Monthly Archives: January 2018
Bringing the Community Together at Unified Bocce
Jasmin Morse, Veritas Editor-in-Chief and Web Editor
1-30-18
Every year, the Massachusetts Special Olympics organization hosts an Unified Bocce Tournament. This past Sunday, Jan. 29, was the second consecutive year RHS has hosted this event.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics. At the event, 15 schools participated in the tourney and 15 others came to support and cheer on the Special Olympians.
In total, the MASC and the Massachusetts Special Olympics organization sponsored event had 40, four person teams participating from all over Massachusetts.
At the event hosted by our SGC president, Hannah Murphy, attendees could buy items from concessions, raffles, an Olympic village, and lunch which were all provided by Rockland Student Government. In the end, all proceeds went back to the Special Olympics.
At the Opening Ceremony, RHS Special Olympian, Anthony DiNino carried in the torch and was accompanied by school resource officer, Ethan Schnabel.
Here, Patti Doherty, the Massachusetts Director of Schools and youth engagement reminded students councils about the upcoming Polar Plunge. All proceeds will go to Special Olympics and the set goal is to raise over $50,000 at the event.
Doherty concluded at the close of the event, there was over 500 attendees to the event, marking it to be the largest Bocce Tournament to be held by the Special Olympics. Also stating, “we are lucky to have had Rockland host the tournament the last two years.”
Mock Trial Makes Its Way to Court
Jasmin Morse, Veritas Editor-in-Chief and Web Editor
1-26-18
The Rockland High School Mock Trial team gets ready on Jan. 25 to travel to Brockton District Court where they will compete in a mock trial meet against Thayer Academy. Top left to right: Annie Kelley, Emmy Kelley, Maddie Gear, Hannah Wyllie. Bottom left to right, Molly Boggs, Caitlin Cameron, Marissa Smith, Jasmin Morse, Kate Burke, and Harry Hunter. Veritas photo
After months of preparation, the RHS Mock Trial Club finally made its way to Brockton District Court to face off against Thayer Academy yesterday, Jan. 25.
In this trial, RHS took the role of plaintiff. Acting as attorneys were senior, Harry Hunter, junior, Jasmin Morse, and first timers, sophomores, Molly Boggs and freshman, Annie Kelley. Witnesses were first timers, sophomores Hannah Wyllie, Maddie Gear, and junior, Kate Burke.
In the end, RHS won the verdict of the case after great preparation and hard work with assistance from advisers, Greg Rowe and Randal Grimmett.
RHS Students Roll Up Their Sleeves for a Great Cause
Jasmin Morse, Veritas Editor-in-Chief and Web Editor
1-26-18
It has been three years since Rockland’s National Honor Society has hosted an American Red Cross blood drive. This past Wednesday, Jan. 24 in the back gym, students and teachers lined up to donate their blood and red blood cells to patients in need at local hospitals.
At the blood drive, the Red Cross collected 30 donations, these 30 pints of blood will be used to save up to 90 lives.
Throughout the day, seven donors completed the Power Red Cell donation. Here, donors participated in apheresis which removes the plasma through separation of the cells and plasma. At the end of this process, the blood cells are reintroduced into the body and the plasma is then donated to patients being treated for autoimmune diseases.
Another notable part of the day included 21 first-time donors throughout the Red Cross Blood Drive.
Matt Belanger, Red Cross account manager said to Mrs. Kendra Donovan, NHS advisor, “Without the support of partners like your NHS chapter and the selfless donors that roll-up their sleeves we would be lost. You truly are lifesavers and should be extremely proud of what you accomplished.”
Poetry Out Loud: Results
Jasmin Morse, Veritas Editor-in-Chief and Web Editor
1-23-18
Every winter RHS competes in the Massachusetts Poetry Out Loud program that allows high school students to compete against each other in the art of poetical recitation. From this, placing students are rewarded with scholarship money.
Students start off in the town level competition. From there, the first place student goes on to compete in the Southeast Regional competition, March 4, in South Yarmouth. Then, the top six from regionals go on to the state wide competition, which will take place March 11. The top placer from the state competition then meet their final destination, facing the top placer from each state in Washington D.C. where they will compete on the national level.
Here at RHS, the competition took place last Friday, Jan. 19, at 7 pm in the RMS/RHS Lecture Hall. The event was hosted by head of the English Department, Carol Cahill. Judging the competition were Karen Bonn, Jack Carey, Bill Boyer, and Amy Woodward. Judging the participant’s accuracy was RHS English teacher, Kristen Walsh.
The eight students competing Friday night included: Kellie Berry, Eden Dalton, Olivia Elie, John Ellard, Mardally Freitas, Emily Gaboriault, Joe Lauria, and Jocelyn Reera.
Out of these eight strong competitors, scholarships were awarded to the top three contestants. Coming in third place was senior Kellie Berry. Placing second was junior John Ellard, and moving on to the regional competition is senior Eden Dalton.
Eighth Grade Open House: Total Success!
Jasmin Morse, Veritas Editor-in-Chief and Web Editor
1-11-18
As the thought of high school starts to dawn on the Class of 2022, RHS took the opportunity to hold an open house for the incoming eighth graders last night, Jan. 10.
This year, RHS Principal, John Harrison decided to switch things up a bit at Open House with the introduction of a quick video to go over all the educational departments here at RHS.
After a greeting by Athletic Director, Gary Graziano, Vice Principal, Kathy Paulding, RHS seniors Jill Donahue and Zachary Peterson, and a panel discussion held by students to talk about RHS culture, parents and eighth graders went to the cafeteria where they had the opportunity to learn more about the clubs and activities available here at the high school.
In the cafeteria, RHS students came to be able to meet the eighth graders and discuss clubs and sports they are apart of to show them that there is something for everyone here at Rockland High School.
Principal Harrison concluded that he was pleased overall with the turn-out, the student involvement, and the professionalism of the informative presentations. All in all, the Open House was a success. With a higher attendance than previous years and more student involvement, the eighth graders and their parents left the school last night feeling more informed about life here at RHS.
Hockey Team Welcomes New Year with Wins
2017-2018 Captains: Mike Flaherty, Harry O’Brien, Joe Campanile and Matty O’Brien. Veritas photo
The RHS hockey team, coming off a Cashman Tournament championship on Jan. 1, added two more wins in the first week of the New Year, giving them a record of 7-1-1, including a 7-2 win Saturday, Jan. 6 against Cohasset.
Below is our hockey team profile from the December issue of the Veritas.
Mark Shields, Veritas Staff
Dec. 20, 2017
D-Y game photo by local photographer, Steve Gilbert (@stevegilbert4).
This year the Rockland hockey team hopes to carry its success from last year into this year. After winning their league and making a deep tournament run last year the Dogs hope to go even further and make it to the Garden this year.
Coming off a season where they went an amazing 21-2-3, they will need to play fundamental hockey in order to continue their success this season. No one knows that better than Coach Mike Flaherty.
“To continue our previous success we need to keep this simple and make simple plays,” said Flaherty
This season the Dogs have already started and are at a 2-1 record with a big win against the Abington Green Wave in their season opener, a tough loss to Hanover, and a dominating 5-0 win over EB.
These early successes and an early defeat will fuel the team as they have goals set for the season that are nothing short of difficult.
“Our mindset is to repeat as league champs and be difficult to play against, and this year we have a real opportunity to make it to the Garden,” said Flaherty when asked about his goals for the season.
The hockey team is very excited for an opportunity to repeat as league champs. This would make them the first hockey team in school history to repeat as league champs.
With a few freshmen and sophomores providing meaningful minutes the Dogs are set up for a pretty successful team in the future. However, the juniors and seniors will play a huge part this year, and could be the determining factor if this team repeats or not.
Coach Flaherty is confident about his returning players. “The guys coming back from last year are a big difference maker for us with their experience and hockey knowledge,” said Coach Flaherty.
Four of the returning group include captains Matt and Harry O’Brien, Joe Campanile and Mike Flaherty.
Coach Flaherty is very optimistic about this season and even though they were so successful last year he is not dwelling on the past.
Coach Flaherty, who was inducted into the Rockland High School Athletic Hall of Fame recently, is fully concentrated on the future of the program.
THE VERITAS 