Gratitude - Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

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40+ Weeks of Gratitude Within Our Work

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It is my pleasure to introduce you to our "Moments of Gratitude" website, dedicated to celebrating and sharing the stories of our incredible staff members throughout the year. This platform is designed to highlight the everyday moments of gratitude that make our school community a thriving, supportive, and positive place to learn and work.

Gratitude is more than just a fleeting feeling; it is a powerful practice that can transform our personal and professional lives. Research has shown that regularly practicing gratitude can lead to improved mental health, increased resilience, and stronger relationships.

Why "Moments of Gratitude"?

In our fast-paced and demanding jobs, it is easy to overlook the small but significant moments that bring joy and fulfillment to our daily lives. "Moments of Gratitude" aims to shine a light on these instances, reminding us of the positive impact we have on each other and our students.

By sharing these stories, we hope to:

- Continue to build our culture of appreciation and recognition within and beyond our school community.
- Encourage staff members to reflect on and share their own moments of gratitude.
- Continue to build a supportive network where everyone feels valued and appreciated.
- Appreciate our educational setting and feel gratitude for our community.

Please read the stories shared by our staff members and contribute your own moments of gratitude.

Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and the countless ways you make our school a better place every day.

40+ Weeks of Gratitude Within Our Work

Week 10:

I am grateful for the wonderful, creative, passionate people in my life. They are a wide cast of characters. First and foremost my wife, Gabby, and our faithful sidekick and family dog Bowie. I am grateful for the support they provide me when times are hard and for the laughs they share with me during times of levity. There are countless moments and things I can recount that make my heart swell about Gabby and Bowie but I will share just one. That is getting into a warm bed with them every night under a roof we have worked so hard to call our own home. I am grateful and proud of the life we have built and the future we have ahead of us.

Another group of people I am grateful for are my childhood friends. Andrew, Drew, and Cody. We have been friends since our freshmen year of high school. They are the family that I have chosen and they have stuck with me for over fifteen years. I am grateful for every second of their presence. We have shared birthdays and weddings and have much more to come. They are extremely talented and passionate people.

Last but certainly not least I am grateful for all of the wonderful people at Old Colony. Whether it be the English department, my co-teacher Mrs.Hackett, or kindred spirits like Mr. Terrien among numerous great staff members. Having been at Old Colony for nearly ten years I am grateful I have a team that I feel supported and understood by.

-Zach Teixeira

Thankful for a great cycle with my seniors. The AP classes worked hard to interpret poetry, and the honors classes dug into creative writing, trying to follow Tim O'Brien's mentor text to share their stories.

-Beth Whinnem

I feel very grateful to do what I do, even on the hard days when I go home, reflect, and remind myself that tomorrow is another chance to do better. I’m thankful for everything I have in my life and I truly recognize how lucky I am.

-Sarah Knight

While the majority of our Senior class is out on Co-op during the Shop cycle, we still have a few students left holding down the fort at our in school salon. On Tuesday these three young ladies worked together with two of the instructors to get 11 clients done in 4 hours! We even recruited 2 of the Sophomores to assist with one of the manicures! The jobs included complex hair color services, haircuts, blowouts and styling and manicures! We are proud of the students still putting in the work!!

-Jess Bearce

This week I'm grateful that my daughter transferred to URI this year. We have been able to attend a few football games now that she's so close. I'm also grateful that my son is stationed close enough that he was able to come to a game with us. I am very fortunate that my adult children actually want to hang out and spend time together whenever they can!

-Jess Bearce

I am so grateful to work at OC. Recently I had a death in the family. When his services fell on a day of an IEP meeting, Kristine was ready to jump in and run the meeting for me so I didn’t have to worry about it and Kelly gave me extra time for paperwork. I felt so supported and cared about by my team! ❤️ I also am very grateful for my co-teacher who supported me when I was sick this last week. Zack encouraged me to take whatever time I needed to get better and not stress about being at work because he knows how I am. 😃

-Stacy Hackett

Week 9:

I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside a team of people who make it possible for me to spend an occasional day with my family when needed. I was able to attend Parents’ Weekend at my daughter’s school this week, and appreciated the opportunity to see how her school operates and step away without any concerns. Livi’s Dean delivered a beautiful welcome. It was powerful enough to share, so I started recording shortly after he began speaking. His comments reminded me of what we aim to instill in our own OC Community.

-Aaron Polansky

As the temperatures drop and fall settles in, I’m feeling so grateful for family and the little joys this season brings. From taking my daughter apple picking and visiting fall shows to trunk or treating these moments remind me how much warmth can be found even in the chill of autumn.

-Madison Davoli

I am grateful for the time I spent with family and friends this weekend! The weather was gorgeous, which allowed us to spend a lot of time outside enjoying the foliage.

-Kristyn Falcione

I am grateful for my mother-in-law who recently retired to care for my 1-year-old daughter so my husband and I do not need to worry about daycare. My mother is also retiring at the end of the year and is looking forward to sharing "Grandma duties" in the new year. Blessed is an understatement!

-Jaime Bernier

Over the long Columbus Day Weekend, I got spend a lot of quality time with my kids. Charles has recently taken up running and he’s been jumping in for the last 2-3 miles of my weekend long runs. On Sunday, he and I ran a 5K together and had a great time talking and pushing ourselves. Then, on Monday, I got to coach my daughter and watch her push herself despite the fact that we were playing in a nor’easter. We spend over five hours in the cold rain and she didn’t complain at all. She played her hardest and cheered on her teammates. Seeing both of my kids grow into themselves is incredible.

-Beth Whinnem

This week, we want to say thank you to all the towns, organizations, and community partners for their continued support of OC Electrical's off-site work program. Every community project we take on—big or small—helps students learn real skills while giving back to the communities we’re proud to be part of. We’re grateful for every chance to get out there and make a difference!

-Tim Donnelly

I am grateful for the time spent with my Henry and Teddy this weekend, there is never a dull moment with these two.

-Kyle O'Neill

I am thankful for the seeds that feed us and the farmers who cultivate them.

-Gary Linehan

Week 8:

I'm grateful for my family especially my son Dean who turned just turned 7.

-Geno Busa

Over the long weekend I took my daughter to a capybara encounter. We got to feed and play with them for about an hour and she enjoyed every second of it. It is so nice to have the same days off of school that she does so we can spend time making memories together.

-Molly Medeiros

I am incredibly grateful to be the Freshman Volleyball Coach. I have a wonderful group of students that are kind and respectful. I love seeing the growth of each individual player throughout the season. I am so proud of them!

-Kristyn Falcione

There is some really great teaching happening in our classrooms. It's a blessing to be able to walk into a space and this in action. This is a just one quick clip that exemplifies this kind of teaching in action: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17YqPfW2LP/ Thank you to everyone who prepares so thoroughly and takes such pride in their daily work. Your contributions are appreciated.

-Aaron Polansky

After 2 false alarms my wife and I drove 12 hours to Ohio and made it in time for the birth of Amari!!!

I am so thankful that my grandson Amari is finally here! He had a rough start but, is on the mend and he is such a blessing in our lives. Can’t help but smile when you see his face.

-Matt Trahan

I’m thankful to the students, teachers, and staff who participated in a fun filled spirit week and pep rally.

-Gary Linehan

Week 7:

I’m grateful to have had a fantastic advisory committee meeting this week. The Culinary Arts department gave us a great dinner as always! I am especially excited to have my former college professor/engineering mentor and one of my closest friends from high school join our Machine & Tool Technology advisory committee. Grateful to have connections with such awesome people who care about our students and programs!

-Mrs. Lindsey Bernier

I'm incredibly grateful for our staff and students, specifically for the care they show for one another. Spirit Week has truly been uplifting, and the bonds between and among staff and students, staff and staff, and students and students, tell a beautiful story about our community. Folks raise the bar for one another while simultaneously finding ways to have fun. Stagnation is never okay, but neither is an unrelenting focus that doesn't allow us to pause and enjoy one another. I'm grateful for the combination of grit and fun that our staff and students exemplify.

-Aaron Polansky

I am grateful for Teddy's hockey teams first win, all that hard work is starting to pay off!

-Kyle O'Neill

I am grateful for being able to be apart of the pep rally this year! This was the first time since my years in high school that I was able to see one and it brought back those fond memories. I am also grateful for being involved and helping out to make sure everything ran smoothly on the technical side.

-Ryan Richard

Week 6:

I’m grateful for such a positive first cycle of exploratory with students who were eager to learn, and I’m looking forward to meeting more students from the class of 2029.

-Mrs. Lindsey Bernier

I'm grateful for my son Dean who loves to search for four leaf clovers.

-Geno Busa

Today is October 1st and this morning our fire department was extremely responsive to an issue, as was Cam Bacchiocchi at a really early hour. Thank you to Jeff Eldridge and the Rochester FD Team, and to Cam.

Chief Assad took time to speak with one of my daughter's about her interest in law enforcement this morning. We are blessed with such a caring community. Chief Assad has brought such wonderful energy and fun to our Rochester PD. Thank you Chief.

Our team at school made my 50th birthday the best I've ever had at work and I am so incredibly grateful to work with the people that we do. Words cannot do justice to how it feels to walk through these doors everyday because of our people. I am proud and grateful for what you all bring. We are blessed to serve the students of our community while we work alongside one another. Thank you all for making my day so special. You are so appreciated.

-Aaron Polansky

It was a busy passing time when my 48 Prismacolor colored pencils decided to take a long and wide spill down the hall. Without hesitation, three thoughtful OC students sprang into action, gathering them up, and carefully putting them back on my cart. Kindness is everywhere!

-Ms. Linehan

I am beyond grateful for my volleyball players. They continuously support one another. They work so hard and show great determination to improve everyday. They are some of the silliest and most positive players I have had. They bring so much joy to the gym everyday. They remind me everyday why I love coaching.

-Lauren McGowan

I am grateful for many of the wonderful colleagues I get to work with every day! I am especially grateful for Kyle O'Neil, Brittany Lestage, and Beth Botelho for sharing their knowledge with me as I navigated my first year at Old Colony.

-Cheryl Hebert

One of our graduates just received their degree in electrical engineering from a local university and was immediately hired into an exciting electrical engineering position at a prestigious firm. He stopped in to see how both I and Mr. Dutra were doing and reminisce about his time here and to encourage our students on their path forward in our craft, and shared experiences with them that he's had during his journey. So grateful to have graduates who come back to share what's going on in their lives with us and to check in to see how we are doing

-Mr. Brush

I am so thankful for the beautiful weather God has blessed us with lately! I was able to get my paddle board in the water last Friday and plan to do it again this weekend. =)

-Stacy Hackett

Practicing gratitude is an ongoing theme in my household. We have a lot to be grateful for with four healthy children, a roof over our heads and food in our bellies every day. But this time of year specifically is one that impacts my family more than others. Following the birth of our third son in November 2021, my fiancé suffered a minor heart attack due to a condition called SCAD, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. She was taken away from her newborn son in an ambulance only eight days after having brought him into the world. It was a fairly quick physical recovery, but the emotional toll it took was long lasting. This leads us to September of last year when we were expecting our fourth child. The stress was real leading up to the event. She was scared, understandably, that her body would fail her again. Because of her high risk she delivered our fourth son in Boston. Following the birth we stayed at the hospital for four days so they could run tests and keep an eye on her heart. Things looked good so they sent us home. 10 days after he was born the SCAD hit again. This time it was much more severe and she was again taken away from her newborn son in an ambulance and spent the next week in the ICU. The recovery this time has been much slower, but moving a positive direction. The stress this situation put on our family was overwhelming at times. Financially, emotionally, and physically. She has since begun a cardiac rehab program and has made great strides in the journey to a full recovery. This summer during our annual camping trip she amazed everyone in her resilience. She completed a 1300ft elevation hike to the top of the mountain. An incredible feat for anyone, but for her it was an observably pivotal moment in her recovery. The tears flowed all around in moment of absolute gratitude. I am thankful every day for the incredible strength of my partner and our family, for the resilience and dedication she has shown and they have all shown to get through this, and for the love and support that surrounds us at every moment. Without them all we wouldn't have been able to overcome these battles. Gratitude has been crucial in this recovery process and we will continue to be grateful for every moment we have together. Sorry for the long winded response, but this is the first time I've written about this so I wanted to give the entire context. Thank You

-C. Robertson

I’m thankful that I get a chance to watch my kids try new sports and work hard. My son got a new PR in his second cross country meet in Marshfield this week.

-Beth Whinnem

I am thankful for my struggles and heartbreak. Although difficult they have given me strength and are also a bridge to others and my own humanity.

-Gary Linehan

Week 5:

I am grateful for the connections we make. I have dinner plans coming up with a few of the graduates from last year - they want to tell me all about college. I am blessed that students who have left the classroom, continue to stay in contact - and even come back 8 years later to offer my next group of students Co-op!! The relationships we build are not just the traditional four years while they are here, it is often for many, many years to come. Blessed.

-Marsha Davenport

I am grateful for our students. Even though some are tough to engage especially when it is the first class, but when they are engaged, we have great discussions. This is also my 3rd year at OC and I have developed relationships with many students which makes such a difference when they have off days.

-Stacy Hackett

Feeling grateful that my wife and I got to see our favorite band play some of our favorite songs this past weekend.

-Kyle O'Neill

I am grateful for my girlfriend, friends, and family for always supporting me no matter what I do.

-Ryan Richard

I’m truly grateful for the time and thought a co-worker put into helping me process and flesh out some ideas. Their willingness to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and offer perspective not only brought clarity but also allowed me to move forward with greater focus. It means a lot to have someone who doesn’t just hear me out, but helps me think things through in a way that sharpens and strengthens the vision. Thank you for being such a generous sounding board and partner in the process.

-Bethany Botelho

I’m grateful for cafeteria staff that graciously nourish our students with delicious and healthy food so that they can learn. Every student is well fed and no one goes away hungry. They put in the extra work in order to accommodate students with various food allergies. The cafeteria staff are always so welcoming and hospitable to all of us.

-Gary Linehan

Week 4:

Last week my husband and I celebrated our daughter's first birthday with a trip to the New England Aquarium. It was a beautiful day celebrating our little girl as well as the growth that comes with the first year of being new parents. My heart is so full.

-Jaime Bernier

So many of our Electronics Engineering Technologies Students are grateful for the $1,000 grant the PTO has given us to help us with the construction of our R-2 D-2 replica we are building in Robotics Club & our shop.

To see the motivation of our students regarding this project is amazing !!!

-Dan Brush

I am grateful for the families and friends that support our athletic teams. As the long term head coach of two sports at OC, we have had a tremendous amount of support and positive feedback on and off the fields of play. The partnership between the players, the families, and the coaches is appreciated and recognized. It is rewarding to share a vision and passion for educational athletics with everyone involved. At this time of year, I am especially grateful for our parents who run our gridiron club, we couldn't do it without them!

-Brandon Mendez

I am grateful for being granted the opportunity to work in a field I am passionate about, and to have limitless learning potential alongside a great team of staff and students! I am very excited to keep learning and supporting the school's mission as much as I can. I'm also grateful to have Kyle as not only a great boss, but a great mentor as well!

-Ryan Richard

I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to the stories of the first, second and third Superintendents of Old Colony (John Oliveira, David Ferreira, and Gary Brown), and for the opportunity for them to share their stories with reporter Sam Tucker as we celebrate 50 years of Old Colony.

-Aaron Polansky

Week 3:

I am beyond grateful for our students. It was a busy week and getting back into routines takes time. Their ability to be flexible and help each other is a sight to see. I found myself watching the seniors and admiring how much they have grown and knowing they are my WHY... it is truly a blessing to be here. GO OC!

-Marsha Davenport

I’m grateful to Old Colony for supporting my training at the Cape Cod Symposium. The experience has been incredibly helpful and validating for my counseling practice. I especially appreciated the sessions on mindfulness, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, and understanding behavioral adaptations. The discussions around digital dilemmas—including cyberbullying and youth suicide prevention—were also particularly impactful.

-Scott Boyle

I'm grateful for my dog, Harper. She's excited to see me no matter how many times I enter a room. "Pure joy" are the words that describe her personality. She's just so much fun and makes every day better just by being her!

-Cheryl Hebert

Over the course of the last week we've had the opportunity to begin sharing information about our MSBA journey with our member communities. The reception from our communities has been nothing short of amazing. I am grateful for the incredible support of Vocational Education that comes from our five member towns. More information about our project is available at www.OldColonyBuildingProject.com

-Aaron Polansky

I have gratitude for my co-teacher Zack. His support last year with my husband's situation and me being brand new to him was incredible. I am also thankful for his honest feedback which has helped us grow as a team. When asked by friends how the start to the school year has been, my answer is filled with positivity mostly due to the relationship we have built as a team.

-Stacy Hackett

I am so thankful for the support, teamwork, and dedication our staff! Your willingness to step in and help one another makes such a difference in our school community. I truly appreciate all that you do.

-Bethany Botelho

I am grateful to have Ryan on board at Old Colony—he’s hit the ground running and has already made a big impact in a short time. Excited to see all that we’ll accomplish together!

-Kyle O'Neill

Week 2:

I'm grateful for my family, especially my daughter Tess who turned 11 this week.

-Geno Busa

This week I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for how brave my daughter was starting pre-school for the first time. We have been fortunate to not have to put her in daycare for the last four years, but were nervous about how she would do being in a classroom setting. She did great and was so brave and mommy is SO proud of her! <3

-Danielle Craig

I'm so grateful to be apart of a school with such kind and personable students and staff! As a vocational teacher, I often don't get to see students outside of my shop program, but now that I'm photographing and designing the yearbook I get to interact with students from every program. It's great to see the young adults we have nurtured and developed for tomorrow's workforce! The students and staff at Old Colony make me smile daily, and I'm thankful to be apart of our community!

-Jessica Lawrence

I am extremely grateful and excited for a new school year as SRO for Old Colony. Every morning I am genuinely happy to go into work and do my job. The entire school community is great to work alongside. The conversations with students and staff are all different but unique in their own ways. The smallest moments that are taken for granted can mean so much more to the students than we realize at times. On the bad days I know that I will be able to come into a work environment that truly cares about one another and for that I am beyond grateful.

-SRO Jack Domagala

Thankful for a great first week of classes with the freshmen, who are jumping into the lessons and participating, even though it's intimidating.

-Beth Whinnem

This past weekend we dropped our daughter Livi off at a new school. I am grateful she has the opportunity to be surrounded by people who will help to shape her mind, her passions, and her future in positive ways.

-Aaron Polansky

It was great to settle back into our routine with the students - they all successfully passed their Basic Life Support and First Aid Certifications this week. It is wonderful to see their growth over the last four years as they prepare for cooperative education.

-Jaime Bernier

Week 1:

We were all grateful for the time that we were granted on Monday to set up our departments and prepare for our students to arrive. The extra time that we were given made the transition less stressful, and we all appreciated it! Thank you! It's the little things!

- Stacie Libertore

I am so grateful for having my whole shop here this year and for the first Monday we were able to spend setting up for the return of the students

- Sarah Knight

I have a lot to be grateful for when thinking back to the fall of last year. My husband received a kidney from his friend in October after being on dialysis for a year. He started back at work in January and is doing well. Not only am I grateful for that miracle, I am so grateful to the special ed team and staff at OC because everyone was so supportive with the time I needed at home with him. You know who you are. Thank you! =)

- Stacy Hackett

I'm thankful for beautiful poetry like Mary Oliver's Why I wake early. Poetry to me is one of the highest forms of human expression that truly captures the human experience succinctly.

Why I Wake Early
by Mary Oliver
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.

- Gary Linehan

I am grateful to be part of the Old Colony community! I am especially grateful for having been able to work with my former instructor (Mr.D) for the last several years. Him and I were able to lean on each other through all the challenges we faced professionally and personally throughout our time working together. I know we will stay in touch and our friendship will continue on even though he has moved on to retirement. We couldn't have been more fortunate in finding his replacement. We landed another top notch person / instructor and I am excited about the future of the MFJT program! I get to continue to work side by side with 2 great guys and that is something I am grateful for each day!!

- Lucas Olivier

I am grateful and appreciative for the extra time we received to prep our classrooms on Monday. It made a big difference in preparing for the students. Thank you!

- Jaime Bernier

Grateful for my co-workers!
Although the first day of school with students went really well, I found myself feeling a little overwhelmed around lunchtime. During a quick conversation with Matt Trahan, he reminded me to pause, take a breath, and enjoy the time with my students. His words were exactly what I needed to refocus and reframe my thoughts. I’m grateful for that simple but powerful pick-me-up.

- Bethany Botelho

I like to spend time lying in the grass, watching the birds show me the signs of the seasons. I watch them return in the Spring, their flock getting smaller by the day as they pair up. Their babies take to the skies, and they spend summer growing up until they join their flock for the first time. Last night I watched them all zipping by overhead, finding each other, all energized for some big trip. There is something so peaceful about it and it makes me feel closer to the earth.

- Jess Linehan

I am grateful for the safe return of staff and students and for the fact that we are fully staffed with a team of people committed to mentoring the "whole" student.

- Aaron Polansky

Old Colony

Hear from our Staff

40+ Weeks of Gratitude Within Our Work

Please Share your story by scanning the QR code