Marybeth Nearen recognized for service to BHR District School Committee as chair

Marybeth Nearen of Randolph was recognized for her distinguished service to the Blue Hills Regional District School Committee (DSC) as its chair for two consecutive school years at its meeting on December 3, 2019.

Chair Thomas R. Polito, Jr. of Dedham presented her with a handsome plaque adored with a gavel.

Mrs. Nearen was DSC chair during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years. She was only the third woman to be on the DSC in Blue Hills Regional’s fifty-plus-year history, and she was just the second female chair.

She brought considerable experience to her role, including being the Randolph School Committee’s Chair of Policy, Vice Chair and Chair, all between 2006 and 2012. Mrs. Nearen was first elected to the Blue Hills Regional District School Committee in 2012, and served on the School Committees of both Randolph and Blue Hills Regional for one year until December 31, 2013. She was formerly Secretary and then Vice Chair of the Blue Hills Regional DSC. Her…

Fifty-two BHR Adams Scholars honored at ceremony

Fifty-two recipients of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship in the Class of 2020 at Blue Hills Regional Technical School were honored recently at a ceremony at the school attended by administrators, staff, friends and family members, Blue Hills Regional District School Committee Chair Thomas R. Polito, Jr., of Dedham, and legislators from Blue Hills’ nine-town district which is comprised of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph and Westwood.

The distinguished guests included Sen. Walter F. Timilty, Rep. William C. Galvin and Sen. Mike Rush.  Ms. Summer Ordaz, aide to Rep. William J. Driscoll, Jr., attended in his absence. Mr. Brandon Pelchat, aide to Rep. Paul McMurtry, attended in his absence.

According to the website of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to qualify for the Adams scholarship, Class of 2020 students must receive a score of 260 or higher on one of the following MCAS tests – Grade 10 ELA,…

BHR graduate Marc O'Brien returns to BHR to work on major renovation project

Decades ago, author Thomas Wolfe wrote a classic novel titled “You Can’t Go Home Again.” For Marc O’Brien, however, that sentiment doesn’t quite ring true.

A 2004 graduate of Blue Hills Regional Technical School who studied Construction Technology, Mr. O’Brien, 34, now an experienced professional carpenter employed by Consigli Construction, which proclaims itself “one of the largest general contractors in the Northeast,” came back to the high school alma mater he still holds dear in July to work on the last phase of a major, multi-million dollar renovation project.

As Mr. O’Brien puts it, “it really did come full circle” for him, with many Blue Hills staff members whom he knew when he walked the halls as a student recalling him and greeting him warmly, appreciating the success he has earned and brought back to Blue Hills with him.

“They remembered me right off the bat,” Mr. O’Brien said with bemusement. “It’s funny how you leave an impression on people.”

Mr.…

BHR holds fall Advisory Board dinner and meetings

Blue Hills Regional Technical School recently held its Fall 2019 Advisory Board dinner and meetings, both of which were well-attended by faculty, administrators and dozens of enthusiastic professionals eager to pitch in and use their years of training and expertise to help the school and its students.

In the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 74, which governs vocational technical education in the Commonwealth, Chapter 6 states: “Each school district, county agricultural school, collaborative or municipality operating an approved vocational-technical program shall, under a plan approved by the commissioner under the direction of the state board, appoint advisory committees composed of representatives of local business and industry related to the program, organized labor, parents and students, which shall consult with and advise the trustees and other school officials managing and supervising such schools.”

The Advisory Boards of each of Blue Hills Regional’s 17 technical…

BHR has a successful, well-attended Open House

Blue Hills Regional Technical School was abuzz with excitement on Nov. 6 when its annual Open House was held, drawing hundreds of enthusiastic prospective students and their families for an up-close look at the outstanding academic and career education the school offers.

By all accounts, the night was a smash hit across the board.

“Our current students and master instructors showcased their program spaces, technical equipment, sample projects, led interactive experiences, demonstrations and answered questions for 6th, 7th and 8th graders and their families in 17 unique career/vocational technical programs” said Blue Hills Regional Superintendent Jill Rossetti. “It's very inspiring to watch the professionalism our students, staff and faculty display while giving their all during this amazing annual event. They teach and learn effectively, connect with potential, nervous students while making them feel welcome. Over four hundred students have already applied!”  

The…