Blue Hills News
From the Desk of the Principal - November 12, 2020
Dear Blue Hills Families,
Here are a few reminders and clarifications as we approach the Holiday season.
- If your family is affected by a Covid-19 diagnosis or quarantine, please reach out to our Nurse Joan Gainey at jgainey@bluehills.org as soon as possible. Nurse Gainey will work with you to determine whether or not a student is allowed in school. We follow all state recommended protocols, but every situation is unique. Thank you for your patience and help in keeping people safe.
- We do our best at school to keep students socially distanced, wearing masks, and washing hands all day long. Please support these efforts on the weekends. Large social gatherings - especially indoors as the days grow shorter and colder - can quickly lead to the spread of Covid-19.
- If your child is struggling with mental or emotional help and you need support, please reach out to our Guidance and Counseling staff. They are eager to assist in any way that they can. These are trying times for all of us, and regardless of age, mental health can suffer.
- Meals are available for remote learning families; pickup is every Wednesday. Orders can be placed here: https://www.bluehills.org/students_and_parents/lunch_menu_and_remote_pickup
Please keep the following dates in mind:
- November 13 - Term One Ends
- November 14 - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Personal Open House Tours for 8th Graders. Register at https://bluehills.go2cte.com/. Help us spread the word!
- November 20 - Term One Report Cards Issued
- November 25 - 1/2 Day (Fully Remote)
- November 26 - Thanksgiving Day - NO SCHOOL
- November 27 - NO SCHOOL
Please also carefully review the upcoming calendar through Thanksgiving break. We have adjusted X and Y Days given that we have had to modify our traditional Open House and Showcase events.
Sincerely,
Geoff Zini
Principal
Covid-19 & Flu Information - From Nurse Gainey
Reminder:
All Massachusetts students are required to have their flu vaccines by 12/31/20.
Please email a copy of vaccine record to jgainey@bluehills.org
COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES
*DAILY SYMPTOM CHECK
*MASK
*HANDWASHING
*PHYSICAL DISTANCING
EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS CAN HAPPEN
What you do next will help control the spread of the infection:
TESTING, TRACING, ISOLATION, COMMUNICATION
- If you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms please stay home and get tested.
- If someone in your home tests positive you must quarantine for 14 days and get tested in 5-7 days or sooner if you become symptomatic.
- If you are informed that you are a close contact (within less than or equal to 6 feet for 10 to 15 minutes over 24 hours with or without mask or if someone coughed or sneezed directly in your unmasked face) you MUST quarantine for 14 days and get tested in 5-7 days or sooner if symptomatic.
- If a family member is identified as a close contact, and you are NOT symptomatic, you are expected to come to school. If that family member tested positive you would then be considered a close contact and be required to quarantine for 14 days and get tested in 5-7 days or sooner if you became symptomatic.
- Please notify the school jgainey@bluehills.org asap or call Mrs. Gainey RN @ 781-828-5800 X 2230 or Mrs. Pica @ X 2250 in Student Affairs if you are absent or to report a COVID-19 concern.
End of Term 1
Here is a good article, written in August, on tips to help support kids through the pandemic.
https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/helping-kids-during-covid
Whatever the situation at the end of Term 1, know that we are here to help. Our faculty and staff want nothing more than for everyone to have a successful year.
Upcoming Schedule - IN-PERSON Days
Booster Club!
The Boosters will meet (by Zoom) on November 17, from 7 pm to 9 pm. A Zoom link will be posted on the Boosters Facebook page.
If you would like to order merchandise from the Boosters, go to the online store: https://form.jotform.com/202667178459165.
Lunches
All students will receive free lunch and breakfast through the end of this school year.
Students that are learning at home are eligible for meal pickup - please click on the link below to place orders and learn more:
https://www.bluehills.org/students_and_parents/lunch_menu_and_remote_pickup
IT Support & Remote Learning
Class of 2025 - Now Accepting Applications!
Upcoming Admissions Events
- Personal Tours - Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Virtual Open House (Video Releases!) - November 16 - 20
- Priority Application Deadline - December 18, 2020
AM Drop-Offs
- Please enter the East Entrance (closest to Randolph) and pull in front of the gym/cafeteria for drop off.
- Students dropped off before 7:40 should enter the cafeteria.
- Students dropped off after 7:40 should enter the main entrance.
What remote schedule am I following???
Vocational "Remote" Days - these all look the same! If you are on a vocational week and are remote, simply follow your shop's instructions for the synchronous meeting times (8:30 and 1:30, usually) and work independently or as needed during the day. Failure to attend both synchronous sessions will lead to the student being marked as "absent" and potentially receiving no credit for the day.
Academic "Remote" Days -
- "Blue Days" - Mostly on Mondays and Thursdays. Refer to the released schedule to make sure you have the right day. On these days, you'll meet "live" with periods 1-4. The rest of your day is extra help and independent work.
- "Green Days" - Mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays - Refer to the released schedule to make sure you have the right day. On these days, you'll meet "live" with periods 5-8. The rest of your day is extra help and independent work.
- "Wednesdays" - On Wednesdays, follow the Wednesday schedule! You'll meet with all of your academic classes throughout the day. HINT: We may occassionally use this schedule on other days, or schedule Wednesday to be in-person.
For both vocational and academic "remote" days: Please remember that school runs from 7:48 to 2:20. At any time in this period of time, you can be asked to meet with a teacher, attend a session, or do extra help/support activities. If class begins at 8:30 or 9:00, you may very well have things to do and prepare for prior to the start time. Be diligent in checking your email and google classroom. Getting an education is your "job" right now, and is the best investment you can make at this stage of life!
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.
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