenting covers and original songs. One talented creator removed all the sound from an animated short produced by Pixar and rebuilt it from scratch, learning how to create and synchronize all the layers. Others experimented with a different style of rap than they were used to, going out of their comfort zone to create a work that utilized the Trap style of beats. The terrific performance by the fourth grade sister of one of the Music Technology students, who accompanied her on piano, was a special treat. Masterful instrumental performances presented by the AHS Honors Orchestra were interspersed throughout. The group delivered the elegant and very beautiful Violin and Cello Concerto in A Minor by Brahms, and the lively Sonata in G Major by Barriere that featured a cello duet. The evening ended with DZON, written by former AHS Performing Arts Director Pasquale Tassone for marimbaist Sylvie Zakarian. The work is dedicated to the memory of American composer Alan Hovhaness who graduated from Arlington High School. Ms. Zakarian joined the Honors Orchestra to deliver a beautiful performance that captivated the audience. This concert was a wonderful demonstration of the scope of our music department and the talent and interests of the students who take part. I want to thank AHS Instrumental Director and Honors Orchestra conductor Sabatino D’Agostino and Music Technology teacher John DiTomaso for their leadership and inspiration, and I congratulate all of the student performers who took part.

Athletic Highlights Winter Season Ends with League Titles and Super 8 and Tournament Play As of this writing, we still have winter teams engaged in some very exciting tournaments. After winning the Middlesex League title for the fourth straight year, Boys Hockey entered the Super 8 Championship as number one in the state! At this point, they have won their first two games, beating Framingham High School and St. John’s Prep. Two chances remain for the team to enter the Championship game. If they beat Pope Francis on March 7, they automatically advance to the finals. If they lose, they will be able to play against another challenger on March 11. This year’s team includes 17 seniors, and many of them were on the team as freshmen when the Spy Ponders took the Super 8 crown three years ago. This year’s match-up included five private schools and three public schools, with four private and two public schools remaining at this point. Athletic Director John Bowler, who attends all the tournament games, is very pleased with the number of Arlington students and families who have come out to cheer for the team. Girls Hockey also won the Middlesex League, their second title in a row. They won the first game of their tournament series, beating Medway/Ashland, and advanced to beat Needham on March 2. As of this writing, the team is scheduled to play Braintree on March 7. The Wrestling team has had an exceptional season, winning the Middlesex League title for the second straight year. The team followed this with their first-ever win of the Division 2 Sectional meet. Four AHS wrestlers went on to place at the top of their weight classes at the Division 2 State Tournament held at Milton High School. Three wrestlers then went on to compete at the All-State Tournament held at Methuen High School. I am happy to report that Coach Kevin Cummings was named Division 2 sectional coach of the year. Girls Basketball made it into the first round of the North Division 1 Tournament for the second straight year. Their run ended with a loss to Andover in the first round. Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams, competing in a very strong league, had some individual athletes who went on to Sectional competition, as was true for Boys Swimming. Boys Basketball fielded a very young team—11 of the 13 players were new to varsity competition. They did well for such an inexperienced team, and with nine players returning next winter, they should be able to come back strong. Fourteen athletes took part in Gymnastics. The individual competitors improved throughout the season, with overall scores rising every meet. Mr. Bowler remarked that it was very exciting to have three teams capture Middlesex League titles in his first winter season. He notes that the Hockey team wins in particular have generated a lot of enthusiasm and pride throughout the high school, and student attendance at the games has been high. He is very proud of the behavior of our athletes and their supporters, who make Arlington look good on and off the field. I want to congratulate all our winter athletes and their dedicated coaches for their hard work and dedication to their sports. We look forward to the start of the spring season on March 16. Boys Hockey Shares State Championship after Final Game Cancelled As COVID-19 came at us, the AHS Boys Hockey team was ready to take on Pope Francis High School for the 2020 State Championship. They had entered the Super 8 Tournament ranked number one in Massachusetts, and they had already defeated Pope Francis to advance to the final game. Because of the way the Tournament is structured, Pope Francis had another chance to advance, and did so by defeating St. John’s Prep to earn their spot in the championship game. The final game could not be held due to the ban on large gatherings that were part of the tight restrictions

undertaken to slow the spread of the virus. As a result, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association awarded the title of 2020 Co-State Champions to both teams. This was a significant disappointment to all the team members, who finished the season as the only undefeated team in the Tournament and had won 20 straight games without a loss. It was particularly poignant for the seniors who had been on the team when the Spy Ponders took the Super 8 Crown three years ago. Arlington friends and families took great pride in the team’s accomplishments and Athletic Director John Bowler reports that they turned out in force during the Tournament. I want to congratulate Coach John Messuri who presided over this exceptional season, and all the players on being named Co-State Champions.