January 11, 2001

Dear Parents, Students, Faculty, Staff and Interested Others:

The return from our holiday vacation found everyone rested, renewed and ready to begin again. With the end of the first semester in sight, there are many events, both academic and extracurricular, that will fill our winter days and nights.

All high students will be involved with semester exams from January 16th through the 19th. The exam schedule provides for 2- 90-minute exams Tuesday through Thursday and the last one on Friday. The term officially closes on Monday, January 22. Report cards will be issued at the end of the day on Friday, January 26. During these next two weeks, it is important that all uncompleted work be finished and returned according to the teacher's policy. Incomplete, as a term grade, will not be issued unless extenuating circumstances exist of which the administration is aware.

The second Parent/Teacher Conference night will be held on January 31 from 6:30 to 8:30. The format will be the same as before, with teachers seeing parents on a first come first serve basis. I have encouraged teachers to limit these conferences to 5-10 minutes in order to provide all parents the opportunity to meet with teachers. If anyone feels that more time is necessary, please feel free to make an appointment at another time convenient to both. An appointment can be made at any time by calling the school (876-0117) or using the teacher's e-mail (example: mshimkus@bmrsd.net).

As quickly as we close the first semester and begin the second, it is also time to begin to think further to the future and the 2001-2002 school year. As seniors are busy finishing college applications, so too should they be searching for scholarship and other financial aid information. The spring is also the best time for juniors to begin the college selection process. The guidance office is the best place to start both of these efforts. MCAS is not far from our minds either. Sophomores will be engaged in this important test in April and May. Finally, our new course catalogue will be ready for distribution in March. The course selection process will begin immediately thereafter.

On a final note - In the event of school cancellation or delayed opening, the following TV and radio stations are notified as soon as the decision is made but no later than 6:00 a.m.: TV Channels 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 25 and local cable Radio stations WMRC 1490 AM, WXLO 104.5 FM, WBZ 1030 AM, WSRS 96.1 FM, WTAG 580 AM, WNRI 1380 AM, WOON 1240 AM and WPRO 630 AM.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Shimkus, Principal