MTRSD S'Update

Our schools, classrooms, and fields are buzzing with energy as our students are fully engaged in their learning and our spring sports geared-up for their first games of the season. We have a lot of great events happening over the next few months across the district and I invite you to join us and see our students in action!

On Tuesday (April 12), current and prospective Mohawk Trail Regional School families (elementary families, community members) have the opportunity to hear first-hand from our students about the wonderful array of arts programming at MTRS. On May 19, we will host a district celebration of learning and hope you'll stop in to see all the wonderful projects happening across our schools. Check out our save the dates below for more info!

* COVID-19 updates

* Annual Town Meeting

* Save the dates

* Events & happenings

* PreK / Kindergarten registration days

* Community Corner

* School Spotlight

We continue to keep our COVID-19 information data dashboard updated and have seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases over the past week, especially at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School (BSE). BSE has returned to masking, per the local board of health's directive, until we see case loads decline again. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for making this quick adjustment. As we have said throughout this pandemic, we must remain fluid in this situation and be able to make adjustments as necessary to protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and community.

With the new COVID-19 variant spreading, in addition to common cold and influenza viruses, a reminder to practice those mitigation strategies whenever possible: get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster; wash your hands; and stay home when you are feeling unwell. While we did see improvements in COVID-19 cases over the past few months, the virus has not disappeared and we must remain diligent in our efforts.

Additionally, if you have not yet signed your child/ren up to participate in any of our testing programs (pool, at-home, symptomatic in-school testing) and would like to, please contact our COVID-19 Nurse Leader Donna Weber via email.

It's almost annual town meeting time! Be sure to check our website next week for copies of our annual town meeting flyers. Budget materials can be found at www.mtrsd.org/Business-Services (click on the button for FY23 Budget Materials).

Annual Town Meeting Dates

Ashfield - May 7 at 10 a.m.

Buckland - May 7 at 10 a.m.

Charlemont - May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Colrain - June 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Hawley - May 9 at 7 p.m.

Heath - May 7 at 9 a.m.

Plainfield - May 7 at 1 p.m.

Shelburne - June 11 at 10 a.m.

Don't forget to add these to your calendar and join us!

April 11 - Hawlemont Regional School Committee meeting

April 12 - MTRS Student Arts Panel

April 13 - MTRSD School Committee meeting

April 11, 15, and 29 - Preschool / Kindergarten registration days (see below for full details)

April 18-22 - April vacation

May 15 - MTRS student council tag sale & Mohawk Trail Athletic Association Spring Fling

May 19 - Trailblazer District Wide Celebration of Learning

May 20-22 - MTRS musical, Bits of Broadway

May 26 - MTRS Spring Concert at BSE

May 27 - MTRS Prom

May 30 - Memorial Day

Be sure to check your school's calendar for additional events and details.

CURRENT AND FUTURE MTRS STUDENTS & CAREGIVERS - JOIN US!

How do the arts play a role in the Trailblazer Model? What opportunities do students have to experience arts education at MTRS? How are MTRS students supported in building a creative community?

Please join us for a VIRTUAL student-led panel discussion on Tuesday, April 12 from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Our talented students will be leading this event to share their artistry and educational experiences. Take a virtual tour of our arts spaces! Enjoy a sampling of student work in vocal and instrumental music, studio and digital arts, and theater. We hope you will join us! Caregiver and Community, please RSVP using this form.

The Mohawk Trail Regional School student council needs YOUR help!

YOU have stuff to sell and THEY have space for you!

WHAT: Mohawk Trail Regional School Student Council TAG SALE

WHEN: Sunday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: The MTRS field hockey field (26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls).

Help us FILL THE FIELD and sign-up to be a vendor today!

VENDOR INFORMATION:

$20 per space (spaces approx. 10' x 15')

$10 table rental (limited amount, first come first serve)

*Bringing your own pop-up/EZ up tent is encouraged*

((Note: You keep all the proceeds from your site sales!))

Sign-up by APRIL 29

To sign-up, email: MTRSstuco@mtrsd.org and include subject line: "May Tag Sale"

**Vendors: To sign up, please CLICK HERE and complete the form to reserve your space.**

To save the date and/or spread the word on social - visit the Facebook Event listing here: www.facebook.com/events/710332093667231

Graphic by STUCO member and communications intern Sophia Goodnow

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make high-quality YouTube videos? Do you enjoy being a content creator? If so, this course is for YOU!

NO special equipment needed! Just grab your phone and sign-up!
First class will be held in-person; remainder are virtual (space can be provided at MTRS if needed; students must sign-up with Ms. Woof in advance).

Class cost: $25 (scholarships available)

SIGN-UPS & QUESTIONS: Alia Woofenden, awoofenden@mtrsd.org

On Friday, March 18 a group of Mohawk Trail Regional High School students visited the Miramax production set in Shelburne Falls. David Hemingson, the screenwriter for the film The Holdovers and Tom Williams, the executive producer provided students with real-world examples and first-hand experiences of working in film and on-set.

MTRS students were given the opportunity to questions and reflect on their learning. MTRS senior Ashalyn Duvalt, who wrote a script as her Capstone project, shared her experience with Hemingson and William. Senior Connor Bailey, inquired about the acting aspects in film, as his Capstone project focused on a Shakespeare performance. Sophia McNeil, another film studies student, was interested in learning more about the importance of music in film and as a career.

In the afternoon, our students were given the opportunity to be on set. According to Film Studies teacher Lisa Camarda, students were able to view the staging and props and met the camera operator.

"It was a great field trip that provided authentic experiences with exponential learning. Students reflected upon the field trip with a class discussion, implementing new acquired vocabulary and were able to apply what they learned to complete an activity in class," said Camarda.

Students in the MTRS French 2 & 3 classes recently worked on French storyboards (graphic/comics) which they made for Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School. These beautiful posters were delivered to the school this week. C'est magnifique!

Preschool and kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year will be held next month. As a reminder, you will need to provide your child’s birth certificate and record of immunizations to register.

Buckland Shelburne Elementary - Monday, April 11

Preschool registration at 9:30 a.m.

Kindergarten registration at 11 a.m.

Sanderson Academy - Friday, April 15

Preschool registration at 11 a.m.

Kindergarten registration at 9:30 a.m.

Hawlemont Regional - Friday, April 15

Preschool registration at 12:30 p.m.

Kindergarten registration at 2 p.m.

Colrain Central School - Friday, April 29

Preschool registration at 9:30 a.m.

Kindergarten registration at 11 a.m.

For more information, please call: Amy Socquet/Early Childhood Coordinator at (413) 625-6194, asocquet@mtrsd.org or visit the website: www.mtrsd.org/Early-Childhood-Education

From our friends at the Heath Library:

It's National Library Week and we are grateful for the incredible dedication and support our school library managers provide to our students and staff! School libraries play such an important role in providing access to literature, research, and materials and creative spaces for students to succeed. THANK YOU to our incredible district library staff for helping to make our school libraries such a valuable resource!

Last month, Kindergarteners at Colrain Central School participated in a service learning project and raised money to purchase rain mittens for their preschool friends. Here, some of our fabulous fundraisers wanted to thank their donors... Go on. Press play. We dare you not to smile!

Superintendent of Schools

Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Regional School Districts

sstanton@mtrsd.org

Twitter: @mtrsdsuper