North Attleboro High School Alumni Association

May 2010

The 3 A's at NAHS

Alumni News and Announcements

North Attleboro High School
Alumni Association
Spring 2010 Newsletter

Greetings from the President:

Hello fellow alumni and friends. I am happy to report with this edition of our eNewsletter that we continue to make terrific progress in our mission to build and strengthen the community of NAHS graduates and to explore opportunities to enhance the educational experience of current and future NAHS students.

Our annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet is entering its fourth year and I am excited to announce the creation of a new award, the Community Impact Award. This award will recognize North Attleboro High School alumni who have distinguished themselves both personally and professionally in their service to the North Attleboro community. I hope you will join us on May 21st at the Highland Country Club in Attleboro as we recognize the accomplishments of the 2010 Distinguished Alumni class (Community Impact Award: Max Gould '59, Kerry Vigorito '69, Tony Calcia '74; Young Alumni: Tara Bennett '94; Excellence in Education: Dwight Estey '70, Bob Aussant, Rick Smith; Honorary Alumni: Mark Fisher).

We are also preparing to formally announce the details of our second donation to the high school. Inspired by the impact of the computers we previously donated to the High School Media Center, we will be donating a collection of Netbooks to the Media Center and working with the high school to install wireless capabilities in the High School core. This donation will allow students to work on a computer to complete assignments and explore the internet anywhere in the Media Center. This is a major step in the continued modernization of our alma mater.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the eNewsletter. Please feel free to contact me with any feedback (keithlapointe@yahoo.com)

Warm wishes,
Keith Lapointe '93

The 3 A's at NAHS

Academics: The National Honor Society Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 13, 2010. Additional awards will be presented to seniors at the Formal Class Night Ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Both events will occur in the Pickering Gymnasium.
           Seniors are currently finalizing their post-graduation plans. Some intend to join the workforce, others plan to enlist in the military, and many more will continue their education at a wide variety of schools. NAHS students have been accepted at schools that are near (Boston College, Bridgewater State, Endicott and Roger Williams), schools that are far (Colorado, Georgia Tech and Tampa), schools that are large (Brown, Connecticut, Massachusetts and NYU) and schools that are small (Fitchburg State, New England Tech and Salve Regina). We are confident our students are prepared to compete with students from all over the world.

Arts:: The NAHS Theatre Company presented Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" to packed houses on Friday & Saturday, May 16th & 17th. Harold Hill was played by senior Joe Marino, Marian Paroo by sophomore Theresa Bertolino, and Marcellus Washburn by senior Joe Kain. A cast of almost fifty students, with a pit orchestra of thirteen students and teachers, and the various backstage crews thoroughly enjoyed themselves AND the standing ovations they so well deserved. Principal Bob Gay appeared as a traveling "Principal for Hire" with the other traveling salesmen in the opening number, "Rock Island", and was onstage with the students for the curtain call and reprise of "76 Trombones". The Theatre Company also dedicated their show to him, in appreciation of his unwavering support during his nine years as Principal. NAHS faculty who worked on the show included Ms. Lisa Forsgard (director & producer), Mr. T.J. Rizzo & Mr. Rob Couture (music directors) Mrs. Bonnie Heile (props), Ms. Judith E. Cobb (lighting), Mrs. Patty Bratberg (costumes & vocal coaching) and Ms. Erin McNeal (publicity & program).
           Next up for the Theatre Company is their participation in the Fine Arts Festival and their own International Thespian Society Inductions (11 students will be inducted into the acting honor society) in May.
           The Fine Arts Festival is scheduled for Thursday, May 13th at 7:00 pm in the Cobb Theater. This event is a collage of Music, Theater, and Art projects by NAHS students. The Freshman/Sophomore Art Show will be on display in the senior hallway throughout the evening. The Junior/Senior Art Show will be held the following night, Friday, May 14th, from 6:30 – 9:00 pm at Grace Episcopal Church in North Attleboro.
           The NAHS Music Department is also busy this spring. They will participate in the All Town Concert on Friday, May 7, 2010, at 7:00 pm in HS Gymnasium. This concert features musicians from grades 4-12 in both instrumental and choral ensembles. It is a showcase for the development of North Attleboro students from elementary grades through HS.
           The NAHS Music Department excelled in its competitions this year, with the Concert Choir receiving a silver medal and Concert Band winning gold at the MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductor's Association) Festival. With the gold medal award comes the invitation to perform at Mechanic's Hall in Worcester on May 9, 2010.
           The NAHS Music Department also traveled to Washington DC for 5 days at the end of April. The Concert and Jazz Choirs, the Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands, as well as the Percussion Ensemble each took home a first place plaque and trophy. In addition, the Concert Band earned the highest score overall and was awarded a championship trophy, and the school was awarded the Grand Championship trophy for best overall Choral and Instrumental Ensembles.

Athletics: Here are the final records of the NAHS winter sports teams:
           For the second consecutive year, the Cheerleading squad won the prestigious New England Championship. Under the direction of Coach Patti Johnson, the girls won all five of their competitions before finishing 2nd at the State meet prior to their big win at the New England meet.
           Also, Boys Basketball: 14-6; Girls Basketball: 11-9; Gymnastics: 6-4; Hockey: 5-14-1; Boys Winter Track: 8-0, Hockomock League Champs and 2nd place at the Massachusetts State meet; Girls Winter Track: 5-3; Boys Swimming: 9-1; Girls Swimming: 9-0, Hockomock League Champs; Wrestling: 13-6, Division 2 South Sectional Champs.
           In addition, Robert Vaughn ('06) recently signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. During his four years as a starter at strong safety for the University of Connecticut Huskies, Vaughn totaled 14 career interceptions and was named Big East defensive player of the week for his two-interception effort versus Pittsburgh as a senior.

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

Alumni News and Announcements

---1960s---

Bruce Brockway ('62) & Cheryl (Cheetham '65) Brockway recently relocated from Old Town, Maine to Brewster, Massachusetts. Bruce is semi-retired, working part time as a Forestry Analyst for the James W. Sewall Company in Old Town. Bruce & Cheryl would love to hear from other NAHS grads living on the Cape. Their email address is bbrockw62@comcast.net
John Robitaille ('66) and a Providence College alum, is running for governor of the State of Rhode Island. While at NAHS, John was both Sophomore and Senior Class President, as well as captain of the track team and President of the Student Council. He may be the first NAHS alum to run for governor of a state! His website is www.JohnforGovernor.com.

---1970s---

Paul Hawkins ('76) has currently retired from his business development firm and as a professional choral singer. He's now living just a short distance from Toronto in Ontario, Canada. He continues to be active in his community as an advisor to his local United Way and sing with his church choir and his area community chorus.

---1990s---

           Dan Patnaude ('91) received his PhD in Physics from Dartmouth College (in 2005) and now works for the Smithsonian as an astrophysicist. In 2009, Dan had a NASA press release where he measured the expansion of an exploded star. The press release is here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/news/09-001.html
           Jennifer Hodgdon Handy ('93) and Jesse Handy welcomed their son, Justice Cole, to the world on Monday November 9, 2009. Justice was anxious to arrive and decided to make his entrance 3 weeks early; mother and son were both healthy and happy. Jennifer and her family live in San Diego, CA.
           The Class of 1995 is planning their 15 year reunion! The reunion will be held the weekend of Thanksgiving . . . Details coming soon! For more information, check out their Facebook page!
           Megan Bronson ('95) was recently married April 17, 2010 to Andy Lehman. They are currently residing in New Orleans.
           Mike Chapman ('95), and his wife Julie, welcomed their second child Will on March 22nd. Everyone is doing great. Will's big brother Brady has been doing an awesome job showing him the ropes.
           Marc LaFleur ('95) is getting married on May 30th.
           Todd Patterson ('95) and his wife welcomed a baby girl in June of 2009 named Savannah Marie Patterson.
           Jenna (Manni) DeCecco ('95) and her husband Mark welcomed their second son, Brayden Philip on January 12, 2010. Her oldest son, Nicholas celebrated his third birthday this past November. Jenna currently works in Human Resources at Jordan's Furniture and resides in Cumberland, RI.
           Laura (Sousa) Fontaine ('95) and her husband James will be celebrating their one year anniversary on May 2nd and are expecting their first child in June. Laura currently works as an Account Services Manager at Cramer Productions in Norwood, Ma and is a wedding / portrait photographer. She resides in North Attleboro.
           Mark Murphy ('95) was recently married to Christi Gorelli on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at her parent’s restaurant 1844 in Leechburg, PA. After the wedding, the couple had a mini-moon trip to upstate New York and plan on traveling to Spain in 2010. To see pictures from their wedding check out their blog: http://www.facebook.com/l/996cf;murforelli.blogspot.com/. Mark is a producer at Cramer Productions in Norwood and Christi is an Art Director for a local Boston company. The couple currently resides in Roslindale.
           Rob Tryon ('95) is in his tenth year in the U.S. Navy serving as a Surface Warfare Officer; currently stationed in Washington D.C.
           Lori (Napoleone) McPartlin ('95) is currently job hunting in the Boston area. She just graduated from Cornell with a PhD in Reproductive Physiology; she is currently teaching at Ithaca College. Lori and her husband just welcomed their first baby, Alexa Carmella McPartlin, on Jan 11th 2010.
           Gina (Carioggia) Szigety ('96) and her husband Mark welcomed their first child, Luke Daniel Szigety, on January 31, 2010. Everyone is doing well and Gina has decided to take some time off from her financial and estate planning career to spend time with Luke in his early years.

---2000s---

Elisabeth Weber ('00) graduated from Roger Williams Law School in May 2009, and passed the State Bar Exam in both MA and RI. She and Jeffrey Lumb will be married June 19th 2010, and will reside in RI.
Jaclyn Sexton ('01) will graduate from Notre Dame Law School with honors on May 16, 2010. Jaclyn is now in the process of moving back to North Attleboro and plans to take the Massachusetts State Bar Exam this July.

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.

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