Bronco Bulletin
Keefe Regional Technical School
October 27, 2023
Upcoming School Events & Announcements
If your child is going to be absent you are connecting with Melissa Sabo - 508.416.2259 / mksabo@jpkeefehs.org
ELPAC (English Language Parent Advisory Council) Survey: Please take a moment to complete!
https://forms.gle/XjTho1uMFFkZuv7k9
Looking to order your school photo? Go to https://www.jostens.com/
You need your students ID number and our Keefe Tech event code is: FE255623
Book club will be meeting on MONDAY, October 30th after school in Mrs. McGuire's room (221). We will be reading until page 216 in the book Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. If you want to join, but have not read the book, still come!! See you there. Reach out to Mrs. McGuire or Ms. Osber with questions.
Hey Cheerleaders! There will be an informational meeting for anyone interested in participating in Winter Cheerleading on Tuesday, November 7th at 2:05 in Room 323. Anyone interested in either Basketball Cheer or Competition Cheer is encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Graham in room 323 or Mrs. Smith in room 112.
The ASVAB exam is being offered on Wednesday November 1st.
The ASVAB is the military (all branches) entrance exam. It's not JUST for students interested in the Military. The ASVAB has an aptitude component that can help students learn more about their skills, abilities, and what they might want to do with their future. Please sign up with Ms. Lyskowski in Guidance.
No school for students (except for student ambassadors) on Friday, November and Thursday, November 9 - 8th grade showcase days!
No school Friday November 10th
New Student Opportunity from Saint Bridget's school in Framingham: We are looking to expand our extended day staffing and also incorporate high school and college students to expand our activity offerings. Our program runs 2:00pm-6:00pm Monday-Friday. We have flexible hours/days for staff. Contact your school counselor if interested and they can put you in touch with them.
Rain doesn't stop KT Cheer!! Remember to come to the last home game of the season and wear your best and brightest Neon! We will be selling Neon Glasses, scrunchies, and other accessories at the game!!
Powerschool is up and running!
Instructions to access PowerSchool parent/guardian account for Keefe Tech:
The PowerSchool Parent Portal URL is: https://keefetech.powerschool.com/public/
Access codes and passwords needed to set up parent/guardian accounts were originally sent home via email. If you need them again, please contact support at powerschool@jpkeefehs.org. Please provide your student’s name, grade, and student ID# if known/possible.
Your username should be set to your full email address.
Examples of special characters, when setting your password, are: !@#$*
If you forget your Username or Password click the “Forgot Username or Password” link to have an email sent to reset it.
If you aren’t receiving the Reset Password email, contact powerschool@jpkeefehs.org for further assistance.
Do you need to add another student to your PowerSchool parent account?
In your parent portal navigate to Account Preferences, then select the Students tab. Click on the Add button located on the right side of the screen. Enter your student’s name, access ID and Password, and your relationship to your student, then click OK. You should now see your 2nd student in your account. If you do not have the Access codes to add your student, contact powerschool@jpkeefehs.org too.
The PowerSchool app (on iPhone and Droid phone) works for students using their Keefe Tech email address now. The same PowerSchool app (on iPhone and Droid phone) works for parents/guardians to view their children as long as they have setup a registered account with PowerSchool.
All Keefe Tech students can download the PowerSchool app from the App Store, type in District code: CQJG and use the same Keefe email credentials to access their school information. Please work with your students at home if they need assistance accessing, email powerschool@jpkeefehs.org or have students visit 319A for further assistance from the Keefe Tech technology team.
If you do not have a smartphone, you can access your current grades and other information in PowerSchool via most internet browsers.
To access PowerSchool at KeefeTech, you will need to follow these steps:
1. Open an internet browser on your computer.
2. Type https://keefetech.powerschool.com/student into the address bar.
3. Type the student ID (email address) and Password (Google password). It is advisable that you keep your username and password secure and not share it with anyone else.
4. View the information.
5. Remember to log off when you are finished.
PARENT PORTAL HIGHLIGHTS
- The Grades and Attendance tab will allow you to check assignments and scores by clicking on the blue percentage across from a class.
- Email the teacher a question or concern by simply clicking the blue teacher's name link.
- Announcements can be viewed daily
- The parent portal is an excellent tool for monitoring your child's academic success. Log in and familiarize yourself with its capabilities. If you have any questions regarding the use of PowerSchool please contact the school office at 508-416-2100.
Work Permit Information:
Link to the Work Permit Google Form for students: Work Permit Google Form
Important! Students need to be logged in to their Keefe student account to access the link :)
Keefe Tech Booster Club Looking for School Year 2023-2024 Volunteers!
Reach out for more info how to help, or to make a donation!
Jacinthe Benstrong-Twohig, KT Booster Club President
Jacinthe2019@icloud.com
Academic Updates
Ms. Guastella's students were hard at work discussing the growth in character relationships from Swing!
Ash Steen, Ava Harriman and Turina Garrant having some success and some frustration at the wheel in Mr Lamb's ceramic class!
Mrs. McDonald's sophomore working on their collaborative memory challenge during the Memory of Things unit!
Career and Technical Updates
New Salon pricing list!
A few photos from the juniors first week with the salon open!
Electrical students install an underground service to a job trailer!
Carpentry Juniors and Seniors building a full shed dormer for a customer in Framingham!
Senior students worked on Fire Prevention Week projects to do with the children at the child care center.
During Spirit week, junior Early Childhood Students dress as Alvin and the Chipmunks - Max, Duda and Izzy!
Sophomores in Mrs. Hargrove’s class worked on set design for stop motion videos, while presenting their Guerilla Marketing projects!
HVAC/R making a Walk in Cooler in shop!
Sophomore Health Careers students learning Vital Signs!
Sophomore Cosmetology visited Snip-it’s this week! We witnessed several “little “ clients get their hair cut!
Big Day for Sophomore Cosmetology! We welcomed residents of Bridges of Sudbury for complimentary manicures this week in Cosmetology. Our sophomores knocked it out of the park with their first official clients!
Health Office Updates
Free flu clinic info!
School Counseling
Seniors who are planning to apply to 4-year colleges and universities should be working on their college applications, completing necessary essays and making sure they have connected with teachers about recommendations. Students should make an appointment with their School Counselor to review. Deadlines come up quick and we want to make sure they everyone is on track. Counselors are planning to put together some group workshops and different ways to get information our to seniors that are as user friendly as possible - say tuned!
Important Changes with the FAFSA/Financial Aid process for the Class of 2024:
The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be delayed due to the new changes in the implementation of the Simplified FAFSA form. The 2024-2025 FAFSA application will become available in December 2023 (previous years it was on October 1st). Some of the new changes to the FAFSA include: fewer questions (decreasing from 108 to 46) and the ability to list more colleges. Students planning on attending college after high school should start learning about the new FAFSA program. Students/parents can learn more about financial aid and the financial aid process right now by visiting: https://studentaid.gov/ or https://www.mefa.org/types-of-financial-aid.
School Counselor Caseloads and additional contact information are below:
- Fill out this counselor request form online
- Stop by the counseling office to fill out an appointment request
- Email your School Counselor
- Call your School Counselor
Mental Health Resources for Families:
Family Resource:
The McLean School Consultation Service is excited to announce our second annual “Leaders in Youth Mental Health Series.” For the 2023-2024 academic year, McLean will be hosting 7 free parent webinars presented by McLean clinical experts. The topics will focus on childhood suicidality/self-harm, childhood irritability, pediatric anxiety disorders and OCD, navigating the mental health system for youth in crisis, supporting non-binary and transgender youth, and partnering with schools for youth services and supports.
Dear parents/guardians,
The week of October 30 - November 2 marks International Stress Awareness Week. While managing stress is something everyone contends with on a daily basis, awareness weeks are a good time to highlight what we may know and how we can do better to take care of ourselves and your students.
Students these days deal with so much. So many students work jobs outside of school, play sports, manage friendships and romantic relationships, work to keep up with academics, contend with social media pressures, and so on.
Here are 10 tips for teenage to manage everyday stress, according to kidshealth.org:
1. Balance work and play: Make time to work on schoolwork but also do things you enjoy like playing music, working out, and spending time with friends.
2. Plan your day: Use a calendar or planning app to keep track of your daily schedule. Fill in tests and when assignments are due. Block in times for tests and work on assignments.
3. Stick to your plan: Check off what you have done. Make a routine time to study. This lowers daily schoolwork stress.
4. Ask for help when you need it: If you need help with assignments or planning, ask your teacher. If you need help with mental health needs, stop by your counselor's office. A big part of being in high school is self advocacy and learning those life skills on seeking support when you need it.
5. Use the positive energy of stress: Stress is not all bad. A little bit of stress can serve as a motivator. Don't put things off until the last minute.
6. Deal with problems as they come up: Don't ignore everyday problems as they can add up. Instead, ask for advice from others, whether it be a parent, teacher, coach, counselor, or friend.
7. Eat good foods: What you eat impacts your mood, energy, and stress level. Choose foods that are good for you like fresh fruits, nuts, whole grains, and vegetables as much as possible. If sweets and caffeine are your main source of fuel you will be likely to crash and feel cranky.
8. Get enough sleep: After a long day of school and activities, you may feel like staying up late. Social media and phones also keep students awake later than what is optimal. However, lack of sleep is the main cause of stress and mood swings. Without enough sleep it is nearly impossible to manage life's ups and downs.
9. Exercise every day: Stress melts away when working out, playing a sport, or dancing to favorite music. Exercise also keeps you tift and lowers overall anxiety rates.
10. Breathe deeply: When feeling overwhelmed, take some deep, slow breaths. Try "box breathing" where you breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale for four.
Parents need help with stress too! See attached for some parenting tips.
Thanks,
Julia Fairclough LICSW, SAC, Adjustment Counselor
Student Activities
On Saturday, October 14th, members of SkillsUSA and the KT Cheerleaders volunteered at the Senator Karen Spilka 55+ Health Fair at Keefe Tech. Students helped attendees as they spent the morning visiting vendor booths and attending workshops (and finding a missing cell phone or two!) Great job representing Keefe Tech everyone!
Just a few more photos from our fall spirit week!
Hopkinton state park trio Oct 26!
Horticulture at honeypot orchard!
Athletics
KT Broncos Game Schedule:
Check out our athletes in action!
We will keep adding to this album all season, keep up with your favorite KT teams!
Community Resources
Out-Patient Counseling - Advocates Walk-In Hours:
SAME DAY ACCESS FOR FRAMINGHAM CLINIC - EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
No matter what age, insurance, language spoken, etc- we will set you up with an intake and review service options.
Framingham Clinic:
Framingham: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5pm
1094 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702
United States
Location Phone
For questions, please contact the Advocates Community Counseling Intake Department at 508-661-2038 or counseling2@advocates.org
State Programs and Local Food Resources:
Pearl Street Cupboard and Cafe - The Pearl Street Cupboard & Café provides monthly groceries to Framingham residents. Individuals and families in need are provided with a monthly supply of nutritious foods like chicken and fish, produce, dairy, bread and grocery items to prepare meals at home. A community meal is served 7 days each week for residents of Framingham and surrounding towns.
Daniel's Table - Daniel's Table distributes food to Framingham residents with children 18 and under and persons over 60 years of age.
Project Bread - Project Bread connects people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. If you are in need of food security, call 1-800-645-8333.
Metrowest YMCA Food Distribution - The MetroWest YMCA believes that fighting food insecurity makes their community stronger. As part of their commitment to healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility, they provide year-round grocery distribution at the Framingham Branch and meal distribution at various community sites throughout the summer.
- Grocery distribution takes place on Monday's and Friday's from 3:00pm - 5:00pm (while supplies last) at the Metrowest YMCA. No membership is required to access these resources.
A Place to Turn - A Place To Turn is committed to providing emergency food and clothing to our neighbors in the MetroWest community. We will serve those in need in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect.
Salvation Army Framingham - On Tuesdays and Thursdays, clients arrive at 12 to stock up on fresh produce, bread, sweets and miscellaneous items donated from Trader Joe's, BJ's, Stop & Shop, Wegmans and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
SNAP Benefits Application - SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It was formerly known as food stamps and is run by the Department of Transitional Assistance. 1 out of 9 people in Massachusetts receive SNAP benefits. Apply for SNAP in 20 minutes or less.
WIC - The Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program keeps pregnant and breastfeeding women and kids under 5 healthy. WIC is a nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services, free of charge, to Massachusetts families who qualify.
Keefe Regional Technical School
Website: keefetech.org
Location: 750 Winter Street, Framingham, MA, United States
Phone: 508-416-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/keefetech