Student & Family Update
April 29, 2022
May 27th, 2022
Good afternoon everyone!
This week has been a fantastic celebration of the class of 2022. As well as narrowly defeating the staff in a sporting tournament, seniors cooked out for staff and enjoyed soaking the juniors in a traditional, “Senior Soak!” Additionally, the Prom is happening tonight and next week the Awards and Graduation ceremonies will take place!
Please read on to learn more about other upcoming events at our busy school!
Best wishes
Chris
Class of 2022 cooking out for staff on Wednesday
Important Dates to Remember
Upcoming dates
May 27: Prom
June 2 - Awards Night: 5-7pm
June 4 - Graduation 1-3pm
June 7 & 8 - High School Biology MCAS
June 10 - Grade 8 Send off and Semi-Formal: 6 - 9pm
June 13 - Step-Up Day
June 21 & 22nd: Chrome Book/ Technology return
June 22nd Student last day
June 23rd Staff last day of school
August 23 & 24: Family Registration events: 7:30-10:30, 3:00-6
August 25: 1st day of PD
Academic calendar for 2022/23 (some events like Graduation 2023 need to be confirmed)
Early release Wednesdays
Last one is June 8th. All other Wednesdays this year are regular 2:20 finishes
Chrome Book Return
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd - all students must return chrome books and chargers to Suzor who will have a return cart set up in the lobby at MTRS
Safety and Security at MTRS
This week has shown how important it is to continue to maintain security protocols at MTRS in order that our school is a safe place for everyone.
On Wednesday morning we adjusted our advisory classes to incorporate reminders about the safety measures we have in place at school. Additionally, all students were made aware of the building support personnel available to talk with them at any time, should they feel safe.
As a reminder, we conducted a lockdown drill in February with local and state police in order that our lockdown and shelter in place processes are in place, should we ever have cause to use them. Additional staff training was conducted by Officer Carmichael in March in relation to lockdown and shelter in place. On May 11th admin staff received training from Officer Carmichael in relation to entry and visitor security processes in out school district.
We are very grateful to state and local police for providing a reassuring police presence during drop off on Thursday and Friday of this week.
Mask Use Extended Through June 3rd
Mask use extended through June 3rd
Please be aware that on the advice of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, the mask requirement will continue in the Mohawk Trail Regional District Schools until June 3rd
Thank you for wearing a mask in our schools.
We will update you on the 3rd if the situation has changed.
National Honors Society Induction
Wednesday evening saw the following students inducted into the MTRS Neil E. Potter Chapter of the National Honor Society:
Mohamed Abdelgawad Grace Davenport Weston DenOuden Riley Giard Sophia Goodnow Auriel Nalbandian Rachel Pease Emily Sisum Eliandra Snape Kaylin Sumner William VanVleet
Led by faculty advisor Ms White, the MTRS NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. This year the MTRS NHS has introduced and overseen the composting program in the HS and have been active in the renovation of the trophy cabinets outside the auditorium. Next year there are already plans to introduce composting to MS and to work with the outdoor advisory committee on student and community focussed projects.
How can you join the NHS?
Students in grades 10–12 who meet the requirements for membership are eligible to be invited for membership.
Each chapter is required to publish its qualifications for membership, which is based on the four pillars of NHS:
Scholarship
Per national guidelines, at a minimum, students must have a cumulative GPA of 85, B, 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent standard of excellence. (Each school chapter is allowed to require a higher cumulative GPA.)Service
This involves voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation.Leadership
Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, and idea contributors. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.Character
The student of good character is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and generally maintains a clean disciplinary record.
Students who meet the scholarship requirement will have an opportunity to complete a form detailing their accomplishments in and commitment to service, leadership, and character.
Please see or email Ms White for more information!
Class of 2022: Awards Night:5-7pm, Thurs June 2nd
Thank you to Class of 22 and families for responding to our planning survey for the event next Thursday.
We are looking forward to seeing you at MTRS for a 5pm start on Thursday June 2nd.
Please remember that the masking requirement will remain in effect until June 3rd.
Grade 8 Semi-Formal & Send off!
We are pleased to confirm that we will be hosting a Grade 8 Semi-Formal and Send off on June 10th from 6:30-9pm. Please send Ms Ruggeri a photo to include in the commemorative slide show which will be played at the event.
Date: June 10th
Location: Cafeteria
Time: 6:30-9pm
Chaperones will be provided by the school
Schedule:
6:30-7: Caregivers are invited to take photos of their children and view the 8th grade slideshow
7-9: Semi-formal in the cafeteria
News from the Cafeteria
Mohawk Trail Regional School District families is that next school year we may return to the traditional system, where students receive free, reduced-price, or full-price meals based upon income status. In order to ensure we can provide free or reduced-price meals to as many families as possible, we will need families to complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for 22-23 school year. Please note that this does not affect the remainder of the current school year. We will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to ALL students until this school year ends June 22, 2022.
An email with more details was sent out to all families on Monday 23rd.
Mohawk Trail Music Concert
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our choir and band last night. It was so good to be at a live school music event!
Please speak with Nick if you are interested in singing or learning an instrument.
Theatre
Play interest 2022/23
Thanks to everyone who helped our students put on the show, Bits of Broadway last weekend; it was fantastic to see students singing and acting on the stage at MTRS after almost two years of silence!
We would like to continue to build out our drama and musical program in the district and are tentatively planning to run a play in the Fall of 2022 and a musical in the early Spring of 2023. If you are a student and would like to be involved in our drama and musical offerings for 2022/23, please complete this survey.
We would also like to ask families of students who will be in grades 5 and 6 if their student would be interested in participating in an after-school drama activity on Wednesdays in the fall and in rehearsals for the musical on wednesdays in the Winter/ Spring. Please complete this survey to help us plan.
Library new
Please see the latest library news here
Student Summer Job opportunity
Hawlemont is seeking summer workers:
Summer Program Assistants:
The Hawlemont Summer Program is looking to employ two assistants to help Hawlemont staff and teach, supervise, and entertain students in our 4 week summer program. Tasks may include: gathering and preparing materials, encouraging and mentoring students in academic work, leading enrichment activities, building forts, assisting in science experiments, and supervising children in safe play. A Preschool-2nd grade and 3-6 grade program will run alongside each other with a half day focus on academics and a half day focus on enrichment and recreation.
Looking for someone with a strong work ethic and positive attitude who is comfortable working outside in summer weather and working with elementary students. Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-2:45 pm, July 11th-August 5th. Preference to Mohawk High School students and Hawlemont alumni 16 years and older.
Please contact Amber Tulloch if interested,
413-339-8316
Mohawk Trail Equity Alliance - MTEA
Pride
Dear Mohawk Trail Families,
This year, members of the Mohawk Trail Equity Alliance and our school community have been invited to march in the Franklin County Pride Parade in Greenfield on Saturday, June 11th.
Students, staff, and community members are invited to march with us! All participants must arrive at Greenfield Middle School at 11AM to lineup for the parade which begins at 12pm. The parade route goes down Federal Street and finishes at Energy Park where there will be celebration and rally until 3pm. The rally will feature performances and speakers, including some of our MTEA members.
During the rally, students will no longer be under school supervision and will be free to either 1) explore the events and vendors 2) be picked up or 3) return to their cars and travel home as pre-arranged with their families.
Because this is a club event, students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the event. Students should bring appropriate and comfortable clothing and shoes, sun protection, water, snacks and/or money for food at the rally.
Please complete the attached permission slip and have your student return it to any of the MTEA advisors by Thursday, June 6th.
Thank you,
Mohawk Trail Equity Alliance
Leanne Blaszak
Tamara Brown
Nick Lawrence
Academic News
August registration dates
Aug 23 7:30-10:30 am and 24th 3pm - 6pm
7 & 8 schedules will be available and families of 7-12 will be able to complete pupil information, medical & athletic forms.
Transition to 7th Grade information
Step-Up Day: Monday, June 13th, 9:30-1:30 at Mohawk Trail Regional School (MTRS)
This is an important orientation event for all 6th grade students. At this event, 6th graders will participate in activities intended to ease the transition to middle school and create excitement:
9:00-9:30 Arrive at MTRS on bus from elementary schools
9:30-10:00 Welcome & Introduction to 7th Grade
10:00-12:00 Rotation through 7th grade classrooms with the following activities:
* Tour of building
*Q & A
*General Schedule and daily expectations
*Athletics & After School Programs
*Social Time
12:00-12:30 Lunch in Cafeteria with sports information table
12:30-1:00 Recreation Activity 1
1:00-1:30 Recreation Activity 2
1:30 Dismissal to Busses and travel back to elementary schools
Lunch: Students will eat lunch in the MTRS cafeteria. Lunch will be free for all students. The menu for Step-Up Day is Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers. Students are welcome to bring a home lunch instead of getting school lunch if they wish.
Your student will come home with a folder of information on this day!
Don’t forget to sign and return the permission slip to your student’s elementary school
by June 6th!
Please click here for the most recent Student Services updates
Literacy Update!
Literacy Leadership New Curriculum, Next Steps and Communication - We need your feedback!
The Literacy Leadership Team is happy to announce that a decision has been made regarding our new English Language Arts program. Grades K-6 will be adopting the EL Education curriculum. Grades 7-8 will be adopting the Wit & Wisdom curriculum. Staff have already begun to unpack these new programs that will be rolled out in phases beginning next fall. For more information about the curricula and our selection process, please visit this summary report from the director of curriculum, Sarah Jetzon, that was presented to the school committee in May.
While staff are implementing a new literacy curriculum, they will continue to work on improving their knowledge of reading instruction as well as ways to make implementation more effective through data cycles, professional development about the science of reading and small group instruction, and adhering to a new schedule to address all components of literacy instruction. Stay tuned to learn more about these exciting developments.
The Literacy Leadership Team is looking for your feedback about our effectiveness in communicating important information about literacy in the district. Please take a few minutes to respond to this survey, so we can improve.
Zamer's Corner ~ Highlights from our Assistant Principal
Teachers are lifelong learners. Our teachers have the opportunity to visit each other’s classrooms to see their colleagues in action. This week Ms. Glennon got a chance to see our 7th graders in Ms. Blaszak’s classroom in action. Once again 7th grade students used a discussion protocol called a Socratic Seminar to discuss the novel, Animal Farm. You wouldn’t believe the ownership and depth of discussion our 7th graders had! Ms. Blaszak worked hard to prepare the kids. Ms. Glennon writes, “Students were having an intelligent, thoughtful, enthusiastic discussion about Animal Farm. They truly listened to each other, responded to each other’s ideas, and challenged each other respectfully. They asked questions about questions!!!”
I am thankful to work in a collaborative professional learning environment where teachers share their work with other teachers to strengthen their own instruction. In the words of Ms. Glennon, “In general, I find being in other teachers’ classrooms inspiring because of the reminder that mine isn’t the only way to do things. “. MTRS teachers and students ROCK!
Local Education Council Meeting!
June 1
Virtual meeting: 3:45 - 4:30pm
Join by phone
(US) +1 813-435-9650 PIN: 741 012 215#
New at MTRS - Graduation Endorsements Pilot!
Starting with the graduating class of 2023, MTRS will be piloting two Graduation Endorsements, one in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion awarded by the Equity Council, and the other in Creative Arts, offered by the Art and Music Departments. An endorsement is kind of like a college minor, and is intended to recognize our students for their investment in an area of personal interest outside of traditional academics. Students will need to meet the requirements for each endorsement, and go through an application process during the winter of their senior year. Endorsements will be noted on their transcript, and recognized at Awards Night and Graduation. We’re very excited to be offering graduation endorsements to our students as another way to honor their individual choices and passions on their way to college and career!
For more information, please contact Rachel Hoogstraten - rhoogstraten@mtrsd.org - about the Equity Endorsement, and Rachel Silverman - rsilverman@mtrsd.org - about the Creative Arts Endorsement.
Finals Information
Semester 2 Finals
12th Grade Finals - no final schedule for 12th grade students, any assessment will take place in class prior to May 26th
Grade 10-11 Finals (timings coming soon)
Wednesday, June 8th - Block 1 and 2 (Early Release)
Thursday, June 9 - Block 3 and 4 (late start HS only)
Friday, June 10 - Make up finals (late start HS only)
Grade 9 Finals (timings coming soon)
BIO MCAS 7th June
Weds, June 8 - Bio MCAS in Block 1, Block 2 (Early Release)
Thursday, June 9 - Block 3 and 4 (late start HS only)
Friday, June 10 - Make up finals ( Grade 9 Block 1 could take a final at this point or teachers may do an alternative assessment earlier in the week) (late start HS only)
Q4 grading window: Thursday, June 9- Friday 17th, June at midnight
Q4 report cards will be distributed on: Tuesday Weds 22nd
Community Activities & Engagement
How can you get involved at MTRS?
Community Updates
Here is the latest CEEP newsletter.
The summer track series is back at MTRS this year on Mondays starting July 11th. We are looking for volunteers and people can contact Mrs Woof at awoofenden@mtrsd.org
Here is more information, we hope to see you there.
Build, Grow, Repair
The Makers Menagerie is a 5 day collaborative program taking place in June at a local nonprofit organization called Fabric of Life located in Shelburn. Students will learn the basics of weaving along with basic carpentry skills, and they are invited to participate in activities in the vegetable garden.
Please find more information about Makers Menagerie here, and please find a program flyer attached to this email. I've also included a general information flyer for Build Repair Grow. If you could share this wonderful summer program with the Mohawk Trail Regional School District Community, that would be great!
Feel free to contact me with any questions!
Best wishes,
Logan
Logan McFadden
Founder, Build Repair Grow
(630) 453-7159
(they/them)
MTRS International Trip
Please click here for information on Mrs. Camarda’s trip to Italy and Greece in June of 2024. Email Mrs. Camarda for more information: lcamarda@mtrsd.org
Athletics News
MTRS game schedules available on ARBITER SPORTS App!
Download the APP via the App Store or Google Play and add MTRS as a favorite for quick access to all of our teams’ game schedules. You can also access our schedules by visiting the “Arbiter Live” website:
https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=14937
If you need any help or have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to Athletic Director Greg Vouros for more information at gvouros@mtrsd.org
Pop-in for a chat ~ Virtual office hours with Principal Buckland
Have a virtual coffee or tea with me! Pop-by and tell me about your experiences at MTRS and the Trailblazer model. Each month I'll host two virtual drop-in hours for caregivers and hope you'll stop by to say hello!
Second Friday of each month: 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/jtz-yhet-ipo
Phone Number: (US)+1 (813) 773-5581
PIN: 636 883 303
Third Friday of each month: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/sru-mshz-rht
Phone Number: (US)+1 (218) 301-2866
PIN: 136 064 523
Special Education Updates
Mohawk Trail SEPAC Member and Parent
Do you have a question about your child, their services, or resources specific to your needs? If you or someone you know would like to be added to the private list and receive emails and event notifications, please send an email to: MOHAWKSEPAC@gmail.com Please indicate your email, title (such as parent of a student with IEP/504), District, Interested Party or other)
Disclosure: SEPAC maintains the list of contacts and keeps the information private. This email is maintained by a parent and volunteer. Our goal is to respond in a timely manner. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Chris Buckland
Email: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org
Phone: 413-625-9811
Facebook: facebook.com/mohawktrailregional