Happy Thanksgiving! This will be the final newsletter before December - I hope that you have a wonderful holiday break next week. Take some time to practice gratitude!

A brief, but important newsletter this week.

1. Monday, November 25 is picture retake day. Information below. This is the last day for pictures!
2. Monday, November 25 - Deadline for FamilyID registration for winter sports.
3. Tuesday, November 26 - Showcase. Delayed Arrival (3 1/2 hours, 11:15 a.m. arrival) for students.
4. Wednesday, November 27 - Early Dismissal, 10:50 a.m. - Thanksgiving Break starts.
5. No School Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29.
6. Monday, December 2 - School re-opens and winter tryouts begin for athletics.
7. Tuesday and Wednesday, December 3 and 4 - Final opportunity for senior photos with Legacy Studios

IMPORTANT: Blue Hills Internet Network Access - Please Read

No student is allowed to access any BHR wireless network on their personal device. Each student receives a chromebook with access to the network for school purposes. Seeking out or obtaining a password for any Blue Hills network and using it to connect a personal device will result in disciplinary action being taken. This is reinforced by the student handbook and acceptable use policy: students are forbidden from "attempting to gain unauthorized access to system programs or computer equipment, including attempts to override any firewalls established on the network." This is a significant security issue, and we are asking for your cooperation so that disciplinary action can be avoided.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

IMPORTANT: Upcoming Deadlines

School Picture and ID Retakes - Monday, November 25th, 2024

Did your child miss having their photo ID taken? Did you not like how the first photo sitting came out? Here is your final chance for a do-over. Please use the information below and keep in mind you must return your current photo package in order to have retakes done.

Winter Athletics - signups are happening now. Any student interested in trying out for a winter sport must sign up using Arbiter/Family ID. The season begins December 2; registrations and physical exams are due by November 25, 2024. Failure to register or provide a current, valid physical exam will result in the student not being allowed to try out.

Seniors - Cap and Gown Fees have been sent through Myschoolbucks!

Congratulations to our two students of the month for November. Stephen Baez Pol and Christina Rossini are both outstanding students and communicators - our Vision of a Graduate theme for the month. Congratulations!

You can be never be quite sure what you will see walking around a career tech school... here is an infographic made by DVC junior Dylan Seastrand. Reminds me of a not too distant past when a two- dimensional video game graphic was the newest and coolest thing out there! Did anyone have a Commodore 64?

Congratulations to the Varsity Football team for defeating Lynn Tech last week in a nail-biter, 24-21. On to the semifinals for the Vocational Tournament - Saturday Night, November 23, 5 p.m., at HOME vs. Upper Cape. Good luck!

The football team will then take on Bristol-Plymouth on Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m, at HOME. Good luck in the Thanksgiving Day game!

Attached you will find a Flyer with all of the necessary information to purchase your

Official Class Ring. You may scan the QR Code or Click on the link provided on the

Flyer and either one will bring you right to your school’s website on Balfour.com.

Also on the Flyer is a link to the Balfour brochure so that you may look through it

beforehand to see all of the different options Balfour has to offer.

Balfour has also provided you with a Finger Sizer. Please print it out and follow the

instructions on how to size your finger. You can always stop by a local jewelry store to

get your finger- sized as well.

For a limited time, Balfour is offering $42.00 off select Celestrium Rings! Prices are

already reflected on the website.

*Also on the Balfour website, there is a lot of great merchandise: Hoodies, T-Shirts,

Sweatpants, etc. Stock up on some great Class Gear!!!

Slides Order Link Below!!

Class of 2025 Lawn Signs: For purchase, here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2025-senior-lawn-signs/items?cart

2024-2025 Remaining Meeting Schedule

~ Tuesday 12/17 (**CHANGE**)

~ Wednesday 1/8

~ Tuesday 2/11

~ Wednesday 3/12

~ Tuesday 4/8

~ Wednesday 5/14

~ Tuesday 6/10

• Meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the Chateau de Bleu (School Restaurant)
• Dates subject to change; changes will be posted to the Blue Hills Boosters Facebook Page

As of May 3, 2024, the Department of Public Health has released new guidance for COVID-19. BHR follows the current recommendations, found here under "School and Childcare Settings." Details can be found at this link: Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses | Mass.gov.

Please obtain a letter from the pediatrician to cover the days your student misses from school due to illness. You may share that letter with the attendance manager, Christine Connolly at: attendance@bluehills.org.

Your student is responsible for communicating missed work with teachers and/or checking work online to stay on track, if they are well enough. They may return to school and resume normal activities with precautions as long as they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, and their symptoms are improving.

For at least the first 5 days after resuming normal activities, extra precautions are recommended, but not required. These include:

• Avoid crowded indoor spaces.

• Wear a mask indoors around other people.

• Wash your hands often

• Cover your coughs and sneezes

This year, we are rolling out our "Vision of a Graduate." Each month, there will be a theme that we'll focus on around the building. Our students of the month will be selected using the theme as one of the criteria. The Vision of a Graduate is a great tool to help focus the entire school community on our ultimate outcome - producing graduates that are equipped and ready for their future.

November's Vision of a Graduate Theme is "Communicator"

"We speak, read, write, and listen effectively. We are respectful in our words, tone, and body language. We are able to reflect on disagreement and work to resolve conflict." - BHR VoG

Visit the cafeteria's page for more information!

https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1708116494561

(September 12, 2024)

1. Headphones and ear buds are not allowed in hallways or classes, unless a teacher grants specific permission to use them. They are only allowed in the cafeteria during breakfast or lunch. Students will receive detention hours if they are not complying with this rule.
2. Hoods are not allowed during the school day (7:48 to 2:20)
3. Bus arrival times at bus stops are approximate. Students should arrive 15-20 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Traffic patterns greatly impact how fast bus routes are completed.
4. ONLY students who are eating breakfast should get off the bus upon arrival. All students not eating breakfast should remain on the bus until released at 7:40.
5. Attendance has been outstanding to start the year for most students. Please review the attendance policy at the bottom of the newsletter - tardies, dismissals, and absences all contribute to the total absences a student has during the year. Be here and be on time!

(September 5, 2024)

1. PowerSchool is our student information system. Login here: PowerSchool Parent Login. Parents who wish to see grades during the term or final term grades need to have access to PowerSchool. Access remains the same for all returning families; new grade 9 parents were sent login information by the Admissions Department.
2. See below for Health Office updates
3. Please review attendance requirements. Students will face summer school if absences exceed the policy limit!
4. Grade 9 Students and Families: Check out the Exploratory Program Guide for help in managing exploratory this year!
5. Drop-off and Pick-up are always busy. Please use the entrance closest to Massasoit and exit through the "main" entrance/exit. Pull all the way up. Do not block buses. We will have staff to help direct folks for the first few weeks.
   
6. Make sure your student arrives at the bus stop early. Bus pickup times are approximate!
7. Phones are not allowed during any instructional time, except with the express permission of the teacher. "Earbuds" and head phones follow the same rules, and may not be worn during the day.
8. Dress Code: We expect students to be in shop uniform during vocational weeks, and dressed professionally during their academic weeks. Per the handbook, tops and bottoms must provide "sufficient coverage" to be allowed, and hoods are not allowed in the building. Clothing must also be appropriate; offensive language or logos are prohibited.
9. All juniors and seniors are required to register their vehicle in order to park on campus. A $25 fee is required for the entire school year. Students, and it must be the student, should fill out the parking form in the form section of their PowerSchool account. Once completed, a message will go to Ms. Fama in the Main Office, and she will send a bill to the student's parents through myschoolbucks.com. Once the payment is received, Ms Fama will issue the parking pass within a few weeks of the start of school.

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.

November 15: Report Cards

November 26: Showcase, Late Arrival for Students at 11:15 a.m.

November 27: Early Dismissal, Thanksgiving Break (10:50 a.m.)

November 28: Thanksgiving Day Football Game at BHR 10 a.m.

November 28-29: School Closed

December 2: School Re-Opens, Winter Sports begin

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.

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.