Blue Hills News
From the Desk of the Principal - January 14, 2021
Dear Blue Hills Families,
Please read through the reminders below, and be sure to review the upcoming schedule for important updates.
- We have expanded in-person vocational learning to include Wednesdays for juniors and seniors, per the schedule below. (Note: Schedule will be modified during shortened weeks.)
- We are expanding our daily in-person academic support group to 24 students per day, 2-3 days per week. If your student is asked to attend in person for academic support, please prioritize this. If you would not like to take advantage of this support, please let us know so another student may take advantage of this extra help.
- As more students go out on coop, we are looking at individual programs where we can bring more students back into the building due to program size (physical space) and students attending. We will notify students and families if and when these opportunities arise.
- Since September, we have slowly increased the number of students in the building and have remained largely in our Hybrid25 model. This has allowed us to remain open without needing to close, despite the significant rise in positive cases in our towns and state. Thank you for your patience as we slowly add more students this year as it is safe and appropriate.
- If your student is struggling, please reach out to the teacher and/or the guidance counselor. Students who are failing classes and/or require additional supports are being prioritized for in-person academic help.
- Flu Vaccines are now a required immunization for all K-12 students, regardless of a student being fully remote, hybrid, or in-person. Please send confirmation of a flu vaccine to Joan Gainey at jgainey@bluehills.org. These immunizations are required by February 28, 2021 (recent change to the guidance.) More information on this can be found here.
- Meals for remote learners are available. For information and to request meals, click here. There is no cost for this service.
- PSATs will be administered to juniors who have pre-registered on Tuesday, January 26th. Juniors who are participating will be in-person on that day, but will only take the PSAT. They will be dismissed once the testing session is complete. Juniors needing to ride the bus will be allowed to take the 2:20 bus home. Questions? Contact your guidance counselor.
- If your student is fully remote, and you wish for them to return to the hybrid model, the deadline to notify Mr. Zini and Ms. Fama is January 27, 2021. Please email gzini@bluehills.org and cfama@bluehills.org.
Sincerely,
Geoff Zini
Principal
End of Term!
Upcoming Schedule - IN-PERSON Days
Covid-19 & Flu Information - From Nurse Gainey
Reminder:
All Massachusetts students are required to have their flu vaccines by 2/28/21.
Flu Requirements (Available in English and Multiple Languages)
Please email a copy of vaccine record to jgainey@bluehills.org
COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES
*DAILY SYMPTOM CHECK
*MASK
*HANDWASHING
*PHYSICAL DISTANCING
EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS CAN HAPPEN
What you do next will help control the spread of the infection:
TESTING, TRACING, ISOLATION, COMMUNICATION
- If you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms please stay home and get tested.
- If someone in your home tests positive you must quarantine for 14 days and get tested in 5-7 days or sooner if you become symptomatic.
- If you are informed that you are a close contact (within less than or equal to 6 feet for 10 to 15 minutes over 24 hours with or without mask or if someone coughed or sneezed directly in your unmasked face) you MUST quarantine for 14 days and get tested in 5-7 days or sooner if symptomatic.
- If a family member is identified as a close contact, and you are NOT symptomatic, you are expected to come to school. If that family member tested positive you would then be considered a close contact and be required to quarantine for 14 days and get tested in 5-7 days or sooner if you became symptomatic.
- If you return from out of state travel, you will be required to quarantine for fourteen days.
- Please notify the school jgainey@bluehills.org asap or call Mrs. Gainey RN @ 781-828-5800 X 2230 or Mrs. Pica @ X 2250 in Student Affairs if you are absent or to report a COVID-19 concern.
Booster Club!
If you would like to order merchandise from the Boosters, go to the online store: https://form.jotform.com/202667178459165.
Lunches
All students will receive free lunch and breakfast through the end of this school year.
Students that are learning at home are eligible for meal pickup - please click on the link below to place orders and learn more:
https://www.bluehills.org/students-and-parents/lunch-menu-and-remote-learner-meal-pickup
IT Support & Remote Learning
What remote schedule am I following???
Vocational "Remote" Days - these all look the same! If you are on a vocational week and are remote, simply follow your shop's instructions for the synchronous meeting times (8:30 and 1:30, usually) and work independently or as needed during the day. Failure to attend both synchronous sessions will lead to the student being marked as "absent" and potentially receiving no credit for the day.
Academic "Remote" Days -
- "Blue Days" - Mostly on Mondays and Thursdays. Refer to the released schedule to make sure you have the right day. On these days, you'll meet "live" with periods 1-4. The rest of your day is extra help and independent work.
- "Green Days" - Mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays - Refer to the released schedule to make sure you have the right day. On these days, you'll meet "live" with periods 5-8. The rest of your day is extra help and independent work.
- "Wednesdays" - On Wednesdays, follow the Wednesday schedule! You'll meet with all of your academic classes throughout the day. HINT: We may occassionally use this schedule on other days, or schedule Wednesday to be in-person.
For both vocational and academic "remote" days: Please remember that school runs from 7:48 to 2:20. At any time in this period of time, you can be asked to meet with a teacher, attend a session, or do extra help/support activities. If class begins at 8:30 or 9:00, you may very well have things to do and prepare for prior to the start time. Be diligent in checking your email and google classroom. Getting an education is your "job" right now, and is the best investment you can make at this stage of life!
Blue Hills Regional Technical School
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.
Website: www.bluehills.org
Location: 800 Randolph Street, Canton, MA, USA
Phone: 781 828 5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Hills-Regional-Technical-School-549020528796565/
Twitter: @bhrtech