“Manny” Burdekar with Oxford High Instructor Patty Ross

Text and photo by Steev Riccardo

Manjushree Burdekar has been through a lot in seventeen years, and she is using her real life experiences to help herself and to help others.

When she was ten years old, she and her brother Manjuanth came to Oxford to join their parents, Yoganand and Laxmi, who had moved here several months ahead of them to find a home and settle down.

It wasn’t an easy adjustment for Manjushree, but at the same time it was a move that she embraced. “It was different, two different worlds, different cultures, different family values, different backgrounds, but at the same time it was something that I looked forward to.”

She did at the time-- and still does miss her extended family but has gone back to her native country on multiple occasions. “I will never forget my background because that is one thing I look for in everyone. I think everyone should get to know someone and where they are from, how they live their life, whether they are born in India or born in the United States.”

Even though she is not an athlete, she earned a nickname from one of those few times she did play sports at Oxford Middle School. One of her coaches started calling her “Manny” after former Boston Red Sox player Manny Ramirez, a moniker that has stuck with her over the years.

Once enrolled at Oxford High School, Manny became involved in many activities. “When I started high school, I wanted to experience anything and everything I could possibly experience, so I joined Student Council my freshman year.” She soon was elected vice president and still holds that title four years later.

She also became the parliamentarian of the National Honor Society at the end of her sophomore year and has been involved with NHS ever since. One NHS project very important to her was Operation Care Package. The group put together care packages for soldiers and packed them up and shipped them overseas.

Manny is also a member of The 84 Club, a club that does not smoke which helped to ban tobacco sales from pharmacies in Oxford. There are roughly 15 students at Oxford High School who are members of the club.

This year she became the co-editor of school yearbook staff and has also volunteered at Reliant Medical Group and the Oxford Public Library when not in school.

Things were going along rather smoothly when her life took a sudden and unexpected turn last year. Her father became very ill and after “seven grueling months” lost a battle with cancer at the young age of 48.

“It was very difficult, I was a Daddy’s girl. My mom has been the rock since my dad died. She went through more than I have; this is why family is the biggest thing in your life. Without family, you cannot define an individual.”

“My parents have been my role models since I was young. They have worked so hard. I don’t have words to describe the love and motivation that I have received from them. They have always been by my side.”

This horrible tragedy helped her make a decision on what she would do when she finished high school and furthered her education. “I have always been interested in science, but last year when my Dad became very ill, that was the icing on my decision to go to pre-med.”

Oxford High School Principal Kevin Wells has much praise for the soon-to-be departing senior. “Manny is probably one of the greatest leaders that we have at Oxford High School. She walks softly and always carries a big stick. She always has a smile on her face, she is one of our top academic students here, and she is exceptionally involved in many programs at the school. She is a leader in our Student Council. She is involved in our Best Buddies program, Special Olympics. She is a great power of example for young women, and I am so proud to have had her as a student here.”

Manny, who has maintained a 4.0 grade average, has many options for school, having been accepted at numerous institutions. Once she completes pre-med, she will either get a Masters Degree or attend medical school.

It will be hard for her to leave Oxford at the end of the year. “I have made several friends who are like family to me here. It’s going to be difficult to leave because I have pretty much found myself in high school. I came out of my shell, and I have learned a lot from Mr. Wells and from all my teachers here. I will definitely take all the things that I have learned here to the next chapter in my life.”

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By Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – Following a lengthy discussion, the Oxford School Committee voted Monday evening at their bi-monthly meeting to make August 31 and November 21 active school days and make June 10 the last day of the 2012-13 school year.

Stephanie Higgins, who is part of the school calendar subcommittee, gave the school committee a proposal that would start classes on August 27 instead of August 20, and would eliminate February vacation. The committee was in favor of the changes but felt that it would be better to make these changes for the 2013-14 calendar year in order to give families more time to plan their vacations and schedules.

The committee did, however, agree to make August 31 and November 21 school days and shorten the school year by two days, which make June 10 the last day of school instead of June 12. Oxford Superintendent Allen Himmelberger “respectfully” opposed the vote, citing a historical  decline in attendance on the day before Thanksgiving, which falls on November 21 this year.

The committee plans to revisit the proposal to start classes a week later and eliminate the February vacation. Committee member Marc Peterson would like to “keep the dialogue going and vote sooner than later” on the changes.

School Committee chairperson Brenda Ennis said, “I like the idea but we need to be fair to families and give them advance notice about the changes.”

The school committee will next meet on Monday April 23 at Oxford High School.

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Janet Stoica 
Patriot Correspondent

At the March 27th Oxford Selectmen’s Meeting, three local heroes were honored by the Town as well as the State Fire Marshall’s office. During February school vacation week, a fire broke out in a duplex shared by the Tremblay family on George Street. Michael Tremblay, 11, and his brother, Arthur, 6, were home with their caregiver, Rebecca Shelton, when a loud noise in their second floor bathroom drew their attention to a fire that had broken out. Rebecca helped the boys notify their elderly neighbor of the fire.

Michael and Arthur used their recent education of the SAFE program to confirm the fire was restricted and that everyone evacuated safely. The SAFE program (Student Awareness of Fire Education) was presented to them in fire safety classes in Worcester before the family moved to Oxford. Fire Department Lieutenant Ken Sellers and a representative from the State Fire Marshal’s office made the presentations to the young heroes. The “Young Heroes” program was begun in 1995 by the Public Education Unit of the Department of Fire Services to honor admirable actions by young citizens who have participated in the local community’s SAFE program.

There will be no contests for any of the open positions at the annual town election on May 15.

Incumbent Dennis E. Lamarche, 74 Old Webster Road, will run for re-election for selectman.

Daniel P. Coonan, 1 Michelle Lane, and Sarah M. Gaucher, 206 Federal Hill Road , will be on the ballot for the two 3-year terms on the School Committee. Current School Committee members Laura P. Coonan and Marc E. Peterson did not seek re-election.

Alice K. Walker, 568 Main Street, will run for a 2-year School Committee term, filling a vacancy.

John J. Bowes, 11 West Street, will run for re-election for a 3-year Library Trustee position.

Candidate for the Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District Committee position is Rene J. Hamel, 55 Lovett Road, the incumbent.

Howard R. Merson, 4 Woodland Drive, will run for re-election to the Housing Authority.

Joseph R. DePasquale will run for re-election for the 3-year term as Trustee of the Charles Larned Entertainment Fund, and Nancy A. Maki, 17 Daniel Drive, will run to fill a vacancy at the Fund for two years.

Photo and text by Steev Riccardo

It’s hard to imagine a high school student who has been involved in as many activities and at the same time has the grades that Oxford High School senior Lauren Puishys has had.

Ranked third in her class, Puishys has been one of the school’s top athletes, playing three sports, captain of the school band, class secretary for four years, National Honor Society secretary, and a member of the schools “Best Buddies” program. How is that for a resume? We didn’t even mention that she is one of the most popular and well-liked girls on campus! 

As Puishys prepares for her final few months at Oxford High School and one more season on the girls' softball team, the Worcester Poly Tech-bound senior took some time to reflect on all her accomplishments at the school.

Perhaps her greatest accomplishment, aside from her stellar grades, has come on the girls' field hockey team where, as the teams goalie, she was named to the Southern Worcester County League all-star team three year straight and was a Central Mass honorable mention all-star in her senior year. 

“I started playing field hockey in the seventh grade in intra-murals on a team called the Super Power Thingies.  That really was our team name and we made these weird looking shirts,” said Puishys.

The Super Power Thingies (you really can’t make stuff like this up) went on to change their name to the Fruity Fielders in the eighth grade and even though the names were funny, the core of the team was serious and very good on the field.

These “Fruity Fielders,” which included Puishys and teammates Linda Truong, Kadye McCarthy, Jenna Mandella, and Michelle Williams, would go on to form the core of the Pirates field hockey team for the next four years.

During her freshmen year, Puishys split the time with another goalie and eventually won the starting job in her sophomore year and was the starting goalie for the remainder of her remarkable high school career.  

Puishys had 13 shutouts, a pretty incredible feat for a high school goalie, in her spectacular junior season. However the real highlight of her field hockey career came during her senior year when the Pirates team went 18-0 during the regular season.  She calls beating rival Shepherd Hill during that astonishing run “the biggest highlight” of that unforgettable season.

She went on to have a fantastic senior year as the captain of the girl’s basketball team, averaging 14 points a game. It was her third straight campaign as the team’s starting center and despite a 6-14 season, she was clearly a bright spot.

As she gets ready for a final season as the Pirates' first baseman on the softball field, Puishys said her three-sport career has been “a little exhausting at times but is still a lot of fun.”

Once the season ends she will begin preparing for WPI, where she will study to be a veterinarian and also continue her field hockey career for the Division 3 School. She said that she is “excited to go to college to play field hockey” but will miss playing the other sports.

Several members of the Puishys family have attended WPI, so she is happy to keep the family tradition alive.

One of those members is her grandfather “Poppa Al,” who she calls a role model. “He really pushed me into sports and helped me learn everything.”

Puishys, who has lived in Oxford in the same house with her parents Debbie and Bob her entire life, is excited about school but will miss people like her best friend Laura Holmes who “was always there for me,” and of course there are the Super Power Thingies or the “Fruity Fielders” if you prefer.  “I was always close with the girls I played volleyball with. We were all together for a long time and went through a lot together.”

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By Steev Riccardo

On Monday, March 5, The Oxford High School Student Council held an assembly in support of “Spread the Word to End the R-word,” which is a movement to make people aware of how offensive the “R-word” can be to others.

The “R-word” movement, which was started by the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation for the Benefit of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, is supported by Special Olympics and Best Buddies and over 200 other organizations from around the world. 

Oxford High School has been supporting and involved in a series of events involving Special Olympics and Best Buddies and it has become a big part of the culture at the high school.

One of the leaders of this movement has been the local program coordinator for Special Olympics, Patty Ross, whose 18-year old daughter Nicole has Down ’s Syndrome. Nicole is in the Oxford life skills class and has been involved with Special Olympics and playing in sports at the school.

Ross said that Nicole “likes to be with others kids and be social” and it has given her great pleasure and happiness over the years.

The school took its Special Olympics campaign to another level in September when they became involved with Project Unify, which sponsors all types of worthy events.

“We took it a step further with the Special Olympics by getting involved with Project Unify, which chooses eleven schools in Massachusetts,” said Ross. “We get grant money from them this year and next year to help us with our programs, which includes cheerleading and girls and boys basketball teams.”  They will also be starting up a track and field team in the Spring.

“Unless you have everybody excited about these programs, this is hard to do. Everybody has to be involved. It’s not something that just one person can do. It works out great for us this way. We all love doing this.”

One of these people is Patricia Spitz, who is an instructional aide and has been the Student Council advisor at the high school for four years.

“The students love it and have embraced their involvement with Special Olympics,” said Spitz.

The two also work closely with Rachel Piette and Lisa Greene, who run the Life Skills program and also head up “Best Buddies,” which currently has about twenty students participating students in it.

According to Ross, many of the students at Oxford High School have been with the life skills students since elementary school. “They grew up together” and that is why the special education programs are working so well.

One example of that is junior Ryan Donovan, who is president of the Oxford Student Council and is very heavily involved in the basketball program and the “Best Buddies Program.”  Sixth-grader Justin Stockhaus, who attends Webster Middle School, is Donovan’s “Best Buddy” and the two see each other regularly.

The “R-word” assembly was a big hit according to Spitz. “We had 12 students mixed between regular education students and special education students speak at the assembly and give their insight about working with special education students.”

The students also took the following pledge not to use the “R-word”: “I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the R-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.”

Senior Lauren Puishys spoke highly and positively about the event.  “This is a really important assembly because people just throw around the “R- word” and they don’t understand that it is hurting people. They don’t find it offensive at all; I personally find the word completely offensive.  I have made a strong relationship with a girl who has a mental disability and she is no different than anybody else, and to hear people throw around that word as an insult is just not right to me.”

The students and employees of Oxford High School should be heavily commended for all their involvement and participation in these great and important programs.

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By Steev Riccardo

Oxford High School Assistant Principal David Nugent informed the Oxford School Committee on Monday night that the high school has received a $20,000 Supplementary Support Grant.

The grant formally is referred to as the Supplementary Support to School Districts with High Concentrations of At-Risk Students.

The purpose of this federally funded grant program is to provide additional support to school districts and charter schools with high concentrations of students at risk for academic failure, delinquency, and/or dropping out of school.

Its priority is to provide at-risk students with academic, social, behavioral, nutritional/health/fitness and/or other programs, enrichment opportunities, and services that are known to mitigate the potential for academic failure, delinquency, and/or dropping out of school.

The Grant is broken down into four parts:

-$10,000 is for a dropout prevention coordinator, who will be responsible for identifying at-risk students, working one on one with these students or in small groups to help ensure academic success.

-5,000 is for instructional materials that will be used to purchase roughly 40 credit recovery correspondence courses from the Keystone School at approximately $125 per course.

-$500 is for instructional technology.

-$4500 is for non-instructional supplies that will also be used to promote healthy habits for the mind and body.

Nugent said that this grant will help students graduate” and although it's a one time grant, “it is potentially reoccurring.”

In other business at the school committee meeting, chair person Brenda Ennis suggested a proposal to pay a $650 stipend to each school committee member and $750 to the school committee chairperson be put on the March 28 town warrant.

Several surrounding school districts already pay their committee members a stipend but the Oxford school district does not.  Jokingly, departing school committee member Mark Peterson who is retiring after 21 years on the committee asked “Is it retro for 21 years?” which drew some laughter from those in attendance.

Ennis also asked the committee to fill out the annual Superintendent evaluation forms on Superintendent Allen Himmelberger, which will be discussed in a public review on April 23. She said, “This is one of the most important things that this committee does.”

The Oxford School Committee will meet again on March 26.

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By Steev Riccardo; Patriot staff photos (more follow text)

The Oxford Pirates defeated the Auburn Rockets 52-51in the opening round of District 2 playoffs to advance to a quarterfinal match-up with the mighty Quabbin Panthers this Thursday night.

Cody Stone led the Pirates with 15 points, Mike James added 12 points, Tyler Barrie had 11 points, and power forward Tyler Bostek finished with 10 points in the overtime victory.
Head Coach Sean Halloran and the 12-9 Pirates are looking to repeat their district playoff magic of a year ago when they had a magical run before falling in the district finals. 
The Pirates must face a well-rested Panther team, which is coming off a Clark Tournament championship.
 
It’s uncertain whether injured Pirates ace defender Donny Freeland will be back in action for the game; either way, the Pirates will need to find a way to contain all-star Panther point guard Christian Horton, who is one of the top players in Central Mass
.
Thursday’s game will be played at Quabbin High School at 7 p.m.

Oxford School Committee Notes
Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

Oxford receives $230,000 Race to the Top award 
Oxford - School Superintendent Allen Himmelberger on Monday updated the School Committee on the Race to the Top program, which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, wherein states compete for funds relating to changes in public education. Mr. Himmelberger said that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was awarded $250 million under the program, of which $125 million was provided to the Commonwealth and the remaining $125 million was pursued by local school districts.

Oxford competed for and was awarded $230,000, to be used over four years with the majority of the funds allocated to fiscal years 2013/2014.
 
Superintendent Himmelberger said, “Oxford chose to increase teacher education as well as school technology framework. The Oxford School Committee is working closely with teachers to improve test scores and standards in order for our students to be successful upon their graduation in today’s rapidly-changing job market.” These standards must be updated by Fall 2012 and are an ongoing process.
 
In other school committee business, Patricia Hokanson, Oxford Food Service Director and member of the Wellness Committee, gave her report regarding upcoming fruit & vegetable tasting by some of the younger Oxford school students. Ms. Hokanson stressed the urgent need for involvement of PTO members and parents from each school, especially for the upcoming and new flavored-milk standards.
 
All of Oxford’s parents of schoolchildren should be made aware of the new guidelines of the School Nutrition Bill, she said.  Brenda Ennis, School Committee Chairman, suggested that a flyer be sent home to parents.  Superintendent Himmelberger suggested that the PTO’s might be better at communicating parental awareness but that parental input was greatly needed to assist in implementation of the new guidelines. School committee member Marc Peterson stated that coaching staffs and booster clubs would be valuable assets for assistance, as their involvement is critical for getting the word out on the milk situation.

The Committee then reviewed School bus transportation bids. The lowest bid was a 12% increase over the existing year’s costs. Business Manager Richard Mathieu suggested that the bid request data be reviewed, modified, and sent back out to bid. Chairman Ennis inquired whether the computerized route configurations were part of the cost increase and wanted Mr. Mathieu to look into the matter. The current contract expires in June 2012. A unanimous vote passed (in the absence of member Stephen Anderson) to place the transportation contract back out to bid.
 
Committee member Susan Rivelli reviewed the member list of the current Advisory Committee which consisted of several teachers, two parents, and possibly two students. She stated that the first meeting was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, and it was vital for more parental involvement in all phases of their child’s education.

Superintendent Himmelberger spoke about the upcoming school budget process, making two points. Firstly, he wanted all schoolchildren’s parents to become familiar with the budgetary process and asked that they please feel free to stop at the new school administration building located at the Community Center on Main Street---those who care about their child’s school environment should become aware and involved in the budget process by coming to the Annual Town Meeting, he said. Secondly, Mr. Himmelberger made a sincere request to all Oxford school students: “Look at your grades and review them carefully and please choose to either continue your good work or realize that right now is the time to make the extra effort to improve yourself. The time is now.”
  
Mr. Peterson then confirmed that the next Public School Budget Hearing was scheduled for Monday, March 26, and that the school budget would be the sole topic of the meeting. He 
He also noted that the large granite marker in front of the school had again been knocked over. A plea was made for volunteers to come forward to help right the monument, with possible rebar additions to improve the monument’s strength and stability. Mr. Peterson then requested that he would like a review and replacement of all non-working school exterior lighting.
 
The committee’s Executive Session followed.

Date:  Friday February 24, 2012
Location:  9-11 George St., Oxford

Particulars:   At approximately 11:10 AM on Friday February 24th, Oxford firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at 9 George St., just a short distance away from Oxford Fire Headquarters.  Fire Chief Sherri Bemis was the first to arrive on scene, and was greeted with heavy smoke issuing from the two-story multi-family dwelling

First due Oxford firefighters arrived on scene within minutes of their dispatch and immediately launched an aggressive interior attack to determine the exact location of the fire and to quickly snuff it out.  While Oxford jakes tried to locate the origin of the fire, Chief Bemis quickly struck additional alarms to augment the sparse firefighting force that was initially gathered on scene.

A third and fourth alarm were sounded in rapid succession, bringing mutual aid to the scene from the Auburn and Webster Fire Departments.

The action also brought in members of the Dudley FD to cover the empty Oxford fire headquarters, while Millbury Fire responded to cover Oxford’s north station. After a short search, the fire was located in the ceiling of a second floor bathroom, and it had extended into a large open attic space.  Oxford jakes knocked down the fire in the ceiling and advanced their hoseline into the attic, which was heavily charged with thick smoke, overwhelming heat, and potentially explosive fire gases.

As they attempted to enter the attic to extinguish the fire, another crew of firefighters cut a sizeable hole in the roof to alleviate the heat, smoke and fire gases.  Once ventilation of the attic was accomplished, firefighters inside were able to complete their assignment and extinguish the fire.

One of the building’s two apartments were occupied at the time of the fire, but all the building’s occupants escaped from the building prior to the arrival of the fire department.

Oxford Deputy Fire Chief Cleighton Tourtellotte stated that Rebecca Shelton was on the first floor of one of the apartments, babysitting her two nephews, when she heard a loud bang on the second floor.  When she went to investigate, she saw the fire and got her nephews out of the house.  

No other injuries were reported.

According to Tourtellotte, the fire may have began in a ceiling fan located in a second floor bathroom.  The fire is currently under investigation by the Oxford Fire Department.  The town’s wiring inspector was also called in to assist with the investigation.  Fire officials have set the damage estimate at $20,000.  The American Red Cross responded to the scene to assist the occupants of the building.

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