The Week Ahead - 9/22

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Fall Open House! We welcomed so many families. We look forward to having you join us at all of our upcoming family engagement activities throughout this school year!

Here is the link to this year's handbook. Please make sure to review this book with your student(s). https://bhs.webster-schools.org/for-students/student-handbook/handbook

Saturday School sessions begin this week. Just as last year, the program will serve several purposes throughout the year. Students may access Saturday sessions for extra academic assistance. The program may also be assigned as a consequence by administration if in school behavior warrants it At times it may being given as an alternative to suspension. The high school's attendance policy will also be tied to Saturday School once we get further into the first quarter. If students lose academic points due to their daily attendance, student's will be able to earn these points back by attending a specific number of sessions. Students and families will have meetings with guidance if there is a need for this.

Students and families will be notified on Monday of this week if the school feels as though students would benefit from attending based on current grades. We will be focusing on all students who already have a failing grade in at least one or more courses. Please keep an eye on emails for these notifications. If you do not get an email, but would still like your student to attend this week, please reach out to your student's guidance counselor and they will add your student's name to the list.

Saturday School will be held at the Webster Middle School. It will run from 8am-12pm, and students must stay the entire time. Breakfast and a snack will be provided to those that attend. Students will need to bring their work with them, as teachers will not be able to provide it to individual students while at the middle school. They should also come with a fully charged chromebook. There will be no cell phones allowed out while from 8am-12pm. There is no bus provided to or from Saturday School.

If you have any questions, please reach out to guidance or administration.

Community service hours available for Student Council, Seniors, and National Honor Society Members!

Ms. Stawiecki has organized a few opportunities for students to gain Community Service hours either by helping with Volleyball or with The Gridiron Club. If interested, please make sure to email Ms. Stawieck, cstawiecki@webster-schools.org.

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.

Regular Schedule

School Guidelines

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.

From Class

• 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

To School

• 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

To Class

• 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

Initial ELA and Math Benchmark Testing will conclude this week with makeup testing continuing through Monday, 9/22.

Applications are now open for grade 9 and 10 students. If interested in becoming a member of the Nichols Leadership Academy, please make sure to apply online using the link below. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2025.

From the Program of Studies (pages 12-13):

The Nichols Leadership Academy (NLA), is a unique partnership program with Nichols College that was established in 2014. The Academy has a strong focus on leadership and promotes community involvement and service with the goal of preparing the student for post-secondary success. The Academy accepts students in grade 9 and 10 who fully intend to pursue post-secondary education and have exhibited both academic and leadership potential.

The admission process begins in the eighth grade and students must apply and be accepted into NLA. A review of student application, teacher recommendation, and academic record will be used to determine admission.

The program begins freshman year with an official induction ceremony at Nichols College. Students will receive a Nichols College ID which grants them access to the library, cultural events, and sporting events. The students will visit the campus several times throughout the year for events as well as leadership focused activities and workshops.

• Community Involvement: NLA students are required to perform a minimum of 10 hours of community service each year. Students are encouraged to link their individual community service to their personal interests and develop a meaningful community service project that they continually commit to and expand upon throughout high school. Students are encouraged to begin to participate in extracurricular activities at Bartlett during this time. Participation in NLA events through Nichols College is required.

• Academics: Students are encouraged to enroll in honors level or above for all core courses (English, Math, Social Studies, and Science).

The emphasis during grades 11 and 12 continues to be on leadership with deeper discussion around future planning and college admissions. Students will continue to have the same benefits at Nichols as the freshmen and sophomores and are eligible to enroll in college courses through the Nichols College Accelerator Program at a discounted rate.

• Community Involvement: Students are expected (but not required) to continue participating in community service and extracurricular activities. Continued participation in NLA events through Nichols College is required.

• Academics: NLA students are required to take two courses above honors level (combination of: AP, Nichols Accelerator, or Dual Enrollment courses) and are encouraged to take honors level in their other courses. NLA students must take the PSAT and SAT exams.

NLA students should uphold high character throughout their Bartlett career. They must remain in good academic standing and fulfill the above mentioned requirements to remain an active member. A student may be placed on probationary status or released from the NLA if deemed appropriate.

Incorporating academic rigor, leadership, and community service, the Nichols Leadership Academy provides a unique and transforming learning experience which will prepare and benefit its members for their post-secondary endeavors and the college admissions process.

We are pleased to inform you of Bartlett High School’s participation in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2025-2026 School Year. The 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.

In order to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, students must:

1. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by earning a score of 472 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS,

2. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a world language by attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on an assessment approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and

3. Satisfy all other graduation requirements.

The Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction is available to students who:

1. Earn a score of 501 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS

2. Demonstrate a proficiency level of Advanced Low or higher on a Department-approved assessment, and

3. Satisfy all other graduation requirements.

The ELA MCAS Retests will take place on Nov 5 & 6, 2025 and again on March 3 & 4, 2026; Grade 10 ELA tests will take place on March 24 & 25, 2026. We will be administering Proficiency Assessments of Approved Language Other than English as soon as we know which assessments our students are interested in taking. More information to come…

We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative. If you have any further questions, please contact Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator, Dr. Patricia Mackay, pmackay@webster-schools.org 508-943-0104, x. 40030.

Reminder for ALL Physical Education students: Students MUST wear soft soled sneakers during PE classes.

Locker Rooms: The locker rooms are available to those that want to use them. Those students that are interested in changing, both before and after gym class, will have the opportunity to go into the locker rooms, change, and leave their bags in the locker room. The locker rooms will be locked while gym class is in session, and reopened at the end of class. Locks will not be used on the lockers.

This week, in Principles of Biomedical Science, students analyzed the hair samples of the 5 people of interest in the case of Anna Garcia's death. They looked at the defining characteristics of each sample and matched the crime scene sample to one of the suspects. They also analyzed Anna's digital footprint and created a timeline of events that will help put all of the medical tests into scope.

In Human Body Systems, students dove deep into their understanding of different tissue types of the body and examined and modeled the different muscles of the human face on their mannequins.

In Medical Interventions, students examined the ethical bounds of genetic treatments and services and created medical plans for newly diagnosed patients with genetic disorders. These medical plans explain possible further options for care after diagnosis and an explanation of their patient's disorder.

Our Marketing Pathway students will be holding a Homecoming Fundraiser from now through 10/3. They will be selling homecoming t-shirts. Shirts will be available in either black or pink to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Make sure to order yours today for just $10. Fill out the attached order form, and bring it or email it to Mr. Jenness, bjenness@webster-schools.org.

Our first PBIS event is now in the books! The students bought tickets with their Bartlett Bucks and watched their peers compete in several rounds of Family Feud. A great time was had by all!

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

Athletes MUST be supervised at all times when in the locker room hallway. If there is not a coach with you, then you 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.

Join State Senator Ryan Fattman's Senate Youth Council for a chance to experience state government, discuss important topics, visit places of significance in New England, and more.

Student delegates on the SYC will attend club meetings, State House visits, bipartisan campaign and speaker series events, and more. Former SYC delegates have gained invaluable skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and team building through the program, going on to work in highly successful public affairs sector jobs.

The Application can be found at the QR code embedded in the presentation that is linked below, and is due by Wednesday, September 24th. Students will be notified by September 26th if accepted as 2025-2026 SYC delegates. The kick-off meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 30th, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM at YMCA Camp Blanchard in Sutton.

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!!!!!

Please check out the attached flyer for important information regarding the dates and times of the support group's meetings.

BVYLA applications are now open for 7th–10th graders. This 6-month program builds leadership and communication, connects students with regional leaders, and includes a student-led community service project. Kickoff is Sat, Oct 18; sessions run two Thursdays per month, 3:30–6:00 PM. Tuition is $50 (BVEF districts) or $100 (non-BVEF); scholarships available. Apply here: bveducationfoundation.org/youthleadership

Looking for Community Service Hours? Just wanting to help better our Webster Community? Come join us at the Fall Town Cleanup Event! Sign up in Guidance!