Raymond School District

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 High School Football Team Thrives Against Division IV Competition

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

For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 25, 2019

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

Raymond High School Football Team Thrives Against Division IV Competition

RAYMOND — Superintendent Tina McCoy is pleased to share that the Raymond High School varsity football team has thrived this season, and will compete against Mascoma Valley Regional High today.

The Raymond varsity football team has only lost one game this season, and a win Friday would position them compete in the state playoffs for Division IV.

Tonight’s game will begin at 7 p.m. at the Route 107 field on 96 Freemont Road, and all members of the Raymond School District community are invited to attend and cheer on their team. Admission to the game is $4 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens.

“The team is looking really crisp and clean this year; it is easily the best and most skilled team I’ve ever played with, and I really think we have a shot at it all,” said senior captain Gavin Gregoire.

“Team chemistry is off the charts,” added junior captain, Richard Gibby. “Everyone brings something to the table and we work great with our coaching staff.”

New Hampshire’s high school football structure was changed in fall 2018 to include four divisions. The shift placed the Raymond football team in a new Division IV category, which meant that the students would have the opportunity to compete against teams from schools with a similar number of enrolled students. Previously, the team competed in Division III.

“The change in division has allowed us to compete with schools of our size and with similar capabilities, which has made for more competitive games,” said Davinney Brazeau, Raymond Athletic Director . “We’re a relatively new program, and the transition to Division IV has really helped the team flourish.”

The Raymond football program was first launched in 2008.

Tona McCarthy, coach of the varsity football team, praised the team’s determination.

“Perseverance and confidence are delicate things, and it’s certainly something that has to start with your mental approach and the ability to respond, stay focused and not allow negative thoughts,” said McCarthy.

The team will also be accepting donations of canned goods at the entrance of Friday’s game, and all donations will be delivered to an area food pantry. The Raymond football team takes part in the canned goods drive every year in partnership with WMUR and the New Hampshire Food Bank, who organize NH Tackle Hunger Week each fall with teams across the state. Last year, the Raymond football team collected 900 pounds of canned goods donations.

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Raymond Reach High Scholars Program Receives $5,000 Grant from New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019

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

Raymond Reach High Scholars Program Receives $5,000 Grant from New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation

Back row, left to right: Academic Approach Instructor Eric Misiano, Member of the New Hamsphire Electric Co-op (NHEC) Board of Directors Ed French, NHEC Foundation Executive Director Sara Thielbar, Chairman of the Reach High Scholars Program John McDaniels, sophomore Mason Lord and sophomore Vicky Chen. Front row, from left: Sophomore Wyatt Cramer, junior Brynna Hone, junior Anya Cunningham, junior Madison Robinson, sophomore Helene Cote, junior Abigail Brown and sophomore Molly Harmon. (Courtesy Photo Reach High Scholars Program)

RAYMOND — Superintendent Tina McCoy is pleased to announce that a local nonprofit organization, Reach High Scholars Program (RHSP), which benefits Raymond district students, recently received a $5,000 grant from the New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation (NHEC).

The Reach High Scholars Program encourages students in Raymond to “reach higher” in their educational pursuits than what they imagined possible. At no cost to taxpayers or the school district, RHSP offers a range of intellectually enriching and college-readiness programs at very low prices. Students can also apply for further cost reductions based on financial need. RHSP is also actively looking to expand its programming to neighboring communities.

Over the past 11 years since RHSP was founded, 53 Raymond students involved in the program have attended highly competitive colleges with first-class educational opportunities. Former RHSP students have also received more than $7 million in scholarships and need-based grants.

“We are so thankful to NHEC for choosing to support the Reach High Scholars Program, an organization that has made an incredible difference for young people in our community for more than a decade,” Superintendent McCoy said. “This program helps students challenge themselves, choose the right college for their goals and seek out the financial assistance they may need to attend that school. By supporting this program, NHEC has helped many, many students succeed.”

This is the third consecutive year NHEC has supported the RHSP, and this year’s grant will support PSAT and SAT boot camps the program offers to local students. RHSP is among the organizations that offer the most standardized test preparation available at any public high school in northern New England. These courses have averaged over 30 students per year. They are conducted by Academic Approach, a national test-prep organization.

The funds from NHEC will also support Raymond Roundtables, a summer academic enrichment program for seventh, eighth and ninth grade students. Based on Phillips Exeter Academy’s renowned Harkness teaching method, the Raymond Roundtables provide student-centered, collaborative learning that encourages students to listen to differing viewpoints and explore the full potential of their academic and intellectual abilities. Since its creation in 2010, more than 300 students have participated in Raymond Roundtables. During the past two years, 16 students have also participated from the neighboring towns of Epping, Derry, Fremont and Sandown.

Additionally, the grant will help offset costs associated with college visits, which helps students familiarize themselves with the campus curriculum and staff.

ABOUT THE NHEC FOUNDATION

The NHEC Foundation provides grants to non-profit and charitable organizations throughout NHEC’s service territory. Since 2006, the Foundation has granted more than $3 million to organizations throughout NHEC’s service area. The work of the Foundation is made possible thanks to NHEC members who round up their electric bill each month. To learn more about the NHEC Foundation and the Round Up Program, visit www.nhec.com/nhec-foundation/.

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Raymond Students Learn about Nature Directly from Yellowstone Park Ranger

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

For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 7, 2019

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

Raymond Students Learn about Nature Directly from Yellowstone Park Ranger

Skype Video Conference Technology Allows New Hampshire Students to Interact in Real Time with Ranger in Wyoming

Third grade students at Lamprey River Elementary School listened to a Skype presentation from a Yellowstone Park Ranger on Thursday. (Courtesy Photo Raymond School District)

RAYMOND — Third grade students at Lamprey River Elementary School gleaned a newfound insight into the natural world, thanks to a presentation from a Yellowstone Park Ranger live via Skype on Thursday.

The entire third grade, approximately 100 students, gathered in the school library at 11 a.m. Thursday to listen to a  presentation from Park Ranger Tim Iverson, who shared comparisons between the forests of New England and Yellowstone National Park, as well as fun facts about America’s oldest national park and stories of the ranger’s encounters with wildlife. He also showed students a grizzly bear skull and an elk antler during the presentation.

The presentation tied in with the students’ studies of trees and tree pollination this fall, and was made possible by a distance learning program Yellowstone National Park offers. The program connects classrooms nationwide to park rangers, using technology such as Skype, for presentations on everything from geology to cultural history.

“Our students were thrilled to learn first hand from a Yellowstone Park Ranger new information about the natural world, and to hear his stories from working in the park as well,” Superintendent McCoy said. “It was a one of a kind, profound opportunity that really highlights the incredible learning that is made possible by technology. It’s wonderful that Yellowstone offers this program, and we’re so grateful to Ranger Tim for speaking to our students.”

Lamprey River educators were inspired to plan the presentation after third grade students went on a field trip to Maine on Monday, Sept. 30, where they hiked Mt. Agamenticus. It was the first time the school has ever utilized Yellowstone’s distance learning program.

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