TAUNTON — Superintendent Alexandre Magalhaes and Principal Karen Guenette are pleased to share that Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School students, Bristol-Plymouth staff, and Taunton Police officers attended a Boston Celtics game on Wednesday night through the Helping Students, Education, Respect Building, and Outreach (HERO) program.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, 22 students were selected from 52 Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School applicants who submitted essays, to attend the game free of charge.
The group experienced a Celtics win, as the team defeated the Detroit Pistons that night with a score of 130-120.
The students were accompanied by Taunton Police School Resource Officer (SRO) Jayson LaPlante, Assistant Principal Mark Mosher, Spanish teacher Gabrielle Paquette, and Taunton Police Officers Harrison McNeil and Mike Breen.
After the game, the students were given a historic tour of the North End, which was decorated with lights for the holiday season. Following a visit to Old North Church and the Paul Revere Statue, the group enjoyed dinner at Pizzeria Regina and a stop at Mike’s Pastry for dessert.
This is the ninth year that SRO LaPlante has organized the partnership with the Boston Celtics and the Taunton Police Department.
The essays that applicants complete prior to attending the trips serve as a tool for SRO LaPlante to get to know more students in the Bristol-Plymouth school community. As SRO, he tries to identify students he feels would benefit most from the HERO program.
Through the HERO program, Officer LaPlante seeks donations to take Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School students on memorable and engaging field trips. More than 100 students have attended Red Sox games and more than 200 students have attended Celtics and Bruins games over the course of the partnership.
Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh and Superintendent Magalhaes continue to collaborate on HERO programs that reinforce positive relationships between law enforcement and students.
SRO LaPlante emphasized the importance of working with students to help enact positive change in the community, through organizing food drives, community clean-ups, and holiday gift donations, in addition to taking students to explore Boston.
“I would like to thank Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and Taunton Chief of Police Edward Walsh for their support in making this incredible experience possible,” said Superintendent Magalhaes. “This partnership has left a positive impact on so many of our students and I am proud that Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School can offer this experience.”
“I appreciate the Celtics and everyone involved in our partnership for making this experience possible,” said Officer LaPlante. “This program is a great resource for students, and I look forward to its continued growth in the coming years.”
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