By Julie Huss
As the school year ended for students in Derry last week, many schools planned retirement parties to honor faculty and staff, while saying good-bye to students in many interesting ways as well.
At Derry Village Elementary School, exiting fifth-graders were given royal treatment as classmates and teachers lined the halls to clap as the students filed by. Heading off to middle school next year, the students got a lot of applause and good wishes for their Derry Village send off.
At West Running Brook Middle School, students enjoyed traditional "moving up" activities, then were treated to hot air balloon rides in the school's back field. To celebrate the school's end-of-year theme, "Oh, the Places You'll Go," a book by Dr. Seuss, students really took the lofty phrase to heart and enjoyed some high-flying scenery above the field.
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Gilbert H. Hood Middle School had a lot to celebrate last week as it prepared to say good-bye to its eighth-graders heading off to high school next fall. The school's PTSA is very active and coordinates all the year-end activities for Hood students and were busy decorating, organizing, and planning events like a springtime dance and breakfast. In addition, the annual promotion ceremony planning was underway, too, and volunteers, parents, and local businesses jumped on board in a big way to get the finishing touches done on decorating and carrying out all the special events.
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The Derry Cooperative School District plans a "Create Your Own Camp" summer enrichment program for students in all grades with many topics, and subjects available for some fun, warm weather learning while school is officially out.
Camp weeks are July 7-11; July 14-18, and July 21-25 and run at different times during the morning and early afternoon.
Some of the offerings for the one-week classes this summer are: archery, flower arranging, Latin dance, rocketry, karate, chef's club, quilting, Mexico, poetry, digital photo, cake decorating, and much more.
Anyone needing information about summer enrichment classes can contact Serena Levine, summer school coordinator, at 18 South Main St., Derry. Information is also listed on the Derry school district Web site at www.derry.k12.nh.us.
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Area sophomores attended the New Hampshire Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar on the campus of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge.
Representing Pinkerton Academy was Charlene Cullinane, the daughter of Brenda and Dave Heidler, of East Hampstead. Another Pinkerton student attending the seminar was Cameron Weatherby, son of Marie and Thomas Weatherby, also of Hampstead.
Londonderry students Laura Gardocki and Jaclyn Hoffman attended the seminar, daughters of Gail and Bill Gardocki, and Melissa and David Hoffman, respectively.
The leadership seminars bring select high school sophomores together to interact with groups of leaders from business, government, education, and the professions to discuss present and future issues.
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For the second year in a row, Pinkerton Academy took first place in the Junior Achievement Titan Business Simulation Competition, held at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The Pinkerton team, Voodoo Freakonomics, took the top honor with second and third team honors going to teams from Concord, NH.
The Titan competition began in February with approximately 524 students participating from seven Granite State high schools. From these schools, 50 advanced to the semi-final round, and then the top eight, including Pinkerton's winning group, headed to the final round.
The business simulation event helps young people get a realistic glimpse into managing a company and marketing a product in a competitive environment. The winning team members earned $5,000 renewable scholarships to SNHU and other prizes.
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A recent Pinkerton Academy graduate, Justin Doherty, took woodworking prizes for his talents in wood at the New England Student Woodworking Design Competition held last month.
Doherty won first prize with his piece, "Turned Inside Out" and won a $500 prize. His classmate in the wood shop, Colby Pooler, took a fourth place prize for his work, "Lotus," and went home with $250. Both students used black walnut for their award-winning works and were part of Pinkerton's Career and Technical Department woodworking studies program.
