End of the Year Letter

June 20, 2012

Dear Parents and Guardians:

On May 23^rd, I sat in the auditorium and watched as the officers from each class presented to the entire student body the community service projects that they completed as the last challenge in the Class Cup competition.  I can honestly say that in 15 years of working in public education, I have never, ever, been so impressed by a group of students. Stop by Wellspring, listen to elementary school students talk about their “Fun Night”, take a walk by the dyke or on the beach, or stop by the newly created park on the HRA land facing World’s End, and you will see the handiwork of our students.  I was literally moved to tears.  Although the seniors and sophomores share this year’s Class Cup, all of the grades and all of the students, deserve special recognition for making our school and our town a better place.

A Look Back

Although we are already gearing up for the 2012-2013 school year, it is important to take a look back on the wonderful accomplishments of the past year, none of which would have been possible without the collective efforts of our entire community.

• Hull High School now has a true concert band again;
• On June 2^nd, we graduated 74 students, more than 90% of whom will attend a 2 or 4-year college;
• On June 8^th, the juniors and I celebrated the fact that the Class of 2013 earned some of the best MCAS scores ever earned by our school;
• This year, our school’s name was added to the MIAA Sportsmanship Honor Roll in recognition that not one Pirate student-athlete received an ejection or disqualification during this past school-year;
• We were nominated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for a National Blue Ribbon Award;
• We were named to the College Board’s AP Honor roll due to our increased AP enrollment and increased scores;
• Our drop-out rate is down;
• Our attendance rate is up;
• Almost 40% of our students made the honor roll at least once this year;
• Our SAT scores are up;
• We had a very successful Class Cup competition;

• We had several teams compete in state tournaments;
• We had three wonderful theatre productions;
• We were featured on Nick News for our fundraising efforts; and
• We successfully completed our NEASC Self-study process, hosted 16 evaluators and received word that Hull will retain its full ten-year accreditation.

I don’t know about you, but I think this is a pretty impressive list of accomplishments for our school.  Congratulations!

Farewells

As our year ended, our community said farewell to several valued members of our community.

• Mark Galligan leaves us to take on the role of K-12 Humanities Coordinator for the Stoughton Public Schools.  In addition to his amazing teaching, Mr. Galligan led us through the NEASC self-study and accreditation process, as well as helping us complete our Blue Ribbon Schools application.  Our loss is truly Stoughton’s gain.
• Edwin Menon leaves HHS for an even higher calling.  Mr. Menon will become a full-time seminarian student starting this fall.  He leaves HHS after countless stories, word problems and words of wisdom.  Soar like an eagle, Mr. Menon!
• David Milner has made the wise decision that it is more important to be with his children and grandchild in Oregon than to teach chemistry at Hull High School.  Mr. Milner will be remembered by his students as a great teacher, musician and person.  In his words, “Science rules – you dig?”
• Heather Thomson retired after years of service to Hull High School.  You may not know this, but according to her students, everyday is Mrs. Thomson’s birthday!  Mrs. Thomson will rejoin us in the fall as she serves as the long-term substitute when Mrs. Cocchi is out on maternity leave.

Although it is hard to say goodbye to these teachers and their years of experience and dedication to our students, there will be excellent teachers in those classrooms when our students return in September.  We have already hired two outstanding math teachers to replace Mrs. Thomson and Mr. Menon, and are in the process of hiring a new chemistry and social studies teacher.  A special thanks to Jeannie Hulverson for being a part of our interview teams.

School Council

Come September, there will be three seats open on our School Council.  Sharon Striglio, Jeannie Hulverson and AnnMarie Dunn are at the end of their two-year terms on the School Council, so the PTO will hold elections for these seats on September 12^th at our annual Open House.  Sharon, Jeannie and AnnMarie have done an amazing job of representing you over the past two years and I thank them for their service, dedication and advice.  If you are interested in running for a seat on the School Council, please contact me or PTO co-presidents Michelle Proude or Lynn Strong so that your name can appear on the ballot on September 12^th.

Summer Reading

This week, you should have received a mailing that contained your student’s summer reading assignment.  If your child is taking an honors English class, this will be their first graded assignment of the year.  If he/she is taking a College Preparatory English class, the summer reading assignment will help boost his/her first term grade.  Please encourage your student to read their summer assignment.  I have read each of the books and they are all great reads.  If you are interested in what the teachers are reading this summer, check out “Nickeled and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich.  Each HHS teacher has been given a copy of this book and it will guide many of the conversations that the faculty has next year.

This past year has been a great one at Hull High School, and I know that next year will be even better.  Together, we have accomplished a great deal and have improved the educational experience of all of Hull High School’s students.   Although we will all take some well-deserved vacation this summer, Mr. Sivo, the faculty, staff and I will all be working this summer to ensure that we will build upon the gains that we have made this year to make sure that the school that our students enter on August 28^th is an even better school than the one that they left last week. 

On a personal note, I have now completed my third year as the principal of Hull High School.  It is amazing to me how quickly the time has flown by.  I am so blessed to be the leader of this outstanding school, and I am incredibly thankful for the support that this entire community has given me as I work with you to take Hull High School to even greater heights.  I look forward to many more years as your principal and working with you, as together we make sure that our students have the tools to excel after leaving us and to ensure that Hull High School is recognized as one of the best public high schools in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  You and I know this is true… now let’s show the rest of the world!

Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you all in August.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Devine

Principal

Hull High School

Class of 2012 Salutatorian Brendan Clifford's Graduation Speech

As I walked into this school, Hull High School, HHS, as a freshman, I’ll admit I was scared. I was frightened for what was to become of me during the fours years I would spend in this building; a place I would eventually consider my second home. I came out of the glistening yellow bus under the heat of an early September day in 2008 as a lost soul. Yet, I began to realize that I was not the only one. We were all starting fresh and new and had very little idea of what to expect in this next chapter of our lives. Only the arches leading into the foyer of the building were there to guide us physically through these momentous moments. What we least expected in the beginning of this process was the immeasurable and innumerable amount of memories we would make as a class but even more significantly as one cohesive family; going through the ups and downs of growing-up together.

            Freshman and Sophomore Years: We zipped through the academic wing, rushing from class to class like it was nobody’s business with stacks of books and papers in our hands. Or at least I did. I never understood why people yelled “Run Forest Run” at me but looking back I was such a little frosh. We listened to the wild and wacky stories, and life lessons of Mr. Menon. We saw Ms. Lanney jump for joy and talk in her high voice everyday in class. To this day I don’t know why. Maybe it was her passion for English but really who has a passion for that, just sayin’. Let’s see there was Mr. Fuller and his fortune cookies and so many life lessons learned. There was Ms. Thomson’s calm and mother-like demeanor despite the time Doos got himself to fit and hid in the TV cabinet, jumping out to give Ms. Thompson a good surprise and receiving a nice pink write up sheet as a result. There was Mr. Trombly never quite being able to retrieve the markers from the top of the whiteboard and still unable today I might add. These instances, while some of the most notable, do not even begin to touch the surface of all the unforgettable elements of our underclassmen years.

            Junior and Senior Years:  As we became more mature and gained more freedom, we started to take over the halls and corridors of Hull High School. We glided over the smooth tiles, piercing our eyes through the windows surrounding the courtyard with grade-A-swag(ger). We slid, or in some cases, propelled ourselves down the dull blue stairwell just for the heck of it. We camped out at the Library Media Center avoiding our classes like the plague. And Ms. Grosso, you may have tried to stop us, but we invaded your desk and made it our fortress; sheltering ourselves from the evils of VHS. On the other hand, we did realize the sheer importance of our studies during these last two years. We struggled and sacrificed healthy sleeping habits to learn the material for our college-level classes. As a result, we excelled and earned this school a prestigious place in the AP honor roll. We learned from Hull High that hard work really does pay off, simply said, whether it is academics or athletics: with most notably the state championship win from our girls basketball team last year.

            There are just too many aspects of Hull High which stick in my mind that I could not even mention all of them in one single day. What we must do now, even though it may be difficult and sometimes painful, is take our experiences, lessons, and memories over the past four profound years and put them to memory. We must store them in the scrapbook of our minds and close it shut. We can never forget but we cannot harp on the past and remain stationary because this is just the opening of the next chapters of our lives. When we walk out of the doors of this building, when we fly out its nest, I know that we are not being pushed but we are driven to soar to the highest lengths to succeed in our lives. And as we get ready to graduate today, I want us all to look in the corner of our eyes or perhaps right above us; that is the great city Boston just a few miles across the water and overhead are an endless stream of flights flying out of Logan. Because, even though some of us are not exactly studying or working in the city, it as well as those planes above us represent the exceptionally far places to which we will go as adults and alums of Hull High School. We are ALL awesome and downright amazing. Nobody can tell us otherwise because there is nothing we cannot accomplish on our own. I love all of you and I will never forget what we had as the CLASS OF 2012. 

Hull High School Class of 2012 Valedictorian Raven Dunstan's Graduation Speech

Class of 2012,

Flipping through my yearbook last night, I was amazed at the diversity of ambitions that each one of us holds. However, I was by no means surprised. The degree of motivation which drives this class is inspiring. But the question that came to mind while reading our hopes and dreams in the yearbook, was what is the reason for this motivation?

Why does Jessica Bishop strive to be an actress?

Why do Matt Farrell and Joe Morgan want to become  police officers?

And why does Jaime Simmons as so many of us, want to do something that ultimately makes a difference in the world?

Only a few moments after reading these ambitions, I understood why our significant goals were there in the first place: because of beliefs. I can honestly look at each and every one of you and say that the beliefs you hold have made you a person of impressive character, and by extension have formed a class with much class.

It was our belief junior year that we could best the seniors in the class cup competition. It seemed that almost everyone disagreed with us underdogs solely because of our age. But we were determined and it is our name that is engraved in the very first spot of the class cup.

This year, we believed it possible to attain the class cup yet again.  When it came down to the last competition, the community service project, with us trailing in third place, we still believed that we had a chance. And to be honest, I don’t think we could’ve lived with ourselves had we lost to the freshmen. That’s when our class officers stepped up with an idea. An intricate and complex idea which required a lot of work to pull-of. However, they believed in this idea and so did we. The impact that we had on our community was so profound that it goes without saying which class’ name is engraved for the second year in a row on the class cup.

I believe that this competition has brought us closer together and made us believe in one another. We are tied so close that I bet most of us know the beliefs of our fellow classmates.

Like how DJ Clasby believes that he will be a Hull Kid for life while Alyssa Steen cant wait to move on

Or how Jade Dunstan believes that Disney is evil while Brittany Jenkins couldn't live without believing Cinderella has a real place in history.

Or how Kevin Samya’s yearbook quote was “ Santa isn’t real” (which I couldn't disagree with him more.)

Or how Katie Manning and Jake Condo tend to disagree about everything from gym class to dinosaurs.

Regardless of these differences, we have been able to accept one anothers beliefs and become friends.

The belief in ourselves has brought us here today. But where will it take us? According to Muhammad Ali “It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. ”So when people tell you “that’s not possible” or “you can’t believe in that” don’t sway from your belief, and don’t stray from your character. This is what both my family and friends have taught me, and for that I am very grateful.                                                                                                                                                         

It’s been a pleasure being part of this school and getting to know both the teachers and students. I wish us all luck wherever we may be headed next year, and please know I believe we’ll be great.

Class of 2012 President Rebecca Garber's Graduation Speech

Hello everyone, parents, friends, faculty, students and most importantly, My fellow classmates; the Senior Class of 2012!

It means a lot to see so many people out in honor of my class, it is very much appreciated.

I would like to thank everyone involved in getting these 74 students through the doors of Hull High and out the other side. And to the seniors, I can only smile. I smile because the journey we embarked on four years ago, is complete and we have all made it. I smile because im proud, I smile because your great, I smile because I am overcome with happiness for each of us.

Honestly, I began writing this speech a long time ago. I decided there needed to be poetry, that way when I make a joke or refer to something that only the seniors get, at least it rhymed for the rest of you.

The Time of Your Life

After all this, a diploma you will attain

But before we get to that, lets walk down memory lane.

One word to describe it is insane,

But, with the turn out I can not complain.

really its indescribable.

The bonds we've formed are undeniable.

Just yesterday I thought I knew it all

and by yesterday I mean the fall

of the year of 2009

before we knew how to truly combine.

I may not have known you

I too was probably strange and new

We were just little freshman

just pieces, marble chess- man

Those around us made our moves

Ensuring we didn't get stuck in any grooves.

The school store had the best cookies

Everyone knew about them, even us rookies.

DECA dances, remember those?

They were gone before 2013 rose.

At Thanksgiving we shook up a storm,

before we knew it the seasons would transform

from fall to winter

winter to spring.

Time was going,

not yet with much pace

Never would it be slowing

Three more years we had in this place.

We return in September

and they expect us to remember

every equation

without contemplation

Algebra II?

wow time flew

Ms. Thomson taught that class for some

to her calming voice we would succumb

Smiling cause she's so damn nice

even when caught using your cellular device.

Oh! and I almost forgot to say,

Ms Thomson, Happy Birthday!

And of course Ms. Lanney's english mode

Just hearing of it made my head explode

Sophomore year, the year of MCAS

excuse me, but those things can kiss

my Assssssistant principle was new as well as his boss

I could see us developing, boundaries we would cross.

This is when I gained my favorite name Goob

We stay together, a never melting ice cube

Time kept on going,

picking up the pace

Never would it be slowing

Two years left in this place.

Junior year crept up fast

It was a feeling so great, upperclassman at last.

I knew that it was time I intervene

Taking over and reforming the presidential scene.

A job I liked more than you will ever know

Hearing your input, pushing through problems that we would undergo

My time in this position

has revived my ambition.

Has helped me get to know you all

as more than a face I’d seen in the hall

This was the year we turned things around

Our hidden talents were finally found.

Who could forget when we killed it at the Thanksgiving rally

both the wall and the links, our victories they did tally.

What about the powderpuff we tied

or the state champs team, the success they supplied.

Then, we also took the class cup,

With some devious plans your officers did come up.

Time kept on flowing,

Reaching top speed,

Never would it be slowing

With our final year we would proceed.

Now, I decided that our senior year, was one that a poem would not do justice. That format would not allow me to truly reflect as it would limit the amount of syllables I used. From the very moment, we rushed to the senior bleachers, I could feel it. I could tell we had what it took to leave a legacy here at Hull High School. We had the mentality, the talent, the work ethic and the drive to make an impact on the place that has certainly changed us all in one way or another. We accomplished so much this year. We won powderpuff with ease, we painted the seawall, we won the links as well as the wall for the second year , Weber and Pat successfully repelled down the stairs, we revived the ultimate fan section, taught underclassmen how to yell and stuff. We passed the NEASC inspection, got sponsored by Geico. We created a remarkable park. We showed that nerds can have fun too and that there's no dream to big. We filled Mr. Sivo's office with balloons. We skipped school, and slept out both without any men left behind. Because in a class like this, there are no casualties, no person is just a number and everyone deserves their right to acceptance without any questions asked. Not many high school seniors understand that nothing comes from discrimination, exclusiveness or putting others down, but we do. You are the kindest, most passionate group of people I have yet to encounter and I encourage you to treasure that trait. Obviously everyone has their own memories from this year as we all lead different lives but, I struggle to believe that the 74 of us were put together by coincidence. Whether the workings of god or just the powers of fate, we have crossed paths at this time in our lives for a reason. The seniors I witnessed crying together and hugging each other after that 12 second countdown were not the students who called themselves freshman 4 years ago. 4 years ago we would have run out of the gym as acquaintances and never looked back. Now, as we sit here in our caps and gowns, I can tell, for the rest of my life I will be looking back. I will forever hold a piece of each of you with me and I hope you all do the same. Thinking back, I could probably name one time that each of you has made me smile. Of course some of those times you might not have known but I’m telling you now, seeing you everyday for the past four years has made me exponentially more happy. Our presence, is unlike anything else. It warms any gloomy day and brightens up even the darkest of rooms. Don’t ever lose that, when others look down upon you, remember that you are worth more than that person can even fathom, simply because you are a member of this class of 2012. The memories that we will carry together of our jobs well done and our lessons learned are nearly incomparable to what we have left behind. We have brought this school to new heights and in doing so, have found out what we, as individuals, are made of. So wherever your next step may be, never let these times fade away. In the words of All Time Low, “before you look which way to go, remember where you’ve been.” I leave you with that in hopes that looking back on these 4 great years will help you strive forward in your future, and be a constant reminder that you are a part of something bigger than yourself. You are a Pirate. You are a member of the Hull High School Class of 2012. Thank you, and congratulations!

What a day!  Last week, the Class of 2013 had their field day - a reward for more than 90% of the class earning Advanced or Proficient on their MCAS exams last year.  Thank you to the PTO members who helped cook burgers and dogs and to Frank Campbell for helping to set the whole thing up.  After lunch, we went out to the athletic field and started playing dodgeball, but Mr. Milner quickly stole the show when he took out his guitar and starting singing.  Before you knew it - the junior class filed day became the junior class sing-a-long!  Again - congratulations to the Class of 2013 for earning outstanding MCAS scores.

High School Graduation

On Saturday, June 2, 74 seniors graduated from Hull High School.  The ceremony was held in the Joseph Berman Gymnasium at Hull High School.

The following are Mr. Devine's words to the Class of 2012:

Members of the School Committee and Board of Selectmen, Dr. Tyrell, members of the Hull Public Schools’ faculty and staff, parents, family-members and guests:  I welcome you to the graduation of Hull High School’s Class of 2012.

Over the past three years, I have spent a great deal of time watching the members of the Hull High School Class of 2012.   I have seen them accomplish amazing feats: in the classrooms, on stage, on the fields and courts and ice, in the courtroom, on the floor of the Boston Garden, and in our little town.  They have made our community a better place through their many hours of service, and, if you doubt this, just take a look at the park that they created just two weeks ago on the HRA land.  As they leave Hull High School and this little peninsula they all call home, the members of the Class of 2012, are going to two and four-year colleges and universities, trade schools, the service and into the workforce.  I am confident that, whatever path they have chosen for themselves, the members of the Class of 2012 will succeed and make a difference in this world.  I know this because they have already shown us that they have the knowledge, the skill, the desire and the determination to do this. 

Hull High School is an awesome place of teaching and learning.  In the past year, the College Board, Boston Magazine, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges have recognized Hull High School as one of the best public high schools in Massachusetts.  And this week, we were added to the MIAA Sportsmanship Honor Roll for the first time, in recognition of the fact that not a single Pirate student-athlete received a game disqualification or an ejection during the 2011-2012 school-year.  This honor shows that while our students are fierce competitors, they compete in a way that reflects our core values.   I can tell you, tournament wins are sweet, but the fact that our student-athletes have been recognized for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship is even sweeter.  A great deal of the credit for all these accolades rests with the students seated before you today.  Our students and our faculty and staff are just as good, if not better, than any other public high school in Massachusetts. 

But, what stands out most to me about the Class of 2012 is their kindness.  I have seen countless examples of this:  our soon-to-be graduates working with the disabled, accepting new students to our school community, embracing all types of diversity, helping their classmates, and the adults who work in our school, through times of terrible loss, and treating everyone they meet with the respect and care that they deserve.  I have work in high schools for 15 years, in four different communities, and I can tell you that the Hull High School Class of 2012 is one of the most amazing groups of students with whom I have had the pleasure to work.  I will miss them dearly.  To the parents, guardians, and families of these students, you have done a fantastic job of raising these young adults.

To our soon-to-be graduates:  thank you for sharing the last three years with me.  We have rejoiced together at championship games, laughed together at lunch, cried together at funerals, and worked together to make Hull High School a better place than the one we entered.  As you prepare to start the next stage of you life – whether that be attending college, joining the military, entering the workforce, or being the best parent that you can be – I wish you love, laughter, joy, and peace.  I will not wish you “good luck”, because, as I have said to you many times, you do not need luck when you have talent.  And, boy, do you have talent.  Instead, I will just say congratulations, job well done, thank you, and I will treasure the time that we have spent together.  It has been my privilege to serve as your principal.