Nipmuc Students Win State Commendations For Civics Project
UPTON – Superintendent Dr. Maureen Cohen is pleased to announce that students at Nipmuc Regional High School have received commendations from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
The student-led civics projects were presented at DESE’s 2024 Statewide Civic Action Project Showcase, which was held at the DCU Center in Worcester on Monday, June 3. The showcase allowed students to present their projects “science fair-style” to local community advisors and each other, with an opportunity to receive feedback. Students from 70 schools across Massachusetts participated in the three regional showcases. Massachusetts State Senator Ryan Fattman and Massachusetts State Representative Dave Muradian attended the showcase and heard from students about their projects.
Nipmuc students Suzie Barrows, Gavin Chase and Gabe Sicurella tackled the topic of dementia awareness with their project titled, “Together We Remember: Creating a Dementia-Friendly Community.” Their mission was to foster an inclusive and compassionate community for individuals living with dementia by offering comprehensive resources, support and education within a series of three steps.
The first part of the project was to provide a safe space for dementia patients and their caregivers. The students organized a Memory Cafe, which served as an inclusive environment where individuals with dementia could enjoy free refreshments, find resources and engage in accessible activities.
The students also wanted to create a dementia-aware community, so they partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to host free first responder training sessions, which aimed to educate firefighters and EMTs on how to better assist and understand people living with dementia. The final part of the plan is to get Upton registered as a dementia-friendly town under the organization Dementia Friendly Massachusetts.
Nipmuc Student Bridget Klupa presents her topic on Bridget’s Bears, which aims to provide support for young people who have lost a loved one, and advocates for greater access and knowledge to grief support resources. This student collected teddy bears to donate to local hospitals, along with little notecards containing a link to grief resources.
On behalf of the Mendon-Upton Regional School District, I wish to congratulate all of our students on their accomplishments and value their commitment to serving the community!
