Principal's Update 4/5/24
Student Attendance
Student absences have been steadily increasing every month since New Year’s Day. We are also far above our absences from this same time last year as well. While this is the season of sickness, it is important to try and have your student in school as much as possible.
Blue Devil Spotlight
This week’s LHS Athlete Spotlight is on Nick Massa, a Sky View Grad and current senior on the LHS baseball team.
2nd Annual Blue Devil 5K
We are excited to announce this year's 2nd Annual Blue Devil 5K! We are running this event to support the BDN Scholarship that we established last year, which we would like to be able to give annually to members of the senior class who represent and embody the characteristics of Blue Devil Nation - all that we want our students to be.
This year's 5K will be held on Saturday May 11, starting at the flagpole entrance of LHS and venturing into the surrounding neighborhoods. Check-in will begin at 9 am and the 5K will start at 9:30. The registration fee is $15, and all participants who register/pay by 4/26 are guaranteed a T-shirt. All information is included in the attached flyer. The flyer also has a QR code that, when scanned, will take you directly to this Google Registration Form. We are also sending hard copies of the flyer to each building within the next couple of days!
If you are unable to attend the 5K but are interested in purchasing a Blue Devil Nation t-shirt to add to your spirit wear collection, reach out to Catherine Brow at catherine.brow@leominsterps.org, and we can add you to the order list.
We had a great turnout of runners and walkers for our first 5K last year and are looking forward to doing it again. Please feel free to share and invite your family and friends to participate too. All are welcome!
Solar Eclipse Eye Safety
There will be a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Leominster will experience a 94.3% eclipse starting at 2:15 pm, peaking at 3:29 pm and ending at 4:38 pm. This promises to be a great event!
It is important that we maintain eye safety during this event. It’s never safe to look at a partial eclipse without protective equipment or techniques. Looking directly at the sun can cause permanent damage to your eyes. If changes in vision are noted after viewing the eclipse, or if vision continues to worsen, seek treatment from an eye care professional. Vision changes may include loss of central vision, distorted vision, and/or altered color vision.
How can you safely view the eclipse?
Solar Eclipse Glasses: Make sure they are purchased from a trusted source and meet safety requirements with the ISO 12312-2 standard. Wear the solar eclipse glasses at all times when watching the solar eclipse. Make sure Solar eclipse glasses are not scratched or damaged – if so, they are not safe to use.
Pinhole Projection: This is safe, inexpensive and simple. Make a pinhole in a cardboard paper that blocks light except sunlight shining through the pinhole. Facing away from the sun, hold the piece of paper so that the light from the sun can shine through the pinhole without obstruction. Allow the sunlight shining through the pinhole to project onto a second piece of white paper that will serve as your projection screen. The piece of cardboard with the pinhole should be about three feet above the piece of paper used as a screen.
Other Options
Welder’s glass: Number 14 Welder’s glass – do not used if scratched or damaged.
Mylar filters – Aluminized mylar plastic sheets are available as eclipse vision glasses or can be cut and made into a viewing box.
Do not use your smartphone, camera view finder or use unsafe filters.
Information from Eclipse2024.org/eclipse-cities/city/20148.html#
preventblindness.org/solar-eclipse-and-your-eyes/
MCAS COUNTDOWN
The six days your student takes the MCAS are the six most important days of a student’s entire K-12 experience. Passing the MCAS is a requirement to get a diploma in Massachusetts. Students take the ELA MCAS in March of Grade 10, the Math MCAS in May of Grade 10, and the Biology MCAS in June of the year they take Biology, usually Grade 9.
MCAS is coming up fast. The ELA MCAS is done! The Math MCAS is in 46 days (not school days, calendar days!), and the Biology MCAS is in 60 days.
School Schedule next week: Shop Week B
Monday: Day 3
Tuesday: Day 4
Wednesday: Day 5
Thursday: Day 6
Friday: Day 7
Next Week’s Athletic Schedule
https://arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=12673
Reminders:
15th Annual Life Skills Talent Show
It's Life Skills Talent Show time!!! The 15th annual Life Skills Talent Show will be held on Friday, April 12th `
Upward Bound
Are you curious about college and want to know more? Interested in math, science, or other stem topics?
Upward bound math & science program is a free, year-round, college preparatory program.
Our program provides academic support for high school students through tutoring services, weekly workshops, college visits, a summer residential program, and more!
Application Link: Click to apply for UBMS
Website Link: Click here for more information about UBMS
To qualify for UBMS, a student needs to meet one or more of the criteria:
First Generation College Student (Parents don't have Bachelors Degree)
Low-income Households
Students at High Risk for Academic Failure
Independent Student (Foster Care, Ward of the State, McKinney–Vento)
Senior and Junior Proms
Senior Prom will be held on Saturday, May 18, from 6-10 pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Leominster. Ticket sales will be held from Monday, April 8 through Friday, May 3.
Ticket price TBD in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more info!
The Junior Prom will be held on Saturday, April 27th from 6 to 10 PM at the Chockset Inn. Junior Prom tickets are on sale now.
After School Tutoring Center
LHS offers drop-in afterschool tutoring from 2:15 to 4:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Students can also be assigned to attend sessions if parents feel they need to catch up or get extra help. Spanish and/or Portuguese interpreters are available on particular days.
Scholarships
Google Classroom is now open with scholarships uploaded! Join the google classroom for scholarships. Check back often as new scholarships will be posted as they become available.
Copy the link below and paste it into your browser:
https://classroom.google.com/c/NjMxODM0Mzg4ODYz?cjc=2grufkm
When prompted use Class code: 2grufkm
Calling in a student absent
If your student is going to be absent please call the school at 978-534-7715. The absence line is option 1.
If you get an auto-call that your student is marked as absent and you think they are at school, don’t panic. Sometimes they accidentally get marked absent (especially with a sub) and sometimes they do cut class. Call the school and we will confirm they are not here.
Student Dismissals
If you need to dismiss your student you can send them to school with a note to bring to the office when they get to school. Your student will receive a pass to be dismissed and can just check out at the office when it is time for them to go. You won’t need to come into the school and it’s much faster than coming in to dismiss your student.
Joshua Romano
Principal
School Instagram at lhsbluedevilnation