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Calendar

October 30: Slam of the Dead Poetry Slam

November 7: SATs

Nov. 11: Veterans Day, no school

November 13: 1st Quarter ends

November 25-29: Thanksgiving Holiday, no school

December 5: SATs

December 10, 11, 12: Shrek, The Musical

December 23-January 3: December Recess, no school

CLOCKTOWER Deering’s Quarterly Community Newsletter | 2015, no. 1

Above: Deering’s restored clocktower. The restoration took four months and was overseen by PPSD project manager, David Onos.

Photo credit: Audrey Rolfe

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From Principal Waltz...Greetings DHS families and readers,

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education by choosing Deering! We take this trust very seriously. You care about your children. I care about them. The teachers and staff in the school care

about them as well.

This publication is our first electronic step toward communication and understanding that will benefit every child in the school. Please allow me to share some of our exciting work.

We are continuing to define our mission, as it relates to student-centered learning through our identity as a member of the International Studies School Network.

We are in a continuous improvement process by developing and revising our curriculum so that

-Students have a say in what they learn, how they learn and how they show us what they learned,

-Students investigate questions and perform tasks that adults would perform or study in the real world,

-Students study topics, issues, and phenomena of global importance and

-Students share their work- and receive feedback- from audiences with relevant expertise and on the web. In support of this continuous improvement, we have introduced a What I Need Now (WINN) period. This is a new forty-five minute block of time added to our schedule four days per week. During this block of time, we provide students with academic support and enrichment activities as well as Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO). Our ELOs may include becoming a member of one

of our thirteen Advance Placement classes’ study groups, working on Senior Capstones, and internships.

Also, Deering High School is currently designing a new “hands on” Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) lab. We have painted and started moving equipment for our VEX Robotics Club, Introduction to Engineering and Robotics class, University of Maine S.M.A.R.T. Storm-water Researchers program, and our new 3-D Printer!

Three science and two math teachers are attending a “Think Tinker & Inspire Workshop” for two days, helping to build the capacity for students to pursue the STEM endorsement on their diplomas as well as Enrichment opportunities during our newly established WINN. time. We will expose students to “real world” career opportunities right here in greater Portland and throughout the globe. We will get them excited about potential job opportunities, future career options and educational opportunities beyond high school.

In closing, know that we care, connect, challenge, and celebrate our students. If you have any kudos, concerns, questions, and/or suggestions, please share them with us.

Appreciatively,

Ira Waltz Principal

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Superintendent’s Corner

by Portland Superintendent Jeanne Crocker

Dear Families,

Welcome to a new school year! As we begin this year, I want to tell you how much we value you as our partner in your child’s education. We encourage your involvement and collaboration to help your child succeed in school.

To foster student success, one of our primary goals this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly. Attendance is key to keeping kids on track academically and engaged in all aspects of school life.

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families still play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and in helping them understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But we also know that when students miss too much school – regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent – which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:

• Children chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of third grade. • By sixth grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school. • By ninth grade good attendance can predict graduation rates as well as success in college.

Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month! Clearly, going to school regularly matters.

When our students are not at school, we notice because we care. We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Please make sure you are familiar with the school calendar to assist in your family scheduling for vacations and medical appointments. You can find the school calendar on the district website, www.portlandschools.org, under “News & Calendars.”

Let us know how we can best support your family so that your child can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school. If you have any questions or need more information please contact Deering High.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Crocker

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SHREK BY: SOPHIA MORIN ‘16

The Story

When Shrek's swamp is taken over by an overwhelming amount of fairytale creatures, he must find the culprit, Lord Farquaad, who sent them here. Little did Shrek know, he will meet a fun loving donkey in the way. Meanwhile, Lord Farquaad discovers that Princess Fiona will be the love of his life. However, he is too scared to save the damsel in distress who is locked in a castle that is guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. Upon arrival in the land far far away, Farquaad declares Shrek as her rescuer. Once Shrek saves Fiona, their journey back to the castle soon turns into a romance that nobody saw coming; and the rest is history... Come see the show and find out how this all unfolds through magic, song,

Duloc Dancers!

This fall, the Deering Players will present the fun-loving production of Shrek the Musical Who's Who?A show would, after all, be nothing without its directors, and technical crew. Alongside Kathleen Harris (director), the Deering Players welcomes Kara Larochelle as our new musical director! Kara is a current teacher at Hall Elementary School and we couldn't be happier to have her with us. Our show would also be incomplete without a handy technical crew that is newly led by the wonderful Carolyn Claypoole. Carolyn is a Deering High graduate who worked as a techie throughout her four years. She also went on to receive a degree in Theatre Arts from Acadia College in Canada. The choreographer is Anthony Cavallaro, a very talented senior at DHS. We are ecstatic to welcome them all to the team, and hope to have a wonderful season with their help! Finally, the actors who will bring this show to life: playing the role of Shrek will be William Weeks (senior), Fiona will be played by Sophia Morin (senior), Donkey will be played by Will Mathis (junior), and Lord Farquaad will be played by Anthony Cavallaro (senior). The whole cast and crew is working very hard on this production and we can't wait to share it with you all.

When?

SHREK the Musical will be performed on December 11 at 7pm

December 12 at 2pm & 7pm

And December 13 at 2pm

See you there!

Anthony Cavallaro (choreographer) and cast

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Financial Literacy FairBy: Dora Perez ‘16 and Deeq Mohamed ’16 On October 14, community volunteers came in to help with the Financial Literacy Fair. The fair was sponsored by Key Bank and organized by the Guidance Department and JMG. Students chose a career they would like to have and had to move from booth to booth to create a real life budget for themselves at age 22.    The fair was a mind opening experience. It helped many students realize how to live independently. Being 22 independently isn't as easy as we thought. Right after graduating, we have to find our own way of doing things. This experience helped us visualize how our life would be if we were to live independently in the future with our chosen career. We calculated what taxes we had to pay. We had to figure out what's necessary, deciding between what's desired and what is needed. Also, we had to decide what to do with extra money like save it or go on a vacation. If we were in debt we had to figure out what  we needed to do to change that. We had to use our money wisely and have some money leftover in case of unexpected emergency, which was simulated at a chance booth.  Also, it can help you change your career choice if you could not live like you want on that salary. We believe that this Financial Literacy Fair should be recommended for every senior every year.

Deering JMG volunteers to help clean up Longfellow playgroundBy: Kiara Neal ‘16 and Public Relations OfficerAt the beginning of October, the JMG students went over to Longfellow. We took part in a tremendous amount of community service. We had to take all of the wood chips that had gotten washed down to the garden out and move them to another area. It took about 30 wheelbarrows. We had to shovel and rake piles of dirt into them. A lot of hard work was put in as a team and pushing everyone along. Other classes focused on weeding or other areas of clean up. By the end of the day, the project was completed!

Left: Deering senior Mustafa Khamis and Miles Bisher at the Financial Literary Fair

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Orchestra Plays at Citizenship Ceremony

Members of the Deering-Portland-Casco Bay Orchestra from Deering performed at USM's Abromsen Center's Hannaford Hall for the Citizenship Ceremony for 91 new citizens on September 17, 2015!  This is the 28th performance in 14 years by our dedicated students!  Their next efforts on behalf of our community will be a performance at City Hall on Monday, December 7th, for the inauguration of the School Board.  Stay tuned!

left to right, are: Peter Gribizis, PHS, Priscilla Maccario, DHS, Francesca Houran CBHS, Lucas Jasonides, DHS Julia Lancia, DHS, Lucy Tumavicus, DHS, Owen Ganter, DHS, Iris Walter, PHS and Annie Dodson, CBHS

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International Studies Schools Network News

TRAVEL and HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES for DHS STUDENTS

Last summer, thirteen Deering High School students traveled to seven countries to immerse themselves in new cultures and, in some cases, to participate in community service activities. These trips were made possible in large part because of scholarships provided by Portland-based CIEE, the Council for International Education and Exchange. Students will be sharing their stories on Deering’s “Learning Without Borders” blog (http://blogs.portlandschools.org/issn/). (see story on page 10).

This coming year, students will once again have the opportunity to apply for summer study and travel through the Global Navigators program. And in April, students from Chile and Russia will be our guests at Deering; we are looking for host families to welcome them. Students who host a Russian will be able to visit their ‘sibling’ in Russia over April

break. Finally, Deering staff is coordinating a trip for students to the Dominican Republic for April, 2017 through EFTours.

If you are interested in any of these international opportunities, please contact either Mr. Gomez at gomezc@portlandschools.org or Ms Shmitt at shmits@portlandschools.org

The DEADLINE for all of these programs is DECEMBER 1, 2015.

****FOR PARENTS INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ON EITHER STUDENT TRAVEL or HOSTING A CHILEAN or RUSSIAN, there will be an informational meeting November 5 at 7 pm in the Deering High School library.****The United States State Department also offers chances for high school students to travel and study abroad. For those interested in critical languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, Persian, and Russian, among others, scholarships are available for a year of cultural and language immersion. For study in Germany, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program provides students with host families for the academic year. The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad Program offers merit-based scholarships to spend a year in any one of a host of countries, including Senegal, Thailand, Turkey, India and Ghana. For more information on any of the State Department programs, go to youthprograms@state.gov.

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CIEE Global Navigators Program - Summer 2016https://www.ciee.org/high-school-summer-abroad/scholarships/

Visit Arkhangelsk, Russia - April 2016www.arkhangelsk.org/

Host Russian Students - March 2016

Host Chilean Students - March/April 2016

Department of State Opportunities - Summer 2016http://blogs.portlandschools.org/issn/2015/09/30/u-s-department-of-state-travel-opportunities/

EF Global Citizen Scholarship - Summer 2016http://m.links.eftours.com/nl/jsp/m.jsp?c=mVFSbMKt%2BI00MpJ1gqSD1LibEaF88vyX

EF Tour to Dominican Republic April 2017http://www.eftours.com/educational-tour/dominican-republic-empowering-children?utm_source=brochure&utm_medium=offline&utm_campaign=tourcode

From the Nurse’s Office

No Scents is Good Sense

Colognes, perfumes and scented products are everywhere. These products have been used for centuries, but there is a growing awareness of the negative impact these products can have on indoor air quality and personal health. Over 3000 chemicals are now used in making fragrances and one perfume can contain up to 500 different chemicals. Fragrance chemicals vaporize into the

air and are easily inhaled triggering respiratory irritations and breathing difficulties.

For people with medical conditions such as asthma, allergies, migraines or chemical sensitivities, scented products can trigger serious health reactions. In addition, scented products can cause sore throats, runny nose, sinus congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, headache, inability to concentrate, dizziness, fatigue, mental confusion, anger, irritability, nausea, muscle aches and anxiety.

Thank-you for contributing to a healthy indoor air quality for staff and students by not using perfumes, colognes or other scented products.

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Above: Neilab Habibzai (Sevilla, Spain)- “Study abroad! You will learn so many great things you have never thought of before. Studying in a different country changes you by making you think from an outside perspective. Definitely worth it.”

Below: Siobahn Densmore (Madrid, Spain)- “An unforgettable moment during my time away would definitely be hanging out with my host family and gathering with their friends and family for a fiesta. I was able to really step out of my comfort zone and dance and sing with them. “

Julie McGarvey (Kralendijik, Bonaire) - “The most unforgettable moment of my trip was the day we went windsurfing, and snorkeling. We spent 3 hours racing up and down the shoreline on our boards. After 3 hours of windsurfing we got all of our snorkeling gear on, and went on an hour snorkel. On the snorkel we swam with the sharks, sting rays, and sea turtles. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.”

Why travel abroad? Deering students will tell

you why!

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“Amethyst” in ColorYearbook 2016

Yearbooks are $70.00 Make Checks out to Deering High School Yearbook

Contact Mrs. Miller for Payment Plan Option Yearbooks can also be ordered on line:

www.ybpay.lifetouch.com Yearbook ID Code: 11227416

Would you like to honor your Senior with a baby ad?

Deadline is December 1, 2015

Contact Mrs. Miller for more information: milleg@portlandschools.org or 874-8164

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NEW COURSE OFFERING - CERAMICS

The Art Department is excited to announce a new course starting second semester. Ceramics I is a semester course designed for students interested in creating functional and sculptural works in clay. There will be a focus on clay-specific hand-building techniques such as pinch, coil and slab as well as the basics of glazing. Students will be introduced to the history of ceramics, the many purposes of clay, and properties of the material. If you enjoy making things with your hands, this is the class for you!

If you are interested in enrolling in the Block 4, Ceramics I class and have already taken Art I Foundations, please see your guidance counselor!

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A New Lease On Art

Room 401 has been renovated to its former glory and Mrs. Rolfe, Ms. Robertson and the students are loving it! If you haven’t seen it, take a trip to the fourth floor before or after school to check it out. Special thanks to project manager, David Onos and his crew for their excellent work and to Deering’s custodial staff for helping with the move from the first floor to the fourth.

Check out the art exhibit of Deering students work atPortland Public Schools Central Office, 353 CumberlandAvenue.

Photos (Clockwise) : Maddy Ryan,Chelsea Cardilli, Eilish Carpenter, J.J. Youlou, Jamie McCann

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Saint Joseph’s College Students Shadow Deering Teachers

by Kathleen Harris and Pdg Muhamiriza’16

This semester five education students from St. Joseph’s College are visiting classes at Deering High School. These prospective teachers are getting a glimpse of what it is like to teach in a diverse Maine school. What better place than Deering High School! The college students and their host Deering teachers are:Taylor Penman with Brian DodgeLucas Fisher and Patrick Martin with Jana Boody-BillingsMarissa Berry with Kathleen CostelloGretchen McKeen with Kathleen Harris

Deering senior, Pdg Muhamiriza interviewed two of the college students, Marissa Berry and Gretchen McKeen.

I interviewed two students from St. Joseph’s College who are enjoying their three month

experience at Deering High School. Marissa Berry, 19, is originally from Boston. She is taking writing centered courses. Her hobbies are reading, publishing and theatre. Deering H.S. is bigger than she thought it would be. She can’t wait to learn from the Teacher Shadowing program.

Gretchen McKeen, 21, was born in New Hampshire. She is a junior majoring in secondary school English education. Her hobbies are zumba dance and reading. She told me that Deering is bigger than her high school and much fancier. Her expectations are gaining teaching experience and expanding her learning.

Make It Happen VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Make It Happen center needs some more volunteers for the after school academic center. The Make It Happen center is a language acquisition, academic support, and college prep. program for ELL students. We need volunteer academic coaches to work with ELL students who need extra help with schoolwork. Anyone can do it! You don’t need any qualifications to become an academic coach; you just need to show up ready to assist the students! The after school center is open 2:30-4:30, so if you have an interested in volunteering please e-mail the Make It Happen coordinator Danielle Wong at wongda@portlandschools.org

Photographed:

Marissa Berry (left) and

Gretchen McKeen (right)

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Gloria Miller Honored by School Committee

Gloria Miller, an administrative assistant at Deering High School, was honored this week by the Portland Board of Public Education and Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker for being “the heart” of the high school. “For 20 years now, if you found yourself within the walls of Deering High School, on the athletic facilities or simply within a 5-mile radius, you can feel the heart of Deering High School. Her name is Gloria Miller,” Crocker said at the school board’s Oct. 6 meeting. “While she is a proud Bulldog graduate, she is an even prouder Deering Ram. She has dedicated her life to RamNation, supporting not only her five children through becoming Deering alumni but tens of thousands of other students as well. There is no Deering graduate who does not know Mrs. Miller.” Crocker said that Miller “wears so many hats for Deering, we have lost count over the years. While Gloria’s official position is athletic/attendance/activity accounts administrative assistant, her work ethic knows no bounds.” Miller plays a direct role in organizing and managing over 42 co-curricular activities at Deering. In addition, she has been the lead advisor of both the Yearbook and Project Graduation. She also is key to the success of Deering Athletics. “While many have come through the doors of Deering to fill the role of athletic director, there has been one constant over the years, Mrs. Miller,” Crocker said. “Gloria is the heart of Deering Athletics and bleeds purple. While she may not hold the official title of athletic director, make no mistake who is the backbone of the daily work that gets done to make sure we are providing the best programs we can to extend our classrooms onto the competition field.” Miller often volunteers her time

beyond her regular work hours to get the job done. Crocker said that the most recent example of Miller’s devotion to Deering was evident during the past few months when Deering's co-curricular athletic administrator, Mel Craig, needed to take sick leave to care for her mother out of state. “Without a moment's hesitation, Gloria did what she always does – saw the need and stepped in to help,” Crocker said. “You have to understand that ‘stepping in to help’ meant she came in and filled the role and responsibilities as if Mel were doing them herself. There was no extra compensation for her extra work and dedication, no extra kudos – just Mrs. Miller doing what she does best: taking care of those around her.” Crocker also cited a recent example of Miller’s dedication to Deering students, as related to her by Deering Principal Ira Waltz: “A student was due at college in New Hampshire on a Thursday this past August. When she happened to randomly speak with him on the Tuesday, he shared that he had not been able to secure a ride down there to move into the dorm. You need to know Mrs. Miller NEVER takes sick days. So when she informs us on a Tuesday that she was taking a sick day Thursday, it raised concern and alarm. Not only did she use her own vehicle and gas to bring him down to college, she helped him unpack, made his bed up for him and when he realized he forgot a pillow – off she headed to go purchase one for him. She won't admit it, but we suspect she also may have slid him a twenty as she hugged him goodbye.” Crocker concluded: “Mrs. Miller is not only the

mother to five children, she is the mother to ALL of RamNation and we are blessed to have her.” PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured from left to right are Interim Portland School Superintendent Jeanne Crocker; Deering High School administrative assistant Gloria Miller; and Portland Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Thompson.

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Legends of the Hidden High School by Kerry Wells, ’16

From rattling radiators to leaking water pipes, it is not difficult for the students of Deering High School to notice that our facility is… vintage. However, the age of our building comes with a long and intricate history, seldom explored by both students and faculty. Today, that inconsistency is broken.

The Mystery of the Underground Well

In the bowels of the boiler room sits a wooden door. This is not just any door, but rather a passageway through time. Since Deering was built, a stream of fresh water has flowed endlessly beneath it. Filtering through the lawn, this water is perfectly safe to drink. In fact, the current head custodian’s former boss regularly sipped the historical liquid. This stream is known to overflow into the custodian’s offices after heavy rainfall.

The Tunnel of Misconception

Many legends of Deering High School have been confirmed to be true. This legend is not one of those. Rumors were started about a tunnel connecting Deering and Longfellow Elementary during the Cold War. It was, in theory, used as a safety passage in case of a bombing. This is an exaggerated truth. Technically, there is a tunnel that connects Deering and Longfellow, but not for the aforementioned purpose. It is a heating vent, not nearly large enough to bring an entire school from one building to another unnoticed. Brian, our head custodian, controls the levels of heat given to the schools. If Longfellow needs heat during the winter, he only needs to flip a lever.

The Legend of Drama Club’s Past

Many millennials do not know that before the new gym was constructed, the old gym was located where the current music and drama departments are today. This gym included a basketball court and a running track, suspended over the court. Today, this facility houses the many hundreds of costumes that the drama department uses in its performances. Along with this eerie reminder of our schools history is an even creepier hallway behind it. Deemed “Wood Alley,” this hallway houses a petri dish of signatures from former students, mainly members of the drama club. At the end of the passageway, there is an old fashioned light fixture with a single light bulb, along with a wooden door that supposedly leads to the third floor. Does it really…..who knows?

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DEERING SPORTSby Andrew Gordon

This is the first of an occasional series focusing on Deering’s student athletes, asking them why they play the sport they do. I spoke to one athlete representing each of Deering’s Fall sports, in order to get an idea of what motivates them to play, what they love about their sport, and what they appreciate about their coaches.

AVERY DONOVAN - VOLLEYBALLFun is a key aspect of Avery’s volleyball experience- she simply loves to play, and enjoys being

part of a close-knit team. She likes the fact that Volleyball is fast paced and exciting, and especially enjoys the moment when something that has been worked on in practice comes together on the court. She had not played before entering Deering, and her decision to play was made independent of the fact that her older sister Delaney is also on the team. her favorite parts of the game are blocking and spiking, and she is excited by the success of Deering’s first season as a varsity program.

JOEY BURKE - FOOTBALLJoey thought long and hard when I asked him what he enjoyed most about playing football.

After all it involves long practices, bumps and bruises, and you only get to play once a week. Then he gave me a list of reasons - it’s great exercise, it keeps him busy after school, it relieves his stress, he likes being around the team, and he also enjoys the physicality. He looks forward to the games on Friday nights, and gets an adrenalin rush when breaking through the cheerleaders banner and running onto the field. As a corner his biggest thrill comes when he makes an interception. He has enjoyed his senior year after a few roller coaster ones, and is hopeful of making the playoffs.

KAYLA THOITS - FIELD HOCKEYKayla has played field hockey since sixth grade, and loves both the sport and the people who

play it. She appreciates the skill that’s needed to play the game well, and realizes that she’s learned a lot over the years. She enjoys the competitive nature of the game and the speed at which it’s played, and loves how her team gets along and how everyone feels free to talk to each other. The highlight of field hockey for her is scoring, which is quite rare compared to some other sports. She appreciates how dedicated Coach Koharian is to the team, and how she makes sure to push the team to maximize its potential.

PHOEBE BELL - GIRLS SOCCERPhoebe is a junior defensive player on the Deering varsity girls soccer team - interestingly she

ran cross country for her freshman and sophomore years, as she had conflicts with her club soccer team. She says that she’s always played soccer (since age 4) and loves it for the team environment, and how it allows her to be competitive. As a defender her favorite part of the game is making a solid tackle and clearing the ball, and the most challenging part of the game is taking throw-ins, as she claims to have no arm strength. She likes that the team gets on well on and off the field. She appreciates Coach Olson for his ability to communicate, offering positive feedback with constructive criticism.

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ROMAN ANDERSON - BOYS CROSS-COUNTRYRoman breaks the trend - he is honest enough to admit that he does not really like cross-

country, and participates purely to stay in shape for the Indoor Track season. It’s his second season, but he feels that he is not very good at the sport and does it for something to do and for the fitness aspect. He does enjoy his team, which is full of energy, and especially the team dinners. He appreciates Coach Myatt for knowing what he’s doing, and fostering team spirit.

ALEX SMITH - GOLFAlex started playing golf at Deering in his sophomore year, after injury prevented him from

playing as a freshman. He has learned more about the game at Deering than anywhere else, and likes the people on his team. He likes the relaxed nature of the sport, and how it offers the individual the chance to decide whether to be competitive or not. His greatest weakness is his tendency to over-think on the course, which leads to mistakes. He believes that his coaches work well together, as Coach Goodman really knows his stuff and Coach is a really nice guy who keeps things light.

CASSIDY BIGELMAN - CHEERLEADINGCassi is a captain of the revitalized Deering cheerleading team. She has cheered at Deering

since her freshman year, and feels close to the other team members. She likes that the girls are comfortable enough together to talk about personal things, as well as about cheering. She enjoys the sport as it keeps her healthy and because people who underestimate what it involves are awed when they see what the team accomplishes. She enjoys the stunts that are performed, where she is a base. She appreciates her coach because of his motivational qualities, and how he never gives up on the team even when things get tough.

JONATHAN BUJAMBI - BOYS SOCCEREven though his team was coming off a tough loss to Cheverus, Jonathan still talked to me

about his love for the game of soccer that’s he’s been playing since the age of about 8. He likes the tactical side of the game, the need for patience and the use of knowledge built up through experience. He knows how important it is for the team to work collectively to achieve one goal, and enjoys when his team’s ability to pass and possess means that it makes other teams do the chasing. he wants to focus on his own ability to shoot with accuracy, especially from free kicks. He appreciates Coach Costigan because he is open to taking ideas from the players and the captains, and has built up an atmosphere of trust.

JULIA LANCIA - GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRYJulia is a sophomore who likes running and her coaches, but most of all likes that everyone

involved with her sport is supportive and appreciative of each other. She is often wished good luck by other teams at the start of races, something that has never happened in other sports she’s played. She finds her sport super rewarding, and that completing each 5K gives her a sense of real accomplishment. She likes the idea of racing against herself, even if the mental stamina aspect can be tough. The father/son Myatt coaching duo complement each other well, with Mr. Myatt senior being supportive and never disappointed, and Mr. Myatt junior being motivational both before and after a race. It’s the most fun sport she’s ever been involved with, she enthuses.

So what did I learn - Deering’s student athletes love their sports, appreciate their coaches, and value the experience that team sports provide.

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The Definition Of Love by Amy Isaro ‘19

This weekend Deering High and King middle went on a kayaking trip to O-AT-KA's satellite site called Knight's Cove in South Bristol, Maine. We took off Friday after school. As we arrived there, we met the guide in charge of us for the whole weekend named Ken.

We got to know each other and kayaked on Saturday, half of the day. In the afternoon, we went to a park called Fort William Henry and we played

different games such as frisbee and volleyball. I played volleyball with my friends. As we

were playing, a man

approached us and asked us

what we were doing. We said

we were playing volleyball.

He then asked," Do you girls know the definition of

love?" We replied,"No!"

He then said," The definition of love is letting out various emotions." We were all amazed because no one had ever thought of love that way. He also showed as a magic trick, making a stone disappear. Those were my favorite parts because I learned new perspectives. I realized that my education can happen in different places. It does not

have to be only in school. Education can happen in every part/place of the world. As Tom Bodet says,"In school you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you are given

a test that teaches you a lesson." Education can happen anywhere.

Students undertook a combined Deering and King Middle School outing club trip in June to South Bristol, Maine with Camp O-AT-KA at Knight's Cove. The eight Deering students and six King Middle School students joined chaperones Jeff Borland from Deering and Kirsten McWilliams from King Middle School. They camped, kayaked, swam, cooked outdoors, and ate smores. Below are two student reflections.

Below: Joy Mugaju ,Divine Ingabire, Amy Isaro

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Truly camping by Joy Mugaju ‘19

When I first heard about Deering's kayaking trip I thought it would be a great opportunity for me and my friends. I had the idea it would be just like one of my favorite camps, Camp Vega. This camp is placed on huge field right on the beautiful Echo Lake. It has huge cabins with indoor plumbing and lights. Also, the camp has a big dining room where we eat the best meals that are cooked for us. After experiencing such an amazing camp, I had the idea that camp O-at-ka would be somewhat similar, even though I had been made aware of the rigor of this trip. When we finally arrived at the campsite my friends and I were so excited to see the beautiful view of the sea. Once we laid our feet on the ground full of leaves and twigs, all we could see were tall trees with about six tents spread apart. Although being in the woods was not a problem for me, what was a problem was the little mosquitoes pricking at me all day long. Also, though cold temperatures was not a problem due to six

girls being in my tent, hearing the sound of water droplets hitting my tent made it very challenging to sleep at night. Not only that, but also the sensation of smoke coming into eyes as we cooked over the fire was a very painful experience. However, the far most challenging part about the trip was kayaking back to the campsite. I remember the thought of being flipped out of the kayak and the fish dragging me down had went through my head the whole time. My arms felt as if they were about to fall off, but after that very challenging experience I only hold onto the memory of the view of the sea while I was out there. The sight of the pure blue sky above me as the wind swiftly blew across my face while the shoreline trees sat unharmed by man stood close. Just looking at this extraordinary view I was reminded of how gorgeous this earth is without the touch of man. Even though I faced many challenges at camp O-at-ka I am now be able say it is my new favorite camp. Just being able to experience life where we do not only rely on our own resources, but of the earth's has opened my eyes to the true meaning of camping. Also, there is the bonus that I had

become even closer with my friends who I have k n o w n s i n c e s i x t h grade. Plus, I now have an idea of what Deering holds for me in the future. So, though, the camp may have had its ups and downs, I would like to say thank you for g i v i n g m e t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y e x p e r i e n c e , a n d hopefully I will be able to come back next year.

Frank Nyarushatsi ,Ray Nyarushatsi ,Sadie Rhinehardt,Joy Mugaju

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Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed, Assistant Principal by Zainab Jalal ‘16

Deering welcomes Mr. Ahmed as assistant principal of Deering High School. Mr. Ahmed was previously a science and Arabic teacher at Deering H.S. He was the first certified public school teacher of Arabic in Maine. Before coming to Deering Mr. Ahmed taught at Portland High School. Mr. Ahmed was born in Somalia. He speaks Arabic, Somali, English and Urdu. He has degrees from the University of Pakistan and the University of Southern Maine, where is is currently a doctoral candidate. His hobbies are playing soccer, reading and writing. After talking with Mr. Ahmed I can tell that he fits the position of assistant principal perfectly.

Ms. Caroline Roberge, Assistant Principalby Leyla Ukash ‘16

Deering is happy to welcome Ms. Caroline Roberge to Deering High School as an assistant principal. Ms. Roberge was formerly an assistant principal in New Hampshire and a math teacher at Brunswick High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Anna Maria College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix. Ms. Roberge likes helping students prepare for their futures and assisting the students who are struggling with school. She describes her leadership style as collaborative.Her hobbies are knitting and reading

Mr. James Harmon, Scienceby Ray Kha ‘16Deering welcomes Mr. James Harmon back to our faculty. Mr. Harmon has teaching experience from King and Lyman Moore Middle Schools; Noble, Biddeford and Deering High Schools. He was an astronomer at USM’s Southworth Planetarium for nineteen years and worked at the Maine Medical Labs in Biotechnology. He has a close connection to Deering. His grandmother worked at Deering H.S. in 1928 and his three children all graduated from DHS. He likes to run, as well as play and compose music.

Welcome our new staff !

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Welcome our new staff !

Mr. Andres Llorente, Englishby Dorcas Uwase ‘16

Mr. Llorente is one of the new teachers at Deering High School. He has been teaching for fourteen years, but not always in a high school. Although he was born in Brunswick, Maine Mr. Llorente has travelled extensively and taught in London, England. He is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is fluent in English, French and Spanish. His hobbies are writing and producing films. His first impression of DHS is that it is a busy place.

Ms. Stacy Nightingale, Mathematicsby Kaeyle Ridge ‘16

A new addition to the Mathematics Department at Deering is Ms. Stacy Nightingale. Teaching is a second career for Ms. Nightingale who previously worked in finance. Before coming to Deering she taught at Edward Little H. S. in Auburn as well as Portland H.S. She is very impressed with the students and staff at Deering. Ms. Nightingale has a strong family connection with Deering since her mother, aunt and uncle all attended school here. In her free time she spends time with her husband, three sons and her dog.

Ms. Kaitlyn Stefanski, Mathematicsby Matthew Mikkelsen ‘16

Ms. Kaitlyn Stefanski is a new member of the Mathematics Department. She was born in Concord, New Hampshire and graduated from John Start Regional H.S. Before coming to Deering she taught for two years at Noble High School and was an intern at Portsmouth H.S. She holds a bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire. She loves Deering and says that the students are wonderful and capable of great work. The teachers are some of the friendliest and most helpful individuals she has ever met. Ms. Stefanski enjoys rock climbing, hiking, making soup and reading.

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Welcome our new staff !

Ms. Hannah Ciechomski, Scienceby Leyla Ukase ‘16

Ms. Ciechomski was born in Portland, Maine and attended Portland High School. Ms. Ciechomski attended Beloit College in Wisconsin and is a master’s degree candidate at the University of Southern Maine. Before coming to Deering Ms. Ciechomski taught in Thailand. Her first impression of Deering is that everyone is friendly and helpful. The quality she respects in a teacher is that of a good communicator with students and other teachers. When not at school she enjoys hiking with her dog.

Dr. Younus Alfayyadh, World Languagesby Iman Enan'16

Mr. Younus Alfayyadh is Deering’s new Arabic teacher. He has been teaching for almost ten years, mostly outside the U.S.A. He was born in Iraq, where he attended university. Dr. Alfayyadh taught Arabic classes at the Islamic Society of Portland and is a professor at the American Open University in Virginia. His hobbies are reading, watching soccer matches and using social media websites. His first impression of Deering H.S. is that is very big and organized and that his colleagues are friendly and welcoming.

Ms. Fang Song, World Languagesby Grace Uwimana ‘16

Welcome to Ms. Song, Deering’s new teacher of Chinese language. Ms. Song was born in Beijing, Shandong Province. She studied at Qiqihar University and holds a master’s degree from Heilongjiang University. Ms. Song has eleven years of teaching experience. Before Deering, Ms Song taught at a vocational school in Beijing. She enjoys sports, playing hacky sack, jumping rope and music. She says that the teachers are nice at Deering and the students are energetic and sweet.

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Welcome our new staff !

Ms. Heidi Cameron, ELLby Iman Enan ‘16

Ms. Cameron was born in Portland, Maine. She attended Peary and Lyseth Elementary School, Lyman Moore Junior High and graduated from Portland H.S. While at Portland H.S. she played five varsity sports. Heidi received a B.A. from Bowdoin College with a major in comparative religion and minored in women’s studies. Ms. Cameron holds an ELL endorsement and an M.S. in literacy education. She has

taught in Florida and South Portland schools. In her spare time she enjoys reading, crafting, sewing, quilting and being informed about politics. Ms. Cameron is the advisor of the Mock Trial Team at Deering.

Ms. Adriane Gainer, FLS, Ed. Tech.by Grace Uwimana ‘16

Ms. Gainer was born in Vermont. She attended college in Duxbury, MA and the Maine College of Art. Prior to coming to Deering she taught for three years at Windham Middle School. At Windham she was an assistant track coach. Her hobbies are running, biking, surfing and painting.

Brenda Gushee, ELLby Andrew Gordon

Brenda Gushee is a new addition to the ELL department at Deering High School. She comes here from the Multilingual Office and Ocean Avenue School. She is a Mainer, born in Warren on the mid-coast, and in her leisure time enjoys gardening, reading, and remodeling old houses. Her daughter is a graduate of both Deering and McGill University in Montreal, and is now a massage therapist. Brenda has taught at a variety of levels, including college, but this is her first time at high school. She has been struck by the considerate and supportive nature of her colleagues, and is learning a lot!

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Thanks to Ms. Harris’ Senior English class for interviewing our new staff.

Pictured,left to right:

Zainab Jalal, Iman Enan, and Grace Uwimana

COT-9 UPDATEby Dan Legage

The freshman students and collaborative of teachers (COT-9) are off to exciting start to the 2015-2016 school year! The class of 2019 has made a smooth transition to DHS and has already made many positive contributions to the Deering school community.

During the first quarter, students have been working on many exciting projects and activities in their classes. Students are archiving exemplars of their work in their digital portfolios The digital portfolios will be showcased during “Student -Led Conferences the week of November 2nd.

The freshman collaborative is a group of teachers who coordinate curriculum, assessment and instruction that is student centered, interdisciplinary and globally focused. Teachers develop projects and investigations that demonstrate the four pillars of global competence (Investigate the World, Recognize perspective, Communicate ideas, Take action). Teachers and students work collaboratively to meet standards. Students are provided a system of interventions and supports as they work to achieve their goals.

For more information about the happenings of COT-9 and the Deering Freshman please visit our Freshman webpage : https://sites.google.com/a/portlandschools.org/dhs-freshmen/home

The CLOCKTOWER is an official publication of Deering High School EDITOR: Andrew Gordon (gordoa@portlandschools.org) GRAPHICS: Anne Dixon (dixona@portlandschools.org)

Student contributors: Sophia Morin ’16, Kiara Neal ’16, Dora Perez ’16, Deeq Mohamed ’16, Pdg Muhamiriza’16, Kerry Wells, ’16, Amy Isaro ‘19, Joy Mugaju ’19, Zainab Jalal ’16, Iman Enan’16, Leyla Ukash ’16, Ray Kha ’16, Dorcas Uwase ’16, Kaeyle Ridge ’16, Matthew Mikkelsen ’16, Grace Uwimana ‘16

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News from the Guidance Department

Beginning on October 22nd, the Guidance Department will be working with senior students during every WINN block in the new College & Career Center in the Cafeteria. Senior students are able to receive extra support with:

*Starting the College Application Process *Early Decision/Early Action Process *Naviance Help *CommonApp Help *Signing up for the SAT and/or ACT *General Questions

If a senior student is looking for some extra help in the college and career planning process, this is the place to be! Seniors may be pre-booked by their School Counselor but are also able to sign up for this WINN block through their Deering Coach.

The Guidance Department is also gearing up to host several informational events this year. On Tuesday, October 6th we held our first College & Career Event of the year and featured Bill Smith in an engaging workshop about Financial Aid. Mr. Smith did an excellent job explaining the different types of Financial Aid that students can receive and also helped families understand how to find colleges that match their finances. Mr. Smith is also making a wonderful offer to work with families of senior students on planning for college costs on a limited first come, first serve basis. Mr. Smith is considered an expert on the subject of financial aid as he has designed financial aid calculators for several top colleges. If you would like to sign up for this opportunity you can check out www.scholarfits.com or call Mr. Smith directly at 773-4142.

School Counselors will be holding workshops every Tuesday night in January. In order to accommodate the tight schedules of our students and families, we will be presenting two workshops – one on the new SAT and the other on the college choice process – and each workshop will be presented on two nights. Families have a choice of attending the presentation about the new SAT on the evening of January 5th or January 19th, and the workshop about the college choice process on January 12th or January 26th.

We also will be holding two Guidance Nights, where students and families are welcome to come in during the evening and speak with a School Counselor. These nights will be held on Thursday, November 12th from 6:00 – 8:00pm and Thursday, April 28th from 6:00 – 8:00pm. No question is too small – we hope to see you there!

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The Guidance Department is sponsoring several other fantastic events this year – be sure to mark your calendars!

Self-Directed SAT Prep Workshop with Eric Johnson Thursday, February 11th 6:30 – 8:00pm

Early Awareness of Financial Aid for Freshmen and Sophomores with Bill Smith Thursday, February 25th 6:00 – 8:00pm

Financial Aid Literacy Workshop Tuesday, March 22nd 6:00 – 8:00

Important Standardized Testing Dates 2015-2016

Test Type Test Date Sign-Up Deadline

Current SAT / SAT II Subject Tests November 7, 2015 October 9, 2015

Current SAT / SAT II Subject Tests December 5, 2015 November 5, 2015

ACT December 12, 2015 November 6, 2015

Current SAT / SAT II Subject Tests January 23, 2016 December 28, 2015

ACT February 6, 2015 January 8, 2016

NEW, Redesigned SAT March 5, 2016 February 5, 2016

ACT April 9, 2016 March 4, 2016

NEW, Redesigned SAT / SAT II Subject Tests May 7, 2016 April 8, 2016

NEW, Redesigned SAT / SAT II Subject Tests June 4, 2016 May 5, 2016

ACT June 11, 2016 May 6, 2016

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CLASS OF 2016 IMPORTANT DATES Monday, November 2nd: Deadline for Yearbook Pictures to Ms. Miller

Thursday, November 5th 2:40-3:40: Senior Senate Meeting with Decorator for Prom

Friday, November 6th: Dodgeball Tournament (Class of 2016 Fundraiser)

Friday, November 13th: Deadline for Yankee Candle Order Forms to be turned in (Class of 2016 Fundraiser)

Monday, November 23rd: American Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by the Class of 2016

Tuesday, December 1st: Deadline for Baby Photos in Yearbook to Ms. Miller

Wednesday, January 27th 6pm-8:30pm: ELL FAFSA Night (Sponsored by Make It Happen!)

Thursday, January 28th: FINAL EXAMS BLOCKS 1 & 2

Friday, January 29th: FINAL EXAMS BLOCKS 3 & 4

Wednesday, March 16th during DC: Cap & Gown Meeting with Josten’s

Tuesday, March 22nd 6:00pm-8pm: Financial Aid Literacy Workshop

Saturday, April 30th 8pm-11pm: PROM at The Portland Company (58 Fore Street)

Tuesday, May 17th 4:30pm-6:30pm: Made It Happen Graduation (Ocean Gateway)

Thursday, June 2nd: FINAL EXAMS BLOCKS 1 & 2

Friday, June 3rd: FINAL EXAMS BLOCKS 3 & 4

Tuesday, June 7th: Senior Capstone Project Symposium

Wednesday, June 8th: Senior Last Assembly

Thursday, June 9th (Time To Be Determined): GRADUATION

DATES & TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE CHECK http://deeringhighrams2016.weebly.com/ FOR THE LATEST

INFORMATION

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN SENIOR SENATE MEETINGS ARE ON FRIDAYS AT 7:40AM