MHS Newsletter
Your news source for Mansfield High School
From the Principal's Desk...
May 1, 2021
Dear MHS Parents and Guardians,
Students are back in school and it's great to have everyone together again!!
I know that this was a challenge for some students, and I am very proud of them for coming in despite anxious feelings and/or the challenges of getting readjusted to a new AM routine. From my vantage point walking the hallways, it was wonderful to hear students really talking to each other again in their classrooms.
The schedule next week is unremarkable- no changes of any kind. The following week schedules and rotations will change due to MCAS (I'll keep you posted as below). We're also sending the May schedule home in the mail so that you have a hard copy to hang on the fridge.
UPCOMING SURVEYS and OPT OUTs
Students in Grades 9 and 11 who are currently enrolled in Health classes will be bringing home a letter regarding upcoming Human Sexuality units- please ask for it. If you wish for your child to "opt out" of this unit, please email me directly at mary.watkins@mansfieldschools.com and alternate curriculum will be provided without penalty.
Students in Grade 10 will be administered the "Communities that Care" survey in English classes mid-May. More details will be sent home via email shortly. If you wish for your child to "opt out" of this survey, please email me directly at mary.watkins@mansfieldshools.com.
Finally, The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all school districts to administer an annual self evaluation and school quality survey to students. This survey will be administered to all students starting mid-May. If you wish for your child to "opt out" of this survey, please email me directly at mary.watkins@mansfieldschools.com.
Thank you for your support- have a great weekend!
Best,
Mary Watkins
Principal
Schedule for the Week of May 3- May 7
May 4- Regular day of full in-person
May 5- Regular day of full in-person
May 6- Regular day of full in-person
May 7- Regular day of full in-person
Class of 2021- Post Secondary Plan Survey
Seniors, we need to know what you are doing next year and need you to update your NAVIANCE account no later than Friday, May 7th.
If you plan to attend a 2 or 4 year college after graduation, please make sure that you are updating your NAVIANCE account with the school you plan on attending. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS IT IS THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW WHICH SCHOOL YOU PLAN TO ATTEND AND WHERE TO SEND YOUR FINAL TRANSCRIPT!
Updating your NAVIANCE account is easy!
1. Log into your account
2. From the home screen select "Colleges I'm applying to"
3. Scroll to the bottom of your college list
4. Under "College that I am attending"
a. Select your school from the dropdown menu
5. Then click the update button!
Additionally we need to know about the decisions from the colleges you applied to so that it helps future MHS students as you were aided by the information of your predecessors. When you are in the "Colleges I'm Applying " please update the decisions from your school (accepted, denied, waitlist).
If you have different plans for after high school please let us know what you are doing even if you are still undecided by completing this survey Post Secondary Plan Survey
As always if you have specific questions or concerns regarding school or post high school plans your school counselor is always available to help out! Please contact your counselor and let them know how they can assist you.
From the Mansfield Public Schools Health Services Department:
In consultation with Mansfield Department of Health and the Mansfield COVID-19 Task Force, Mansfield Public Schools will be following updated Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios in school, on the Bus or in Community Settings.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, (DESE) has changed the quarantining guidance of close contacts in the classroom and on the bus in consultation with Governor Baker’s medical advisory board. While the definition of a close contact remains the same, the requirement to quarantine has changed because of the structured school environment.
The definition of a close contact remains the same :
A close contact is a person who has been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 case (someone who has tested positive) for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. Multiple brief or transitory interactions (less than a minute) throughout the day are unlikely to result in 15 minutes of cumulative contact and do not meet the definition of close contact. Being in the same room as an individual if you are consistently separated by 6 feet of distance does not meet the definition of a close contact.
What has changed is the quarantine guidance for schools which now states:
Close contacts who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the classroom or on the bus while both individuals were masked do not have to quarantine unless they were less than 3 feet of distance of the COVID-19 positive individual for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. This does not apply if someone was identified as a close contact outside of the classroom or bus (e.g., in sports, extracurriculars, lunch, mask break, etc.) or if masks are not worn by both persons at the time of the exposure.
In addition, the following individuals may also be excluded from quarantine if identified as a close contact:
Those that are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after Johnson & Johnson or 2 weeks after last dose of Pfizer or Moderna) and have provided proof of immunity to the school nurses. PLEASE SEND IMMUNIZATION DOCUMENTS TO YOUR CHILD'S RESPECTIVE SCHOOL.
An individual who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 (diagnosed by a positive COVID test) and is within 90 days of their test date
As we finish the school year, we will have a new school notification system for close contacts. The information you receive will be based on whether your student was less than three feet from the positive individual and needs to follow complete quarantine protocols or your student was 3 - 6 feet and/or meets the exemption criteria and needs to monitor symptoms for 14 days. Follow-up emails will be sent immediately with specific information and school nurses contact information. Please see the chart below.
National Honor Society
We are very appreciative of the generosity of the community, as well as the members of NHS, who came together to donate their time and effort to make this event a success.
Environmental Club
Class of 2021
Cap, Gown & Graduation Photo Payment - $26
At this time we are collecting payment for your senior’s cap, gown, tassel and graduation photo. The photo will be taken at the graduation ceremony and mailed home in July. The cap and gown are yours to keep.
Payment of $26 can be made by check or money order payable to “Mansfield High School” and dropped off by your student at the Main Office, or mailed to us. Please include your senior’s name with the payment.
Online payment - is also an option, for a fee. On our website, go to the Parent Tab => Online Payments => Unipay Link => select “Student Activity” then “High School Student Activity”. Please be sure to enter “Cap & Gown” in the “Activity” field.
Graduation Gowns
Senior parents and guardians- if your child has not yet entered their height for grad gown measurement, please enter it here. Thank you!
Local Scholarships
The Mansfield Local Scholarships are now available through Naviance. Please do not miss out on this great opportunity to access scholarship funds to help support your college education. We are so fortunate to have so many generous sponsors across the Mansfield community that value the opportunity to support our students. Seniors have received an email from the School Counseling Office reminding them of this important opportunity and instructions for accessing transcripts and recommendations if needed. If you have any questions please see reach out to your child's counselor.
Senior Celebration Donations
Donations are requested for the Class of 2021 for the Senior Celebration Fund! The suggested donation per Senior student is $35.00.
If you wish to donate, you may do so online, or via check mailed to Mansfield High School, with "Senior Celebration" noted on the Memo line. Online donations can be made via the UniPay Link on the District website, for a fee (accepting electronic check and credit/debit card payments, except Visa):
Click here for the High School Student Activity Unipay link. Be sure to type "Senior Celebration" in the "Activity" field.
Thank you for your contributions!! Keep Updated with Senior Activities and Volunteering on Facebook at the group Mansfield Class 2021 Celebration our Seniors.
Lawn Signs
Please click on the PDF below (under the Tech Fundraiser) to learn how to order a lawn sign for a graduating senior! Order forms are due by April 16th.
MHS Senior Lawn Signs and We Support Signs will be distributed on the following days and times:
- Wednesday May 5 1:45pm - 3pm (after school)
The Saturday pick ups will be in the white tent in the front of the school (next to the front door) to drive up and pick up the signs you ordered for your student and any We Support signs. May 5th pick up near the Field Hockey field on the side of the school.
Tech Fundraiser- DEADLINE EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 9TH TO ORDER!
Show your Hornet pride and get this awesome tech gear while it’s hot!
Makes a great gift for Grads, Teachers or any Mansfield Students.
Thank you for your support of the Class of 2021!
Best Buddies
April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance month, with World Autism Day celebrated annually on April 2nd. This April, in honor of autism acceptance and appreciation, MHS Best Buddies invites the entire district to participate in our Autism Acceptance Paper Infinity Chain project!
The rainbow infinity symbol represents the autism spectrum by reflecting the diversity of the autistic experience and the autistic community. The chain symbolizes our community by representing our alliance for autism acceptance, kindness and inclusion.
MHS Best Buddies is encouraging all Mansfield Public Schools students and faculty to contribute a link to our paper infinity chain, inspired by autism acceptance. Students can get involved in the project by:
Reading the information provided on the Autism Acceptance Project template to learn more about autism.
Reflecting on the ideas of autism acceptance by coloring the autism acceptance infinity ribbon.
Committing to autism acceptance by signing, decorating, and cutting out the paper chain link at the bottom of the template. The links will be added to our school community infinity chains, to be displayed throughout the school district.
Chain templates (printed on colorful paper!) are available for pick up in Room 123 or on the table outside the main office throughout the month of April. Finished slips should be returned to the designated basket in room 123 or the main office by the end of the month, April 30th. Students in the Virtual Remote Cohort and/or students unable to pick-up and drop-off papers at school can print out the Autism Acceptance Project template.
Email Best Buddies Chapter President, Lulu Cavicchi, at lcavicchi21@mansfieldschools.com for more information about digital templates and submission.
Updated Travel Advisory
Effective Monday, March 22, the MA Travel Order will be replaced with a Travel Advisory which will be enforced in MPS.
After consultation with Mansfield’s COVID-19 Task Force, our board of health will require staff and students of MPS to produce documentation of post-travel testing to comply with guidelines from the Massachusetts Travel Advisory as stated below. Testing is required for all destinations. There are no longer specific high risk areas of travel. MPS will also follow these additional modifications:
We will continue to accept parent/guardian post-travel tests from an unvaccinated parent/guardian for students less than ten years of age. If all parents/guardians who have traveled with the students under ten years are vaccinated, the students need to have their own COVID-19 test before returning to school.
Mansfield Public Schools will accept FDA EUA-approved molecular SARS-CoV2 tests including the PCR and Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test, and antigen tests for return from travel.
If your student is out of school while waiting for post-travel test results or are in a post travel-quarantine, please contact your school nurses who can initiate instructional delivery from classroom teachers.
Guidance is changing quickly but we need to adhere to standards that will provide the best protection for our entire school community. We understand the challenges associated with testing and we appreciate your compliance with the travel guidance. Consideration will be given to changing travel requirements for MPS as vaccination rates increase and our quarantine numbers stabilize.
From the Nurses
Managing Student and Household Illness:
Now, more than ever, we need families to be aware of the health of their family and continue to keep students home when they are not feeling well.
Continue to use the Symptom Screening Checklist.
Communicate with your pediatrician with symptom concerns and discuss the need for testing.
Call or email your school nurses as your initial school contact with concerns of illness. They will communicate with your student's teachers and administration if necessary.
We are entering the season where asthma and allergies can start to flare up. We need to be aware that simple symptoms such as a scratchy throat or congestion in combination with another symptom may be indicative of COVID-19 and should not be ignored.
SCHOOL NURSE CONTACT:
Roland Green Pre-School (508) 261-1561
Fax: (508) 261-7415
Debora.Wirth@mansfieldschools.com
Robinson Elementary School (508)261-7387
Fax: (508) 261-7389
Sue.McGinley@mansfieldschools.com or Tammy.Rozelle@mansfieldschools.com
Jordan/Jackson Elementary School (508) 261-7520
Fax: (508) 261-7522
Kristin.Haskell@mansfieldschools.com or Betsy.Johnston@mansfieldschools.com
Qualters Middle School (508) 261-7530
Fax: (508) 261-7374
Lisa.Anderson@mansfieldschools.com or Elayne.Brown@mansfieldschools.com
Mansfield High School (508) 261-7540
Fax: (508) 261-7416
Christine.Harrison@mansfieldschools.com or Betsy.Savoie@mansfieldschools.com
MHS Choir
Check out the new MHS Choir website- we can't sing together at MHS, but we can sing at home!!
From the Health Office
Contact betsy.savoie@mansfieldschools.com to report any illness, COVID diagnosis or that your student was identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID. We continue to put together the pieces of the puzzle and this information is essential in giving us a better handle on keeping our school community safe and healthy.
Student Mental Health Support
Housing Help
The state Department of Housing and Community Development has centralized information about resources for families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19. Please use this link for more information. www.mass.gov/covidhousinghelp
Breakfast and Lunch at No Cost
Breakfast and lunch at no cost to families has been extended through June 2021. In addition, Grab and Go Meals are available for pick-up every Wednesday from 3-4pm at Mansfield High School. Please see the links below for additional information.
https://sites.google.com/mansfieldschools.com/covid-19/nutrition?authuser=0
Key Dates for Your Calendar
May 10- Math MCAS Grade 10; Reverse half days for Grades 9, 10, & 11
May 11- Math MCAS Grade 10; Reverse half days for Grades9 & 11; Grade 12 stay at home for Post-Secondary Planning.
May 17 & 18-- ELA MCAS Grade 10; Reverse half days for Grades 9, 10, & 11
Bus Information
Please click on the link to watch Thursday's presentation addressing transportation:
About Us
Mary Watkins, Principal
Zachary Abrams, Assistant Director, Special Education
Abigail Barlas, Assistant Principal, Student Support Services
James Schliefke, Assistant Principal, Grades 10 & 12
Timothy Tichacek, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 & 11
Email: firstname.lastname@mansfieldschools.com
Website: http://mhs.mansfieldschools.com/
Location: 250 East Street, Mansfield, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 261-7540
Twitter: @MHShornets