Blue Hills News
Dear Blue Hills Families,
The newsletter this week is pretty full - please take a minute to look through at some of the many things happening at BHR!
Mental Health Care
We are pleased this week to introduce a new partnership between Blue Hills and Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care and support for our students and communities.
There is an introductory letter attached below that I hope you'll read. This service is available to all students, faculty, staff, and student families at no charge. They will connect you with mental health providers accepting all medical insurances - information entered on the Care Solace platform is completely confidential.
We know that mental health challenges have been on the increase over the past few years, and we hope that by providing this service, we can help to support our entire BHR community in a positive way.
School Counselors Week
This week is National School Counseling Week - we have an incredible team of guidance counselors, adjustment counselors, and school psychologists who make a different every day! Thanks for all that you do!
National Honor Society Applications - Message from NHS Advisor
This week, information will be sent out in an email to students who are eligible to apply for membership in the William A. Dwyer Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). I wanted to take this opportunity to share some more information with our school community about NHS.
What is the purpose of the National Honor Society?
The NHS is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) in order to give recognition to outstanding high school students. The National Honor Society Constitution states: The purpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.
What criteria must be met to be eligible to apply for membership in the NHS at BHR?
Be a member of the Sophomore, Junior, or Senior class
Have a minimum weighted grade point average (GPA) of 3.75
When and how often are invitations sent out?
Invitations to apply for NHS are sent out once a year. Currently, our school sends out the invitations after Term 2 grades have been posted.
If a student meets the eligibility requirements, do they automatically become a member of NHS?
No. Eligible students must submit a packet of information through Google Classroom to Ms. Barley, the NHS advisor, to officially become a candidate for membership in the NHS. Students are selected to be members of the National Honor Society; membership is not a right, but a privilege.
How are members selected?
The Faculty Council, which consists of five members of the BHR faculty, reviews all of the information that is submitted by and about the candidates. The members of the council consider each student’s scholarship, developing character, service to the community, and leadership qualities. The advisor meets with the council and moderates the selection process, but does not vote. The selection of members is determined by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the Faculty Council. The advisor notifies each candidate of the council’s decision by letter. Candidates selected by the Faculty Council are formally inducted into the NHS at a traditional candle lighting ceremony.
What does it mean to be a member of NHS? What do I have to do?
Membership in NHS is both an honor and a responsibility. Students selected for membership are expected to maintain an exemplary academic and conduct record at BHR. All members must maintain the standards by which they were selected and uphold the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Members of NHS are obligated to attend meetings, participate in group service projects, and complete an individual service project. Each year, members must perform 20 hours of community service, either in school or outside of school. All members must take an active role in the annual Induction Ceremony. Members are expected to participate in fundraising activities for our organization as well as for charity. An annual membership fee of $20 is requested to help defray our expenses.
If a student applied for membership to NHS before, but was not accepted for membership, can they still apply this year?
Yes! Non-selection in a previous year does not disqualify a student from applying again. The Faculty Council encourages students who submitted an application previously to highlight their growth in the areas of scholarship, leadership, character, and service since their last submission.
What is the anticipated timeline for the application process?
2/10 Invitation to Apply letters will be sent out to eligible students
2/10 - 3/1: Students complete and submit their applications on Google Classroom
3/2 -3/9: The Faculty Committee reviews all application materials
3/10 - 3/24: The Faculty Committee meets to discuss and vote on each candidate
3/27 -3/29: Students and families will be notified of the Faculty Committee’s decision
4/12: Induction Ceremony Time 6-7 p.m
Please direct any further questions about the Blue Hills Regional Technical School chapter of the National Honor Society to the chapter advisor, Ms. Michelle Barley at mbarley@bluehills.org
CTE Month
This month, we shine a spotlight on the reason Blue Hills exists - to provide the best career and technical education through our core values of community, opportunity, relevance, and employability. This week and next week, we will feature some highlights from our 17 vocational programs.
Construction Tech
Students have been working this year on a giant addition in Westwood. Progress is incredible and the project is amazing!
Culinary Arts
Here, Ms. Varraso demonstrates how to wrap some tasty burritos for a Super Bowl order!
Metal Fabrication
Fire pits are definitely a hot item - from design to finish, students create some amazing fire pits!
Entrepreneur Week
For the first time, we are holding an "Entrepreneur Week" for the school from February 13 - February 17. During this week, students will see short videos about entrepreneurs, have the opportunity to highlight people that started their own business, and even see some of our own student entrepreneurs during the week. On Wednesday, February 15, we will be hosting a moderated panel for our seniors and juniors, letting them hear from local business owners and graduates. For the full schedule, see the document below.
February is Black History Month!
"The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society." (from https://blackhistorymonth.gov/).
Blackhistorymonth.gov is an amazing collection of resources, videos, articles, and exhibits. The collective is expansive, so I want to highlight just one. Many may remember the documentary series "Eyes on the Prize" - this collection calls out a project compiled by the American Archive of Public Broadcasting which put together the 308 interviews - in full - that were recorded and used in the production of "Eyes on the Prize." Here is a link to the overview and the interviews: https://americanarchive.org/special_collections/eotp-interviews.
Public Education Initiative on 9-1-1
Recently, the state issued information in an effort to educate the public on some key features of the 911 system.
- The first is “Text-to-911”, which allows a person that is unable to speak or hear to communicate via text with a 9-1-1 dispatcher.
- The second is the “Silent Call Procedure”, which allows a person that is unable to speak to call 9-1-1 and when the call is answered by the dispatcher to press the following digits on their phone - 1 for police, 2 for fire, 3 for an ambulance - so that the dispatcher can immediately send help.
These two features of the 9-1-1 system are valuable and can provide the ability to save a life when used.
Upcoming Events
February 9: In-Service, Late Arrival at 10:40 a.m.
February 20: Presidents' Day
February 20-24: School Closed for February Vacation
**Previous Information**
**Past Information**
Spring Sports - Believe it or not, spring athletics are right around the corner! Sign up is open on Family ID. You must register on Family ID to participate or try out. Physical exams must be up to date. There are no exceptions! Register early and take care of any issues with your paperwork well in advance of the spring season!
A reminder from the Academic Office:
Please note the dates for this year's MCAS, below.
It is imperative that all grade 10 students are present for these state-required evaluations. The state only allows medical excuses for absences during testing dates. If you need any clarification on this year's MCAS administration, please do not hesitate to reach-out to the Academic Office at your earliest convenience (pbavuso@bluehills.org).
English Language Arts: March 28 and March 29
Mathematics: May 16 and May 17
Biology: June 6 and June 7
Attendance
Just a gentle reminder about our attendance policy. Students who accumulate 16 absences for the year are required to attend summer school. We do not excuse single days. We do "reduce" consecutive days to count as one absence when a doctor's note is provided. We also fully excuse all covid related illnesses, so please report these to the nurse. Family trips, weddings, graduations are not excused days. If you have questions, please contact your child's guidance counselor who can review your child's attendance with you.
- Vaping continues to be a major concern at Blue Hills and at schools across the country. Part of the inherent danger of vaping is that it is difficult to know what is inside a vaping device. One of the latest trends has seen vapes laced with fentanyl - a potentially lethal drug. I encourage you to read this article discussing the concerns with vapes. At Blue Hills, students are not allowed to carry or use vapes at any time, and will be subject to disciplinary measures.
- Seniors may be eligible to start co-op. Please email Ms. Poliseno at kpoliseno@bluehills.org for more information.
- Important Note: There is a viral social media challenge re-emerging called the "One Chip Challenge" - you can read about it here - that can cause physical harm to participants. There is no place for this at any school, and that goes for Blue Hills. Please talk with your student about the serious injury that can occur from eating these chips, and the danger of following certain social media trends. Please be advised that Blue Hills does not condone this type of dangerous activity during the school day. Students please note that there may be consequences if you are involved in this type of activity.
** Please Read** Dismissal Procedures:
Please help us by sending a note in with your student on the day that they will be dismissed. They should bring the note to the main office in the morning. This allows your student to sign out at the appointed time and meet you at your car. Otherwise, we need you to come into the building and identify yourself, at which time we have to call your student's classroom or shop to dismiss them. It is far easier and faster if you send a note in the morning. Thanks for your help with this.
Other Information:
- Aspen X2 is used by Blue Hills to record student grades, attendance, discipline, family contact information, and much more. If you need assistance logging in to Aspen X2, you may follow this link. For further assistance, you may call the Academic Office at 781-828-5800 X2670.
- Breakfast and Lunch are available for free again this year. Through the first few days of school, we have noticed many students getting off the bus, waiting in line for breakfast, and immediately throwing it out or giving it away. This is not the intention of the free breakfast program, and those students will be asked to remain on the bus instead of coming into the cafeteria.
- 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.
- If you have not, please complete the SY 2022-2023 Mandatory Registration & Student Emergency/Contact Information on Family ID. This is required of all students each year, and includes the Parent-Student Handbook. This helps us keep your emergency contact information up to date in our system.
- Grade 9 Parents Night Information: The presentation is available here.
Update from the School Health Office:
We continue to have self-testing kits available in the main office and in the nurse's office. These are a limited supply and will only be provided if they are available and if you are symptomatic.
If you test positive for Covid-19, please email letheart@bluehills.org and include in your communication the day your symptoms started. You will receive a response back with your isolation dates and the date of return to work or school. Remember, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
Symptoms include:
- Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms
Reminder: although there is no statewide requirement for masking at school, masks are required when entering the school health office. They are available upon entry.
2022-2023 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.