Principal's Message 9/4/23

Daily Bulletin

·  9/5/2023

·  8/31/2023

·  8/30/2023

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

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.  

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.

Any juniors or seniors interested in a work study, internship or teacher assistant class MUST see their counselor as soon as possible.  

·  The deadline is Friday, September 8th.

The school council is a representative, school building-based committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, community members and, at the secondary level, students, required to be established by each school.  The primary role of this council is to help SHS Leadership with adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards, identifying the educational needs of students attending the school, reviewing the annual school building budget and helping with formulation of the school improvement plan.

The makeup of this council is one student and one parent representative from each class (9, 10, 11, 12).  We have a current opening for the Class of 2027.  The Student Council will help identify the Class of 2027 student representative.

If you are a parent or caregiver of a student in the Class of 2027 and are interested in this position please email blombardi@stonehamschools.org.  

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.

Here are the key themes we addressed with students during Class Orientations, we would appreciate your help in supporting and discussing these with your students

·  Here is a link to the slide show presented at student orientations

·  Help us create an inclusive,  safe, positive and healthy school environment for ALL students

o Acceptance and respect of each other and our unique differences

o Kindness; Being kind with one another

·  Responsible and mature with behavior in hallways and bathrooms

o Hallways:  Positive and appropriate language and interactions

o Bathrooms:  Keep clean, for bathroom use only, not a hangout

·  School and Class Attendance

o Good and consistent daily attendance is the best indicator for student success

·  Cell Phones / Earbuds & headphones

o Cellphones and earbuds / headphones are to be turned off and put away out of sight during all scheduled classes.

§ There are no permitted or allowed person’s or reasons that allows for a student to take out their phone to read or respond to a text or phone call.

§ Student’s may use their cellphone to support an educational activity only with the explicit permission of their classroom teacher.

o    Students may use Cellphones and earbuds / headphones during transitions between classes and during lunch.

·  FLEX Block

o Use consistently, frequently and in a meaningful manner to support their academic success.

Here is a link to the slide show presented at student orientations