Weekly News and Notes, May 28

Here are a few updates from UHS this week:

Learning Opportunity

The Pre-Employment Training Program, more commonly known as Pre-ETS, is available to assist high school students 14 and older with disabilities to gain independence and job-readiness skills. The service is offered during the summer as well as for the upcoming school year to help prepare students for life after high school. 

This program is FREE and is accepting applications for both summer and fall sessions.

The program consists of 5 components:

• Self-Advocacy and Mentoring - Exploring Strengths and Weaknesses, Problem Solving Skills, Decision-making Skills, Goal-setting and achievement
• Job Exploration Counseling- Interest Surveys,  Assessments, Job Site Tours, and Job Applications
• Work Based Readiness- Resume and Cover Letters, Mock Interviewing, Social Skills, and Work Ethics
• Work Based Learning - Internships and Job Shadows, Informational Interviews
• Post-Secondary Education and Vocational Training - Direction in Paying for College, Disability Office services, college applications 

For more information and to sign up, please contact:

Suzanne Crosby- Supervisor of the Transitional and Community Services program at HMEA

Cell- 508-735-0463 (Call or text)

Email- scrosby@hmea.org

Free College Course Credit

Passion to Learn is a new, FREE opportunity for high school students (in Massachusetts only) to take open, multidisciplinary courses designed and facilitated by strong, innovative educators from across the state. Thanks to our partnership with UMass-Boston, we offer college credit to enrolled students.

Our two blended courses are focused on real-world, problem-based learning, blending civics engagement with core content-area learning in math or humanities.  In addition, we offer a complementary module focused on advocacy through social media.

We are in the process of finalizing the course descriptions and schedules for formal enrollment in early June. Courses will run from July 19 - August 20th. The courses will be virtual and the credit-bearing courses will include a blend of scheduled meetings and independent learning time. Students will need access to an internet-connected computer or device in order to participate. If you need help securing any of these items, let us know in the last field below.

Students who complete this interest form will be the first to receive more information and have the opportunity to register! We will be in touch very soon with more information about specific course descriptions, information on college credits, and registration forms.

The interest form can be submitted here: www.bit.ly/FREECollegeCred

Grade 9 MCAS

The grade 8 students finished MCAS this week, and our grade 9 students will be taking the science MCAS on Tuesday and Wednesday. For most of our students, this is the test in physics, and it will be counted toward graduation. Students who are unsuccessful with the physics MCAS have the opportunity to test in biology as sophomores, but our recent history has been excellent with respect to the test.

Graduation

We will be celebrating our Class of 2021 next week, with our Awards Night on Wednesday, Senior Parade on Friday, and graduation itself on Saturday. We remind those who plan on attending that no high heels are permitted on the turf or on the track! That includes our graduates.

School Council

We are hoping to have a couple of individuals join our School Council for next year. Our School Council establishes and supports school improvement goals, is responsible for approving Student Handbook changes, and helps with providing feedback that drives opportunities for our school. The group meets monthly. We would love to have student and parent involvement from our Classes of 2026 (incoming grade 8) and 2025 (rising grade 9). If interested, email or call Mr. Rubin.

Finally, as we reflect on this Memorial Day, we hope everyone takes a moment to pause and consider the many sacrifices made, both in recent and distant history, so that we can enjoy so many freedoms and that our way of life can be protected. Indeed, as we emerge from the pandemic and return to a more normal way of life, we hope that these freedoms - some of which have been compromised by an invisible enemy - are never taken for granted, nor are those who protect them.

There will not be a weekly updated shared next week. Have a great weekend.