Dear Students, Families, and Community Members,

We are incredibly proud of the vibrant and diverse community we have here at Quincy High School. The energy and enthusiasm we see from our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the support from our families are truly inspiring. It is through our collective efforts that we create a positive and enriching learning environment for everyone.

A huge congratulations to all the students who participated in our annual STEM Fair on February 4th! The creativity, ingenuity, and hard work displayed by our students was truly impressive. From innovative robotics projects to insightful scientific investigations, it was inspiring to see the passion for STEM learning on display. Thank you to all the teachers, mentors, and volunteers who made this event such a success. We are so proud of all our participants!

As we move through February, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate Black History Month. This is a time for us to reflect on the rich and complex history of African Americans, recognizing their invaluable contributions to our society, culture, and world. Throughout this month, we've had the opportunity to learn about important figures, events, and movements that have shaped our history.

Looking ahead to March, we have several important events planned. Juniors and their families are encouraged to attend our College Information Night on Thursday, March 6th, from 6:00-7:30 PM. This event will provide valuable information about the college application process, financial aid opportunities, and resources available to support students as they plan for their post-secondary education.

As we start planning for the 2025-2026 school year, Course Selection Planning Night on Tuesday, March 11th, from 6:00-8:00 PM. We encourage you to attend this informative event to help your student make informed decisions about their academic future. Please take some time to review our extensive course pathways and program of studies linked here:

25-26 QHS Course Pathways Booklet

25-26 High School Program of Studies

The Course Selection Planning Night is a crucial opportunity for all students and their parents/guardians to learn about the course offerings for the upcoming academic year and understand graduation requirements.

Mark your calendars for the QHS Spring Musical! Performances will be held on March 14th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd, 2025. Come out and support our talented students as they bring this exciting production to life! More details about tickets and showtimes will be available soon.

We are pleased to share with you the 2024 QHS report card from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) linked below. The school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas.

Lastly, we want to wish everyone a restful and enjoyable February break! Whether you're traveling, staying local, or simply taking time to relax, we hope you all have a chance to recharge and come back refreshed and ready for the remainder of the school year. Use this time to connect with family and friends, and enjoy the winter season. Roll Hats!

Keith Ford, Principal @qhsprincipalford

Ed Smith, Assistant Principal @qhsapsmith

We are pleased to share with you the Quincy High School 2024 school report card from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card and just as your student’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas.

Please see the linked DESE flier for more general information on the school and district report card criteria and process. Links to the Quincy Public Schools report cards are also available on the

Quincy Public Schools website. The report cards include multiple measures of each school’s performance and are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our schools.

For more information about School and District Report Cards or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit http://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/ .

Congratulations to the 836 QHS student who earned honor roll in Q2 this school year and 122 students with perfect attendance!

The 16th Annual QHS STEM Fair was held on Tuesday, February 4th and showcased projects from more than 70 students. Volunteer judges from across QPS as well as the Quincy community attended and helped to determine this year's top finishers:

First Place: Sheila Katrati, Heart Logic (Pictured)

Second Place: Emily Chen, The Effect of Different Flours on the Height of Cupcakes

Third Place: Anzar Ahmed, The Effect of Gas-Permeable Membranes on Carbon Dioxide Intake by Phytoplankton

Four students from the Fair are registered to participate in the Massachusetts Region 5 Science & Engineering Fair at Bridgewater State University on Saturday, March 8th.

The QHS PAC is actively preparing for this year’s Senior Night Out (SNO), the all-night safe, sober, extremely fun, free party held at QHS after senior prom for our soon to be graduates! The next PAC meeting will be a SNO Subcommittee “working meeting” specifically to prepare the many mailings we send to businesses all across the city to request donations of food, drink, and other items to support the event. Many hands make light work, so if you have some time to help us stuff, label, seal, and stamp envelopes. Please join us! All are welcome, all mailing supplies will be provided.

When: Tuesday, February 25th, 6:30pm

Where: QHS Cafeteria

SAVE THE DATE! Senior Night Out is taking place Saturday, May 31st, 10pm-4:30am. SNO is a huge undertaking, and it is 100% volunteer run. Many parent/guardians of students from all grades are needed so everything goes smoothly. (A CORI is not required because no one is alone with students.) Volunteer roles include helping set up and decorate before the event, work in the coat/bag check or in the food and drink buffet, working in the casino game room, being an extra set of hands wherever you’re needed, or helping clean up afterwards. Any time you can spare will be greatly appreciated. No time? We also will be seeking food, drink, and monetary donations from the QHS community to support the event. More information and a volunteer & donation sign-up will be shared as the date gets closer.

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

QHS Art 2 students are working on the Battle of the Bands, expressionism-inspired color pencil designs. Each design has a planned color scheme, is either symmetrical or asymmetrical, and abstractly represents a song. Students reviewed the expressive qualities of line, shape, and color, along with works by Kandinsky, Marc, and Klee, before creating their designs. BU student teacher Shannon Fuller is leading students in Mrs. Reichel's class.

Senior, Kayla Monroe, finishing up her spider eyeball art project, trying to seal up some cracks with vinegar. There are also some other clay pieces in the background getting ready to be bisque fired and or glazed and waiting for final firing.

It's an exciting time of year as many of their first long term projects are wrapping up and getting ready to be fired/glazed/ and displayed.

21 grade 9 students in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program at QHS called Big Futures visited the PA Consulting Office in Seaport this January. The students were welcomed with snacks, a tour of the office, learned what a consultant does, and saw firsthand many of the products the consultant help create (medical equipment, exercise tools, cosmetics, etc.).

The students broke up into small groups and created apps that would provide a sustainable impact for the environment for a "client" and then presented to the group.

Quincy High School Choir Students Avyanna Garcia Pizzaro, Anya Healy, and Fin Solano were invited to sing the National Anthem for Mayor Koch’s State of the City address on January 21. They are part of the combined Choirs, which have been invited to perform with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra on May 17 to celebrate Quincy 400, Quincy through the Ages Symphony and Song, at City Hall.

Massachusetts Music Educators Association Eastern District Senior Festival

Band students Anders Eshelman (NQHS), Edward Giza (QHS), Zexiang Li (NQHS) and Justin Zhao (NQHS), and Owen Veith (NQHS) as well as choir students Nathaniel Baryza (QHS), Calla Jones (NQHS), Michael Romeo (NQHS), Fin Solano (QHS), Jocelyn Walt (NQHS) and Amy Wu (NQHS) participated in the prestigious Massachusetts Music Educators Association Eastern District Senior Festival on January 11 at Milton High School. The students competed alongside top musicians from high schools across the region, earning their spots through a highly competitive and rigorous audition process. Additional honors go to Owen, Baryza, Fin and Michael who auditioned successfully against top students throughout Massachuseets to be selected for the MMEA All-State Festival, which culminates in performances at Boston’s Symphony Hall on March 22. Congratulations to all the students who made the festival this year!

The QNQ Varsity and Junior Varsity Jazz Bands welcomed Foxborough High School Music Educator Aaron Bush on January 30 to help them prepare for their upcoming Massachusetts Association Festival performances. Bush commended the students’ focus, motivation and receptiveness to constructive criticism and praised Mr. Cavanaugh’s and Ms. Maynard’s outstanding teaching and passionate dedication to the jazz band program. Both jazz bands will be competing on February 27 at Oliver Ames High School in Easton and again on March 5 at Reading Memorial High School. We wish them all the best for their upcoming performances!

Selected QNQ Band students, along with those from Mrs. Compitiello’s Vocal, Piano, and Guitar Solo & Ensemble Class, were featured in our Winter Recital Night at North Quincy High School on January 22. The students captivated the audience with a diverse range of solo and chamber music performances.

Save the Date! On Saturday, March 1 from 10:00AM- 4:00PM in the Quincy High School Gym, The Quincy Band Boosters are holding a Mattress Fundraiser to raise money for the band program. Significant discounts on mattresses, sheets and other accessories will be given to Quincy families, teachers and staff and first responders. Please come and check it out and consider supporting the band program!

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.

Seniors and Parents,

This is the last chance to have LEGACY STUDIOS take your Senior Portraits! Photo sessions will take place on Feb 25th, 26th, & 27th from 3pm-8pm in the QHS Broadcasting Studio, 1st Floor, Room C135.

Click the following link to set up an appointment.

https://seniors.legacystudios.com/quincy-hs-ma/

See Mr. Doucette in C117/Auditorium for more details.

thomasdoucette@quincypublicschools.com

Advisory: Our second January Advisory period was an incredible collaboration between Quincy High School and Sandy Hook Promise as we participated in the Start with Hello training to learn more about empathy and building connections in our student body.

The program encourages students to reach out to their peers, especially those who may be isolated or new to the school, by simply starting a conversation with "hello." It emphasizes the importance of creating a more connected and inclusive school environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

This month, we continued to build empathy in the classroom with a community-building focused Advisory in which students engaged in collaborative activities, including a Silent Interview, Heads Up: Quincy High Edition, and a Fast List Challenge.

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.

February 14 - Friday before Winter Break

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

If any questions or concerns, please reach out to us (617-376-3367, martinaryan@quincypublicschools.com, lindsaygardiner@quincypublicschools.com)

• The nurse's office is always looking for clothing donations, especially winter clothes (hats, gloves, etc). Donations can be left at security or the nurse's office.
• Hats, gloves & coats are available in the nurse’s office for those who need them.
• Visit the nurse’s office or drop your name in one of the “nurse” boxes located around the building and we will call you down anonymously.

As hard as it is to believe, winter sports are already coming to an end! Let’s keep up the energy, keep supporting our programs, and finish the winter season strong. Roll Hats!

The time has come once again! Our Boys and Girls Basketball teams are taking on cross-town rival North Quincy in what promises to be a thrilling showdown! As we look to get back to having the bragging wrights in the city.

The Girls Basketball game will be for the Patriot League Title. This could truly be something special that you don’t want to miss!!

We need ALL PRESIDENTS fans to pack the gym and bring the energy! Let’s show our Roll Hats pride and support both teams as they battle to bring back city bragging rights to QHS.

Come show support for all of our amazing teachers at QHS!

QHS Boys Hockey vs. Bridgewater Raynham

📅 Date: Wednesday, February 12th
📍 Location: Quincy Youth Arena
⏰ Game Time: 6pm

What a great day for our Indoor Track & Field athletes @ New Balance on Saturday February 8th, for the Patriot League Championship Meet!

QNQ Boys finish 6th overall. Top 10 placers below.

📅 Date: Saturday, February 15th
📍 Location: Xaverian High School
⏰ Time: TBA

Congratulations to Girls Basketball Head Coach, Sarah Conlon, on achieving her 100th career win as head coach of the Quincy Presidents! Under her leadership, the team has continued to thrive, securing another MIAA Tournament bid this season. Coach Conlon’s dedication, passion, and commitment to her players have been instrumental in the program’s success, shaping a culture of hard work and excellence. With another postseason ahead, we can't wait to see how deep of a run this team can make. GO FOR STATE!

QHS would like to send a huge congratulations to our Quincy High School Fall All-Scholastics on their incredible achievements both on the field/court and in the classroom! These student-athletes have demonstrated outstanding dedication, skill, and leadership in their respective sports while excelling academically. Their hard work and commitment to excellence truly embody the spirit of Quincy Athletics.

We celebrate the outstanding careers of our Quincy High School basketball and QNQ girl’s hockey seniors, whose dedication, leadership, and hard work have left a lasting legacy on their teams and our school.

For the Boys' Basketball team, we honor Ali Goutay and Alijah Souza, two athletes who have given their all to the program, setting the standard for the future.

On the Girls' Basketball team, we recognize Lilly Catrambone, Aimma Da Silva, Niamh Gendron, Alyssa Hopps, Ella Roche, and Jayden Treannie, whose commitment and passion have been instrumental in the team’s success.

We also would like to recognize the QNQ Girls Hockey seniors—Megan Caldwell, Madeline Case, Ashlinn Folan, and Ciara Folan—who have poured their hearts into the program and helped build a strong foundation for the future.

As they all move on to new endeavors, we know they will continue to achieve greatness and make a difference in their communities. Thank you, seniors, for your hard work and dedication! Once a President, always a President—Roll Hats!

As the winter season winds down, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead! Our JV and Freshman teams across all winter sports have had outstanding seasons. Their growth and success this year are a testament to the strength of our programs and the bright future of Quincy High School Athletics. We can’t wait to see these athletes continue to develop and make an impact in the years to come. The best is yet to come!

Boys Basketball: (3-14), Girls Basketball: (16-3), Boys Hockey: (3-14-1), QNQ Girls Hockey: (3-13), QNQ Wrestling: (3-16), QNQ Swimming: Boys: (5-3), Girls: (2-6), QNQ Indoor Track: Boys: (2-3), Girls: (2-3)

For this school year we will be live streaming our home games using Hudl TV (link below) we will no longer be on YouTube. Hudl TV is where many of our opponents will also be live streaming their games so you can follow you favorite teams even on the road!

https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ma/quincy/organization/10723/quincy-high-school

Schedules and Scores: View the schedules and scores for all of our teams

Live Streaming: Watch our home games live on Hudl TV

Register for Athletics: Register for athletics in the upcoming season.

QHS Athletics Team Store: Shop online to support your favorite Presidents' teams!

Quincy High School is filled with before and after school clubs and activities and we hope your student will get involved! Below is a sample of all that is already happening at QHS this fall. Here is a list of the QHS Clubs and Activities for 2024-2025.

Cap & Gown Order: Due Date: Friday, February 14th at Jostens

QHS Contact: Kate.toman.office@jostens.com

Reminder: there are several options for add-ons, the “Essential Package” ($21) contains the necessary basics of the cap, gown, and tassel if no add-ons are desired

Yearbook:

Spring Sale: $85 January 2nd - April 17th

Purchase through Jostens.com or with cash to Mr. Kimmell in C112

For any questions, see Mr. Kimmell or Mr. Doucette in C1 Wing

Follow our Instagram @qhs2025

The Class of 2026 is excited for the upcoming Junior prom in April! Deposits have been made. Be on the lookout for fundraisers in the new year! Please follow @qhs_2026 for information.

The Class of 2027 is hard at work planning fundraisers and getting ready for some great events over the next couple of years! We have a Chipotle Fundraiser coming up on March 5th, a Sweet Frog fundraiser in April, and an exciting raffle in the works! Stay tuned for more updates and follow us @qhs_2027

QHS students continue to chip away at their community service hours while helping the community, learning valuable skills, and having having fun. A special thank you this time to the QHS staff members who are helping our students complete the hours. Community Service hours are the student's responsibility, but it is always nice to have a little help! Thanks to the school store, nurse's office, athletics, cleaning crew, band, Interact Club, Green Team, and all other efforts by QHS staff to provide opportunities for our students to complete this graduation requirement.

Here are our Community Service stats as of the first week of February:

SENIORS

• As a group, 9,071 hours have been completed helping our community!!
• 164 students are done! (By this point, they all should be)
• 169 students have 5 or fewer hours. (YIKES!! Work on that over February Break!)
• Eduarda Garcia Correia has the most hours with 289!

JUNIORS

• As a class, the juniors have completed 6,535.5 hours of service!
• 90 students are done!
• 323 have five hours or fewer.
• Ethan Wickramaratne has the most with 152.25 hours!!

SOPHMORES

• Sophomores have done 4,215.5 hours!
• 52 are already done!
• 198 have no hours at all. (Make a plan to fix this!)
• Lyla Johnson has the most with 184 hours!

FRESHMAN

• Freshmen have completed 509 hours of service!
• 7 students are done!
• To finish your hours, find a place this summer where you can volunteer regularly. That way, you can use the organization as a reference for a job or other application once you wow them with your effort and maturity. See Ms. Matthews in D219 for ideas.

Any students who have questions or need help finding a place to complete hours should check the google classroom or see Ms. Matthews in D219.

Criminal Justice 2 students met with representatives from The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and The Massachusetts State Police, at their respective Headquarters. Situated next to each other in Framingham, both HQs informed students of their roles in times of emergencies and daily operations. Students also learned of the agencies' functions in society and got tours of both facilities. Criminal Justice students continue to learn about the diverse field of Criminal Justice and legal and protective services through our community collaborations.