North Attleboro High School Alumni Association

December 2010

Association News

The 3 A's at NAHS

Personal Profiles

Alumni News and Announcements

North Attleboro High School
Alumni Association
Spring 2010 Newsletter

Dear fellow Alumni,

As we approach another new year, we are proud of the accomplishments of 2010. In addition to holding our Fourth Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet in May, we conducted two "Are You Smarter than a 9th Grader?" Trivia event fundraisers during the year. All our fundraising efforts continue to pay-off as our most recent donation of 12 Netbook computers are now up and running to rave reviews in the Media Center. These computers wireless computers are available for classroom use as well as individual use during study periods.

Also in 2010, we bid farewell to outgoing Principal Bob Gay and welcomed in the newest leader of the High School, Scott Holbrook. We thank Mr. Gay for his many contributions to the Alumni Association and have already had the privlege of Principal Holcomb's attendance at several of our meetings. I feel confident that Mr. Holcomb values our mission and will be a strong supporter for years to come.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of our eNewsletter. As you are reading, please consider the NAHS alumni you may know. As we prepare for our 5th Alumni Awards, we are currently seeking nominations (link to Nomination posting) and you are the best source we have. Please consider submitting a nomination.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a Prosperous 2011!

Keith Lapointe '93

Association News

NAHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SEEKS NOMINEES FOR FIFTH ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM

Nominations are now being accepted by the North Attleboro High School Alumni Association for its annual awards program designed to recognize the achievements of graduates, staff, and long-time supporters of the school.

The Association will present awards in five categories at its fourth annual awards banquet in May, 2011. The selection committee, comprised of both board members and "at-large" community advisors, is accepting nominations through January 28, 2011.

The awards will include the Joseph W. Martin, Jr. Distinguished Alumni Award, named after the distinguished graduate of the class of 1902. This award will recognize the outstanding professional, personal and civic achievements of the men and women graduates of North Attleboro High School.

In addition, awards will be presented to young graduates of the past 20 years who have distinguished themselves by their achievements at a particularly early age in their professional, personal or civic endeavors.

Educator excellence awards will recognize current or past staff members at North Attleboro High School for exceptional commitment to excellence in the classroom and/or dedication to the students, staff and the school.

The Association will also present honorary alumni awards to non-graduates of North Attleboro High School who have made positive and substantive contributions to the school.

Finally, the Association will present the Alumni Community Impact Award that recognizes the accomplishments in and commitment to the North Attleboro community by North Attleboro High School graduates.

The Association invites the public to offer nominations for any of these five awards by submitting the candidate’s name, address, contact information and a 50-word narrative describing the individual's qualification for one of these awards.

Nominations may be sent to the selection committee via e-mail to info@nahsalumni.org, or by standard mail to NAHS Alumni Association, ATTN Awards Selection Committee, North Attleboro High School, 1 Wilson Whitty Way, North Attleboro, MA 02760. All e-mails must be sent, and all standard mail must be post-marked, no later than January 28, 2010.

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ADDITIONAL FUNDRAISING

Want to give NAHS an A+? Here's how... It raises money very easily for the high school!
After signing up for the Stop & Shop Card, customers can support local school(s) (up to three) to benefit from the A+ School Rewards Program by choosing the "Register Your Card" link from the menu on this page or by calling the A+ School Rewards Hotline at 1-877-ASK-APLUS (1-877-275-2758).

Who can participate?
Any Stop & Shop customer can participate in the program as long as he/she has a Stop & Shop Card. If you do not reside in North Attleboro or MA, you can still register your card online for NAHS to receive credit. Also, you can encourage your family and friends to support it as well. Please forward this information along to them for them to support NAHS.

Where do I register my card?
1) Go to https://www.stopandshop.com/our_stores/bonus_bucks/designate_school.htm?execution=e2s1
2) Or call 1-877-ASK-APLUS (1-877-275-2758)

How does the process work?
1) Get your Stop & Shop Card
2) Go to, https://www.stopandshop.com/our_stores/bonus_bucks/designate_school.htm?execution=e2s1
3) Enter the first 3 letters of your last name
4) Enter the 13 digits under bar code on your Stop & Shop Card
5) Enter a School ID - NAHS is 06935
6) Confirm your submission

How can I find out more about A+ Rewards Program?
See FAQ's: https://www.stopandshop.com/our_stores/bonus_bucks/questions_comments.htm

Do any other stores offer similar benefits to NAHS?
Yes! Target has a similar program for its customers.

How can I participate in Target's Take Charge of Education program?
1) Apply, get approved and get your REDcard® (if you don't have one already).
2) Enroll. Sign up for Take Charge of Education and designate NAHS as the school to benefit from your purchases.
- Enroll online
- Call 1-800-316-6142
- Enroll at an in-store kiosk
3) Shop. Target will donate up to 1% of your REDcard purchases to your chosen school.

The 3 A's at NAHS

Academics: College-bound seniors have begun the college application process that will go a long way toward determining their post-high school plans. The NAHS Guidance Department has sponsored a number of college fairs in the High School cafeteria, and many seniors began visiting schools last summer. Teachers have already read stacks of college essay drafts and written dozens of recommendations. In other words, it's business as usual at North High. In our next newsletter, we'll look to share news about early acceptances and potential scholarship winners.

Arts: The NAHS Theatre Company has had a very busy fall with field trips to Trinity Repertory Company in Providence for "Camelot" and to Wheaton College in Norton for "The Importance of Being Ernest." In October the NATC entertained Special Olympic athletes and sang the National Anthem at their regional Soccer Tournament. November brought the culmination of weeks of rehearsals, set building, and technical work to present the 1930's screwball comedy, "My Sister Eileen," to almost sold out and appreciative audiences. The Dance-A-Thon in early December had a theme of a semi-formal masquerade. The Theatre Company is currently in rehearsals for the One Act Play Festival to be held on January 15, 2011, at 7:00 pm, in the Judith E. Cobb Theatre. All three plays have student directors.

Athletics: It was another successful fall for NAHS sports teams, led by the undefeated Girls Volleyball team that finished 20-0 to win the Hockomock League (21-1 overall). Here are the records of our other fall teams: Girls Cross Country (2-2), Boys Cross Country (3-1), Field Hockey (5-11-2), Football (10-1), Golf (7-9), Boys Soccer (8-5-5) and Girls Soccer (6-8-4).

In addition, Anthony Sherman ('07) will lead the University of Connecticut Huskies football team against the University of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. This marks UCONN’s first ever Bowl Championship Series appearance. Congratulations, Anthony.

To learn more about NAHS Athletics, visit http://sharepoint.naschools.net/highschool/Athletics/default.aspx.

Personal Profiles

NAHS Alumni Profile -- Meet Private First Class Gunnar Mattson, NAHS Class of 2008

Gunnar shared the following in an email to Katie Bloom in October of 2010:

To see pictures from Gunnar, click here.

My name is Private First Class Gunnar Mattson from the North Attleboro High School Class Of 2008. I am writing to tell you about my unit's deployment in support of Operation New Dawn. I am writing to you from Forward Operating Base Kalsu in southern Iraq. My unit is the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army out of Fort Hood Texas, where I was stationed since January of this year. We trained hard up until we deployed on August 24th. We spent a month at the National Training Center in the middle of the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin, California back in May and June. When we flew out of Fort Hood in August we first stopped in Bangore, Maine. I was glad I was able to spend my last hour in the United States enjoying a last breath of fresh, cool New England air.

I then left the U.S. borders for the first time in my life, making a quick pit stop in Germany, where I bought a small piece of th Berlin wall. We then flew to Kuwait City and took a police escorted bus to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, where we did more trainig for two weeks getting acclomated to the intense heat of the Middle East. The hottest temperature I saw there was 119 degrees. After that we flew to Baghdad, Iraq, some of us on a C-130 Air Force jet, and some of us on Blackhawk Helicopters. From there we convoyed down to our base, where we've been for about a month now and will be until around August 2011.

I've been really busy going out on missions with my platoon in our area of operation. My unit's mission is an advise and assist operation, helping the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police build up it's strength to take complete control over their own country. In Kuwait I saw all over the news that "combat had officially ended in Iraq and that all combat U.S. soldiers had left the country." I couldn't help but laugh, knowing that my unit was about to embark on a year long mission in Iraq, where the enemy, though a lot weaker in strength and in numbers than the past, still exists here and is still trying to harm us...trust me. When we're out on patrols in small villages and farm lands, we come across a lot of Iraqi children jumping and waving at us, most barefoot wearing old dirty clothes. We give them food, water, and candy. A lot of them ask for pens to write in their school books as well as soccer balls, which is the most popular sport here just like any country outside of America. The first group of kids I met here drank the water I gave them, then kicked around the empty water bottle using my orange cones I had set up as a goal. After witnessing first hand how these people live everyday here, I have developed a huge appreciation for being blessed to have had the opportunity being born and raised a U.S. citizen in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am looking forward to completing my tour here and returning home to the states. I miss my family and friends a lot. After this deployment, I will also be looking forward to completing the three years I will have remaining for my term of service I initially enlisted for. Only God knows how long U.S. forces will be in Afghanistan. I wouldn't mind going there. I kind of wish I was there now helping my buddies who just deployed there from the Massachusetts National Guard's 181st Infantry Regiment. I keep them in my prayers as well as everyone else I've met along my journey, starting from my Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 2009.

If the Class Of 2008 holds a 5 year reunion in 2013, hopefully I'll be able to attend. I miss all my old classmates and the memories we shared growing up together.

Here's to the Class Of 2008...the best class there ever was. Also, I congratulate my younger sister, Ingrid Mattson and the rest of the Class of 2010 on graduating earlier this year. Another shout out for my mother, Ruth Mattson (Broughton), from the Class Of 1981 as well as my baby sister, Michelle, from the class of 2019. =) I love you all.

Alumni News and Announcements

---1960s---

The Class of 1962 is currently planning for a 50th reunion in 2012. A core group of classmates have begun to plan for the reunion with a suggested time frame of Columbus Day Weekend in 2012. That would be the weekend of October 6th, 7th and 8. Over 30 classmates have been located and they would like to locate many more. Class members should contact one of the following with their email address, phone number and suggestions: Bruce Brockway (bbrockw62@comcast.net), Terry Maloney (maloneytk@comcast.net), Mary Jane (Riley) Poirier (mjay122744@yahoo.com), Barbara (Tourigny) Stanford (barbarastanford@hotmail.com)

---1990s---

           Aimee Morrison Hefron ('90) and her husband Mike Hefron ('87) welcomed their third child, Rorie Grace Hefron on Friday, September 10th, 2010 at 10:03am. She weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long at birth. She is a happy and healthy baby girl. She was also welcomed home by her identical twin big brothers Liam and Seamus Hefron - now 2 years and 9 months old.
           Rebecca Cahoon-Bedard ('94) graduated from Bridgewater State College in Jan 2010 with a BS in Criminal Justice. She got married on July 4th 2010 to Eric Bedard and they welcomed their first child on Aug 31, 2010.
           The Class of 1995 will be hosting their 15th Year Reunion on Friday, November 26th at 7pm at the Highland Country Club in Attleboro, Ma. The price of tickets are $35/person and $60/couple. Please make checks payable to: The Class of 1995. Checks can be mailed to Jessica Blake Scola; 1782 Lombard Street San Francisco, CA 94123. Kindly submit payment by Friday, November 5th. A block of rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn on Rte 1 in North Attleboro for Thursday, November 25th & Friday, November 26th at a rate of $95/night. Mention the NAHS Class of 1995 when booking your reservation to get this discounted rate. For further inquiries, a class e-mail account has been set up: NAHS1995@yahoo.com We are looking for old pictures from our high school days to present during the evening of the Reunion. Please send your jpeg files to our class e-mail account.
           Jeni Brett (Malette) ('95) was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. She been in the Navy for 14 years and is currently on a deployment to the Persian Gulf region on USS MILUS DDG-69. When she returns from deployment (sometime around the holidays) she be going to a new ship, USS Sampson DDG-102. They’re both home ported in San Diego where she lives with her husband Jason (also a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy) and her two children, Sam, 9 and Anna, 4.

---2000s---

After high school, Hanna Brezinski-Jackson (Herrman) ('01) attended Framingham State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and moved to San Diego, CA in 2007. She married her husband David in April of 2009, who is now serving aboard the USS Higgins in the United States Navy. She is presently employed as a veterinary technician here in San Diego, and attends night school to achieve a post-baccalaureate degree in biology.
Private First Class Gunnar Mattson ('08) is currently deployed in Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn until around August 2011 . His unit's mission is an advise and assist operation, helping the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police build up it's strength to take complete control over their own country.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this newsletter!

To share news about your accomplishments, births, marriages, promotions, or anything else you feel is newsworthy, send your notes to morgan_tower@hotmail.com and we will publish them in our next e-newsletter.

IMPORTANT Privacy Information: E-mail communication from the North Attleboro High School Alumni Association will ALWAYS include links to www.nahsalumni.org. There are many "for-profit" web-based firms that may attempt to create the impression they are affiliated with North Attleboro High School Alumni Association. We are not. They may send you e-mails with links to their sites. Visiting their sites and providing them contact information could compromise your privacy.

Finally, please remember to log on to www.NAHSAlumni.org to update your personal information!