2022-2023 School Reopening Information

It is with great excitement and anticipation that we welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year! All families must review and complete the following before opening day:

Complete the SY2022-2023 Mandatory Registration & Student Emergency Contact Information on Family ID. This is required for all students each year, and includes the Parent-Student Handbook.
If riding the bus this year, please register - remember, bus ridership is provided at no cost to our families. Bus Registration.
Here are some additional links, should you need them:

School reopens for all students on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. f r aobegins at 7:48. Please review the 2022-2023 School Reopening Key Information below for some basic information about tardies, dismissals, drop off and pickup, and other important items.

As we begin this school year, we want to encourage you to take some time with your student to discuss the importance of a strong start as the year begins. This means:

Arriving to school on time; having excellent attendance
Paying attention in class and vocational programs
Wearing school-appropriate clothing (uniforms in vocational programs; professionally accepted attire in academic classes)
Prepared for each day; homework done, materials in hand, ready to learn

Remember that everyone at Blue Hills is part of our Community. We want to make sure each of you is given the Opportunity to elearn Relevant skills and knowledge to help you on your path to Employability. These make up our CORE values, but they start with each and every one of you. Treat others with respect. Take advantage of the opportunities you have to learn. Prepare for a productive and fulfilling career.

We can't wait to see all of our students in just a few weeks! Please contact the main office if you have any questions or concerns that are not addressed here.

Sincerely,
Geoff Zini, Principal

2022 - 2023 School Reopening Key Information

Mandatory Student Registration

Mandatory registrations through Family ID for all students (new and returning) are due by the first day of school.

Bus registration is required for any student taking the bus; there is no fee to take the bus.
Athletic registration is available for fall sports on Family ID. Students must register and have all required medical documentation to try out or participate.

Health and Safety

The latest information from DESE and the Massachusetts DPH was received on August 15, 2022. According the guidance, the following will take place to begin the school year at Blue Hills. See full guidance here.

There is no mask requirement at BHR - we are mask optional - except while in the nurse's office or if required by vocational program requirements (ex: Health Assisting.)
There is no contact tracing.
There is no testing program at school.
Asymptomatic individuals do not need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status or exposure setting.
Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:

If the individual is able to wear a mask, they must do so through Day 10.

If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.

Currently, there are no mask requirements at the state or local level. We will keep you informed if this changes. While vaccines are encouraged by state and local health agencies, they are also not required in schools.

We are waiting on any updated guiance from the state on COVID-19 protocols. As of this writing, there will be no contact tracing or testing at the school. The school may use rapid testing, when available, at the school to monitor symptoms. However, students who are symptomatic should be tested at home or at a testing facility.

Students are encouraged to wash their hands frequently throughout they day.

Students should stay home when experiencing COVID symptoms. Symptoms should be reported to the nurse and the student should test at home.

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, or diarrhea 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

Keep in mind that the attendance policy for Blue Hills remains in effect. The only change to this (implemented last year) is that COVID absences are fully excused (i.e. you test positive for COVID and are quarantined for subsequent school days.)

Attendance

COVID related absences are fully excused. However, all other absences will "accumulate" throughout the school year. A student who reaches 16 absences during the school year is required to attend summer school. Please review the following important notes on attendance:

A single absence, for any reason, will count toward the 16 absence threshold.
Consecutive absences of any length are reduced to one absence with a timely note from the student's medical provider. For example, an illness of five days that required medical attention will count as only one absence for the purposes of the attendance policy.
Vacations and trips are not considered excused and will count toward the 16 absence threshold.
Certain tardies and dismissals count as partial absences. Tardies and dismissals with accompanying doctor's notes will not count as partial absences. Please refer to the handbook for details.
Tardiness will also lead to Saturday detention. Arriving on time to school is an important first step to ensuring student success.

If you need to call your student in absent, please dial the attendance line at 781-828-5800 x2250.

Grading and Requirements in School

To be promoted to the next grade, a student must pass all of their classes.

Vocational failure for the year will result in non-promotion. There is no summer school available for vocational failure.
Academic failure for the year of a 49-59 in any class will require successfully completing summer school in order to be promoted.
Academic failure of less than a 49 will result in non-promotion.

Students are expected to arrive to school on time, with their Chromebook, and any other required materials for the day.

Student grades can be viewed on X2. Some classes may also use Google classroom. Please monitor your student's progress as the year passes. Progress reports are published at the midpoint of each term; report cards are published at the end of each term. Both reports are available on X2. To request a mailed copy, please contact the Academic Office.

Drop Off, Pick Up & Deliveries

Drop off and pick up times are busiest of the day at Blue Hills. We ask for your patience and adherence to our traffic pattern rules to ensure everyone's safety. In the afternoon, the entire parking lot is typically emptied by 2:30 - ten minutes after the final bell rings. Please plan accordingly.

All drop offs must happen in front of the building. The only entrance in the morning for drop-offs is the East Entrance, closest to Massasoit (not the main entrance). Cars should pull in, turn immediately toward the school building/gymnasium (left), and pull forward to the end of the driveway (by the main entrance) before dropping off. Students arriving before 7:40 will be directed to either the cafeteria or gym. Students arriving after 7:40 will be directed into the school building. Please exit the property using the main entrance/exit in front of the school.
Afternoon pick up works the same way. Once the first line is full (driveway closest to the road), cars should form two additional lines in the next two parking areas to the left, merging in front of the cafeteria. Please do not block the driveway entrance or exit at any time.

From time to time, a student may forget a uniform, a pair of sneakers, a Chromebook - these may be delivered to the security booth and we will call your student down at the end of the day to retrieve the items.

Important: Food deliveries of any kind are not allowed. School lunch is free this year once again, and all children are able to get a lunch if needed.

School Lunch

Both breakfast and lunch are free to all students again this year.

Exploratory

All freshmen will participate in the exploratory program where they will get to learn more about the career opportunities for each field. During each exploratory freshmen students must wear long pants, preferably jeans or work khakis, and closed-toed shoes, preferably work boots. Slide-in shoes or flip flops are not allowed in any program. Student who are not in appropriate safety attire may miss valuable time in their exploratory program while appropriate clothing is secured. The first exploratory day is Friday, September 9.