CCHS Principal's Blog: An Important Message for Students & Parents along with upcoming CCHS Sporting Events

I wish everyone a safe and restful vacation filled with friends, family, and lots of smiles and laughs. To allow for this, vacations are school-work free. My next blog will include more information on initiatives related to our Challenge Success initiative. For information on Challenge Success initiatives please review this document. If you are looking for some exciting high school sports to watch, I encourage you to watch one of our many upcoming events.

The wrestling team enjoyed lots of success this year and several continue on in the Div. 2 State Tournament in Beverly both today and tomorrow. Indoor Track competes in the Div. 2 State Tournament at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Both Girls and Boys Hockey have Senior Night games tomorrow at the Edge, and our 17-1 Girls Basketball Team has Senior Night tonight at CCHS.

I sent the following email to students this morning. If you can reinforce the message at home we would be grateful.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Mastrullo

Attention All Students,

I hope this email finds you well on the eve of a well-deserved break. My apologies for the long email. I ask that you read the email in its entirety.

I am writing to address a few recent issues that are disappointing, to say the least, and to set expectations going forward. I recognize that I am addressing the entire 1,273 members of the student body for the actions of a few, but it is important to note; the one school mantra you often hear from us does encompass everyone, and our collective actions not only influence student privileges and rules, but they also influence the reputation of CC.

I need not remind anyone that our school has an excellent reputation, largely due to the efforts of students, but reputations are hard earned and easily lost. The issues addressed below do not ruin an excellent reputation, but CCHS is expected to lead and not follow, and the recent issues do not reflect well on all of us.

We, which in this case encompasses all staff, work hard to make this a great place to come to school. Never perfect and always room for improvement, but we work hard every day to help great kids like you. I often say if you need something ask for it, and if I can do it, I will.

I try to be fair and kind each day, but it would be foolish to mistake kindness for weakness, and if the issues below do not improve we can all expect changes to the privileges all students enjoy. These privileges assume good intentions along with the unstated expectation to appreciate, respect, and handle them with care. They assume you will act like the respectful and kind young adults we know you are.

As you are most likely aware, students hacked into their classmates' school accounts, photoshopped images and sent them to the entire student body. Those responsible were held accountable.

You might recall at the beginning of the year; I informed students at the assembly that the baseline expectation for everyone in this building is to treat each other with kindness. This is one rule that is not negotiable.

A Lesson For All

Hacking into someone's account carries a school consequence that is not inconsequential, but a similar infraction beyond high school, be it an email account, social media account, bank account, etc., is a cybercrime that will likely result in expulsion from college, loss of employment, or criminal charges.

Expectations going forward

1) Technology Usage

VPNs are not allowed on the school network. If you are caught using one your privileges are revoked indefinitely. If you are caught hacking into another person's account, your privileges will be revoked indefinitely.

a) Passwords

We are asking all students to log out immediately, and once you do the system will prompt you to set a new password. Please do not use your student ID; employ a unique password and do not share it with anyone.

2) Other Privileges

It would be foolish to assume the privileges outlined below extend indefinitely regardless of actions, and we are all accountable for each other, so the actions of a few will impact all students.

a) Open Campus- As of now, the status quo remains intact, do not abuse this privilege or I will end it without warning.

b) Eating -Presently students eat lunch in the learning commons, the cafe, and outside when weather permits. Right now the status quo remains intact, do not abuse this privilege or I will end it without warning. As it stands now, tables are often left messy for someone else to clean. It is incumbent upon us all to clean up after ourselves. It should not be the job of anyone to throw away remnants of someone's lunch or snack. If this does not improve after the break, all eating will take place in the cafe. No exceptions.

c) Email Accounts- Presently, all email accounts allow students to disseminate information to the entire student body quickly by emailing groups. We allowed students to email a whole grade level and/or the entire student body. That privilege is no longer. We will moderate all emails sent to student groups.

d) Vandalism- Locker rooms are often vandalized, large holes put in walls, and debris left all over the area. If this does not improve access to locker rooms will be reduced to a few minutes before class and a few minutes after class. We have witnessed vandalism in bathrooms and classrooms. We are lucky to have a state of the art facility. Save for your home; you spend more time here than anywhere, so treat it with the respect it deserves, please.

Two years ago we chose the piece of artwork below from several student submissions to adorn the walls downstairs at a considerable expense. We are currently considering more student work to be displayed around the school, but until I have assurance they will not be vandalized, we will not proceed.

4) Parking

We understand parking is a frustration for many students including juniors. The School Committee put forth a warrant article to address this issue. At this point, we have maximized the number of spots on campus, any student parked on campus illegally will be towed without warning.

It is rare I send an email or make announcements to address student behavior. That is due partly to the culture of mutual respect we have, and we do not want to micromanage, impose unnecessarily strict rules and regulations, but when we do address an issue it is for good reason, and we are left with no choice but to act if things do not improve.

I will continue to treat students like the young, inspiring adults that you are, and I prefer to help kids and not address them on matters I find disrespectful and unacceptable.

It is my sincere hope you all have a safe, happy, and restful vacation filled with laughs, friends, and family. I look forward to seeing you on the other side of February break, and I hope you will take this email for what it is, a request to treat each other and your school with kindness and respect.

Your Principal,