Happy first week of February! We're quickly heading toward February break, but before we get there be sure to check out what's happening this week:

* FY 2023 budget updates

* COVID-19 testing and updates

* COVID-19 school planning task force update

* What is a Trailblazer - MTRS virtual event on Feb. 15

* In the News

* School Spotlight

Budget season is in full swing as we continue to work on our draft FY 2023 for the Mohawk Trail Regional School District. Last night (Feb. 3), the budget subcommittee met to review the latest draft. As a result of the governor's office releasing cherry sheet data a little later than expected, we will have some slight adjustments to our budget schedule.

Over the next several days we will finalize our proposed budget in preparation for the public hearing on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m., followed by a school committee vote on Feb. 23 (back-up date is slated for Feb. 28).

Budget materials and our updated timeline can be easily accessed from our district website at www.mtrsd.org/business-services. As we approach town meeting season, copies of our FY23 flyers will also be made available on the website.

Thank you to the budget subcommittee and community members for their critical eye in reviewing and providing feedback throughout this budget process!

The recent changes to our COVID-19 testing programs, in line with recommendations from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), offered through the Mohawk Trail Regional School District have now been instituted for both staff and students. As part of this change we have discontinued the Test to Stay program and replaced it with the opt-in home testing program.

What does this mean?

• Families and staff have two opportunities for testing through the district:

• At home antigen testing (testing on Saturday)

• Weekly Pooled testing (Tuesdays for the elementary schools and Wednesdays for Mohawk Trail Regional School)

• For families/staff who have enrolled in the Opt-In Home Testing program: every other week, the school will distribute a box of two rapid tests to each student. One of these rapid tests should be used each Saturday. Positive test results need to be reported to both the nurse leader, Donna Weber (dweber@mtrsd.org) and the school nurse. Negative results do not need to be reported. If you have not already opted into this program and would like to do so please use the link below: Opt-In to At Home Testing program

• Families/staff who have consented to the weekly Covid-19 surveillance “pool” testing program will continue to be tested at school weekly. This is the more sensitive PCR test. If you have not already consented into this program and would like to do so please use the link below. Weekly Pool testing program sign up (Make sure the correct school is listed in step 2)

• The district will no longer be able to rapid test students who are considered close contacts to a positive case at school. The reason for this is that every student now has the opportunity to test twice weekly, covering the recommended testing of every close contact at 5-7 days after the exposure, no matter what the vaccination status.

• Symptomatic Rapid Antigen Testing will continue to be available for individuals that have consent to testing, who become symptomatic during the school day. Please continue to keep your child/self home when feeling unwell.

• Individuals who have tested positive will now be required to provide a negative antigen (rapid) test after their isolation and prior to returning to school. If finding an antigen test is a hardship for you, please contact your school nurse.

If you have any questions these programs changes, please contact Donna Weber at dweber@mtrsd.org

COVID-19 cases continue to be on the rise in our community. Each week, the COVID-19 School Planning Task Force meets to discuss the weekly data and the impact to our school community. We would like to remind our students, staff, and families to please continue to follow the FAB FIVE to help keep our school community healthy, safe, and learning! We know it's been a long-haul and are seeing some pandemic fatigue throughout our community, but now is the time for us to stay dedicated to our mitigation strategies so we can help stop the spread and see our caseloads move in the opposite direction.

As a reminder, you can find all your COVID-19 related information including our opt-in program, pooled testing, the district's weekly caseload dashboard, and more--on the COVID-19 information page on the district's website: www.mtrsd.org/covid-19-information.

Do you have a COVID-19 related question or need to talk with our COVID-19 Nurse? Please contact Donna Weber at dweber@mtrsd.org.

Are you a current or prospective family interested in learning more about the MTRS Trailblazer work? Do you wonder, "What is the Trailblazer model?" and how it prepares students for the future? Are you a caregiver to elementary-aged children who will attend MTRS in the future?

JOIN US for this virtual event and hear directly from current students about how they are blazing *their* trails at MTRS! Our students will answer questions about what it means to BE a Trailblazer; and discuss our innovative, hands-on learning opportunities, internships, Capstone work, and more!

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 15

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Don't forget to RSVP by Feb. 11! CLICK HERE to submit your RSVP and ask a question in advance.

Questions? Please contact MTRS Principal Chris Buckland at cbuckland@mtrsd.org.

Event details can be found HERE or visit www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org/News

This beautiful drawing is one of many awesome pieces of artwork created by our students that can be found at MTRS. Check out some of the other amazing pieces by following MTRS Arts on Instagram (@mtrs_arts).

MTRS eighth graders recently studied the Bill of Rights and participated in small group discussions to analyze Supreme Court cases and the rights that were challenged in those cases. MTRS Assistant Principal Diane Zamer noted there were some wonderful, lively conversations as a result of this work. In this picture, one of the student break-out groups engage in discussion.

Putting students at the center of their learning and allowing them to lead discussions, think critically, work together with their peers, and provide them with real-world experience is what the Trailblazer model is all about!

The monthly MTRS Athletic Association meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

The agenda will include:

• Proposed Changes to bylaws

• New logo to vote on

• Fundraisers for Spring 2022

• Open Floor for parents and coaches

TO JOIN THE MEETING:
Google Meet Link: meet.google.com/rzg-ovyh-qeg

Join by phone:

(US) +1 601-640-1048 (PIN: 973273056)

A note from the athletic association: Meeting Minutes and Agenda can be found on the athletic association's website. We need more parents, family members, athletes, coaches at our meetings. We discuss many topics surrounding the future of our association. We need your input, your intuitive ideas, your enthusiasm and most of all your support. $1 membership fee for voting rights.

THANK YOU to our incredible custodial staff for helping to keep our buildings tidy and clean (and really, this time of year is tough--mud, dirt, and sand oh-my!). Shown here, Doug, a member of the MTRS custodial staff, tackled clean-up in the gym stands. Fun fact: Doug is a proud MTRS alum! Thanks, Doug and to ALL our incredible facilities/custodial/grounds staff throughout the district for all you do to help keep our buildings and grounds maintained!

We LOVE hearing about / seeing MTRS alumni in the news! Ms. Brooks recently spotted a great interview with MTRS alum (and current Smith College student) Violet Rawlings in the Smith Alumnae Quarterly about her work in the Writing and Public Discourse program. You can read all about it here: https://saqonline.smith.edu/publication/?m=45764&i=733987...

Awesome work, Violet, and congrats on all your accomplishments!

Last week Superintendent Stanton subbed as the PE teacher for a day and had some fun with our students!

Students at Colrain Central, Sanderson Academy, and Hawlemont took full advantage of the snowy conditions over the past few weeks to have some fun and be creative outside!

Superintendent of Schools

Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Regional School Districts

sstanton@mtrsd.org

Twitter: @mtrsdsuper