Author: Janice Erler

Partners make a difference!

Each year, the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership celebrates and thanks its community business partners for their dedication, generosity and support at the annual Partnership Recognition Breakfast, which was held on March 28, 2019 at the Tirrell Room, Quincy. Mayor Thomas P. Koch opened the program with his words of thanks to the business community. This year, the 2019 Partnership Recognitions went to five extraordinary partners: The Tirrell Room, State Street Foundation, National Fire Protection Association, South Shore YMCA and Quirk Auto Dealers.

A Tradition of Caring, Sharing and Serving!

Quincy Public Schools is grateful and proud of the elementary, middle and high school staff and students for their countless acts of kindness that take place each and every day, in each and every school. Community service empowers students to address the needs of the community and bring about change. Students work in leadership roles with their teachers and local agencies, while sharing the common goal of building a better tomorrow.

The 22nd Annual Community Service Learning Celebration was held on May 30, 2019 at the Tirrell Room, Quincy. Each year, this event acknowledges and celebrates Community Service Learning throughout Quincy Public Schools. Two hundred and twenty-five staff and students attended the event. Special thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, for sponsoring this event!

“Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever walk with ten cats
on your head?”

Special thanks to National Fire Protection Association, a Platinum level sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, for celebrating Read Across America ~ Dr. Seuss Birthday with the Kindergarten and Grade 1 students at Lincoln Hancock Elementary School. NFPA employees were transported to and from the school in a QPS School Bus, where they visited classrooms, read to students and presented each student with a book that was theirs to keep!

A special shout out also goes to Bank of Canton, a Gold level sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, whose employees visited the Beechwood Knoll Elementary School to read to second grade students. Employees donated the books to the classrooms.

Thank you National Fire Protection Association and Bank of Canton! A great time was had by all!

Congratulations Maggie Zheng!

Thank you Quincy Credit Union, Wessling Architects, Callahan Construction, Boston Scientific, South Shore YMCA, Quincy Mutual Group, and MassHire South Shore Workforce Board for selecting the CVTE Vocational Student of the Year!

Good Credit, Budgeting and Money Management are Important!

The 11th annual Credit for Life Fair was held on March 21, 2019 at the Tirrell Room, Quincy. Approximately 20012th grade students from both North Quincy High School and Quincy High School were in attendance to learnabout financial responsibility and budget management. The goal of the Credit for Life Fair is to provide studentswith a better understanding of:

• Decisions impacting their spending,
• Skills to be financially wise, and
• The importance of good credit, budgeting and money management.

The Credit for Life Fair is a tremendous success thanks to the generous donationsfrom our local business community as well as their donation of time on the day of theevent. Special thanks to the following community partners who participated!

Quincy Credit Union, Bank of Canton, David Donaghue Insurance,Quirk Auto Dealers, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Colonial SavingsBank, Quincy College, Baystate Financial, Century 21 AbigailAdams, AXA Equitable, Coast to Home, South Shore YMCA,MountainOne Bank, South Shore Bank, TD Bank, Coastal HeritageBank, State Street, Quincy Rotary, Eastern Bank, Morganthaler,Century Bank, Caryn’s Corner, Hajjars, MassHire South ShoreCareer Center, and MassHire Workforce Development Board

Succeeding in the Classroom and on the Field!

The annual Student Athlete Summit, which provides students the opportunity to participate in workshops that directly affect them, was held on Friday, June 7 at the Tirrell Room, Quincy. Interactive workshops included Sports Injury Prevention and Management, Concussion Awareness, Nutrition and Team Leadership. One hundred grade 11 student athletes from both North Quincy High School and Quincy High School attended.

Special thanks to the South Shore YMCA for sponsoring the event. The YMCA is a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership and a leading community business partner. Also participating in the event was Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, a Silver Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, as well as Quincy Public Schools Health Service and Food Service Departments.

“You’re a Grand Old Flag!”

The annual Quincy Public Schools Flag Day Celebration was held on June 14, 2019 at Clifford Marshall Elementary School. Students participated in a schoolwide assembly where they sang patriotic songs and learned about the meaning of Flag Day. Each student was presented a flag of their own, thanks to the generosity of the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE).

Special thanks to the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), a Platinum Level sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, for also purchasing giant American flags to hang proudly on the flagpole outside of each Quincy Public Schools building!

Meet a Leader! Be a Leader!

Quincy Public Schools Annual Fifth Grade Student Council Leadership Summit was held on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at the Tirrell Room, Quincy. Approximately 65 Fifth Grade Student Council Leaders, representing each school, participated in this exciting event. The South Shore YMCA, a Platinum level sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, led a series of engaging and challenging leadership activities including Communication, Leading by Example and Decision Making. Students participated in each activity. North Quincy and Quincy High School Senior Class Officers assisted the YMCA staff throughout the morning.

Thank you to community leaders Mayor Thomas P. Koch and Ms. Jill Amato, Senior Vice President of MountainOne Bank, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, for speaking to the students about what it means to be a leader.

Members of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership from left to right:  Steve Wessling, Wessling Architects; Lauren Pedretti, Quincy Credit Union; Mary Kate Paris, South Shore Workforce Development Board; Phil Gay, South Shore YMCA; Phil Dinan, Callahan Construction; Brian Cadogan, Quincy Mutual Group; Jennifer Buchannan, Boston Scientific; Rebecca McInnis, Quincy High School CVTE Department Chair, and Keith Segalla, Executive Director of Career Vocational Technical Education

Special thanks to members of the  Quincy School ~ Community Partnership who volunteered their expertise, knowledge and time to interview and select the Quincy Public Schools 2018-2019 Outstanding Career Vocational Technical Education Student-of-the-Year.  Ten students from both North Quincy High School and Quincy High School, nominated by their vocational teachers, were asked about their career majors, skills learned, credentials earned, community service and school contributions, team work, post-graduation plans and why they should be selected as the Outstanding Career Vocational Technical Student-of-the-Year.  Students also had to share and describe a project pertaining to their major.  The Outstanding Career Vocational Technical Education Student-of-the-Year and their family is invited to attend an awards ceremony in Mechanics Hall, Worcester on April 11, 2019.

Congratulations to Maggie Zheng, a Quincy High School Health Care Technology student, for being selected Quincy’s 33rd Outstanding Vocational and Technical Education Student-of-the-Year.

The 2018-2019 school year kicked off with the delivery of 4,200 backpacks to the Quincy Public Schools, thanks to the generosity of our community business partners! The annual Backpack and School Supply Distribution event was held at Atherton Hough Elementary School, Clifford Marshall Elementary School, Lincoln Hancock Elementary School, Montclair Elementary School, Parker Elementary School and Snug Harbor Elementary School. On hand to distribute backpacks was Superintendent Richard DeCristofaro, School Committee members Paul Bregoli and Kathryn Hubley, Principals, Assistant Principals and members of the business community who sponsored the backpack initiative. Special thanks to NAGE and WB Mason (Atherton Hough backpack sponsors), Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Cradles to Crayons (Montclair and Lincoln Hancock backpack sponsors), Quincy Credit Union and Brewster Ambulance (Clifford Marshall backpack sponsors), Mass Bay Credit Union (Parker backpack sponsor) and Granite Telecommunications (Snug Harbor backpack sponsor)! Partners make it possible!

Quincy Public Schools welcomed 45 new professional staff members in September 2018, who participated in a two day New Professional Staff Orientation. The Orientation provided staff the opportunity to learn about such topics as Quincy Public Schools Expectations, Responsibilities of Professional Staff, Student Records Confidentiality, the Educator Evaluation Process, and Safety and Security. Members of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team introduced new staff to the many Academic and Student Support Teams. Special thanks to members of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership who sponsored both breakfast and lunch to the new professional staff as well as presenters/speakers during the Orientation. Those members are Baystate Financial Services, Montilio’s Bakery, Quincy Education Association, and Quincy Credit Union. Partners make it possible!

47 Swimmers!

Parker School second grade students are participating in Swim Safe, a pilot program being offered by the South Shore YMCA, which stresses safety around water. The goals of the program include Having Fun, Being Confident, and Staying Safe. Students attend the program, which is held at the YMCA pool, once a week for six weeks. Certified lifeguards are the program instructors. Transportation is provided by Quincy Public Schools. Special thanks to the South Shore YMCA, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership for its continued support of Quincy Public Schools students! Partners make it possible!

This fall, 191 mini-grant proposals, written by 221 teachers, were submitted for a piece of $37,000.00 in mini-grant funding. Grant categories included The George G. Burke Teacher Team Grants, The David Ezickson Excellence in Education Grants, and the Quincy School Community Partnership Grants. Grants were read and scored and 100 were selected for funding. Mini-grant funds were used to purchase such things as a Document Camera, a kidney shaped marker board for small group instruction, 6 Soil Quality Testing Kits, a Breakout EDU Class Bundle Kit, iPads, flexible seating including Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball, Active Classroom Desk Seating with Stay-Put Stability Legs, and Wobble Cushions, LittleBits Code Kit and LittleBits Invention Kit for Science Instruction and Math Toolkits 4 Success. Grant funds were handed out by Quincy School ~ Community Partners at the annual Teacher Mini-Grant Reception held at the Neighborhood Club on November 1, 2018. Special thanks to the following partners who participated in the reception: George Burke, Callahan Construction, Brewster Ambulance, Baystate Financial, Quincy Credit Union, Wessling Architects, Granite Telecommunications, NAGE, MountainOne Bank, Quincy Mutual Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Quincy Education Association, Quirk Auto Dealers, Boston Scientific and Quincy Retired Teachers Association. Partners make it possible!

Donors Choose is an exciting online charity that “connects the public to public schools” and “makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom.” This program has assisted many Quincy Public Schools teachers, students and their classrooms. Special thanks to Horace Mann, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership for donating approximately $5,000.00 to 10 Donors Choose projects, designed and submitted by 10 Quincy Public Schools teachers. Horace Mann donated to the following projects: Build the Next Engineers in Society, The Rug is a Place Where We Learn and Share Together!, Chromebooks and Fishhooks, Book Clubs are for Kids, Too!, Gimme a Break!, Schedules, Schedules, Schedules!, Trust Your Captain, and Take a Seat!, Book Shelf Organization, Technology Accessories and Oh, the More We Get Together, the Happier We’ll Be. Partners make it possible!

200 Students!

High school students are learning about Financial Literacy at both North Quincy High School and Quincy High School thanks to the Bank of Canton (a Gold Level Sponsor), and the Quincy Credit Union (a Platinum Level Sponsor) of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership. Students are learning about such topics as Understanding Credit Scores, Checking Accounts, Managing Money/Budgets and Payroll Taxes. Partners make it possible!

800 Guests

The amazing Quincy Symphony Orchestra, joined by the Quincy Public Schools John Adams Orchestra and High School Choral Group, performed in front of 800 guests at the annual ’Tis the Season…Symphony & Song holiday concert, sponsored by Mayor Thomas P. Koch. Also performing, to the delight of the 250 students attending the event, were the Merry Minstrels, a wonderful gathering of talented Quincy Public Schools Music Teachers. The evening closed with an audience sing-a-long, which included such songs as Silver Bells, Winter Wonderland, White Christmas and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. Student tickets were generously sponsored by platinum level sponsors of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership. Partners make it possible!

Special thanks to Brewster Ambulance Service, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, who once again participated in the Quincy Public Schools “Matter of Heart” initiative. During the months of January and February, eighth grade students learned about Heart Health from their Health Teachers and School Nurses in preparation for this event. The CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) initiative, for eighth grade students, took place at Atlantic, Broad Meadows, Central, Point Webster and Sterling Middle Schools January 5, 2018 – February 10, 2018. The initiative concluded on Saturday, February 10, 2018 with a FREE Full CPR/ AED American Heart Association certification for all Grade 8 students and their parents/guardians. Approximately 150 people participated.

Special thanks to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School Community Partnership, for celebrating Read Across America/Dr. Seuss’ Birthday at Atherton Hough Elementary School. HPHC employees visited each classroom and read to students.

Special thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School Community Partnership, for sponsoring the 21st Annual Community Service Learning Celebration. This event was held on May 30, 2018 at the Tirrell Room. The Community Service Learning Celebration acknowledges and celebrates the countless acts of kindness and community service learning initiatives that take place throughout Quincy Public Schools every day and thanks the students for being active and responsible citizens, who are committed to making the world a better place. Students from each middle school shared their community service learning initiatives during “Bits of Good for Bob,” in memory of beloved middle school teacher and community service advocate, Bob McGillicudy.

Special thanks to the South Shore YMCA, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School Community Partnership, for sponsoring the 6th Annual Student Athlete Summit on June 1, 2018 at Granite Links Golf Course and the 5th Grade Student Council Leadership Summit on June 4, 2018 at the Tirrell Room. The Student Athlete Summit provided our students the opportunity to participate in workshops that directly affect them. Workshops included Sports Injury Prevention, Nutrition, and Team Leadership. Student athletes were invited to this event because of their leadership role and qualities displayed in their respective high schools.

The 5th Grade Student Council Leadership Summit provided a series of engaging and challenging Leadership Workshops for Grade 5 student leaders from each school. Workshops included Communication, Leading by Example and Decision Making. Students rotated through each activity. Both North Quincy and Quincy High School Senior Class Officers assisted the YMCA staff throughout the morning.