The Big Blue Blast
The Official Newsletter of Swampscott High School
September 6, 2019
Good Afternoon,
This week, SHS began the rotation calendar. We welcomed a group of Spanish Exchange students who spent time with STEM students and science teachers. We are honored that students from La Caixa (Spain's National Science Foundation) chose to visit SHS. Thank you to SHS mom Mercedes Balcells-Camps and STEM teacher Brandy Wilbur for arranging this visit.
As it is now September, it's important to note that September is Attendance Awareness Month. A student who misses one day school every two weeks would miss twenty days per year. That's nearly 1.5 YEARS of school throughout a student's career. Please review our attendance policy in the handbook and reach out to us should you need assistance with your student's attendance. Remember, a student with more than five unexcused absences in one academic quarter in one course could earn an attendance failure as a grade for the course. Please check Aspen to make sure that attendance records are accurate.
News and Announcements
Seniors may purchase a parking pass in the main office for $100. Juniors may begin purchasing parking passes on September 16. To park in the student lot on campus, vehicles must display a parking pass. Violators are subject to disciplinary action including citations from the Swampscott Police Department.
The World Language Department is running two trips during April vacation, 2020.
Our trip to France and Spain is from April16-25. This trip is open to all current students of French and Spanish, regardless of level. The registration deadline is October 1, 2019. Students should see Ms. Baralt or Ms. Albert for more information, or click on this link to see the itinerary and register: France / Spain Trip, April 2020.
Our service trip to Puerto Rico is from April 18-26, 2020. On this trip, students will visit San Juan and El Yunque, while mainly focusing on rebuilding homes for families affected by Hurricane Maria. This trip is open to all current students of French and Spanish, regardless of level. The registration deadline is November 1, 2019. Students should see Ms. Gahm-Diaz for more information, or click on this link to find more information and to register: Puerto Rico Trip, April 2020.
News from the Guidance Department
September 11: Senior meeting for senior students at 1015AM in the auditorium. Discussion with students about senior year, preparing for what happens after graduation, college applications, EA/ED, senior project.
September 12: Common App and Naviance Boot Camps for seniors in the Guidance office. Day A: Periods 1-5. Counselors work in small groups with students on applications, resume writing, common app and supplemental essay support, college list development.
September 13: Common App and Naviance Boot Camps for seniors in the Guidance office. Day B: Periods 6 and 7. Counselors work in small groups with students on applications, resume writing, common app and supplemental essay support, college list development.
September 25: Senior Parent Night at SHS, 6-8pm. Counselors will review the senior year timeline as it relates to college applications, EA/ED, financial aid considerations, GAP year, answering any questions for parents.
September 19th: SHS New Student and SHS Ambassador Breakfast. 730AM-8: 05 AM in the SHS Library. New students and SHS Ambassadors will enjoy breakfast treats together; with over 40 new students this school year, the SHS ambassadors, guidance counselors, and administration are eager to see how things are going since the opening of school.
Upcoming Dates to Keep in Mind
September 26: Curriculum Night 6:00 PM
September 30 and October 1: No School Rosh Hashana
October 16: Q1 Progress Report Mid-term grades posted on Aspen
SPORTS SCORES:
Girls Soccer 1-0 over Salem Goal by Emme Laundry
Field Hockey 5-0 loss to Bishop Fenwick
Golf loss to Beverly 43.5-28.5
Boys Soccer 5-0 loss to Somerville
Volleyball 3-0 loss to Marblehead
The SHS Drama Club will present its fall production, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, October 24th and 25th at 7 p.m. in the SHS Auditorium.
From the Health Office
State law requires families to submit a current physical exam and immunization record for all 10th-grade students, and all new students to the Swampscott High School. These records were due the first day of school. Physicals from the fall of 2018 will be accepted. These forms must be submitted to the school nurse no later than Friday, September 13th to avoid having your student excluded from school. Please drop off the physical and immunization record to the nurse or e-mail or fax your child's record to Mary Beth O’Malley RN
Field Hockey
Spanish Exchange Students
Follow Us on Twitter
Principal: Dennis Kohut @swampkohut
Assistant Principal: Colleen Cull-Finn @cullfinnshs
Dean of Students: Chris Norkun @cnorkunshs
Swampscott High School Guidance Department: @SHSguidancedpt
Swampscott High School Athletics: @sportsbigblue
Superintendent Pamela Angelakis: @sps01907