PWN070121

JULY 1, 2021
WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 7
STUDENT OF
THE WEEK
Jenna Durkin does it all
For the Weekly NeWs
PEABODY — Jenna Durkin
is basically the human equivalent
of a Swiss Army knife.
The Bishop Fenwick graduate
is a multi-sport athlete who
was also awarded a 2021 Agganis
Foundation Scholarship. She
was named an Agganis All-Star
in both soccer and lacrosse.
Durkin was excited to be
named an All-Star in both sports.
"It was really cool to be
nominated in both (categories),
because soccer is more of my
main sport. I like it better than
lacrosse, but lacrosse is really
fun too. We had a great season
for (Bishop) Fenwick so it was
great to play with the seniors at
Fenwick," she said.
Durkin's last season was one
to remember. In soccer, Fenwick
was able to make it to the championship
and that is something
she said she will never forget.
Jenna Durkin dribbles upfield for Bishop Fenwick.
In lacrosse, Durkin was just
happy to be back on the field.
Last season was wiped out due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, so
just being with her coach and
teammates felt great.
Durkin will be headed to
college in upstate New York to
attend St. Lawrence University
in the fall. There she will be
continuing her athletic career, as
she has been offered a spot on
the school's Division III soccer
team.
Farewell to those
who served schools
By ANNe MArie toBiN
PEABODY — The district is
saying goodbye to 20 employees
who have retired.
"Their combined years of service
and the number of students
they have served here in the Peabody
Public Schools is amazing,"
said Superintendent of
Schools Dr. Josh Vadala. "Their
reach and their touch extends
far beyond just the students they
have now, but for years and years
and years to come. We want to
publicly thank them for their service
and wish them the best of
luck as they move forward."
Peabody Veterans Memorial
High School will be losing three
staff members: special education
teacher Leslie Ann Entwistle,
history teacher Abbie Gore
and physical education teacher
Kathy Pingree.
Guidance counselor Arlene
Broughton, English teacher Winona
DiNitto and senior clerk
Catherine Fortin are retiring
from the Higgins Middle School.
Burke School grade 4 teacher
Sylvia Ward, Carroll School English
Language Learners (ELL)
program teacher Olga Chaves
and Carroll School grade 2
teacher Marianne Reeves are
also retiring.
The Welch School is losing
English teacher Jayne Dantona,
preschool teacher Mary Ingersoll
and grade 1 teacher Marie
Vigna-O'Neil.
Other retirees include Center
School grade 2 teacher Sharlene
Shalkoski, South School
kindergarten teacher Deborah
Donovan, McCarthy School
paraprofessionals Diane Kaeding
and Kathy Maragioglio,
South School ELL teacher Kelly
Knizak, Integrated Preschool
IEP Team Chair Kristin Hutton
Fay, districtwide health teacher
Christina McCarthy and districtwide
speech and language
pathologist Susan Robert.
"It's amazing when you think
about how many students and
families they have touched as far
as teachers and educators and we
can never really truly appreciate
what they've done. They are all
going to be missed very, very
much by everyone," said School
Committee member Beverley
Griffin Dunne, adding the district
hopes to have an in-person
ceremony in the fall to honor the
retirees.
"They can't get away that easily
without being honored," said
Dunne.
"I wholeheartedly agree with
Mrs. Dunne," said committee
member Jarrod Hochman.
"Something in the fall would be
very nice and appropriate. It's
important to recognize them,
many of whom have started and
ended their careers here. It's a
bunch of talented people."
Hochman mentioned two
other people who are retiring
this year: Carroll School crossing
guard Kathy Vinagro and
elementary schools' School Resource
Officer Rick Cochrane.
"They too have had a significant
role in the day-to-day
operations of the schools," said
Hochman.
Following a motion by
Hochman, the committee voted
unanimously to send a letter of
appreciation to the Police Department
in recognition of the
contributions and services the
department has provided to the
schools.
"These are two people who
have contributed greatly to our
school system and city," said
School Committee Chair Mayor
Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. of
Vinagro and Cochrane.
COURTESY PHOTO | JENNA DURKIN
It was an easy decision for
Durkin, who said she clicked
with the women's soccer coach,
Sinead McSharry, at the university
right away, adding that she
felt "at home" while attending a
soccer clinic in which McSharry
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took part.
While making the transition
to college can be difficult,
Durkin is excited that she will
have teammates who can help
her get used to things.
"I feel like being a part of a
team is such an easy way to automatically
make friends," she
said. "Freshman year I already
feel will be hard enough, but
having the team will make it a
lot easier."
Durkin mentioned that she
will not be playing lacrosse in
college, but feels that it is important
for young athletes to
play multiple sports.
"If I just played soccer I
would miss out," she said. "The
different techniques in each sport
help your main sport. Building
connections with other people,
leadership, all that incorporates
into your main sport, so I think
that playing multiple sports really
does help."
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ANTONIO SORDILLO, CFP®, CRPC®, CPFA
Vice President, Investments
antonio.sordillo@raymondjames.com
20 Burlington Mall Road, Suite 130 // Burlington, MA 01803
781.313.8403 // evergreenfinpartners.com
© 2021 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. 21-BRNAO-0003 TA 1/21
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