Category: Archived

In Winter 2020, planning and preparations were well underway for the 12th Annual Credit for Life Fair. Little did we know that with the closing of Quincy Public Schools in March, the in-person event would not be held. However, thanks to the dedication and commitment of our innovative business educators, the QPS 2020 Credit for Life Fair: A Digital Experience was designed and developed. It provided high school seniors with an understanding of decisions impacting their spending and developed skills to be financially wise, and underscored the importance of good credit, budgeting, and money management. The program was recognized by the State Treasurer’s Office and shared with school districts throughout the state.

Building on the success of last year’s event, 450 seniors from Quincy Public Schools business electives and career vocational & technical programs will participate virtually in the 13th annual Credit for Life Fair in April 2021 (Financial Literacy Month).

Special thanks to the following partners for their support in making this year’s Credit for Life Fair a fun-filled and rewarding experience: Mass Bay Credit Union, Baystate Financial, Mike Rothberg, Colonial Federal Savings Bank, South Shore Bank, Quincy Credit Union, Quincy College, Quirk Auto Dealerships and Coastal Heritage Bank.

Callahan Construction, an Executive Level Sponsor ($10,000.00) of the Quincy School Community Partnership, has been a prominent QSCP partner for the past four years. Callahan’s generosity and support of Quincy Public Schools Career Vocational and Technical Education students is unparalleled. Callahan-sponsored initiatives include:

• Women in the Trades Summit
• Summer Internships for Students
• Student Visitations to Construction Sites
• Program Advisory Team participation, and
• Participation on the Quincy Public Schools Outstanding

CVTE Student of the Year Interview Team. This year, Callahan Construction sponsored an exciting new initiative, Trades Beyond the Bell. This 10-week after school program was for students currently enrolled in Quincy High Schools Career Vocational and Technical Education program and included the following trades: Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies. Trades Beyond the Bell provided hands-on engagement, safety awareness, technical skills, as well as 40 additional program shop hours for plumbers and electricians. Approximately 25 students enrolled in the program. Special thanks to Callahan Construction for being a devoted and generous partner of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership.

The annual 5th Grade Student Council Leadership Summit, hosted by the South Shore YMCA, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, was held at the Tirrell Room on Thursday, February 13, 2020. Approximately 70 fifth grade student leaders, representing each elementary school, attended the event. Students participated in a series of interactive Leadership Workshops including Communication Skills, Decision Making, and Teamwork, led by Phil Gay from the South Shore YMCA. Special thanks to the North Quincy High School and Quincy High School senior class officers for assisting students throughout the morning. Following the workshops, Community Leaders, including Quincy’s Mayor Thomas P. Koch and Ms. Janelle Woods-McNish from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, spoke to the students about their leadership roles in business and the community. Special thanks to the South Shore YMCA for sponsoring this exciting event!

Congratulations to Richard DeCristofaro, Ed.D. on his appointment as <strong>President of Quincy College. The Quincy School ~ Community Partnership</strong> is grateful to Dr. DeCristofaro for his continued advocacy of the QSCP throughout his tenure as Superintendent of Quincy Public Schools. For 19 years, Dr. DeCristofaro was the mainstay of the Partnership. He helped design Partnership Pathways, which continues to be the successful model used by the Quincy School Community Partnership today. Dr. DeCristofaro was honored to be supported by the business community of Quincy. We wish him well!

Special thanks to the wonderful partners of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership who visited our schools in celebration of Read Across America/Dr. Seuss Birthday, February 4, 2020 – March 6, 2020. Those partners included Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Bank of Canton, Bridgewater Credit Union, the Shiner Group, Quincy Retired Teachers Association, National Fire Protection Association, and the Quincy Credit Union. A special shout out to Mayor Thomas Koch, Superintendent Richard DeCristofaro, School Committee Vice Chair Anthony Andronico, members Kathryn Hubley, Frank Santoro, Paul Bregoli and Emily Lebo for celebrating Read Across America/Dr. Seuss Birthday with the students in Quincy Public Schools.

Planning for our high school students’ financial and professional future is a priority in the Quincy Public Schools. With the cancellation of the 12th Annual Credit for Life Fair, this year’s Fair became an interactive virtual experience/simulation for high school students from both North Quincy High School and Quincy High School. Prior to the Fair, each student selected a career and was provided its financial profile. The financial profile listed income and expenses, including loans and credit card balances. Students were required to visit 15 educational stations learning about Savings & Retirement, Housing, Health, Luxury, Clothing, Transportation, Insurance, Nutrition, Community Service, Job Search, Education, Reality Check, Credit & Lending, Furniture and Credit Counseling. Each station represents an expense or financial decision scenario. The goal of the students is to balance their budget by the conclusion of the Fair. Special thanks to Diana Cavallo, Marianne Collins, and Matt Gibbons from North Quincy High School for making this virtual experience possible!

Congratulations to the Quincy Public Schools 2019 – 2020 new professional staff, who were welcomed at the New Professional Staff Orientation, prior to the start of school in September. Approximately 50 new staff participated in a two-day Orientation where members of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team presented district-wide information and services available to Quincy Public Schools students and staff. Special thanks to the following Quincy School Community Partners for funding this event: Quincy Education Association, Quincy Credit Union, Mike Rothberg/Baystate Financial, Montilio’s Bakery, and AXA Equitable.

THANK YOU South Shore YMCA, a Platinum Level Sponsor of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership, for sponsoring two exciting swim programs for Quincy Public Schools students. The newest program, Swim Safe, is a six-week program for second grade students, which takes place in the YMCA pool on Tuesday mornings. Students and their teachers are bussed to and from their school to participate in the program. Swim Safe stresses safety around water. SPLASH (Swim Play Learn Aquatic Safety Habits) is a six-week program for third grade students who have not yet learned to swim. SPLASH takes place on Tuesday afternoons. Both swim programs are led by Certified Lifeguards/Swim Instructors from the YMCA.

Congratulations to the 128 Quincy Public Schools teachers who received 2019-2020 Teacher Mini- Grant Awards at the annual Teacher Mini-Grant Awards Ceremony on October 29, 2019. Platinum Level Sponsors of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership were on hand to present the awards. THANK YOU George Burke, Quincy Mutual Group, South Shore YMCA, Quincy Education Association, Callahan Construction, Wessling Architects, NAGE, Granite Telecommunications, Boston Scientific, Quincy Retired Teachers Association, Quincy Credit Union, Baystate Financial Services, Brewster Ambulance Service, Quirk Auto Dealers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Arbella Insurance Foundation, and MountainOne Bank for your time and financial support of this initiative.

THANK YOU Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Brewster Ambulance Service and Quincy College, Platinum Level Sponsors of the Quincy School Community Partnership for being Lead Sponsors of Mayor Koch’s City of Presidents 5K Road Race/Walk! Proceeds of the race will support Health & Wellness programs for the Quincy Public Schools students.