The Importance of Being Earnest is:

"Experience the wit and charm of Oscar Wilde’s *The Importance of Being Earnest*, a comedy of mistaken identities, love, and the absurdity of high society!" Or some semblance of that, with the comedy of mistaken identities, love, and the absurdity of high society.

Tickets to the play are $5 for students, $10 for adults. You can use the QR code below to get tickets, but they are also available at the door.

You are also able to make a donation to the Keefe Tech Drama Company using the QR code below. People can become Bronze ($5), Silver ($20), Gold ($50), Platinum ($100), or a Diamond ($500) donor. All proceeds go directly to the program and help to put on shows, pay for costumes, lighting, mic rentals, costumes, sets, etc.

We hope to see you next weekend!

Attention Juniors and Seniors: Registration is now open for the Seal of Biliteracy test, which will be held in December. Registration is open through November 18th. This is an excellent opportunity to earn a prestigious designation that recognizes your proficiency in multiple languages! For more details and to sign up to test, please use the link sent out in your Keefe Tech email. If you have any questions, please see Dr. Swasey or Mr. Johnson. There is a link below in the academic section with more information on how to register.

Military Branch Representatives at lunches - Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Keefe Tech Skills USA is conducting a Toy Drive to support the SkillsUSA holiday party this year. If you have any new, unopened toys you would be willing to donate, please drop them off in the box outside of room 325 by November 15th. Thank you for helping us put a smile on the face of children in need this holiday season!

Attention Seniors and Senior families: If you are planning on submitting a senior photo for the yearbook, they are due by December 20th. That is the last day of school before winter break. If you don't submit a photo, your Powerschool/ student I.D. photo will be used. If you do submit a photo, here are some guidelines.

Please send original high-resolution photos (not pictures of pictures.) Also, no cellphone photos please.

• send the largest file size available (not to exceed 5 MB.)
• a size between 500KB- 3 MB We will let you know if the image will not work
• JPG and PNG
• Simple backgrounds are preferred
• Headshots are preferred

Please email your photos to jmcgrath@jpkeefehs.org and nhargrove@jpkeefehs.org. Thank you!

School Pictures are Ready!

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• JOSEPH P KEEFE TECH HIGH SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE138424
• Also Needed: Powerschool Student ID

Use the google form to sign up! Learn how to get financial aid for college. A MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority) representative will be presenting on the financial aid process. Please bring a parent or guardian because they are an important part of this process! If you have any questions, please see your counselor!

If you have a yard that you are willing to put up a career night lawn sign in it, please send your student to see Ms. Sanchez on the third floor to pick one up! The more support from our current community, the better!

Reach out for more info how to help:
Jacinthe Benstrong-Twohig, KT Booster Club President
Jacinthe2019@icloud.com

Instructions to access PowerSchool parent/guardian account for Keefe Tech:

• The PowerSchool Parent Portal URL is: https://keefetech.powerschool.com/public/

• Access codes and passwords needed to set up parent/guardian accounts were originally sent home via email. If you need them again, please contact support at powerschool@jpkeefehs.org. Please provide your student’s name, grade, and student ID# if known/possible.

• Your username should be set to your full email address.

• Examples of special characters, when setting your password, are: !@#$*

• If you forget your Username or Password click the “Forgot Username or Password” link to have an email sent to reset it.

• If you aren’t receiving the Reset Password email, contact powerschool@jpkeefehs.org for further assistance.
  
  

Do you need to add another student to your PowerSchool parent account?

In your parent portal navigate to Account Preferences, then select the Students tab. Click on the Add button located on the right side of the screen. Enter your student’s name, access ID and Password, and your relationship to your student, then click OK. You should now see your 2nd student in your account. If you do not have the Access codes to add your student, contact powerschool@jpkeefehs.org too.

The PowerSchool app (on iPhone and Droid phone) works for students using their Keefe Tech email address now. The same PowerSchool app (on iPhone and Droid phone) works for parents/guardians to view their children as long as they have setup a registered account with PowerSchool.

All Keefe Tech students can download the PowerSchool app from the App Store, type in District code: CQJG and use the same Keefe email credentials to access their school information. Please work with your students at home if they need assistance accessing, email powerschool@jpkeefehs.org or have students visit 319A for further assistance from the Keefe Tech technology team.

If you do not have a smartphone, you can access your current grades and other information in PowerSchool via most internet browsers.

To access PowerSchool at KeefeTech, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Open an internet browser on your computer.

2. Type https://keefetech.powerschool.com/student into the address bar.

3. Type the student ID (email address) and Password (Google password). It is advisable that you keep your username and password secure and not share it with anyone else.

4. View the information.

5. Remember to log off when you are finished.

PARENT PORTAL HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Grades and Attendance tab will allow you to check assignments and scores by clicking on the blue percentage across from a class.

• Email the teacher a question or concern by simply clicking the blue teacher's name link.

• Announcements can be viewed daily

• The parent portal is an excellent tool for monitoring your child's academic success. Log in and familiarize yourself with its capabilities. If you have any questions regarding the use of PowerSchool please contact the school office at 508-416-2100.

Link to the Work Permit Google Form for students: Work Permit Google Form

Important! Students need to be logged in to their Keefe student account to access the link :)

Are you fluent in another language? Please see below about your chance to sign up for the Seal of Biliteracy Exam.

To Get Started:

1. To access the digital library, go to https://soraapp.com/library/keefema.

2. Users can log in to Sora with their KT Google credentials (KT email and password) and start reading!

3. Once connected, you can also access the digital collection by downloading the Sora app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

4. Sora allows you to add other libraries if you have a library card. KT can add the Framingham Public Library/Minuteman Library Network for free. Please take a look below for more details.

5. Lastly, check out Sora's free promotional materials from the Resource Center.

Happy Reading!

Students in IED, with Mr. Rabidou, worked through the design process, testing their newly engineered catapults!

Students with Ms. Wheeler started their day in Biology working on a virtual photosynthesis lab!

Students have been hard at work creating fence posts to adorn the front walkway of the school. Keefe Tech received funding from the Ashland, Hopkinton, Holliston and Framingham Cultural Councils for this project. Students were asked to create a piece of art that represents their story, who they are, keeping in mind that we have all traveled different paths to get here. Our journeys have brought us together at this time, in this place. Our goal is to highlight how unique and inspiring our School Community is and share that with the greater community and our sending districts.

We will be having an opening night on Friday, November 15th, at 5:30pm, before the Drama Club's presentation of The Importance of Being Earnest. The students' work will be on display until the end of the school year, so please feel free to come by any time to see their work. This program is funded in part by a grant from the Ashland, Hopkinton, Framingham and Holliston cultural councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Mr. Peppersack and Mr. Simarrian’s ELA class relocated to the LMC to enjoy the beautiful fall views! #LearningWithAView #FallInspiration

On Friday 10/25/24 we took the Juniors on a field trip to EG America, which is the main owner of a number of convenient stores, the main banner store being Cumberland Farms . I would like to let you know that the field trip was a huge success.

During the visit the students were able to tour the entire warehouse operation. They were able to see how an in house service company works from an experienced technician on site.

They were also able to tour the large coolers and freezers that use ammonia as a refrigerant and understand how efficient it is at cooling down larger areas, as well as the skill and precision it takes to service them. They were also informed that working with ammonia is a very dangerous but also a very well paying job if taken the time to learn how to properly service these pieces of equipment. Students also got an introduction on how the parts warehouse works and how parts are picked and sent to technicians all over the nation.

The students were very engaged during the tour and asked many questions.

Working in the HVAC Field can lead to many job opportunities like EG America that offer starting positions working in the parts department, moving up to a inhouse technician in a shop onsite, then to field technicians that travel from store to store repairing equipment.

Sophomore Cosmetology students paint skeleton heads and mark the parts of the head!

DVC Sophomores creating stop motion animation scenes to be edited in Adobe Premiere. Seniors helping the theatre production of Importance of being Ernest painting backgrounds.

All grade 12 health careers students passed their CNA exam and celebrated with their families last month.

Seniors who are planning to apply to 4-year colleges and universities should be working on their college applications, completing necessary essays and making sure they have connected with teachers about recommendations. Students should make an appointment with their School Counselor to review. Deadlines come up quick and we want to make sure they everyone is on track. Make sure yo keep checking your Life After High School Google Classroom for updates!

While the SAT and/or ACT is still not required for a lot of colleges/Universities, we want to make sure that seniors are aware of the testing dates and deadlines to register. Please check with individual colleges about their testing policy. Students who register and feel that they qualify for a fee waiver can apply for a fee waiver through College Board. *Students, if you are signed up to take the SAT at Framingham High, you need to bring your own device, not your school chromebook. See your School Counselor if you have an issue with this.

Our school code is: 220854

Students who feel that they require accommodations for the SAT must request accommodations through the College Board. This typically is for students who maintain a 504 plan or IEP. Your counselor can help facilitate this process, but is not in charge of it. Decisions are made by College Board. In order for your counselor to help you apply for accommodations, you parent/guardian must sign the attached form, giving Keefe Tech permission to release some of your personal information. Get this form to your counselor ASAP because the College Board processes these requests as they receive them.

• MassEducate provides free tuition and fees at the state’s community colleges for all eligible Massachusetts students.
• MASSGrant Plus provides free tuition and fees at the state’s four-year universities for students whose families make up to $85,000 a year before taxes. Tuition and fees are reduced by up to half for students whose families earn between $85,000 and $100,000 a year before taxes.
• Applying for financial aid at any college starts with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. While that application is not available yet, students and families can apply now for the Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) so that they will be ready when the application opens.
• Eligible, non-U.S. citizens can apply for state financial aid through the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).
• Information about applying for financial aid, including links to information and one-on-one help, is available online.

Office of Students Financial Assistance / MA Dept of Higher Ed

MassGrant Plus

Create Account - Federal Student Aid

Tuition Equity / MA Dept of Higher Education

Tuition Equity/ Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Tuition Equity/ Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

FAFSA Events - Financial Aid

Tons of colleges and universities are visiting Keefe Tech during lunches this fall! See the calendar below for details and get your questions answered by these knowledgeable admissions representatives.

Keefe Tech partnered with Care Solace this year for our school to have access to 24/7/365 multilingual Mental Health Care Coordination Service. Getting help can be a daunting process.

Care Solace connects students, staff, and their families to care. At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available mental health and substance use providers matcher to your needs. Click the link below to check out this resource if you are looking for support outside of school.

School Counselor Caseloads and additional contact information are below:

• Fill out this counselor request form online
• Stop by the counseling office to fill out an appointment request
• Email your School Counselor
• Call your School Counselor

Dear Parents/Guardians:

It's hard to believe that we are already in daylight savings; the days are shorter and by 5 p.m. it is dark out. Even an hour time change can make a difference with your child's mental health and sleep schedule. I often hear students talk about their low moods increasing over the late fall and winter months.

Mass General/Brigham and Women's Hospital offers some interesting information at https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/daylight-savings-impact-teens-sleep-schedule about circadian rhythm and how to work with the time changes. Circadian rhythms are our internal clock's mechanism for controlling physical, mental, and behavioral functions. Take into account below some pointers on how to handle the rhythms that govern sleep:

1. Melatonin supplements are hormones in your body that produce circadian rhythms; your child's doctor can determine the right schedule and dosage amount to adjust hir or her sleep cycle.

2. Light therapy can help reset circadian rhythm by using a light box when not receiving enough exposure to bright daylight.

3. Good sleep hygiene goes a long way! Limiting caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol; regular exercise and eating a healthy diet can help improve sleep.

4. For teens who use computers for school work and social media, a dark mode for electronics can calm down the nervous system. Phones and computers give off light on the blue spectrum, which has been shown to impact sleep.

5. Consistent sleep schedules with regular bedtime and wake-up times is essential! Doing so will maintain a good circadian rhythm.

Wishing you all a smooth transition into the darker days!

Thanks,

Julia Fairclough LICSW, SAC

Adjustment Counselor

Student Ambassadors helped welcome 8th grade students from the Framingham Middle Schools last Friday!

FFA Safe Tractor Operations Event - Franklin County Tech Center!

The speaker is Wendy Bamatter, Ph.D. who is the Program Director, Child Partial Hospital Program at McLean Hospital. Her presentation titled, “Validation” will provide information about how invalidation can impact children's emotional well-being and behaviors and strategies for caregivers to learn how validation can foster emotional well-being, improved communication, and behavior change.

All information for this parent webinar (and others!) can be found on this link.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is continuing to sponsor a free Parenting Solutions Library. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.

You can register using this link

Over one hundred college and university representatives will be there, waiting to meet students just like yours. You and your students can register online and find all the information they need, including directions and the list of colleges that will be participating. The Boston STEM website can be found here: https://www.nacacattend.org/24bostonstem

Website: keefetech.org
Location: 750 Winter Street, Framingham, MA, United States
Phone: 508-416-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/keefetech