GHS

Sawyer Free Library Launches Fall Internship Program for GHS Students

~ Sawyer Free Library

Information session about paid opportunity scheduled for Wednesday June 11

This fall, Sawyer Free Library is offering a new internship opportunity for Gloucester High School students in support of its innovative Digital Learning Lab. The Library is hiring student interns as Digital Tutors to assist with the inaugural Computer Basics Course, a community program designed to help adults gain essential digital skills.

Digital Tutors will serve as trusted guides, helping participants navigate internet use, computing devices, and common digital applications. The course includes 15 hours of self-paced, hands-on training. Qualified adult participants who complete the program will receive a free Chromebook and a one-year internet service plan.

“Student interns will gain valuable work experience while making a meaningful impact on closing Gloucester’s digital divide. “Students will be developing two sets of skills,” said Assistant Director Lisa Ryan. “They’ll build hard skills such as setting up and troubleshooting devices, using Google applications, navigating the internet safely, and practicing email and telecommunications best practices.”

“We’ll also focus on soft skills,” Ryan continued. “Through on-the-job experience and a weekly workshop, students will strengthen their communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving—skills that colleges and employers are increasingly prioritizing alongside technical knowledge.”

Interested students should send their application to jobs@gloucester-ma.gov or drop them off or mail them to Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930. References may be from a teacher, coach, employer, or guidance counselor—but not family or friends. The application deadline is June 18, 2025, with interviews scheduled between June 23 and 27.

Interns will complete paid training in early September. After training, they may work up to 16 hours per week through December 12, 2025, with shifts available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons, and Saturdays. Interns will be paid $18/hour, and those who complete at least 54 hours of tutoring may earn high school credit.

Students interested in pursuing careers in technology, education, psychology, social work, or digital literacy are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors.

An information session will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 2:10 p.m. in the Guidance Conference Room at Gloucester High School.  For more information, contact Assistant Director Lisa Ryan at lryan@sawyerfreelibrary.org with your contact information, a brief summary of relevant experience and interest, and availability.

This first of its kind digital intern program at the Sawyer Free Library is funded through the generosity of an Essex County Community Foundation Digital Equity Partnership Grant.

Sawyer Free Library Invites Young Poets to Enter the 2025 Poetry Without Paper Contest

~ Sawyer Free Library

New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings

Calling all young poets and aspiring writers! The Sawyer Free Library is thrilled to launch the 2025 Poetry Without Paper contest, continuing its decades-long tradition of inspiring creativity in Gloucester’s youth. Running through April 30, 2025, the competition aligns with the culmination of National Poetry Month—an ideal time for young voices to share their poetry and perspectives. This year’s theme, New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings, invites students to reflect on fresh starts and new possibilities. The theme also echoes an exciting milestone for the Library itself as it prepares to reopen in September in a newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space.

Coordinated by Sawyer Free Library’s Children’s staff in collaboration with renowned poet and former Gloucester Poet Laureate John Ronan and Library Board member Dawn Sarrouf, this beloved annual competition provides a creative platform for students to showcase their talent in a supportive community of writers.

The contest welcomes submissions from children and teens living in Gloucester or attending its schools in three age groups: elementary, middle, and high school. While participants are encouraged to explore the theme “New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings,” poems on any topic are welcome. Poetry submissions may be enhanced with video, images, or music but should be 30 lines or fewer, original, and previously unpublished.

Winners will be selected from three age groups: high school, middle school, and elementary school. First-place winners in all categories will receive $150 Cape Ann gift certificates, second-place winners will receive $100 gift certificates, and third-place winners a $50 gift certificate with Honorable Mention winners presented with a poetry book. All winning poets will receive a certificate, be able to present their poems at an awards ceremony in June, and be invited to appear on an episode of 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan. Additionally, all winning entries will be on display at and published online by the Library.

Poems must be submitted through the Library website at SawyerFreeLibrary.org from March 1 to April 30. For more information, contact the Children’s Librarian at tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Students do not need to be library cardholders to enter the contest, but for those interested, the Sawyer Free Library offers library cards for children of all ages. Starting from birth, anyone who resides or attends school in Gloucester can obtain a Library card for free by applying in person, online, or by mail. For more information, visit the Library at 21 Main Street, online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or call 978-325-5551.

Teen Art Collage Project on view at SFL@21 Main Street

~ Sawyer Free Library

Every ninth grader at Gloucester High School is represented in the Tween | Teen Zone at SFL @ 21 Main Street with squares they designed to ‘speak’ for themselves.

The public is invited to come and see this beautiful collaborative collage!

The students participated in this collaborative art activity as part of a Library Information Session that Gloucester High School coordinated by SFL Teen Librarian Meg O’Neil and GHS Librarian Samantha Teixeira.

During Teen Librarian Meg’s visits to Gloucester High School, she had an opportunity to share all about library resources and facilities, ensuring that all students have an SFL card and know about the Tween and Teen Zone as a free, public, safe community space.

For more information about the SFL Tween/Teen Zone at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org or visit Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street, Gloucester.

Mayoral Memo: Snow Emergency Updates & Flood Assistance Exploration

~ Chris Sicuranza

1/8/2018 – Last week’s snowstorm and accompanying storm surge was an unfortunate act of nature that resulted in widespread damage throughout Gloucester. This City, like others, requires that residents remove their cars from public streets prior to any storm or snow emergency for safety reasons.

For decades, recognizing that many residents do not have private off street parking, the City has offered off-street parking on public property much like we did last week at Gloucester High School. These offers were strictly optional and residents were free to make other arrangements.

Having said that, my administration recognizes that many are in need of assistance as a result of the damage caused by last week’s storm—specifically those who lost their cars due to the flooding of the High School parking lot. As a result, we will be taking the following actions:

• We have contacted the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and are working with them as they collect public damage information from all of the communities impacted in order to determine whether to request a presidential disaster declaration. While the probability of meeting the threshold for state or federal monetary reimbursement are low, a presidential declaration is necessary to lend direct assistance to the private sector;

• The City is willing to work with those who do not have comprehensive insurance to make arrangements for towing, storage and/or disposal of damaged cars; and

• My administration has reached out to several local/regional car dealerships and they have expressed a willingness to work with those negatively affected by last week’s flooding. Their name and contact information is as follows:

o Sudbay Family Automotive
– Kevin Barkhouse, Sales Manager
– 978-283-4730

o Lyon-Waugh Auto Group
– Warren Waugh, Owner/General Manager
– 978-532-8312

o Michaud Auto Group
– Kevin Michaud, Owner, or Zach Michaud, CEO
– 978-774-4040

o Village Auto Group
– Emilio LoCilento, General Sales Manager
– 978-624-4461

We will keep everyone updated as we find out more information, but please contact your insurance company and work with your Councilors and the Mayor’s Office to see how we can best assist.

Thank you,
Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken