Local businesses step up for local schools and organizations! Save the dates
In case you’re wondering what’s happening at Market Basket on October 28th 8:30-3pm:
The BAKE SALE at Market Basket is a fundraiser for O’Maley 8th graders annual special trip to Washington, DC. “This important fundraiser is to provide financial assistance to
those who need it most for the trip.” Items can be dropped off at O’Maley on October 27th or at Market Basket at 8:30 on October 28th. Contact Allison Cousins for more details or if you’d like to help out on Saturday, October 28th email Allison acousins@gloucesterschools.com. Donations and sponsors for the popular calendar raffle are also underway. Here’s a link to last year’s calendar if you’re interested in participating. You’ll recognize those generous sponsors!
In case you’re wondering what’s happening with GHS soccer raffle tickets:
Soccer players are raising money for the soccer banquet, gifts for senior players, and the soccer program. Raffle tickets are $10 each and each packet has 10 tickets. The prizes are listed on the tickets and are for sale through October 29. Winners will be announced at the fall banquet (date/time TBD)
JV2 has a soccer game at O’Maley today at 4pm. Varsity has a big game — Here’s their record “going into tomorrow night’s match vs Salem. Big game!!!!”
In case you’re wondering what’s happening at Jalapeno’s on November 6th:
Save the date for Jalapeno’s Night fundraiser for O’Maley Academy on November
6th. Dine in or take out at Jalapeno’s and a portion of their proceeds goes to O’Maley Academy!
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Search for @AwesomeGloucester on Facebook and follow! You’ll see and keep up with great, active and inspiring ideas from the community.
“I am currently in the process of bringing a video journalism multimedia program to the students at O’Maley Innovation Middle School After School Program. The goal of this ongoing project is to teach students to use their voices for good on platforms that are relevant to their peers and community. One of the big idea projects the students brought to the table was to produce Public Service Announcements surrounding issues they face,…” – Jessica Linquata
From Awesome Gloucester Facebook:
Jessica Linquata, who runs an after school video journalism program at O’Maley, was missing one essential component for her students – HD cameras. So she applied for Awesome Gloucester’s $1000 micro-grant, and tonight Trustee Jacob Belcher handed her the cash she needs to get the equipment. Congratulations, Jessica! To see more about Jessica’s project- “What Can I Do? Young Voices for Positive Change!
Thanks to the City of Gloucester, Google and HP- 8th graders received their brand new chrome books tonight. Gloucester O’Maley Innovation Middle School was buzzing with excitement.
Assistant Principal (and beloved former social studies teacher), Mr. Jeff Destino, explained the rules and responsibilities.
From there, Â parents and the 8th grade students headed to the sky high, skylit, art adorned hub, the Commons, set up tonight with temporary tables stacked high with tech.
Asst Principal Destino on left, Principal Lucey on right
Allison Cousins
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The traditional end of summer ‘welcome back’ notice for parents from the Gloucester Public Schools Superintendent has great news for the whole community! I’ve noted funding sources, like Applied Materials, when they were listed, and will add in any that were missed!
Page 1
Back to School / Open House dates
Page 2
JOHN BARRY, KURT LICHTENWALD, DAVID SCHNEIDER – amazing teachers’ program receives #1 state and national engineering awards and recognition
BACH IS BACK Â Gregg Bach has returned to GPS, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
JODIE GRENNODIE new Principal at Beeman
GHS – FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT great details about the construction project and an earlier update from JulyÂ
GHS ERIC LEIGH AND DAVID ENOS write and secure $109,154 biotechnology grant
GHS $499,000 WORTH NEW FAB LAB AND EQUIPMENT – Grant awarded for a brand new Fabrication Lab/Maker space and state of the art, industry level equipment for advanced manufacturing and pre-engineering program in  Career and Voc
O’MALEY ACADEMY aka after school offerings, directed by the amazing counselor Allison Cousins, have been extended and funded for a 4th year as the program deemed exemplary ($140,250 grant )
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O’MALEY new BioLab space thanks to Applied Materials and MA Life Sciences Foundation
O’MALEY band and chorus music room to be souped up acoustically thanks to $136,980 from Gloucester Education Foundation
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – BUILDING BLOCKS exciting new elementary science program
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS new teacher collaboration opportunities
Congratulations to Gloucester Public Schools dynamite O’Maley Innovation Middle School 6th Grade teachers: Pat Hand, Mary Beth Quinn, and Jessica Haskell!
“O’Maley 6th grade students collaborated with the Cape Ann Museum and a local cartographer to create maps of their diverse Gloucester neighborhoods. Part of an effort to get the entire 6th grade community to come together as they experience their first year of Middle School, the project aligned with the curricular focus on geography. A collection of the students’ maps, called “Gloucester Through My Eyes,” is on display at the Cape Ann Museum.”Â
Congratulations to Veterans Memorial Elementary School teachers Laura Smith and Mary Housman!  Their “students worked with Backyard Growers and Black Earth Composting to understand the benefits of composting, created posters and presentations to share their knowledge, implemented and monitored lunch-time cafeteria composting, and used the compost they created to enrich the soil in their school garden.” We were lucky to hear about this project during a pitch night at Awesome Gloucester.
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photo L-R: Principal Debra Lucey; Steven Winslow Community Development; Val Gilman Ward 4 City CouncilorÂ
Thirty people came together in the beautiful library at O’Maley for a public meeting concerning safer walking on nearby streets. The meeting was presented by Ward 4 Councilor Val Gilman and Mayor Romeo Theken. Read prior post with announcement details. Steve Winslow from Community Development gave a presentation before a crowd of residents, mostly from the neighborhood with a smattering of O’Maley parents. O’Maley’s terrific Principal, Debra Lucey, participated.
Winslow explained that he and Principal Lucey worked on the crux of the issues back in 2012 through a “Safe Routes to School” planning study. Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School are implemented by MassDOT (Massachusetts Department of Transportation). Principal Lucey, a Lanesville resident, drives to school via Reynard Street, arguably the route most discussed as being problematic at this particular meeting. People are driving too fast on Cherry Street.
Nothing is final and the discussion was open. Attendees were encouraged to put a sticker by projects they wanted to prioritize and/or take off the table. What three would you tick?
Lucey and her husband relocated to Gloucester because of the O’Maley job and a sweet connection with Gloucester. She and her husband had their first date here: Good Harbor Beach and dinner at the Rudder!
Mary Sullivan and Brett Dunton, fine artists and visual arts teachers at O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Gloucester, MA, act like art is the best subject anyone could dream of teaching. It’s evident that they’ve established an inspiring collaborative approach; they work together seamlessly and dazzle the students.  Their art rooms are just the way you’d dream they should look–ample rooms that look like art work is done there in a big way.
They are super resourceful and adept at re-purposing and re-inventing materials. They adhere to the ‘your trash is our treasure’ school of thought. Any donated supplies can be dropped off at room 130 before or after school.
Art Room Wish List
– Yogurt cups (clean)
– Cardboard (clean)
– Wood (untreated by chemicals)
– Large paper grocery bags
– Magazines
– Hardcover books
– Yarn or string
– Fabric
– Any art supplies (crayons, colored pencils, paint, brushes, etc) – Any kind of paint (tempera, acrylic, watercolor, latex house paint . . .) – Posters of artwork – Hardware (hammers, nails, screwdrivers, clamps, saws, sandpaper . . .)
– Other building supplies such as carpet, tiles, and linoleum
– Doo-dads and whatcha-ma-call-its
– Anything that could possibly be turned into art
This nighttime screening is a great chance to review and determine if it’s a good fit for an enrichment daytime screening at O’Maley. Andrew Sullivan’s New York Magazine article, Technology Almost Killed Me, includes “the first one to use the phone pays for lunch” strategy that I first saw in the trailer for this Screenagers documentary. I enjoyed the illustrations for the article–cell phone riffs into famous paintings–and am thankful I read it if only because it reminded me that I still haven’t seen Screenagers. Now I can!
Before loping through the parking lot and shifting right at the ‘parked bus game trail‘ and straight on to Cherry Street, our wildlife neighbor lingered in the skate park with us.
We were mostly still as..church mice. Did I think that? I slipped in front of three kids which is ridiculous because the kids are my size or bigger . And it was just passing by. Still, it did seem a long time before its distinctive gait resumed.
The photo is Blow Up style– from the point where we were standing comfortable enough to grab a phone shot of the coyote heading out rather than to the Ralph B O’Maley Innovation Middle School in Gloucester .
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On June 17th, the last day of school, the classic 17 piece Cape Ann Big Band hosted a Spring/Summer Concert at the O’Maley Middle School, A Swing Extravaganza. Listen to some of the songs in the clip below! The band was formed in 2010. The band leader for this super professional, top-notch, sought after band is Carlos Menezes Jr. He just happens to be  the director of the O’Maley music department! Our students have access to astonishing and creative visual arts, performance,and music teachers.  The members of the Cape Ann Big Band, Gloucester Education Foundation, O’Maley Band Parent Organization, Captain Hooks, Supinos, Paula Burns, and others are making this music happen to inspire the kids in our community.”80% of all ticket sales went to help fund new instruments and band room renovations at the Middle School.” Plus Cape Ann Big Band announced during the concert that they are donating those sweet stands to the music department.
Here’s two minutes of video snippets including classics Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and ‘S Wonderful with vocalist Katy Geraghty. You’ll hear a huge round of applause for Carlos Menezes Jr solo, and stunning vocals from Kate Barry, Scott Parisi and Nathan Seavey. I loved the rendition of “Me and Mrs. Jones”  the 1972 song by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert. My phone battery died so I didn’t grab from that song. I also missed the O’Maley Jazz ensemble who played a big set of 10 songs with many solos. They were incredible. Next time you hear that the school band or Cape Ann Big Band are playing a gig make it a point to see them.
The true one and only ‘Cat’ in Gloucester, Cat Barbagallo with the Sayess family, other parents and GEF helping out with fundraising.
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Read on to see the state’s Cultural Facilities Funding (CFF) totaling $221,000 plus Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) totaling $88,200 in Gloucester for 2016. It’s a safe bet that each resident in the City benefits from at least one of these 2016 projects.  Along with the categories below and others, make sure and think about next year’s application categories including the new festival grant category that will be due September 2016 for 2017 programming. Congratulations to all the recipients!
MCC ARTIST FELLOWSHIP -$12,000
Artist Erica Daborn, for artistic professional development. $12,000
MCC BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUS Â – $600
Beeman School, O’Maley and Veterans$200 each for an educational field trip
CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND (CFF) – $221,000
Driven by the Boston Foundation, MA Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH), the MCC and others after many years, this big pot that funds so many projects was part of legislation passed back in July of 2006. Maybe it will be increased by it’s 10th year anniversary summer 2017? Across the state over the past 9 years, “CFF has awarded grants of $91.9 million to nearly 700 projects across the Commonwealth. Demand for CFF grants continues to outpace supply…The new round includes 68 capital grants totaling $8.9 million and another 23 planning grants totaling just over $400,000. Grants range from $7,000 to $300,000, and must be matched one-to-one from private and/or other public sources.” Â
Maritime Gloucester To construct a Student/Visitor educational Center on Harbor Loop. $116,000
Gloucester Stage CompanyTo replace aging and limited lighting system with a state-of-the-art lighting grid, equipment and controls, and supporting electrical rewiring. $50,000
Manship Artist Residence and Studios (MARS) To conduct a feasibility study for the renovation of the Manship property as an arts and culture center with an artist residency program. $30,000
Rocky Neck Art Colony To install an acoustic ceiling treatment, a second AC unit, lighting upgrades, and integrated A/V projection and sound equipment to its Main Hall. $25,000
MCC CULTURAL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO- $23,000
Cape Ann Museum to celebrate the art, history and culture of the region and to keep it relevant by offering quality exhibitions and programs for our communities, and beyond. $11,500
Cape Ann Symphony Orchestra, Inc.to establish, maintain, and operate a non-profit civic symphony orchestra in the Cape Ann area to foster, promote, and increase the musical knowledge and appreciation of the public through the performance of music at concerts and other functions; to provide an opportunity for Cape Ann area musicians to play as an orchestra; and to assist and encourage the musical development of Cape Ann students. $3,800
Maritime Gloucester to promote Gloucester’s maritime heritage as a platform for teaching maritime skills and marine sciences, and for encouraging environmental stewardship. $8,700
MCC JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS ART PROGRAM – $21,000
Rocky Neck Art Colony establish an Office of Cultural Development in the City of Gloucester to champion innovation in arts and culture, provide support for private and public cultural development, and invigorate the City’s cultural tourism agenda; to develop an inclusive, collaborative cultural plan for Gloucester to strengthen historic links between the city’s maritime culture, community and the arts. $21,000
MCC LOCAL CULTURAL COUNCIL (LCC)- Â $7600
Allocation Gloucester $7,600 Thanks Rose Sheehan and the LCC volunteers on the committee for processing all the applications every year! This year’s 21 winners
Annisquam Historical Society
Preserving Gloucester History
$450
Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe
Season 2015-2016
$348
DiPrima, Jay
Henry David Thoreau Lecture
$250
East Gloucester Elementary School
Rob Surette and His Amazing Hero Art
$300
Harcovitz, Ruth
Songs of World War II
$250
LePage, Lucille
Stories, Songs & More
$571
Lundberg, Christine
The Art & Craft of Folly Cove Designers Film
$500
Manninen, Wendy
Singing and Signing
$300
Maritime Gloucester Association
Off to the Races! Exhibit
$700
Music at Eden’s Edge
Connecting Kids to Classical Music
$500
Northeast Mass. Youth Orchestras
Youth Orchestra Honors Concert
$350
Phyllis A Marine Association
History Sharing Program
$500
Rockport Music
Jasper Quartet
$400
Sawyer Free Library
Printerbot Learning
$464
Sawyer Free Library
Cape Ann Reads
$500
Sheehan, Rose
Welcome Yule – Midwinter Celebration
$500
Sheehan, Rose
Cape Ann Contra Dance
$450
Swift, Sarah Slifer
Trident Live Art Series
$400
Van Dyke, Juni
The Note Card Project
$350
Waller, Susan
The Fiesta People’s Mural
$250
Windhover Foundation
Quarry Dance 5
$700
MCC CULTURAL DISTRICTS City of Gloucester – $9000
Gloucester’s downtown Cultural District. $4,000
Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Cultural District. $5,000
MCC YOUTHREACH- $15,000
Maritime Gloucester and Action to provide hands-on marine and physical science instruction to at-risk 16-20 year-olds in collaboration with Action, Inc. $15,000
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I had a great time at O’Maley this week, presenting to 6th graders for “Gloucester Day”. For the past couple of years, I’ve spoken with classes about the HarborWalk because they study it at some point during the academic year. 6th graders are great and all (they were fantastic), but these O’Maley teachers make it seem effortless. Me? I bought cookies from Cafe Sicilia and Virgilios to hand out!  This year I ran into Tom Balf for Maritime Gloucester on the way in,  heard the teachers delight in seeing their former student, David Brooks for the Hive, back as a mentor, coach and leader. I caught some of Rick Doucette’s presentation because I heard the exclamations over YMCA summer camp and the 24 sleepless hours in a rocking chair fundraiser. Allison Cousins was heading into a class with Little Charlie Goes To Gloucester, a children’s picture book about poet Charles Olson by filmmaker Henri Ferrini and illustrated by Stefan Mallette. (It was also mentioned as it’s one of the links on the Olson marker for the HarborWalk and you can see it with other Cape Ann Reads published books.) This year, Gloucester day fell on National Teacher Appreciation Day. Every day could be National Teacher Appreciation Day.  Here’s the report from 6th grade social studies teacher, Jessica Haskell and her O’Maley colleagues:
On Tuesday, May 3rd, 6th grade students at O’Maley Innovation Middle School participated in “Gloucester Day” as part of an introduction to their end-of-the-year service projects. Citizens who are active members of the Gloucester community volunteered their time and expertise to come in and teach students about organizations that work to make our community a better place. Students were also introduced to ways in which they can personally get involved in these efforts through exploring and discovering their hometown, volunteering, participating in summer camps, and coming up with their own ideas. Community mentors who attended were Catherine Ryan (HarborWalk), Rick Doucette (YMCA, Awesome Gloucester), Meghan Stratton (Backyard Growers), David Brooks (The HIVE), Tom Balf (Maritime Gloucester), Beth Klinefelter (The Open Door), and Allison Cousins (O’Maley Guidance).
Thanks for sending these photos and looking forward to hearing about the students’ projects!
Get better soon, Mr. Davis.
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We have great teachers in Gloucester! For Ms. Mulkern
“I put those posters in my classroom windows to minimize the intense sun that streams in at certain times of the day – I was thinking Ellsworth Kelly when I saw them from outside – but Piet Mondrian works great!” – Joanna Mulkern ESL Teacher/O’Maley
Thanks for adding the motivation behind your window design. Oh, yes!  I see Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015), too. And your comment pushed me to think about other visual artists such as Anni Albers, Edward Landon, Sol Lewitt, Al Held– and Matisse and Calder (who Kelly looked to.) Plus your Kelly comment relates to the architecture at O’Maley and Kelly’s years in Paris at the time of Le Corbusier’s influence. O’Maley is a bit red-brick bauhaus and other architectural styles. Does anyone know the architect?
Ellsworth Kelly’s Sculpture for a Large Wall, 1957, installation shot at Matthew Marks Gallery (now in MoMa)
Ellsworth Kelly’s Sculpture for a Large Wall (Transportation Building Lobby Sculpture), 1957 original commission for the lobby of the Pennsylvania Transportation Building, Penn Center, Philadelphia, PA. It was sold to Ronald Lauder in 1998 when the building was redesigned. Jo Carole and Ronald eventually donated it to MoMa.
Installed at Matthew Marks Gallery (top photo) then Barnes Foundation in 2013 (this photo) prior to current installation at MoMa
Our idea is to establish a composting system in the cafeteria at O’Maley in partnership with Black Earth Haulers. Trash removal at O’Maley has gotten very expensive. In addition, many students are uninterested in eating school lunch and are just throwing it out. Our plan will reduce trash costs and provide costly compost for free as well as establishing a sustainable garden at O’Maley that will educate and feed the school, students and staff alike. The system will be one bin for each grade’s lunch with a small bucket in the kitchen for cooking scraps. Black Earth will take away our bins weekly and in return bring us compost which will benefit the school’s gardens and get everyone at the school more involved. We will be educating everyone on what is and isn’t compostable at school wide assemblies and short videos to view in homeroom (Black Earth’s bin’s also have helpful signs that inform students about what can be composted). Amazingly, many students at O’Maley didn’t even know we had a school garden. With the help of Backyard Growers, we hope to create more planting and harvestings days schoolwide providing fresh produce for everyone to enjoy. Along with Black Earth Haulers and Backyard Growers, our school chefs and faculty member Caitlin Sumner (8th grade science teacher) are on board. With the support of many, a well devised plan, and $1000 we can make this idea into a reality.
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Lisa Smith writes, “S.A.I.L.S. Songs” Vocal Concert: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at O’Maley Middle School. Featuring songs that link to the school-wide values. Service, Acceptance, Integrity, Leadership and Success.
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From Awesome Gloucester Facebook:
Good Morning Gloucester 