Whittier

Whittier Tech Girls Basketball Star Awarded Full Scholarship to Providence College

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Whittier Tech
Maureen Lynch, Superintendent
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019

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

Whittier Tech Girls Basketball Star Awarded Full Scholarship to Providence College

HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch and the Whittier Tech community wish to congratulate one of their girl’s basketball players, who has been awarded a full scholarship to attend Providence College next fall.

This morning, Whittier Tech senior Grace Efosa accepted a four-year basketball scholarship to Providence College, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 school that is awarding only two full scholarships this year.

“It’s still unbelievable that I got a scholarship for Division 1, especially since I haven’t played for that long,” Efosa said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Efosa signed her acceptance letter on Wednesday morning at a signing event in Whittier Tech’s gymnasium, while sitting at a scoreboard table in front of a crowd of her peers. Sitting beside her was her mom, Esosa Omorodion, brothers Angel, 11, Yuki, 15, Junior, 16, and sister Ebe, 12. After signing, Efosa flipped a Providence College banner over the scoreboard and put a Providence College cap on her head. 

“That’s like hitting the lottery,” said Whittier’s Athletic Director and Girl’s Basketball Coach Kevin Bradley. “It’s the hard work she put in with her academics, and the summers she spent playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) ball up and down the East Coast and in Las Vegas against the best players in the country.”

A coach from Providence College first noticed Grace, a point guard, during a game her sophomore year when she scored 42 points, had 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Her GPA is 3.58.

“I’ll never forget the day their coach pulled me aside and said they were considering offer her a scholarship,” Coach Bradley said. “She was only a sophomore so they could not approach her yet.” 

Efosa tore her ACL during a summer league game before her junior year, and was unable to participate in Whittier Tech’s basketball season last year. This school year, however, she is healthy and eager to return to the court. 

She first handled a basketball in seventh grade, where she mostly sat on the bench as a player for Consentino Middle School in Haverhill. In eighth grade, she improved her skills on defense but still did not play often in games. Heading into high school, she knew she wanted to make the varsity team, and she set some goals for herself.

She spent the summer playing basketball everyday at a park near her aunt’s home in Bradford with her brother Yuki, 15, sometimes helping with rebounds.

“I made a goal to get a Division 1 scholarship and score 20 more points a game,” Efosa said.

Efosa’s game average is 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Her strengths as a player include creating space to sink an outside shot, sharing the ball and getting to the boards for rebounds. 

She studies Culinary Arts at Whittier. 

“You’ll see her on ESPN Sports Center and NECN,” Coach Bradley said. “She’ll be playing at Madison Square Garden. This truly is a historic moment for all of us.” 

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Whittier Tech Carpentry Students Build Habitat for Humanity Homes

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Whittier Tech
Maureen Lynch, Superintendent
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830

For Immediate Release

Monday, Nov. 4, 2019

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

Whittier Tech Carpentry Students Build Habitat for Humanity Homes

HAVERHILL — For a group of senior Whittier Tech carpentry students, their work with Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity this year is far more than an opportunity to hone their trade– it’s also a way to give back to local families.

The 12 students, along with their Carpentry Instructor Mike Sandin, began working on three homes this September in Salisbury in partnership with Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that organizes volunteers to build affordable homes in partnership with families in need. Founded in 1985, Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. 

“It’s the best experience they can get,” said Sandin.

When students began their work, there was only a hole where the foundation would be for a duplex, and two partially constructed homes. Other volunteers are also working on the project, which broke ground in November 2018.

“It’s really amazing,” said Jared Recillas,18, of Haverhill. “I actually get to use a lot of the stuff I’ve been learning for the past three years.”

Once finished, economically disadvantaged area families will move in to the new residences.

“It’s a really good cause using our skills to help those who are struggling,” said Nick Glynn, 17, of Haverhill.

“This is who we are,” said Alanna Stafford, 18, of Haverhill. “We are Whittier Tech and we give back to our community.”

During their shop week, the seniors leave Whittier’s campus each day at approximately 8:30 a.m. and work in all type of weather conditions. This winter, if the group progresses far enough in their construction work, students may work inside hanging drywall and building partitions.

Whittier students who are participating in the project include: Seniors Killian Barry, Nicholas Glynn, Jared Recillas, Angel Alvarado, Angelica Cintron, Siarra Cronin, Jacob Goodhue, Cody Littlefield, Jyrell Ruiz, Alanna Stafford, Tyler Wetherbee and Emily Wilson, all of Haverhill. 

“This introduces us to the kind of jobs we are going to get in life,” Stafford said. “It’s everything we’ve been taught.”

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Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School to Host Open House

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Whittier Tech
Maureen Lynch, Superintendent
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830

For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 21, 2019

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

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School to Host Open House

The 20-foot lighthouse built by sophomore carpentry students and assisted by other shops will be displayed in the lobby and serve as the beacon for this year’s open house theme. (Photo Courtesy of Whittier Vocational Technical School)

HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to announce that Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School will be hosting an open house for prospective students.

When:

On Sunday, Nov. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Where:

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School, 115 Amesbury Line Rd., Haverhill

Who:

Students who are in sixth, seventh and eighth grade and are interested in potentially attending Whittier Tech Regional are encouraged to attend with a parent or guardian.

What:

“At Whittier Tech, we give our students hands on projects that allow them to explore their interests while helping to foster their skills,” said Superintendent Lynch. “At this year’s open house we will be displaying a project that sophomore carpentry students have worked on. We hope that this project serves as inspiration for all those who are interested in exploring a more technical approach to their education.”

This year’s open house will focus on “Navigating Your Future” to “Find Your Way” through showcasing a 20-foot lighthouse built in the school lobby by sophomore carpentry students with assistance from other shops.

At the Open House, those who attend will see the advanced technology and equipment students use, meet teachers who are industry experts and learn about ways that students can fund their future using their career tech experience.

In addition to a robust academic curriculum that includes AP courses for college credit, Whittier Tech students can focus on a number of practical and technical disciplines including:

  • Allied Health Careers
  • Auto body/Collision Repairs
  • Automotive Technology
  • Business Technology
  • CAD/Drafting
  • Carpentry
  • Cosmetology
  • Culinary Arts
  • Digital and Visual Communications
  • Early Education and Care
  • Electrical
  • Electronics/Robotics
  • Engineering Technology
  • Graphic Communications
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
  • Hospitality Management
  • Masonry
  • Metal Fabrication

Outside of the classroom, students will be able to apply for paid internships, participate in fun extracurricular activities and sports, take hands-on training courses and utilize the valuable network of professional connections that staff and alumni have to offer.

For more information about the Open House or for those who have questions, please call Whittier Tech at 978-373-4101. To learn more about Whittier Regional Technical School visit the school’s website by clicking here.

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Whittier to Host Office of Public School Monitoring for Triennial Visit

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Whittier Tech
Maureen Lynch, Superintendent
115 Amesbury Line Road
Haverhill, MA 01830

For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 18, 2019

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

Whittier to Host Office of Public School Monitoring for Triennial Visit

HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch reports that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Office of Public School Monitoring  (PSM) will visit Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School this December.

During the Monday, Dec. 9 visit, PSM will conduct a tiered focused monitoring review of the school, a mandatory process every district and charter school undergoes every three years to ensure compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations.

Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process and IEP development and implementation. During the visit, PSM officials will also review areas regarding civil rights at the school including bullying, student discipline, physical restraint and equal access to school programs for all students.

During the onsite review, PSM will interview the chairperson of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), and the visit may also include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records and onsite observations. 

The review process will also include parent outreach, and the PSM review chairperson will send all parents and guardians of Whittier students with disabilities an online survey that will examine key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to a report PSM will create following the review.

Parents, guardians and other individuals may call PSM Chairman Andrew McKenzie at 781-338-3761 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as a translation, to participate in an interview, the department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide Whittier with a report with information about areas in which the school meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the school requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report by clicking here.

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