Husky Family News 3/2/2021
March 2, 2021
Hello Husky Families!
Happy March!
Spring time is around the corner and with spring comes new life and hope!
Please review the information below that includes:
- The #bethechange March Theme: Perseverance!
- MARCH 16th: Distance Learning Day for ALL STUDENTS
- Attendance & Tardy Reminders
- Academic Expectations: A Framework for Students & Families
- Virtual Support Mondays: PLEASE REVIEW
- MHHS Student Support Newsletter
- Course Selections for 2021-22
- SAVE THE DATE! Discover Mt. Hope Future Husky Night!
- All Course Network Opportunities for ALL Students!
- Free Tutors through All Course Network
- Our MHHS Band is LIVE!
- Virtual Driver's Training from AAA
- Family Resources
In Case you Missed It!
THANK YOU for your ongoing support!
Dr. DiBiase,
Principal, Mt. Hope High School
1. The #bethechange March Theme: Perseverance!
Moreover, in this pandemic burdened school year, it seems like everything is a little more challenging than normal. This is the perfect time for all of us; students, teachers, counselors, support staff, administrators, and families to bear down and recommit to doing just that little bit more to get through to a successful conclusion to the school year.
As Robert Frost wrote in the poem Servant of Servants, "...the best way out is always through.".
When things are tough remember to persevere!
2. MARCH 16th: Distance Learning Day for ALL STUDENTS
Junior and Senior Portfolio Presentations will be held on March 16th. As all teachers and staff will be panelists for the presentations, there will be NO LIVE CLASSES.
Be reminded that a Distance Learning Day is a SCHOOL DAY for students. Teachers will post instructions and assignments for students to complete independently.
3. Attendance and Tardy REMINDER!
If your child will be absent from In Person learning OR Virtual learning, please be sure to contact the school at 401-254-5980 OR email Jean Coelho at jean.coelho@bwrsd.org to report the absence.
IF a student signs into class after 7:45 it is THE STUDENT or PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITY to inform Mrs. Coelho. She will change the absence to tardy.
Daily robocalls are sent to families of students who are marked absent either virtually or In Person.To avoid getting these messages, please be sure to contact us if your child is absent OR late signing in.
If your child is experiencing any Covid related symptoms contact Ellen Estrella, School Nurse Teacher, at ellen.estrella@bwrsd.org or call 254-5980.
Thank you!
4. Academic Expectations: A Framework for Students and Families
Academic Expectations: A Framework for Students and Families was developed in an effort to clarify academic expectations for students and families and how families can support their students in achieving success!
PLEASE REVIEW the following framework which has been developed based on school data, as well as feedback from teachers, parents/guardians, and students.
We acknowledge that full distance and hybrid learning are challenging on students and families. Many students find it more difficult to focus, maintain stamina in class, stay organized, and meet deadlines. Parents have found it difficult to monitor and motivate students.
Given these circumstances, it is essential to reaffirm actions that students and families can take to promote academic success and learning. Please take advantage of all the different types of support Mt. Hope has to offer!
Academic Expectations: A Framework for Students and Families
5. Virtual Support Mondays: PLEASE REVIEW
PLEASE Review the following expectations for ALL STUDENTS regarding Virtual Support Monday. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. DiBiase (deborah.dibiase@bwrsd.org), Mr. Hanlon (robert.hanlon@bwrsd.org), or Mrs. King (michelle.king@bwrsd.org).
Thank you!
6. MHHS Student Support Newsletter
If your child is struggling with academic, social emotional, and/or technology needs, PLEASE refer to the Mt. Hope Student Support Newsletter for contacts and information on available student supports. At any time, reach out to Dr. DiBiase, Mrs. King, Mr. Hanlon, or Dr. Lyons.
Thank you!
7. Course Selections for 2021-22
The deadline for completing course selection forms for the 2021-22 school year is next Wednesday, March 10th.
Please be sure to review your Program of Studies carefully with your student and make your selections. Students will enter their choices in a Google Form. All information has been shared with students. You will be able to submit the form only once, so please choose carefully :)
If you have any questions about the process, please contact your School Counselor. Thank you!
In preparation for our state assessment season, it is EXTREMELY important that all Chromebooks are up to date so that the Chromebook can run the assessment smoothly. The Chromebooks should be running version 88.
Please be sure that all students' Chromebooks are updated! Instructions can be found at the link below! THANK YOU!
8. SAVE THE DATE! Discover Mt. Hope Future Husky Night!
On March 24th, 2021, from 6-8 pm, Mt. Hope High School will be hosting a Virtual “Discover Mt. Hope Future Husky Night” for Rhode Island’s 8th or 9th graders. Mt. Hope offers all students in our state the opportunity to experience college and career pathway programs to help each student discover their post-secondary potential. Mt. Hope currently offers Engineering, Business & Finance CTE Programs, plus Architecture & Construction, Bioscience, and Information Technology pathways, in addition to the STEM endorsement.
During the two-hour virtual event hosted on Zoom and Google Meets, students and their parents will discover Mt. Hope’s offerings. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION!
9. All Course Network Opportunities for ALL Students!
The All Course Network (ACN) is a statewide course catalog that lets students take FREE courses at colleges, schools, or online.
The ACN helps students access foundational educational opportunities, setting them up for a future without limits.
Please see detailed information HERE and also linked below!
If you have any questions, contact Dr. Lyons at nicole.lyons@bwrsd.org
10. Free Tutors through All Course Network
Schoolhouse.world is a new online platform from Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, that matches students around the world with free tutors. The tutors provide small-group math and SAT prep tutoring for students in grades 6-12, building on the Khan Academy curriculum. Rhode Island is one of two state-level partnerships offering this opportunity to students across the state.
Registration is now live on the All Course Network (ACN) and students can sign up here on EnrollRI. There is no deadline for students to sign up (though schools will still need to approve their enrollment via the ACN), no cost to students, and no requirement to participate. More information on the partnership can be found here.
Please note: Disregard the registration date noted on the ACN platform.
11. Our MHHS Band is LIVE!
From Mr. Lambert - Band Director:
I am excited to share that the Rhode Island Department of Education has released updated guidance for performing ensembles. In the update, it provides specific guidelines that will enable us to perform on instruments indoors.
The entire document can be viewed here, but I wanted to highlight some of the important details:
The guidance states that students playing indoors should be six feet apart using face masks and bell covers. The district has provided all of our in person students with the appropriate face masks and/or bell covers. These face masks are specifically designed for instrumentalists. All bell covers are instrument specific which ensures that they are form fitting. We will exceed the recommendation of students being six feet apart as much as possible. With our current enrollment, students will be at least 9 feet apart.
When playing indoors, students will not play for longer than 30 minutes at any time.
Students will not be sharing music, sticks, etc. All percussionists will be required to use their own sticks and mallets. Sheet music will be sent and viewed electronically on student Chromebooks.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their face masks and bell covers are cleaned regularly. Please do not put them in the dryer.
In person students will need to start regularly bringing their instrument, face mask, and bell cover to school on all days they have band class.
Please know that your child’s safety and well being is my top priority. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.
Looking forward to hearing live music again! Have a wonderful weekend!
Chris Lambert
12. Virtual Drivers Ed Classes from AAA
We here at AAA hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. We are contacting you to let you know that we continue to offer online driver’s education programs. Classes will be offered to all students who are at least fifteen (15) years and ten (10) months old on the first day of class. Classes are offered to accommodate different schedules. Seating is first come first serve, so if you could please let your students know that we are able to provide online driver training, that would be greatly appreciated. The students would go to AAA.com, click on DRIVING SCHOOL, select their state (RI) and click on the red notification box directly under the page photo (below the Behind the Wheel/Classroom buttons) to see the available online class offerings or students/parents can contact our call center for more information and to sign up for a class 855-222-1050. Please see our current schedule below through April!
Contact AAA Northeast Driver Training directly with questions.
13. FAMILY RESOURCES
RISAS March Newsletter
Free Meal Program for Students Continues!
All students enrolled in Bristol Warren Schools will continue to receive free meals through June 2021 regardless of eligibility status. However, it is important that families continue to submit updated applications if there are any changes in income or household size. The lunch application can be found here on our website. Distance Learning Grab & Go breakfast and lunch meals are offered daily for pick up at Mt. Hope High School and Kickemuit Middle School from 9:30am-10:30am. Please see these attachments for information on additional resources
Potential Dangers of Snapchat
We were recently made aware of an upsetting trend that was highlighted on the national news. A 16 year old boy, the son of nationally known relationship therapist, Dr. Laura Berman, accidentally overdosed on pills he bought through the social media site, Snapchat. The pills were delivered directly to his house. He believed they were Xanax (a benzodiazepine), but they were actually Xanax laced with fentanyl (a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine).
Here is the video clip https://www.today.com/parents/dr-laura-berman-today-about-son-s-overdose-t208461 from the Today show about the incident and others which have been occurring, particularly during the pandemic.
Below please find a few ways to help keep your teens safe:
- Have an open discussion with your teens about internet and social media safety
- It's important for you to know which social media platforms your teen uses and who they are communicating with.
- As stated in the video, it's important for parents to know their childrens' passcodes for their phones. This may feel like an invasion of their privacy, but it's for their own safety.
- Many teens are feeling lonely and isolated due to the pandemic. Let your teen know that you are there for them and if needed professional help is available.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Student Assistance Counselor, Christine Bandoni at christine.bandoni@bwrsd.org. Thank you~
Opioids in Our Community: Perspectives for Parents
Rhode Island PBS, Rhode Island Student Assistance Services (RISAS) and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), present Opioids in Our Community: Perspectives for Parents on Wednesday , March 3 , 2021 , 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
The virtual event brings parents and guardians together with a panel of educators, counselors, and health experts from across our region. The goal of the event is to provide parents and guardians with information about opioid use disorder, as well as share informational resources such as Rhode Island PBS LearningMedia, which can be used to effectively engage their children in awareness and prevention of use of substances. By creating a safe and inclusive space for parents and guardians, this event will allow them to share their concerns, validate their experiences, and learn to spot warning signs in their children.
Opioids in Our Community: Perspectives for Parents will be held via Zoom. The event is free to attend but registration is required . For more information, visit ripbs.org . The award-winning Opioids in Our Community project is made possible by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
RISAS Webinar: The Social Ecology of Resilience
RISAS is excited to offer our latest live webinar in our youth mental health and resilience series. The webinar: The Social Ecology of Resilience: The Many Ways Families and Communities Nurture a Child’s Well Being, presented by Dr. Michael Ungar, is happening on March 10 at 6:30 P.M.
World-renowned resilience expert, Michael Ungar, Ph.D. is the founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University. His ground-breaking work as a family therapist and resilience researcher is recognized around the world. He lives in Halifax, Canada.
Registration information is attached or CLICK HERE.
For more information on Dr. Ungar go to https://www.michaelungar.com/
2021 Virtual Parenting Matters Conference
2021 Virtual Parenting Matters Conference
Bradley Hospital and Lifespan’s Community Health Institute are pleased to present the 30th Parenting Matters Conference that will take place virtually on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 9:00 – 11:30 am. There are two keynote presentations this year- The Vaccine and Your Family, by Michael Koster, MD, division director of pediatric infectious diseases at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Supporting Parents to Support Their Children's Mental Health, by Karyn Horowitz, MD, chief medical officer at Bradley Hospital and director of child outpatient psychiatry for Lifespan. Following the keynote and a virtual exhibitor tour, participants will choose one of three workshops on topics essential to raising and educating children and teens.
For more details and to register as a participant or exhibitor, please visit the Parenting Matters Page on Lifespan’s website, email mtorres5@lifespan.org, or call 401-444-8076. CEU’s are available for social work, early learning professionals, and for mental health counselors. All parents and professionals who work with children and youth are welcome.
In Case you Missed it!
Follow Mt. Hope High School!
@mthopehs
Email: deborah.dibiase@bwrsd.org
Website: www.bwrsd.org
Location: 199 Chestnut Street, Bristol, RI, USA
Phone: (401)254-5980
Facebook: facebook.com/mthopehs
Twitter: @mthopehs