Updated: HHS will be dismissed at 12:15 today, 10/31/17

Update 9:40 pm: Final Update

A huge thank you once again to the Holliston Fire Department who not only helped with the safety of our building but who went above and beyond to assist students with retrieving their belongings today. 

Most students were able to collect their backpacks, jackets etc. but for those students whose backpacks are still in the building, the cafeteria will be open at 6:30am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. We are aware that some textbooks and other school items may still be in classrooms and teachers have been notified that students may not have access to all their classroom materials this evening. 

Thank you to the Holliston Police Department, the high school faculty and the students who did a tremendous job today. Once again I am reminded of the incredible teamwork within this community and am so proud of how the students handled themselves today.

Nicole Bottomley, Principal

Update 1:50 pm: Retrieving Student Belongings

A huge thank you to the Holliston Fire Department for helping to retrieve student belongings from the classrooms throughout the building. 

At this point, all students who were not in science classes were able to retrieve their belongings from the cafeteria. 

Throughout the afternoon, several announcements were made for students to let them know that their bags from science classes would be ready at 2:00pm today. These belongings are now ready and available for pickup in the cafeteria. A few water bottles and textbooks may still remain throughout the building and will need to be retrieved tomorrow as only access to the cafeteria is permitted at this time. 

All after school and evening activities have been canceled.

HHS will be dismissed at 12:15 today

After consultation with the Holliston Fire Department and the on-site state HazMat team, we have decided that we will be unable to properly ventilate the school and cleanup the water damage caused by the sprinkler activation before our scheduled school dismissal time.

As a result, all Holliston High School students will be dismissed at 12:15 pm today, Tuesday, October 31st. Fire Department personnel are assisting School personnel to get student belongings removed from classrooms for students to pick up before dismissal.

• Students riding the bus: School buses will be available at12:15 for students who require transportation home. 
• Student drivers: Since fire Department equipment is blocking the front driveway, Students who drive themselves to school will be dismissed a few minutes before 12:15 to allow space for school buses. 
• Parent pickup: Parents picking up students might want towait until 12:30 to pick up their child due to anticipated traffic on Hollis Street.

ALL students will be supervised by School personnel until parent pickup is complete.

Student Feature Friday: Cameron Todd

This week I am pleased to highlight Cameron Todd, one of the talented, innovative and dedicated Panthers Instructional Technology (PIT) Crew members who has worked with PIT Crew since its inception a year and a half ago. Cam is very hard working and always has a smile on his face and a positive attitude. He oversaw the beginning of the Chromebook roll-out and has come in during the last two summers to assist with the distribution of Chromebooks during the 9th grade orientation held at the end of August. For more information on Cam and the PIT Crew check out the "Student Feature Friday" section of the Principal's Blog or on the website.

Thanks,

Nicole Bottomley
Principal
Holliston High School

Student Feature Fridays!

One of the best aspects of working at Holliston High School is the opportunity to interact with so many talented, creative, innovative and amazing students. In order to highlight some of these individuals, we are announcing a new segment called "Student Feature Fridays."

Our first featured student is Melanie Galeaz, a hard working and creative senior. Melanie recently presented a project to the faculty during the October Faculty Meeting. The project was one that she completed in her Stress Management course and had the theme of Hope. For more information please see the Student Feature Friday section of the Principal's Blog.

--Ms. Bottomley

2018 National Merit Semifinalists

Holliston High School has two senior students who are Semifinalists in the 2018 National Merit® Scholarship Program - an annual program in its 63rd year. 

Kelly Irons and Timothy Strang qualified for the prestigious honor by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of junior year and receiving eligible scores. 

Approximately 16,000 students in the United States move on to become Semifinalists which represents less than 1% graduating high school seniors. Tim and Kelly will now compete for the Merit Scholar® title and scholarship money from scholarship awarded through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

MWAHS Survey Results

The results of the MetroWest Adolescent Health Surveys of Holliston High School and Adams Middle School were recently published.

"The 2016 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (MWAHS) marks the beginning of a new decade in monitoring trends in adolescent health behaviors to advance school and community prevention efforts. Since 2006, the MWAHS has been administered every other year in communities served b the MetroWest Health Foundation, with the goal of supporting data-driven improvements in health programs and policies at the local and regional level."
--from the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey results

>> Holliston High School results

>> Adams Middle School results

Open House - Wednesday September 27th, 2017

Wednesday, September 27th is the first semester Open House at Holliston High School. This email serves as general reminder for families, as well as, more specific information for families who may not have attended an open house before this year. The evening will begin at 6:30pm in the auditorium with brief, opening remarks from the Principal. During this meeting there is information about expectations for the school and various ways that students and families can involve themselves in all that HHS has to offer. The meeting will conclude a few minutes before 7:00pm to give everyone time to find their first block class. Students will receive blank copies of the open house schedule in their first block class next Tuesday morning, September 26th, to fill out and bring home to parents/guardians. If your student forgets to bring the schedule home, please come to the main office at the start of the evening and we can print another copy of the schedule.

Our schedule for the evening will follow an "A" day: A, B, C, D. We will not have parents/guardians attend DSB (Directed Study Block) or Advisory. Each class will last 12 minutes, with a 5 minute passing time in between. There will be several, friendly students working as guides throughout the building to help everyone find their way. During the class time, educators will go over their classroom expectations, different learning activities throughout the course, and how to contact them to discuss a student's progress. This night tends to move very quickly so if additional discussions regarding individual students are desired, educators will schedule time independent of Open House to meet with parents/guardians.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

>> Blank Schedules for Open House Night

PSAT and Pre-ACT Registration

There have been changes made to the standardized practice testing here in Holliston. In prior years, HHS has offered the PSAT to both 10th and 11th graders, however, the number of students taking the ACT is on the rise and we wanted to offer students an opportunity to try the ACT. Contrary to widespread belief, both the ACT and SAT are accepted by ALL colleges and universities. Students have 2 options and we wanted to ensure that our students have the best opportunity to test well and in offering the Pre-ACT and the PSAT, we increase the student's ability to make a more informed decision now instead of when the testing starts to count and costs much more! 

The Pre-ACT will be offered to all 10th graders on Saturday, October 14, 2017. 

Any 11th graders interested in taking the Pre-ACT instead of the PSAT will go on a waitlist as the number of tests allows. 11th graders interested in being added to the waitlist for the Pre-ACT should complete the Pre-ACT registration online form. 11th graders interested in being added to the waitlist for the Pre-ACT, but interested in taking the PSAT if Pre-ACT tests end up not being available, should complete BOTH registration forms. 

LINK to REGISTER: https://goo.gl/forms/mffYzzPge2tG8LzR2

The PSAT will be offered to all 11th graders on Saturday October 14th, 2017. 

It is recommended that juniors take the PSAT as the test results in junior year are officially entered into the National Merit Scholarship program. 

If any 10th graders are interested in taking the PSAT instead of the Pre-ACT, their names will be added to a waitlist as the number of tests allows. 10th graders interested in being added to the waitlist for the PSAT should complete the PSAT registration online form.  10th graders interested in being added to the waitlist for the PSAT, but interested in taking the Pre-ACT if PSAT tests end up not being available, should complete BOTH registration forms. 

LINK to REGISTER: https://goo.gl/forms/OXhuPZdCidrhL58h2

The regular registration and payment deadline is SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

Cost: $30

The late registration and payment deadline is OCTOBER 2, 2017

Cost: $45

Payment is by check made payable to the Town of Holliston. 

Questions? Please contact Dominique Ross at rossd@holliston.k12.ma.us