FITCHBURG — How many times, as a student, were you given the opportunity to engage in work that connected you to the community around you? How many school projects have helped shape who you are as a learner?
For someone like 12th grade student Anielly Abramoski of Fitchburg, a connection like that makes all the difference. As part of her Senior Project, Abramoski partnered with SambaViva, a Brazilian dance company out of Cambridge, and on April 30, invited the Sizer School community to celebrate Brazilian music and dance at Art & Culture Night.
“I am the only Brazilian girl in my grade. I’ve learned how to learn and speak English from my friends, but there is an emptiness — of missing home,” explained Abramoski before the event. “My Senior Project Topic on Brazilian music and its impact on mood is important to me. The more I’ve been learning about it, the more I appreciate it and want to celebrate it and not let it disappear into any other culture.”
On this Wednesday, May 13, the public will have the opportunity to learn more about Abramoski’s project, and others like it, during Senior Project Exhibition Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the Sizer School campus at 500 Rindge Road.
The event will showcase all of Sizer School’s 12th grade projects for the 2026 school year. All 12th grade students at Sizer must complete a capstone project on a topic of their choice in order to graduate. It is a year-long deep-dive that demonstrates research, planning and analysis skills as well as engagement and reflection on the learning process. Each student’s final product gives back to their communities in some way.
Students like Abramoski and fellow senior Isaiah Adamu chose to do something big to give back. Abramoski helped the community celebrate Brazil, while Adamu, also of Fitchburg, is using the opportunity to gain experience event planning. His project topic is how social media enhances religious practice and for his final product, hosted an event at his church, New Hope Community Church in Ayer, on May 2.
Equally as large an undertaking, Sizer senior Ethan Ray of Fitchburg has been researching how pets can improve mental health and has been able to host a pilot therapy pet event at Sizer, working with Sally Cragin of PAWSitive Therapy Pets and Community Education.
Recently, PAWSitive Pets visited with students during the school day, using the outdoor classroom. Students learned how pet therapy can provide significant and lasting benefits to mental, emotional and physical well-being. It is Ethan’s hope that this event will lead to an ongoing therapy pet program at Sizer.
Seniors Caden Laclair of Leominster and Naz King of Fitchburg, spoke with seventh grade students as part of their senior projects. Laclair presented on the pros and cons of playing video games and King’s presentation was on music and mental health. King also wrote a book about being a Sizer student that the seventh grade absolutely loved according to seventh grade English language arts teacher Ms. Tuttle.
“They talked to our students about mental health. Everyone loved Naz’s book. Many asked for copies of the book!” she said after they were done presenting.
The book will be made available to all incoming students for the 2026-2027 school year.
On Wednesday night, all of Sizer’s seniors will have posters, pamphlets, videos and other material for guests to look over and take with them.
Some students will bring their experts with them, such as senior Michael Martins of Leominster who will have U.S. Marine Corps veteran Thomas J. Beder to talk about the Marine Corps training, mental toughness and teamwork.
Senior Antonio Rodriguez of Fitchburg will have Catherine Gaudet, president of NAMI North Central Massachusetts to talk about mental health and relationships.
Even Mistress Carrie will be in attendance. The prominent New England radio personality is best known for her work on WAAF in Boston for over two decades. She now hosts her own podcast, “The Mistress Carrie Podcast” and this school year, worked with Sizer School senior Ilana Bennett of Gardner on her project on radio’s influence on American culture and identity across generations.
Attend Senior Project Exhibition night at Sizer School on Wednesday to find out more about these and other senior projects.
Families of children in grades seven through 12 can apply to have their children attend the school next year. The school is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year in grades 7 and 9. Visit www.sizerschool.org for more information.
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