MHS Newsletter
Your news source for Mansfield High School
From the Principal's Desk...
September 25, 2020
Dear MHS Students and Families,
Thank you for attending Curriculum Night yesterday evening- it was great to see families and the reestablish connections so important for student success.
I also want to thank everyone for their cooperation and promptness at textbook/supply pick-up this week. The textbook/supply pick-up make up date is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29th from 8AM - 3PM in the MHS Main Lobby. Parents/Guardians may stop by at any time (students should be engaged in learning). This is the final day for pick up. For further questions email karen.mackinnon@mansfieldschools.com.
Next, our transition to the Hybrid model will take place starting the week of October 13th. Students with last names A-K are assigned to Cohort 1. Students with last names L-Z are assigned to Cohort 2. Cohort 1 should attend school in person starting on October 15th; Cohort 2 should attend school in person starting on October 16th. We'll be sharing more details out in the coming days, and prepping our students for re-entry into the building. All parents and guardians are invited to join me for a virtual presentation regarding our transition to the Hybrid model on October 8th at 7PM. Again, more information to come.
Finally, please consider volunteering to serve on the MHS School Council. We're looking for interested parents/guardians, staff, and community members who care to give input into programming and future planning here at MHS. If you have an interest, please send me a quick email by next Thursday, September 24th. We will hold an election if needed.
To close, I would like to commend our students and staff for their collective efforts thus far. I hope that everyone enjoys a relaxing weekend!
Take care,
Mary Watkins
Principal
Self-Guided Building Tours for Grade 9 and Transfer Students
When:
- Monday and Tuesday, October 5th and 6th from 4:00-6:00PM
- Thursday, October 8 from 3:00-5:30PM
9th grade and transfer students are welcome to come into the building to “walk their schedule” and find their classrooms. Students may sign up to enter the building on the half hour, and will have 20 minutes to locate their classrooms.
Students need to arrive promptly at the MHS main entrance at their appointment time. Each group must exit the building before another group may enter.
In order to ensure proper distancing in the building we are limiting the tours to the student and one family member. Family members are not required to join their student on their tour, however, families need to remain on MHS campus to ensure their student is picked up promptly at the end of the session.
Space is limited for each time slot and sign-up is required.
We will be sending an email with registration information shortly.
Financial Aid Information Sessions
Members of the Class of 2021 & Families
This year instead of hosting a Financial Aid Night at Mansfield High School, MEFA, the organization that we collaborate with to put on the event is hosting virtual events every Monday – Thursday until November 5th. Our regular presenter, Susan Beard from Wheaton College, will be presenting on October 26th, though you will benefit from any presenter and have a wide variety of dates to choose from that best meet your needs. Below please find the information from MEFA with the details of the event and how to sign up.
FROM MEFA:
Beginning Monday, September 28th through Thursday, November 5th, we will host a live College Financing webinar daily every Monday through Thursday, with daytime and evening hours. All webinars will be recorded and available online for families who are unable to attend a live event. Our webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the full financial aid application process. Presenters will include MEFA staff members as well as guests from financial aid offices across the Commonwealth, providing families the opportunity to hear from many of the most knowledgeable financial aid leaders in the industry.
Please go to mefa.org/events to register for a live webinar. If you have any questions please reach out to us at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or collegeplanning@mefa.org.
Technology Support
IT Department
Students, have you noticed the new Chromebook Messaging startup page when you login on your Chromebook?
The IT Department will be using this page to share information useful to you. The content will change as needed, and is now focused on suggestions you can follow for improving Google Meet performance.
Please take a moment to review the content of the page and take action as suggested. After you are done reading, you can navigate off the page to continue your work. The date at the top of the page will be updated when new information is posted.
As always, if you are having difficulty with your school-issued Chromebook, please visit http://help.mansfieldschools.com and click on the orange "Create A Ticket" button.
Digital Learning Department
Do you or your student have questions about how to use some of the most common technology tools at MPS?
To help with those "how do I..." questions, we recently launched the Mansfield Public Schools Student and Family Digital Resources Website. This site includes step-by-step "How To" documents and video tutorials for resources like Google Meet and Google Classroom, as well as general tech tips.
New resources will be added throughout the year. The site can be accessed from your school's website under the Student or Parent tabs. Click Digital Resources Site from the tab menu. We hope you'll find this new resource helpful.
Food Services
Busing
The deadline to register for Pay-N-Ride transportation is October 1, 2020. (You must register IF your student is grade K - 6 AND you live within 2 miles - OR - Your student is in grade 7 and above regardless of distance. You must register even if you are on a fee waiver.)
Per State regulations, all buses will be at reduced capacity and students will be assigned a seat for the school year to maximize social distancing and reduce the spread of COVID. Starting on October 2, 2020 no bus registrations will be accepted until we have finalized bus capacity and seating assignments. Once bus capacity is identified, the school will re-open the registration process. Please understand that this could take several weeks. If you do not register by October 1, please make alternate travel arrangements until the registration re-opens.
Parent/Guardian Volunteer Group
Parents/Guardians, let's help make this a great year for our students! If you are interested in volunteering your time and ideas to help with various needs for students in all grade levels, please sign up here https://forms.gle/t7VgdkSPsBcQTUTz5
Please contact Alexandra Piccirilli at mansfieldhsparents@gmail.com with any questions.
Key Dates for Your Calendar
September 27- Yom Kippur (begins at sundown)
September 29- Textbook/Supply pick-up make up day from 8AM-3PM
October 5, 6, & 8- Building Tours (Grade 9 and Transfer Students)
October 8- Hybrid Reopening Plans Mtg at 7PM
October 15- Cohort 1 Returns in Person
October 16- Cohort 2 Returns in Person
Bus Information
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