Student & Family Update
April 29, 2022
Good afternoon everyone,
It was great to see so many students and families at the District Celebration of Learning on Wednesday. A huge thank you to the Mary Lyon Foundation for sponsoring the food from Foxtown Diner as well as the book giveaway and the Math games and a huge thank you to our amazing faculty for putting up displays of student work and providing a variety of interactive activities to engage and intrigue visitors of every age!
Elvis Concert and Winter Ball
- Both take place this weekend. The Elvis concert starts at 6 and the Winter Ball follows at 7.
Yearbook purchasing information
- Those looking to purchase a 2023 MTRS yearbook should do so directly through TreeRing via the following link: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015542201951246. Once there, you'll be prompted to create an account or login. If you purchased a copy of last year's yearbook, you'll likely already have an account.
- At some point TreeRing may ask you for a passcode to connect to our school. This is not required, but one of several options to connect. Hopefully following the link above works around that, but if not, our school code is: 1015542201951246
- Orders placed by 5/3/2023 will ship to the school, and are estimated to arrive around 5/24. Orders placed after that date will instead ship directly to your home instead of the school.
- Please reach out to the yearbook staff at yearbook@mtrsd.org will any questions.
Please read on to find out what has gone on this week and to find out more about upcoming events at our busy school.
Have a safe weekend
Best
Chris
Upcoming dates
April 1 - Elvis Concert and Winter Ball
April 5th - NHS Induction, 5-6:30pm
April 14th - Talent Show, 6-7:30pm
April 17-21 - April Break
April 28th - MTEA Movie night fundraiser
May 29th - Memorial day (no school)
June 1st - Awards Evening
June 3rd - Graduation (Saturday)
June 8th - Civic Action projects & Field day
June 9th - Step up day
June 9th - 6;30-9 Grade 8 Semi-Formal
June 10th - MTAA Spring Fling
June 19th - Juneteenth (no school)
June 22nd - Last day of school
Early Release Wednesdays (12:50pm)
- March 1,8,15,29
- April 5,12,26
- May 3,10,17,24
AP and MCAS Schedule :Link
Academic Calendar: Link (Please note that Q3 started on January 25th and subsequent dates have yet to be adjusted for snow days. Thanks for your understanding.)
Theatre Updates: For more information and news on Guys and Dolls: Link
Tentative End of Year dates: (adjusted for snow days up to and including 3-17-23)
Finals Schedule
20, 21, 22ndJune: 2 hour delay 20 & 21st, 22nd is a ½ day: 11:30 dismissal
The 7th grade basket raffle fundraiser is open until Monday! Support the 7th grade class by entering to win awesome prizes in the MTRS Main Office. You can also sign up with any 7th grader, or email djohnson@mtrsd.org. Tickets are $2 each or 5 tickets for $5. Baskets include: 2 different Yankee Candle selections, Mo’s Fudge, gardening, bath products, toys, Aubuchon Hardware gift certificate, & Davenport’s Mobil Gas station gift certificate. Cash or Venmo! Thanks so much for all the support so far! More information here.
Mohawk Trail Regional School District is joining a growing number of high schools across the Commonwealth to offer a Seal of Biliteracy program for highly motivated students.
“Students who are driven and highly motivated, and who want to demonstrate proficiency in two languages will be able to do so,” said Barbara Page, teacher of Multilingual Learners. “The benefits of earning the seal are significant academically, and also financially, as many colleges and universities offer college credit for the accomplishment.”
The State Seal of Biliteracy is an award provided by state-approved districts that recognizes high school graduates who have studied and demonstrated high levels of functional and academic proficiency in English and another World Language. To meet the requirements, students typically need six or more years of instruction in the target language.
“Mohawk Trail currently offers two world languages, French and Spanish and is planning to introduce ASL this coming year,” said Principal Chris Buckland. “Proficiency in world languages empowers students to use languages other than English to tell their own stories, understand the stories of others, and engage with their communities and the world. It is a tremendously valuable tool for life, particularly in the global economy we now live in.”
School officials say the ability to award the seal, granted through an application process by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is another example of the opportunities for Mohawk Trail students.
“Whether we are talking about academic rigor, or we are talking of inclusion, or learning about the world we live in, or even of different paths to success, this is a perfect example of how our students have the opportunity to challenge themselves, and to achieve something that’s rather unique and valuable,” Mr. Buckland said.
For more information, contact Sarah Jetzon, Curriculum Director at MTRSD: sjetzon@mtrsd.org
Mohawk Trail showcases student and staff academic and extracurricular accomplishments
“A Celebration of Learning”, Mohawk Trail Regional School District’s signature event of the school year, took place this Wednesday evening at Mohawk Trail Regional High School.
“This is really our opportunity to share with the community we serve who we are, what we do, and how we do it,” said Principal Chris Buckland. “Our student athletes get to shine on a field, court, or mountainside. This is a way for our student scholars, artists, musicians to show what we do. It is also an opportunity for our teachers to showcase their expertise.”
The event also provided opportunities for parents and others to sit in on high quality workshops designed to help parents, students, and teachers gain a shared understanding of the unique challenges today’s high schools face.
“We are committed to providing our students with a high quality education that sets them up for success,” said Superintendent Sheryl Stanton. “We partner with local colleges, businesses, farms, and industry to create an environment where our students - while they are still in middle and high school - can learn what they need to do to chase their dreams.”
She said the Mohawk Trail approach means including parents and the community in the process.
Besides a convention like atmosphere Wednesday night, where staff and students alike were able to demonstrate classroom activities including robotics, civics, engineering, art projects, the Celebration of Learning provided free workshops in critical areas of interest to parents and others.
The workshop schedule was as follows:
4:30 - 4:55 PM: Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics - Room 176 in Middle School Wing Come experience what is unique about learning math at MTRS.
5:00 - 5:30 PM: Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics - Room 176 in Middle School Wing. Come experiences what is unique about learning math at MTRS.
Students in Grades 7, 8, 9 & 10 will soon be taking MCAS
Grade 10 took ELA MCAS this past week and soon grades 7 and 8 will take their MCAS tests.
MCAS tests are required by state and federal law and are an important tool to promote student success and educational equity.
High school students in the class of 2025 (10th graders) must take and pass the MCAS tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics to earn a high school diploma, in addition to meeting local requirements. Students in the class of 2026 (9th graders) will take tests in ELA and mathematics next year, and they are also required to take and pass a test in science and technology/engineering (they will take or have already taken the science test this year). Students will have opportunities to retest if they do not pass.
The high school MCAS tests also provide the opportunity for students to qualify for several state awards. These include the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship and the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery.
In addition, MCAS test results will:
give information about areas of learning that have been most impacted by the pandemic,
provide important data on which students, schools, and districts have been most affected by pandemic-related changes in schooling, and
improve understanding of your child’s knowledge and skills in relation to the state’s learning standards, so that we can provide the best system of support and instruction in future years.
Schedule & Parent Information
Please be aware of the schedule. It can be found here
Parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about the tests themselves, DESE have put together a number of useful resources, here. Student expectations during testing are explained, here.
Grade Level and Tests
Grade 10 - ELA and MATH - Computer Based Testing (CBT)
Grade 9 - Biology CBT
Grade 8 - ELA, MATH & Science CBT
Grade 7 - ELA & MATH CBT
Staff will be reviewing expectations and supporting students with the testing process in preparation for the respective tests later in the term. This includes familiarity with the testing technology as well as looking at past papers.
Day of the test
Please make sure that students have slept well and eaten breakfast prior to coming to school. There will be a snack available for students who have not been able to have breakfast before traveling to school.
Chromebooks
During class next week, students will be supported in uploading the MCAS test nav app to their own chromebook. Students will use their own devices for testing. This is a change to a previous note where we planned to have students use library devices.
After Testing
The vast majority of tests are scheduled from 8 - 10am. This is followed by a lunch break. Students are expected to remain in school for the remainder of the day. It is important that students are able to take advantage of class time for the rest of the year. Staff will adjust lessons to account for students taking a test earlier in the day. We strongly encourage all students to participate in all sessions of all tests and require written notice from care providers at least 24 hours in advance if this is not the case for non-graduation requirements.
Please email or call your student’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns.
Date confirmed as Saturday, June 3rd, 1-3pm
Based on feedback from graduating class of ‘23 and the family members who completed the surveys, graduation will take place outside on Saturday June 3rd from 1-3pm with a rain venue of the MTRS gymnasium on the same day as an alternate rain location - decision on the weather will be made by 11 am on the 3rd.
A survey has been shared to students in the class of 2023 in which the following information is required:
Name as it appears on your diploma
Capstone focus
Plans for next year
What you liked most about your experiences at MTRS
What you will miss most about MTRS
Your advice for future graduates
The deadline for students to complete this is April 13th.
Reach out to Class of 23 advisors Ms. Basal or Ms. Camada if you have any questions.
Dates to be aware of:
SENIOR Grading window: Wednesday, May 17 - Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 at 11:59pm
- Prom - Friday 19th May
- Senior Send off - Weds 24th May
- Senior Soak - Thursday 24th May
- Finals and rehearsals for Awards/ Graduation - Tuesday 30th May
- Elementary school visit and MTRS staff cookout - Wednesday 31st May
- Awards Event - Thursday 1st June (5-7pm)
- Graduation Celebration - Friday June 2nd, 6:30-8pm (Rain date: June 3rd: 1-3pm)
For scholarship information and deadlines, students should continue to reference the Student Services updates
CEEP Updates
Here is the latest CEEP newsletter with our spring enrichment offerings and our April Camp information.
And we are looking for some cinder blocks to be donated to build a sensory garden in our new MTOC (outdoor classroom).
The OAC is working on creating a Sensory Garden this spring in the newly created Mohawk Trail Outdoor Classroom (MTOC). This space is situated between our building walls creating easy access to the outdoors for staff and students to use during the school day. Our community felt creating a sensory garden would be beneficial to our students.
We are in need of plant and seed donations. We are looking for plants (and small bushes only) that are fun to touch, smell or taste as well as pretty plants to enjoy looking at. We prefer things that are native, but are open to plant ideas that don’t profusely spread. Some ideas are bee balm, chives, rosemary and yarrow (nothing taller than 5 feet).
Have something to donate? Are you interested in helping plant items this spring? Email Alia Woofenden at awoofenden@mtrsd.org
Zoar's After School Paddling Program
This program will run from April 10 - May 18; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 3:30 PM to 5:20 PM and Wednesday from 1:30 PM to 3:20 PM. No previous experience is necessary; only confidence in water and an eagerness to learn to paddle. Zoar will provide all the whitewater kayaking gear and professional instruction. Students start out on flatwater to gain basic skills and develop core competencies. Participants will then learn how to confidently maneuver their kayak and themselves in whitewater. Over the duration of the five weeks of the program, students will progress to paddling Class 1 and 2 rapids, with the option to run a Class 3 rapid at the end of the course on our full day river run. We are only offering this course to students from grades 7- 12. No chaperones are needed and the program is not open to younger students. Please see the attached information for more course details. The cost is $316.62 for the 5 week program. Contact Mrs. Woof awoofenden@mtrsd.org to enroll before April 10th. (Full scholarships are available and transportation back to MTRS at the end of the day can also be arranged!)
Alia Woofenden "Mrs. Woof"
Liaison for Community Engagement and Enrichment Programs
Mohawk Trail Regional School District
24 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
She/Her/Hers
Chris Buckland
Email: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org
Phone: 413-625-9811
Facebook: facebook.com/mohawktrailregional