Leicester High School
November 7th, 2021
Dates to Remember
November 9th - 6:30 - School Committee Meeting
November 11th - No School - Veterans Day
November 17th - Student Services Information Night
November 24th - Early Release - Thanksgiving Break
November 25 and 26th - No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 7th - Parent/Guardian/Teacher conferences (virtual)
December 16th - LHS Winter Concert
MCAS
Please refer to the MCAS testing calendar for the upcoming school year. MCAS testing that is taking place in November is for students who either:
- Did not take the exam last year (medically excused).
- Did not pass one or both of the exams.
- Are taking the exam for the first time to see if they qualify for the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship (these students do not need to pass for graduation purposes) - these are students in grade 12.
These students have been notified in person and via school email about the testing dates, times, locations, and other information they would need for their exams.
If you have any questions regarding MCAS testing please reach out to Beth Johnson (johnsonb@lpsma.net) or Chris Barry (barryc@lpsma.net).
Announcements
Covid Update Week 10/30-11/5
Total positive cases yearly total: 14
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.
In The Classroom
Astronomy
As part of my Astronomy curriculum, on 11/11- Weather permitting- we are having a "Night Sky Viewing" It will be at Moore State Park from 4:30pm until 6pm. It will be located in the field adjacent to the parking lot- on the left just after you enter the grounds.
A representative from Aldrich Observatory- associated with Anna Maria College will be present to help answer questions and guide observations. https://www.aldrich.club/aldrich-observatory/
Chemistry
Guidance Department Updates
MCAP
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.
Student Services Information Night
Meeting Updates
10/12/2021 School Committee
If you were unable to attend or stream the October 12th School Committee Meeting, here are some highlights:
- Leicester High School presented an analysis of 2021 MCAS data disaggregated by subgroup. Highlights of the data showed that Leicester High School's growth (SGP) outpaced the state. Also, Leicester High School has significantly closed the achievement gap with the state, gaining 13% in English Language Arts and 24% in mathematics.
- The School Committee approved the following Clubs: LHS Writing Circle advised by Ms. Lavelle.
- Leicester High School fundraisers were approved by the School Committee as presented.
- Leicester High School showcased its intern/extern program, and Ava Butkiewicus, a Senior at Leicester High School, spoke about her extern experience in the veterinary science field.
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
Clubs and Activities
Yearbook!
Yearbook Photo Guidelines
Leicester High School
DUE DATE FOR PHOTO’s are Nov 1, 2021
Digital Guidelines
Because we are printing these pictures versus displaying them online, a higher resolution is required. 72 dpi will work online, but will NOT provide a clear printed photograph, and we won’t be able to use them in the yearbook. In order to avoid quality issues please make sure your camera settings are as follows:
Camera Resolution:
600 x 900 or higher
300 dpi
Format:
.jpeg
Compression:
none
Please provide us with an email (lhsphoto@lpsma.net), drop it into google classroom or USB drive.
All USB drives will be kept at school and will be available to students after yearbooks for that given year have been distributed.
Attention Seniors!
Butterbraids will be delivered on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10th. All orders must be picked up at that time as the items must remain frozen.
Athletics
Winter Sports Meeting, Registration and Tryouts
The Winter Sports Meeting will be held virtually on November 18th at 6:30. Any student that is interested in trying out for basketball or joining indoor track must have a family representative present in the meeting. Registration for winter teams will begin after the distribution of the first quarter report card and remain open through Sunday, November 28th. Maroon cards will begin to be signed then as well.
Tryouts will begin on Monday, November 29th. Specific tryouts times will be posted at a later date. In order to participate in tryouts, athletes must have a current physical on file. Students without a current physical will not be permitted to try out or participate this season.
Looking forward to an exciting and fun winter season. Go Wolverines!!
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.
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