Principal's Message 9/10/23

Daily Bulletin

·  9/11/2023

·  9/8/2023

·  9/7/2023

·  9/6/2023

·  9/5/2023

Student Handbook

·  2023-2024 Handbook HERE

Program of Studies

·  2023 -2024 Program of Studies

Daily Schedule

·  Daily Schedule with Lunch Assignments HERE

SHS Calendar

·  SHS School Year Calendar HERE

District Calendar

·  SPS 2023 - 2024 Calendar HERE

Parking and Traffic Route Map

·  Driving routes / parking Map HERE

Social Media Links

·  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shs.principal.184

·  Instagram:  bluespartanshs

·  Current Club / Organizations HERE

2023 - 2024 SHS Club and Student Organizations

·  TBD

·  Wednesday, September 13:  SHS Back To School Night: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

·  Friday, October 13:  Picture Day

·  Tuesday, November 21: Picture Retake Day

The date for the Class of 2024 Graduation Commencement has been moved back from Friday, June 7 to Friday, May 31.

This change in date reflects a review of the School Calendar and the realization that the late Graduation date of June 7 resulted in end of school year, 6/12, conflicts with a variety of Grade 9 - 11 educational activities from Biology MCAS and Final Exams to Award Nights and 8th Grade Step Up Day.  The current calendar also had Seniors in school more school days than required.  The new dates remove any conflicts and have an end of school date with required school days as previous graduating classes.

New Senior Dates:

·  Seniors last day of classes:  Monday, 5/20

·  Senior Final Exams:  Tuesday, 5/21 - Friday, 5/24

·  Senior Prom: Tuesday, 5/28

·  Senior Family Picnic: Thursday, 5/30

·  Graduation: Friday, 5/31

Academic Awards and Scholarships: TBD

Wednesday, 9/13

·  6:30pm - 8:00pm

Welcome Back to School Night is an evening when parents follow an abbreviated schedule of their students' seven academic courses.  Parents and caregivers will be provided useful information from teachers which will assist you in supporting your students' learning process.  

Please note this event is not for discussions or meetings regarding individual students.  If you have a specific question or concern you would like to speak to a teacher, please send them an email requesting a meeting or conversation as soon as possible.

Parents / Caregivers please have a copy (print out, screen shot) of your students’ schedule.  We will follow an abbreviated schedule starting with period A and ending with period G.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday and providing you the necessary information to best inform you of your students’ experience.

Please plan accordingly with traffic routes and patterns to allow you to be in school and in your student's A period class for a prompt 6:30pm start.

Also, please park only in the white lined parking spaces.  Blue lines spaces are assigned Faculty spaces.

Stoneham Public Schools and the Stoneham Police Department, through a Memorandum of Understanding provide the services of a School Resource Officer (SRO).  Our  SRO, Michael Colotti, is a familiar and friendly face for our students  offering a range of support and safety for our students.  To learn more about our SRO please go HERE

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. 

According to the Trevor Project, ”LGBTQ young people are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among all young people in the United States.”  

The Crochet Club is holding a fundraiser for The Trevor Project and will be selling merchandise

·  Thursday 9/14 during FLEX in the lobby, 

·  Friday 9/15 during lunch in the cafeteria, 

·  And online on instagram @shsknitcrochet 

100% of proceeds will be donated.

Parents and caregivers,  a gentle reminder that food deliveries during school hours are not permitted.  Food deliveries from UBER, DoorDash, etc. will not be permitted or will the Main Office accept any form of Take Out / Food to Go.  SHS provides students a wide variety of tasty and delicious food options for breakfast and lunch, a cafeteria vending machine accessible all day and a gymnasium vending machine available for after school hours.

2023 - 2024 Lunch eating options.  During lunch students are provided eating options in the cafeteria, outside tent area, hallway tables and Library.  Students may also walk and stretch their legs in the hallway from the cafeteria to the Main Office.  Restrooms are the facilities directly across the cafeteria. 

Food service provides a variety of healthy and tasty lunch options as well as a vending machine in the cafeteria available all day and an additional one in the Gymnasium area for after school hours.

Students are NOT permitted to walk the hallways or be out of the areas as defined above during their scheduled lunch. The Gymnasium vending machine is not permitted during lunch times.

The Guidance Office will not be open for lunch this year unless with special circumstances. Please see your school counselor with questions or concerns.

The Spartan Enrichment Organization, Stoneham High School’s PTO, is seeking parent / caregiver involvement.  

SEO plays an integral role in the support of our students, teachers and educational process by providing a variety of monetary support and scholarships.   

The organization has recently “graduated” its President as her student has graduated from SHS.  The SEO has openings for President and Vice President.   

If you are interested in any of these important roles to positively impact SHS and our students please contact:

Annette Iebba, SEO Treasurer at:  aiebba@suffolk.edu 

Or 

Carmen Buonopane, SEO Secretary at: Carmen.Buonopane@mass.gov

Here is a MAP of our Parking Lot and Traffic Routes as well as the posted signs you will see.  Key points of the Map and parking and traffic plan.

·  Drop off and Pick up traffic travels the perimeter of the middle parking spaces to the designated lower lot Drop Off / Pick Up Areas.

o Three walkways  connect the Drop Off / Pick Up Area to the High School

·  No Drop Off / Pick Up is permitted in the Upper Lot unless due to physical need

·  Middle traffic aisle is for middle row parking only

o Drop Off / Pick Up Traffic should not drive up the  middle parking aisle

·   

In addition to these  posted travel routes and signage, the  primary message for all student drivers and parent / caregiver drivers is to be aware, cautious and patient when driving on school grounds and to follow the posted signs for travel, parking  and student pick / up drop off.  Travel speed should be no more than 10 miles per hour. 

 If you find yourself cutting across the parking lot, driving over 1o MPH or not following the posted routes then YOU, are “THAT PERSON,” who is being selfish and inconsiderate to the safety of others.  Safety, whether school based or in the parking lot, requires all of us;  how we drive on campus, in a tight and congested space, is part of establishing a safe environment.  Please do your part!  We thank you for your support and attention to this matter.

We have distributed all parking passes for those students who completed the 1st round of Parking Application process.  We will open the 2nd round for Parking Applications starting Tuesday, September, 5.

Just a few reminders from Lunch Program:

·  All students will be getting FREE Breakfast & Lunch again this year (and hopefully forever).

o Breakfast can be served in the morning, as a snack (if a student forgets one), or take home to eat the next morning. 

o We would love to see more students participating in Breakfast

·  Any free/reduced family must fill out a NEW application every year

o This will need to be done by October 16th 

§ Or they will revert back to paid 

·  Although everyone is free, a new application is needed to receive other state benefits.

§ How to apply HERE

§ Applications HERE 

·  High School & Middle School Menu

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope this email finds you well. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to ensure that all students have access to the necessary tools for a successful learning experience. In light of this, we are excited to provide Chromebooks to our students to facilitate their education both in the classroom and at home.

To ensure the responsible and effective use of these devices, we have developed a Chromebook User Agreement and optional Protection Plan. 

This agreement outlines the guidelines for using the Chromebooks and the steps we are taking to protect these devices. 

We kindly ask that you review and complete this agreement and discuss its contents with your student:

·  **Chromebook User Agreement Highlights**

o Responsible and ethical use of the device for educational purposes.

o Handling and care guidelines to maintain the functionality and appearance of the Chromebook.

o Adherence to the school's responsible use policy and digital citizenship guidelines.

o Awareness of online safety, cybersecurity, and protecting personal information.

·  **Protection Plan Benefits**

o We understand that accidents can happen, and that's why we are offering an optional Protection Plan for the Chromebooks. 

o If the yearly Chromebook protection plan is purchased, the student is covered for damages to their Chromebook and charger.  

·  **Next Steps**

o Review and complete the required 23-24 SPS Chromebook Agreement. The form can be accessed HERE

o Discuss the agreement with your student to ensure a clear understanding of the responsibilities and expectations.

o Consider enrolling in the optional Protection Plan to safeguard your student's device throughout the school year. 

§ Enrolling in the Protection Plan is easy. 

·  Simply visit UniPay and follow the instructions to sign up. 

o The plan costs $20 per year per student and provides valuable peace of mind.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to a successful and productive school year together.

Dear Families and Caregivers:

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has reached out to school districts across the state to ask that information regarding Mass Health be shared with the community.

If you are currently enrolled in Mass Health, and you have not yet renewed, you must renew in order to maintain eligibility. 

·  Please click here to access information in English

·  Please click here to access information in Arabic

·  Please click here to access information in Spanish

·  Please click here to access information in Portuguese

If you think you might not be eligible for MassHealth, other health coverage options are available. You may qualify for an affordable plan through the MA Health Connector, your employer, Medicare, or other sources. 

Members can visit https://www.mahealthconnector.org/ or call customer service at 1-877- MA ENROLL (1-877-623-7773) to learn more or enroll in a plan. 

If you lose your MassHealth coverage, it is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). This means you can enroll in a plan with the Health Connector outside of the regular Open Enrollment Period.