Open House & 2017 International Trips

Open House

Open House will be held on Thursday, March 3rd at 6:00pm.  Parents and guardians will run through a typical school day following the schedule of their child.  Please arrive with schedule in hand.

2017 International Travel Opportunities

The Groton-Dunstable Regional High School Global Scholars Program promotes an academic environment that encourages global awareness and active participation in an evolving global society. We have three amazing travel opportunities that have yet to reach maximum capacity.  Details about each trip are below.  

England & Scotland Travel Information

Peru Travel Information

Italy Travel Information

Japan (Full)

Argentina (Full)

GD Service in the Dominican Republic

On Thursday, February 11th 26 students and 4 chaperons departed for the Dominican Republic on a service learning trip.  GD students and teachers in conjunction with the Community Service Alliance (CSA) and Education First Tours (EF) are concentrating on field work projects in rural parts of the DR.  We are working to support two CSA grassroots projects: Salud Cerrito and Mi Vida en Juego At-Risk Youth Program.  


The rural agricultural community of El Cerrito is located in the province of  El Siebo, which is the third poorest province in the DR.  Electricity, running water, and the availability of health services are in short supply.  CSA has been working to provide a better education and promote healthier living by creating family gardens in an effort to diversify their diets and promote self sufficiency and sustainability.  The program uses baseball and softball as a hook to educate young men and women and provide students with an education and life skills to promote a healthier, better educated community. 

Yesterday, February 15th, was a most productive day for the DR travelers.  The journey began with the students working in unison to complete a drainage pipe for the baseball/softball facility.  After lunch, we visited the Centro Educativo El Cerrito school that educates 93 students ages 5-20.  The school services all students in the village, and due to the age discrepancy and educational levels, it is not abnormal to have students ranging from 14 - 20 in the same classroom.  One classroom we visited serviced 6, 7, and 8th grades in one classroom with one teacher.  The principal and teachers could not have been more accommodating.  They expressed their sincere gratitude for the work that our GD students have done over the course of the week.  

I had the privilege to meet with the principal who was kind, accommodating, and when I first met him busy sweeping the grounds.  He took pride in operating a facility that is kept very clean.  At the urging of Mr. Woods and the students, I had a deal to offer him.  Instead of holding a baseball game with the students this afternoon, we invited them to our hotel to enjoy a genuine cultural interaction.  We invited 35 students and 5 teachers to swim in the pool and enjoy a lunch together.  Many of these students have never left their village, let alone had a chance to swim in a pool.  I am thankful to say the principal thought it was a great idea.  Our bus will depart early this morning to pick up the students and bring them to our hotel for a day of activities.  It should be a great day.   

Last night concluded with the students participating in a great exercise on social and economic inequality.  After dinner, we learned more about the impact of baseball on the island.  Former minor league players met with the GD students to express their concerns over  a new epidemic within the Dominican baseball community.  Man young Dominicans view baseball as their only way out. They dedicate all their time to baseball, some even dropping out of school to try to gain an edge.  However, roughly 99 percent of athletes will never make the major leagues,  and as a result are left with no means for supporting themselves.  Through education, CSA and other NGO's, are looking to reverse that trend and provide a more realistic and sustainable future for the youth of the island.  

Lastly, we had the opportunity to sing happy birthday to my 10 year old daughter, Mae, who is an ocean away.  Below, you will find a few videos and some pictures that highlight the activities of the day.  

The Road To Work


Happy Birthday to Mae Mastrullo

Drainage Pipe Nearing Compeltion

Me and the Principal

Service in the DR

On Thursday, February 11th 26 students and 4 chaperons departed for the Dominican Republic on a service learning trip.  GD students and teachers in conjunction with the Community Service Alliance (CSA) and Education First Tours (EF) are concentrating on field work projects in rural parts of the DR.  We are working to support two CSA grassroots projects: Salud Cerrito and Mi Vida en Juego At-Risk Youth Program.  


The rural agricultural community of El Cerrito is located in the province of  El Siebo, which is the third poorest province in the DR.  Electricity, running water, and the availability of health services are in short supply.  CSA has been working to provide a better education and promote healthier living by creating family gardens in an effort to diversify their diets and promote self sufficiency and sustainability.  The program uses baseball and softball as a hook to educate young men and women and provide students with an education and life skills to promote a healthier, better educated community. 

Yesterday, February 14th, GD students enjoyed activities with the locals.  We played a softball game with members of the community.  Some of the DR players were young men and women of MS and HS age.  A few other players are aspiring professional baseball players along with a few former minor league players.  The game was lots of fun and very competitive.  GD lost 7-5 despite a solid pitching effort from Sarah Woods, and 3 hits from Jacob Barnes.  Unfortunately, we could not overcome the two debilitating errors by Mr. Keith Woods.  Other group members toured local homes and visited the health clinic.  The health clinic is only equipped to deal with minor issues, and any serious health problems require a long trek to the hospital.  The facility is manned by one person who sleeps at the facility.  They work in week long shifts. 

Following the day activities, the kids enjoyed some time by the pool.  After dinner they learned local dances including the merengue.  All of the students, albeit some reluctantly, enjoyed the dance lesson.  We are heading back into the village today for another day of service.  

The local clinic

Inside the clinic

Manuel

Manuel's home

Manuel's home

GD Service in the DR

On Thursday, February 11th 26 students and 4 chaperons departed for the Dominican Republic on a service learning trip.  GD students and teachers in conjunction with the Community Service Alliance (CSA) and Education First Tours (EF) are concentrating on field work projects in rural parts of the DR.  We are working to support two CSA grassroots projects: Salud Cerrito and Mi Vida en Juego At-Risk Youth Program.  


The rural agricultural community of El Cerrito is located in the province of  El Siebo, which is the third poorest province in the DR.  Electricity, running water, and the availability of health services are in short supply.  CSA has been working to provide a better education and promote healthier living by creating family gardens in an effort to diversify their diets and promote self sufficiency and sustainability.  The program uses baseball and softball as a hook to educate young men and women and provide students with an education and life skills to promote a healthier, better educated community. 

Yesterday, February 13th, was day two of service for students and chaperons.  After a traditional Dominican breakfast, the group was transported to the work site and broken into three groups. One group was sifting and mixing cement, another group was responsible for running baseball and softball clinics for the youth of the community, and the third group was working in the community garden planting cucumbers, tomatoes, and other native vegetables.  The students worked really hard. Later that evening the group went to town to enjoy some local pizza.  We had the opportunity to enjoy some cake in celebration of Katie Royal's 17th birthday.  

Today we are traveling to the baseball/softball field in El Cerrito.  After a brief presentation highlighting  the importance of baseball in the DR, we will participate in a genuine cultural exchange while enjoying a game of softball with the community members. Group members not participating in the softball game will visit local families.  They will tour their homes and learn more about their daily lives.  After lunch we will be transported to Las Palmillas Women's Cooperative, a group founded with the help of CSA, which has blossomed into a successful business group for local women.  Should be a great day.  

Serving Learning in the DR

On Thursday, February 11th 26 students and 4 chaperons departed for the Dominican Republic on a service learning trip.  GD students and teachers in conjunction with the Community Service Alliance (CSA) and Education First Tours (EF) are concentrating on field work projects in rural parts of the DR.  We are working to support two CSA grassroots projects: Salud Cerrito and Mi Vida en Juego At-Risk Youth Program.  


The rural agricultural community of El Cerrito is located in the province of  El Siebo, which is the third poorest province in the DR.  Electricity, running water, and the availability of health services are in short supply.  CSA has been working to provide a better education and promote healthier living by creating family gardens in an effort to diversify their diets and promote self sufficiency and sustainability.  The program uses baseball and softball as a hook to educate young men and women and provide students with an education and life skills to promote a healthier, better educated community. 

Yesterday the students worked tremendously hard improving the baseball and softball facility.  The field would be deemed unplayable in any town in Massachusetts, but Pedro, the baseball coordinator, deemed it 80% ready.  GD students worked in the searing heat cleaning and improving the area.  The project coordinator stated that we did three days work in one day. We are heading back to the community early this morning to build gardens, run baseball and softball clinics, and provide general improvements to the facility.  I will provide additional details as wifi and time permits.  The four chaperons could not be more proud of the students.  Mr. Woods, Ms. Bennett, Ms. Cain, and Mr. Mastrullo have divided the groups into four teams.  All teams have performed exceptionally well, but team Mastrullo, anchored by co-captains Emily Figueroa and Rose O'Malley are leading the charge.  

How the students arrive at school

On the way to serve the community

Young man departing from school

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Congratulations to regional award recipients from this year's Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.   The biggest annual art and writing competition looks at the best high school work regionally and nationally.  Groton-Dunstable High School Students fared well in both art and writing.   A special note of congratulations goes to Haley Ashburn (2018) and  Katarzyna "Kasia" Jezak (2017) For winning multiple awards in art and writing respectively.

Gold Key artwork will be exhibited at EF (Education First) Two Education Circle, Cambridge, MA 02141 (near the Science Museum), from March 5–March 20, 2016.  (Yes, this is the same EF that runs many of our trips abroad, so this is a great chance to see some amazing work and check out the EF headquarters.)

Regional Gold Key recipients will continue on to New York to compete against all the other Gold Key Winners from the other regions of the country. At the National level, work can win a Gold Medal or a Silver Medal.  National Awards are announced in Mid-March.

Principal Mastrullo had this to say about the awards.  "We are so proud of the students of this school. There is a wealth of talent covering a broad spectrum of activities.  The arts are chief among them." 

Haley Ashburn (2018) commented on the Awards.  "The globe awards is really exciting: so many students submit work from all over the state so it’s really a huge competition.  I'm really looking forward to attending the ceremony in Boston.  Last year I missed the deadline with a work that I was polishing but that work wound up getting an award this year.  I'm definitely going to submit again next year and encourage other kids to enter."

Mr. O'Connor had this to say. "The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is one of the best opportunities for students in our programs to be recognized for their outstanding work. For many artists and writers Scholastic is their first major distinction: Stephen King and Sylvia Plath were past award winners   I'm proud of all the students who applied this year. 

 Awards carry prestige and can lead to scholarships and help the college application process.  We urge students to submit for the awards every November, so though its a long way please stay tuned for next year.  In the meantime approach your art teacher or writing teacher with your work for this contest and others and be sure to show colleges examples of artwork and other creative things you have done at GD."

A complete list of GD Winners in Art and Writing can be seen below.  Images of the Art winners are included.

Writing Awards 

Short Stories

Katarznya Jezak The Blank Die/ Honorable Mention

Matthew Suchecki Green Tea/ Honorable Mention

Poetry

Katarznya Jezak Early Mourning/ Silver Key

Katarznya Jezak Inertia/ Honorable Mention

Art Awards

Drawing and Illustration

Haley Ashburn: Self Portrait/Gold Key

Saya Norton: Life After Death/ Gold Key

Claire Grigglestone” Hands and Hair of Cancer Patient/Silver Key

Painting

Haley Ashburn: Splash/ Silver Key

Charlotte McCarthy: Downstream/ Honorable Mention

Digital Art

Haley Ashburn: Thought Bubbles/ Gold Key

Serena Scharn: Dusty Mirror/ Honorable Mention

Film and Animation

Aylin Elmali: White and Black Birds/ Silver Key

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iKE7-kHJzg&feature=youtu.be

Photography

Megan Odell: Striped Weather/ Silver Key

Ian Peterson: Tortuguero Sunrise/ Silver Key

Will Premru: Wisdom and Beauty/ Silver Key

Larissa Spencer: Reflection/ Silver Key

Senior Profile: Ben Hauk

Athletic Department News

Brought to you by Athletic Director, Michael McCaffrey

The Toughest Runner

By Robert Mingolelli

Ben Hauk is a senior at Groton-Dunstable Regional High and has been running cross-country since middle school.   

His love for running started when his parents Sue and Joseph along with Ben, brother Alex and sister Emily, would run local road races including the Groton Road Race and the Ayer Fire Department’s Turkey Trot. “My parents were not really serious runners but they enjoyed taking part in the events and it was fun. In sixth grade, I ran on the cross-country team with Coach (Mark) Hennelly and enjoyed the atmosphere around the group of runners and making new friends.”  I took to competitive running on my own after sixth grade,” smiled Hauk.

“Ben Hauk leads by example,” shares GD math teacher and running coach, Angus MacDonald. “He is not loud but sets standards by being at practice every day, giving everything he has and leading the entire team through workouts. As captain of both cross-country and indoor track teams, Ben is a role model for all of the younger guys on and off the track.  Although he is the shortest member of our team, I am pretty sure everyone looks up to him.”

 “I enjoy being captain because it allows me to work with the younger kids, especially the freshmen, showing them what I have learned and the little things that help them get better” related Ben.  

Along with track and cross-country, the Groton-Dunstable senior keeps busy with honors and AP classes, gymnastics club team practice three days a week, Boy Scouts and winter meets on weekends.

Ben will attend The College of William and Mary next year with plans to major in chemistry. He hopes to try out for the gymnastics team and continue his running.

“My classes at Groton-Dunstable have been challenging, in particular the AP classes but it’s under control and I feel I have been well prepared for college.”

GD faculty member Tamara Allen commented.  “He is both a talented young man and an extremely dedicated student. He clearly has a natural aptitude for the sciences, but is always hard at work, trying to take his understanding to a deeper level. Never content with just being able to get the right answer to a problem, Ben consistently discusses with his peers and asks poignant questions until he truly understands every aspect of the topic.”

Ben, a Boy Scout since fifth grade, is working on Eagle Scout and must earn 21 merit badges and perform a service project of significant value to the community. All requirements for the Eagle Scout must be complete before his 18th birthday, which for Ben is February 8. His project involved building two bridges in McLains Woods, one of the conservation areas in Groton.

Math Department Chair Jon Conlon has had Ben in four math classes and knows him very well. “The first words I think of as a student are hard working and enthusiastic. It is obvious that Ben enjoys math, and wants to be as successful as he can be. He is serious but not to the point that he doesn't enjoy what he is doing. He is quiet, capable and actively contributes in class.”

Other outside of school activities include volunteering at the Groton Road Race, helping setting the flags along Main Street for the Memorial Day ceremony, working with other scouts on their Eagle projects.

Regarding the Toughest Runner: The Award was given this year to Ben by Cross-Country coaches Angus MacDonald, Paul Killiam and Ken Magliozzi. The criteria: consistently performing at a high level, a valuable member on the team, demonstrates leadership qualities and excellent team spirit, consistently shows a positive attitude and enthusiastic approach, has had excellent attendance at practice/meets and is always a strong representative of GDXC and Groton-Dunstable Regional HS.

It is apparent that Ben has shown by his work ethic in and out of school and through his athletic accomplishments, that he exemplifies the characteristics synonymous with the award.