Sunday, October 26, 2014

Student Events                Riley & Isaac
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Big things are happening in Student Events! We got the inside scoop during a visit this past week. Within the Stewardship Program, there are around four upperclassman and four freshman. They started their meeting by reflecting on how the first Pingree dance went and talked about how they could enhance the experience.  The Pingree Student Events stewards have so many ideas brewing and they sound awesome.  For example, they are putting in effect our annual School Spirit Week.  Although they are still deciding, some ideas are Movie Monday, Twin Tuesday, and Way-back Wednesday.  A Color Day is also being planned.  Each grade will wear a different color like blue, red, yellow, and orange. Overall, there are going to be so many great events this year.  So get ready, have fun, and thank you student event planners!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Pingree to join EPIC Service Warriors on November 8th!


Please view this video for more information about this year's Boston Serve event. Our student leaders Lauren Menzie and Niki Bothwick will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday, October 28th. Please email them (lmenzie@pingree.org & nbothwick@pingree.org) for more information about signing up!


Sunday, October 19, 2014

College Office Stewardship


College Office Stewardship
Written by: Riley Jordan- from the Blogging Stewardship               
Big things are going on at the college office stewardship. With the juniors and seniors getting ready to start a new chapter in their lives a lot of preparation needs to be done, and it all happens in the college office stewardship, run by Tracey Johnson!
I interviewed 9th grader Allison Falvey, who takes part in this stewardship that meets twice a month.
The stewardship members are responsible for a variety of things, such as the college bulletin board. I asked Allison, “What is the importance of the college bulletin board and how does it affect Pingrees seniors?”
She reported back to me that  “The importance of the college board is to help seniors learn about all different colleges, but it is also for the juniors to start looking at colleges and to get them ready for the college process.”
As I had learned that there are many college visits and events at pingree, I started to wonder what they have done in order to prepare for the many events?  Alison had informed all that they do to help out the college office with these visits.
The college office stewardship, including allison, put together little complimentary bags of breath mints and snacks for the college representatives, along with a pingree note pad and sticker.
The work the college office stewardship is doing is very helpful and very influential on the current and future seniors. All this college preparation really helps with Pingree's reputation and will continue to help students. I look forward to learn more about the college office stewardship!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who donated to the school supplies drive this fall. Today during Community Education time, the sophomore class assembled 45 backpacks chock full of notebooks, markers, crayons, glue sticks, pens, pencils and folders. The backpacks will be delivered to Community Giving Tree early next week, and then given to some very lucky students!


Best of all, each backpack recipient will find inside a kind, fun, encouraging letter from a couple of Pingree students. Maybe these recipients will be members of Pingree class of 2025!

Gabby Assad and Meg Foye pose with some of the backpacks


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Special Olympics 2014


Cameron Dowd '18, Hannah Miller '18 and Anna Landgren'18 cheer on a team

Sam Ober '16 and James Vassallo '16 offer high fives to Kyle
On Sunday, October 5th over 40 soccer teams (some from as far away as Cape Cod and Amherst) arrived on Pingree campus to compete in the Seasonal Assessment Round for the 2015 Special Olympics. The athletes, coaches, friends and family were greeted by seventy-five Pingree volunteers who kept score, set up nets, and - most importantly - cheered on the athletes.

Special thanks are due to our student leaders Cassidy Assad, Kirby Heffrin, Susie Polese, and Mollie Smith, and to the Hamilton Police Department who provided a Color Guard for opening ceremonies (during which Pingree Spectrum performed a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner). 


Please enjoy the pictures and student comments below. 

Hamilton Color Guard

"The vibe of the day was outstanding. Every athlete was so excited to be there and play. All volunteers were so helpful and enthusiastic!"

"The Special Olympics is one of my favorite days of the year. Just watching the kids/teens enjoying their days playing soccer and their faces while they receive their trophy is amazing. Everyone seems to have such a great time. Meeting the people is so much fun bc you learn so much about them and they're always such a blast to hang out with."

Grace Beatty '17 poses with one of Heller's Angels

"The team known as the Cardinals are a phenomenal group of people. They are kind and generous and it was a pleasure to work with them while they competed during their games."

Matt St. Clair '15 provides on-field coaching for Alex

"I really enjoyed Special Olympics, I spoke to some of the athletes and their parents before the games started. I cheered for teams and really enjoyed how positive and energetic the athletes and parents were regardless of how they were playing. Everyone was happy to be there giving that day a happy, laid back kind of feel."
"I had an amazing experience at the Special Olympics. I was cheering on all the athletes and became close with some of them. I am looking forward to doing it again next year."




Monday, October 6, 2014

Civic Engagement Opportunity

The Salem Sound Coastwatch is hosting an open forum on Tuesday, October 7 at First Church in Salem to discuss Ballot Question #2. 

Question #2 will update the bottle bill and require a deposit on water, ice tea, and sports drinks.

This is a great opportunity for Pingree students to get involved in an environmental issue that will impact their lives. For more details, please contact Kathy Karch at kkarch@pingree.org.




Environmental Ballot Forum - Tuesday, October 7, 7 pm

First Church in Salem 
316 Essex Street
Salem, MA
Free and open to the public

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Service at the Greenbelt

About a month ago I received an email from Dave Rimmer (P '07, '09) asking if I knew of a group of about 30 or so students who might be willing and able to help with a building project at one of the Greenbelt properties. Lucky for him, I knew just the group!

So, on Monday September 29 the Pingree football team traveled to Gloucester to help transport lumber from its drop-off location at Exit 13 along a beautiful mountain bike trail, to a spot deep in the woods where it will be used to create a bridge that will span the now unpassable swamplands.


Team members and coaches worked alongside Greenbelt's Americorps volunteer, as well as a representative from New England Mountain Bike Association to prepare for bridge construction - all participants and family are encouraged to visit in late November as the bridge will most likely be completed by then. Take 128 North to Exit 13 (Concord St.) and park in the gravel lot next to the overpass. The trailhead is right there... it's a beautiful walk!

Alonzo Jackson '15 and Kole Lentini '17

Jack VanTuyl '16

Pingree Football 2014



Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Special Olympics Details

All student volunteers who signed up for the morning or all-day shifts should arrive on campus by 8:00AM on Sunday, October 5. Please wear Pingree gear and sneakers!

Remember our expectations of Pingree volunteers:

1. Experience instead of document - as much as possible, try to separate yourself from your phone/camera. Be fully present!

2. Engage with our guests. Introduce yourself, ask how you can assist people, get to know your team and that team's fans.

3. Look for opportunities to serve instead of waiting to be asked.

4. Encourage and celebrate!

5. Be conscious of what you are learning while engaging in this activity. See if you can bring some of those lessons back to your family, friends, classes and extracurricular activities.

See you at 8!