NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

May Edition

ISSUE NO. 4 CAPSTONE UPDATE COT-9 SUSTAINABILITY DEERING HIGH ORIGINAL WHAT PROJECTS ARE FRESHMEN BUILD PRODUCTION 75 SENIORS DOING? SOLAR RECHARGING DEERING PRODUCES STATIONS FOR IPADS! THEATER WITH A MESSAGE. CLOCKTOWER

During WINN, more than thirty students participated in a A partnership with the Telling Rube Goldberg Challenge. Students worked twice a week Room sparks young writers’ throughout the quarter to design simple machines with at confidence, so they too can least 6 energy transfers that would end with the ringing of a bell. For our culminating event, 5th graders from share their story! Longfellow visited the lab and served as judges as each team demonstrated their machine.

!1 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

Dear Clocktower Reader, Every year the Deering faculty has the opportunity to vote to select the From Principal recipient of the Walter E. Russell award for excellence in teaching. This annual Waltz award was initiated by the University of Southern Maine to recognize a teacher who demonstrates a firm commitment to the profession, the ability to share a love for learning, an intimate involvement in the ongoing life and activities of Deering, and creative self-renewal to teaching. Mary Ann Brown was selected by her colleagues to receive the award for 2016, and I would like to share some of the comments made by her peers in support of her nomination. ‘Mary Ann has been a dedicated member of the faculty for 15 years. She is one of the first to arrive and frequently one of the last to leave the building. She is a conscientious teacher who works daily with students before school, sets high standards, and makes math engaging. She stepped up as advisor for Future Teachers in 2009 when a beloved colleague passed away, and even donated her stipend to his family. Mary Ann Brown is an all round asset to Deering High School: teacher, colleague, mentor, and friend’. Below is the speech Mary Ann gave at the recent National Honor Society induction ceremony: “I was very honored to have been nominated for the Walter E. Russell Award for excellence in teaching. Becoming a teacher is something I hoped to do from the tender age of five and from the age of twelve I knew that I wanted to be a mathematics teacher. Luckily, I had five younger siblings to practice on. It has been a very rewarding career to say the least. Being selected by my peers is an extremely meaningful and humbling experience for several reasons. My first is that I am a graduate of both Deering and the University of Southern Maine. Walter E. Russell was the second president of the USM and the performing arts building on the Gorham campus bears his name. My history with Deering extends beyond being a student and a teacher here as both of my children are also graduates of Deering. This affords me the distinct honor of knowing almost every person who has received this award before me. The first person named was Catherine Joyce in 1976 who happened to be my favorite English teacher whom I stayed in touch with for many years. She nurtured my love for reading and introduced me to the works of Jane Austen. We all should have a teacher like her and I know most of you are probably thinking back and thinking of that person you will always remember. I have the greatest respect for every teacher who has earned this great honor and privileged to work with many during my 15 years at Deering High School. Congratulations to all of you here tonight being inducted into the National Honor Society. You have worked hard to get here. I feel very blessed to know and to have had the privilege of teaching many of you. What you may not know is that I have also learned a lot from you. Some of you are graduating this year and entering a new chapter of your life. I wish you luck and to know the joy of being a life-long learner. Always remember to follow your dreams.”

Respectfully,

Ira

!2 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

DEERING CAPSTONES

This spring some 75 Deering seniors will end their high school careers by completing a Capstone project they have designed themselves. Instead of coming to Deering itself between May 23 and June 3, eligible seniors will be completing service projects, job shadows, investigations into topics they are passionate about, and learning outside of the regular classroom environment. This marks the third year that groups of Deering seniors have participated in the Capstone process, something the Portland school committee has mandated for the class of 2018. All seniors involved commit to spending at least the equivalent amount of classroom seat time working on their project, and to making a final presentation of their learning on Tuesday June 7, just two days before graduation. In previous years, seniors have been involved in service projects with with the Preble Street soup kitchen, Portland Trails, and Habitat for Humanity, among others. They have job shadowed with nutritionists at the University of New England, teachers at St Brigid’s School, local law firms, Channel 8, and Greg Tosi, Deering’s own athletic trainer. They have painted a mural on the wall of the cafeteria, built a dirt bike engine, monitored deer tracks and habitats, and directed a musical revue. This year’s crop of seniors are involved in similarly diverse and fascinating endeavors. Justin Cheng, whose long term goals involve electrical engineering, will be gaining hands-on experience by building a quadcopter drone under the mentorship of Mr. Jeff Borland. Halima Noor and Ahmed Ali are going to investigate Maine’s criminal justice system for juveniles, while five Khmer speakers (Janet Heng, Lili Kien, Amber Heak, Pisey Chhorn, and Anna Thach) will be working with Cambodian students at Hall Elementary School to guide them in their english language learning, a subject that’s close to their hearts. One project that caught my eye is being conducted by Mitchell York, Isaac Finberg, and Tommy Nguyen. The three of them want to explore Physics further than they have been able to do at school by building a working model of the Laser Interterometer Gravitional-Wave observatory, to investigate what gravitational waves are and how they work (see diagram below). They believe this will help to prepare them for the subjects they will be studying in college next year. Katy Cyr has also created another totally self- directed project that will develop her knowledge of potential medical careers, involving job shadows at Mercy Hospital and volunteer work at Partners for World Health. We wish all seniors involved a wonderful learning experience. ~Andrew Gordon

!3 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER COT-9 UPDATE! The Deering Freshmen class has “taken action” on reducing Deering’s energy usage! After an inspirational kick-off event on March 23rd with environmental sustainability experts, the class was ready and energized to tackle the issue of Deering’s carbon footprint on both a personal and large scale level. Students engaged with representatives from EcoMaine, ReVision Energy, Maine Energy Marketers Alliance, Maine Clean Communities Coalition, the SOAP group, the Green Alliance,Net-zero homes, Portland Water District, Garbage to Garden, and the founding member of the youth activist organization, “First Here, Then Everywhere”. The panelists discussed their careers, the work of their businesses or group, their passion to conserve and protect the environment, and what students can do to help the environment.

The following week the entire class traveled to Bowdoin College to tour and learn about the innovative steps to energy conservation and efficiency the college is taking to reach carbon neutrality by 2020. At each station, the students took pictures and asked questions of the Bowdoin Environmental Studies program student tour guides. Deering students learned about Bowdoin’s solar power usage, green roof design, co-generation heating as well as the geo-thermal heating, composting and recycling programs.

Finally on April 6th, it was the students turn to “take action”, and they got busy on their first “Class of 2019 Build Day!” Every student was working on either building rooftop solar powered charging stations or portable Altoid tin iPad/cellphone chargers, designing and creating the covers for the portable chargers or creating an environmental banner with activist artists from the Beehive Design Collective. Using concepts from science, math, social studies and English, the students created political cartoons and wrote letters to the editor on the issues of environmental sustainability and global warming, designed and created three 100 watt solar panels which will be installed on the Deering High School’s roof and over sixty portable iPad chargers for classrooms. Soon all Deering students will be able to charge their phones and iPads using solar energy, thereby reducing Deering’s carbon footprint!

!4 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER Three Deering sophomores, Fadumo Adan, Arlo Farr-Weinfeld, and MERRICONEAG POETRY Alexander Fitzgerald, are finalists in the ninth annual Merriconeag Poetry Festival! These students' poems were selected from student submissions from FESTIVAL FINALISTS! Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and Androscoggin counties. Only twenty total poems were chosen for the event. This year's judge is nationally-known poet Rachel Contreni-Flynn, who will announce the first, second, and third prize To the Dreaming Kid winners of the contest at the festival on Sunday, May 1st. By Arlo Farr-Weinfeld All three students expressed feelings of surprise about having their poems Halloween-themed shirts from Goodwill selected. "I feel lucky and also proud of kid you're a tiger creepin’ in the crabgrass myself," added Alex Fitzgerald, "I am out back really impressed and really proud that hair’s on fire you crawl through the three Deering students out of the cashmere jungle of your grandmother’s twenty were selected as finalists for the finest getup in her big old closet festival." Shana Genre, the students' Creative mismatched kid--you pick your outfits Writing teacher, welcomes this happy for yourself stand on tiptoes to reach news. "I am so excited that these the highest shelf borrow Mommy’s cross students will be honored at the on a silver chain you don't know who festival," she explains. "It has been a Jesus pleasure to work with them and watch is but he sure looks pretty their creative voices develop." Arlo and Fadumo will read their scribble kid--scratching ink on paper poems at the May event, where gift for hours someday you'll wish you kept certificates of up to $100 will be those Eons awarded to festival finalists. Stay tuned notebooks of stories and pictures By Alexander Fitzgerald about any news regarding festival winners! epic tales spanning farther than you can The clock strikes step and longer than you've been alive one in the morning cover your ears kid--sing yourself to By way of a clap of thunder. I have The Doll sleep kid you won't remember the Never shared this place By Fadumo Adan yelling when you're older but you'll Before. certainly remember the songs I am pulled from our room as Her rough hair shook violently We are pulled to the storm, through the wind. The dying flowers wrapped around her head, summer kid--sit on the pavement but not Bed-warm toes too as if they were sucking the life out of sticky on wooden tile long ‘cause it's hot and you have her. bare feet use pebbles to scratch Summer thunderstorm messages on the tar Kisses the windows Her eyes closed slightly and seemed to Around the patio be in another life. Her damp clothing potion making kids--six year-old The rain graces the house stitched to her skin, alchemists My grandfather built as she regained her consciousness, the ropes mashing Jerusalem artichoke and mint He must have used making a pretend poultice to heal dragged her body. Wood that he knew a pretend wound Summer would love. She was an old, battered up doll, kid you're a dreamer--you build webs Because who was buried beneath banana peels, in your room weaving birthday The storm does not hit the house and half empty soda cans. balloons, ribbons, and scarves, But sits beside it Her exterior was sticky, a piece of draping them over the doorknob and tying After watching chewed gum was attached to her hand. neat The pine trees beam at the bows till Mommy can't get in wait She could see a small opening at the Dark clouds for flies on the rug top of her prison, but as she tried to get they never come That bring welcoming rain up her ropes snapped in half, and her After watching fate was sealed. keep drawing and reading and singing and The water dance across the surface writing kid--when you can't keep Of the lake She decided it was time, your head up you can go back to I become the water and she closed her eyes with one last glance the cloud covered kingdom dream you can and you become the storm. fly paint at the exit of the bottomless pit. epics on your skin carve trenches Lying on the couch, and scream loud enough to call I watch the lightning reach the ceiling She took out her batteries and she was lightning down to meet your open palm And I watch you gone. !5 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER UNIFIED BASKETBALL

interacting as teammates in school is what the sport is all Last year, the Maine Principals Association and about. We also had a unified cheering squad for home Special Olympics Maine teamed up to create a new games, which really added to the atmosphere. competitive, yet developmentally focused, sport for Everyone in the school talked about the team. Maine’s student-athletes. The sport is Unified basketball, This team caught fire in the school and community. Our and it’s taken Maine by storm. In its first season, Maine’s student body has been so supportive of the program and high schools produced 16 teams across the state, and every our players always love playing in front of their home team competed for the Gold Ball at the end of the season. crowd. It’s been a great experience for everyone.” This year, the number of teams doubled to 32 (16 in the After finishing as the #3 seed in the South, south, and 16 in the north), and one of those new teams is a Deering/Portland won three playoff games in a row to co-op team from Deering and Portland high schools. advance to the Southern Maine Championship game The Deering/Portland team pulled students from against last year’s State Runner-up, Lisbon High School. both high schools to form a unified co-ed team to Deering/Portland lost a hard-fought game and were represent Portland Public Schools. The results were named the South Regional Runners-Up in their very first nothing short of awe-inspiring. The team completed its season. It was truly a season to remember. inaugural regular season with a record of 4-4, which was good enough to place third (out of 16 teams) in the Heal point standings for the South region. Incredibly, every Student Coach: Patrick Unified Cheering Team: game was decided by three points or less (except for one Uwamahoro Emma Morris overtime loss, which was decided by five points). Coaches: Miles Bisher, Chris Yasmine Ben Malek When asked about what the team means for the Hazelton, Adam Perron Sophie Episcopo players and community, Coach Miles Bisher said: Cassi Bigelman “We all knew it would be an exciting opportunity Unified Basketball Players: Sophia Borie Nate Murray Lauren Nadeau to make our schools inclusive in the area of athletics, as Malakai Green Shayla Skinner well as academics. As soon as we mentioned the team to Jimmy Dang Britta Kimana our athletes they were eager to participate and put on Isabelle Stehli Dana Chabot their school colors like their peers have done for years. Samuel Garcia Orellana Elsa Heisler This season was all about inclusivity and getting the two Gianna Gaudet Maelle Tati-Pambou Joe Pelletier Katie Truong student bodies to come out and support this team like Erick Molina Olivia Vail they would any other. Camden Ryan The fact that we have a co-op team really Christian Perez embodies the spirit of the sport, and I know our team has Nate Hall become a point of pride for not only our players, but our Jarod Santiago schools, the district, and the city as well. To see our Matt Mikkelsen partners and athletes working together on the court and !6 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

Deering High School Students the genesis Presents “It Could Happen To to sex You” an original trafficking production in partnership with and the Center, where she quickly realized Stop Trafficking ME precursor for many other behaviors that the sexual abuse and sex later in life such as teen suicide, trafficking that claimed her life 35 PORTLAND, ME - (May 3, 2016) - drug and alcohol abuse, violent years ago childhood was Stop Trafficking ME and the actions, school drop outs, and unbelievably still going on in talented students are Deering High incarceration. Join Stop Trafficking Maine. Following this experience, School are proud to present an ME, for the first in a series of armed with her i-phone and the original production titled “It Could proposed student-productions to unwavering support of her family, Happen To You.” help reach the 1.3 million people in friends and husband, Catherine Under the brilliant Maine. was inspired to create Stop direction of teacher Kathleen Results of the 2015 Maine Trafficking ME. Catherine’s dream Harris, Deering students will write, Human Trafficking Needs is to produce public service produce, and perform an original Assessment, conducted by Hornby announcements to educate the 1.3 production titled “It Could Happen Zeller Associates, indicate that million people of Maine that sexual To You.” The production will debut between 200-300 people are victims exploitation of children and teens is on May 3, 2016 at 6:30 pm in the of sex trafficking in Maine annually. happening across all social classes Deering High School auditorium. Catherine Mossman, a survivor and and ethnicities. Catherine hopes to Following the production, Executive Director of Stop ignite a fire within Maine by using Homeland Security Officer Peter Trafficking ME, believes that most our own high schools and their DiMarzio, Cumberland County people in Maine simply do not stories, filming stories from District Attorney Christine know what is happening. The Maine residents, and producing Thibeault, Gia Drew of Equality mission of Stop Trafficking ME is to public service announcements. Maine, Beth Peavey from Longcreek reach the 1.3 million people in Juvenile Detention Center and Maine, and educate the community The Cast survivor Catherine Mossman will on how to prevent child sexual The Deering student performers lead a discussion with the audience. abuse and stop sex trafficking in are: This impressive panel will address Maine. Abigail DeLuca how the Maine community can Alexander Fitzgerald continue to work together to end About Stop Trafficking ME Amanuel Halefom the horror of child sex abuse that As a survivor, Catherine Amy Isaro leads to trafficking. Mossman started Stop Trafficking Mary Kadhim “This production will serve ME, a 501c3 non-profit organization Emmanuel Lam as a model for training students to whose ultimate goal is to eliminate Josiah Melanson be a resource for their peers and the sexual exploitation and Dylantha Musonerwa communities, by giving them the trafficking of children in Esperance Mwiza knowledge and tools needed to Maine. Catherine believes that Kennie-Maeva Ndayishimiye help educate and raise awareness to most people in Maine simply do Gracia Ruganza help prevent sexual exploitation not know what is happening. Ismael Solo and trafficking in Maine,” says Shortly after moving back to Maine Dorcas Uwase Mossman. 12 years ago, Catherine felt a calling Grace Uwimana The production covers the to show others how she survived Janallie Veras story and timeline of how and began volunteering at childhood sexual assault is often Longcreek Youth Development

!7 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER ISSN ISSN SITE REVIEW REPORT During the first week of May, a team of six educators will be visiting our school to identify our strengths and areas for improvement. They are from the International Studies Schools Network (ISSN), an organization that Deering has belonged to for the past three years, thanks to a generous Nellie Mae Education Foundation grant (Pathways to Success). Our visitors will observe over fifty classes. They will also conduct more than twenty focus groups and interviews with teachers, students, parents, external partners and school district personnel. ISSN examines each of its 34 schools through the same lens: The School Design Matrix (Curriculum, Assessment & Instruction, Student Learning Outcomes, School Organization & Governance, Mission, Vision & Culture, Professional Learning and Partnerships). Each ISSN school is different but share a similar, rigorous focus on global competence. We look forward to their visit and their observations! They will share their findings with our school community before the end of the school year.

For more information about ISSN, please visit http://asiasociety.org/ international-studies-schools-network/about. For more information about our work at Deering, please go to http://blogs.portlandschools.org/ issn/. MODEL U.N.

MODEL U.N. This year, Deering's Model United Nations club has been offered as an Extended Learning Opportunity through WINN and, thanks to the exposure to MUN through the sophomore Global Issues course, we currently have 24 very strong delegates. Deering will be representing the countries of Egypt, Italy and Suriname across 6 UN committees at the annual Maine Model United Nations Convention on May 18, 19, 20, held at the USM Gorham campus. This year's topics include Refugee Migration from the Middle East, Russian Aggression, the Situation in Syria, Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Objects, Food Security and Women's Reproductive Rights, among others. Delegates spend days (and sometimes nights) in session, negotiating with students across New England on some of the most complex issues facing our world. Wish them luck!

!8 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER NEWS FROM GUIDANCE

The Guidance department has had a busy beginning to the spring semester. We were privileged to host two evening presentations featuring experts in the field of test prep and financial aid. Eric Johnson (M.S., LCPC), founder of Test Prep Services, gave a presentation on February 11 containing very useful tips on the new SAT. Mr. Johnson emphasized that the SAT is a test that students can do much better on if they practice over time. We also hosted Bill Smith, Managing Director of ScholarFITS on February 25, who gave an insightful presentation on early awareness of financial aid for freshmen and sophomores. School Counselors held workshops every Tuesday night in January. In order to accommodate the tight schedules of our students and families, we presented two workshops – one on the new SAT and the other on the college choice process – and each workshop was presented on two nights. Families were able to attend the presentation about the new SAT on the evening of January 5th or January 19th, and the workshop about the college choice process on January 12th or January 26th. Registration for courses in the 2016-2017 school year is fast approaching, with students beginning to sign up for courses on March 9th. Deering will feature many new courses next year, including TWO new Advanced Placement courses. To read more about these new courses, families should go to the DHS Website, then For Students, then Course Catalog 2016-2017 or go to http://bit.ly/1TFUP5N. School Counselors will be available during WINN to discuss 4-year plans and questions about what courses students should be taking.

New Courses *AP Comparative Government & Politics will be a semester course open to juniors and seniors. The course uses a comparative approach to examine the political structures; policies; and the political, economic, and social challenges among six selected countries: Great Britain, Mexico, Russia, Iran, China, and Nigeria. Additionally, students examine how different governments solve similar problems by comparing the effectiveness of approaches to many global issues. *AP Human Geography will be open to all grades, and introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. *In addition to the traditional English 12 course, seniors will now be able to take two 1- credit senior English courses to fulfill their senior English requirements. These courses are Funny Business, Debate and World Religions. Students can also take these courses as electives. *Algebra II Yearlong will serve as a great option for students who need extra time and support to build their foundation skills in the subject. This will be especially useful for students as they gain the math skills used for standardized tests like the SAT. Algebra II (semester) and Honors Algebra II will still be offered. *SketchUp, a 1-credit technology course, will be offered. SketchUp is a 3D modeling program for applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design. *Arabic for Heritage Speakers is designed to develop and strengthen written and oral proficiency in Arabic for students who speak Arabic or have been exposed previously to the study of Arabic. !9 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER NEWS FROM GUIDANCE 2016 Book Awards! Changes to Current Courses *English 11 and English 12 will now have an Brown University Joel C. Kahn Honors Challenge, as opposed to a separate Honors course. An honors designation is earned by College of the Atlantic Evelyn V. Randazzo performance and may include such components as alternative assignments, seminars, summer reading Cornell University Helen R. Bellafiore assignments, independent research and/or public exhibitions that go above and beyond the typical course requirements. The emphasis is not simply on Dartmouth College Zaeda B. Hills “more” work, but on work that is more demanding and complex. Harvard University Alex C. Smith *Reading Enrichment II will change its name to reflect its true aims and will now be College Readiness, a course that focuses on helping Maine College of Art Eilish W. Carpenter students gain specific skills in reading comprehension, sentence skills and on-demand St. Anselm’s College Orey M. Dutton writing. *AMP9 will have its name changed to Accelerated Algebra II Honors (AMP9), and St. Joseph’s College Caleb S. Niles AMP10 will have its name changed to Accelerated Geometry Honors (AMP10). St. Michael’s College Chase A. Walter/Juliana M. *AP Calculus BC and AP Calculus AB will Bart now be full-year courses. In the past, students had taken HR Calculus in the fall and then moved into St. Thomas University Alexandra M. Green the correct AP course in the spring. Smith College Josephen Tifiano *AP Statistics is changing to a semester-long course (as opposed to a 3-quarter course). *AP English Language is changing to a 3- Springfield College Abigail M. Elowitch quarter course (as opposed to a semester course). AP English Language is open to grades 11 and 12, with University of Maine Mohammed N. Shati preference given to those in grades 11. *Honors Physics and Honors Chemistry Wellesley College Caroline E. Hodson feature new prerequisites. For Honors Physics: completion of Earth Science, minimum math requirements are successful completion of or Williams College Cassidy J. Bigelman concurrent enrollment in PreCalculus (HR) (1436) or Accelerated PreCalculus (HR) (1430). For Honors Yale University Katherine E. McCabe Chemistry: completion of Earth Science, Successful completion of Algebra II or Algebra II (HR). *Marine Ecology also features new Phi Beta Kappa Association Jack E. Leddy prerequisites: Completion of Earth Science, Biology of and concurrent enrollment or previous completion Maine Academic of Chemistry or Physics. Achievement Award University of Rochester- Owen S. Ganter Bausch & Lomb Award !10 Rensselaer Math & Science Alex C. Smith Award NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER MR. DEERING

The annual tradition of the Mr. Deering competition continued this year as seven ramtastic guys competed for the title. The fabulous contestants were: Roman Anderson, Blaize Vail, Mitchell York, Paolo DeMarco, Anthony Cavallaro, Salim Salim, and Max Chabot. The components of the competition included an introduction of all of the contestants, formal wear, talent, and a short interview on-stage. Many talents, such as Anthony Cavallaro’s performance of Dangerous Woman (by Ariana Grande), Mitchell York’s impressive freestyle dancing, and Max Chabot and Paolo Demarco’s hilarious rendition of Breaking Free (High School Musical) entertained and wowed the crowd. The short interviews allowed the audience to get to know the contestants a little more.

The esteemed judges were Ms. Toppan, Mr. Dodge, and Ms. Eifferman and they had their work cut out for them! They scored the formal wear, talent, and interview portions out of ten points. The winner was Salim Salim, the first runner up was Anthony Cavallaro, and the second runner up was Mitchell York. Salim was crowned and won a ten dollar gift card to the Quality Shop. The top three each received a rose for placing in the competition. While only the top three were recognized for placement, all of these guys showed their heart and true ram spirit! This event served as a fundraiser for the senior class and raised about $350

!11 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

STUDENT ACCOLADES

Sahra Ahmed wasn't sure which high school she would choose four years ago. She wasn't very excited about high school and admits to being uncommitted to the entire process. She finally decided on Deering because of the four block schedule. Little did she know that decision would set her on a journey of discovery and a life career choice by her sophomore year. She remembers her excitement at joining the debate club and decided in 9th grade she would be a lawyer. Then, in 10th grade, she was introduced to biology and then chemistry and she was hooked. She knew then she wanted to study biology and neuroscience after high school and ultimately become a doctor. Sahra is the second oldest of her siblings and is proud to set the tone, so to speak, for her younger sisters. She feels a responsibility to them and sets out to show the significance of not only an education but in active participation in your community. Sahra is the student representative from Deering High School on the Portland Public School Board where she attends meetings that go into the late hours of the night. During these meetings she and school board members discuss, debate and ultimately make decisions on educational policy for all schools, K-12 in the district. She has been an impressive member of our Debate Team, Model UN, Student Senate, and Robotics Club. Her favorite activity is collecting data for storm water research. Besides visiting sites throughout Portland with other Deering students and cataloging the levels of contaminants in water samples Sahra is most proud that the information she helps collect is submitted to the City of Portland, who uses the information to implement safety measures for Portland's citizens and wildlife. Sahra accepts the Maine Principals' Association award with gratitude and respectfully thanks guidance counselors Ms. Polk and Mrs. Moore for all their help over the years, Mr. Waltz, for his kindness and consideration, and Dr. Ahmed, who she smilingly describes as "a second father to me". We at Deering are very pleased Sahra chose us as her high school. We are equally proud to award Sahra Ahmed with the Maine Principals' Association award and wish her success in all her endeavors.

!12 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

ART & MUSIC Operation Proud Nation Along with students from across the country, Deering NEWS students have partnered with the S.N.A.P.(share, nurture,act, preserve) organization to communicate an important message through art. OPERATION PROUD NATION is a national initiative for students, families, active duty military and veterans to show appreciation for our nation's brave heroes in a mosaic mural on display at the Pentagon. Over 50 Deering art students took part in the project and their work is an integral part of the mural. We are very proud of our students for taking action to express their own unique perspective on military service. Each student created an 8.5”x11” artwork and attached a message thanking members of the military for their service and sacrifice. For more information on this project, go to http://projectsnap.org/opn2016/

Left: Vianca Espinosa

Right: Brianna McCann

Portland Public Schools Art Exhibit The 2016 Portland Public Schools Art Exhibit opening on April 28 was a huge success, with lots of inspiring artwork to see and beautiful music to hear- a real feast for the senses! The show continues at Portland City Hall through May 18. Don’t miss it! Here are some student artists shown with their work. Congratulations to all Deering Artists!

Left to Right: Chanta Robinson, Alex Rubin, Claire Christopher, and Mckenzie O’Donnell

!13 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

ART & MUSIC NEWS

CUT OUT THE DARKNESS Earlier this year, Deering art students were inspired by a project developed by Japanese company, Panasonic, called “Cut Out The Darkness”. Panasonic invited Papercut artists from around the world to design lanterns that could be mass produced with solar LED lights to send to at least 100 thousand of the 1.2 billion people around the world who still live without electrical light. Many of our students were surprised to learn that there are so many people in the world that live without access to electricity. We researched the effects of a lack of electricity, more specifically electrical light, on everyday life. We found that for many people, the work day ends when the sun goes down. Without light, children can not do homework, farming families can not create the goods that make it possible to supplement their income, and it’s difficult for communities and families to get together and enjoy their time together in the evenings. Many people rely on the burning of wood or kerosene for light. About 1.9 million people are killed each year because of smoke. Our art students were inspired to create work that would raise awareness of this issue. We asked ourselves, with only one source of light what image would people want to see to help “cut out the darkness?” Students created four panels with uplifting imagery and used transparent colorful paper and lights to illuminate. The beautiful and inspiring lanterns are currently on display at City Hall. You can see them during City Hall hours from April 28th to May 18th. You can find out more about Panasonic’s 100 Thousand Solar Lantern project here: http:// panasonic.net/sustainability/en/lantern/cotd/

!14 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER

ART & MUSIC NEWS

Owen Ganter performing the Boccherini Cello Concerto with the high school orchestra at our recent All-City Concert

“Cooking to Beat the Band,” a cookbook created by some Deering High School Band parents in the 1940s, successfully raised enough money to buy new band uniforms at that time. Now the historic cookbook has been reprised with both old and new recipes and is on sale once again. The proceeds will benefit Deering’s music program today, which includes band, chorus and a handbell choir. “The Deering music program is now ready to present this awesome cookbook to the public as a current fundraiser,” said Gil Peltola, Deering’s music director. He said the school is accepting pre-orders of the book, which will be available on June 1, 2016. The cookbook costs $15. Peltola explained that in the late 1940s, “the Band Mothers Club of Deering High School put together a cookbook called, ‘Cooking to Beat the Band.’ This was a fundraiser for the music program. Two-hundred pages of recipes and many ads from businesses at the time were included in this cookbook. It was a great success. After receiving two copies from former band members, I thought it would be a great idea to reprint the original cookbook and add a new section with recipes from current teachers, students and parents and renewed ads from companies that are still in business.” Sophia Morin, a DHS senior, was one of those playing an important role in reprising the cookbook. “Recreating this cookbook is part of my Senior Capstone Project,” Sophia said. “In addition to helping with the reconstruction, I was responsible for reaching out to new and previous ad donors. I plan to present the cookbook along with my full project in the beginning of June. The proceeds will go back into the music program, one whose funding has increasingly been cut throughout the district. Music has been an enormous influence throughout all my years in school and I couldn't imagine where I would be without that influence today.” She added, “We are in contact with the family that originally created the cookbook and the enthusiasm they showed when we told them we were recreating it was something so priceless. The cookbook includes over 200 pages of delicious recipes, old and new.” The new version also will include historic local business advertisements from the 1940s. Order forms also are available at the main office of DHS, located at 370 Stevens Avenue, from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Deering Music Director Gil Peltola at [email protected].

!15 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER JMG JMG Career Development Conference By: Gabriela Legaspi

On March 29th, 2016 some of the Deering JMG students have been juniors and most of the seniors in Miss Scales giving back to the community JMG class went to Thomas College for the throughout the year as well as Career Development Conference (CDC). This building skills to be college and event took all day. We competed in mini career ready! competitions from interviews to public speaking to building a robot. We came in second place for two competitions, the interview and pitch it. CDC was definitely an amazing experience, and one of the great things about CDC was that it was held on a college campus, and for me being a senior transitioning my way towards college, being on a college campus and trying to find my way through the campus was something I needed to experience before actually going to college. I suggest JMG as a class for anyone in high school, and to attend CDC in March, it was very helpful and a great experience.

Gabriela Legaspi and Deborah Mugaju take a break from competition to pose for a picture during the CDC competition. Together they presented to a panel of judges about the events that Deering JMG students have participated in in this year.

!16 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER STEM LAB INVENTIONS!

Deering's STEM lab was a busy place during the third quarter. The robotics team wrapped up a successful season after competing in the state tournament at the end of February. During WINN, more than thirty students participated in a Rube Goldberg Challenge. Students worked twice a week throughout the quarter to design simple machines with at least 6 energy transfers that would end with the ringing of a bell. For our culminating event, 5th graders from Longfellow visited the lab and served as judges as each team demonstrated their machine. The winners of the Monday/Tuesday group were Nolan Cyr, Katy Cyr and Cade Violette. The winners of the Thursday/Friday group were Katie McCabe, Aryz Terlaje and Evelyn Randazzo. In addition to the WINN Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO), more than twenty students have been participating in the SeaPerch project on Wednesday evenings. With the help of volunteer James Hatch from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, students are building underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). This program (funded through a grant from Texas Instruments) provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics (STEM) while building an underwater ROV that they will test out at a local pool. There is still time to sign up for the upcoming WINN ELO: Coffeebots. This fourth quarter experience will allow students the chance to design, build and code their own robot - no experience required. Sign up outside of Mr. LeGage’s room (307).

Top Left Photo:5th graders from Longfellow visit the STEM lab to judge Rube Goldberg machines built during the WINN period.

Middle Photo: Volunteer James Hatch from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard assists Laissa Umutoniwase, Nicole Karekezi, and Esther Mughisha with the soldering needed for their underwater ROV.

Right Photo: Cade Violette, Katy Cry and Nolan Cyr explain to Mr. Johnson’s 5th graders how their Rube Goldberg machine works.

!17 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER SPORTS

!18 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER SPORTS

!19 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER UPCOMING EVENTS

Project Grad! In the early 1980’s Project Graduation originated in Maine in response to the deaths of 18 teenagers in alcohol-related highway crashes around commencement. Seven of the teens were from Oxford Hills High School. Project Graduation is a chem-free overnight party at the Bath YMCA that offers swimming, rock climbing, video gaming, and a host of other activities. There will be a DJ, a photo booth for taking selfies, and performers, such as a hypnotist. Food is provided all night, so graduates can chow down on pizza and sandwiches, ice cream and snacks. This is the one last party for the Class of 2016 to celebrate. The best part is that it doesn’t cost the seniors a penny. The parents of the Class of 2016 are working hard to raise the funds to pay for this. Current and upcoming fundraisers include: To Register Online: https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Portland/ PurpleMadnessawalkrunorrollforDeeringHighProjectGra duation You can contact the committee by emailing: [email protected] Donate on our GoFundMe page: DHS Project Graduation Fundraiser - GoFundMe Find us on : Deering High 2016 Project Graduation

May 9th- As part of the community engagement committee, we are organizing a potluck dinner to take the place of our Open House from 6pm-8pm

May 12th- All-City Orchestra Spring Concert

June 3rd- Last Day for Seniors Thank you to our June 9th- Graduation contributors: If you have Maddie Abbott something you would like June 16th & 17th- Finals Gabriela Legaspi to contribute, we want to Arlo Farr-Weinfeld hear it! Please see Ms. Fadumo Adan Bright or Mr. Gordon to Alexander Fitzgerald get your name in ink! Portland Press Herald

!20 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER TELLING A Writer Residency at Deering with the Telling Room The Telling Room is a nonprofit writing center in ROOM the Old Port, dedicated to the idea that children and young adults are natural storytellers. For the month of March, Telling Room volunteers came into Ms. Toole’s ELL Language Enrichment classroom for a total of twelve sessions to work on an intensive writing curriculum. In these sessions, students worked extensively with writing mentors to write personal narratives about meaningful encounters in their lives. We finished the program with a field trip to the Telling Room. Their writing will be published in a chapbook next month. We will end the school year with a celebration and reading of these stories. This experience with the Telling Room allowed these twelve students to produce powerful writing, express themselves creatively, and support each other in positive ways.

My Mom is My Everything by Sado Omar

In the beginning of 2008 my family was living in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. We had moved there in 2005. The life was perfect for me. Then it all changed. Adis Ababa was beautiful and peaceful there were a lot of green trees and grass and some flowers. We were happy and enjoyed our lives, even though my dad wasn't there. I love my mom more than anything. She is kind and sweet. She was my best friend, she always played with me and she gave me whatever I wanted. At the end of 2008 my mother got her visa. My sister who was living in the United States sent her a visa to live with her in the U.S. That's the time when the sadness began for me. The night my mom left I was crying all night and even the next couple days. After that, I felt alone and in pain. I always thought about how I would be without my mom. Sometimes I felt fine but when my mom called, before I slept, or when I saw something of hers, then I felt miserable. When I remembered my mom was not there, I cried. While I was playing with my brothers, sister and friends I felt better and excited, but my mom was always in my mind. I felt jealous of my friends because they lived with their parents. They didn't have anything to worry about, even what they were going to wear or eat because their mom was always there for them. They went shopping with their moms. I wished my mom went to the mall, shopping with me, and buying trendy clothes and my favorite food, injera Ethiopian. I imagined all the time how different I would be if my mom was with me. I always prayed to God about when would I ever see my mom again. Deep in my heart life was hard and dark for me. Mom is heaven in the world. My brothers and I finally moved to the U.S in 2014. That's when my dream came true. This country is one of my favorite countries. It's a peaceful and free country. I can achieve my goals here. My future became bright and clear I can be whatever I want to, and my mom is here for me. I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world. I feel overjoyed. Now I can see my mom everyday and night. Alhamdulillah! May Allah bless my mom and all the moms around the globe. I'm praying and thanking Allah always. My mom is my everything. !21 NO. 4 MAY 2016 CLOCKTOWER 2016 SENIORS COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

Arizona State University Lehigh University State University of New York Barnard College Lesley University Stevens Institute of Technology Bates College Maine Maritime Academy Stonehill College Bentley College Manhattan College Suffolk University Boston College Manhattanville College Thomas College Boston University Marietta College Union College Bowdoin College Massachusetts College of University of Arizona Pharmacy Brandeis University University of Connecticut Nevada State University Bridgewater State College University of Dayton New England College Bryant University University of Kentucky Northeastern University Champlain College University of Maine Northern Arizona University Clark University University of Maine at Farmington Pace University Clarkson University University of Maine at Machias Pine Manor College Cornell University University of Maine at Presque Isle Quinnipiac College Curry College University of Massachusetts at Amherst Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Daniel Webster College University of Massachusetts at Lowell Rochester Institute of Denison University Technology University of New England Dowling College Rutgers – State University of New University of New Hampshire Drexel University Jersey University of Rhode Island Emmanuel College Sacred Heart University University of Southern Maine Emory University Salve Regina University University of Tennessee Endicott College San Diego State University University of Vermont Fordham University San Juan College Virginia Tech George Mason University Smith College Washington Adventist University George Washington Southern Maine Community Wellesley College University College Wentworth Institute of Technology Grinnell College Springfield College Western New England University Hofstra University St. Anselm College Wheaton College Husson College St. John’s University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Johnson & Wales University St. Joseph’s College Keene State College St. Michael’s College !22