Exeter

Exeter High School Club Thrives, Brings Smiles to Hospitalized Children

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New Hampshire SAU 16
Dr. David Ryan, Superintendent
30 Linden Street
Exeter, NH 03833

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 15, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Exeter High School Club Thrives, Brings Smiles to Hospitalized Children

From left: Exeter High School school counselor Christine Leach, David Leach, and special education teacher/case manager Lisha Rowe. (Courtesy Photo SAU 16)

EXETER — More than three years after a club was founded in memory of an Exeter High School student who died from a brain tumor, the group continues to flourish and bring smiles to children who are hospitalized.

The club, Derek’s Smile, was created in October 2016 after a junior at the school, Derek Hoyt, died from a brain tumor, his third battle with cancer, the prior spring. The club was founded by his sister, Ashley Hoyt, who since graduated from Exeter High School in 2018, with the goal of bringing moments of happiness to children hospitalized and suffering from various illnesses and medical conditions.

Although all students who would have known Derek have since graduated from Exeter High School, the club has continued to thrive and works to bring moments of happiness to hospitalized children in his memory.

Approximately 12 students, many of them freshmen, participated in the group this school year.

“This year was our first without Derek’s sister being here to lead the group,” said Christine Leach, a school counselor at Exeter High School and adviser to the group. “There are no longer any students here who went to school with Derek, and it was a fear of mine that the group would fizzle out after his sister graduated. I am pleased to say that we have grown this year.”

Students in the group raised funds for team “Derek’s Smile” in the Jimmy Fund 13.1 mile walk in Boston in September 2018. Members of the team included Leach, her husband David Leach and special education teacher and case manager Lisha Rowe. The team ultimately raised more than $2,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For the 2019 Jimmy Fund 13.1 mile walk this September, the team has already surpassed its goal of raising $1,500. To donate to the team, click here.

This past school year, the Derek’s Smile club also organized and oversaw a pretzel raffle, card drive, talent show and basket raffle, and received a donation from the Newfield’s 5K.

As a result of the club’s initiatives, students from Exeter High School sent more than a thousand cards to hospitalized children this year alone. The club also gave $500 donations to St. Jude’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

“It has been incredible to see students in the club become so invested in community service and bringing moments of happiness to children who are suffering,” Leach said. “This club has a wonderful mission, and is a tremendous tribute to Derek and the moments of happiness that meant so much to him and those who knew him.”

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SAU 16 and Police Investigating after Bullets Found at Cooperative Middle School

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New Hampshire SAU 16
Dr. David Ryan, Superintendent
30 Linden Street
Exeter, NH 03833

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

SAU 16 and Police Investigating after Cooperative Middle School Student Found with .22 Caliber Bullets

No Threats Made, Incident Under Investigation

EXETER — Cooperative Middle School Principal Patty Wons and SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan report that the school district, along with Exeter and Stratham Police are investigating after a student was found to be in possession of bullets at school.

Early Thursday morning, concerned students reported to administrators and school resource officer Amanda Bibeau that a sixth grade student was in possession of two bullets. An investigation was immediately launched and the student was identified.

Two live .22 caliber bullets were found, but no weapons or firearms were located.

After conducting an initial investigation, police and school officials do not believe that there is any danger to the school community. No threats were made, and officials do not believe the student intended to cause harm to anyone, however the incident remains under investigation.

“We are grateful to the students who came forward to protect the safety of the Cooperative Middle School, and we commend them for reporting their concerns to trusted adults,” Principal Wons said. “As always, we would like to reinforce the notion that we should encourage our children to report their concerns when they see something or hear something out of the ordinary.”

Principal Wons and Superintendent Ryan also encourage families to discuss the dangers of bringing any type of weapon or ammunition (live or not) or anything else unsafe to school.

Any parents or community members with any questions or concerns about this incident is encouraged to contact Principal Wons at 603-775-8703.

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Seacoast School of Technology to Host Connor’s Climb to Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention and Education

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saulogo

New Hampshire SAU 16
Dr. David Ryan, Superintendent
30 Linden Street
Exeter, NH 03833

For Immediate Release

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Seacoast School of Technology to Host Connor’s Climb to Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention and Education

EXETER — To help raise awareness for suicide prevention, the Seacoast School of Technology partnered with the Connor’s Climb Foundation to raise money for suicide prevention education.

The public is encouraged to sign up for the seventh annual Connor’s Climb 5K and Family Walk early next month.

WHEN:

Saturday, May 4

  • Check in: 8 a.m.
  • Race start: 9 a.m.
  • Walk start: 9:05 a.m.
  • Kids fun run: 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Seacoast School of Technology, 40 Linden St., Exeter

WHAT:

Tara Holmes Ball founded the Connor’s Climb Foundation in 2012 after her son, Connor, a 14-year-old freshman at Exeter High School, died by suicide. Now one of the lead advocates for suicide prevention education in the state, Ball and her team at CCF work to raise awareness and provide education for youth suicide prevention throughout New Hampshire.

CCF also collaborates with teachers and schools, the public and the mental health system to ensure that the young people of New Hampshire have the life-saving resources needed to prevent suicide.

Since the foundation’s launch, more than 30,000 students — along with 700 adults — at 63 New Hampshire schools have gone through a Connor’s Climb suicide prevention program.

“The race is a vital part of the work Connor’s Climb Foundation does because it brings together so many different people who are key to reducing stigma and preventing suicide in New Hampshire,” Ball said. “When our youth, families, educators, loss survivors, community leaders and other stakeholders gather, they aren’t there just to run a race, they’re there to build a stronger community that recognizes mental health is no different, or less important, than physical health. They are helping change the conversation and they are saving lives. Seeing so many members of our community embrace this cause, for seven years now, reinforces the importance of this work.”

In years past, the race has been held at Exeter High School and later the YMCA. With a desire to bring it back to a school campus, CCF collaborated with SST to host the event.

On May 4, there will be more than 50 SST volunteers on site, including Culinary Arts students, who have prepared baked goods for participants and Digital Media Arts, who created signage for the event.

“The work the Connor’s Climb Foundation is doing every day is something that we as educators, parents, students and community members can really rally behind,” SST Principal Margaret Callahan said. “We’re honored to be able to host the 5K this year to help bring awareness to suicide prevention efforts and ultimately save lives.”

Those who wish to register can do so up until the day before the race by visiting connorsclimb.org.

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Cooperative Middle School Building Project Spotlight On: Multipurpose Room 

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saulogo

New Hampshire SAU 16
Dr. David Ryan, Superintendent
30 Linden Street
Exeter, NH 03833

For Immediate Release

Monday, Feb. 11, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Cooperative Middle School Building Project Spotlight On: Multipurpose Room 

EXETER — In an effort to provide residents with all relevant information surrounding the Cooperative Middle School building project, Superintendent David Ryan is sharing the details of each component through the district’s spotlight series.

Each week, SAU 16 will delve into topics surrounding the proposed expansion and renovation project at CMS. In this feature story, SAU 16 seeks to educate its community members about the need for a multipurpose room.

The expansion and renovation project would create a multipurpose room at CMS that would be primarily used during the school day for the alternative physical education program (Alt. PE). Designed to provide an inclusive gym class experience to all students, Alt. PE offers activities including fishing, archery, bocce, snow shoeing, bicycling and wheelchair basketball. Many students also join the program to become mentors, helpers and friends to their classmates.

Currently, the Alt. PE program is taught in a 1,200-square-foot room designed for an industrial arts class. With the exception of rubber mats that have been placed on the floor, there have been no renovations to the room to meet the needs of the program. The room contains industrial plumbing fixtures, hanging electrical cords, and stores audio/visual equipment, all of which serve as possible hazards to physical activity.

The new multipurpose room would almost double the size of the current Alt. PE room, at 2,350 square feet, and would be designed with wall and floor coverings to support safe physical activity. The room would also offer storage and office space for two Alt. PE and health teachers. Currently, the two Alt. PE teachers at CMS work in an area that was designed for storage, not office space.

If the CMS renovation project moves forward, the current Alt. PE room would be made into six offices that would be used by counselors, therapists and other faculty — some of whom currently work in storage closets.

In addition to providing a more professional environment for staff members to work, the newly designed area would offer a much needed semi-private space for student services, including counseling. It would then allow storage, team and small classroom space to return its original purpose.

“Our students need a space that will support and enhance the Alt. PE program,” Superintendent Ryan said. “Alt. PE is a rich, inclusive physical education experience that not only introduces students with varying needs to healthy, active activities, but it also brings our students closer together through teamwork and recreation. Our students deserve a space where they can do that comfortably and safely.”

In addition to housing the Alt. PE program, the multipurpose room would be used by the CMS wrestling team during the winter season. Wrestling practices are currently held in the cafeteria because the gymnasium is fully scheduled throughout the winter after school by other sports teams. The multipurpose room would provide a space for CMS wrestling athletes to practice comfortably, and would also allow them to keep their mats on a rack in the room instead of carrying them to and from the cafeteria daily.

The CMS building project would also include the creation of an area next to the multipurpose room that would house specialized equipment for students that receive physical therapy, occupational therapy and sensory interventions. Some of this programming is currently held in a converted office designed for one adult. The room is too small for the programming it needs to support, and only one or two students can use the room at a time. For example, when a student uses the sensory swing in the room, multiple adults often surround the child so that they do not hit a wall.

Voters will be asked to consider the $17.8 million project to improve services for students, faculty and staff on March 12. All six towns that make up CMS — Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, Kensington, Newfields and Stratham must collectively pass the ballot item with at least 60 percent voting in favor for the initiative to move forward.

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