CCHS Principal's Blog: Final Exams, Graduation, End-of-Year Senior Information, Challenge Success Survey, MVP Training, & Stand by Me Premier,

I write with the sincere hope everyone is doing well. Hopefully, the beautiful weather serves as a much-needed antidote to the relentless inundation of COVID-related news and rules that permeate our daily lives. A COVID mode of consciousness has become an instinct like how a baby knows to hold its breath underwater. Asking my children, "do you have a mask," has become routine and ingrained. The news of vaccines for students brings more optimism that the future is better than our immediate past.

With this optimism, I write with necessary information regarding final exams, end-of-year information for seniors, Challenge Success Survey information, and a bit more. Please read on for more details and join me in looking forward to brighter skies.

A few additional exam notes:

- Classes not offering exams will meet during the exam block and students are expected to be present during those classes. They are not optional. Teachers will use this time for assessments, presentations, group work, new learning activities, etc.

- Reading Period: We will have a one-day reading period on Wednesday, June 9. On that day, no new content may be taught and no assessments may be given.

MCAS Reminder

4 May Principal's Blog: MCAS Information/Reminder

End-0f-Year Information For Seniors

As a follow to the 7 May Blog Post, I provide updated and additional information for senior activities.

All information regarding end of year activities for the Class of 2021 can be found at: https://www.concordcarlisle.org/seniors/

“Mask”erade: May 26, 7:00 - 10:30PM

Senior Week: June 1 - June 4

Graduation: June 5, 9:00AM

Informational Website: https://www.concordcarlisle.org/graduation/
Tickets

Additional Graduation Information

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021

The ceremony must be outside. Rain dates will be June 6, 2021

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Time may change based on the rain forecast.

Guests:

Each student will receive six (6) tickets per student.
Tickets can be reserved at: https://cchsgraduation2021.eventbrite.com
- each graduate will receive an individual email with an access code the week of May 17.
The deadline to reserve tickets is Thursday, June 3 at 11:00PM
School teachers and staff will be in attendance.
Everyone in attendance must wear masks.
We have purchased masks for the graduates. Students will receive their masks when they pick up their cap and gown (June 1 or June 2 from 8:15 – 10:00 AM in the Learning Commons)

Disability Services:

Guests requiring accommodations (parking, seating, accessibility) during graduation should make requests as soon as possible and no later than Tuesday, June 1.
Please complete this form to request an accessibility accommodation for you or a guest

Arrival Times and Parking

Per DESE standards, guests have a prescribed arrival time as shown on this document.
We ask that graduates and families carpool given our limited parking

More information regarding parking, arrival times, and live streaming will be shared in the near future.

Please reference the 7 May blog for complete Commencement information. I draw your attention to a few highlights below.

Graduating students outdoors and masked may seat 3 feet apart; therefore, students will set together for the last time as a class.

Ceremonies are to be kept as brief as possible.

No food or drink is permitted; there will be water underneath the seat of each graduate.

No communal gathering or reception either before or after the Commencement.

Attendance is limited to faculty, administrators, speakers, graduates, and their guests.

Guests are limited to no more than 6 guests per graduate. If a graduate has less than 6 guests they are not permitted to give their remaining allotment to other graduates.

Guests must register in advance of the Commencement, and only those registered can attend.

Minuteman Media (MMN) will broadcast the graduation live on cable channel 99 in Concord and Carlisle. MMN will also stream it online at minuteman.media

WIQH will broadcast (audio only, of course) live on 88.3FM in Concord and Carlisle. We will also stream it via our website wiqh.org

Complete State of Massachusetts Guidelines

Challenge Success Survey

I am excited to announce we are re-engaging with Challenge Success. For those unfamiliar with the organization, I encourage you to click on the link to explore more on their mission. Here is an excerpt that encapsulates their vision.

"At Challenge Success, we believe that our society has become too focused on grades, test scores, and performance, leaving little time for kids to develop the necessary skills to become resilient, ethical, and motivated learners. We partner with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. After all, success is measured over the course of a lifetime, not at the end of a semester."

As part of this re-engagement we are administering a student survey in Advisory before the close of school. I include a parent information sheet/opt-out form. If you are opting out of the survey please return the

Their website has information for colleagues, parents, faculty, and students about the surveys, including sample questions, FAQs, and pricing.

Challenge Success Student Sample Survey--High School

Parent Information Sheet

4th Annual Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Training

May 1 and 2, the following students ran the 4th annual Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Training: Ruth Benyo, Anna Brooks, Audrey Carter, Ahria Desai, Charlie Eaton, Ben Grace, Corinne Herr, Emma McCollum, Chiara Petracek, Phoebe Shudt, Eva Shudt.

The program trains students to identify signs of gender-based bias, harassment, abuse, or violence and consider many ways of responding. The MVP Club is grateful to the CEF and PA Association grants for supporting the work they do to prevent gender-based violence!