About Jessica Sacco

http://jgpr.net

Jessica Sacco is an Account Executive at John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC.

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Hull Elementary School Students Complete 5K as Part of Girls on the Run Program

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Hull Public Schools
Michael F. Devine, Superintendent
180 Harborview Road
Hull, MA 02045

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 18, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Hull Elementary School Students Complete 5K as Part of Girls on the Run Program

Twenty-five girls at Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School participated in the Girls on the Run 5K earlier this month. (Courtesy Photo Hull Public Schools)

HULL — Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School girls completed a special 5K earlier this month as part of a program designed to foster self-respect and healthy lifestyles.

On Saturday, June 9, 25 girls in grades three through five participated in the Girls on the Run 5K at Hopkinton High School, joining more than 600 runners who participated in the event.

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit organization that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident in their everyday lives through an experience-based curriculum that integrates running.

During the 10-week program implemented at the Jacobs School, 27 girls took time out of their regular schedules to meet with coaches Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning before school and in the afternoons after school. They focused on activities that would build self-awareness, teamwork, goal-setting and healthy relationships. Students would then participate in physical activities to help build endurance for the 5K.

“Girls on the Run was fun,” said third grade student Grace Kiley. “I learned a lot about myself and how I can be true to myself.”

The Girls on the Run program also incorporated a community service project, which Jacobs students decided would focus on raising money to support homeless individuals.

On June 7, the girls held a bake sale during the annual Jacobs Elementary School spring concert and raised $423, which they donated to Wellspring Multi-Service Center.

Physical education teacher Keryn Leonard led the Girls on the Run program at the Jacobs School, with assistance from Principal Christine Cappadona, school psychologist Lauren Snowdale, reading specialist Mary Ellen Moran, technology specialist Kerrie Ryan and special education teacher Elizabeth Sypek.

“We’re so proud of all the girls who partook in the Girls on the Run program,” Principal Cappadona said. “The creative curriculum allowed students to really build their self-confidence while strengthening peer relationships, increasing physical stamina and raising money for a cause they support.”

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Kerry Finnegan Appointed as Kearsarge High School’s Associate Director of Student Support Services

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Kearsarge Regional School District
Superintendent Winfried Feneberg
114 Cougar Court
New London, NH 03257

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 18, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Kerry Finnegan Appointed as Kearsarge High School’s Associate Director of Student Support Services

Kerry Finnegan will serve as the new Associate Director of Student Support Services. (Courtesy Photo)

NEW LONDON — Superintendent Winfried Feneberg is pleased to announce that Kerry Finnegan is the newest member of the Kearsarge High School team, and will serve as the Associate Director of Student Support Services.

She will step into the position on July 1, bringing with her nearly two decades of special education experience. Finnegan will replace Melissa Romein, who has held the position for the past three years and has recently accepted a position in the Londonderry school district

“We are excited to welcome Kerry to the high school and the district,” Superintendent Feneberg said. “Her extensive knowledge and experience in education, particularly her work building and strengthening relationships within schools and communities, will be essential in this role.”

Over the last year, Finnegan served as an educational consultant for Salem Public Schools, providing guidance, advice and expertise on special education services throughout the district. During that time, she also worked with the Regional Services and Education Center in Amherst to create and implement a school-wide behavior system.

Finnegan previously worked as an out-of-district liaison for the Bedford School District from 2014 to 2017, where she was involved in curriculum planning, programming, budgets, teacher supervision and evaluation, and policies and procedures.

For the eight years prior, Finnegan served the Litchfield Middle School, first as the special education case manager from 2008 to 2009, and then as the assistant principal.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Worcester State College, she began working as a special education teacher at Worcester Public Schools in Massachusetts and then at the Campus Academy in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Finnegan also holds a master’s degree in special education and counseling psychology from Cambridge College, a certificate of advanced graduate study in counseling psychology and completed a school psychology conversion program at Plymouth State University and a school principal certification program through Rivier College.

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Woburn District Court H.E.A.T. Program Addresses Substance Abuse at 12th Annual Conference

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Woburn Police Department

Woburn Police Department
Chief Robert J. Ferullo Jr
25 Harrison Ave.
Woburn, MA 01801

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 18, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Woburn District Court H.E.A.T. Program Addresses Substance Abuse at 12th Annual  Conference

WOBURN — Hundreds of leaders in public health and law enforcement came together last week for the 12th Annual Woburn District Court Heroin Education Awareness Task Force (H.E.A.T.) Conference to discuss the latest trends and treatment surrounding substance abuse.

On Friday, June 15, attendees gathered at the Hilton Boston/Woburn to learn more about drug use and ways to assist those struggling with addiction. The half-day meeting consisted of experts speaking about substance abuse treatment, prevention and enforcement.

The H.E.A.T. program was founded by Vincent J. Piro and Michael P. Higgins, of the probation department of Woburn District Court, the police departments of the seven cities and towns under its jurisdiction: Woburn, Burlington, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington and Winchester, the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services and the AdCare Educational Institute. The program is designed to educate the public, especially families and friends of those suffering from addiction, about heroin use and abuse trends among young people.

“To all the presenters and attendees who joined us for the 12th annual conference, thank you for making this year a success,” Piro said. “Every year, the Woburn District Court and our partner agencies work to provide life saving resources to those in need, and it is through these collaborations that we have been successful.”

Over the last few years, overdose deaths have exceeded motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. More than a decade ago, H.E.A.T. recognized the growing problem between painkiller abuse and heroin use, and every year works to call attention to deadly synthetic substances in an effort to prevent addiction and deaths.

“The H.E.A.T. program has been at the forefront of these issues for almost 13 years,” Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo said. “It is the belief of leaders at Friday’s conference that we must collaborate across agencies to provide education to the public on prevention, treatment for those struggling with addiction, and enforcement of the laws to make a difference in the opioid crisis.”

To open the conference, Stephen Wood from Winchester Hospital spoke about the rise in popularity of vaping, new substances that are being taken for recreational use (everything from Morning Glory flower seeds to “Flakka” — a synthetic cathinone that causes a number of symptoms like hallucinations and violent behavior) and potential warning signs that a loved one may be using drugs.

Britte McBride, Commissioner of Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, informed attendees about the provisions and regulations that will be in place for the marijuana industry once legalized sales go into effect on July 1, including mandated advertisements to educate consumers and promote safe use of products, stringent security protocols at establishments and testing of products before they go onto the market.

Billerica Town Manager John Curran shared his experience with the opioid crisis from a municipal level, using a proactive and reactive approach, while Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan spoke about the change in perspective that law enforcement must take to address the opioid epidemic.

“We found that we couldn’t arrest our way out of the problem,” Chief Sheehan said. “We were really failing by not going deeper into the issue, and instead just going through the judicial system.”

In Tewksbury, the mentality of solely relying on enforcement has been altered and officials are looking at education, collaboration with local agencies and counseling/treatment to address the root of the issue. Additionally, all officers carry Narcan, an opioid reversal drug, to save the lives of those who are overdosing.

Michael McLaughlin and Pierce Aliberti, of Stoneham, closed the conference by sharing their experiences and journeys to recovery, thanking those who helped them along the way with resources and support.

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GLTS English Learners and Arlington High School Spanish Students Practice Languages Through Pen Pal Program

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Greater Lawrence Technical School
Superintendent John Lavoie
57 River Rd, Andover,
MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Friday, June 15, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

GLTS English Leaners and Arlington High School Spanish Students Practice Languages Through Pen Pal Program

To practice their English and Spanish language skills, students from Greater Lawrence Technical School and Arlington High School participated in a pen pal program, writing letters to one another throughout the year.

On June 4, Arlington students arrived at GLTS to celebrate the success of the project, and participated in a morning of activities with their pen pals. This included a tour of the school, a salsa dancing lesson and an authentic cultural lunch prepared and served by GLTS students in the culinary arts department.

“I was happy to meet my pen pal! It was fun to learn from him,” said GLTS sophomore Monika Mercado, of Lawrence. “I really enjoyed spending time with him today and showing him around the school.”

Launched this year, the program is designed to not only assist students with their language skills, but to expose them to another culture and foster friendships with peers they may not have met otherwise.

“The pen pal program is a fun way for students to put what they’re learning in the classroom into practice,” Superintendent John Lavoie said. “Instead of a typical written homework assignment, students at GLTS and Arlington were able to have fun and meaningful conversations with their peers, some of whom developed real friendships.”

Throughout the school year, GLTS students who wanted to refine their English acquisition skills would write to Arlington students enrolled in Spanish on topics like culture, holidays and their schools.  

Each letter focused on specific content and skills, so that students could practice their vocabulary and grammar and ensure that they grew in their abilities.

“My pen pal and I have a lot in common,” said Arlington junior Isabella Dray. “We both love art and music, so it was really fun! It felt really natural. We didn’t feel nervous or awkward because we’ve been writing letters all year so we really got to know each other.”

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