January 26, 2012

Dear Parents and Guardians:

It really seems hard to believe that we are at the halfway point the 2011-2012 school year. As the Hull Times so nicely put it last week, "Hull High School is on a roll!” Last week, we were informed that Hull High School is one of seven schools nominated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for consideration as a National Blue Ribbon School. This nomination is an incredible honor, and has been earned by the outstanding instruction provided by our teachers, and the fantastic achievement of our students. We have until March 2nd to complete, and submit, a very daunting application, but our entire community will pull together to show the entire country what we already know - that Hull High School is an amazing teaching and learning community, and that our students can accomplish incredible things. However, the Hull Times did get one thing wrong - the entire Hull community earned this honor. When students achieve great things, it is due to the efforts of the entire community, from the elementary and middle school teachers, to the community leaders and coaches and mentors, to the parents that make their children sit and do their homework each night, to the people in town that support our schools. We are all in this together!

Home – School Communication

As you read when you received your student’s term 2 report card, this blog will now be our primary method of communication with parents and families for the remainder of the year. This will save us a great deal of money in paper and mailing costs, but will also enable us to communicate with you in “real-time”, as opposed to waiting until a scheduled mailing. Starting in September, our hope is to completely phase out mailings, as our new Student Information System, X2, will allow you to see your student’s report cards and progress reports on-line. More information will be coming, but we ask that you check the Hull High School Blog on a daily basis, as everyday we will post information regarding all the great things taking place at Hull High School.

Report Cards

Term 2 report cards were sent home last week for all high school students. Please take the time to look at this report card with your student(s). Do you think that the grades he/she earned reflect his/her ability? Have you seen your student doing work at home? Have you called or emailed your student's teachers? Please remember- the greatest way that you can help your student succeed in school is to let them know that you value their education enough to be involved, even when your child does not want you to be.

Conferences

Parent conferences are scheduled for March 1, 2012 from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM. To set up a conference, please email Fran Troy at ftroy@town.hull.ma.us. In your email, please let Fran know which teachers that you would like to see. If you do not have access to email, please call Fran at 781-925-3000 x1112. Requests for appointments will be accepted starting Monday, February 13^th and will be handled in the order in which they are received. No matter what grades your child earned in his/her classes, please take the time to meet with his/her teachers.

Students of the Month

Congratulations to our December Students of the Month. These students have been selected by their teachers in recognition of their dedication, interest and hard work in their classes. They are:

Internship Lauren Geary

Media Hailey Carlson

Art Josh Eliason

Social Studies Robert Mueller

Foreign Language Brendan Clifford

Wellness / PE Kathleen Dunn

Science Sam Palma

Academic Support Ryan O'Donnell

Math Anthony Bates

English Mackenzie Gamble

Music Michael (Che) Buckley

Student - Athlete Lyndsey Capen

Nickelodeon

Two weeks ago, a production team from Nickelodeon spent three days with us at Hull High School, interviewing staff members and students, and spending time at our first Pirate Fun Night, and at a basketball game. They were here to do a story on our students and their fundraising efforts to keep our athletic program alive. We are thrilled that they saw the efforts of our students as newsworthy, and they will be running the story sometime in March. As soon as we know the date, we will let you know.

Graduation

As we start the second semester, we are already making plans for the graduation of the Class of 2012. The 54th annual Hull High School Commencement Exercises will take place on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 1 PM on the Athletic Field. The Class of 2012 has invited Mr. Joseph Menice to be the commencement speaker, and he has graciously accepted. More information will be coming soon, and a letter, with more specific details, will be sent to parents and guardians of seniors within the next month.

2012-2013 Student Handbook and Program of Studies

This is also the time that we start to look at the policies and proceeds, and course offerings that we will recommend to the Hull School Committee for next year. In order to make this as an inclusive process as possible, I am asking that you let your voice be heard! If you have suggestions regarding the academic offerings or about how we do things here at HHS, I am asking that you share these with me: via email, a letter, phone call or in person. All recommended changes will be brought before the HHS School Council, but you also have a say.

As I type this letter, it seems strange to me that we will not make 350 copies of it, fold them, stuff them, and mail them. Technology has changed the way we do so much in our lives, and now we will use technology to communicate with you. As always, I welcome your feedback, and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Devine

Principal

Hull High School

The Hull High School Blog

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Term 2 Report Card Letter