Bronco Bulletin

It has been a busy and productive fall at Keefe Tech. Our students are off to a strong start in their programs and on our athletic fields, and just yesterday we opened applications for the Class of 2031.

Our School Committee and administrative team have also been moving important work forward. As part of our building project with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), we are hiring a project manager to help us study our options for the future of our school. The Building Committee is now reviewing finalists.

We are grateful to the Framingham City Council for reappointing Bill Phillips, Maria Martinez and Linda Fobes to our School Committee. We also welcome Mahmood Akhtar, who will represent the City of Framingham on the committee. We appreciate the Council’s continued partnership and each member’s willingness to serve.

As always, thank you to our staff and families for your continued support. I look forward to all that is ahead this year.

Sincerely,
Jon Evans

Help capture this year's memories in the Keefe Tech yearbook! Students are encouraged to submit their favorite photos from school events, activities and everyday moments throughout the year. Simply scan the QR code below, sign in using your Keefe Tech email and upload your photos. Be sure to submit high-quality images and include the names of those pictured.

Keefe Tech is getting ready to celebrate Spirit Week! Students and staff are encouraged to join the fun with a different theme each day, leading up to Bronco Pride Day on Friday.

• Monday – Decade Day: Dress in your favorite decade's style.

• Tuesday – Anything But a Backpack Day: Carry your school supplies in anything but a backpack.

• Wednesday – Party Day: Dress according to your class theme.

• Thursday – Twin Day: Find a friend and dress alike.

• Friday – Bronco Pride Day: Wear orange and blue to show your Bronco spirit!

We can't wait to see everyone's creativity and school spirit throughout the week.

Congratulations to Keefe Tech's newest National Honor Society members! These students were recently recognized during an induction ceremony for their commitment to scholarship, leadership, service and character. Keefe Tech is proud to celebrate their accomplishments and this well-deserved honor!

Keefe Tech sophomore horticulture students recently visited Community Harvest Project's orchard in Harvard, Massachusetts, where they helped sort and pack apples for distribution to local food banks. Community Harvest Project is a nonprofit organization that grows and distributes fresh produce to food banks and food security programs throughout Greater Boston. Through this year-round partnership, students gain hands-on experience learning about the seasonal work involved in operating a commercial orchard while giving back to the community.

Grade 10 students from Keefe Tech’s Health Careers and Criminal Justice programs recently worked together to earn their American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED Certification. Through this hands-on training, students developed important lifesaving skills, including how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

October is depression awareness month and while there is much out there in the media, movies, books, songs, etc. about depression, the designation is also a great time to once more talk about a very important topic. Since the pandemic, teenagers have self-reported that depressive symptoms have decreased, but only slightly. In this issue, we will talk about some of the markers of depression, and how that can show up in teenagers in multiple ways.

In adolescents, depression frequently manifests as extreme irritability, anger, and unexplained physical ailments like headaches or fatigue rather than conventional sadness. Additional less obvious warning signs include extreme sensitivity to criticism, variable moods, compulsive physical behaviors, and sudden shifts in social circles.

It's never easy asking teenagers about whether they are suffering from depression, especially as parents. Therefore we are attaching a parent guide of examples of quesitons they can ask.

The guide provides a structured, supportive framework for parents to open an honest, non-judgmental dialogue with their teenager. It categorizes inquiries into four key domains:

• Mood & Emotional Balance: Soft openings to assess persistent changes, emptiness, or a loss of interest in hobbies (anhedonia).
• Physical & Somatic Signs: Gently addressing common teenage manifestations of depression, including chronic headaches, unexplained fatigue, and sleeping disturbances.
• Social & Environmental Stressors: Navigating potential triggers within peer groups, online dynamics, or academic settings.
• Safety & Support: Direct, essential questions regarding severe distress, access to external professionals, or thoughts of self-harm.
  
  

Julia Fairclough LICSW, SAC

Adjustment Counselor

The Keefe Tech Cheer team showed their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing matching pink sweatshirts at Saturday's football game. The team came together to help raise awareness and show support for those affected by breast cancer.

Keefe Tech's fall athletic teams have been busy competing this season! The football team earned a 54-24 win over Worcester Tech, while girls soccer secured a 7-0 victory against Minuteman Tech. The boys and girls cross country teams also competed against Assabet, with final scores of 40-17 and 50-15, respectively. Check out some photos of our Broncos in action!

Keefe Tech students have the opportunity to get involved in theater behind the scenes! The theater program is looking for crew members to assist with sound and lighting, set construction and painting, costumes, hair and makeup, and concessions. Students can apply skills they're learning in their technical programs while gaining new experiences and helping bring a production to life. No theater experience is necessary, and participants can earn 5-8 International Thespian Society credits.

Students interested in joining or learning more can contact Ms. Rettino at erettino@keefetech.org or Mr. Lamb at glamb@keefetech.org.

The first meeting of the KT Sewing Club will be on Monday October 19th from 2:05-2:40 pm. The club will be scheduled to meet every other week on Mondays. For grade 9 students who signed up at the activities fair, please remember to check your email for information and to bring any supplies needed.

If any other students in grades 10-12 are interested please email Ms. Kelly to see if there is room. Any questions please see Ms. Kelly in room 313 or email; kkelly@keefetech.org

Monday and Thursday at the Main Library from 3-6, and Wednesday at the McAuliffe from 3-5. If you are looking for a quiet place to get some work done with support, check out this resource.

Website: keefetech.org
Location: 750 Winter Street, Framingham, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 416-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/keefetech

Instagram: @keefe.tech.hs