Student Rob James of Dedham Honored by American Heart Association

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Blue Hills Regional Technical School

800 Randolph Street, Canton, MA

02021

VOLUME 17VOLUME 17VOLUME 17VOLUME 17

ISSUE 2ISSUE 2ISSUE 2ISSUE 2

Parents’ Pages

By Judy Bass

A host of distinguished people honored stu-

dent Robert James of Dedham, a junior

studying Health Assisting, for saving a

woman’s life using his CPR skills.

James was awarded the Heartsaver Hero

Award by the American Heart / American

Stroke Association (AHA) for his coura-

geous and effective actions.

James, who works part-time at Transitions

of Dedham, an assisted living facility, was in

the kitchen when one of his co-workers sud-

denly collapsed to the floor, clearly in serious

physical distress. He immediately started

performing CPR on her until emergency medi-

cal help arrived. Today, she is alive and well,

thanks in large measure to James’ expert

ministrations and quick thinking.

At the ceremony, which was filmed by Fox 25

and WBZ-TV News and held in one of the

school’s Health Assisting classrooms with his 11th grade Health Assisting classmates looking on, were many dignitaries, adminis-

trators and staff from Blue Hills, as well as representatives of the AHA. Also in attendance were James’ proud parents, Bill and

Janice., plus Health Assisting instructors Susan Baker, David Tapper, and Deborah Noe (Brenda Neret was not present).

In addition to being honored with a handsome plaque from the AHA by Senior Government Relations Director Allyson Perron, James

was given citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate from State Rep.

William Galvin (D-Canton) and State Senator Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury), respectively. Both praised him warmly as James sat

beaming in the audience flanked by his parents.

Perron also presented Blue Hills Regional Superintendent James P. Quaglia with a plaque to recognize the school for teaching CPR.

Left to right: Allyson Perron, Senior Government Relations Director, American Heart / Stroke Assn.; State Rep. William Galvin; student Rob James; State Senator Michael Rush; Blue Hills

Supt. James Quaglia. Photo by Judy Bass.

Page 2 Parents’ PagesParents’ PagesParents’ PagesParents’ Pages

Parents’ Pages

BHR District School Committee Members:

Francis J. Fistori……….……..……...Avon

Germano John Silveira……........Braintree

Aidan G. Maguire, Jr., Vice Chair..Canton

Joseph A. Pascarella, Chmn…....Dedham

Robert A. McNeil...……….…......Holbrook

Festus Joyce…………..……….……Milton

Kevin L. Connolly………..……....Norwood

Marybeth Nearen………..….…...Randolph

Charles W. Flahive, Sec…….....Westwood

James P. Quaglia

Superintendent-Director

Michael J. Barrett

Assistant Superintendent-Principal

Judy Bass

Editor

**Reminder to Seniors!** With Graduation quickly approach-ing, please be aware that all seniors must take care of any and all fees that are due, find lost books, and resolve any outstanding matters of this nature. We want to ensure that things run smoothly for every-

one before this special day.

See Mrs. Pica in Student Affairs with any questions. Thank you for

your attention.

BHR Hockey’s Edwards Brothers Are True Aces on Ice -

Josh Gets 200th Career Point, Nick Gets His150th

By Judy Bass

Brothers Josh and Nick Edwards of Avon each recently attained major

milestones in their hockey-playing careers for Blue Hills, making them

true aces on ice.

Josh, a senior forward and team captain, and his younger brother, Nick,

a junior forward and assistant captain, both achieved remarkable ca-

reer scoring levels within days of each other that prove their talent,

dedication, passion for excelling at the sport, and desire to represent

Blue Hills on the boys’ hockey team to the best of their ability all the

time.

On January 16 in a game against Nantucket at the Canton Metropolis

Rink, Josh reached the 200-point career mark. Just five days later, on

January 21, playing against North Attleboro, Nick hit 150 career

points.

As if that weren’t notable enough, the assist for Josh’s marquee goal

came from Nick.

Blue Hills Athletic Director Ed Catabia expressed the esteem that

many at the school have for both boys. “Josh and Nick are team-

oriented individuals who enjoy the completion and competitiveness and

they strive to make the team successful,” said Catabia. “Nick, a stu-

dent in the Metal Fabrication department and Josh, a student in the

Auto Collision Repair Department, are well-respected by their instruc-

tors and the Administration throughout the Blue Hills family.”

Brothers Nick (left) and Josh

Edwards recently notched

impressive milestones for the

BHR hockey team and them-

selves. Photo courtesy Ann

Edwards.

Page 3 VOLUME 17VOLUME 17VOLUME 17VOLUME 17

SCHOOL CALENDAR MARCH 1 MCAS Retest ELA RDG Comp.

4 –5 MCAS Retest Math

8 No School (Prof. Development Day)

15 Progress Reports Issued

19 MCAS ELA & RDG Comp., Sr. late

arrival, 11:55 am

21—22 MCAS ELA & RDG Comp., Sr.

late arrival, 11:55 am

28 MCAS ELA Comp.—Make-up

29 No School—Good Friday

APRIL 5 Third term ends

15 Patriots Day (Staff)

15-19 No School-Spring Vacation

22 School re-opens

22 Report cards issued

24 In-Service (10:40 am student

arrival)

A Message from Asst. Supt. / Principal Michael J. Barrett

Now that the worst of winter is hopefully behind us, we look forward to the Spring, an exciting time with many events for Blue Hills students. They will be showcasing their technical abilities, receiving honors for outstanding scholar-ship, and reaping the attention they truly deserve for their accomplishments. I would like to spotlight a few of those upcoming events below:

SkillsUSA District Conference: March 8, 2013 at Greater New Bedford Re-gional Vocational Technical High School

There are 90 students registered for the SkillsUSA District Competition, comprised of an even mixture of sophomores, juniors and seniors. The compe-tition will be held at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Students who place in the Gold and Silver categories will move on to the State Competition on April 25-27. There will also be some additional occu-pationally-related competition that other students will be eligible to partici-pate in for the State Conference.

Activities like these are great for our students because they demonstrate their technical competence, develop their confidence, meet students from other schools and communities with similar interests and aptitudes, and proudly represent themselves and Blue Hills. We take pride in their achieve-ments and congratulate them and their faculty advisor, Mr. Robert Foley.

Scholarship, Awards and Recognition Ceremony: May 22, 2013 at 7 pm

This special evening is devoted to honoring seniors who have distinguished themselves both in the classroom and on the athletic field. Dozens of awards and scholarships are given out by many generous organizations and individuals who help us celebrate these exceptional young people as they conclude their four years at Blue Hills. Along with Graduation, it is always one of the most memorable and well-attended occasions of the entire school year. Our Guid-ance Counselors Mrs. Sarah Titus, Mrs. Sarah England, and Mr. John-Henry Davis, always do a fantastic job of organizing and hosting this event.

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony: March 27, 2013 at 6 pm

Students inducted into the William A. Dwyer Chapter of the National Honor Society at Blue Hills have clearly shown that they have the four qualifying characteristics required for membership: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. They represent the very best of what Blue Hills is all about. The annual induction ceremony, filled with solemn rituals and heartfelt words, is a real treat to witness. We thank these students and their faculty advisor, Mrs. Rebecca Ray.

These are just some of the important highlights of what we have coming up in the next few months. I look forward to welcoming parents, guardians and family members to Blue Hills so we can join in celebrating the milestones achieved by these students. On behalf of the Blue Hills Administration, I con-gratulate them, their families and their teachers for a job well-done!

NOTICE: All seniors attending the Dominican Republic trip in April must turn in copies of

passports, behavior contract, waiver and medical history by

February 28, 2013.

PAGE 4 Parents’ PagesParents’ PagesParents’ PagesParents’ Pages

LEA MURPHY OF RANDOLPH, PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM HONORS GRAD FROM BLUE HILLS, FINDS SUCCESS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD

By Judy Bass

Like so many people working for one company for many years, Lea Murphy never expected to be laid off, but unfortunately, that fate befell her two and a half years ago. That reversal would actually prove to be a boon, eventually landing her in the Practical Nursing program at Blue Hills , a move she credits for the abundant professional success she enjoys today.

Murphy, 55, a married mother of two (her son, Nick, is a Blue Hills junior studying Electrical), was a medical underwriter at the same com-pany for nearly three decades. When she got her pink slip in October 2010, she says that she never saw it coming. Reeling, Murphy quickly gathered herself and began to chart a whole new course.

She went to the American Red Cross and earned her credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant to become a nurse’s aide. (Murphy had had previous jobs in the medical field, and her aunt and sister were both nurses.) Nevertheless, she sought a higher-level position, so while still on unemployment, she happened upon the Blue Hills web site and saw the information there on their Practical Nursing program, a 10-month full-time daytime program for adults that has an outstanding reputation for producing superbly-trained men and women ready for jobs in the healthcare field.

The Blue Hills program had many features that appealed to Murphy. She could commute there every day with her son; she was aware of the remarkable caliber of nurses who graduated from the program; and she also heard about the Practical Nursing teachers and their dedication to every student.

“I do love those ladies,” she gushed. “They work with you so you can get through it,” Murphy remarked, noting the difficulty of the pro-gram, the large amount of challenging material it covers in a relatively brief time, and the rigors of a career in nursing.

She mentioned the instructors’ knack for translating intricate medical or anatomical concepts into language that is easily understood, such as likening human cells, with all their intricate functions , to a factory. Murphy praised the way the program helped her dust off her long-unused study skills as well.

Murphy graduated in June 2012 with honors, earning the Blue Hills Alumni Award for her dedication, motivation and unflagging support of her classmates.

“Lea was a mature, caring, bright and motivated student who was a pleasure to have in class,” said Maureen McCann, MS, RN, Chairper-son of Blue Hills’ Practical Nursing program. “Her progress in our program was built on her many life experiences as she acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes to enter nursing and continue on to a Registered Nursing program.”

Today, she is excited about working on her RN credentials at Massasoit Community College and she is a nurse at Brockton Area Multi-

Services, Inc. (BAMSI) in Hanson, a human services organization that offers HIV programs, brain injury services, mental health programs, and more at various sites.

Murphy realizes the challenge in store for those who take the Practical Nursing program and must work at the same time (she was not in that situation.) Still, she philosophically said, “If you want this [opportunity], you make it work.” As for the program, Murphy is emphatic in her gratitude and admiration: “I couldn’t say enough good things about it.”

The Practical Nursing Program at Blue Hills Regional (Postsecondary Programs Division) offers a rigorous educational experience of the-

ory and clinical practice which will prepare graduates to take the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurs-

ing) through the State Board of Registration in Nursing. The faculty provides an exceptional learning environment and the support ser-

vices needed to help students succeed. For more information on the program, such as Admissions and Tuition, visit www.bluehills.org

and click on the Practical Nursing tab on the home page.

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BLUE HILLS LEADS THE WAY IN NEW 21ST-CENTURY TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS!

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM GETS AMAZING STATE-OF-THE-ART 3D PRINTER

In his State of the Union message on Feb. 12, President Obama said that 3D

printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make nearly everything. In keeping with the American spirit of innovation, the Engineering Technology program recently purchased an impressive state-of-the-art 3D printer. This high-tech wonder was first used by Dr. Michael Meyers while teaching a gradu-ate course at the University of Missouri - Science and Technology last sum-mer.

The printer not only prints usable plastics parts, but is capable of producing complex assembly systems. Engineering drawings actually "come alive" in the printer when part assemblies are produced to be able to move. Think of a ro-botic gripper, a ball-bearing assembly or a sensor-positioned device ready to

mount on projects directly from the printer... It’s a really exciting manifestation of 21st-century technology that will greatly enhance the students’ experience in Engineering and BHR’s burgeoning Robotics program. (Photo by Dr. Michael Meyers.)

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GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS HAS NEW DIGITAL PRINTING PRESS THAT TRULY DOES IT ALL

The Graphic Communications program has recently acquired a bizhub C7000 from Konica Minolta. This state-of-the-art digital printing press is the industry standard for short-run color printing, said Lead Teacher Dan Jordan. BHR is the first high school in Massachusetts to get one of these extraordinary machines., which was purchased through Perkins Grant fund-ing.

Not only will it enhance the training that our students receive, but it also will make it easier for the staff to do sophisticated printing projects in-house. We can meet the printing needs of our member towns more effi-ciently as well.

(Photo by Judy Bass.)

Your business tag line here.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Adopt-a-Shop, make your check payable to The Blue Hills Foundation. Send it to The Blue Hills Foundation, 800

Randolph Street, Canton, MA 02021. All donations are tax-deductible. Adopt-a-Shop is a program that provides funding for tools and equipment for the students of Blue Hills. Any contribution, be it large or small, is very welcome and greatly appreciated.

Visit www.Adopt-a-Shop.com to learn about it. Thanks to all!

Girls’ Basketball Team is on a Sizzling Winning Streak!

“To say that the Blue Hills girls’ basketball team is hav-ing a good year so far would be an understatement,” wrote a sports reporter in the Patriot Ledger. The la-

dies truly have been on a thrill-ing winning tear. On Feb. 13, our squad beat Bristol Ply-mouth to finish the season at 17-0, making the Lady Warri-ors Mayflower Athletic Con-ference champions for the sec-ond straight year. They go on to the State Vocational Tour-nament, followed by the MIAA

Tournament. “This team is a very, very unselfish team,” said Coach Tom McGrath. “Ten girls with one mantra: We, Not Me.” Congratulations to all and good luck!!!

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In Other BHR Sports News…

Congratulations to Bryanna Eklund ’14 of Hol-brook and Meg Delaporta ’14 of Canton, both of whom are in Health Assisting, for admirably representing themselves and our school at the

27th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day at Faneuil Hall in Boston on Feb. 1.

**********

Vincent Burton ‘13 of Randolph has been cho-sen to play in the 35th Annual Shriners All-Star Football Classic on June 22, 2013 at Bentley University in Waltham. He is only the 5th BHR football player to ever get selected.

BHR Early Education Center Now Enrolling for Sept. 2013

The Early Education Center at Blue Hills Regional is now accepting registra-tions for September enroll-ment. The Center offers a high quality, model pre-school program Tuesday-Friday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for children ages 2

years 9 months to kindergarten. This is a state-approved teacher training program with affordable tuition. Please call: 781-828-5800 x 295 or email ecoutu@bluehills.org or go to www.bluehills.org for more information or to schedule a visit.

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Semi-Formal Dance Will Be Held on March 8

The Semi-Formal Dance will be held on Friday,

March 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 25 Teed Drive in Randolph

from 7 to 11 pm.

Tickets cost $10 until February 8, $15 until March 8, and $18 at the door. Students can purchase them

during lunch.

**PLEASE NOTE: The theme is a Masquerade.**