LHS Principal's Update 3/21/25
District Calendar: Click here
School Instagram at lhsbluedevilnation
Weird Schedule Next Week:
Next week we have a few changes to the normal schedule:
With MCAS on Tuesday and Wednesday students will be in an extended first period until 10:00 on both days. School starts and ends at the regular time both days.
MCAS Next Week
The ELA MCAS will be taken by grade 10 students on March 25 and 26.
You can support your student’s success on the MCAS by doing the following:
1. Make sure they arrive to school on time on the test days.
2. Make sure they get a good night sleep the night before and eat breakfast that morning
3. Make sure they charge their Chromebook (the test is done online)
4. Make sure they understand that they have to do their best in order to graduate
The state department of education has published a Frequently Asked Questions page to address changes to the MCAS at https://mcusercontent.com/d8f37d1a90dacd97f207f0b4a/files/8eaaf0b1-29d7-6ec7-18d3-a45618a560e4/DESE_CD_FAQ_updated_12_11_2024.pdf
Last Chance to See Edward Tulane
The LHS Theater Company is holding one last performance of their competitive play Edward Tulane on Monday at 7.
Pre-Prom Information
With prom and graduation season upon us, we are approaching a fun and exciting time for students and their families. We want to urge you to do all that you can to make it a happy and safe time for your teen.
It’s important to remember that it’s a crime to provide alcohol to those under the age of 21, even at a supervised party at your own home. It’s also important to know that if you choose to host a party where you serve alcohol to those under the age of 21, you can be held liable if one of your guests drinks alcohol and harms themselves or others while impaired. Even if you are not actively providing alcohol to underage drinkers, it is a dangerous choice and illegal to harbor or allow for teen drinking parties in your home.
Each year, we lose far too many of our teenagers to motor vehicle crashes, with an increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities on prom and graduation weekends. As a parent or guardian, you have the opportunity to help ensure the safety of your children and others by helping them make the right choices around drinking and driving.
It’s important to stress to your teens that choices they make can have lasting consequences. It’s imperative that they understand that using good judgment, especially when it comes to drugs, alcohol and distracted driving, can save lives.
With these dangers, we encourage you to take a number of steps to assist your children in staying safe:
• Reinforce your expectations and remind them that there are consequences, both at school and at home if they are caught drinking or using drugs.
• Offer your teens transportation alternatives.
• If you are able to, hire or share professional transportation for your teen’s prom night.
• Give your teen an “out”. Let them blame you if they need to leave a party or situation. Make sure they know they can call or text you to ask for a ride home.
Please view the link regarding Social Host Liability by District Attorney Joseph Earley Jr. and then fill the short survey below. The survey must be completed in order for your student to purchase their prom tickets.
Link for Social Host Liability Video Here
Link for Survey Here
Vapes
We have seen an increase in students vaping at school and are renewing our efforts to stop it. Students vaping in the bathrooms create an environment where other students don’t want to use bathrooms.
Please do whatever you can to prevent vapes from ending up in your student’s hands and support us in our efforts to curtail vaping at school.
Yearbooks
Students can order the 2025 yearbook! Deadline to order one is March 28, 2025. Use this link to buy yours:
https://www.buytheyearbook.com/en/
Attendance Data
Attendance is absolutely essential for academic success. Ideally, our attendance would be above 95% of students present every day.
Right now we are at around 91.5% for the year. Please make every effort to get your student to school as much as possible.
Attendance over the last 10 school days:
Grade 9: 91.4%
Grade 10: 91.2%
Grade 11: 90%
Grade 12: 88.4% (moving back in the right direction)
Substitute Teachers
LHS has need of a few people with a lot of patience and savviness to help us out as substitute teachers. Please email me if you are interested.
School Schedule next week: Shop Week B
Monday: Day 5
Tuesday: Day 6
Wednesday: Day 7
Thursday: Day 1
Friday: Day 2
Next Week’s Athletic Schedule
https://arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=12673
Reminders:
MCAS Update
The state department of education has published a Frequently Asked Questions page to address the ballot question change to the MCAS. The page can be viewed at https://mcusercontent.com/d8f37d1a90dacd97f207f0b4a/files/8eaaf0b1-29d7-6ec7-18d3-a45618a560e4/DESE_CD_FAQ_updated_12_11_2024.pdf
To summarize, passing the MCAS test is no longer required for students to receive a diploma; instead they must meet the local graduation requirements, which can be found on page 15 in the LHS Student Handbook (https://www.leominsterps.org/schools/leominster-high-school/index).
In compliance with federal law, students will still take the MCAS, but do not need to pass it to graduate. Leominster High School itself will still be evaluated by the state based on MCAS scores. MCAS scores will also be used to determine eligibility for the Adams Scholarship, the Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award, and the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, so there is still significant incentive for students to perform well on MCAS, without facing a negative impact if they do not pass the test.
Transportation
This year we are continuing the use of the First View bus app. This user-friendly tool allows families to monitor school bus routes in real time. The link to instructions can be found on our website and Facebook page. The district code is T7G3. If you have questions or issues with buses, please email transportation@leominsterps.org. School bus routes are on the district website at https://www.leominsterps.org/.
Calling for student absences
If your student is going to be absent please call the school at 978-534-7715. The absence line is option 1.
If you get an auto-call that your student is marked as absent and you think they are at school, don’t panic. Sometimes they accidentally get marked absent (especially with a sub) and sometimes they do cut class. Call the school and we will confirm they are not here.
School Attendance:
It is essential for you to get your student to school as much as possible. I am compelled by law to work to get your student to school as often as possible. Absences are excused by a doctor or dentist’s note, court appearance, college visit, driving license appointment. Vacations are not excused absences.
Student Dismissals
If you need to dismiss your student you can send them to school with a note to bring to the office when they get to school. Your student will receive a pass to be dismissed and can just check out at the office when it is time for them to go. You won’t need to come into the school and it’s much faster than coming in to dismiss your student.
Please have the note state the time you need the student to leave, not the time of the appointment!
Immigration Resources
The District has added a page of resources related to immigration.
Joshua Romano
Principal