QHS Presidents Bulletin - 3.25
test
Dear Students, Families, and Community Members,
As we move into the vibrant month of March, we are thrilled to share some of the highlights and accomplishments that have filled our hallways with energy and pride. This past month has been a whirlwind of activity, from the winter sports season, captivating preparations for our spring musical, to the impressive showings at the school and regional STEM Fairs, where our students demonstrated exceptional creativity and critical thinking.
Please take a moment to review the newsletter below to get a more detailed look at these and the MANY other great things happening at Quincy High School.
Excitement is building as students from Quincy High School and North Quincy High School come together to present this year’s highly anticipated combined musical, The Music Man! 77 students from both high schools have been working tirelessly since December to make this a memorable and enjoyable production. Mr. Doucette’s QHS stage technology classes and backstage technicians have been building, painting, and decorating the multiple set pieces; programming lights, and coordinating the smooth transitions of all backstage operations. Simultaneously, the actors have been memorizing lines, learning dances, and singing their hearts out!
This beloved Broadway classic, filled with unforgettable music, high-energy choreography, and numerous impressive set pieces, will showcase the incredible talent and dedication of our high school technicians and performers as they bring the magic of “River City” right here to “Granite City”!
For these important testing days, QHS will follow an adjusted schedule and grades 9, 11, and 12 will have a delayed start to the school day starting at 10:45 on March 25th and 10:20 on March 26th.
As we approach MCAS testing, we want to emphasize the importance of these assessments for our students. All 10th grade students are expected to take the MCAS as it provides valuable insights into student progress and helps us ensure that our curriculum and instruction are effectively preparing them for future success.
A reminder students who need to be dismissed for any reason on MCAS days must turn in a valid professional note prior to the day of MCAS or a Parent/Guardian must be present at the school to sign them out. Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to provide the best possible testing experience for our students.
Linked below, please find our final decennial accreditation report from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), showcasing our school's commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. This comprehensive document reflects our outstanding school community and our dedicated staff.
We want to express our sincere gratitude for your commitment to ensuring your child attends school every day. Your dedication to consistent attendance plays a vital role in their academic success and overall development. We recognize and appreciate the effort it takes to make this a priority, and we thank you for your partnership in fostering a culture of regular attendance at Quincy High School.
Thank you for your continued support and hope to see you at an upcoming event!
Keith Ford, Principal @qhsprincipalford
Ed Smith, Assistant Principal @qhsapsmith
On Friday, February 14th, the Quincy High School Student Council successfully hosted a vibrant and engaging Winter Carnival, bringing together over 200 students for an afternoon of fun and school spirit. The event not only provided a welcome start to the February break but also raised an impressive $1,200 to benefit Massachusetts Advocates for Children.
The Winter Carnival, held within the school’s gymnasium, offered a wide array of activities designed to entertain and engage students of all interests. Attendees enjoyed classic carnival games such as bean bag toss and giant Jenga, while also participating in intellectually stimulating activities like Trivia and creative endeavors such as White Out Poetry.
The event's success was a testament to the collaborative efforts of the QHS Student Council and various other clubs within the school. These groups worked tirelessly to organize and host the diverse activities, ensuring a memorable experience for all participants.
Massachusetts Advocates for Children is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for children who are at risk due to disability, poverty, discrimination, or other barriers. The funds raised will directly support MAC's efforts to ensure that all children have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
The Quincy High School Student Council extends its sincere gratitude to all students, faculty, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the Winter Carnival.
The eight (8) Quincy High School students who have qualified for the state conference will now focus on further honing their skills and preparing to compete against the best CTE students from across Massachusetts.
Quincy High School congratulates all participating students and wishes the state qualifiers the best of luck in the upcoming competition.
The next PAC meeting is 3/25 at 6:30pm. We will be offering the opportunity to join remotely, details will be provided as the date gets closer.
Senior Night Out, the fantastic, free, overnight event that takes place at QHS after senior prom, is fast approaching! This year’s prom is Saturday, May 31st. SNO volunteers will be needed the afternoon of May 31st- the early morning hours of June 1st!
SNO is entirely volunteer run, we cannot make it happen without many parents/guardians of students in all grades getting involved and donating food, drink and monetary contributions, as well as helping before, during, and after the event! A donation and volunteer sign-up link will be sent out in April. Senior Night Out is an incredible event to be part of, if you are interested and want to learn more come to the PAC meeting or reach out to us over email or on Facebook!
Mr. Pratt’s Early College classes have moved from research based writing in semester 1 to literary analysis for semester 2. Right now they’re reading The Sun Also Rises and working on analyzing supplementary works either from the time period or works that share similar themes. Pictured here, students work on "Facing It" by Yusef Komunyakaa, about the lasting impact of war on those that survive it. Students were asked to annotate the poems with their own explanations of the poetic devices in the poem and how they add to the significance of the poem.
Ms. Delorie's sophomores are creating literary magazines to end their poetry unit! They are putting together collections that include poems read in class, original poems, and artwork that connects to the poems thematically.
The Big Futures Mentoring Program is excited to share great news! Since beginning operations at Quincy High School this past fall we have had the pleasure of enrolling 72 students in our pilot program! Of those 72 students 62 are currently matched with incredible, supportive “Bigs” or “Mentors.” These students enjoy weekly communication and monthly outings with their mentors where they engage in various activities whether it be go-karting, pool, free Celtics Games, free tickets to the Boston Ballet, or simply going on walks or grabbing a bite.
We have also executed four after school events where all students, mentors, and their families come together for a free dinner provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Mass as well as fun activities and quality time with their friends. These events are aimed to help students build community at Quincy High School and have help facilitate several new connections while simultaneously maintaining several others. If you’re curious, come hang out with us this next Tuesday, March 18th for our Escape “Room” event at 6:00PM at the QHS Cafeteria.
We have also gone on several field trips so far this spring to help students broadened their horizons! In January we had the opportunity to visit a consulting firm – many students left thinking they might want to pursue consulting in the future – while in February we got to learn about the various careers available at the Museum of Science. Upcoming field trips include Messina College, Google, & Blueprint Medicines!
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.
QHS Places 7th at Southeastern Massachusetts Math League Playoffs
Quincy High School is thrilled to announce the remarkable achievement of the Competitive Math Team, who secured a commendable 7th place finish at the Southeastern Massachusetts Math League playoffs on March 6, 2025. This milestone marks a significant step forward for the team, which has been steadily rising in prominence within the region.
Competing against a field of over 30 talented teams, the QHS Presidents Math Team demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative spirit. This year's playoff qualification was a first for the team, who have been members of the league for the past three years.
This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as it represents the culmination of 3 years of diligent practice and team development. Throughout this time, the team has benefited from the unwavering support and guidance of their stalwart coach, Laurie Canning.
QHS students on the math team are: Grade 12: Edward Chen and Mirudulaa Suginathan Yamini. Grade 11: Yilun Lin, Minh Tan Tran, Jacob Chan, Ramona Bentzel, and Lucas Snow. Grade 10: Matthew Wong. Grade 9: Iman Habib and Abheri Chanda.
The QNQ JV/ Varsity Jazz Ensembles participated in a MAJE competition at Oliver Ames high school on Thursday 2/27/25.
Our JV Jazz Ensemble led by Ms. Emily Maynard scored a Bronze medal with outstanding musician awards going to Soren Hickman- QHS, Andrew Guimaraes- Central Middle School, & Avyanna Garcia-Pizarro QHS. This is the first time our school system has ever sent out a JV jazz ensemble to a competition!
The Varsity Jazz Ensemble scored a gold medal and receiving an invitation to the MAJE state finals on Saturday March 22nd. Outstanding musician awards were given to Nathan Aronoff QHS, Dave Jean-Philippe QHS, & Johnny Chen NQHS.
Four (4) QHS students then competed in the 2025 MA Region V Science and Engineering Fair held at Bridgewater State University. Participating students included: Vishnu Kodavaluru (9), Anzar Ahmed (9), Neel Thakar (9), and Minh Tan Tran (11).
Congratulations to Neel Thakar, who won the Emerging Scientist Award!
The QNQ Winterguard groups competed at their first regular season show on Saturday March 1st at the NESBA competition at Dartmouth High School.
- The QNQ JV Winterguard placed 1st 🥇 in the LSRAW division edging out 3 other groups and scoring a 78.32.
- The QNQ Varsity Winterguard placed 2nd 🥈 in the SRAW division competing against 3 other groups in total and scoring a 76.72.
Congratulations to choir students Joshua Chen and Tiffany Hoang who participated in the prestigious Massachusetts Music Educators Association Eastern District Junior Festival on March 8 at Lincoln-Sudbury High School. These talented students earned their spots after a highly competitive audition process, competing against top middle and grade 9 musicians from across the region. Well done to all for their hard work and dedication!
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.
Criminal Justice 1 students attended Quincy District Court, where they met with a Probation Officer, Court Officer, Assistant District Attorney, Criminal Defense Attorney, and a Judge. Students were able to ask all of these court role members questions, before sitting-in on public court sessions, where they heard pre-trial activities of ongoing cases. Lastly, students got a tour of the jail holding area, where detainees from Norfolk County Sheriff's Office are held, as they await their court cases to be heard in front of a judge.
In our March advisory, we continue to build upon the lessons of empathy and building community from January and February, this time with a focus on inclusivity. Students across all of the grades had the opportunity to engage in games and other activities about inclusivity, and to have discussions about the importance of including others. The variety of videos shown to the students allowed them to discuss what barriers there might to inclusion and address ways that students at Quincy High can be more inclusive of others.
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.
March 25, 26 - ELA MCAS Testing
April 4 - Junior Prom
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
Welcome new QHS nurse, Marc Quigley!!!
Please see important field trip info from the nurses office:
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: Junior prom is April 4th 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
Alyssa Hopps ties scoring record
With her 18 points scored in the game against King Philip, Alyssa will cap off her Quincy High career tied with Bonnie Hirtle (2004) as the all-time leading scorer in the school’s Girls Basketball program with an IMPRESSIVE 1348 total points!
From her first basket at the varsity level, to her unforgettable buzzer-beater three-pointer against North Quincy, to the free throw that secured her 1,000th point, Alyssa has delivered countless moments of greatness. Her dedication, leadership, and passion for the game have inspired so many, and we know her success will continue as she takes her talents to Beaver Nation at Babson College.
Yearbook
Seniors, this is your LAST CHANCE to submit a portrait and a quote to the 2025 Yearbook. But don't wait - the deadline for portrait and quote submissions is FRIDAY, March 21st! Visit this class link (https://classroom.google.com/c/NzExNDA1MDE1NDcw?cjc=ptfwago) use the class code (ptfwago) to submit.
Also, 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)
