Blue Hills News
October 27, 2023
Dear Blue Hills Families
I want to start by thanking all veterans for their service and sacrifices today, especially those connected to the Blue Hills community. Thank you for your commitment to our country and the freedoms we cherish.
School Council: We are looking for volunteers to serve on school council. We are particularly looking for parents. School Council meets four times per year via zoom, typically from 2:30 until 3:15. We try to make the meeting easily accessible to all members. The council reviews the Parent Student Handbook, Program of Studies, High School budget, and school and district improvement plans each year. If you are interested, please email me directly (gzini@bluehills.org).
Term Ending: Term 1 ends today! Report cards will be issued via PowerSchool next Friday. Please take the time to review your student's report card with your student.
Winter Athletics: Students who have NOT registered for a winter sport on FamilyID and do NOT have a valid, current physical (within the last 13 months) will NOT be allowed to try out for winter sports. Tryouts begin on November 27. Please make sure you have registered and that your physical exam is current by November 15 in order to ensure your eligibility to play. Students also must be academically eligible to try out, which is determined after first term report cards are published.
Deliveries:
Food should not be brought to, or delivered for, students during the school day, and any food that is delivered will be held for the student until dismissal at 2:20 pm. Thank you for your cooperation.
Old Reminders:
- Picture retake day for all 9th, 10th and 11th grade students will be Monday, November 27th, 2023. Students who need photos retaken, or were simply absent on the original day and need IDs done, will have the opportunity to have their picture taken.
- If you are having your child's picture package retaken, you need to return the original picture package on the day of the retake.
- A number of our families have not completed the emergency contact form in PowerSchool, or the health authorization form. Both of these are important, and we will be following up with families that have not yet completed them. If you have not logged into PowerSchool to create your account as a parent/guardian, please do so!
November Lunch Menu
In the News
Girls In Trade Conference
Volleyball vs. Faculty Game
Faculty and the volleyball team had a great time on Wednesday facing off for a friendly competition!
BHR Culinary - Breakfast with Veterans
Our Culinary Department served breakfast in a joint endeavor with Milton Public Schools - read below!
Class of 2025 - Senior Trip Informational Meeting
Dear families of the Class of 2025:
We are going to Italy in Spring 2025 and your student is invited!
Come hear all the details, including the itinerary, activities, academic opportunities, and the cost of our trip at our upcoming informational meeting on November 9th at 6:00 PM. Please click here to register for the meeting https://bit.ly/3Q6Qn1D.
The meeting will also mark the official opening of enrollment!
There are limited spots on this tour, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Thank you,
Mrs. Lovell
English Department
Booster Club Updates
- 2023 Holiday Fair – Saturday, Dec 2 @ BHR from 10 – 3
- Monthly Booster Meetings - 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7pm in school Restaurant – Chateau de Bleu
- School Store – open most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10-1. Watch for dates in December for a few holiday shopping nights!!
- Volunteer Opportunities – The signup genius for holiday fair volunteer opportunities will be out in November!
- Interested in being a Vendor at Holiday Fair, email Bluehillsboosters@gmail.com
- Join the Blue Hills Booster Club Facebook page for news and updates!
Upcoming Events
November 9: Term 1 Ends
November 10: Veterans Day Observed, No School
November 17: Report Cards
November 21: Showcase, Late Arrival at 11:15 a.m.
November 22: Thanksgiving Recess, 10:50 a.m. Dismissal
November 23: Happy Thanksgiving
November 24: School Closed
November 27: School Reopens (Y9)
Health Authorization Form
Thank you to the many of you that have completed this already on PowerSchool. In order to provide any medications (even over the counter) to your student, we must have parental authorization. Log into PowerSchool and complete the Health Authorization Form.
Bus App Instructions - FirstView
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.
Attendance Reminder
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.
Past Information
PowerSchool & Attendance note:
We have had some questions from parents about attendance on PowerSchool, particularly around "class attendance." Please note: we do not track class attendance for students, and PowerSchool is not set up to keep this accurately. Therefore, particularly in vocational programs, the system may significantly overstate the number of absences your student does have. The best way to look at your student's actual attendance is to click on "Grades and Attendance" - this will show you a daily attendance list at the bottom with attendance for the year.
- Lunch is free, but students who wish to have a second lunch or snacks must still purchase these. You can add money to your child's myschoolbucks account to enable them to purchase additional meals and food in the cafeteria.
- Pickup and Dropoff - Please DO NOT use the main entrance/driveway to drop off or pick up students. This is causing a logjam at the entrance/exit to the building. Please enter through the East entrance, closest to Massasoit, and proceed toward the main entrance/exit.
- If your student is out, please email attendance@bluehills.org to report them absent. You can also call 781-828-5800 x 2250 - leave a message if it goes to voicemail.
- Athletic Schedules Available Here!
Emergency Contact Information
- Please, if you have not signed up for a parent account on PowerSchool, do so now! Please complete all required forms as soon as you can. Grade 9 students may not receive a Chromebook until permissions/agreements are completed!
- NEW - If you are calling your student in sick, please call the attendance line (781 828 5800 x 2250) OR email attendance@bluehills.org.
- Thank you for bearing with us as we work to safely navigate drop-off and pick-up times. Please enter the entrance closest to Massasoit and proceed along the front of the gymnasium to the main entrance/exit.
- Please be reminded: Earpods/headphones may not be worn during the school day except with the explicit permission of the teacher. This includes breakfast, lunch, and passing times. Earpods will be confiscated if seen, and consequences assigned.
Care Solace
You can always take advantage of our free to you program for connecting students and families with mental health care. See below!
2023-2024 School Year Calendar
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
BHR on:
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.