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Tantasqua High School offers new leadership class

By Jennifer Grybowski
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE – School only opened on Tuesday, but already Tantasqua Regional High School is off to a great start.

Welcoming freshmen

New this year is a leadership class, consisting of 20 seniors, with curriculum developed by Life Skills Teacher Michelle Breuer, R.N. Each of those students will be assigned 15 freshmen to mentor throughout the year. Those seniors will be wearing color-coordinated t-shirts on the first day of school, so that they will be easy to spot by freshmen.

“We want every freshman to have an upper classmen to ask a question of, to have a connection with right when they walk in the door,” Lucas said.

Lucas added that Friday, Sept. 17, freshmen will be invited to attend the home football game. They will be served pizza and sit in their own section of the stadium and have the opportunity to wear old football jerseys and march on the field. It is the first of four planned activities for freshmen to promote class spirit and camaraderie.

“The goal is to get them involved and to cement them in the school so they will value their education here,” Lucas said. “We have and expectation that every freshman join a team or club within the first two weeks of school. We have a really great place here and we have to set high goals for our students.”

Orientation

Beginning last year, the school attempted to move orientation to a more student-centered presentation. It worked. Lucas said 245 out of 260 invited students (both freshmen and students transfers) attended orientation this year, compared to only 50 or so in years past.

“It is really about welcoming them and getting them comfortable,” Lucas said. “We give them all the info they need to survive their first day.” An orientation is also given for parents as well. “Any time we can reach out to the community, it’s a good thing,” Lucas said. “We are parents ourselves, so we understand what it’s like to send a student to a new school.”

New library hours

New last year, the Wilson Library Media Center stayed open to students until 5 p.m. each school afternoon. When originally considering the idea, Lucas said that data highlights the positive benefits of a wide array of extracurricular activities available to students; but the data also suggests that it helps if the schools provide a place to do homework.

Lucas said the new hours are working out “tremendously.” There were a total of 6,741 student visits during the extended hours. “It really exciting to see the students taking advantage of that,” Lucas said. Students can use the library to study in a lighter atmosphere. “There is no complete silence code like during the day,” he said.

He said five to 10 students a day are using the computers in the center. “Students are looking to use and access computers to do research and type up papers,” he said. “Not everyone in our district has access to computers at home.”

All Internet use is monitored and must be used for educational purposes only.

Students can also receive homework help from Aide Kim Besse. Lucas said that the school is looking to utilize student tutors more this year.

Lucas said many athletes, at the urging of Athletic Director Bob Casaceli and coaches, are utilizing the library to complete their homework before their games.

A late bus leaves the school at 5 p.m., so students needing a ride home can get one.

“[The extended hours] is something we expect to grow every year,” Lucas said. “It is an invaluable resource to students.”

Field Improvement

Also worked on last year was the Route 148 field, part of the school’s Field Improvement Plan. Workers installed an irrigation system, widened it, put down new seed and loom and installed fencing on the Route 148 side, so there are no more loose balls rolling across the street. The field is complete and ready to be used first by the JV soccer team and the community at large. “The drainage is much better,” Lucas said. “It looks beautiful and is great for the community.”