IHS Update

March is doing its usual thing- 70 degrees one day, snow the next week. This month is often the longest stretch of the year, but with all the activity, the days have been ticking by very quickly.

History teacher Jeff Krieger and science teacher Lori LaFrance took a team of Ipswich High students to study the science and history of the ecology of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Students spent the week observing wildlife, collecting and compiling data, and creating presentations of their findings. Thank you to the IEF and Paine Grant Committee for helping make the valuable experience possible.

As we wrap up an outstanding 2025–2026 winter athletics season, I want to congratulate all of our student-athletes and coaches for their dedication, resilience, and sportsmanship. This winter brought both team and individual success across multiple programs, reflecting the strength of our athletic program. Our Indoor Track team led the way with an exceptional season, with the girls earning the CAL Baker Division Championship. Indoor track stars Ange Tshibambe (silver medalist in the 55m hurdles) and Alana Novello were named CAL Baker Division Co-Athletes of the Year. The girls team’s success was further highlighted by a gold medal performance in the 4x400 relay by Annabelle Ma, Alana Novello, Stella Whitten, and Soren Shearer. Our Girls Co-Op Ice Hockey team, in partnership with Beverly, captured the NEC Dunn Championship. Asuka Keough was recognized for her outstanding play with All-Conference honors. Sportsmanship remained a hallmark of our programs this winter, with Boys Swimming, Girls Swimming, Boys Basketball, and Boys Co-Op Ice Hockey all earning CAL Baker Division Sportsmanship Awards, an accomplishment that speaks to the character and integrity of our student-athletes. In the pool, both our boys and girls swimming and diving teams delivered strong performances at the sectional level. The girls team earned multiple silver medals in relay events and individual races, while Riley Brennan, Aubre Kalis, and Riley Patriquin contributed additional podium finishes. On the boys side, Brayden Marini led the way with two silver medal finishes, supported by strong performances from Micah Hanchett and Jonas Casella. On the court, Boys Basketball was represented on the CAL All-Star teams by Rex Satter (First Team) and Vin Winter (Second Team), recognizing their strong contributions throughout the season. With 4/5 starters returning next season, the boys will look to make a deep tournament run in 2027.

I neglected to share the wrap-ups of the boys and girls ski teams in the first go-round of this newsletter. The boys alpine ski team (co-op w/HW) ended up with a record of 8-6, and the girls alpine ski team went 7-4-1.

We are also proud to recognize our coaches for their leadership and commitment. Marty Binette (Girls Track), Barbara Machaiek (Girls Swimming), and Alan Laroche (Boys Basketball) were all honored as CAL Coaches of the Year. Girls Co-op hockey coach Chris LeBlanc was named NEC Coach of the Year. Congratulations again to all of our student-athletes, coaches, and families on a memorable winter season. We look forward to building on this success in the seasons ahead.

The robotics team has wrapped up their build season, putting in many late nights and weekends to prepare for the the six-week competition season of the schedule. This year's robot includes a record number of "home grown" parts designed and 3D printed in house. Pictured below, team members Cole Flather, Ben Mirabile, Rose Maher, and Benjamin Lochtefeld tune up their robot at the Reading competition last weekend.

Ipswich High School’s DECA chapter recently competed at the Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference alongside more than 4,150 students from across the state. A total of 11 Ipswich students participated, representing our school in a variety of business and marketing events. Jack Machaiek earned a medal for achieving the highest exam score in his event, while Nick Kayata received a medal for placing among the top competitors in his event. Although Nick advanced deep into the competition, he narrowly missed securing a spot at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in the final round. In addition to competing, students attended workshops on money management, entrepreneurship, and the college application process. They also took part in DECA’s leadership process by interviewing and voting for the organization’s next Massachusetts state officers. Pictured below, the IHS students representing our DECA chapter in Boston.

On Friday, March 27th, our school’s health staff will begin a health screening called SBIRT. SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. SBIRT is used to screen for alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, and other drug use. This health screening is required by Massachusetts law and utilizes the CRAFFT tool, which is approved by the Department of Public Health.

Students in 10th grade will take part in this screening which takes about 5-10 minutes. School health staff will have one-on-one conversations with students. They will ask students about alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, or other drug use over the past year. Staff will then talk with each student about how to support their overall health, safety, and success in school. If the student needs more assessment or support, health staff may work with the student and/or their parent/guardian.

Please see this letter for more information.

The Grade 10 ELA MCAS will begin next week with the ELA test on Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th. The sophomores will have an assembly This Friday to review with them the procedure for the testing days. If you recall, the test is computer-based, so students will need to bring their fully charged Chromebooks to school during testing days. They can bring only water to the testing room- no other snacks permitted- so please encourage them to have a good night's sleep and then a healthy breakfast to help them stay focused. The testing typically wraps up by 11:30 each day. The math MCAS takes place in May on the 19th and 20th.

For the first time since 1986, the Ipswich High School Theatre Company has advanced to the Finals Round of the METG DramaFest Competition, to be held at the John Hancock Theatre in Boston. Ipswich is now one of just 15 schools advancing to the final round. Several cast and crew members took home individual awards at the Semifinals held last Saturday at Marshfield High School, including Maggie Carlberg for Excellence in Performance for her portrayal of Rachel, the lead role. Others receiving special recognition were Olivia Driscoll (Excellence as Rhythm Captain), Jane Armistead (Excellence in Spot Operation), Annabel Broughton (Excellence in Stage Management and Set Design), and Hazel Cormier (Excellence in Set Design). The Ensemble of Campbell Garland, Ethan Desmond, Franny Barrett, Maya Powers, Olivia Driscoll, and Isaiah Louima won the group excellence award for their performance.

The Company will perform in the METG Finals on Saturday, March 28th!

Congratulations to Theater Director Brian Coelho and the cast and crew of Rinse, Repeat!

• The Model UN Club competes at EagleMUNC (run by Boston College) this weekend in Boston
• The annual intramural volleyball tournament concluded last week with "Senior Team #8" taking home the championship. The winning team of Vin Winter, Connor Wright, Louie Harrington, Colleen MacDonald, Bobby Ellenton, Max Emerson, and Ben Ranier went undefeated through the popular annual tournament.
• The junior prom is on May 16th at the Ipswich Country Club, the senior prom May 29th at Castle Hill, and graduation is on Sunday, June 7th at 10 AM. If weather permits, graduation will be held outdoors on the turf field. You can check out a complete list of upcoming events here.