Rockland

Statement of Rockland Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron

⋅ School News ⋅ , ⋅ 0 Comments

Rockland Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron
34 MacKinlay Way,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Statement of Rockland Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron

ROCKLAND — Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron issues the following clarifying statement to the community:

“Earlier today, I was informed that an inaccurate statement was posted on social media, apparently by a guidance employee at South Shore Vocational Technical High School, indicating that the Rockland Public Schools were no longer allowing the regional vocational school to interview its 8th grade students.

“Were this statement true, it would be a significant controversy and run contrary to our values and mission as a school district. To clarify, the Rockland Public Schools as a district has a very positive working relationship with South Shore Tech, and we greatly value that relationship and partnership. The number of issues competing for our students’ attention during the school day is constantly increasing. Classroom time is vital, and we must be judicious about how often we pull students out of class.

“With that in mind, a number of opportunities, including interviews with vocational, private, charter, and other high schools are still being conducted at the John W. Rogers Middle School, as always. However the interviews are being scheduled immediately after the conclusion of the school day. We encourage all students to explore all educational opportunities, but we are mindful of the requirements of the school day on a modern eighth grader. As a result, interviews are being conducted after school.

“The Rockland Public Schools offers equal access and time for all secondary school options, including Rockland High School, South Shore Tech, charter schools, private schools and other vocational programs. Every school has equal access to 8th graders so that they may choose the best option with their families.

“I sincerely regret any confusion this has caused. I have been in contract with Superintendent/Director Thomas J. Hickey at South Shore Tech. I encourage any member of the community with any questions, to call my office anytime at 781-878-3893, and of course my door is always open.”

###

*Media Advisory* Esten Teachers and Staff to Join Students for Second Annual Cookout Local Business Will Donate Backpacks Full of Supplies to Kids in Need

⋅ Client News, School News ⋅ , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Rockland Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron
34 MacKinlay Way,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

*Media Advisory*
Esten Teachers and Staff to Join Students for Second Annual Cookout

Local Business Will Donate Backpacks Full of Supplies to Kids in Need

ROCKLAND — Principal Marilyn Smith is pleased to announce that Esten Elementary School teachers and students will  participate in the second annual neighborhood picnic at the Spring Gate Apartments

WHO: 

  • Esten Elementary School teachers, staff and students
  • Representatives from Renewal By Andersen, who will donate 50 backpacks filled with supplies to kids in need.

WHEN: 

Friday, Sept. 21, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE:

Spring Gate Apartments, 52 Hannah Way, Rockland

WHAT:

Building upon the success of last year’s picnic, Principal Smith and her Esten Elementary colleagues will once again visit the Spring Gate neighborhood and spend time enjoying a cookout with students and families.

This year, school staff will be joined by representatives from Renewal By Andersen, who will donate 50 backpacks filled with supplies to students in need. District Title One Director Karen M MacKinnon will once again bring a collection of books for children to choose from, as well.

Renewal By Andersen’s donation was made possible by Esten kindergarten teacher Lisa Scanlon, whose husband works for the company.

Spring Gate is home to 45 Esten families, all of whom are invited to join in the fun next week. This year, Spring Gate will hire a DJ to enhance the experience, while the Rockland Youth Football Association will donate its grill for the cookout.

The idea for the picnic came to Smith after she read “Kids Deserve It,” which encourages and enables educators to take innovative and unconventional approaches in order to connect with and have an impact on students in the low-income neighborhood.

“Our first picnic was an enormous success because it brought many of the concepts I read about to life, creating a fun, low-stress environment for students and staff to get to know one another,” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to taking this event to the next level and making a lasting impact on students and staff.”

###

Rockland Fire Department Responds to Help School Dispose of Old Chemicals

⋅ Client News, Fire News ⋅ , , , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Rockland Fire Department
Chief Scott Duffey
360 Union St.,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Rockland Fire Department Responds to Help School Dispose of Science Classroom’s Old Chemicals

ROCKLAND — Chief Scott Duffey reports that the Rockland Fire Department responded to a local school after a teacher found an old jar of sodium while cleaning a cabinet in a science classroom at the North River Collaborative School Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., Rockland Firefighters responded to the school, located at 525 Beech St., after receiving a call from a science teacher who was cleaning out his classroom to prepare for the upcoming school year. Upon arrival, firefighters located a cardboard box inside of a filing cabinet. Inside the box were multiple containers and jars containing a variety of leftover chemicals and substances from old science experiments. The Rockland Police Department also responded to assist.

Based on the appearance of the box and jars, administrators concluded that the chemicals were several years old and likely had been there for years or decades.

School was not in session at the time and there was no immediate threat to the public.

A two-pound jar of sodium was determined to be a potential safety hazard and a Tier 1 Hazardous Materials Response (lowest tier) was triggered. A regional hazardous materials response team was called to investigate.

The HazMat crew subsequently determined that the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad should be notified. The bomb squad came to the school and took the sodium to the Rockland recycling center where it was rendered safe.

None of the materials had leaked or spilled inside the box and would not necessarily have posed a threat if left undisturbed. Out of an abundance of caution, the other chemicals in the box will be safely disposed of by a private company hired by the school.

“HazMat teams exist to provide for the safest possible mitigation of unwanted substances and chemicals. They are the professionals, and I want to acknowledge the faculty and administration of the North River Collaborative for making the correct call and notifying the fire department about these chemicals,” Chief Duffey said. “While a regional response brings a lot of vehicles and personnel to a location, today’s operation was conducted in an orderly and efficient manner.”

No one was hurt during today’s response.

North River Collaborative (NRC) is an educational organization formed in 1976 to serve the school districts of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater-Raynham, East Bridgewater, Hanover, Rockland, Stoughton, West Bridgewater and Whitman-Hanson and has a board of directors comprised of members elected from each member district’s school committee. The school provides programs to more than 200 students with disabilities from ages 3 to 22 from the member districts and surrounding communities.The Collaborative also provides specialized services including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy to more than 800 students in those communities.

###

Rockland Fire Truck Involved in Weymouth Crash

⋅ Client News, Fire News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ 0 Comments

Rockland Fire Department
Chief Scott Duffey
360 Union St.,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Rockland Fire Truck Involved in Weymouth Crash

ROCKLAND — Deputy Chief David Wooley reports that a Rockland Fire Department ladder truck, a 1999 Smeal 105-foot ladder truck, was involved in a crash in Weymouth Wednesday afternoon.

At approximately 4 p.m., Rockland Fire Ladder 1 was being driven through Weymouth on its way to North Haven, Connecticut for repairs.

An employee of the North Haven repair company was driving the truck when he suffered an apparent medical emergency on Route 18, near 1218 Main St., in Weymouth.

The truck went off the road and collided with a utility pole. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and the driver was the only occupant of the ladder truck.

The driver was uninjured and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation.

The truck sustained minor front-end damage. The pole also sustained minor damage.

The truck was driven back to the Rockland Fire station where is it currently out of service until it can be driven to the North Haven repair shop.

###

1 2 3 4 5 >»