Nantucket Public Schools has one half-day every month of the school-year and Our House takes it as an opportunity to open our doors to students starting at 12:00 instead of 2:30. We serve lunch, offer our regular activities to students, and occasionally, there is a special event. On Wednesday, January 22, 2024, the Young Adult Librarian from the Nantucket Atheneum hosted an incredible Escape Room based on the true story of the HMS Terror Shipwreck of 1845. Students cracked codes, solved puzzles, and eventually reached the end, where cupcakes were waiting! We are so grateful to Sierra and the Nantucket Atheneum for taking us back in time on such a fun and educational adventure!

Nantucket Cottage Hospital dug deep this year after choosing Our House as their holiday nonprofit gift recipient. The young people who visit Our House, and the house itself, received thousands of dollars in clothing, toys, gift cards, and needed supplies, thanks to the generosity of NCH staff. Student participation was optional and those who wanted to be included filled out a wishlist of their needs and likes, including any items they felt the house could use. Each student received at least one gift from their wishlist and Our House received many much-needed communal gifts. We are so incredibly grateful to the NCH for choosing us, thank you! 

On Thursday night, we were delighted to welcome students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute for dinner and conversation. Our House students were able to hear from WPI students about their experiences in college, why they chose WPI, and their most recent participation in an annual research semester, one of the multiple off-campus options that the school offers. We were so grateful for the opportunity to make this connection and hope to welcome back future WPI students annually.

On Tuesday, November 19th, Our House had the pleasure of hosting Angela Dawiki, Founder and Owner of Northeast Maritime Institute. This incredible and unique school is located in Fairhaven, MA, and is the only privately owned Maritime School in the country. Students had the chance to ask Angela questions about all aspects of the school, from the application process to student life, scholarship opportunities to academics, and career paths after graduation to student loans. We are excited to share that Our House will take students off the island to visit Northeast Maritime Institute later this school year. Stay tuned for updates about the trip and let us know if you are a student who is interested in visiting this wonderful campus! Thank you, Angela, for taking the time to meet with us and answer our questions.

The Nantucket Police Chief, Jody Kasper, and her wife, Melissa Lake, a CPS guidance counselor, visited Our House last night and had dinner with our students and mentors. This was an excellent opportunity for our students to meet leaders in our community who are caring adults and great role models.

Students joined the Our House table at the High School to spread the word about what we offer and give other students the opportunity to register.

On Monday, September 30th, 2024 Our House students had the incredible honor to speak with Elad Vazana, an educator, artist, and peacebuilder from Israel who was on-island for The Nantucket Project. He shared with us his life-story and the inspiring social justice work that he believes so deeply in. Elad has dedicated the past 23 years of his life to introducing Palestinians and Israelis of diverse backgrounds, and encouraging them to find connections and reconciliation in shared interest and channels of expression such as art, music, and nature. We are so grateful to Elad for taking the time to speak with us and offer us his friendship by asking that we keep in touch.

Several of our students had the opportunity to attend the Nantucket Project as Our House fellows over the weekend. The 2024 theme of TNP was Healing. We are so grateful for the chance to share this life-changing experience with some of our students.

Pauline Proch pictured with Aimee Carew-Lyons and Craig Muhlhauser.