~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VOluMe 22 • ISSue 4
A FREE Monthly Publication
uxbridge • north uxbridge • linwood • Douglas • northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
aPrIl 2013
Prior Named “Teacher In Excellence” Story & Photo by Constance Dwyer Christine “Chris” Prior, a calculus teacher at Uxbridge High School was named a “Teacher in Excellence” from Mass Insight Education’s Mass Math + Science Initiative(MMSI). She is1of 15 named teachers out of the 548 Advanced Placement high school teachers across the Commonwealth and is proud to represent her school and students. Mrs. Prior said that she was chosen based on her scores and work with the Mass Math + Science Initiative in which over 150 schools in Massachusetts participated with other states. She credited Principal Tara Bennett for her initiative in seeking the grant that “opened a lot of doors for our kids who wouldn’t be thinking of taking AP math, science or English courses.” Principal Bennett applied for the grant 3 years ago. This dynamic math teacher was also pleased to note that 21 out of 22 of her AP calculus students passed the College Board AP Calculus exam; 13 having perfect scores. She explained that “3” is a qualifying score, “4” is well qualified score and “5” is extremely well qualified. At the interview in her tidy classroom, Mrs. Prior said her love of math started “in first grade.” She said that as a young student taking math classes, she’d often reflect silently, “I’d explain it a little bit differently and I can’t remember one class when I didn’t think that way.” She added that she didn’t understand why people hate math unless, of course, it was never correctly explained to them; “Math is so simple. It’s either right or wrong.” Now in her 21st year teaching math, in addition to teaching AP calculus, she also teaches Algebra 2 and Geometry. When she first started teaching math at Quabbin Regional High School, she was the only female in that department. Today, there are four female teachers and only one male in the math depart-
POStal PatrOn
CHrIStIne PrIOr ment at Uxbridge High School. Mrs. Prior has been teaching AP courses for 11 years. Also she has been the “LEAD Teacher” for the BUND (Bellingham, Uxbridge, Northbridge, and Douglas) cohort, which involves Saturday sessions for calculus students
“I am honored to work side-by-side with such a professional colleague like Chris Prior,” - Tara Bennett, U.H.S. Principal who want to excel on their College Boards. She is responsible for all aspects of running a Saturday session, including the setup, selection of presenters and topics to be covered. She is also proud of the fact that over a 3-year period, she has had perfect attendance. Her modus operandi with girls is to “encourage them and tell them they’re as capable as a man in math.” At one time she had a class of 24 with very few girls and her encouragement for them paid off. Now, classes have “evened PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
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out” with both boys and girls. Unfortunately, she continued, many times “kids don’t appreciate the number system and its beauty until after high school.” Then they need it, for example, when they have to figure out how many gallons of paint they want before they go to Home Depot. At the end of the interview, she stressed that her Partner in Excellence award, $l,000.00, could never replace the satisfaction she gets when a student thanks her for her help with math or when she gets an e-mail from parents expressing their gratitude for aiding their children; “That’s the real award because I love my kids and what I do.” Her principal, Tara Bennett, said, “I am honored to work side-by-side with such a professional colleague like Chris Prior,” adding, “The students say it all.” Her students used such words as, engaging, amazing, inspiring, confidence building, influential, caring, intelligent, and selfless. Six students who enthusiastically expressed their praise of her were Lindsey Centrella, Collin Proehl, David Roxo, Wade O’Neil, Richard Lanoue and Emily Cahill who even called her “my school mom.” Mort Orlov, President of the MMSI has said, “These teachers have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their schools, their peers and their students, a commitment we are thrilled to recognize through these awards.” Since implementation of MMSI in 2010, performance at Uxbridge High School, according to graphical representations from Uxbridge Superintendent Kevin Carney, has improved yearly at an average slightly in excess of 47%, whereas that of Massachusetts has been about 11% and nationwide about 10%. These statistics are based on those enrolled achieving at least a qualifying AP score in Math, Science and English. Superintendent Carney said “We are very proud of Chris’ achievement.”
Future StarS - Hannah Hendricks, Innaray Oliveria, Sidney Herndon and Colleen Christman as Maria Von trapp ready for opening night.
The Sound of Music at WCS The Whitinsville Christian School Presents: Rodger and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” at The Krull Auditorium, 279 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville on April 25th, 26th & 27th at 7:00 p.m. Come and enjoy the captivating story of the Von Trapp family as they set the stage to life. Whitinsville Christian High School students have been hard at work since January getting ready for the beloved story set in the Austrian
Business Bio:
~ INDEX ~
Depot Café
town news ..............Page Calendar...................Page Society .....................Page Senior Corner ..........Page Coupons ..................Page School news............Page Business news........Page Sports.......................Page Classified .................Page
If you’re hungry for breakfast or lunch, be sure to check out the Depot Café in Uxbridge; it is open 7 days a week. The family-run business is “going well” according to Kerrie MacDonald and her husband, Patrick, “Pat.”
See complete story on page 33
hills. A cast of 40, a live pit orchestra, and many set, tech, and back stage crews are all working together to bring “The Sound of Music” to Whitinsville. Bring the family and friends to this wonderful production. You won’t want to miss WCHS’s showing of Rodger and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music”! Tickets Prices: Adult $10; Student & Seniors $8; Immediate Family Rates Available; Children under 4 FREE
Pat & Kerrie MacDonald
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