Shepherd Hill Regional High School
Newsletter ~ November 2022
Dear Shepherd Hill Learning Community:
It is hard to believe, but we have already arrived the end of the first academic quarter! Thank you to all parents and families who participated in conferences on October 27th, either virtually, or in-person. The home-to-school connection is critically important, and we will continue to find ways to strengthen our partnerships. Based on feedback received during conferences, we will ensure that students’ grades are updated with frequency in Schoolbrains in order to proactively address performance issues in a timely manner.
Also on October 27th, we welcomed current eighth grade students from both Charlton and Dudley Middle Schools to a Shepherd Hill Showcase, facilitated by Assistant Principal Resener. During the Showcase, students received a glimpse of what awaits them when they begin their journey as the Class of 2027 next fall. Academics and extracurricular activities were spotlighted, and students experienced a Shepherd Hill Show Choir performance, as well as remarks from student leaders. Similarly, on November 3rd, we invite all parents of current eighth grade students to another Shepherd Hill Showcase. We are proud of what Shepherd Hill has to offer, and we intend to highlight how Shepherd Hill students can be the architects of a high school experience that best meets their needs!
As we work to achieve new levels of excellence in the classroom, we are recommitting to effective instructional practices designed to increase achievement. During the last faculty meeting, we revisited the anatomy of the instructional block, including the warm-up, direct instruction, application, and assessment elements. We have 180 days to educate students, and in this pursuit, it is crucial to maximize the instructional time available so that our students are well-positioned for all standardized assessments and post-secondary outcomes.
In anticipation of Shepherd Hill’s 50th Anniversary, we are transforming one of the school’s conference rooms into a “50 Years of Excellence” celebratory display. If you have artifacts or suggestions for this display, please contact Mrs. Anne Marie LaFond in the Main Office. We are fortunate to be partnering with the SHRHS Alumni Association in this endeavor, as well as our current staff and students whose creativity will be on full display. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we will seize this opportunity to reflect on the school’s first half-century of excellence!
In this season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful to be serving as Principal, and I give thanks for all who continue to improve the Shepherd Hill experience. Wishing you and your families the very best this holiday season!
Respectfully,
Mr. Elwell
Need to Leave School Early?
Early Dismissal Procedure
Please note the following:
To obtain an early dismissal, bring a written request from your parent or caregiver to the principal’s office as soon as you arrive at school. The request will be reviewed and an early dismissal slip will be issued if warranted. CHECK-OUT WITH THE OFFICE WHEN YOU LEAVE AND CHECK-IN WHEN YOU RETURN. Students must be in school prior to or after 11:00 a.m. for the day to count for participation in school activities.
It is very important to follow this procedure whenever possible. Phone calls to classrooms for dismissals are very disruptive to the educational process. Advance notice of the dismissal with a note helps alleviate those disruptions. We appreciate your assistance!
School Hours
The school hours for Shepherd Hill Regional High School are 7:40am-2:10pm. Students entering the building after 7:40am must check into the main office to receive a pass to proceed to class.
School Lunches
Universal Free School Meals has been extended in Massachusetts for the 2022-2023 school year! There will be no cost to families for any student to receive (1) breakfast and/or (1) school lunch at schools participating in the National School Lunch Program.
Dress Code
Our community and school take pride in the appearance that our students present. We expect that all students will dress and groom themselves neatly in clothes that are suitable for school activities. Students that dress in an inappropriate manner will be required to change into proper attire; the second offense will result in a detention and parent will be notified.
Access to Student Records
Military Recruiters and Post Secondary Education Institutions
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that all schools receiving federal funds must provide the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of secondary students to military recruiters and institutions of higher education. The act also requires that military recruiters be given the same access to students that is given to recruiters for post secondary institutions and employers. If a parent objects to releasing this information he/she should notify the guidance office.
News from the Nurse's Office
The SHRHS Nurse’s Office, with the assistance of Practical Nursing students, will be conducting hearing, vision and BMI Screenings for 10th Grade students on November 8th and 9th. Please have all students who wear glasses or contact lenses bring them in on these dates.
*If you would like to Opt Out of screenings for your student please email Nurse Goetz rgoetz@dcrsd.org
Physicals and Immunizations
-Physicals for sports clearance are required prior to participation. Physicals are up to date if they were obtained within 13 months of participation.
-Per MA state law (105 CMR 200), ALL students entering 10th grade are required to provide documentation of a physical exam.
-Proof of Meningococcal Vaccination (MCV4) is required for students at age 16 unless they have a religious or medical exemption.
-Statement of religious exemption must be renewed annually.
A reminder to parents/caregivers: Students should not be using their cell phone to contact parents if they are not feeling well. Our Nursing Office is staffed with full time nurses who will meet with and assess students who are not feeling well. The Nursing Office will reach out to parents/caregivers if students who are ill need to be dismissed. Thank you for your cooperation.
Any health documentation should be faxed or emailed to the Nurse’s Office:
- Fax # 508-943-5956
- Kareen Powaza BSN,RN,NCSN kpowaza@dcrsd.org
- Rachael Goetz BSN, RN, NCSN rgoetz@dcrsd.org
PLTW Fall Conference at WPI
On October 17, Biomedical students, Madeleine Johnson, Alicia Kirwin, and Maya Golemo, were part of the keynote address at the PLTW Fall Conference at WPI. These students showcased their award winning work from their Medical Interventions class and discussed their project: Evaluation of IL-2 Immunotherapy Against Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. They were part of a conversation with industry professionals from Philips who are at the leading edge of healthcare innovation. Madeleine, Alicia and Maya discussed their work with over 300 attendees, answered questions from the moderator and the audience and connected their work with the Philips employees. As part of the winning project, the girls received feedback from many industry representatives. Some feedback included:
"I was pleased to see so many details in each section, clearly explaining your intended decisions and rationale behind them. That’s a very important skill that is translatable to many STEM jobs. Presenting an idea with evidence to support your decisions is crucial to the scientific process. Great job citing another example when this treatment was used successfully and approved by the FDA."
"WOW! Absolutely fantastic presentation! Well done team! You have done a masterful job at identifying, discussing and coming up with a solution in what I think is an amazing presentation. That presentation could be given today, to a VC group. It is very professionally put together. "
" I think it is incredible that you’re learning about clinical trials and thinking critically about how new medicines can be created and studied safely. There are so many STEM careers related to your project you could consider in the future: working to support and/or run clinical trials, discover new immune therapies for cancer as a scientist, working at a pharmaceutical company, etc. Keep up the good work and stay curious!
Salem Trip
A number of juniors and seniors visited Salem on Friday, October 21st; a great time of year to explore history and literature. Thank you to the English Department for once again facilitating this experience!
Day of the Dead Projects
Day of the Dead
The students in Mrs. Selmecki's Spanish classes have been hard at work on Altars and Skulls to represent a loved one who passed away. Check out the amazing work by click the attachment below!
Art Students ~ Pumpkin Contest
SHRHS Art students participated in a pumpkin painting contest. The top 3 winners are pictured below, also included are some pictures of the pumpkin entries.
Kaylee Fox 1st Place
Alexis Germain 2nd Place
Liam Dubenetsky 3rd Place
Dudley Fire & Emergency Services
November Newsletter
Thanksgiving Tips
Paul Konieczny – Deputy Chief
The kitchen is the heart of the home during the holidays, keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this hectic time is important. As you prepare and organizing that large family feast, remember, following a few safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself safer from fire.
Thanksgiving fire facts
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third.
- In 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,400 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving.
- Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
- Cooking caused half (49 percent) of all reported home fires.
Safety tips
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The splash from vegetables, gravy or could cause serious burns.
- Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
- Keep the floor clear so you do not trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
Turkey Fryer Tips
- Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a safe distance away from trees and other structures.
- Make sure turkey is thawed & dry before cooking. Ice/water mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups.
- Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain or snow.
- Leave 2 feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfilling.
- Opt for an oil-less fryer. This uses infrared heat, rather than oil, to cook the turkey.
Yearbook Information
Yearbooks are available for purchase online! https://www.balfour.com/massachusetts/dudley/shepherd-hill-regional-high-school
Class of 2023
Deadlines and Things to Know!
- Please submit your senior bio! It's not due until December 1, but the yearbook staff appreciates your attention to the task sooner rather than later.
- Baby pictures are due by December 1. Parents and guardians will receive another email from Balfour with directions for uploading those images. If you need help scanning an old picture, you can send it to the school and yearbook staff will scan it for you!
- If you're going to events like football games, dances, etc. take pictures of your friends! Ask Ms. Kennedy if you need help sharing them using ImageShare. We definitely want to make sure everyone is represented in the yearbook, and to do that, we need YOUR help and YOUR pictures. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR CONTRIBUTING!
- Recognition ads can also be purchased and designed online; see attached flyer
- Class of 2023 Commencement is scheduled for June 4, 2024. It is held at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA
- Guidance Newsletter: SHRHS Term 1 Guidance Newsletter
- Post Graduation Planning: Class of 2023 Newsletter ~ By: James Lalilberte
- Please see Mrs. Armstrong or Mrs. McGrail to pay your Dues!!
Senior Class Fundraiser
The Senior Class of 2023 will be partnering with Rocco's Doughnut Company (https://roccosdonuts.square.site/) for fundraising! Not only will we be offering pre-orders for a dozen variety doughnuts but will also be doing individual sales to students & staff on 12/15 at all four lunches. Students will be collecting pre-orders from 11/28-12/8 with a delivery date of 12/15. Below is the link to the order form if anyone is interested in taking a look!
Flavors in the variety dozen will be:
2 Chocolate Frosted w/ sprinkles
2 Strawberry Frosted w/ sprinkles
2 Fried Doh
2 Fruity Pebbles
2 Cookies + Cream
2 Honey Glazed
"Our offerings change frequently and may use ingredients containing common food allergens such as peanuts and other tree nuts, whey, wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy and soy. Our donut base does not contain nuts, but cross contamination is a possibility with finishing toppings. We ask all customers with severe allergies email us specific questions to roccodoughnutco@gmail.com."
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uiT4m5trvkGrY7lR9DJhI-_m7he827zNp7ylvysn0J0/edit?usp=sharing
Ski Club
Online registration at wachusett.com begins October 12th
Registration requires a private code available once the bus fee is paid. Bus fee is $150, or two installments of $75. Trips are Mondays in January and February. New members should sign up on the Google Classroom as soon as possible. For more information, see Mr. Cormier in rm. 225, email tcormier@dcrsd.org, or check the Google Classroom. Google Classroom Join Code: wbmjizw
Homecoming
We had such a great turnout for Homecoming! A great time was had by all!
Alumni News
The SHRHS Alumni Newsletter—sharing the latest news and updates from our alumni community. View the newsletter here: https://www.smore.com/x9ja6
For the latest news from the guidance department, view their newsletter here:
Future Fair
Thank You to everyone who participated in the Future Fair on October 27!
Colleges/Universities
Assumption University
Bryant College
College of the Holy Cross
Dean College
Fisher College
Fitchburg State University
Framingham State University
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Merrimack College
Nichols College
Quinebaug Valley Community College
Quinsigamond Community College
Rivier University
Roger Williams University
Salem State University
Simmons University
University of Maine
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of New England
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Military
United States Air Force/Space Force
United States Air National Guard
United States Army
United States Army National Guard
Trade Schools
New England Dental Academy Rob Roy Academy
Technology Learning Center (TLC)
The Peterson School
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship
Class of 2023 Recipients
The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is a merit-based program that provides a credit toward tuition for up to eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. For this scholarship, merit is based on student scores on the 10th grade Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test.
The purpose of the award is to:
- Reward and inspire student achievement;
- Help attract more high-performing students to Massachusetts public higher education; and
- Provide families of college-bound students with financial assistance.
Recipients are:
Class of 2023 Decision Days
Seniors,
If you plan on applying to any of these schools, you should consider signing up for these events. The best part is that you will receive an Admissions Decision on the day of your meeting. Contact Mr. Gendron in Guidance for sign-ups for any of these colleges. Spots are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Decision Days are free events! If you are accepted, there is no commitment to go there. All materials must be passed in by the due date or your name will be removed from the event.
- 11/3- Decision Day QVCC
- 12/1-12/2- Decision Day QCC
- 12/7- Decision Day Worcester State
AP Exams
Please send in payments for your AP exams prior to November 15, 2022. Check or money order must be made out to SHRHS. Collegeboard has set the price exam as follows:
- $97 per exam, $15 for free/reduced lunch students.
- $145 for students taking AP Seminar or AP Research, $15 for free/reduced lunch students.
Payments should be sent to Mr. Gendron in the guidance office. If you have any questions please reach out to Mr. Gendron at cgendron@dcrsd.org.
Hilloween Cheer Invitational and Senior Recognition
SENIORS!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIEINCE AS WE NAVIGATE THE MANY CHANGES AND CHALLENGES THAT HAVE COME OUR WAY!
We need and value your input. Contact us:
Email: shboosterclub@dcrsd.org
Facebook: Shepherd Hill Regional School District Booster Club
Twitter: @HillBooster
Booster Club on the SHRHS website:
BOOSTER CLUB WEBSITE
CHECK OUT THE NEWLY UPDATED & RE-DESIGNED
BOOSTER MERCHANDISE ONLINE STORE
https://shepherd-hill-booster-club-online.square.site/
Thanks again for all you do to support our kids!!!
CALLING ALL MEMBERS (CURRENT & NEW)
We need your help to renew memberships or to become a booster member!!!
Visit the SHRHS Booster Club website as noted above…
Your commitment to sharing your ideas, time and
talents are greatly appreciated!
FUNDRAISING/MARKETING
We are ALWAYS seeking new ideas for fundraising. Please send an email to: shboosterclub@dcrsd.org
Attention: Hilary Marsi, Fundraising Coordinator
Our Mission:
"To assist the music directors and support the activities of the Shepherd Hill Regional High School music department, and to provide experiences outside of the typical high school music curriculum within the established policies of the school. All activities and decisions of this association will conform to the views of the administration and the music directors of Shepherd Hill Regional High School."
Meet the SHMPA Board
President: Jeff Cloutier
Vice-President: Terry Salonis
Treasurer: Jim McGonagle
Associate Treasurer: June-Ellen Cloutier
Secretary: Thalia McClay
Corresponding Secretary: Maria Perea-Beaulieau
Member at Large: Bill Perry
Member at Large: Kristi White
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at
What do the Shepherd Hill Music Parents raise money for?
*Provide funding for a new sound system in the auditorium
* Purchasing new stairs for backstage
* Award 4 students with scholarships
* Pay stipends for extra support staff.
Holiday Spectacular Raffle
We will be collecting raffle baskets and donated items to put into a basket. Email us at shrhsmusicparentsassoc@gmail.com
We will be also looking for a team to help put together the Show Choir Festival on February 3rd and 4th. Terry Salonis is the chair and looking for any wonderful person who has a little time to make it a great event. Please contact Terry at terryalsalonis@yahoo.com is you are able to help out!
30th Anniversary Festival of Crafts
November 19, 2022
Join us for this great event! The area's best crafts are on display for your purchasing pleasure and let's not forget the great food that is on hand to make the day complete. Get your holiday shopping done early! Volunteering is easy - sign up at: https://signup.com/go/MYSPfUt
Meeting Dates
Join other music parents, get the “inside scoop” from the directors, get your questions answered,
and hear about the amazing things your music students are doing.
11/4/2022, 12/1/2022, 1/4/2023, 2/1/2023, 3/1/2023
4/5/2023, 5/3/2023, 6/7/2023
Gillette Events
11/6/2022 Patriots Game
12/24/2022 Patriots Game
1/1/2023 Patriots Game
Marching Band Home Show
We would like to thank Julie Norberg and Anya Butler for chairing this great event with their small but hard working committee of Laura, Bill Perry and Tracy Donais. Thanks also goes out to every volunteer that took the time to help make this a wonderful event for our talented Marching band. This couldn't have been done without your help!
Thank You
We would also like to thank all the generous 2021/2022 sponsors for supporting our talented music students. We are always looking for new sponsors and here's the link.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE!
CHECK OUT OUR NEW SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE!
We would also like to thank all the generous 2021/2022 sponsors for supporting our talented music students. We are always looking for new sponsors and here's the link. https://forms.gle/X1bjBUiPjhDrQwSU7
Dates to Remember
November
11/3- Decision Day QVCC
11/7-11/ 21 Juniors Fundraiser
11/10- Early Release-Staff ALICE TRAINING
11/11 – No School – Veterans Day
11/19- Craft Fair
11/22- Powder Puff Game 6pm
11/23 – Early Release
11/24 – 11/25 – No School Thanksgiving
11/28-12/15 Senior Fundraiser
December
12/1-12/2- Decision Day QCC
12/7- Decision Day Worcester State
12/9 & 12/10- Holiday Spectacular
12/15- Jostens Ring Breakfast
12/21- Tri-M Inductions
12/23 – Early Release
12/26 – 12/30 – No School – Holiday Break