Did you know we have a webpage dedicated to our wonderful class of 2022? It lists all our special senior events, has photos of each graduate, and will be the home of our graduation live stream.
Check it out!
News
A Taste of Winchendon: A Service Learning Community Story
A service-learning program is more than putting in the hours for a volunteer project in order to graduate. Service-learning means students explore the root causes and devise possible solutions for subjects such as poverty, pollution, conflict, etc., difficult subjects with long-term needs.
At The Winchendon School, our service-learning program provides leadership opportunities. These “Service Learning Leaders” are seniors and juniors and some sophomores with a deep interest in service. Their interest is supported by classwork in leadership and learning. This year, the service-learning leaders either worked together and led our DEIJ Week or collaborated with HEAL Winchendon and the local Youth ChangeMakers organization to produce the 2022 Taste of Winchendon townwide festival.
From estimating costs to applying for grants, to creating a budget, to soliciting volunteers, each service-learning leader worked to create a festival where all are welcomed. The students had several goals which included being sure all residents could attend and enjoy food and activities regardless of socioeconomic status and the students wanted to be sure the local vendors all received compensation for their goods and services.
A Taste of Winchendon was born from The Winchendon School’s A Taste of Nations event usually held during DEIJ week. At A Taste of Nations, students were able to prepare authentic cultural food favorites and share them with their friends, classmates, teachers, and mentors. In that spirit, Taste of Winchendon will feature food from Greece, Egypt, and more.
Located on the lawn at the Beals Memorial Library, Taste of Winchendon is free and open to all. Local artisans will be there along with activities, face painting, games, a language exchange, and salsa dancing lessons.
Stop by!
Tes, #42, and the Perfect Game
Despite a pandemic, the past two seasons (2021 & 2022) The Winchendon School’s softball team has been crushing it, in no small part due to Tes D. ’22. A transfer student from Lancaster, MA, Tes settled in as a boarding student and found her place.
This year, a full schedule of college recruiting, applications, and games, gave Tes the opportunity to end her high school career on a memorable note.
Teammates Tes and Madi Zancan were selected to play for the WNEPSSA All-Star game on May 1st at Ethel Walker School. In the game, Madi went 2 for 2 and was perfect in the field. Tes pitched two hitless innings and struck out three batters. She also went 1 for 2 at the plate.
Number 42 also pitched five perfect innings against Lexington Christian Academy in a game where she struck out 12 batters. For Tes, wearing 42 is in honor of the great Jackie Robinson.
“I wear number 42 to remind me of Jackie Robinson and what he went through and how he persevered through everything and it’s always just a reminder to never give up, and to always keep pushing to be better. “
Tes D. ’22
Next year, Tes will be pitching for the Seahawks of Keiser University – and we can’t wait to see what she does next!
Making Change: A Fulbright Scholar Story
By Chloe Frushell ’22
My sister, Sophie Frushell’17 BC ‘21 knew she would attend The Winchendon School. A family of Winchendon School “lifers” she may have followed in our older brothers’ and sisters’ footsteps, but she forged her own path. After graduating from Boston College, she was named a Fulbright Scholar, the first Winchendon School alumnus/a the School knows of to achieve the prestigious award.
Returning to TWS in 2020, Sophie was one of the founding members of WACA (Winchendon Alumni of Color Association), where I am now the Massachusetts campus representative. I traveled to sit down with Sophie in the Dominican Republic at the Dominican Republic Dream Project.
Currently, Dream Project is educating more than 8,000 children, youth, and young adults through 17 innovative programs. DREAM offers literacy, early childhood education, youth leadership, the Bachata Academy, and community programs to ensure that all children and youth within their partner communities never lack access to necessary resources.
Using her Fulbright Scholarship at the Dream Project in the Dominican Republic, Sophie has an interest in exploring identity as an essential component of youth development.
As a student at The Winchendon School, she didn’t see herself as either a changemaker or entrepreneur. She credits her interest in education and making a difference to the travel programs (through ColLAB) at The Winchendon School. Her advice to current students? Use this time to discover yourself.
“Take advantage of all the opportunities afforded to you. Don’t squander this time. I wouldn’t be here (in the DR) today if I didn’t have “Winch” introducing me to service-learning and I wouldn’t have learned I wanted to make a change in the world without the trips I went on through Winchendon.”
Sophie Frushell ’17
While her research evolved over time, the core question she came to study remains the same: What are the best methods for engaging youth in the Dominican Republic to think critically about their own identities, especially their racial and ethnic identities. How can these research findings regarding the inclusion of identity in youth development efforts support greater equality and peace throughout the country?
Living in the DR was an adjustment for Sophie. From the language (she needed to learn the slang!) to just getting around, Sophie relied on Winchendon’s core values (Collaborative | Courageous | Adaptable | Resourceful | Responsible | Resilient | Empathetic | Ethical).
Recently accepted to Harvard University for her graduate work, Sophie has plans for the future.
Overall, the most rewarding part of being in the DR on the Fulbright Scholarship is seeing the idea she developed as a senior at Boston College come to life in country.
“When I go back I want to take what I’ve learned here and apply it to teaching in the United States. It was Winchendon that pushed me to believe whatever my ideas are, they are valuable.”
Sophie
College Fairs on Campus are Back!
“Engaged,” “Asked really good questions” are some of the comments we heard from college representatives visiting campus today. It was the first in-person, mini college fair since the fall of 2019, and students were excited to delve into the college admissions process.
Our students can stand out in the college admissions process because we take a three-pronged approach of supported learning, colLABs, and college counseling to give students their best possible outcome.
Seeing a Week at TWS through the Lens of Mr. Harvey
Celebrating Us
At The Winchendon School, we set aside time to explore our community and what brings us together and to celebrate our differences through community events, workshops, and by listening to our peers. While students change, Mr. Harvey has documented DEIJ Week since its conception. This year, we’re taking a look at the week through his (camera) lens.
Of course, you can always catch his work on Instagram at @Winchtagram.
Monday: Cultural Olympics
Tuesday: Spring Classes
Wednesday: Neurodivserity Day
Thursday: Cultural Fashion + Talent Showcase
