Leicester High School
December 5th, 2021
Dates to Remember
December 7th - Parent/Guardian/Teacher conferences (virtual)
December 8th - Instant Decision Day
December 9th - NHS Induction
December 14th - School Committee
December 24th - First Day December Vacation
December 16th - LHS Winter Concert
Announcements
Commencement 2022
Commencement for the Class of 2022 is scheduled for June 4th, Saturday, at Mechanics Hall.
From the Mechanics Hall webpage:
-Mechanics Hall expects everyone who is eligible to be fully vaccinated before entering the building.
-If you are not fully vaccinated but have tested negative for COVID-19 and variants in the last 3 days, you are allowed entry unless event-specific protocols prevent it.
-FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF VACCINE STATUS.
Per Mechanics Hall, as their guidelines stipulate, the Leicester High School commencement exercises will be a masked and vaccinated event. Knowing this, Leicester High School is extending the option of an outdoor graduation, governed by the Covid-19 guidelines in place at that time. Also know that outdoor gatherings, while tending to be less restrictive, are weather dependent. At this time it is prudent that we gather the preferences of the Class of 2022. Please have a thoughtful conversation with your parents/guardians and then complete the survey below.
Assumption University Study
Leicester High School has decided to participate in a survey on teen dating violence and other unhealthy relationship behaviors in coordination with a professor and researcher from Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts. This survey will help us assess how prevalent this might be at our school, and if it is, what we can do as a community to help prevent or address this issue.
Importantly, all students’ participation in this survey is completely voluntary. They are under no obligation to complete this survey, either from the professor at Assumption University or any teachers, administrators, or other staff at Leicester High School. However, if your student is interested in participating in this survey, they may be asking you to sign a document called an Informed Consent Form in the coming days or weeks. This form will explain to both you and your student what the survey is about and what your student’s participation would entail. It will also provide you with the name and contact information of the professor conducting this survey at Assumption University should you have any questions before providing permission for your student to participate. If your student is interested in participating and you agree, we ask that both you and your student sign and date the form and that your student returns the signed form to the high school’s main office no later than Thursday, December 23.
Parent/Guardian and Teacher Conferences
Attention Students
Student Council
Yearbook
Dear Family and Friends of the Class of 2022:
Senior year is a special time for your friends and family. Students are their final classes at LHS, while simultaneously devoting a major portion of time to their future plans. Senior year may be a time of mixed emotions and serious pondering. Yet, it may also be a time of excitement, and for many of our students, senior year is the best year of all!
For the Class of 2022, a major highlight is receiving the Class Yearbook. It contains full-color pictures of members of the graduating class and provides a pictorial review of their years with us. It has been our experience that our graduating seniors treasure their yearbooks.
This year, there is a special section, “Family and Friends”, where parents, grandparents/family members may submit personal messages, demonstrating their pride and love for their students. Each message may contain a picture (baby, toddler, grammar school, etc.) and/or a drawing, along with your special message.
Imagine the surprise when your Senior finds your special message in the yearbook. And years after graduation, your special message will be permanently in print to look at it again and again.
Please feel free to create your own special message. To submit a personal message for your senior, please complete the attached form, and return it, with a check made out to Leicester High Yearbook, no later than Friday, January 7, 2022. Please make checks payable to Town of Leicester or use the UNIPAY portal on the LHS WEBSITE.
Full Page - $170
Half Page - $100
Quarter Page - $45
Eighth Page - $25
Christmas House Lighting Contest - 2021 Guidelines
Sponsored by the Leicester Park and Recreation Committee and the Leicester Light Display
Purpose
To stimulate and enhance a sense of community by rewarding residents that go above-and-beyond in decorating their home for the winter holiday season. Award guidelines are listed.
Contest Rules
Town of Leicester residents are encouraged to participate, including previous winners.
You must obtain the Lighting lawn sign- pick up information will be posted- in a conspicuous place along the front of your property with your street number posted.
Last day to submit an online entry form is December 9, 2021- midnight.
Decorations for the contest must be available and lit up on Saturday, December 11th (snow day-December 18th) between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. for judging.
Contest winners will be notified sometime the following day. Prize placement of 1st, 2nd, 3rd for each category will be announced and awarded.
Home owners must complete the decorating on their own. No commercial entries or the use of professional decorating services will be allowed. ( Your home may be added to the map if you wish-but cannot be entered into the contest.)
Categories
Traditional - Light display that captures the classic Christmas motif.
Children Display - Includes children friendly characters.
Contemporary- New and modern lights and displays- animated, visual props, etc.
Awards (for each category)
1st Prize: $200
2nd Prize: $100
3rd Prize: $50
***Trophies will be awarded to the first prize winners of each category.
Registration
***Online registration will be accepted from November 8th through December 9th -ending at midnight EST. You must complete the google form to be entered.
Google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UFDEd0QITUjn5elA31LhoBvBei6RrMBGhqE4ElsiuVQ/edit
For additional information, please email : leicesterchristmaslightcontest@gmail.com
In The Classroom
Chemistry
Advanced Placement Biology
Guidance Department Updates
Instant Decision Day
On Wednesday, December 8, an admissions representative from QCC will be here to meet with any students interested in attending QCC next fall. During the meeting, each student will provide a completed paper application (they waive the $50 application fee) and will provide them with a transcript. Counselors will assist students with this.
During the meeting, the QCC representative will explain how QCC can help them obtain their career goals whether it is to graduate from QCC with a 2-year associate's degree or to start at QCC then transfer to a 4-year college to obtain a bachelor's degree. They will be able to answer any questions students have regarding the programs they offer or the classes they can enroll in.
Students are asked if they are interested, please complete this form. The Guidance Dept. will schedule the time of the meeting.
MyCAP
The letter linked below contains important information about Individual Career and Academic Plans (MyCAPs). Every 9th through 12th-grade student at Leicester High School will have a MyCAP. Parents and families play an important role in helping children plan for and reach their postsecondary goals. Please click on the link for this information.
Educational Advocacy
12/8/21
9:30 a.m.
*Via Zoom
The Federation for Children with Special Needs will be presenting information on tips and strategies to help advocate for your grandchild in school. The pandemic had a major impact on most children's education, as well as developmental needs, and mental health - the Federation for Children with Special Needs will discuss how to address your concerns and advocate for services for your grandchild.
Please register with Colleen Pritoni by clicking on the button below and indicate the name of the workshop in the e-mail
***To Register, Click on the link below****
When registering, please indicate the name of the workshop "Educational Advocacy" in the subject title of the e-mail.
Meeting Updates
11/9/21 School Committee
If you were unable to attend or stream the November 9th School Committee Meeting, here are some highlights:
- Leicester High School presented an analysis of longitudinal AP data. If you missed the presentation and have questions contact Mr. Zawada.
- The School Committee approved the following Clubs: Class of 2025
- Leicester High School fundraisers were approved by the School Committee as presented.
10/13 School Council
- Teachers are encouraged to leverage Google Classroom to keep stakeholders informed.
- The music program will host its first concert in 670 days on October 20th at the high school.
- The Homecoming dance and pep rally were both held outdoors and this may be an option for the future as they both were well-received.
- While LHS has made great gains in the two years, there are many more students capable of “exceeding expectations.”
- Test & stay policy - Stakeholders are looking for more information to clarify understanding.
- Suggested a possible LMS 8th grade “AP Academy” to generate interest in pre-AP classes
- Suggested to List available clubs in the newsletter so parents are aware of opportunities for students
Athletics
Winter Sports Meeting, Registration and Tryouts
Winter 21-22 Registration
Registration is completed using FamilyId.
Please click the terms Registration Link below.
» Registration Link «
New Mandatory Training and Pledge
>> Implicit Bias Course <<
>> Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pledge <<
LHS Booster Club
We have always had an active Booster Club at LHS, but between COVID shutting down some of our sports last year, and several members' children graduating - the Boosters' membership has dwindled. This is a shame because pretty much all of the "cool stuff" that our teams have is a donation from the Booster Club (e.g., the Scoreboard, gym sound system, announcer's booth, etc).
Therefore, on behalf of the LHS Booster Club, I wanted to reach out and ask if you are able to become a member. Your involvement can be as involved (or not) as you want - from signing up to run the snack shack for a few games this year to being on the Board, attending meetings, and making decisions about how to support our teams (and what other "cool stuff" to purchase and donate).
If you're interested in helping out, please fill out this Google Form.
Covid - 19
Covid Update Week 11/28-12/4
Total positive cases yearly total: 21
Covid-19 Testing Program (Test and Stay)
At this time, the Leicester Public Schools will only be participating in the Symptomatic Testing and the Test and Stay testing. To participate in the program, you must sign this http://cic-health.com/consent/ma on behalf of your student, agreeing to all components of the testing program, in case we need to shift between them. There is no charge for participating. To learn more about our COVID-19 testing program, please visit https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/testing/default.html. If you have additional questions regarding the program, please contact your respective school nurse.
Students only participate with permission from a parent or guardian. It is important that you are fully informed regarding the process and that we can answer any questions that you might have in advance of asking you to sign the consent form. Below we describe each of the three parts of the testing program, how they are conducted, and what they are used for.
Symptomatic testing is used when a student is showing symptoms of COVID-19 during school; students should not come to school if they are feeling sick while at home. Some symptoms of the virus look identical to other illnesses like the cold or flu, and this test tells us whether a symptomatic student has COVID-19 or not. This is a rapid test, and we receive the results of this test within 15 minutes. If a student has minimal symptoms and tests negative, they can remain in school. If they are experiencing moderate symptoms of COVID, the school nurse will determine if a follow-up PCR test is needed.
Test and Stay allows students who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 while at school to stay in school if the student is not showing symptoms. Instead of needing to quarantine and miss school, these students will take a daily rapid test while they remain in school as long as they are not symptomatic. Students participate in test and stay for at least five days after they may have been exposed.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they must isolate at home for the CDC-recommended ten days since symptoms appeared or ten days after the positive test before returning to school. The student must also be without a fever for 24 hours.
Although students who are vaccinated are much less likely to spread or contract the virus, it is important for us to create an inclusive environment for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students.
Quarantine Meals
If your child is quarantined at home, breakfast and/or lunch are available from the school at no cost to you. If you would like to take advantage of this option, please complete this Google Form the DAY BEFORE you would like a meal.
You must complete the above-linked form one day in advance in order to have breakfast/lunch prepared for your child.
Meals can be picked up between 10:00 and 10:30 at the main office on the date(s) you request.
The meal will consist of the main menu choice for that day - no substitutions. Click here for school menus.
Leicester High School 21-22 Bell Schedule
Mrs. Beth Johnson - Assistant Principal
Email: johnsonb@lpsma.net
Website: http://lhs.leicester.k12.ma.us/
Location: 174 Paxton Street, Leicester, MA, USA
Phone: 508-892-7030
Twitter: @LHSMrsJohnson
Mr. Ted Zawada - Interim Principal
Email: zawadat@lpsma.net
Website: http://lhs.leicester.k12.ma.us/
Location: 174 Paxton Street, Leicester, MA, USA
Phone: 508-892-7030
Twitter: @LHSZAWADA