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The lunch ladies posing with Cece Goncalves.
Photo by Elizabeth Drummond
The Lunch Bunch:
Our Favorite Lunch Ladies
The Lunch Bunch:
Our Favorite Lunch Ladies
by Grace Baker and Cecelia Goncalves
Every single day hundreds of kids stop into the cafeteria to grab some lunch, for many it is the highlight of their day. The ladies who work so hard to make this happen are often unknown by most students. Although they always give a smile, many of the efforts are unknown by students at PHS. Their names and a few facts can go a long way with appreciating these unsung heroes. Pictured from left to right, The Titan Times interviewed our beloved lunch ladies.
Bonnie
Favorite Hobby: “Being outdoors and going to the beach”
Favorite Lunch: “Pizza or salad”
How Long Have You Been Here: “3 Months”
Lisa
Favorite Hobby: “Going to the beach”
Favorite Lunch: “The orange chicken”
How Long Have You Been Here: “15 years”
Gayle
Favorite Hobby: “Being outdoors”
Favorite Lunch: “Titan bowl”
How Long Have You Been Here: “2 years”
Janet
Favorite Hobby: “Yoga”
Favorite Lunch: “Mac and cheese”
How Long Have You Been Here: “20 years”
Corinne
Favorite Hobby: “Chilling with my dog”
Favorite Lunch: “Nachos”
How Long Have You Been Here: “Around 15 plus years”
Jan
Favorite Hobby: “Painting”
Favorite Lunch: “Blueberry parfait"
How Long Have You Been Here: “15ish years”
Meet Mrs. Cascio!
Meet Mrs. Cascio!
by Grace Baker and Cece Goncalves
Mrs. Cascio is one of the newer teachers at PHS, but she has already made a lasting impression on both students and staff. Known for her welcoming personality and engaging teaching style, she is loved by students across the school. She teaches Biomedical Science and Marine Biology, bringing fun and real-world connections into her classroom every day. In this interview, Mrs. Cascio shares her opinions, passions, and what it has been like joining the PHS community.
How long have you been teaching at Pembroke High School?
“This is my third year”
What is your favorite subject/class that you teach?
“Now it is bio-med, but before it was marine bio”
What would you want your job to be if you weren't a teacher?
“I would love to be a lawyer. I would love to argue with people”
What college did you attend? Did you like it?
“Umass Amherst. I loved it. I liked being around a diverse group of people and learning from their and their life experiences that were different from mine.”
What is your favorite activity to do outside of school?
“I like to hang out with my friends a lot and read books like romance and thriller. I also like to build legos”
If you could teach any class other than your own, what would it be?
“I would probably teach environmental science”
What is your favorite thing about PHS?
“The students make my job easy because they are kind, respectful and driven.”
Mrs. Cascio in her classroom.
Photo by Cece Goncalves
Meet Our New Librarian,
Ms. Leeper
by Nick McCarthy
After two terms of not having a Librarian, at the start of the third term we finally have one. Mrs. Leeper, a former middle school social studies teacher at PCMS and technology assistant at the high school with Mr Tinker, is now the new librarian. The Titan Times interviewed her asking questions about her becoming the new librarian and changes that she is going to make.
Q. How long have you been teaching/being a technology assistant?
“I have been teaching middle school for 15 years and have been a tech assistant for 1.5 years.”
Q. What got you interested in teaching?
“In high school, I really enjoyed history and wanted to become a teacher.”
Q. How did you become the Librarian?
“I went back to school and got my degree.”
Q. What are some changes that you are making or going to make to the Library?
“Right now I have been re-doing the fiction set up, making sure that the correct books are in the right spots. I also am going to add more decor to the library.”
Q. Are students going to be able to get back in the library for study periods?
“Yes, students will be able to come to the library to study. I'm not sure when it will happen but it's coming.”
Mrs. Leeper pictured at the front desk in the library.
Photo by Nick McCarthy
Photo by Holbrook Public Schools
Welcome, Mrs. McEvoy - New School Nurse
by Ally Richardson
After two weeks of interviews, the school has found a new nurse, Mrs. McEvoy, who started Friday, February 13th.
Mrs. McEvoy possesses a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) from George Washington University and Master of Science (Nurse Education) from The University of Phoenix. Most recently, she had been a school nurse for Holbrook Public Schools. She also has an extensive background as a Pediatric Nurse at South Shore Hospital and a Cardiology Nurse at Children’s Hospital.
Mrs. Sam Knisley, the school nurse for seven years, submitted her resignation to pursue other endeavors.
Mrs. McEvoy will be in her office during school hours each day, here to help any students who feel sick or in need of medical attention.
Q: What made you want to go into nursing?
A: My grandfather had gotten sick and was in the hospital. When I was spending time with him in the hospital I found the nursing profession very interesting.
Q: Why did you decide to start nursing at schools?
A: I decided to start nursing at schools because being able to build a relationship with students and parents was important to me. I had small children and wanted to build that community. I also live in Pembroke.
Q: What are you most excited about for this new job?
A: Getting to know all of the students in Pembroke and being a part of the community that I live in.
Q: Have you ever worked in a high school before and if not, what do you expect will be different from your other jobs?
A: I have worked in a high school before. This school has a different population and demographics of students from where I worked. This different demographic will be interesting to interact and work with.
Q: Do you have any advice for students wanting to pursue a career in nursing?
A: I would say that you have to work hard and be motivated because it is hard work but it is rewarding once you get your degree and start working.
Meet Ms. O'Neill Our
New Spanish Teacher!
Meet Ms. O'Neill Our
New Spanish Teacher!
by Ryder Nugent
Laurie O’Neill is a new Spanish teacher for PHS. The Titan Times interviewed Ms.O’Neill on her future at PHS.
Q: Is this your first time teaching Spanish or have you taught before at a different school?
A: I was a student teacher in Acton, then taught in Reading and Wareham before I came here.
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching?
A: My favorite thing about teaching is achieving moments where the students are really connecting and understanding the material. I love the Spanish language and Spanish and Latin American cultures, so I really enjoy sharing all of that with my students.
Q: How do you plan on making these kids love Spanish?
A: I'm not sure if I can make students love Spanish, but I hope I can get them to like and appreciate it. I share as much authentic culture such as popular and folk music, film, current events, art,etc. as time permits. I think these things make Spanish class more enjoyable and are more relatable for students.
Q: What is your approach to teaching grammar in an engaging way?
A: Grammar is tough for some students and in some curricula is the primary emphasis in language classes. I like showing students the reasons behind some of the structures and having students compare Spanish with their native language. Sometimes I present material to students through stories or activities so that they can actually infer the grammatical structures and thus better acquire them. I also like to play games in class for practice and review.
Q: Growing up was your dream to be a Spanish teacher or teacher in general?
A: What did I want to be when I grew up: When I was growing up I wanted to be an animator or illustrator or an attorney. I did practice law before I had children. It wasn't until I had my own kids I developed an interest in teaching. I do have a brother and a sister who are teachers.
Q: What does your ideal classroom look like?
A: My ideal classroom has a lot more color and decor than I have in my room right now (I'm working on it, slowly.) I would love to have a comfy reading nook, and I will eventually change the desk arrangement to a more open form to encourage conversation.
Photo courtesy of Laurie O'Neill
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