The Week Ahead 1/12

Trivia is back! Congratulations to this week's winner, Marievelise Callazo! Make sure to listen for the Mr. Paranto's question after the notices and make sure to get your guesses in via email to Ms. Smalarz (bsmalarz@webster-schools.com) as soon as possible to hopefully win the weekly prize!

Open Audition Call on Wednesday, January 14th at 2:30pm - 4:00pm in the Auditorium!

All who are interested in being involved in the Spring Showcase, please attend! Dancers, singers, actors, tech crew, and artists come lend your talents! (Tech Crew will be done at 3:00pm)

Actors please be prepared to read scenes.
Singers please prepare 30 seconds of a song.
All performers will learn a short dance combo for an opening number.

We need you!

Here is the link to this year's handbook. Please make sure to review this book with your student(s).

Days: Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (not offered on Tuesdays or half days)

Time - 2:15pm-2:45pm

Location - BHS Cafeteria

All high school students are to sit in the middle to back of the bus. High school students should not be sitting with middle school students in the front of the bus.

Make sure to keep reminding students that Saturday School is available to them. With a new quarter just starting, its a great way for them to stay on track!

Students will have one more week to make up the points that they lost in Quarter 1 due to their absences. The last date to do this is January 24.

Saturday School is held at the Webster Middle School from 8am-12pm. Breakfast and a snack is provided. Students will need to bring their work with them, as teachers will not be able to provide it to individual students over the weekend. Students will need to stay the entire time and should also come with a fully charged chromebook and charger as there are no loaners available. There is no bus provided to or from Saturday School this year. Please talk to your student and remind them that cell phones need to stay away during the this time.

The Basement in C Section is considered to be an Unauthorized Area at all times, unless you are directly with a staff member. If a student is found in the basement, a consequence of a Saturday School will be assigned immediately.

If you play a sport and need to access the basement to drop off athletic equipment, the only available time to do so is before school starts from 7:10am - 7:20am. If you do not make it between that time, you will be responsible for carrying your own equipment with you throughout the school day.

If a student in C section needs to use the bathroom from a classroom, during either first or second lunch blocks, they must put a pass in for the Second Floor bathrooms, not the first. They will not be allowed in the first floor bathrooms during this time.

If you are part of a club, you must remain academically and socially eligible to participate. If someone is no longer eligible, families will be contacted by the club advisor. Social probation has been added to the consequences for daily tardies. This may also affect the students eligibility to participate. If students reach their 6th (or higher) tardy, they will be placed on social probation for 7 days for each tardy. During this time of probation, they cannot attend any meetings or events during that period of time. An administrator will be reaching out to families of students who are placed on social probation due to tardiness to school.

If a student is going to be absent, tardy, or dismissed on any given school day, the parent/guardian must call the main office at 508-943-8552 to report it. When calling, please state:

• Your student’s name

• Reason for absence/tardiness

• Phone number where you can be reached during the day in case a return call is necessary

A note documenting the reason for the absence, tardy, or dismissal must be sent into the main office within two (2) days of the conclusion of the absence or tardiness. However, please note that a phone call and/or note only verifies the student's absence; it does not excuse the absence. When an absence, tardiness, or dismissal can be anticipated, advance notice is requested.

Absent

From School

• If a parent/guardian has notified the school of their student’s absence, the student will be coded as “Absent” in PowerSchool

• Students who are absent from school on any given day are not permitted to participate in any school or extracurricular activities on that day.

• On the 5th+ absence from class, the teacher will engage in two-way communication with the parent/guardian to develop a plan to make-up academic deficits resulting from absences

• All missed assignments due to absences (not truancies) will be graded as a “0” (with the icons “missing” and “absent” both highlighted in Powerschool) until the assignment has been completed and submitted

• Students are required to make-up all missed assignments due to any absence (not truancy)

Truant

• Students who are absent from school without a documented reason (ex. doctor note, call from parent/guardian) will be considered truant

• Missed assignments due to truancy will receive a grade of zero (0) without the ability to make it up

Tardy

• Tardiness will be excused only if you have a note of acceptable explanation, such as a dentist or doctor appointment. Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Tardiness to school is counted as time lost within the provisions of the Attendance Policy.

• Students are considered tardy if they are not in their 1st block classroom by 7:25am (Please note: Being in the school building by that time is not the same as being in class by that time)

• Tardy students are required to report to check in with the main office upon arrival

• Tardy students will be required to dispose of any purchased coffee/morning beverages upon arrival. If a student refuses to dispose of their beverage immediately, they will be issued a Saturday School

• Students that are chronically tardy to school (more than 3 times in a quarter) will be subject to progressive disciplinary action

• Promptness to class is as important as promptness to your job when you go to work. Good school citizens are never tardy to class because that interferes with their own education and disrupts the whole class. You have five minutes to pass between classes, and during that time you can reach any place in the school from any other place.

• If you are with a staff member or doing an errand that cannot be done at some other time, and if this results in your being late to class, please be sure that you get a pass from the staff member in charge before leaving that staff member. It is YOUR responsibility to get a pass whenever you are going to be late to class.

• Students who are not inside of the classroom when the bell rings are considered “tardy” to class.

Dismissal

• There are times when illness or personal family business of a serious nature occurs and you need to miss part of the school day. At that time, you may request an early dismissal. To obtain an early dismissal, bring a written request from your parent/guardian to the main office as soon as you arrive at school. All notes should include the first and last name of the student, phone numbers where the parent/guardian signing the note can be reached, time to be excused, reason for the request, and first and last name of the parent/guardian signing the note. Eighteen year olds must also have a pre-approved note from a parent/guardian. BHS reserves the right to verify all parent/guardian notes prior to approving student dismissals.

• Students will be called to the main office when being dismissed

• All students, who are dismissed for any reason, must sign the dismissal log before leaving school

• ALL individuals dismissing students will be expected to come into the building and present a valid picture ID before any student will be released from the school

• Students must be in school for 4 hours from the start of the school day to be considered present for the day. Students attending school for less than four hours will be considered “absent” from school that day.

• Students dismissed from school are ineligible to participate in athletics or extra-curricular activities on that day or the ensuing weekend should it occur on the day before a weekend.

• For eligibility purposes, with respect to athletics or extra-curricular activities, students dismissed for medical, dental, legal appointments, etc., must have the appointment verification documentation turned in to the office or to the coach or activity advisor upon their return to be eligible to participate (parental/guardian notes will not suffice)

• Any student clinically dismissed by the nurse due to illness may not return to school and is ineligible to participate in athletics or school activities

• If/when a student returns to school from a dismissal, they must sign back in on the dismissal log in the main office and produce their documentation for the time out of the building

• No student, except in emergencies, will be signed out after 1:30 pm

Tardy to School Progression of Consequences

When a student reaches the numbers below, the corresponding consequence will be assigned:

#3 - one call from the office

#4 - administrator detention (phone call will be made)

#5 - Saturday School (one call and email will be given)

#6 and above - Saturday School and 7 days of Social Probation for each tardy (one call and email will be given) *social probation means that the student will not be able to attend anything after the 2pm bell at school, to include athletics and/or clubs during that time.

*if tardiness to school does not improve, and administrator will be reaching out to set up individual meetings to discuss further plans/consequences.

Regular Schedule

Scholarships have begun to be posted! Make sure to see Ms. K. Granger if you need any assistance when applying!

• The Hagan Scholarship: Deadline: December 1, 2025. Visit https://haganscholarships.org/ for more information

• Henry David Thoreau Foundation Scholarship: Deadline February 1, 2026. Visit www.thoreauscholar.org for more info

• 2026 Big Y Scholarship: Deadline: Feb 1, 2026. Visit https://www.bigy.com/community/scholaships for more information and to apply

• Greater Worcester Community Foundation Scholarship: Opens The Dec. 1st and deadline is 2/25/26. Visit https://greaterworcester.org/scholarships for more information and to apply

• Dudley Woman's Club Scholarship: Deadline March 2, 2026. See Mrs. Granger for a paper application or download via Naviance.

• James L. Place Memorial Scholarship: Deadline: April 15, 2026. See Mrs. Granger for a paper application or download via Naviance.

Students are wrapping up their fitness unit with a summative project, analyzing their fitness test results and reflecting on how they can reach the healthy fitness zone. This week students will receive a study guide to help them prepare for their final exams.

Bartlett competed in the district competition at Nichols College this week. All of the students that attended tried their very best and had a great time!

Week 1 Raffle Drawing

PBIS would like to congratulate Brayden Wilcox for being the winner of our first raffle drawing and receiving a McDonald’s gift card!

Week 2 Raffle Drawing

January 16th

Students can put their Bartlett Bucks into the drawing during both lunches every day for a chance to win. The winners will be drawn each Friday afternoon in the month of January, and will be announced at the end of the day each Friday!

Thursday, February 12th at 6pm-8pm

Just $5 for a night of fun!

Extra cards for $5

Prizes will be awarded

Snacks and drinks available for purchase

Saturday, March 28th at 8am-10am

Just $5 for a full breakfast: EGGS, HASH BROWNS, SAUSAGE, FRUIT, JUICE, and COFFEE

Prizes, Raffles, Photo Ops

Looking for a way to spend those Bartlett Bucks?

Welcome to the PBIS School Store! It will be open all year long. Please see the items available to purchase with your Bartlett Bucks!

Orders placed by Wednesday at 2:00pm will be delivered by Friday of that week. Items placed Thursday and Friday will be delivered the following week. (Some items may be delayed based on stock availability - you will be notified by email of any items that we are unable to deliver by Friday)

You will need to pay for the items with Bartlett Bucks when they are delivered. If you do not have enough Bartlett Bucks on you at the time of delivery you will not receive the item.

January 5 - January 15

ELA - StudySync Benchmark Testing

Math - CPM Benchmark Testing

January 5 - January 15

ELA - StudySync Benchmark Testing

Math - CPM Benchmark Testing

The WIDA ACCESS test measures English Language Proficiency (ELP) for English Learners (ELs) in four domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, assessing their skills to participate in academic English across subjects like Math, Science, and Social Studies, guiding instruction and tracking progress towards reclassification from EL status. All EL students (including those that have opted out) will be included in this testing.

Ms. Doherty will be completing the testing, and Ms. Ludwig will be covering her classes.

January 14 - Periods 3, 4, & 5 (A Day)

January 16 - Periods 3, 4, & 5 (B Day)

January 21 - Periods 1 & 2 (A Day)

January 22 - Periods 1 & 2 (B Day)

January 23 - Pre-Approved Make-Up Exams (completed with an administrator)

The Bartlett High School Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams delivered an outstanding performance at the recent CMAC Indoor Track Meet at Northbridge High School on January 6th, 2026, highlighted by first-place finishes and a wave of personal records across multiple events.

In the 50-yard dash, Xavier Sarfo captured first place on the boys’ side with a time of 5.80 seconds, while Deborah Lamptey took first place for the girls with a time of 6.80 seconds. Both

performances were personal records. Additional personal records in the 50-yard dash were set by Hunter Claypool, Cameron Hast, Karielyz Morales, and Jetsun Lama. In the 300-meter run, several athletes posted their personal-best performances, including Eryk Piwowarczyk, Xavier Sarfo, Hunter Claypool, and Karielyz Morales. Finally, in the shot put, Cameron Forsythe, Johan Vanlamoen Lopez, and Hunter Adams each recorded their personal-best throws, as well.

WEDNESDAY'S GAME will be the the "BIG GREEN WAVE"! Make sure to dress in green and show your Bartlett Pride!

The Athletic Department along with Bartlett's Student Ambassadors will be running a food can drive as part of the MIAA State Winter Huddle. The Drive will run from Monday, January 12th through Thursday January 15th.

FIVE cans can be exchanged for ONE game admission ticket (Golden Bartlett Buck) for Wednesday's Boys Basketball game vs Oxford. This transaction can take place during lunch periods. The Golden Ticket Bartlett Bucks is ONLY for Bartlett students!

Attention all female athletes, if you are interested in playing softball please see Coach Stawiecki so that she can add you to the Google Classroom.

All teams MUST enter and exit through the back of the gym after school, this includes all coaches and athletes. There should be absolutely no entry in or out of the C section hallway that is labeled as "Gym" on the outside door. Parents, please pick up your athletes at the back entrance to the gym after practices or games, not at the entrance closest to the BHS basketball courts.

If you are part of a sports team, you must remain academically and socially eligible to participate. If someone is no longer eligible, families will be contacted by the coach. Social probation has been added to the consequences for daily tardies. This may also affect the athletes eligibility to participate. If athletes reach their 6th (or higher) tardy, they will be placed on social probation for 7 days for each tardy. During this time of probation, they cannot attend any meetings, practices, or games during that period of time. An administrator will be reaching out to families of athletes who are placed on social probation due to tardiness to school.

Athletes MUST be supervised at all times when in the locker room hallway. If there is not a coach with them, then they will need to wait to go downstairs. All BHS athletes must use the bathrooms in the basement hallway, not the ones in the main part of the building once games and practices begin after school each day.

We are moving to an "offer vs serve" style of service that allows for more student based choices of building their trays and reduces waste. We have rolled this out at WMS and it has proven to be extremely beneficial and the students seem to really enjoy it. It definitely empowers more decision making in student meals vs just being served a completed tray.

Essentially the "main" food items will be on the tray and students can build up their trays (i.e. a fruit, vegetable, milk, yogurt, etc). The big thing of OVS is that the students must take at least 1 cup (or whole) fruit OR 1 cup of vegetables with their tray. They are required to take 3 food items, but 1 of the items must be the serving of fruit or vegetables. Students are still able to take as much fruit/vegetable choices as they want that they will eat.

Seniors with MCAS qualifying scores in ELA were recently emailed a link to a Google form regarding interest in the Seal of Biliteracy.

The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy is an honor offered to any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak or sign the language other than English at home or learned it at school or in the community.

The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:

1. Encourage students to study and master languages;

2. Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;

3. Recognize the value of language diversity;

4. Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;

5. Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of

high-level skills in languages;

6. Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and

7. Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.

Qualifying scores are MCAS ELA of 472 or higher. Students with a score of 501 or higher would be considered “with Distinction” should they also get higher scores on the Language portion of the test.

The interest form is the way students who qualify with their MCAS score let us know if they want to test in the other language (such as Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Twi, Tagalog, Gujarati, etc.). In order to be awarded the Seal of Biliteracy, students must also get qualifying scores on the “other” language assessment.

We are very excited that we have 66 seniors who are eligible to take the language portion of the Seal of Biliteracy. If interested, please send back that Google Form! If families have questions, please reach out to Dr. Mackay, Assistant Superintendent at pmackay@webster-schools.org or 508-943-0104 x. 40030.

Are you a Grandparent raising a grandchild(ren)? Have you wondered how other grandparents are handling the stress of raising grandchildren? Are you looking for a “judgment-free zone” to vent? You are not alone! Come join our support group. Please see the flyer for more details.