PSAT RESULTS: Student PSAT scores will be available online on December 9, 2019. Students will get an online score report, a customized SAT study plan and practice tests based on individual results once connected to Khan Academy via their account on collegeboard.org.

SAT & ACT TEST information is available in the Counseling Center. “My SAT Online Score Report” is available free to any student who takes the SAT. The report gives students a wealth of personalized, practical information about their SAT results. It identifies specifics about how the test is structured and scored. It provides detailed insights into how they performed on each section of the test. You can see how their scores compare to students in their school, state, and nationally. It provides information on how to improve scores on a future test through targeted preparation. To access the report, the student should log into or create a free collegeboard.com account with a self-selected username and password, click on “My SAT”. It will show the upcoming tests for which the student is registered (or registrations that are in progress), plus scores from all previous SATs taken. Next to the relevant test date, you will click on “My SAT Online Report”.

ASVAB TESTING: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB), a free vocational test for juniors, will be given on February 12, 2020, 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Announcements will be made when sign-ups start.

FINANCIAL AID FORMS: The FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) is available as of October 1, 2019. Apply on line at fafsa.gov. All seniors going to college and their parents must have a FSA ID for the “electronic signature” to submit the FAFSA forms. Create your FSA ID at the FAFSA.Gov web site.

The FAFSA website is http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

WARNING: There are commercial websites that look like the government FAFSA website; these sites will charge you a fee to submit your FAFSA. Make sure you are in the “FAFSA.gov” site before you put in your personal financial information. Remember the FAFSA is FREE! A direct link is located on the Minnechaug home page under “For Students” “Counseling Center” “College Information” tab.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarship information can be found on Naviance under Family Connection, College tab and scholarship list. To order transcripts and counselor’s letter of recommendations please see Mrs. Lavoie.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DEADLINE: If colleges have January 1 deadlines, students must submit their requests no later than Friday, December 6. Please keep in mind that this is the busiest time for processing applications and that the office will be closed during the December break, December 23 through January 1, 2020.

SENIORS --- KEEP GUIDANCE INFORMED: Please notify your Counselor and update Naviance when you receive decision letters from colleges and when you decide to attend a specific college. We need to know if you have been accepted, wait listed or denied.

NAVIANCE – All students should be using NAVIANCE to help with career and college planning. Freshmen and sophomores can do any of three Interest Inventories available on the site. Juniors should be checking out colleges they may be interested in attending. Seniors should be finalizing their plans by completing their applications and looking into scholarships, all on NAVIANCE. Freshmen will be registered on Naviance during Developmental Guidance lessons in January and February.

COURSE SELECTIONS: The time is rapidly approaching for students to think about what courses they want to take next year. The Program of Studies will be available in late January. Please talk to your current teachers about the appropriate level and sequence of your classes for next year.

PARENTS: HELP IS AVAILABLE

STAT, the Student Teacher Assistance Team (STAT) is a school-based prevention and early intervention program for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The goal of STAT is to foster student success and healthy development, enhance a safe school environment and promote opportunities for knowledge, skill, attitude, and behavior development. The STAT accepts referrals from the school community and parents for students who are exhibiting behaviors that are interfering with their education. A student may be referred when a teacher, parent or fellow student has concerns in the areas of academics, behavior, social or emotional difficulties. If parents have concerns about their student, they can contact any of the student’s teachers or their guidance counselor for a possible STAT referral.

CAREER CENTER NEWS

Career Internships – Juniors

Internship applications will be available in December. Applications will be done online this year and emailed to all juniors. A link to the application will also be posted on the Minnechaug website under the Counseling Center tab.

Juniors must turn in a completed application by January 31, 2020 via Google forms. Students should NOT attempt to set up their own internship. For more information, students should see their School Counselor or Mrs.Considine, the School to Career Coordinator.

Student Health Screening – Postural screening (for scoliosis) is ongoing for ninth graders during their gym class. We will perform height & weight, vision, and hearing screening for all tenth graders during January and February. All screening results are strictly confidential. If there is an area of concern we will mail a letter to you with referrals to appropriate health care providers. If you have concerns or do not want your child screened, please contact the nurses in the Health Office at 279-3815.

Cold and Allergy Medication – is not available in the Health Office and must be taken at home if needed. We have a limited supply of cough drops, so we ask students to bring their own to school after the first day of use. The best way to prevent the spread of colds is to practice good handwashing. Thank you for your help with this.

12 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season – from the CDC

1. Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. It’s flu season. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Bundle up to stay dry and warm. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.
3. Manage stress. Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, and get plenty of sleep.
4. Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. Whenever anyone drives drunk, they put everyone on the road in danger. Choose not to drink and drive and help others do the same.
5. Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. Smokers have greater health risks because of their tobacco use, but nonsmokers also are at risk when exposed to tobacco smoke.
6. Fasten seat belts while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to their height, weight, and age. Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip and encourage passengers to do the same.
7. Get exams and screenings. Ask your health care provider what exams you need and when to get them. Update your personal and family history.
8. Get your vaccinations. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year.
9. Monitor children. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, and other objects out of children’s reach. Protect them from drowning, burns, falls, and other potential accidents.
10. Practice fire safety. Most residential fires occur during the winter months, so don’t leave fireplaces, space heaters, food cooking on stoves, or candles unattended. Have an emergency plan and practice it regularly.
11. Prepare food safely. Remember these simple steps: Wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures and refrigerate foods promptly.
12. Eat healthy, stay active. Eat fruits and vegetables which pack nutrients and help lower the risk for certain diseases. Limit your portion sizes and foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. Also, be active for at least 2½ hours a week and help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.

Attention all Falcons Fans! Stay connected with the MIAA app. Download it for free from the android store or App store for IPhone. This free tool will keep you up to date with schedules, directions to sites, bus departure times, rosters and so much more. This is your way to be sure that what we have is what you have! You can also follow us on twitter and Instagram @chaugathletics.

All Fall athletes should have returned all school issued equipment and uniforms by now. If anything is outstanding, then bills will be sent home for the replacement cost of the missing item(s). Please call us if you have any questions.

Athletic Passes: Athletic passes good for any 12 charged home events will be available at the ticket window whenever admission is charged. Adult passes are $50 for 12 events. That’s a $10 savings. These are great stocking stuffers!!!!!!!! You can call our office to order them as well at 413-599-1831.

We look forward to seeing many people at our winter events. Happy Holidays…….

WE ARE CHAUG!

The Student Council will be holding its annual Toy for Joy drive from Monday, November 25-Friday, December 6. All money collected will be donated to the local Toy for Joy annual drive, which is in its 97th year of assisting families in need during the holiday season. The money will stay in the local area. Any amount of monetary donation is greatly appreciated. The classes that raise the most money will receive a special treat!

On Friday, December 6th, the Student Council will be holding a Dress for a Cause Day to benefit the Toy for Joy program. Students and faculty are asked to wear their “ugliest” sweater on this day. Donations may be made upon entering the building in the morning.

The Student Council is holding its annual semiformal dance on December 6th from 7-10 PM in the Gym. This year’s theme is “Masquerade”. Tickets are $12, $11 with current Renaissance status, with a $1 if the student donates a non-perishable food item which will be donated to our local food pantry (limit of $1 off for food donated). Tickets are on sale from Monday, December 2-December 6 at all three lunches in the cafeteria. No tickets will be sold at the door. As per policy, this dance is open to current Minnechaug students only.

The next Student Council General Assembly is Tuesday, December 17th during C-Block in the auditorium.

The English department proudly announces the

Annual Poetry Out Loud Contest

Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. in the Minnechaug Auditorium

The community is invited to watch this exciting event.

What is Poetry Out Loud?

Poetry Out Loud is a national contest of poetry recitation sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Students from all over the country participate in classroom contests that lead to school-wide competitions. The winners of the school competition advance to the regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Awards and placements are determined solely by the judges’ scores based on the Poetry Out Loud Evaluation Criteria: physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, and evidence of understanding.

The 2020 1st place winner and runner-ups will be announced by 10:35 a.m. on Dec 16 at the whole-school competition. The 1st place winner will travel to the regional competition in Springfield in March 2020.

Why do Minnechaug students participate in this event every year?

Besides providing students the opportunity to further develop comprehension of complex literary texts, Poetry Out Loud empowers students; they hear their own voices and witness their own confidence, when communicating to a wide audience.

History of Poetry Out Loud at Minnechaug

Minnechaug has held the POL annual contest since 2012. Past winners who proceeded to the regional competition were: Sara Walker (2019); Stephanya Moran (2018); Eric Dzierzgowski (2017), Rachel Dembek (2016); Anthony Pina (2015); Courtney Reisbig (2014): Evan Moore (2013); and Leah Wallace (2012). Anthony Pina (2015) and Stephanya Moran (2018) won the regional competition and participated in the state competition in Boston.

Please come and watch. We are proud of our students’ achievements and want to celebrate this with you.

The annual Semi Formal Dance is here! Semi will be on December 6th, 2019 from 7:00-10:00pm. Students from all grades are encouraged to attend, and the theme is Masquerade. Tickets will be sold at all lunches from December 2nd- December 6th; however, no tickets will be sold at the door the night of the dance.

Tickets are $12 or $11 with Renaissance status. There will also be a can drive going on during lunch sales: any student who donates non-perishable food items will get an extra dollar off the ticket price. Coupons for semi dresses are available in Student Activities while supplies last. Hope to see everyone there!

Sign-ups are open until Tuesday, December 17th. We are a non-competitive club that welcomes all levels of skiers and snowboarders. We take a bus from Minnechaug to Wachusett Mountain on Tuesdays afterschool for 6 weeks starting in January. Spots are limited in the club so it is a first come first serve basis. Please contact Dina DeMico if you have any questions or want the sign up information at: Ddemico@hwrsd.org or (413)596-9011 x6114.