Iber Holmes Gove Middle School

Raymond’s Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Students Study the Lamprey River

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Raymond School District
Tina McCoy, Superintendent
43 Harriman Hill Road
Raymond, NH 03077

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Raymond’s Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Students Study the Lamprey River

RAYMOND — Seventh grade students at Iber Holmes Gove Middle School are gaining a newfound understanding of a local river thanks to a year-long project studying organisms that live there.

Students are studying the Lamprey River through the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Watershed Education Program, which allows students to learn about their local watershed by collecting organisms, and testing and studying them. Watershed Education Specialist Judy Tumosa has also worked with Iber Holmes Gove educators since 2005 to train them to set up and establish tanks in their classrooms to house organisms students collect from the river. Educators also apply for an annual permit from the state to collect species from the river with their classes.

“This program is an essential asset in connecting our own environment to what students are learning in the classroom,” said Mary Colburn, a science teacher at the school. “We are creating lessons that are relevant and meaningful with the hopes the students see a connection to their own backyards while fostering an inquiring mind about science.”

All seventh grade students at the school collected organisms from the river this fall after learning about the history of the Lamprey River, as well as the importance of macroinvertebrates for determining the health of the river and population dynamics. Students went to the river in groups of 20, wearing neoprene waders with buckets and nets.The students sought to collect a variety of specimens in order to create a simulation of the Lamprey River ecosystem back in the classroom to further observe and reflect upon.

“Students are surprised at all that is hidden in the water,” Colburn said. “Most students know that you can find fish and tadpoles, but they found dragonfly larvae, crayfish, mayfly larvae and more. They found it incredibly exciting, and have been fascinated as we continue to study the specimen we collected.”

Seventh grade students will continue to studying the behaviors, interactions and dynamics of the organisms they have collected as part of an ecosystem unit in their science classes. Students will also analyze and interpret data, develop models, construct arguments and hone a deeper understanding of resources, the cycling of matter and the flow of energy in ecosystems.

This year, students will also consider biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem and the effects these factors have on a population, and they will additionally evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

To learn more about the Watershed Education Program, visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us/education/watershed.

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Raymond’s Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Hosts 15th Annual Raymond Coalition for Youth Project Safeguard Conference

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Raymond School District
Tina McCoy, Superintendent
43 Harriman Hill Road
Raymond, NH 03077

For Immediate Release

Monday, May 6, 2019

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

Raymond’s Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Hosts 15th Annual Raymond Coalition for Youth Project Safeguard Conference

RAYMOND — Principal Bob Bickford is pleased to share that students, parents and guardians came together recently to learn about healthy and successful student habits, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

On Friday, April 19, the Raymond School District hosted the 15th Annual Raymond Coalition for Youth Project Safeguard Conference at Iber Holmes Gove Middle School. Students in seventh and eighth grade attended the event, as well as their parents and guardians.

The Raymond Coalition for Youth has organized the Project Safeguard conference for Iber Holmes Gove Middle School students, parents and guardians for the past 15 years, and received funding to support the event from Exeter Hospital and through a Drug Free Community grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The free conference offered workshops that were open to students and parents, and others that were for students only and parents only.

Workshop topics included: e-cigarettes, personal stories of addiction and recovery, smart dating, life coaching, sexual harassment and online bullying, navigating the currents of depression and anxiety, understanding adolescence, a guided meditation and a yoga session.

A keynote speech was also given at the event by Raymond Police Lt. Chad Shevlin, with a closing speech by UNH student and Teen Challenge End Addiction Administrator Zach Brewster and DEA Special Agent Jon DeLena. Brewster, who is in long-term recovery, shared his experience battling with addiction with students at the event.

“Students, parents and guardians have a lot of challenging, serious topics they’re tasked with navigating in today’s world,” Principal Bickford said. “This conference was a great opportunity for parents and students to hear from professionals about the dangers of addiction, and to learn new tools to support healthy, safe habits.”

The conference lasted the length of the school day, although parents and guardians were encouraged to attend as long as their schedules allowed.

The Raymond Coalition for Youth also provided a free lunch for those who attended the conference and t-shirts for all students.

“This event was made possible by our longstanding and growing partnership with the Raymond Coalition for Youth,” Superintendent McCoy said. “Our community is fortunate that the coalition holds this event annually to support student health and safety.”

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Raymond Middle School Student Reports Threat Made via Online Video Game

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Raymond School District
Tina McCoy, Superintendent
43 Harriman Hill Road
Raymond, NH 03077

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 2, 2019

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

Raymond Middle School Student Reports Threat Made via Online Video Game

Angry Gamer Allegedly Threatened Violence at School

RAYMOND — Superintendent Tina McCoy and Police Chief Michael R. Labell report that Raymond School officials and the Raymond Police Department are investigating after an Iber Holmes Gove Middle School student reported to a teacher that he was threatened by a fellow gamer while playing Fortnite online.

A middle school boy reported to a teacher this morning that, while he and another middle school student were playing Fortnite last evening, another player who is unknown to them, became angry during the game and began making threats. The individual also threatened to find the students, harm them and commit a violent act at their school.

School officials immediately notified the Raymond Police Department, and an investigation was launched.

The protocols and procedures put in place in the event of a threat were followed. The Raymond Public Schools and the Raymond Police Department take all threats of violence seriously. At this time officials do not believe there is any danger to the school community.

Superintendent McCoy praised the student for coming forward.

“We tell our students ‘if you see something, say something,'” she said. “We take all threats and perceived threats seriously. The safety, security and well-being of our students comes first at all times.”

The suspect’s username was relayed to investigators, and police are working with the game and technology companies involved in Fortnite to quickly identify the suspect.

“The student in this instance did the right thing by reporting an unsettling incident to a trusted teacher,” Chief Labell said. “While we do not believe there is any danger, we are actively investigating this threat, and detectives are using the many resources at their disposal to identify this individual and ensure safety in our schools.”

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