WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 NAHANT NOT SCHOOL STANDING ROCKS Johnson Elementary was inspired by SWIM book By Bridget Turcotte PAT ITEM STAFF NAHANT — Nahant rocks. Lynn superintendent wants The Johnson Elementary School had its in- augural rock fair Tuesday morning, inspired by to improve district achievement the rocks and other natural materials that can be found in the student’s own backyards. (This is the second in a “I live on a bunch of rocks,” said Nola Conley, three-part series focusing 10, who added that there is so much she never on Superintendent Dr. Pat- knew about them. rick Tutwiler’s goals for this “There’s like 700 kinds of rocks,” she said. school year.) Like many other students, Conley’s favorite part of the day was creating her own fossil out of By Gayla Cawley plaster and shells. The plaster will harden over- ITEM STAFF night and the students will take them home on LYNN — School Superin- Wednesday. tendent Dr. Patrick Tutwil- The rock fair was inspired by a book detailing er plans to address social the many rocks found on the peninsula. and emotional learning, “The Rocks of Nahant and How to Become a overcrowding at the middle Rock Detective” was created by Nahant Safer school level and explore ways Waters in Massachusetts, Inc., an organization to increase diversity in the focused on protecting the waters around Nahant teaching force as part of his from pollution by implementing environmental district improvement goals. NAHANT, A3 Tutwiler and district lead- ership are also working to compile a multi-year district strategic plan for the Lynn Public Schools. Tutwiler and Deputy Su- perintendent Debra Ruggi- ero recently sat down with The Item to outline some strategies for meeting those goals this school year. Social Emotional Learning This year, Tutwiler is work- ing to develop or identify a comprehensive pre-K through fth grade social and emotion- al learning curriculum and related professional develop- ment, intending to implement cracks if all grade levels were “This is more a re ection of them next school year. Dr. The strategy is to start tackled at once. Patrick a philosophy and a core belief with the elementary level Another reason to start at Tutwiler that if students’ social and and then extend that curric- the lower grade levels is that has set emotional needs aren’t being ulum, once developed, into social and emotional needs goals met and if they aren’t being the middle and high school can be caught and dealt with for Lynn taught the skills around resil- levels. With such a large dis- early on with students, mak- schools. ience, around healthy inter- trict, Ruggiero said admin- ing them more successful in action, healthy relationships, istrative of cials felt some- later grades, according to thing would fall through the Ruggiero. TUTWILER, A2 INSIDE Saugus Sports Food ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Annual tree lighting Spartans hockey Try some of to brighten town on aims for another Rosalie’s corn David Foster studies his favorite rock Friday night. A2 Super 8. B1 pudding. B8 that can be found in Nahant, a piece of Making the limestone, before drawing it. holidays work when you’re Peabody out of work family bears By Thomas Grillo ITEM STAFF Finding yourself unemployed is never good easy, and it’s especially stressful during the holidays. Job loss means shortages in budgets and cheer happiness. It’s a time of uncertainty, fear, By Thomas Grillo and guilt. Having a merry Christmas can ITEM STAFF be nothing short of impossible. Item Santa heard from several families Don’t call her Mrs. who are struggling to buy presents for PHOTO | A.J. KIERSTEAD Claus, but the title might their children as breadwinners seek work. Some of the lmmakers who worked on Karla Mejia’s “Dear Introvert” are, t . “After nearly 19 years, my husband lost from left, Felix Gualtieri, Mejia, Sharleny Gonzalez and Rauliz Paez. The On Christmas Eve, Mi- his job and factory work is scarce since Lynn residents, all sophomores in Raw Art Works’ Real to Reel program, chelle Ayles and her two another nearby manufacturing company participated in the Boston International Kids Film Festival. children will distribute also closed its doors,” the letter said. “I’m hundreds of teddy bears asking for a little Christmas help this year to patients at Boston’s for my 3-year-old daughter and 7-year-old Children’s Hospital. son. They don’t need much. Just to wake RAW talent is recognized “I wanted my kids to up to see a few presents which, sadly, we know Christmas is not LYNN — Raw Art Works received the Peg- giving them the tools to create in unexpected can’t afford.” about what you get under While the state’s unemployment rate gy Charren Award for Excellence during the ways, and envision new possibilities for their the tree,” she said. “It’s was 3.5 percent in October, the most re- Boston International Kids Film Festival, future. about what you give oth- cent data available, and has been below 4 held Nov. 16-18 at the Somerville Theatre. The late Peggy Charren, of Cambridge, con- ers.” percent for nearly three years, indicating Five student lmmakers from RAW’s Real to cerned over the poor selection of children’s The drive was launched a healthy economy, the statistic isn’t much Reel program had their short documentaries educational programming and child-target- ve years ago after Ayles solace to someone who is out of work. screened during the festival. ed commercials, worked tirelessly to achieve had a conversation with “Holidays are always tough, but this Located in Lynn, RAW offers a variety of quality and diversity in children’s television her neighbor’s nephew, year is quite challenging,” the letter said. free programming from painting to lmmak- and organized the parents in her community Joey. The 6-year-old suffers ing, for kids ages 7-19. RAW uses art to ask to create the advocacy group Action for Chil- ITEM SANTA, A3 kids “what is really going on” in their lives, dren’s Television. CHEER, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 ENTERTAINMENT .......................A7 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 44° VOL. 140, ISSUE 286 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 34° POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 FOOD ........................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 OBITUARIES Barbara A. Giguere, 73 Annual tree lighting to brighten LYNN — Barba- of Lynn, and Keith up Saugus Center on Friday night ra Ann (Burgess) Giguere and his wife Giguere, age 73, of Stacey (Hasseman) By Bridget Turcotte to meet with Santa Claus, and festivities gets bigger port of residents and local Lynn, died peacefully and their children ITEM STAFF there will be a petting zoo, and more magical than businesses, he said. a bounce house, hot choc- ever, thanks to the count- The tree lighting will after a brief illness, Nathaniel and Molly SAUGUS — Residents olate, cookies, entertain- less hours of preparation with her loving family of Georgetown. She young and old will gather take place at 7 p.m., and ment, hayrides, story time, at her side, at the Ka- also enjoyed her time to watch the tallest tree in and setup by volunteers, the evening will conclude plan Family Hospice with her “4-Legged” the town’s center light up a trackless train ride, and the Department of Youth by 8:30 p.m. House, Danvers. She daughter Shilah, who Friday night. much more. and Recreation, the De- For more information, was the wife of James provided her years The town’s annual tree “This is one of our town’s partment of Public Works, contact Crabtree’s of ce at Giguere, with whom she shared of comfort and love. Barba- lighting and festivities most unforgettable annu- the Building Maintenance 781-231-4111. 54 years of marriage. ra is also survived by several will light up Saugus Cen- al events, so I hope to see Department, and many A lifelong resident of Lynn, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, ter in front of Saugus you all there,” said Town other municipal employ- Bridget Turcotte can be she was the daughter of the and nieces and nephews. She Town Hall, beginning at 5 Manager Scott Crabtree ees, said Crabtree. reached at bturcotte@item- late John H. and Ethel R. was the sister of the late Jo- p.m. in a statement. The event would not be live.com. Follow her on (Shaw) Burgess Sr. She at- anne Thomas, John Burgess In addition to the chance Each year, the ceremony possible without the sup- Twitter @BridgetTurcotte. tended Lynn schools and was Jr., and Michael Burgess. a graduate of Lynn Classical Service information: Me- High School, Class of 1963. morial visitation will be held Barbara had worked for on Sunday from 10 a.m. to House Democrat says panel more than 40 years as a ca- 2 p.m. in the SOLIMINE Fu- shier at Star Market and Shaws neral Home, 426 Broadway Supermarkets in Swampscott (Route 129), Lynn, with a me- and Lynn. She was a member morial service being held at will revisit taxes, infrastructure of the Salem Planet Fitness, 1 p.m. Relatives and friends where she started most of her are respectfully invited to By Bob Salsberg days with a little exercise and attend. In lieu of owers ASSOCIATED PRESS fellowship with friends. She donations may be made to and Jim always enjoyed vaca- St. Jude Children’s Research BOSTON — The Dem- tioning on the Cape and North Hospital, 501 St.