Spartan News
Week Ending 1/27/23
From the Principal
It was our first snowy week of the year! Which of course brought elation from the student body and great opportunities for some skiing and outdoor winter activities.
Our second semester got off to a running start on Tuesday. We held our second lockdown drill of the year and our students and staff did an excellent job executiving our plan. We are grateful to have such an amazing team of local and state police as partners in emergency planning for the safety of our community!
Yesterday and today we had faculty from across our K-12 program engaged in Restorative Justice training as we work to expand the culture and ownership of this work in our schools. The shift in practice is most evident from the work our own Sarah Mead is doing this year in organizing and facilitating restorative conversations between students, between staff and students or between staff. This work shifts culture as we are able to address harm and repair relationship which is the foundation of the work we do as a school.
New classes are off to a great start. I had an opportunity to visit some classrooms today and see students and teachers in action. The Academic Advancement subgroup of the Student Adult Advisory Board and I also met and had a chance to discuss next steps in our work toward Proficiency Based Learning(PBL). We discussed the connection between shifting towards PBL and instructional practices in the classroom as well as the use of rubrics for feedback. Over the second semester, administration and staff will be focused on defining a strong Instructional Vision for this work. In late spring and summer we will be working more deeply in rubric development and alignment to continue to improve for students.
A reminder: In lieu of Parent Council meeting THIS month on January 31st, I ask you to please join one of these events (AND BRING OTHERS!)
Community Portrait of a Graduate meetings:
(i) Stockbridge - Held on 1/24
UPCOMING
(ii) Housatonic. Date: CANCELLED - WILL BE RESCHEDULED
Address: Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 1089 Main Street, Housatonic.
(iii) West Stockbridge Gym. Date: Tuesday 1/31 Time: 6 - 7:30 PM
Address: 21 Stateline Road, West Stockbridge.
(iv) Berkshire South Community Center. Date: Wednesday 2/1 Time: 6 - 7:30 PM
Address: 15 Crissey Rd, Great Barrington.
As always, if you need assistance with anything, please contact me via email kristina.farina@bhrsd.org or phone (413-528-3346).
(In English & Espanol)
REMINDER: If you haven't already ... Please Take 5 minutes to complete the End Of Semester Survey Below
Your feedback is important to us.
We use this data to inform decisions as we plan for next semester and next year.
Thank you for taking the time!
MMRHS Athletics
Spartan Athletics Weekly Bulletin
Go to Arbiter Live and click on the team you are interested in to see their complete schedule as well as results for every game played.
Use the MMRHS GoFan app to buy tickets to the game online.
MIAA winter sports power rankings are out. Check out the MIAA tournament page to see where your Spartans are currently ranked.
Below is the look at the week ahead but if you can’t make the games you can live stream the action through the MMRHS NFHS channel.
Fri. Jan 27: B/G Swimming at Wahconah (4:30) Bus at 3:00
Fri. Jan 27: JV/V Boys bball vs. South Hadley (5:30/7:00) WSBS live broadcast - - Halftime Hall of Fame Ceremony
Sat. Jan 28: Wrestling at Vermont Invitational (9:00) Van at 7:00
Mon. Jan 30: JV/V Boys bball at Hoosac Valley (5:30/7:00) Bus at 3:45
Mon. Jan 30: Alpine Ski at Bousquet (5:30)
Tues. Jan 31: JV/V Girls bball vs. Amherst (5:30/7:00)
Fri. Feb 3: JV/V Boys bball vs. Monsoon (5:30/7:00)
Sat. Feb 4: Wrestling vs. TBD (10:00)
Sat. Feb 4: JV/V Girls bball vs. Belchertown (4:00/5:30)
Karl Zigmand
Athletic Director
Congratulations to Zoe Holmes!
Fiddler on the Roof Information
*The off book date is Monday February 13th*
Monday January 30: Family info meeting @ 6pm in auditorium
Musical website: https://sites.google.com/bhrsd.org/musical/home
The students are doing great! Thank you for all of your support!
What is changing:
In March 2020, the federal government declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, in response federal requirements, MassHealth put protections in place that prevented members’ MassHealth coverage from ending. These protections are ending and MassHealth will soon return to standard annual eligibility renewal processes. In the coming year, all current MassHealth members will need to renew their health coverage to ensure they still qualify for their current benefit.
These renewals will take place over 12 months.
MassHealth members should update their addresses, report household changes, and read all mail from MassHealth:
You can learn more about this effort on our website - MassHealth Eligibility Redeterminations.
What is coming in the future:
Renewals will begin in April, and you will hear more, including dates for webinars and learning events.
Well-being for Teens: A popular course gets a new spin for a new audience
The most popular course in Yale’s history is being revamped for a high school audience.
Five years after “Psychology and the Good Life” enrolled more than 1,000 Yale students — and its subsequent Coursera equivalent gained international recognition — Professor Laurie Santos is returning with a new online version of her innovative course, this time tailor-made for teenagers.
“The Science of Well-Being for Teens,” which launches on Coursera on Jan. 16, will build on both of Santos’ previous courses, teaching students critical strategies for improving mental health and mindfulness. With this new class, she hopes to adapt the evidence-based strategies from her past teaching to hone in on the specific and significant mental health challenges facing teenagers today like college applications, social relationship stresses, and family conflict.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
A reminder that breakfast and lunch are free for all Massachusetts students for this full year.
In addition, students can bring money to purchase additional lunches OR a la carte items.
Community Links
Job Opportunities
Jockey now hiring - link
MassHire Berkshire Career Center: Career Connections
Price Chopper Supermarkets is actively looking to fill part time jobs for students and have scholarship opportunities for students furthering their educational careers. Please contact Jennifer O'Malley, Staffing and Development Professional at JenniferOmalley@pricechopper.com.
McDonald's - hiring link
Handbooks
Monument Mountain has three handbooks that we would like families to read with their students. Students will be reviewing the procedure guide and student charter in their advisories throughout the school year.
The general school handbook contains all of the laws and policies that govern the school and allow us to hold an orderly school assembly. This is an important school document for you to read and understand.
The procedures guide is a listing of all of the daily procedures that allow us to safely proceed with our school day. This document is new and constantly evolving. As a result, you will see some sections that are incomplete. This is an important document for parents and students to read.
The student charter is written by students and for students. The authors of the charter believe the document to be an articulation of how students want to exist in school and what needs to happen for a safe existence to be possible.
Any Questions?
Questions and Answers
Here is who to contact with certain types of questions:
If you haven't received the information packet from the school, call the main office at 413-528-3346 ext. 3100 or email our secretary at doreen.hughes@bhrsd.org.
If you have a question about a particular class please contact the teacher.
If you have a general question about your child’s schedule or about the school, please call or email our Guidance secretary, becky.campetti@bhrsd.org or contact your child’s guidance counselor directly.
If you have a question about PowerSchool login or use, call the guidance office at 413-528-3346 ext.5 or email our Guidance secretary at dede.norton@bhrsd.org.
If you have a question, about busses and transportation, call the main office or email our secretary at heather.Lorance@bhrsd.org.
If you have a question about sports or activities, contact our Activities Director, Karl Zigmand at karl.zigmand@bhrsd.org.
Not sure who to ask, just call the main office at 413-528-3346 ext. 3100 or email our school secretary, doreen.hughes@bhrsd.org
Monument Mountain Mission Statement
The mission of Monument Mountain Regional High School is to create opportunities that foster intellectual and personal growth and Challenge all to become courageous learners, engaged citizens, and individuals of integrity.