Blue Hills News

It's the last newsletter before February vacation. I hope that all of our students and faculty enjoy some time away from school, and feel recharged when we start back up on February 26.

Lots of good highlights this week as we head into break - be sure to check out the good things happening at BHR!

Reminders:

Family ID is open for Spring Sports Registration. Students may not participate unless families have registered on Family ID and students have a current physical exam (physical exams are good for 13 months - once expired, students become ineligible until a new physical exam is completed).

Vocational Uniforms

All of our vocational programs have a uniform requirement. The uniform store is open to take orders through February 27. Please visit store.bluehills.org

The items will be delivered to Blue Hills mid March and will be distributed at that time. Students in Culinary, Automotive and Graphics do not use this vendor. Please be sure your student talks to their vocational teacher prior to ordering to ensure the correct items are purchased.

• February 12-16 is Entrepreneur Week here at Blue Hills! We have a host of activities and special events planned, including:
• A "Shark Tank" themed competition for budding entrepreneurs
• "Building a Better Business Bootcamp" for students who are interested in learning more about what it takes to start and grow a business.
• Cafeteria window decorating
• A moderated panel of successful entrepreneurs to share with students about what entrepreneurship is like.

The boys and girls swim team competed in their first ever Vocational State Swim Championships on February 2. Multiple members on the teams captured individual titles. The boys team finished in second place, and the girls were crowned the state vocational champions! Congratulations to the Blue Hills Swim teams!

On Wednesday, February 7, the Girls Basketball team honored seniors and their families in a pre-game ceremony. They followed it up with an impressive victory over Bristol-Plymouth. Congratulations to the seniors: Rebecca LaVange, Lizbeth Torres, Kate Feloney, Braylin Lynch, and Bridget Devine.

CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. At the core of the program is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, the nation's largest cyber defense competition that puts high school and middle school students in charge of securing virtual networks.

BHR had five total teams competing, under the direction of Computer Tech instructors Don Conaghan and Kathy Sullivan. At the state level, 3 teams placed - Grade 11 (1st), Grade 12 (2nd), and Grade 10 (3rd).

On January 19, the grade 11 and 12 teams competed against 128 schools across the United States and Canada. The grade 11 team took 8th place! Congratulations to the students who participated!

Teacher: Ms. Daby, English

Student: Arijana Celadilla, DVC, Grade 11

The student attendance guidelines are contained within the Parent-Student Handbook. Please be advised:

A student will be required to attend summer school upon the accumulation of sixteen (16) absences in order to fulfill BHR attendance requirements. An additional course will be required for every five (5) absences accumulated after (16). All such courses must be taken at the Blue Hills Regional Summer School. All course subjects must be approved by the (ARB) Academic Review Board. If a student is absent on consecutive days it will be counted as one day’s absence if accompanied by a doctor’s note. Notes must be provided within one week of the student’s return to school. All notes must be originals with an authorized signature and date(s) on the doctor’s office stationary. The student’s home phone number and homeroom must be on all doctors’ notes. Absences on special days, assemblies, etc. will be counted as a full day’s absence. A student must be in attendance for at least half the school day to be counted present. Half the school day means being in school from 7:47 am to 11:00 am or 11:00 am to 2:20 pm.

All out-of-school suspensions will be counted day for day towards a student’s maximum number of absences.

If you are not in class or homeroom by 7:48 AM, you are considered absent from school. You must sign in at Student Affairs Office and receive an admittance pass in order to attend class. If you arrive late for school, you are considered tardy and you must report to the Main Office prior to admission.

On the 4th tardy per term and every 4 tardies thereafter, you will be subject to Saturday detention. You and your parent/guardian may be required to meet with the Principal. Parking privileges may be suspended or revoked. Continued tardies may result in more severe penalties being assigned.

1. Next Meeting: March 13, 2024 in the Chateau.

4. Congratulations to James McGonigle, winner of the Boosters raffle!

February 12-16: Entrepreneur Week

February 19: Presidents' Day

February 19-23: School Closed, February Vacation

February 26: School Reopens (X8)

Thank you to the many of you that have completed this already on PowerSchool. In order to provide any medications (even over the counter) to your student, we must have parental authorization. Log into PowerSchool and complete the Health Authorization Form.

Please use this First Student provided app to track your bus route. It updates frequently, and is a tool to help provide real-time (or close to it) information.

• Attention families: A reminder that all student dropoffs should be made in front of the cafeteria in the morning, except in case of a student with a physical mobility issue. When students are dropped off at the front door, it backs traffic up through the entrance and onto Randolph Street, holding up traffic and making it more difficult for students to access their parking lot.
  

• PowerSchool & Attendance note:

  We have had some questions from parents about attendance on PowerSchool, particularly around "class attendance." Please note: we do not track class attendance for students, and PowerSchool is not set up to keep this accurately. Therefore, particularly in vocational programs, the system may significantly overstate the number of absences your student does have. The best way to look at your student's actual attendance is to click on "Grades and Attendance" - this will show you a daily attendance list at the bottom with attendance for the year.

• Lunch is free, but students who wish to have a second lunch or snacks must still purchase these. You can add money to your child's myschoolbucks account to enable them to purchase additional meals and food in the cafeteria.
• Pickup and Dropoff - Please DO NOT use the main entrance/driveway to drop off or pick up students. This is causing a logjam at the entrance/exit to the building. Please enter through the East entrance, closest to Massasoit, and proceed toward the main entrance/exit.
• If your student is out, please email attendance@bluehills.org to report them absent. You can also call 781-828-5800 x 2250 - leave a message if it goes to voicemail.
• Athletic Schedules Available Here!

• Emergency Contact Information

• Please, if you have not signed up for a parent account on PowerSchool, do so now! Please complete all required forms as soon as you can. Grade 9 students may not receive a Chromebook until permissions/agreements are completed!
• NEW - If you are calling your student in sick, please call the attendance line (781 828 5800 x 2250) OR email attendance@bluehills.org.
• Thank you for bearing with us as we work to safely navigate drop-off and pick-up times. Please enter the entrance closest to Massasoit and proceed along the front of the gymnasium to the main entrance/exit.
• Please be reminded: Earpods/headphones may not be worn during the school day except with the explicit permission of the teacher. This includes breakfast, lunch, and passing times. Earpods will be confiscated if seen, and consequences assigned.

Blue Hills Regional Technical School’s mission is to continue its history of academic achievement, technical training and character development through a curriculum which emphasizes the integration of cutting-edge technical programs and challenging academic courses, enabling its students to become competent, caring and productive people in a diverse and changing world.

Core Values:

Community, Opportunity, Relevance, Employability

Website: www.bluehills.org
Location: 800 Randolph Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: 781 828 5800

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The Blue Hills Regional Technical School District is an equal opportunity educational institution. All programs, courses of study and activities are open to all students without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability. The School District is in full compliance with Massachusetts Law, Chapter 622 of the Acts of 1971, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (U.S. Code), and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Individuals may make inquiries relative to Chapter 622 and Title IX from the coordinator, at the school address or by phoning 781-828-5800.