Stay home if sick, wear a mask & wash your hands-Stay Safe
Good evening,
I hope that the Holiday Vacation has been healthy, festive and restful for you and your family. I felt that we had just squeaked into the Holiday Vacation just in time with no significant COVID related incidents to drastically impact our ability to safely provide educational activities. I was feeling optimistic and excited for a much-needed break.
Well, here we are now with much anxiety about the new COVID strain and it’s potential to significantly impact our abilities. This was not a place I had expected we would be in at this time of the pandemic. It is very easy to get anxious, worried, and even tired. I combat these feelings and worries with the knowledge and confidence of what we have done since the start of the 2020 - 2021 school year.
We have implemented a consistent series of safety measures from adding air purifiers and repairing air circulators, to schedule changes, lunch changes, masking expectations and contract tracing that have effectively allowed us to safely conduct our business of public education. With this in mind I am confident that we will successfully face this challenge to provide a positive, safe and successful learning environment for all members of our educational community.
I ask that all students come to school with a positive mind set. A mindset that says by doing your part you help us meet this challenge and allow us to continue to provide the best education and extracurricular activities possible. Your efforts matter! Wearing a mask matters! Let’s continue to work together to continue the success we have had and the success we hope to achieve.
We come back with two weeks remaining in Semester One and Midterms / Finals just around the corner. Students should utilize remaining FLEX opportunities to best support their academic needs and preparation for upcoming assessments. Winter sports are in active competition, Drama Club is preparing for their METG High School Drama Festival and clubs are in full swing with activities. Bottomline, there is much to do and much going on to look forward to. Let’s continue to do our part and allow these and other great activities to continue.
A wish for a positive and successful New Year for all of you. Here’s to a good week and strong start for 2022.
Communication
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We kindly ask that you utilize the following links as first resources to find the information you are seeking prior to contacting the Main Office. Daily Bulletin ● New ○ 1/3/2022 ● Old SHS Web Page: https://www.stonehamschools.org/schools/stoneham-high-school/index FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Stoneham-High-School-113064453732609 |
Save the date
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Friday, 1/14: Half Day Dismissal; 12:15PM / District PD Monday, 1/17; School Closed / MLK Day Tuesday, 1/18 - Friday, 1/ 21; Half Day Dismissals for Mid Term / Final exams |
Late start Schedule 1/3/2022 / Day 1
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Due to the late start we will not have an early release. Also, due to considerations of the number of students in two lunches a new early release day schedule has been created to allow for 3 lunches. Classes will attend their scheduled lunch (L1, L2 or L3) as they would for any scheduled Day 1. Two Hour Delay w/ 3 Lunches
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S1 Midterm / Final Schedule 1/18 - 1/21
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MidTerm / Finals testing schedule ● For all testing each day ○ Each testing day is a half day with dismissal @ 12:15 ○ Two testing periods each day ○ Each testing period is one hour and fifty minutes ○ There will be a 20 minute break between each testing period ● Please note sequence change for G and F period ● Dates: 1/18 - 1/21; Half Day Dismissals @ 12:15 ○ Tuesday, 1/18; Periods A and B ○ Wednesday, 1/19; Periods C and D ○ Thursday, 1/20; Periods E and G ○ Friday, 1/21; Period F and Makeup |
National Honor Society / Application Process
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Recently, some decisions have been made about the practices of the National Honor Society and what is in the best interest of our students. This includes how and when student GPAs are calculated in order to qualify for the 4.1 GPA requirement. We have shifted the timeline of when this calculation occurs to after the first semester of Junior and Senior year. We believe this will provide a more accurate report of the current GPA, taking into consideration the rigorous schedule in which many students are currently enrolled. The goal of this shift creates an equitable process for our students that allows us to best acknowledge their achievements. After students are identified based upon the 4.1 GPA requirement they will receive an electronic letter inviting them to start the process of joining the National Honor Society. Students will then complete the application process which is based upon how they have met the criteria for the four pillars identified by the constitution of the National Honor Society. These four pillars are scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The application will ask students to provide evidence of these pillars in their daily life as well as a written personal statement addressing how they embody these four pillars. |
Counselor’s Corner: Scholarships Available
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All Students Northeast Metro Tech is hosting a 12-week Saturday Exploratory Program for any student interested in exploring the world of vocational education, as well as pursuing opportunities in the Engineering fields, or any other technology driven career pathway through CAD and Robotics. The program runs for 12 weeks with each career-technical exploratory lasting 4 sessions. The sessions will run 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm on the following dates: Session 1 : January 8, 15, 22, 29 Session 2: February 5, 12, 26, March 5 Session 3: March 12, 19, 26, April 2 This program is FREE to all students. Registration is due January 4, 2022. For more information or to fill out an application, please contact your school counselor or stop by the Guidance Office. Seniors All seniors who are seeking a college degree or job training are eligible to compete in the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Awards Program, with awards totaling over half a million dollars. To qualify, students must register for an examination consisting of multiple choice questions and an essay related to labor history. A study guide is available online. There is a firm deadline of December 17, 2021 to register for the exam, which will be administered between Jan. 31 and Feb. 4, 2022. Further details will be sent out following the registration deadline. All registration is online at: www.massaflcio.org/scholarships All Parents ● MEFA ( Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) is offering a variety of upcoming webinars related to college planning and financing. More information and registration here: SAT / PSAT Information ● SAT test dates at SHS ○ March 12, 2022 ■ Registration deadline February 11, 2022 ○ June 4, 2022 ■ Registration deadline: May 5, 2022 |
Spartan Enrichment Organization (SEO) / December Newsletter
Class of 2022 Fundraiser
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Support the Class of 2022 Stay cozy and warm during these upcoming winter months with Spartan swag and help support the Class of 2022! ➔ Embroidered Spartan Comfy: $50.00 ➔ Spartan 50x60 fleece stadium/rink blanket: $30.00
How to pay: Be sure to include your name and phone number/email for pick up purposes - date/time TBD ➔ Venmo (QR Code above) ➔ Cash (SHS - Room 102) ➔ Check (Payable to: SHS Activity Fund) *** Order by 01/07/22 *** Email bnims@stonehamschools.org with questions |
Students: Winter Work Opportunities
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SNOW SHOVELERS NEEDED ● Stoneham DPW ○ 16 Pine Street ● $15 per hour ○ Apply in person ○ Must be 16 years of age or older |
Parent / Guardian Support
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Stoneham Coalition for A Safe and Healthy Coalition: Join us for this year's Parent University, a fun, half day event for parents with students of any age that provides knowledge and advice from community experts through a series of free workshops focusing on student's educational experience and well-being More information on the Parent University can be found here: |