Blue Hills News

Welcome back to school! It is hard to believe that the 2024-2025 school year is upon us already. It has been a busy summer. We have added a number of new teachers to our team, the floors are waxed and polished, and athletics are in full swing. A special "thank you" to our facilities and maintenance team, as they go above and beyond each summer to refresh the building and grounds and get us ready for the start of the school year.

Today, we opened for Faculty & Staff, and tomorrow, we hold our Grade 9 and New Students Orientation. We are looking forward to having students back in the building.

Most of the school reopening information that you need is contained in the Welcome Back Letter, dated August 14, 2024. We look forward to welcoming all students on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. It will be an "X1" Day - so sophomores and seniors are in vocational programs, while grades 9 and 11 will be in academics. All juniors should access their schedule prior to Tuesday so that they know where to report.

Each Thursday – holidays excepted – I do my best to send out a weekly update called "Blue Hills News" to all faculty, staff, students, and parents/guardians. We post this to the website and blast it out on our social media as well. The hope is to keep everyone informed of what is happening at BHR, highlight some of our students and faculty, and relay important information. Please prioritize opening and reading this weekly communication.

Some important reminders as we start the year:

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.
   

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.

To give you an idea of who to contact when or if an issue does arise, or you just need some more information, please see these key contacts below.

Key Contacts:

• Geoff Zini, Principal - gzini@bluehills.org
• Assistant: Cindy Fama, cfama@bluehills.org (Family ID/registration issues)
• Mr. Aubrey, Assistant Principal - maubrey@bluehills.org discipline, attendance, bus -
• Assistant: Christine Connolly - cconnolly@bluehills.org attendance (tardies, dismissals, absences)
• Angelo Dimitriou, Director of Special Services - adimitriou@bluehills.org (IEPs, 504s)
• Assistant: Tracey Monti, tmonti@bluehills.org
• Paul Bavuso, Academic Director - pbavuso@bluehills.org (MCAS, grades, academics)
• Assistant: Courtney Wall, cwall@bluehills.org
• Michelle Sylvia, Vocational Director - msylvia@bluehills.org (exploratory, vocational placement)
• Assistant: Madelyn Kewer, mkewer@bluehills.org
• Kim Poliseno, Coop Coordinator - kpoliseno@bluehills.org
• Guidance Office
• Assistant: Laurie Driscoll - ldriscoll@bluehills.org
• Laura Serpa, Counselor - lserpa@bluehills.org
• John Davis, Counselor - jdavis@bluehills.org
• Emily Burns, Counselor - eburns@bluehills.org
• Sarah Titus, Counselor - stitus@bluehills.org
• Athletics - Ed Catabia, Athletic Director - ecatabia@bluehills.org

As the new school year begins, the Health room is open and in full swing! Here are a few reminders to help ensure and great start to the new school year.

Updated Physical Exams

Up-to-date physicals (dated within the past 13 months) are required for all new students to BHR. Physical Exams are required for new students. Please fax these to (781) 828-3872 or bring or send a hard copy in with your student to the School Nurse office. *Note: religious exemptions for vaccinations MUST be renewed at the beginning of each school year.

Medication

All medications requiring administration at school require a physician order. This order must be renewed each school year. Medications need to be given to the nurse in the original prescription container.

All controlled substances must be brought to school by a parent/guardian. These medications will not be accepted from students. Students are not permitted to carry or possess any medication (prescription or OTC) at school, EXCEPT emergency medications (per physician order) such as EpiPens and inhalers.

If your child requires an emergency medication, such as inhaler, EpiPen, or seizure medication, an updated Action Plan, dated within the past year, will need to be provided. This Action Plan is provided by your child’s pediatrician.

Should your child require an over the counter medication while at school, you must consent to this on the Health Authorization form in PowerSchool. Verbal consent will not be accepted.

Please notify the school nurse at letheart@bluehills.org if you have any questions.

Happy National Dog Day (August 26) from Luca, our fur-ever friend who brings joy and comfort to anyone he meets! #LiveLaughLuca #IamBlueHills #PawsitiveVibes

2024-2025 Meeting Schedule

~ Wednesday 9/11

~ Tuesday 10/8

~ Wednesday 11/13

~ Tuesday 12/10

~ 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

Join the Boosters for a new parent pot luck social! Thursday, September 5 at 6 p.m.

Visit the cafeteria's page for more information!

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

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.

August 28 - Grade 9 Parents Night, 6 p.m.

August 29 - Grade 9 and New Students Orientation, 7:40 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

August 30 - No School

September 2 - Labor Day, No School

September 3 - First Day of School (X1)

September 6 - Mini-Exploratory (Y1)

September 12 - Faculty Meeting

September 16 - 3:10 late buses start (typically Monday through Thursday each week)

September 26 - In-Service, Late Arrival (10:40 a.m.)

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.