QHS Presidents Bulletin - 10.25
Dear Students, Families, and Community Members,
What a vibrant and energetic start we’ve had to the school year! We hope you've settled into your routines and are feeling the rhythm of academic life once again. It has been a pleasure welcoming new faces and seeing our returning students embrace their roles as leaders in the school community.
The month of September flew by, packed with important events that helped kick off our academic, athletic, and social calendars and was focused on building community, establishing routines, and diving into academic life.
Fall Athletics Kickoff: All of our fall sports teams—including Soccer, Volleyball, Football, Golf, and Cross Country—began their competitive seasons. We’ve seen incredible teamwork and school spirit at every game and meet.
Roll Hats Weekend: The QHS cafeteria, gymnasium, and Veterans Stadium was buzzing during the 2025 Roll Hats Weekend, where students signed up for over 50 different interest-based clubs—from Robotics to Debate to our expanding E-Sports Club. Participation this year is at an all-time high! Please see this 2025 Roll Hats Weekend Highlight Video produced by our Film 3 students.
A huge thank you to our dedicated Student Support Staff for their extensive work planning and presenting at key events including the QHS Parent Information Night, College Information Night for Seniors, Back to School Night, and the QPS College Fair. In case you missed any of these important and informative events, please see the Student Support Newsletter linked below.
We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our students, staff, and families over these first two months. As we transition into the next phase of the year, please take some time to review the great things that have taken place and make note of upcoming events and activities listed below.
Wishing you a productive rest of the fall! #wintheday
Keith Ford, Principal @qhsprincipalford
Ed Smith, Assistant Principal @qhsapsmith
On Thursday, September 25th, Quincy High School hosted the nationally recognized “No Hate Tour” to empower students to combat prejudice and foster a culture of respect. The all-school event took place in the school’s gymnasium with over 1,300 students in attendance.
The "No Hate Tour," a grassroots organization, travels to schools and communities across the country to promote a message of unity, tolerance, and respect. Their mission is to equip young people with the tools to stand up against hate and advocate for positive change.
The event featured the excitement of professional BMX athletes, including X Games legends, who performed high-energy stunts on custom mobile ramps. A highlight of the show was a high-flying jump over 12th grade Dean of Students, Matt Ramponi.
Consistent attendance is crucial in high school as it directly impacts academic success, improves understanding of course material, and enhances engagement in class discussions. Regular attendance also helps students develop important life skills, like punctuality and responsibility, which are essential for future success.
Please be aware that in Massachusetts, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days.
Thank you, students!
Thank you to the entire QHS student body for adhering to school rules and policies thus far this school year. As a group, we have observed less hallway traffic during class time. Students are following the out of class pass policies, spending more time in the classroom, turning in their electronic devices to teachers/staff before the start of class.
Students are to follow the guidelines and expectations in the student handbook. The deans are available to sit down with students and families if they have concerns.
Upcoming Events
The QHS Homecoming Dance is coming up on November 21, 2025! This event is for QHS students only and no outside guests allowed due to the tremendous number of QHS students who attend. Let's make it another great one!
In September, our carpentry seniors had the opportunity to visit the Carpenters Union in Dorchester.
During the visit, students worked hands-on with metal stud framing and drywall installation under the guidance of union instructor Decio Santos. Decio also provided an in-depth overview of the benefits of joining the union and the many career opportunities it can offer to our students.
Throughout the early months of the school year students in the English department are engaged in a variety of high-level activities, from collaborative peer-reviews of AP essays and analyzing sample college applications to diving into new literary works like Of Mice and Men. Additionally, classes are expanding their research skills outside the classroom, with Early College High School students utilizing databases at Quincy College (pictured to the right is Mr. Pratt's class).
Please enjoy the sample pictures below of students in action giving a glimpse into the work being done throughout the English department.
Students in Mr. Ellis' AP Literature and Composition class collaborate to peer-review other classmates' essays.
Ms. Sanchez's 12th graders prepare for their college applications by examining sample college essays.
Another group of seniors preparing for their college applications.
Quincy High School's Social Studies department observed Constitution Day on September 17th with grade-specific activities that tied the U.S. Constitution to current curriculum.
Ninth-grade students explored the First Amendment's religious freedom protections alongside their study of global belief systems. Tenth-grade classes contrasted the dangers of European absolutism with the principles of natural rights and separation of powers found in the U.S. Constitution.
Eleventh-grade students connected their study of Reconstruction to the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, analyzing their impact and evolving interpretations. Finally, senior classes examined how constitutional ideals were promoted abroad during the Cold War, including their influence on Japan's post-war constitution, while EL classes focused on foundational concepts of representative democracy.
A warm welcome back to all of our students and families for the new school year! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer break. The hallways are already buzzing with activity, and we are so excited for everything this year holds.
We are the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), and we work to support the students, teachers, and administration to make Quincy High School the best environment possible for learning and growth. As a PAC member, you have a direct voice in school activities, help shape fundraising efforts, and contribute to the overall school community. We warmly invite you to join us!
Joining is a fantastic way to stay informed, meet other parents, and make a tangible difference in your student's high school experience. Whether you can volunteer a few hours a month or just want to attend meetings, your perspective and energy are invaluable.
Highlights from Our Fall Activities
We've already kicked off the year with some wonderful activities, thanks to the hard work of our volunteers:
Roll Hats Weekend: This weekend was a huge success! Thank you to all the families who participated and helped make it a fun event for the students.
PAC Flocking Fundraiser: Our "flocking" campaign has been a phenomenal success! We've loved seeing the fun and laughter it brought, and more importantly, it was a huge success in raising funds.
October 25th is the last date to send a flock of yard flamingos to your Quincy friends and family! Send a flock TODAY!!! tinyurl.com/flocking25
Connect with us!
Join our Facebook Group! Search for: “Quincy High Parent Advisory Council (PAC)”
Follow us on Instagram: @QHSPAC
Email us: QHSPAC@gmail.com
This field is critical to the Marine Corps' modern operational capabilities, involving the protection of sensitive data and vital network systems against increasingly sophisticated global threats. Laichi's choice demonstrates a commitment not only to service but also to a high-demand, technologically advanced career path.
In Ms. O'Reilly's class, grade 9 students participated in an interactive board game designed to reinforce the steps of the scientific method.
This helped students to jumpstart their journey in Life and Physical Science. Through friendly competition and hands-on learning, students reviewed key concepts in a fun and engaging way.
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 first two Advisory periods of the year were a hit! In September, students kicked things off by building new friendships and setting meaningful goals for the year ahead. October brough even more energy as 9th and 11th graders dove into Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating inspiring Hispanic heroes, while 10th and 12th graders explored their own learning styles and discovered study strategies to help them thrive.
A special highlight came for 11th-grade students, who enjoyed a student-produced video by Brendan Ryan's film classes in collaboration with Mercedes Guerra's Native and Heritage Spanish Speakers class - an awesome showcase of creativity and pride! Both students and teachers loved the chance to connect, learn, and celebrate what makes our QHS community so strong.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
In September, we kicked things off with a fun and successful event full of games, skill-building activities, and great food to bring our Big Futures community together.
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.
November 21st - Homecoming Dance
November 26th - Rally/Day before Thanksgiving
December 23rd - Day before Winter Recess
January 16th - Friday before MLK weekend
February 13th - Friday before February Recess
March 24-25th - ELA MCAS testing
April 2nd - Thursday before Good Friday long weekend
April 17th - Friday before April Recess
May 1st - Junior Prom
May 19-20th - Math MCAS testing
May 22nd - Friday before Memorial Day Weekend
June 2-3 - Biology MCAS testing
The nurse's office will be starting mandatory screening within the next few weeks. 9th grade students will complete vision and postural screenings, while 10th grade students will complete hearing, height, and weight screenings.
You will be notified by the Health Office, as soon as possible, regarding any visual, postural, or hearing deficiency after your child has been re-tested.
Quincy High will be hosting a Flu clinic on October 22nd from 2pm-4pm in the Abigail Adams Conference Room near the Presidents Cafe. More information will be coming from the nurse's office.
If any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at 617-376-3367 or through email martinaryan@quincypublicschools.com, lindsaygardiner@quincypublicschools.com
Fall Recap
The fall season has been off to a great start, filled with excitement across all of our teams. Our student-athletes and coaches have continued to show dedication, teamwork, and school pride in every practice and competition. As we move towards the end of the fall season, we look forward to seeing how the rest of the season unfolds and can’t wait to watch our teams continue to compete and represent Quincy High School.
Cross Country
There are so many good news to share with the community from the clubs this year. To highlight a few, the ESports Club with Ms. O'Keefe has been welcoming new club members, and has accomplished their long term goal of fundraising to purchase a PlayStation 5 and NBA 2k26. Amazing work, ESports Club! Join them on Wednesdays in D213! #WINTHEDAY
The math club has been successfully running with Ms. Davis since September 29th, and they saw an influx number of students in A307 of 64 students! The way they pulled chairs over, shared their desks, worked with each other on math problems after school is so impressive! Keep up the good work Math Club! Join the math club on Mondays in A307! #WINTHEDAY
