Highlander Times

I am happy to report that last Friday's homecoming dance was a smashing success. The students were truly dressed in high New York fashion and seemed to have a wonderful time. Shout out to Somernova for volunteering their fabulous space, to our senior class advisors Tammy Martorana and Grace Torino, and to our class officers for their hard work and planning.

First quarter ends November 1. Please check your student's Aspen to see their grades and absences, and talk with your students about how they're doing. You and/or your student can reach out to the teacher with any questions. Report cards will be posted on Aspen and mailed home the week of November 4.

I want to thank you again for your patience and support during our secure and hold last Friday. To echo the sentiments in the email sent last week from the superintendent and mayor, going through a secure and hold can be upsetting and stressful. It is also my sincere wish that we never have to subject students to these types of safety protocols, but unfortunately in this day and age, we do. While last Friday’s incident was a hoax threat, we will always err on the side of caution and thoroughly evaluate the credibility of any threat. We will be conducting our annual school-wide safety drill to practice our protocols on November 21.

And finally, please remember there is no school Tuesday, November 5 for Election Day.

The class of 2025 yearbook is in full production by a talented and diverse group of students. This year's keepsake for our seniors is looking to be a great one! We have three very important and time sensitive items to share with you below regarding the yearbook.

Senior Portrait Photos!

• Senior Photo Deadline: Photos should be turned in by November 22. If another photo is not submitted, picture day photos will be used.
• Email Senior Portraits to: yearbookatshs@gmail.com
• If you need a photo taken: CTE Graphics is taking basic portrait photos for those who need them. E-mail yearbookatshs@gmail.com to request a photo and we will reach out to you with a date and time.
• Basic Portrait Specifications:
• Photos should be a minimum of 4 x 5 inches and 300 pixels per inch
• Note: Larger is OK, but all photos will be sized and cropped to a similar 4 to 5 ratio.
• Acceptable File types: JPEG, PNG, and TIFF
• Name your photo as: firstname_lastname_grade - (ex: rex_ryan_12)

Yearbooks are on Sale NOW! By ordering early, you really help us to plan and keep our commitments.

• Yearbooks are $70 each - Order one by November 29, and be entered to win one of four $50 Amazon gift cards.
• Follow this link to order your yearbook online: Order Link
• (If students have cash or checks and want to order a book in person, see Mr. McElroy in C-400.)

Student Recognition Ads are Available! Celebrate your student's graduation and achievement with a personal full color congratulations ad. Ads start at ⅛ page and can be ordered on the same page as the yearbook: Order Link

We still need most of our families to sign off on our Acknowledgement of SHS Policies Form, which includes information on the handbook, photo releases, and the military information opt-out form. Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) of 2001, high schools that receive federal funds must provide certain student contact information (name, address, phone number) to military recruiters upon request and must allow recruiters to have the same access to students as employers and colleges. If any student or their parent/guardian(s) do not want this information released to the military recruiters, they must complete the Military Recruitment Opt Out Form each school year, which is included in the Acknowledgement of SHS Policies Form. The first list of students who have not opted out, will be provided to the military branches who have made this request on November 1st.

Following a long standing tradition, seniors can dress up in costumes on October 31. Seniors will have a special lunch with costume contest from 11-12, and will be dismissed at 12. Students may stay at school if they wish but will need to attend classes. Guidelines for costumes are below:

• Only seniors may wear costumes.

• Seniors must go to class and should not wander the hallways

• Costumes may not be demeaning to any ethnic group, race, religion, nationality, disability, gender or individual (staff or student) at the school.

• Costumes should not make light of serious issues (ex: No P. Diddy/Sean Combs)

• Costumes may not cause a disruption or distraction to the school program

• No weapons, toy weapons, or props replicating weapons (sorry, no light sabers either!) are to be brought to school.

• No costumes are allowed that would completely hide the identity of the student, i.e. Hazmat suit, gorilla suit, “Scream” character. Face paint shouldn’t cover more than 50% of the face .

• No full-face masks are permitted (they may not be worn OR carried) NOTE - students may wear full -ace masks for the costume contest but should leave the masks with their community or a teacher during the day.

• Costumes may not show obscene materials or prohibited substances.

• If you have questions about the appropriateness of your costume, please ask your assistant principal

If costumes are not appropriate, students will be asked to change.

Many of you let me know that this survey did not work. It now works! The PTSA and SHS are interested in raising funds and hosting some events. We need some folks with ideas and energy. Please let us know if you're interested in helping out. Proceeds will go toward SHS students, including making sure that all seniors can participate in prom, graduation, and other senior traditions. We're no longer thinking a big "gala" but we'd like to start up some new traditions! We need team of staff and parents/guardians/community members to make this happen. If interested, please fill out this interest form.

The PTSA and SFLC work together to provide gift cards for food to our SHS families in need during the holiday season. Please donate if you can, as the need is great! You can donate via Venmo @SHSPTSA1 or drop off gift cards to the high school main office.

Do you have a flexible schedule? Enjoy spending time and learning with some wonderful young adults? Then sign up to chaperone a field trip! We are looking for volunteers to help us out on field trips by chaperoning. All that is required is a CORI check and a good attitude. If interested/available, please fill out this form. Thank you to everyone who signed up already - we will be sending you a CORI form in the near future.

We are looking for winter gear in good condition. If you have coats, boots, mittens, hats and gloves that you can donate, please drop them off in the SFLC donation bin by the main office. Thank you in advance for helping keep our students warm!

• October 31: Senior Costume Day - seniors dismissed at 12:00; full day for all other students
• November 1: Last Day of First Quarter
• November 5: No School - Election Day
• November 11: No School - Veterans Day
• November 13: School Improvement Council 6:30-8:00pm
• November 14: Parent Guardian Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm
• November 19-21: Winter Sports Clearance
• November 21: School Wide Safety Drill
• November 21: Picture Retake Day (not at the same time as the safety drill)
• November 27: 1/2 day and Pep Rally
• November 28-29: No School - Thanksgiving Break

SHS had a successful college fair on October 10th. One hundred seventy-seven students attended (over two hundred people were there, including parents/guardians/caregivers). We had over sixty colleges present. The attached picture was taken only ten minutes in. It was a lot of fun!

Melanie Kessler, Julie Phylis, and their college & career team, as always, did an amazing job organizing it and making it run smoothly. Some of the school counselors were also there to help, staying late to move tables and clean up. There were also many students who pitched in, including senior Sohedra Yadav stayed late to help clean up.

On October 2nd, fifty-five students attended a portfolio preparation seminar during X-Block, co-led by Ms. Lindsey Richard and Suffolk University professor Steve Novick. The session provided valuable guidance on building strong, cohesive portfolios for college applications covering topics such as curating artwork and crafting personal artistic statements. The seminar concluded with an active Q&A session, where students engaged in discussions about their work and future goals. Many students are now preparing their portfolios for National Portfolio Day, taking place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on Saturday, October 19. This seminar, hosted by the art department, offered essential insight for students pursuing their creative futures.

Students in Ms. Lindsey Richard’s Studio Art and Art Major Foundations classes are putting the finishing touches on their self-portrait projects, which will be installed in the hallways of Somerville High School later this month—be sure to look out for them! Throughout this assignment, students focused on mastering value in greyscale and refining shading techniques to achieve likeness and realism using graphite. This project challenged students to develop their technical skills while creating personal, expressive works that showcase their growth as artists.

The Somerville High School Quilt Project involved students from the Fashion Art course with students designing the quilt squares. Each square depicted the students' top ten values selected from a list of thirty-seven, using fabric remnants to bring their sketches to life while integrating the elements and principles of design. The project challenged students to learn machine sewing for the first time and practice hand embroidery, incorporating six of the fifteen basic embroidery stitches. The resulting quilt serves as a unique tapestry of values, creativity, and craftsmanship, showcasing personal expression, collaborative spirit, and newfound skills in textile arts.

This project will be exhibited at Somerville District Court's annual exhibit celebrating Cultural Appreciation Week, themed "Diverse Threads, One Tapestry – The Strength of Connections."

The SHS visual arts team has been up to some amazing work. Creative projects within the art class include pixelation animation to humorously depict the challenges of navigating the school (Cartooning & Animation with Ms. Richard), value and shading techniques in self-portrait projects (Studio Art with Ms. Richard), and iconic movie scenes across campus locations (Photography with Mr. Marmysh). In Ms. Byrne’s and Thomas’ Ceramics classes, students had the opportunity to meet and hear artist Marcy Kenney talk about how to have a viable career as a ceramic artist. Finally, in Fashion Art, students contributed to a "community values" quilt that will be displayed during cultural appreciation week.

The newly formed Art Council is a collaborative group of student leaders representing various art-related extracurriculars, including Art Club, Clay Club, Fashion Club, National Art Honor Society, and Photo Club. Focused on student-led events, discussions, and community art opportunities, the council works to make art a more vibrant and visible presence in our school and community. Under the guidance of the art department teachers, students take the lead in organizing projects and initiatives that engage both the school and the broader community, from a mural for the high school cafeteria and an animation and film mini-series focused on multidisciplinary topics.