Hello KT Community:

While the end of the year is still months away, I want to share some important information and event dates for our parents/guardians and families of grade 12 students!

Grade 12 students and families, the countdown to graduation is here! It is now time to order your cap and gown! Please use this link: Link to order cap & gown. Please note, there are a variety of options available at different price points, but you only need to order the “Essential Package” for $23 - that option is on the very bottom left of the page.

KT Prom: May 16, 2025 from 6:00 -10:00PM at the Marriott in Marlborough (Attendance is required at school to attend the evening event)

Senior Awards Night: May 21, 2025 at 6:00PM (Students receiving an award will receive an invitation)

Graduation Rehearsal: May 27, 2025 at 12:30PM at Keefe Tech (Required for all graduating seniors)

Senior BBQ and Yearbook Signing Event: May 27, 2025, immediately following graduation rehearsal

Graduation: May 28, 2025 at 6:00PM (Rain date, May 29) at the Warren Conference Center in Ashland. All graduating seniors will receive 6 tickets, and all guests need a ticket to enter.

Please note that graduation is outdoors, and while mostly under tents, it is partially weather dependent. One year we had to use the rain date due to the threat of a thunderstorm. Please reserve both dates for the event. We make every effort to hold graduation on the date planned, but we cannot be under the tents if there is a chance of thunder or lightning, and therefore may need to use the rain date.

We look forward to these culminating events every year. Please be in touch with your students' School Counselor if you have any questions or concerns about their path towards graduation or would like to discuss options for life after Keefe Tech!

Congratulations to the Freshman Volleyball Team for finishing the regular season with 18 wins and 4 loses.

Hey Keefe Tech - Tonight is the Homecoming Football Game! Please join the Keefe Tech Cheer Team in celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month in "Pinking Out" the game! Wear your pink! We hope to see you there as we tackle Breast Cancer.

No school Monday, October 14, 2024

Project Adventure will be hosting its annual apple-picking trip to Honey Pot Farms Wednesday, October 16th from 2:15 – 4:30 pm. Come and join us as we pick fresh apples and eat warm apple cider donuts, on this afternoon of fun! Please see Mr.Paul in the Horticulture or Mr. Sylvestre in the Metals shop for a permission slip.

School Pictures are Ready!

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• JOSEPH P KEEFE TECH HIGH SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE138424
• Also Needed: Powerschool Student ID

Picture make-up day is October 16th.

See/email Mrs. Graham for a link! Jgraham@jpkeefehs.org

Reach out for more info how to help:
Jacinthe Benstrong-Twohig, KT Booster Club President
Jacinthe2019@icloud.com

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.

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 :)

Hearing & Vision Screenings will begin for 10th graders at the end of the month during PE classes. If you do not want your student to be screened, please notify the nurses directly.

To Get Started:

1. To access the digital library, go to https://soraapp.com/library/keefema.

2. Users can log in to Sora with their KT Google credentials (KT email and password) and start reading!

3. Once connected, you can also access the digital collection by downloading the Sora app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

4. Sora allows you to add other libraries if you have a library card. KT can add the Framingham Public Library/Minuteman Library Network for free. Please take a look below for more details.

5. Lastly, check out Sora's free promotional materials from the Resource Center.

Happy Reading!

Forensic Evidence!

Ms. Guastella's grade 9 students participating in a gallery walk to comment on artistic allusions from the book Swing!

Madison Murphy of Eastford, CT was our salon's first client of the year. Aliyah Porter made her feel at ease and Madison had a wonderful time.

Cosmetology hosted their first community service event with Bridge's in Sudbury. The ladies were treated to complimentary manicures.

Harvest Hair! Cosmetology 10 graders walked around school and found fall foliage to accessorize their pumpkin buns.

Health Career Juniors working on their skills for applying incontinence briefs.

Seniors in Legal & Protective Services and Health Careers attended a joint training on Hoarding Intervention and Mental Health.

Last week in Health Careers, the Seniors attended Dia Feliz Adult Day Health Center in Framingham, where they played activities and interacted with their clients.

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!

Juniors! The PSAT sign up is complete. An email was sent to all students who signed up about a date for a technology check. Details to follow about your specific testing date, which will be the last week of October

While the SAT and/or ACT is still not required for a lot of colleges/Universities, we want to make sure that seniors are aware of the testing dates and deadlines to register. Please check with individual colleges about their testing policy. Students who register and feel that they qualify for a fee waiver can apply for a fee waiver through College Board. *Students, if you are signed up to take the SAT at Framingham High, you need to bring your own device, not your school chromebook. See your School Counselor if you have an issue with this.

Our school code is: 220854

Students who feel that they require accommodations for the SAT must request accommodations through the College Board. This typically is for students who maintain a 504 plan or IEP. Your counselor can help facilitate this process, but is not in charge of it. Decisions are made by College Board. In order for your counselor to help you apply for accommodations, you parent/guardian must sign the attached form, giving Keefe Tech permission to release some of your personal information. Get this form to your counselor ASAP because the College Board processes these requests as they receive them.

• MassEducate provides free tuition and fees at the state’s community colleges for all eligible Massachusetts students.
• MASSGrant Plus provides free tuition and fees at the state’s four-year universities for students whose families make up to $85,000 a year before taxes. Tuition and fees are reduced by up to half for students whose families earn between $85,000 and $100,000 a year before taxes.
• Applying for financial aid at any college starts with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. While that application is not available yet, students and families can apply now for the Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) so that they will be ready when the application opens.
• Eligible, non-U.S. citizens can apply for state financial aid through the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).
• Information about applying for financial aid, including links to information and one-on-one help, is available online.

Office of Students Financial Assistance / MA Dept of Higher Ed

MassGrant Plus

Create Account - Federal Student Aid

Tuition Equity / MA Dept of Higher Education

Tuition Equity/ Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Tuition Equity/ Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

FAFSA Events - Financial Aid

Tons of colleges and universities are visiting Keefe Tech during lunches this fall! See the calendar below for details and get your questions answered by these knowledgeable admissions representatives.

Keefe Tech partnered with Care Solace this year for our school to have access to 24/7/365 multilingual Mental Health Care Coordination Service. Getting help can be a daunting process.

Care Solace connects students, staff, and their families to care. At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available mental health and substance use providers matcher to your needs. Click the link below to check out this resource if you are looking for support outside of school.

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

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Once a student graduates high school there is so much for them (and you!) to manage that it can seem overwhelming. This is the jumping off point where students are no longer in that protected environment and structure that school will offer. Graduates need to figure out work, perhaps college, and how to take more control of organizing themselves.

We are excited that a young adult resource center in Framingham called TEMPO will be available every other week during lunches to meet with students and answer any questions about the practical aspects of life after high school. Visit https://www.waysideyouth.org/aboutus/ourservicesoverview/services/young-adult/tempo-young-adult-resource-center/ learn more about TEMPO.

Located in downtown Framingham, students can also visit TEMPO (1 Frederick Abbott Way) on a walk-in basis but it's always better to call at 508-879-9800 to make an appointment). Some ways that TEMPO has helped Keefe Tech students include building a resume, finding employment, financial aid for a driver's license, and referrals for mental health services.

You can tell your child to keep an eye out for the TEMPO table during their lunch! Two TEMPO staff members come to Keefe Tech with all sorts of information. Students just need to fill out an intake form and then a broad variety of support is possible.

Thank you,

Julia Fairclough LICSW, SAC

Adjustment Counselor

We are in need of some items for the school play, The Importance of Being Earnest, which runs November 15th-16th. We need these items by November 8th, and will promptly return them by the end of our run, and will give you a big special thank you in the school program. If by chance you have any of these things, and would like to help our developing drama program, we would greatly appreciate it! The play is set in 1895, so we are looking for items that would fit that era.

Looking for:

• Brass/gold, silver (looking), or glass candlesticks
• 2 vases for flowers
• Any victorian looking landscape artwork
• Any of those victorian looking oval frames
• Side tables
• Victorian looking coffee table/s
• Beverage cart (not super modern looking)
• Cafe table and chairs/or a wicker garden set
• Fake flowers
• Fake vines (they don't mind not getting back, as we will be hot gluing them)
• Watering can
• cross stitch items/or knitting items with something half knit
• hand bell
• A round white table cloth
• If you have a teapot and cups and saucers you can part with??
• Fireplace screen
• Fireplace poker set
• Wingback/Queen Anne chair or chairs
• Terracotta looking large plastic pots
• old hardcover books - no jackets (not like true rare vintage books, but something you don't care about so much about)
• And anything else you think may work well with a play set in 1895.

Thank you so much!!! You will greatly help us, and it is much appreciated.

Erin Rettino, M.ED.

Keefe Technical School

Theater & Elective Teacher

erettino@jpkeefehs.org

508-426-2100 Ext. 320

Hopefully everyone follows us on social media and saw all the spirit week fun! Just a few pics below!

Grace Arena, Class of 2024 speaking at the Governor's Press Conference on Free Community College at Mass Bay in Framingham!

Student Athletes, Justice Cesar and Estella Teixeira participated in the MIAA Student Leadership Summit at the Doubletree hotel in Westborough!

Please check out the programming at:

https://healthcare.mgb.org/streaming/Live/McLean/McLean_SCS.html

The first webinar is titled "How to Talk to Your Kids About Suicide and Myths that Get in the Way" and will be presented by Gillian Galen, PsyD. It will occur on Thursday, October 17th 9:00AM-10:00AM. Description and Zoom link can be found on the website above.

Check out the flyer below for more details - event is Wednesday, October 2024 between 3:30-6:30PM

Research study - you can make $30!

Website: keefetech.org
Location: 750 Winter Street, Framingham, MA, United States
Phone: 508-416-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/keefetech