Happy Halloween! November is here, and with it, a continued "busy" stretch at Blue Hills. From Open House to Showcase, this is our big month for admission applications. If you know an 8th grader interested in applying, be sure to encourage their attendance at Open House and Showcase, and remind them that the priority deadline to apply is December 13, 2024.

It was great to see so many parents and guardians over the last two weeks attend Parent-Teacher Conferences at the school. If you were not able to attend and would like to speak with someone about your student's performance, please reach out to the teacher directly or to your guidance counselor. As always, be sure you are checking PowerSchool for the latest information on grades and attendance.

Congratulations to the Football team & Girls Soccer team for making the MIAA tournament. Brackets will be announced soon! Girls Soccer finished the regular season with a stellar 13-2-3 record. Come see Varsity Football take on Southeastern Friday night at home, 7 pm. It's Senior Night!

Below, you'll find our latest Students of the Month, as well as some positive news articles and highlights from around the school.... perhaps some impressive Halloween outfits as well!

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

Hocus Pocus with our Business Manager, Ms. Brilhante, Superintendent-Director Ms. Rossetti, and Director of Admissions Ms. Albernaz.

At the cosmetology hair show last week, students went the extra (spooky) mile in creating their masterpieces. Nicely done!

Tayden Cardona Poupart pulling out all the stops!

Early Education & Care Sophomores with Ms. Frizzell showing their festive side!

Mr. Fitzmaurice channeling his inner Kathleen Murphy! Good "sports" all around!

Halloween Makeover in Cosmetology!

Alvin, Simon, Theodore!! Meet the Chipmunks!

And a few more festive spirits below....

Last week, the golf time invited a few of their teachers to join them on the course for a year-end wrap-up match. A beautiful day, and a great day to end the season - pictures below.

Students Alex Denney and Jonathan Fagan with Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Cleggett

Students Brendan McGonigle and Colin Steuterman with Mr. Fitzmaurice and Mr. Killeen

Students Marc Marcarelli and Ryan Young with Mr. Saltzman and Mr. Palmer

SPECIAL EDITION Online Boosters Store - open until 11/17/24 at MIDNIGHT. Products will be printed after all orders are in on 11/17. It generally takes 2-3 weeks for printing to be completed. For a fee you can them shipped directly to you or you can have the delivered to the school store for pickup.

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

2024-2025 Remaining Meeting Schedule

~ Wednesday 11/13

~ 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

With the chill in the air, we are all digging through closets for that perfect coat to keep us warm. As you find yourself searching, would you please consider donating any children’s or adult winter coats you no longer need?

Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott and The Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office are teaming up with Coats for Kids & Families to collect winter coats of all sizes for those in need. We are looking for warm winter coats that are new or gently used, good quality, and all sizes.

The Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a collection partner in this effort.

We will have collections bins in the lobbies of our Correctional Facility in Dedham and our Civil Process office in Quincy, starting this Friday.

Drop-offs at the Dedham facility will be accepted 7 days a week from Friday, October 11th through Friday, November 8th between 7:00 am - 8:00 pm. The Dedham facility is located at 200 West Street, Dedham, MA.

Drop-offs at the Quincy office will be accepted Monday-Friday from Friday, October 11th through Friday, November 8th between 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. The Quincy Office is located at 1255 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA.

The coats will then be professionally cleaned by Anton’s Cleaner and given to local nonprofits, social service agencies, and schools for distribution in Norfolk County and beyond. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity!

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.

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 5: Election Day, school is in session

November 6: Open House, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for prospective students, Early Dismissal 10:50 a.m.

November 7: In-Service, Late Arrival for Students 10:40 am

November 8: Mini-Exploratory #2 for Grade 9 & Term 1 Ends

November 11: Veterans Day, No School

November 12: Faculty Meeting, no 3:10 buses

November 15: Report Cards

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.