Page 162 - Microsoft Word - Annual Report 2016

A joint advisory committee comprised of Masconomet and Tri-Town Union School Committee members
was formed to investigate potential school calendar changes that could provide a more family-friendly
schedule. Through their work, the Start Time Advisory Committee (STAC) was created in April 2016
and charged with studying the research related to adolescent sleep and school start time, investigating the
issues related to any change in the school start time at Masconomet or the Elementary Schools and make
recommendations. Their work continues through 2016-17.

The health and safety of our students and the school community is of utmost importance. In conjunction
with the tri-town public safety officials, the District established new guidelines for crisis intervention and
response. Masco joined the CopSync network to provide all staff members with a new means of making
emergency calls in certain situations and providing an ability to communicate in an extended crisis event.
This network has been adopted by Boxford Police and Boxford Dispatch, by the Tri-Town Union schools
and their respective police departments, by MA State Police Troop A and other first responders.
Additionally, a crisis readiness meeting was held with a variety of public safety, public health and other
agencies to review Multi-Hazard Evacuation Plans. In April, the Police Departments of Boxford,
Middleton, and Topsfield conducted a successful joint training exercise and simulation of an armed
intruder at the High School.

Student achievement and experiences were evident throughout the school and in a number of academic
and extracurricular areas. Masconomet art students had very impressive results once again in the Boston
Globe Scholastic Art Award competition. The Middle School had 5 Gold Key awards, 6 Sliver Key
awards, and 18 Honorable Mentions. The High School had 26 Gold Key awards, 24 Sliver Key awards,
and 30 Honorable Mentions. Senior Whitney Nekoroski was cited as an “American Visions Nominee” for
her Gold Key winning drawing. Middle School student Makayla Graves earned a Gold Medal at the
national level. Students and faculty participated in cultural trips to Costa Rica and South Africa.
Masconomet, for the first time, hosted the Institution for Savings Credit for Life Fair in April. The fair is
a nationally recognized program designed to help high school students develop personal financial
management skills that they will use throughout their lives.

During the fall season, Masconomet athletics enjoyed tremendous success, earning league championships in boys’
soccer, girls’ soccer, field hockey, boys’ cross country, volleyball, and cheerleading. Our boys’ soccer team won
the Division II north championship before falling in the state finals. The boys’ cross country team was undefeated
in the Cape Ann League and qualified for the all-state meet for the first time in school history. Twenty-seven
players earned all-star status in the Cape Ann League during the fall 2015 season. Football Player Scott Foden was
named the Cape Ann League Player of the Year. During the winter season, Masconomet earned a league
championship in swimming & diving for the third year in a row. All of the Masconomet varsity winter sports teams
earned individual or team state tournament berths. The boys’ hockey team played into the Division II north semi-
nd
finals. Kyle Faddis was the Division II state champion in the mile, while Danny Cosgrove finished 2 in the
Division II 1000M. Ninth-grader Jack Darling was the Division II state wrestling champion at 106 lbs., while
rd
Nolan Houston finished 3 at the Interscholastic Ski Race. During the spring season, Masconomet earned a league
championship in girls’ lacrosse, boys’ track and field, and boys’ tennis. The girls’ lacrosse team was a Division I
north finalist and Molly Gillespie was named the Cape Ann League girls’ lacrosse Player of the Year. Danny
Cosgrove established a new school record in the mile with a time of 4:19.10 and qualified for the New England
meet. Elias Varinos was the Cape Ann League baseball Player of the Year and was named a Boston Globe All-
Scholastic. During the 15-16 school year, more than 60% of students at Masconomet participated in at least one
sport, as high a percentage as any school in the Cape Ann League. Overall, Masconomet fields 29 sports and 62
teams (varsity, junior varsity, freshman).