Blue Hills News
From the Desk of the Principal - January 13, 2022
Dear Blue Hills Families,
This coming Monday, we remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a civil rights leader and powerful speaker, and much of what he said remains powerful for us today. One of my favorite Dr. King quotes is "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
At Blue Hills, one of our core values is community - we are an adopted community, one of students and teachers and families from scores of towns and backgrounds. We strive to care about one another here, and to make sure that everyone in the community is valued and welcomed. While we may not get it perfect, it's a helpful reminder to me this week that light and love will win out over darkness and hate every time.
CO-OP:
Term 2 ends on January 28. After Term 2, juniors may be eligible for co-op placement if they meet the requirements. See Ms. Poliseno for details!
***Exploratory and Final Grade 9 Placements***
Freshman students are coming home today with their purple shop selection forms. These forms need to be filled out tonight and returned tomorrow. If you’re going to be out tomorrow, then a parent may email the shop choices to Ms. Titus at stitus@bluehills.org. Freshmen will be in their permanent programs for January 24. Have your student check their email mid week next week for their assignment. The placement will also be posted on the home page of X2.
Just a reminder on how placement works. Students are placed in their #1 choice based on the grade they got in that program. Each program has a limit on how many students it can accept. If your student does not get their #1 choice, they will be considered for their #2 choice based on the grade they got in that program. In the event of a tie, we look at the overall average of all exploratories in which the student participated. If for some reason a student does not get their #1, #2, or #3 choice, their guidance counselor will discuss the options that are available to them.
For your student’s first day of shop on January 24, they need to come with closed-toed shoes, long pants, chromebook and safety glasses. The instructors will then discuss proper uniform for their program. Please contact Ms. Sylvia if you have questions about placement.
Past Reminders:
Covid-19
- Please do not send students to school if they do not feel well. Symptoms of Covid can be very similar to other illnesses. When in doubt, stay home. Please contact our school Nurse, Joan Gainey, with questions or concerns about Covid-19 exposure or positive tests.
- Nurse Gainey is our point person for covid matters, and has been working tirelessly to contact families when issues arise. Please contact Nurse Gainey by email or phone to report positive covid cases.
- Any individual who tests positive for Covid-19 must remain out of school according to the Department of Public Health and school guidelines. Currently, self-isolation for COVID-19 positive cases is a minimum of 5 days after symptom onset or after positive PCR or antigen test, if asymptomatic. The return to school is based on symptoms improving once the isolation period is over.
- Fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to quarantine or get tested if they are a close contact with someone who tests positive. However, they are required to monitor symptoms and quarantine/test should symptoms arise.
- Mask wearing remains required at Blue Hills during while indoors. Thank you for your assistance with this.
Attendance
- We recognize that attendance is a concern for many students and families this year. Given the recent surge in cases, we are seeing a significant increase in absences, which is to be expected.
- In order for us to excuse Covid-19 related absences, we need to document these absences as they happen.
- Please contact Nurse Gainey and the attendance line (x2250 or email) when a student is out related to Covid-19.
Student Supports
- For many students, being out with Covid will mean missing a week of school, and maybe more. This can be a challenge as students are missing work, quizzes, tests, and vocational time. Guidance counselors may attempt to contact your student if they are out for a prolonged period of time.
- If students are feeling well despite being in Covid protocol, they are strongly encouraged to access work through google classroom or reach out to their teachers or guidance counselor for work they may have missed.
- When returning to school, students should plan on getting extra help if needed for work they have missed. Staying after school until 3:10 is a great way to get individual support. Students who miss long periods of time due to significant illness and are struggling to make up work may be placed in our Bridge program, which can provide extra support during the school day upon returning to school.
- Finally, a message for students: if you need support, please reach out to your guidance counselor or other trusted adult in the building. We are all here to help in any way that we can.
Division 5 - Sportsmanship Award
Upcoming Dates
- January 17 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
- January 28 - Term 2 Ends
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.
Core Values:
Community, Opportunity, Relevance, Employability
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