Student Feature Friday: Andrew Balestieri

This week’s Student Feature Friday is senior Andrew Balestieri. Andrew began to discover his love of comedy when he had to dress as the profession he wanted to be at the 6th grade career day. He attended school that day as a comedian and realized he could make people happy through laughter. He further developed his skills of comedy, acting and performance when he became involved in the after school theatre program. His interest in performing was solidified when he had a leading role in Legally Blond and “sang his heart out”, only to receive a roaring response from the audience. When Andrew was asked about his passion, he stated that “if he had been asked two months ago he would have said comedy, but now he believes his passion to be making people happy with performance in general.” For more information about Andrew, please visit the Student Feature Friday section of the Principal's Blog.

8th Grade Orientation Night Presentation Posted

The 2018 8th Grade Program of Studies Night was held on March 14, 2018. In case you need more information, we have provided a link to the presentation. As always, please contact us with any questions.

>> 2018 8th Grade Program of Studies Night presentation

HHS Students Win Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Congratulations to the HHS students who won awards in the 2018 National Scholastic Art & Writing contest!

National Awards

• Juliette Plante: two Gold Medals for sculpture and a Silver Medal for art portfolio

Regional Awards

• Kelsey Logan: Gold Key for writing
• Juliette Plante: six Gold Keys and an Honorable Mention for art, and one Silver key for writing

HHS Students Building a Tiny House!

HHS students are working on building a tiny house!

Work on the house teaches life skills such as home maintenance, problem solving, and professionalism, while touching upon many parts of the curriculum from woodshop to physics to art.

According to student Timothy Strang,

"The Tiny House Project is a school-wide, student-powered effort to design, construct, and sell a fully functional tiny home right out of the high school workshop. The idea goes that the project will be an annual event, offering each generation of students a unique opportunity at hands-on learning that will be applicable and relevant when they complete their education and enter the real world. Hopefully, in tiny homes to come, the previous year’s sale will fund the expenses of the next project, but in order to establish this cycle the first iteration will be entirely dependent upon community donations."

If you would like to donate, or if you’re just curious to see the progress as it comes together, check out the official Holliston Tiny Home website here: https://sites.google.com/holliston.k12.ma.us/tinyhouseholliston/home

Upcoming Transition Fairs

March 29, 2018 - Personal Pathways for Career Success


7:00-8:30pm Natick High School Cafeteria
Hosted in Collaboration by Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Wellesley Public Schools

Students and families are invited to learn about a variety of postsecondary options beyond typical 4 year colleges. There are a variety of opportunities and this can be difficult to navigate. A student's transition to adulthood is individually
based on interests, preferences, aptitudes and skills - there is no one size fits all!

Participants may include the following post-graduate programming

• College Associate and Certificate Programs
• Labor Union Apprenticeships
• Vocational and Training Programs 
• Gap Year Options
• Military Culinary
• Cosmetology
• Massage Therapy Schools
• Automotive and Technical Schools 

April 5, 2018 - Metrowest Regional Transition Fair


6:30 - 8:30PM Natick High School Cafateria
Hosted in collaboration with: Natick, Holliston, Hopkinton, Wayland and Needham Public Schools, MWCIL, MWRTA, DDS, MRC, DMH, MCB, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation, and ACCEPT Collaborative

Providing information for students, their families and professionals on resources within the local community.
Featuring local resources in the areas of :

• State agencies
• Social/Recreation
• Mental Health
• Housing
• Transportation
• Camps/Clubs
• Community Resources
• Employment

Attend a break out session and hear from
speakers on the topics of:

• Mental Health
• Lessons Learned from Parents
• Peer Panel​​

For more information or to register
please visit:
https://sites.google.com/natickps.org/metrowestregionaltransitionfai/home
Or contact Kathryn Seyfarth
kseyfarth@natickps.org

Student Feature Friday: Madeline Cerulli

This week’s Student Feature Friday is junior Madeline (Maddie) Cerulli. Maddie is an active participant in Best Buddies and is currently the Best Buddies chapter president, a responsibility she takes very seriously. She helps to match Buddies, looking for common interests that will develop into strong, dedicated 1:1 friendships. She also organizes events for the group including a basketball clinic with the Holliston Boys Basketball team, bowling events, and trips to the aquarium. This month the group is planning several events surrounding the “spread the word to end the word” international movement, focused on ending the use of the “r” word, instead choosing “respect” and acting respectful without judgment. Maddie is truly a caring a remarkable person who is leading by example. For more information about Maddie Cerulli and her work with Best Buddies, please visit the Student Feature Friday section of the Principal's blog.

HHS Students at All-State Chorus

Congrats to HHS students Sarah Kennedy, Renee Torio, and Samantha Paquette for representing Holliston high school at the 2018 Massachusetts all-state music festival. The three girls were all in the all-state chorus, which rehearsed in Boston at the World Trade Center March 1 and 2, and performed in the concert at Symphony Hall on Saturday, March 3.