Rockland

Rockland School Committee Recognizes Student for Participation in Project 351

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

For Immediate Release

Friday, Feb. 15, 2019

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

Rockland School Committee Recognizes Student for Participation in Project 351

Eighth grade John W. Rogers Middle School student Charlie Kelleher, left, stands with Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron after being recognized by the Rockland School Committee on Monday, Feb. 11 for her participation in the statewide Project 351 program this January. (Courtesy Photo Rockland Public Schools)

ROCKLAND — Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron is pleased to share that eighth grade student Charlie Kelleher was recently recognized by the Rockland School Committee for her participation in the statewide Project 351 program.

Kelleher, a student at John W. Rogers Middle School, was selected earlier this year to take part in the statewide Project 351 program, which annually kicks off in Boston on or near Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. The event typically includes speeches from local legislators and acts of service.

This year’s kickoff to the program took place on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Project 351, a nonprofit youth leadership organization, brings eighth grade students from all 351 Massachusetts municipalities together in January for the start of a yearlong youth service and leadership program which centers on Martin Luther King Jr.’s service based values. For 12 months, students participating in Project 351 will participate in various service experiences and attend leadership training. The year long program also introduces students to various role models.

“During project 351 I had the opportunity to enter Faneuil Hall and hear speeches by Governor Baker and many powerful women,” Kelleher said. “Then I had to opportunity to go to Cradles to Crayons as my service site. I sorted clothes for children who are less fortunate and will be receiving a care package put together by my fellow ambassadors. Then I went back to Faneuil Hall and shared stories with the other service groups.”

As part of her participation in Project 351, Kelleher also plans to coordinate a clothing drive at her school in the near future.

Kelleher is a standout student. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and Rogers Middle School Student Government. She plays junior varsity basketball at Rockland High School and Rockland travel basketball. In grades six and seven, Kelleher achieved High Honor Roll, and she has also been named to the High Honor Roll in the first and second terms of her eighth grade year.

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Rockland Seeking Volunteers to Serve on New Community Emergency Response Team

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

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019

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

Rockland Seeking Volunteers to Serve on New Community Emergency Response Team

ROCKLAND — Rockland Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Scott Duffey would like to invite residents to attend an information session later this month about the town’s formation of a new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

WHEN:

Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Rockland Senior Center, 317 Plain St., Rockland

WHAT:

The Town of Rockland is working to put together a brand-new CERT program and Chief Duffey is seeking residents who are interested in volunteering to be a part of the team to attend the upcoming information session.

Rockland CERT will be a group of community volunteers trained to assist and augment the Rockland Police and Fire Departments during emergencies or large events.

CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness, specifically regarding hazards that may impact their area, and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Using training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT volunteers are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking an active role in emergency preparedness projects.

“We are hoping to have a large turnout of people interested in being the first members of this new Rockland CERT program,” Chief Duffey said. “CERT members can be a valuable asset to a community in helping to respond during emergency situations and events. Members will receive vital training that they can also apply to their everyday lives when the unexpected occurs.”

For more information, please call Chief Duffey at 781-878-4094.

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Rockland Family Night Promotes Word Games to Support Early Readers

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

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019

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

 

Rockland Family Night Promotes Word Games to Support Early Readers

ROCKLAND — Principal Janice Sheehan is pleased to announce that students and their families enjoyed a game night earlier this month that promoted literacy and reading fluency.

Game night is part of Memorial Park’s monthly Parent Academy sessions, which provide parents with resources and support to promote good reading habits at home. The family night events began in October 2018, and students and their families from all grades at the school are encouraged to attend.

On Thursday, Jan. 24, children and their families played a variety of word games including Scrabble, Boggle, and Bananagrams from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Park Elementary cafeteria. In all, 38 families attended the family game night event.

The “word game” themed event encouraged families to play games at home that will support student literacy and reading fluency.

“Incorporating word games is a great way to connect and make learning fun,” said Kelsey Holbrook, a Title I and ELA teacher that organizes monthly Parent Academy sessions. “The brain learns best when it is interested and present with new experiences. Games provide a hands-on multi sensory experience to encourage language, turn taking, and following directions.”

“The biggest message is having fun with your family,” she added.

Each family left the event with a free word game to play at home, thanks to funds from a grant awarded to the Parent Academy program by the Rockland Education Foundation. The majority of the $1,731 grant funded a parent lending library with resources for parents and guardians to borrow to support reading after school. Funds from the grant will also support future Parent Academy sessions.

“It is exciting to see so many family taking the time to join us for a fun family game night,” Sheehan said. “Playing games helps students build oral language skills, learn to take turns and accept the fact that everyone cannot be the winner of the game.”

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Rockland, MassDevelopment Launch Effort to Create Union Street Economic Development Plan

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Town of Rockland
Interim Town Administrator Marcia Birmingham
242 Union St.,
Rockland, MA 02370

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019

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

Rockland, MassDevelopment Launch Effort to Create Union Street Economic Development Plan

ROCKLAND – Interim Town Administrator Marcia Birmingham and the Rockland Board of Selectmen, in partnership with MassDevelopment, are pleased to announce that the Town of Rockland and MassDevelopment have kicked off an effort to create a Union Street Economic Development Plan as the next step in revitalizing the town’s downtown corridor.

The initiative is made possible thanks to a technical assistance grant awarded to the town by MassDevelopment and as part of continuing efforts to promote and market the town’s newly designated 40R smart growth overlay district, which is aimed at fostering enhanced economic development and housing opportunities in Rockland Center.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. As part of its technical assistance program, MassDevelopment awarded the Town of Rockland up to $39,000 in grant funding to be used for a consultant that will formulate the Union Street Economic Development Plan.

“Union Street is home to dozens of restaurants, businesses, and community institutions, and the creation of the Union Street Economic Development Plan will help the Town of Rockland better utilize this important business district,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “We were pleased to connect Rockland’s municipal officials with the resources and technical assistance needed to get this plan underway.”

Rockland Selectman Mike Mullen, Jr., who chaired the town’s 40R committee when the overlay district was approved by Rockland Town Meeting in 2017, said, “The town is excited to partner with MassDevelopment to create what we believe will become the blueprint for Union Street’s success for years to come. We’ve gotten off to a great start, and we’re thrilled that MassDevelopment sees the same kinds of opportunities and promises that we’ve been working to realize over these past few years.”

Rockland officials and representatives from MassDevelopment, together with their consultant, Goody Clancy, met on Monday morning where town officials briefed the group on various goals for the Union Street corridor and then took a walking tour of Rockland Center.

In the coming weeks, Goody Clancy staff members will be meeting with a range of community stakeholders – including residents, business owners, town department heads, REiMAGINE ROCKLAND members and others – to speak with them about their thoughts about crafting the town’s new downtown blueprint.

A public forum will also be planned where residents can provide input.

Officials expect the plan to be completed and presented to the town by the end of June.

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