Principal's Message 8/17/21

 

Principal’s Message

 

August 16, 2021

 

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,

 

I welcome you all to the start of the 2021 - 2022 school year!  I hope you have had an enjoyable summer and are in good spirit and mind for your return to school.  This letter is meant to provide information, to ease any worry and to allow for a positive transition to the start of the school year.  Enclosed you will find information regarding student academic schedules, the school day academic schedule and academic calendar, Student-Parent Handbook , class meetings, Chromebook pick up, upcoming save the date activities and new faces at SHS.

 

We are eager to welcome back our returning students and the incoming Class of 2025. There is much excitement for a back to normal start of the school year, from the daily in person learning process, athletics and all extracurriculars to overall school culture.  Our positive and successful conclusion of the last school year has given much hope and optimism for the upcoming year.

 

Coinciding with this optimism is the current situation and dialogue regarding COVID and safety measures, particularly masks.  The School Committee is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, August  18.  Determinations for any COVID safety measures at SHS or the district will be made by the School Committee and shared once known.  As I wrote to my faculty, “ though I may be flabbergasted with recent  (COVID) updates, I am certainly undaunted by the task, knowing the team we are.”  I share this one, as a call out for the amazing faculty we have at SHS, but also as an extension to our students.

 

We have been pleased and impressed with our students' academic and extracurricular participation and performance as well as their response to the challenges of the past year and a half demonstrating skills and mindsets to manage and overcome.  Students greatly contributed to the school culture and climate that supported the learning and extracurricular activities of last year.  We look forward with anticipation and strong confidence for what they will accomplish and make of this school year.

 

Classrooms and labs, stages, music and art rooms, fields and courts are primed for use and activity.  School year planning, budgeting, scheduling and summer learning and development has occurred.  Rest and relaxation, time with family and friends and some much needed downtime and vacation has been accomplished.  All Stoneham High School faculty are ready to go and await our students.  Your learning, growth, steps to your dreams and future await.  Here’s to a fun, positive, rigorous, creative and engaging school year. 

 

In addition we are holding a Meet the Administration on Wednesday, August 25, from 6:00 - 7:00PM in the SHS Auditorium. This is an optional meeting with an informal Q and A format for parents.

 

 

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

W.B. Yeates

Sincerely,

Bryan Lombardi

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

Start of School

 

Student Academic Schedules 

Academic Schedules will be available for students on PowerSchool starting on Friday, August 20, 2021

 

 

Course Changes

Course and level changes are discouraged.  However, we acknowledge that at times course and / or level changes are necessary to best meet the needs of students.  Therefore, changes will only be permitted for the following criteria:

▪ A prerequisite has not been met

▪ A course was made up in summer school

▪ To correct placement in an inappropriate academic level

▪ To meet high school graduation or college admissions requirements

If you notice any of the above schedule issues please contact your School Counselor as soon as possible to schedule a meeting.  School Counselors will be available the week of August 23.

 

 

Lockers

●                    Students in grades 9 and 10 will receive their locker information during their scheduled Class Meeting and Chromebook pick up days (See below)

●                    Students in grades 11 and 12 will not be assigned a school locker.  Student - Athletes participating in Fall, Winter or Spring sports will be assigned an athletic room locker.  Any grade 11 or 12 student wanting a school day locker must request so by completing the following form HERE

 

 

SHS Student - Parent Handbook

We are sharing our recommended 2021-2022 SHS Student - Parent Handbook HERE

●                    Please note the following policy changes

○                     Attendance

○                     Academic Integrity

●                    Final approval of Handbook will occur at the 8/26 School Committee Meeting

 

 

Student Dress

We remind students and parents of the SHS Dress Code Policy.  We ask students and parents to review our policy.  It is aimed to empower students with their individuality, but also prepare them for applying norms and standards for appropriate dress and varying situations and settings.  With this in mind school dress is expected to be in line as you would when attending work, a place of worship, an interview, or even a casual setting or any setting; You dress to the environment.  School dress at Stoneham High School  is expected to be appropriate and conducive to an educational setting where the learning, practicing and honing of the skills, content and thinking for future success take place.

 

 

Class Meetings and Chromebook pick up schedule

The following are required meetings for all students on the day their class is scheduled.

●                    Grade 9: Thursday, August 26, during Orientation; 9:30am - 12:00pm

●                    Grade 10: Wednesday, August 25, 9:00am - 10:30am

●                    Grade 11: Thursday, August 25, 10:45am - 12:15pm

●                    Grade 12: Friday, August 27, during Seniors Welcome Back Day; 9:00am - 12:00pm

○                     Welcome back meeting

○                     Chromebook pickup

○                     Parking space painting

○                     Lunch

 

 

 

 

Chromebook Pick up

 To receive a Chromebook all students and parents / guardians must complete the following

●                    Student Responsible Technology Use Guidelines form found HERE

●                    Stoneham Public Schools Parent / Guardian Photo Release Form found HERE

●                    Acknowledgement of receipt and review of Student - Parent Handbook HERE

 

Please print out, sign and bring with you when you when you pick up your Chromebook

 

No Chromebook will be issued without all three of these completed forms.

 

 

Flex Block

Flex block is scheduled for the last period of Days 1, 2, 4 and 5.  Flex block provides students opportunities for academic support and enrichment activities and common planning time for teachers.  Students will receive further details about FLEX Block on the first day of school in their first period.

 

●                    Please note that, unless otherwise communicated, all Day 1’s of our Five Day Schedule is an early release with student dismissal at 2:16pm

 

2021-2022 SHS Academic School Year Calendar

The 2021-2022 SHS Academic School Year Calendar can be found HERE.

Please note that our academic schedule is a continuous schedule regardless of snow days or other cancellations.  If there is an unexpected school closure we will follow the next scheduled day as planned when school resumes.  This calendar is also a live document and will be updated as needed.  Please refer to it frequently to plan accordingly.

 

Wednesday, September 1 / 1st Day

Our first day is Wednesday, September 1.  Start time is 8:15 and all students are to report to their first period / block A course.  It will be Day One of our five day schedule rotation.  The Five Day Daily schedule is below; Students, I encourage you to take a picture with your phone for future reference and parents, I suggest posting the schedule on your refrigerator or an easy point of reference within your house. 

 

●                    Early release @ 2:16

 

Daily Academic Schedule / 8:15 - 2:50

 

 

Early Release:

Day one is an early release day with dismissal at 2:16 to allow for common planning time for teachers and school faculty.  As this is a five day repeating schedule, day one does not always occur on the same day of the week.  Please see the SHS Academic School Year Calendar HERE to plan accordingly.

 

 

 

Save the date

Wednesday, August 25:  Administration Meet and Greet:  6:00pm - 7:00pm, Auditorium

●                    Optional meeting for all parents; Open Q and A format

 

Wednesday, August 25: Grade 10 Welcome back meeting and Chromebook pick up:  9:00am- 10:30am, Football Field

 

Wednesday, August 25: Grade 11 Welcome back meeting and Chromebook pick up:  10:45am - 12:15pm, Football Field

 

Tuesday, August, 26th:  Grade 9 Student Orientation:  9:30am - 12:30pm, Football Field

 

Friday, August 27:  Grade 12: Seniors Welcome Back Day and Chromebook pick up: 9:00am - 12:00pm, Football Field

 

Wednesday, September 1: Athlete / Parent / Coach Meeting:  6:00pm, Gymnasium

 

Wednesday, September 22:  SHS Back To School Night: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

 

New Faces: 

Please welcome the following new teachers and faculty members to Stoneham High School:

 

Rachel Adamsky                                   Earth Science / Science

Aretha Cohen                                       Speech & Language / Special Education

Jaime Derian                                         Mathematics

Liam Gladding                                       Chemistry / Science

Alison Holland                                      Biology / Science

Sean Kerans                                          Mathematics

Lauren Michaud                                   Language Based / Special Education

Amy Sancinito                                       Adjustment Counselor / Special Education

Amanda Stokes                                    Biology / Science

Carla Yudin                                            School Psychologist / Special Education

TBD                                                         ELL Teacher

 

 

               

Larger font daily schedule:

See below...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Academic Schedule / 8:15 - 2:50