HIGGINS SCHOOL NEWS

HIGGINS DIRECTORY

HIGGINS HISTORY

CULLEN LIBRARY

PEABODY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Congratulations 
 STARS of the MONTH

March 2006

ST. PATRICK'S DAY VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
 
MORE PHOTOS  by R. Cody


March 2006 - Grade 7 Lions students in Mrs. Rauseo's English class made Mythology Masks. MORE PHOTOS

So Far from the Bamboo Grove author YOKO KAWASHIMA WATKINS visited 550 grade 8 students on March 10 Funded by the Peabody Education Council Cullen Memorial Library, Higgins Middle School In anticipation of the author's visit, Grade 8 students read So Far from the Bamboo Grove. CHANNEL 22 , Peabody Community Television recorded Watkins' performance at Higgins and will broadcast it on Sat., March 18 @ 6 p.m. and Sun., March 19 @ 6 p.m. STUDENT ART WORK on DISPLAY Grade 8 students in Mrs. P. Nelson's Art class created miniature origami kimonos.  Pisces and Aquarius students in Mrs. Zakas' and Ms. DiNitto's English classes created posters depicting various aspects of Japanese culture:  the Art of Tea; Musical Instruments; Japanese Food; Famous Japanese Places, etc. The students' artwork is on display at the Cullen Library at Higgins and at the Peabody Institute Library on Main Street. RELATED FIELD TRIP PLANNED In June 2006, some of Mrs. Nelson's Grade 8 students will visit the Peabody Essex Museum to tour the museum's Asian art collection.  The museum field trip is funded by the Peabody Cultural Council, as supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Thank you! RESOURCES Suggested Readings Writing Resources

ESSAY CONTEST sponsored by the CULLEN LIBRARY, PEABODY INSTITUTE and the PEABODY NO PLACE for HATE COMMITTEE® All Higgins Grade 8 students are invited to submit entries. Choose one: - Write Yoko's award-winning essay "Understanding".  What would Yoko have said about this topic that made her the top winner? - Write an essay about "understanding" and what it means to you. Guidelines:  All entries must be 1-2 pages and be typed, double-spaced, size 12 font.  Please attach a title page with your name and cluster in the lower right hand corner. DEADLINE: Thursday, March 16 Deliver submissions to: Mrs. Zakas, Pisces cluster A committee of two Higgins teachers and two members of the Peabody No Place for Hate Committee® will judge the essays. Essay winners will be recognized and share his/her essay at the: Peabody No Place for Hate Committee® Reception featuring: Author and Peace Activist Yoko Kawashima Watkins, March 22, 2006, 7:00 p.m. Peabody Institute Library, 54 Main Street, Peabody.

ON-GOING thru March 17
KATHRYN BEICH "Gifts of Spring" PTO Fundraiser.  Top sales winner receives a Limo Lunch.



  
March 2 - GRADE 8 STUDENT/FACULTY BASKETBALL GAME - The teachers won!  MORE PHOTOS



February 2006
 

February 2006 - Higgins Middle School seventh grade students in the Lions cluster participated in  Scholastic's Classrooms Care "Reading is Giving", a reading program designed to teach children about the joys of reading and giving.  Mrs. E. Rauseo's class is now listed in the Classrooms Care Hall of Fame. They were among classes nationwide that read 100 books by February 17, 2006.  For each qualifying class, Scholastic Books Clubs donated 100 new books to its charity partners.  This year's charity partners included First Book, Reach Out and Read, and Save the Children.  Each of these organizations gives the books to children in extremely under-resourced schools and communities in the United States, including many who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. Special recognition is due to D. Votto who read 25 of the 100 books required! All participating students received a bookmark, a certificate and a homework pass.

Monday, March 6

MYTHMASTERS TOO of Young Audiences of Massachusetts performs for Grade 7. 
A gift of the Higgins PTO. Thank you!
HIGGINS FACULTY MEETING, No Late Buses.  Roche Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

 

HIGGINS BRIDGE BUILDERS' 2006 with Mr. Bowe..  MORE PHOTOS
4 February 2006 - HIGGINS BRIDGE BUILDERS' CLUB participated in the
Boston Society of Engineers' Bridge Building Competition
at Northeastern University in Boston.  Competing against mostly high school
students in the greater Boston area, special congratulations are due
to the Higgins students who represented their teams on stage at the event. 
 

Congratulations to the National Jr. Honor Society (NJHS) candidates who participated in the
ALL YOU CAN READ BUFFET/Read-A-Thon on Saturday, February 4
at the Peabody Institute Library. The Read-A-Thon benefits the Kids Kount Foundation. 
Thank You!

HIGGINS MIDDLE SCHOOL 8th GRADE
WINTER CONCERT, January 2006

JANUARY 23, 2006, 1:45 p.m.
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES CANCELED due to WEATHER:
GRADE 6 WINTER CONCERT rescheduled for
Thursday, January 26

23 Jan 2006  11:50 a.m.- Snow falling in the courtyards.

13 Jan 2006 - Bambidele Dancers and Drummers performed African music for the sixth grade.
 A gift of the Higgins PTO.  Thank You!

   
06 Jan 2006 - Students in Ms. Manning's and Mr. Bowe's classes built the library's new book shelves. 
Thank You!  MORE PHOTOS

 
Ms. Matarazzo attended the Penguins' Central and South American Geography Fair on December 23. 
photos by E. Blake MORE PHOTOS


 
More than 5,000 can goods were collected by
the Higgins Student Council and donated to Haven from Hunger prior to Thanksgiving. 
The Student Council is now conducting its Toys for Tots drive.  Thank you for your support.

HIGGINS PTO ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR, October 22, 2005  MORE PHOTOS by M. Matarazzo





October 17 - Students in Ms. Soep's Health Class made "Brain Hats"
as part of their study of the human brain. MORE PHOTOS


 
SEVENTH GRADE BAND & CHORUS CONCERT ON JUNE 14, 2005. PHOTOS BY . GINOLFI

HIGGINS BAND STUDENTS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF T. LAMY,  PERFORMED
IN THE COURTYARD ON JUNE 10, 2005. PHOTOS BY P. NELSON. 
 
BRONCOS STUDENTS IN MS. DINITTO'S ENGLISH CLASSES PERFORMED PLAYS ABOUT MYTHOLOGY.
June 2005.  MORE PHOTOS and INFO

JUNE 3 - BEARS TOUR EASTMAN GELATINE

 
National Junior Honor Society Induction, May 25, 2005

 
On Monday, May 2, 2005, the Higgins Middle School German students put on an evening of German plays and songs.  The first annual German-American Fest drew over 100 people to watch the joy and excitement the seventh grade students have for the German language and culture.  MORE PHOTOS

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK sponsored by the Higgins PTO
Thank You!

CRY INNOCENT: THE TRIAL of BRIDGIT BISHOP WAS PERFORMED by HISTORY ALIVE
for the  8TH GRADE on APRIL 28 with funding from the Peabody Education Council and the Higgins PTO
 



HAT DAY - OPENING DAY AT FENWAY - April 11
Students and teachers paid $1 to wear a hat all day. 
The money raised supports the Higgins Relay for Life Team.
Go Sox!

 

"There's Nothing to Read" by Looking Glass Theater for the sixth grade, March 17, 2005, 
Funded by the HIggins PTO.  Thank You.
 

The Lions cluster made Mythology Masks and presented reports.
Ms. Rauseo dressed as a goddess for the occasion. MORE PHOTOS

POETRY ALIVE performed for the seventh Grade March 8, 2005 with funding from the Peabody Education Council.
 
GIFT OF SPRING FUNDRAISER RAFFLE WINNERS  Thank You!



The Higgins Middle School Model Bridge Building Club won First Place for the Most Aesthetic Bridge at the Boston Society of Engineers' Bridge Building Competition in Boston on February 5.

The award-winning bridge will be on display at the Museum of Science for the next year.
Congratulations!

The Higgins was the only Middle School participating in the BSCES (Boston Society of Engineers) Model Bridge Building Competition. The team competed against area high schools.  All six teams were represented at the competition, which
made us the second greatest in number at the competition.  Each team submitted a bridge, and all were of a different
and creative design.

The "Higgins Middle School Team 1" created a truss type bridge modeled after the Tobin Bridge. The members of the winning team are: J. Titelbaum, A. Russo and J. Losanno.  These team members are invited and will be honored at the
Engineers Week Luncheon in Boston on March 4. The winning Higgins bridge will then be on display at the Museum of
Science for the entire upcoming year.

Other competitors at the competition were: P. Munnelly, C.Summit, M. Franzosa, L.Cohen, C. Gizzi, J. Gallo, V. McMahon, M. Ahearn, K. Murphy, B. Sigmon and N. Thomas. Additional club members who could not attend the competition are: G. Nure, R. Anumolu. M. Burnett, T. Benedetto, K. O'Brien, C. Panesis, and D. Trott. Our engineer mentors were Matt D'Angelo and Peabody native, Gerry Carey. The organizer, engineer Reed Brockman, has
also visited Mrs. Bowden's math classes.

Higgins Middle School students participated in a Model Bridge Building Club for the first time this year. The goal of the club was to ultimately build a bridge according to specifications, and that bridge would be entered into the BSCES (Boston Society of Engineers) Model Bridge Building Competition.

To celebrate our achievements, the club will have an ice cream sundae party at its next club meeting on Tuesday, February 8. With this experience under our belts, those high school students better watch out for us next year!  The Higgins students are already planning for their new bridges!

More than $3,750 was raised for the AMERICAN RED CROSS TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND.  Several individuals and families donated $100 and some family-related businesses donated in excess of that!  Your compassion and generosity are another source of pride for the Higgins community.  Thank you. International Response Fund and the American Red Cross Photos of Red Cross Tsunami Relief Efforts

February 2005
 

PTO FUNDRAISER NOW UNDER WAY.
The Higgins PTO is selling a great assortment of confections and gift items from the Gifts of Spring catalog. 
Sale ends Monday, February 7.  Please turn in payment and the top two copies of the order form.
Orders will be sent home with students on Weds., March 9. Please make arrangements to pick up any large orders.

6th, 7th and 8th Grade Prizes & Raffle! Students will receive 1 raffle ticket for every $30 in sales.
Win 1 of 3 Portable VD/MP3 Players
The more you sell the more chances to win.  1 raffle winner in each grade!
Top 3 sellers in each grade receive:
1st - Movie/Entertainment Gift Package
2nd - Movies Passes & Snack Pack
3rd - Movie Rental Gift Card

January 2005
 

December 2004
SEASONS GREETINGS

  
Mr. McClean and Ms. Heil in holiday gear.  The Panthers had an ice cream party. 
The Penguins held a holiday raffle and the Lions had an "old English" party featuring Wassail.
  
The 7th grade attended a performance of The Christmas Carol at the North Shore Music Theater.  Characters in the play drink wassail.  The students and Ms. Rauseo followed an original recipe to create the Wassail.  In addition to being a delicious apple drink,  Wassail is a salutation wishing health to a person.  Wassail!

Higgins Student Council members collected 4,639 food items for the Haven from Hunger in Peabody.  The council also collected more than 400 toys for Toys for Tots!  Thank you!

RELAY FOR LIFE RAFFLE WINNERS - Thank You!  MORE INFO

FIRST PRIZE:  British Airways Tickets from Boston to London were awarded by Ms. McGovern..	SECOND PRIZE:  $100 cash presented by Relay for Life Members.
	AQUARIUS STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  They read 100  books before the Dec. 31 deadline and qualify for the Classrooms Care Hall of Fame!  Congratulations!  As a result of their effort, Scholastic will donate, ONE HUNDRED BOOKS  to children who need them.  Thanks Ms. Mattson!  MORE INFO

Governor recognizes Higgins "MENTORS MATTER" Team
November 29, 2004 - Three Higgins seventh grade students participating in the Christopher Columbus Awards contest received praise last week from Governor Mitt Romney for their "Mentors Matter" project. Romney called the school to inquire about the program and requested a year-end report on its success.

S. Syska, A. Brown and M. Perlman entered the contest last year.  The competition is open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8.  Three or four students work as a team to identify a problem in their community, research it, and use science to develop an innovative solution, explained team advisor and guidance counselor Jessica Theriault.

The students surveyed random homerooms last year to test their hypothesis that "students who don't have good study habits need some extra support".  Their research indicated the hypothesis was correct and they designed a program to assist elementary students with homework help.

The team put together a pilot program that started last week named "Mentors Matter". Twice a month,  team members tutor three third grade students at the Welch School.  They hope to expand the program.. 

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, a U.S. government agency that encourages innovation among the nation's middle school students, sponsors the contest..  The project requirements include a written entry and the production of a video.  The best entries win prizes, including a trip to Disney World.

November 2004
 
ALL HIGGINS STUDENTS SAW (and some participated in!) ) A PERFORMANCE OF TAP TEAM 2 FROM YOUNG AUDIENCES OF AMERICA ON NOVEMBER 28 & 29.  A gift of the Higgins PTO. Thank you!  Photos by L. Mackinson  MORE PHOTOS

 
MRS. BELLEW & MR. MARCOULIER WERE PILGRMS FOR THE DAY AND VISITED THE SHARK CLUSTER
TO SEE THEIR CHESS TOURNAMENT.  photo by S. M. Smoller, 11/23/04.

THE GREAT PIG RACE 2004 
The Higgins PTO raised more than $84,000 through its QSP Magazine Drive.
Ten clusters with outstanding sales decorated their pigs and outfitted them
with safe power sources  to race a straight 40-foot track in the gymnasium. 
The pigs proceed down the track under their own "pig power" and using their legs.

   SPEEDY "JEROME", OPERATED BY MRS ZAKAS, OUT DISTANCED
THE COMPETITION TO WIN A PIZZA PARTY FOR PISCES! MORE PHOTOS.  
November 12, 2004 - Photos by B. Dunne

 

October 2004


Morris the Turtle was won by Mr. Eaton's homeroom in the Stingrays Cluster
for outstanding sales in the Higgins PTO QSP Magazine Drive!  Even Morris is a believer.

STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 7
 VOCABULARY GAMES & GUIDE for



Author T.A. Barron posed with "Arbassa" in the Cullen Library and spoke with the
7th grade in the auditorium October 4, 2004.  Funded by the Peabody Education Council.  Thank You!

June 2004

Superintendent Nadine Binkley presented students in the
Higgins Life Skills Program with Community Service Award Certificates
from the Peabody Parents of Children with Special Needs. 
The class processes the organization's newsletter each month. 
Thank You!  MORE PHOTOS

Eighth Grade Students Visited New York City June 2004
 PHOTOS OF ORION, PEGASUS AND PISCES VISIT. | PHOTOS OF AQUARIUS & GEMINI CLUSTER VISIT


SPRING CONCERTS 2004
 

THE DUCKLINGS THAT LIVE IN THE COURTYYARD DECIDED TO ATTEND SCHOOL TODAY AND WANDERED THE HALLS
UNTIL MR. GINOLFI AND MRS. CULLINANE LED THEM OUTSIDE TO AWAIT THE RETURN OF THE MAMA DUCK.  June 1


Despite the rain, members of the Higgins Middle School Jazz/Rock Ensemble performed
for their fellow students in the school courtyard on May 28, 2004. Thank you Mr. Lamy!

May 24 - June 7 - 7th Grade Students Play Missing
In cooperation with the Office of the District Attorney for Essex County and with funding from the Higgins PTO

A computer game about Internet luring
LEARN MORE and improve your sleuthing skills by taking our Codes, Ciphers and Cryptograms quiz.
MISSING  tells the story of a 14-year-old boy named Zack who goes to an online chat room and meets a mysterious stranger named Fantasma.  Students take the role of detectives, helping both the Canadian
and American police by collecting evidence, solving cryptograms and identifying Zack's location.
LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY | MISSING SCHEDULE

 
Get Jazzed About Geography Day was Friday, May 21
Sixth grade Social Studies classes wore T-shirts that presented information about a place
and then researched that place. PENGUINS DESIGN T-SHIRTS  AND STINGRAYS T-SHIRTS
Pride in Peabody/PTO Grounds Clean-Up took place at Higgins on May 15. 
Thank you to Northeast Nursery for donating plantings as well as  to the 90 volunteers who participated.  
MORE PHOTOS  |  VOLUNTEERS
May 3 - 7 - Teacher Appreciation Week
PTO provides breakfast May 3, Italian Feast May 5, Desserts May 7 - Thank You!

The PTO treated teachers to an Italian meal on May 5 for Teacher Appreciation Week. 

Congratulations to the Winners of the 8th Grade Kindness Essay Contest:
C. Guerrero, Aquiarius | L. Ward, Gemini | K. Kelley, Orion  | A. Arena, Pegasus | R. Gouse, Pices