QHS Presidents Bulletin - 4.25
Dear Students, Families, and Community Members,
As we approach the upcoming April break, we want to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for your unwavering support and engagement in our school community. It's been a busy and exciting period, and your enthusiasm makes all the difference.
We recently celebrated the start of our spring sports season, and despite the less-than-cooperative weather, the energy and dedication of our athletes have been truly inspiring. We also had the pleasure of experiencing the wonderful talents of our students at the Spring Band and Choir Concerts – these performances were a testament to their hard work and the dedication of our music department. Adding to our recent successes, we also celebrated our annual Cultural Fair on April 9th, a vibrant showcase of the diverse backgrounds and talents within our school community. The event was a resounding success, and more information and highlights from the fair are shared below.
We want to extend a special thank you to our dedicated student volunteers from the Docents Club, Student Ambassador Program, and National Honor Society who played an integral role in the amazing turnout at our recent Quincy Public Schools and Quincy 400 Historical Walk. Their enthusiasm and commitment to our school and community are truly commendable.
And as always, we want to emphasize the critical importance of daily attendance in ensuring academic success and fostering a strong learning environment for all our students. To further support this, we are excited to kick off our new Attendance Mentor Campaign. Invitations to participate in this valuable program were emailed to students on Friday, April 11th, and we encourage those who received an invitation to consider this opportunity to make a positive impact.
Thank you again for your ongoing commitment to our students and our school. We wish you all a relaxing and rejuvenating April break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the remainder of the spring semester.
Keith Ford, Principal @qhsprincipalford
Ed Smith, Assistant Principal @qhsapsmith
Quincy High School buzzed with vibrant energy and cultural pride on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as it hosted its annual Cultural Fair in the school gymnasium. The highly anticipated event was a resounding success, drawing enthusiastic participation from students and staff.
The gymnasium was transformed into a global village, showcasing the rich tapestry of cultures represented within the Quincy High School community. An impressive 23 different countries were featured, each brought to life by multiple enthusiastic student volunteers. These dedicated students, guided by a staff advisor, worked for weeks to prepare this vibrant showcase. Informative displays offered insights into various traditions, histories, and customs. The air was filled with the sounds of diverse musical genres, and attendees were captivated by engaging cultural activities and the colorful array of traditional attire. Students eagerly shared their knowledge with peers throughout the fair.
The most popular aspect of the event was the extensive offering of delicious food from around the world, allowing attendees to savor authentic flavors and culinary traditions.
Edie Boynton, QHS World Language Department Chair and organizer of the event stated, "We are delighted to host this event, showcasing the rich diversity of our Quincy High family. The dedication of our students and the guidance of our staff advisor in representing 23 different countries was truly remarkable. It was wonderful to see them confidently share their knowledge and passion with the entire school community."
"What an amazing day we had this past Wednesday! Our annual Cultural Fair was a true showcase of the many cultures that make Quincy High School such a vibrant and inclusive place. The tremendous amount of work put in by our staff, students, and families over the past several weeks was evident in every aspect of the event." added Ed Smith, QHS Assistant Principal.
The Cultural Fair provided a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange, fostering understanding and appreciation for the diverse backgrounds within the school community. It served as a powerful reminder of the richness and strength that comes from embracing multiculturalism. Quincy High School extends its sincere gratitude to all the staff, students, and families who contributed their time, effort, and enthusiasm to make the 2025 Cultural Fair such a memorable and successful event.
Consistent attendance is fundamental for:
- Academic Achievement: Every day in class provides valuable instruction and opportunities to learn. Missed days can significantly impact a student's understanding of key concepts and their ability to keep pace with the curriculum.
- Building Strong Foundations: High school is a crucial period for building essential academic skills and preparing for future success. Regular attendance allows students to develop strong study habits, build relationships with teachers, and participate fully in classroom activities.
- Social and Emotional Growth: School provides a social environment where students develop valuable social skills, build friendships, and learn how to navigate social situations.
Please be aware that in Massachusetts, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days. Your student’s up to date attendance report can be viewed on Aspen. Medical or Professional notes should be delivered to the QHS Health/Nurses Office in order to have the absences excused.
Quincy High seniors, Robert Mbrice and Layla Belfaid, participated in the Massachusetts State House’s 78th Annual Student Government Day and are both in U.S. Government & Politics with Mr. Toritto and participate in Yale Model Congress with Mrs. McMillen.
Robert sat at Quincy Representative Tackey Chan’s seat in the Legislative Chamber and Layla was at the podium in her role as Speaker of the House as she hails from Speaker Ronald Mariano’s Quincy district. Students passionately debated both sides of Senate Bill 335 which aims to provide a “distraction-free education for youth."
QHS vs NQHS Friendly Competition Fundraiser! From April 14-30th the Quincy High and North Quincy High Parent Advisory Councils are going to have a friendly fundraising competition to raise money to help support the QHS and NQHS Class of 2025's Senior Night Out/Senior Stay Out events, with the goal of raising $5000 for both schools. A flyer with more information will be shared next week, we look forward to this fun competition with our friends (and rivals) across the city!
Next PAC meeting: In person on Wednesday, May 7th at approximately 7pm, immediately following the Senior Parent/Guardian Coffee Hour to be held at QHS the same night. Our focus will be on providing information about, and planning for, Senior Night Out. Come learn about this amazing event and hear how you can get involved!
Save the Date - Senior Night Out - Volunteers needed the afternoon of May 31st - 5am June 1st! As many of you know, SNO is the annual free all night extravaganza that takes place at QHS after senior prom. SNO is coordinated by the PAC, it is an entirely volunteer run event. We need many parents/guardians of students in all grades to volunteer and help with setting up, decorating, the coat check, the food and drink buffet, cleaning and organizing throughout the night, and cleaning up at the end! A volunteer sign-up form will be sent out after April vacation. We also will be looking for donations of snacks, desserts, breakfast items, and drinks. Remember to join us at the PAC meeting on May 7th to learn more, or email us at qhspac@gmail.com.
Ms. Xu's Senior Asian World Class colorfully decorated their classroom by painting Ming Dynasty-style blue and white porcelain (paper) plates! The Dynasty is renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and artistry, (from 1368-1644 CE) marking a golden age for Chinese ceramics and influencing global ceramic styles.
The Asian Culture Club (AAC) is a student-led organization committed to celebrating and exploring the rich diversity of Asian cultures. Our mission is to create an inclusive space where students from all backgrounds can learn about and appreciate the traditions, histories, and contributions of Asian communities. Through engaging activities, cultural events, and open discussions, we aim to foster cross-cultural understanding, unity, and respect within our school community.
This year, AAC members participated in a variety of cultural activities, including origami, jewelry making, movie screenings, and traditional games. To support our initiatives and give back to the community, we organized breakfast and pizza sales. The proceeds not only funded our club activities but also enabled us to make a meaningful contribution to UNICEF in support of earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.
We are proud of our members' dedication to cultural appreciation and community service, and we look forward to continuing our mission in the coming year.
Athletes for Action partnered with QCARE this month, spending Wednesday's half-day with elementary students. Together, they created bracelets to brighten the day of children at Boston Children's Hospital. The QCARE Coordinator expressed their gratitude, sharing positive feedback from site leaders and attached photos of the successful collaboration.
The Quincy High School Early Education and Care program donated over 35 children's books to their field experience classrooms in honor of 2025 Read Across America. With the guidance of their supervising teacher, QHS/EEC students carefully selected a book for their classroom and designed a developmentally appropriate lesson plan to accompany it. Each lesson was implemented in the classroom and evaluated for quality, creativity, and educational effectiveness. Students were graded on their ability to meet high academic and professional standards, ensuring their work reflected best practices in early childhood education.
Some of the Criminal Justice 3 students participated in the Physical Abilities Test, one of several pre-hire requirements for all Massachusetts Civil Service police and fire department recruits. The CJ program at QHS is the only program in the state that has enacted this initiative. We continue to improve the 3 year CJ program at QHS by strengthening all our partnerships with our community partners, while providing students with more exposure into the field of Criminal Justice.
The QHS Esports Club held a Mario Kart Tournament on March 27th and It was a huge success! There were 18 total players, both teachers and students, who competed in 4 separate rounds. The final round came down to Anthony Carinci, Jaiden Gyan, Charlie Miranda and Mr. Ulhman. They ended up having a 4 way tie and we needed a tie breaking race! In a last second upset, Charlie ended up winning, just barely beating Mr. Ulhman and Anthony.
To access Aspen please go to https://ma-quincy.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do or go to www.quincypublicschools.com and click on Aspen from the main page.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please do not hesitate to contact Quincy Public Schools Aspen support team via email at aspensupport@quincypublicschools.com or contact your student's school main office.
Our April Advisory was a success, filled with meaningful learning and engaging activities! Students had the opportunity to celebrate their own cultural identities while exploring the rich diversity of other students in their groups. Through the creation and sharing of Cultural Identity Cards, students deepened their understanding of each other and built a stronger sense of community.
April's Advisory also spotlighted the importance of school attendance. Students participated in a fun and informative Myth vs. Fact game and watched "Why Attendance Matters," a dynamic student-produced video created by Brendan Ryan and the talented Film 3 class. The video highlighted the positive impact consistent attendance has on student success. Both teachers and students enjoyed the interactive activities and the sense of connection fostered throughout the period. It was another exciting and impactful Advisory that helped to bring us closer together as a school community!
Attendance in school for the entire day is extremely important for student success and while parents and guardians always have the right to dismiss students, we strongly encourage all students to remain in school and attend classes until the end of each and every school day.
More information on dismissals can be found here: QHS Student Dismissal Information
Listed below are the dates for the remainder of the year that day-of notes and call out dismissals will not be allowed at Quincy High School. Thank you for your attention to this important, updated, policy.
April 17 - Thursday before Spring Break
May 20, 21 - Math MCAS Testing
May 23 - Friday before Memorial Day Weekend
June 4, 5 - Biology MCAS Testing
If your child has had a physical examination, you can please send it into the Quincy High Health Office along with the updated vaccine record. You may have your child bring it to school in the fall, have it faxed to 617-376-1236 or email it to martinaryan@quincypublicschools.comat any time.
Field Trips:
If your student has a medical condition such as diabetes, seizures, asthma, or allergies that require medication, there should be a current action plan on file in the nurses’ office. Any time the student leaves school for a field trip, the student should have their medical supplies (inhaler, EpiPen, Insulin, etc.) on them. Approval for students with diabetes and/or seizure disorders will be made individually with their doctor and school nurse.
If a student does not have their medication when leaving the building, 911 will be called by a staff member in response to any emergency during this time.
Prom:
Senior prom is May 30th and the nurse's office has some prom dresses available. Stop by the office if you need one!
If any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at 617-376-3367 or martinaryan@quincypublicschools.com, marcquigley@quincypublicschools.com
MA Music Educators Association All-State Festival
Congratulations to choir students Nathaniel Baryza (QHS), Michael Romeo (NQHS), and Fin Solano (QHS), as well as band student Owen Veith (QHS), who had the honor of performing at Boston’s renowned Symphony Hall on March 29 as part of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s All-State Festival. Baryza, Michael, and Fin were selected for the All-State Chorus, while Owen earned a spot in the All-State Orchestra. These exceptional students were chosen through a highly competitive audition process, which included the top musicians from across Massachusetts who had auditioned for and won spots at their regional festivals. A huge congratulations to all for their dedication, hard work, and impressive achievements, including to their ensemble directors, Mr. Carew and Mr. DeMarco!
QNQ Varsity Jazz Band Earns Silver at MAJE Finals
The QNQ Varsity Jazz Band, under the direction of Mr. Cavanaugh, recently participated in the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators (MAJE) State Finals on March 22 in Norwood. The competition brought together some of the most outstanding jazz bands from across the state, and our talented students delivered a commendable performance and earned a Silver Medal. Congratulations to all the members of the Varsity Jazz Band for their recognition at the MAJE State Finals!
QNQ Winterguard Shines at NESBA Championships
On March 29 the QNQ Winterguard finished their season at the NESBA Winterguard Championships alongside 50 other winter color guards from across New England. It was a day full of incredible talent and teamwork, and our Winterguard teams truly showcased their dedication and hard work.
The QNQ JV Winterguard placed an impressive 2nd in the LSRAB Division, scoring an outstanding 90.64. The QNQ Varsity Winterguard also earned 2nd in the SRAW Division, with a score of 89.06. Both teams brought their unique show themes to life. The JV Winterguard performed their show, Not Your Marionette, while the Varsity Winterguard brought their theme of Follow Me to the floor.
Congratulations to all the students for an outstanding season! This year was especially significant as it marked the first time we have sent two Winterguard teams to compete. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the students and the staff!
A special shout-out to our captains: JV Captain Bridget Kelley (QHS), and Varsity Captains Anna Kuang (NQHS), Molly O'Connor (QHS), and Lin Lin (NQHS). Their leadership and commitment helped guide both teams to incredible success. Well done, everyone!
Yearbook
The Yearbook is currently on sale for only $85 The deal ends on April 17th at Midnight! After that, the book will cost $100 from April 18th to June 30th. Please use this link to purchase your yearbook (jostens.com/2025yearbook).
If you have any other questions, please speak to Mr. Kimmell (austinkimmell@quincypublicschools.com) or Mr. Doucette (thomasdoucette@quincypublicschools.com)
