Blue Hills News
October 19, 2023
Dear Blue Hills Families
Spirit week continues at school this week, as seniors and sophomores are in academics and can fully participate in the themed days. A special thanks to Ms. Connolly, Student Council Advisor, for her tireless work in organizing and planning spirit weeks, pep rally, and the Homecoming Dance. It's been a fun two weeks here for the students! Thanks also to all the class council advisors, student council members, chaperones, and helpers for all the legwork.
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.
A summary of our attendance policy is included in this newsletter every week (below) so that you have an easy reference to our expectations.
Reminders:
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences for grades 9 and 11 took place yesterday, October 18th. The next conference is next Thursday, October 26 (Grades 10 and 12). A letter was sent by the Academic office and can be found here. Afternoon conferences are virtual and signups are required. Evening conferences are in-person, and are first-come, first-served.
Upcoming Events
October 26: Parent/Teacher Conferences for grades 10 and 12
November 1: Open House for 8th grade students and families - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
November 1: Early Release for all students, 10:50 a.m.
November 2: Late Arrival for all students, 10:40 a.m.
November 3: Mini-Exploratory #2 for Grade 9
November 9: Term 1 Ends
November 10: Veterans Day, No School
November 17: Report Cards
Open House - Grade 8
Tiered Focused Monitoring - November 2023
Superintendent Jill Rossetti and Principal Geoffrey Zini report that during the week of Nov. 27, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Blue Hills Regional Technical School.
The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation.
Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint and equal access to school programs for all students.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send an online survey to all parents of students with disabilities receiving IEP services. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a final report.
During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews with district staff and administrators and review of student records.
Parents and other interested individuals may call Public School Monitoring Chairperson Julie Evansat 781-338-3754 to request additional information.
After the conclusion of the review, the public will be able to access the report at doe.mass.edu/psm. The report will include information about areas where the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas where the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices.
Additional information about the Public School Tiered Focused Monitoring System can be found here.
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.
October Lunch Menu
Health Office Updates
As you know, we are not providing Covid-19 testing in school at this time. You may place an order for free At-Home Covid-19 Tests from USPS. One order per residential household includes four individual rapid antigen Covid-19 tests. Orders will ship free via USPS starting October 2, 2023.
Guidelines for Keeping Students Home from School
Children are in close contact with one another at school. If parents keep their children home at the first signs of illness, it will help us prevent the spread of that illness to other children in the classroom. The following are some guidelines to help you decide when to keep your ill child home from school. These are the guidelines and symptoms we look for at school to determine when to send children home from school.
- Fever 100.0 or higher (Children must be fever-free without the use of fever reducing medications for 24 hours before returning to school).
- Vomited in the last 24 hours
- Diarrhea in the last 24 hours
- Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) in one or both eyes, with or without yellow or green discharge in or around the eyes or lashes
- Unexplained/suspicious rash
- Signs of strep throat
- Painful earache/ear drainage
- Any infection requiring antibiotics (children must have been taking antibiotics for A FULL 24 hours before returning to school)
- Live lice are immediate exclusion from school
*When in doubt of whether to send your child to school or not, consult your family physician.
COVID Guidelines
Testing positive for COVID-19:
If a member of the BHR community tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, that individual must isolate at home for at least five (5) days. The student can return to school on day 6, if the following conditions are met:
Fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications.
Symptoms are significantly improved.
Must wear a mask at school until completion of day 10, unless you test negative for COVID on day 5 or later.
(Day “0” is the day of the positive test result or the onset of symptoms; the following day marks day 1, etc. An isolation calculator can be found here to help figure out the isolation period.)
If your student tests positive, please notify the BHR nurses at: nurse@bluehills.org. You will receive an email confirming isolation dates. Your student may notify their teachers and check online work to stay on track while not in school, if they are well enough. Please also be sure to communicate the Covid positive status with your child’s provider and submit documentation upon their return to school. (Please note: the school does not have tests available to send home with students at this time.)
On behalf of our entire community, thank you for doing your part to keep our community healthy!
Booster Club Updates
- BOO – STER BASH – A social event for BHR parents / guardians on Thursday, Oct 26th, 7 – 10 pm at Randolph Elks (21+)
- 2023 Holiday Fair – Saturday, Dec 2 @ BHR from 10 – 3
- Monthly Booster Meetings - 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7pm in School Restaurant – Chateau
- School Store – open most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10 -1
- Volunteer Opportunities – Snack Shack (open for home Football Games), Holiday Fair, School Store (parents or guardians) more opportunities will be available as we start the school year!
- Freshman Swag Package – still time to purchase a 4-year membership and Swag Package $125 my.cheddarup.com
- Interested in being a Vendor at Holiday Fair, email Bluehillsboosters@gmail.com
- Join the Blue Hills Booster Club Facebook page for news and updates!
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
- 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 (781 818 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.
Important Documents
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.