QRMHS Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible work being done by our 6th to 12th grade students. From exciting hands-on projects in science and engineering to inspiring performances in music and drama, our students continue to excel and grow in so many ways. We recently had a wonderful production of Beauty and the Beast, showcasing the talent and hard work of our students and staff. Additionally, our school had a very successful visit from the Commissioner of Education, where we highlighted the outstanding achievements of our students and the progress we are making as a community. I’d also like to highlight the efforts of our National Honor Society, who are organizing a toy drive to support local families in need. Finally, our QMunity Closet initiative continues to provide essential resources to families, and I encourage anyone in need of support to reach out to me directly. As we look ahead to the holidays, I wish all of our families a safe and restful month filled with joy, reflection, and quality time together. Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community!

With warm regards,

Ms. DeMorais, QRMHS Principal

12/10

12/17

12/18

12/19

12/23

Congratulations to our Guidance Director, Ashley Csorba who welcomed a baby girl on November 21st. Mrs. Csorba will be on maternity leave, if you need assistance, please reach out to our guidance secretary Kristen Glover at kglover@qrsd.org and she will direct your concern to the appropriate personnel.

UPDATES FROM GRADES 8 & 9:

Pathfinder Applications open on Dec. 4th, 2024.

Career Night

Monty Tech. Applications are Due in the Blue House by January 10th, 2025

Monty Tech Application

UPDATES FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL:

The middle school has a lot to be thankful for! This month the middle school counseling department focused on what we are thankful for.

UPDATES FROM GRADES 10-12:

College applications are in full swing! All seniors should be meeting with their guidance counselor to discuss their post-secondary plans.

Guidance Counselors joined grade 11 flex blocks in November to review graduation requirements and explore college and career options on Naviance. They will also be joining grade 10 flex blocks in December to complete Career Interest Inventories!

A very deserving group of seniors (nominated by coaches) at the 30th Annual MIAA Sportsmanship Summit. (L-R in first picture) Quinn Geary, Jaxon Warburton, Bella Smith, Ruby Gatulis, Ryan Wing, Cullan White, Travis LaRoche.

The varsity football team has already tied the school record for most wins in a season (tying the 2016 team that lost to Grafton, Coach Page’s alma mater, in the playoffs) with a record of 7-3 heading into the Thanksgiving Day game vs. Gardner who sits at 9-1.

Winter athletic registration just finished up with well over 220 kids as of today. MS teams are open to grades 6-8. If a 7th/8th grade student would like to try out for JV/Varsity basketball, they should register for that level and attend that tryout on Dec. 2nd (coaches will determine which level they should attend on day two). All other teams have eligible grades listed.

Students can register for the following winter sports and levels:

Boys' basketball - MS, JV, Varsity

Girls' basketball - MS, JV, Varsity

Boys’ indoor track - Varsity only - grades 8-12

Girls’ indoor track - Varsity only - grades 8-12

Wrestling - MS and Varsity (coed)

Varsity cheer - grades 7-12 (coed)

Boys’ ice hockey (co-op with Gardner) – grades 8-12

Girls’ ice hockey (co-op with Leominster) – grades 8-12

Boys’ swim team (co-op with Gardner) – grades 7-12

Girls’ swim team (co-op with Gardner) – grades 7-12

All tryouts and practices begin on Monday, Dec. 2nd.

All schedules, including practices and games, can be found HERE.

For each of the seasons that Coach Page has been here, we have organized a cooperative community service day on the day before Thanksgiving for our senior football players and the Gardner senior football players ahead of the Thanksgiving game. This allows our kids to work together on something for the community before matching up in an often-heated game. Last year, we worked on the Q-Munity Closet and stuffed bags here at Quabbin. The previous year we helped clean out an entire elementary school (Waterford Street School) with Peter McMorrow (Mrs. McMorrow's husband) for the alternative program there. The two years prior, we worked with CAC in Gardner and the students' stuffed bags of food for families in need and delivered them before the holiday.

While the other students had a day off the day before Thanksgiving, our senior football players were reading to kids in grades K-1 at Gardner Elementary from 10:25am-11:30am before dismissal and then giving them a sendoff to the buses. From there, the boosters from both schools sponsored a senior luncheon at the Gardner Ale House where the owner (Rick Walton) has always taken very good care of us. Their head coach, Sean Whittle, AD, Dan Forte, Wayne and I were all there with them for the volunteer endeavor and luncheon. It was a nice way to create some positive comradery before the game!

STUDENT ABSENCE:

If your student is going to be absent from school, please call the school (prior to 7am if possible) or send an email to kguertin@qrsd.org.

Parents may excuse absences of 2 days or less, with a maximum of 7 parent excused absences in a school year. Excuse notes written by parents that are not received within 3 school days of the student returning will not be accepted. Student absences of 3 or more consecutive school days may only be excused by a note from a medical provider indicating the date(s) of the absences, reason for the absence, and be signed by a physician or licensed health professional. Please note that emails are the best means of providing excuse notifications. Please see the Student Handbook for more information on Attendance.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS:

All grade 7 and 10 students are required to have current physical examinations with updated immunization information on file to prevent possible exclusion from school per state mandate.

Student athletes and students participating in NJROTC are required to have updated physicals annually.

IMMUNIZATION UPDATE:

Grade 7 students are required to have an updated Tdap vaccine and a Meningitis vaccine.

Grade 11 students are required to have Meningitis vaccine updates.

Immunization information is reportable to the state annually. Please forward any updated physical examinations and immunization records to the health office as soon as possible. If you have vaccine exemptions, please remember these must be submitted to the health office annually.

Please feel free to contact the Nurses Office any time with questions, concerns. Documents can be faxed directly to the nurse's office at 978-355-9803 or emailed to kguertin@qrsd.org.

SUB NURSES NEEDED:

If you are a RN or LPN (or know someone who is) and are interested in subbing in one of our health care offices, we'd love to hear from you. We currently are in need of day-to-day substitutes for all of our buildings. You can reach out to your child's building administrator for more information, you can apply via School Spring, or you can call Nancy Landry at 978-355-4668 or email nlandry@qrsd.org for more information.

NJROTC ANNUAL INSPECTION - 22 November - A Grand Success!

Our first parent event of the school year was making Sea Glass Trees. The trees all came out so unique and beautiful. Thank you to the parents who joined us. I hope you find a special place for the trees in your home.

Learner Profile Attribute of the Month - Caring

In December, we focus on the IB Learner Profile attribute of "Caring." At Quabbin, we aim to nurture empathy and compassion in our students, encouraging them to show respect, kindness, and concern for the well-being of others. Being caring helps students build meaningful relationships and foster a positive community. We invite families to engage in conversations about how their children can show compassion at school and home, whether through small acts of kindness, supporting their peers, or contributing to community service.

Real-World IB Experiences

IB Environmental Systems and Societies students from Elicia Andrew’s class recently explored Harvard Forest as part of the Our Changing Forest and Schoolyard Ecology programs. During the field trip, they collected data on tree growth and forest conditions, contributing to Harvard Forest's long-term research on ecosystem changes. This hands-on experience reinforced classroom lessons on scientific methods and emphasized the value of real-world data collection. By working in forestry sampling plots, students supported ongoing research and deepened their understanding of Quabbin's unique woodland ecology.

Additionally, a group of high school students immersed themselves in the vibrant world of Spanish and Latin dance culture during a field trip to the Somerville Theatre. Led by Spanish teachers, Rebecca Cooley and Josefina White, the students experienced “Fusión Latino—Flamenco,” a dynamic show that blended artistry and history to showcase dance as a powerful cultural expression.

These enriching experiences reflect our commitment to the IB mission: "to develop students who are knowledgeable, caring, and inquisitive, and who help to create a more peaceful and better world" (ibo.org).

IB students explore Harvard Forest, collecting data to support real-world environmental research!

For more information about IB courses or the Diploma Program at Quabbin, please contact our IB Coordinator and Instructional Coach, Eleni Marinelli, at emarinelli@qrsd.org.

IB students explore Harvard Forest, collecting data to support real-world environmental research!

For more information about IB courses or the Diploma Program at Quabbin, please contact our IB Coordinator and Instructional Coach, Eleni Marinelli, at emarinelli@qrsd.org.

The Q-Munity Closet is available for any student or family connected to Quabbin Regional School District. Resources such as food, clothing, and hygiene products are available free of charge. All referrals are confidential and the Q-munity Closet can be used by contacting Principal Demorais at: pdemorais@qrsd.org, Adjustment Counselor Shannon Harris at: sharris@qrsd.org, or School Social Worker Nicole Mooney at nmooney@qrsd.org.

We are currently seeking donations of warm clothing and food for the pantry.

Most asked for items

Black leggings (sizes medium and large)

Sweatpants (sizes small, medium, large, and x-large)

Long sleeve plain shirts (sizes small to x-large)

Quabbin Regional Middle/High School is a collaborative learning community, where all students have opportunities to achieve personal excellence in a safe and accepting environment.

Our mission is to prepare students to become self-reliant, life-long learners who are responsible and resourceful citizens in a global society.

Email: pdemorais@qrsd.org
Website: Home - Quabbin Regional School District (qrsd.org)
Location: South Street, Barre, MA 01005, USA
Phone: (978)355-4651