Term 4 Progress Report Letter

May 18, 2012

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As I write this letter, it amazes me that we have less than 20 days left in the 2011-2012 school-year and what a year it has been!  Since my last letter to you, Hull High School alumnus General Richard Neal has spoken to our entire student body about his 40-years of service in the United States Marine Corps.  Holocaust survivor Janet Applefield spoke to many of our students about her experiences and challenged them to look at their own attitudes about diversity and tolerance.  Almost 25% of our students have taken AP exams and our sophomores just finished taking their math MCAS tests.  More than 85% of our seniors have sent deposits to the college or university he/she will attend next year and they are now counting down the days until their last day of school, their prom, and their graduation.  Our student-actors are preparing for this weekend’s performance of Charlotte’s Web” and our student musicians are rehearsing for our annual spring concert (taking place on May 30^th).  As you can see, there is a great deal happening at Hull High School and more information about upcoming events is listed below.

NEASC Report:  Hull High School received more good news last month when we received our NEASC Visitation Report.  As you remember, a team of 16 educators visited us last November and we have been anxiously waiting the results of their evaluation.  We received 35 commendations and 33 recommendations.  It is very uncommon for a school to receive more commendations than recommendations.  This just says to me that the visiting team realized that, while we have a lot that we can, and must, do to improve, Hull High School is a place where AWESOME teaching and learning takes place each day.   They recognized that we have outstanding students, teachers, and families at Hull High School, and I cannot agree with them more.  Again, thank you to every parent, teacher, and student who assisted with our self-study process and with the visit.  We could not have done it without you.

Graduation:  Graduation will be held on June 2^nd at 1:00 PM on the athletic field, weather permitting.  If inclement weather is expected I will make the decision on Friday night whether to move graduation in to the gym.  No tickets are required to attend the ceremony.  All are invited to join us as we celebrate this milestone in the lives of the members of the Class of 2012.

Athletic Awards:  Our annual Athletic Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 23^rd at 6:30 PM in the Hull High School auditorium.  Please be aware that we have changed the starting time of the evening to 6:30 PM.  If your student is receiving an award, you have already been notified.  If you believe that your student should be receiving and award, and you have not received an invitation, please call Jim Quatromoni at 781-925-3000 x. 1113.

MCAS:  All of our freshmen will take the Introductory Physics MCAS on June 5^th and 6^th.  Ms. Lidington and her students have been working diligently to prepare for this exam, as it is the first hurdle that our freshman must overcome in order to graduate.  I am asking freshmen parents to please encourage your student to prepare for this test, and to get a good night sleep the nights before the exam.

Underclassman Academic Awards:  On June 7^th at 12:30 PM, we will recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at our annual Underclassman Academic Awards ceremony.  If your student is receiving and award, you will be notified by mail in the next week.  Although I know that doing this ceremony during the day puts a burden on some families, I feel that it is incredibly important to honor academic achievement in front of the entire student body.  It is my sincere hope that some of our students look at those students receiving awards and say “That is going to be me next year!”

Athletics:  Spring sports are still in full swing and our student-athletes are having great success.  Congratulations are in order for the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams for making the state tournament, as well as for the following student-athletes who have qualified for the Division 4 State Track Tournament:

• Christian Fuda             110 meter hurdles
• Alexa Perez                 400 meters and the 4X4 relay
• Vincent Smyth             100 meters

Course Selection:  Our students have all submitted their 2012-2013 Course Selection forms.  Mr. Sivo, Ms. Vaughan and Mrs. Kelliher will be creating next year’s schedule in the next week, and will be setting up meetings with all underclassmen to pick electives before the end of the school year.  It is still our goal to send home tentative student schedules with final report cards in June.

Final Exams:  All underclassmen will take final exams in all of their classes starting on June 7^th.  The final exam schedule is as follows:

• June 7^th
• Period A Exam           8:05 – 9:55 AM
• Period C Exam            8:05 – 11:55 AM
• June 8^th
• Period D Exam           7:25 – 9:15 AM
• Period E Exam            9:25 – 11:15 AM
• June 11^th
• Period F Exam                        7:25 – 9:15 AM
• Period G Exam           9:25 – 11:15 AM
• June 12^th
• Period B Exam            7:25 – 9:15 AM
• Make-up Exams          9:25 – 11:15 AM

Please remind your student that these exams count as 10% of his/her final grade in each class. 

 School Responsibilities:  Students are responsible for all textbooks, uniforms and library books that they have been issued.  In each academic class, students must return the textbook issued to them at the beginning of the year, or give payment for the replacement cost of that textbook, before taking the final exam.  Students who owe library books, uniforms or other school property, must return those items, or give payment for the replacement cost, before they will be allowed to take their final exams.

So, when I write my next letter to you, the school year will have ended and summer vacation will have begun.  The next few weeks are very busy for all of us, but it is my hope that you are able to attend at least one of the many school events taking place between now and June 12^th.  I also hope that you enjoy the beautiful spring days and that we all have a wonderful end to what has been a fantastic school year.

Sincerely,

Michael Devine

Principal

Hull High School