Superintendent Weekly Update
May 7, 2021
Dear Mohawk Trail & Hawlemont Families,
We did it! ALL of our district schools are now back to full in-person learning! I truly want to express my sincerest appreciation for everyone who helped to make this happen. We did this together with a common goal--to get our students and staff back to in-person learning safely.
MTRS students experienced their first full day of in-person learning on Monday and are off to a great start and our elementary students celebrated one month of in-person learning this week. Time is flying by and before we know it, we'll be at the finish line for the end of this crazy school year.
We have a lot happening across the district, here are the highlights this week:
* Educator Appreciation Week
* MTRS Return to Learn
* Town Meetings
* MTRSD to Offer Summer Programming
* Strategic Planning Update
* COVID-19 School Planning Task Force Update
* MTRS Class of 2021 Class Gift
* DID YOU KNOW . . .
* Walkathon Slated for May 22
* School Spotlights
Educator Appreciation Week
There are not enough words to showcase the sincere gratitude I have for the incredible educators in our district. Over the past year, our educators have consistently risen to the challenges they were presented with in trying to keep our students engaged in learning during a worldwide pandemic. Being forced into a remote environment and having to make drastic changes to the way they presented their lessons--to combating technology and connectivity issues--and then shifting again to a hybrid model before returning to full in-person teaching. It's been QUITE the year.
I know I'm a bit biased, but we truly have the BEST educators and staff in our districts who give all they have to our students, families, and this incredible school community.
While Educator Appreciation is publicly celebrated once a year during this week, to our educators: YOU are appreciated EVERY day... not just on one week each year. You're the heart of our learning community and we thank you for your tireless work on behalf of our students.
To our generous families, PTOs, and community members who have helped to bring a smile to our educators this week -- thank you. Thank you for supporting these incredible humans and their work. Our community rocks!
MTRS Return to Learn
It's been an incredibly trying year for everyone, but the energy in our buildings with the return of students has been amazing. MTRS spring sports are now underway and I encourage our community to come out to the fields to support our student athletes (practicing physical distancing and wearing your masks is required)!
Annual Town Meetings
HEATH
May 8 at 9 a.m.
HAWLEY
May 10 at 7 p.m.
CHARLEMONT
Awaiting confirmation of date—stay tuned!
ASHFIELD
June 5 at 10 a.m.
BUCKLAND
June 5 at 10 a.m.
SHELBURNE
June 12 at 1 p.m.
COLRAIN
June 16 at 5:30 p.m.
MTRSD to Offer Summer Programming
We're excited to share that our district will provide educational and enrichment summer camp programs for grades K-2, 3-6, and middle school students this summer! Additionally, high school students will have the opportunity to take courses at a local college or work as camp counselors within our summer programs.
MTRSD Summer Program Coordinator Alia Woofenden (AKA: Mrs. Woof) needs YOUR feedback! Please take a moment to complete this brief survey to share your programming needs / what you'd like to see offered: https://forms.gle/cFTpifzgQgVWXbreA
Stay tuned for more information! If you have any questions or would like to connect as a community partner with Mrs. Woof, please reach out to her directly at awoofenden@mtrsd.org.
Strategic Planning Update
I'm really excited about these next steps as we align our district to these goals and outline our future!
COVID-19 School Planning Task Force Updates
I'm excited to share we've once again seen a DECREASE in state and county COVID-19 cases and am happy to report a decrease in district cases as well. Thanks to your continued diligence in practicing our Fab Four, combined with the mitigating strategies in our schools, we continue to help keep our students, staff, and community healthy and safe.
VACCINE REMINDER: If you haven't yet had an opportunity to get your COVID-19 vaccination and want one, our friends at FRCOG have shared with us that vaccines are now readily available and easy to schedule! Visit the FRCOG website or www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine to learn how you can schedule your vaccine today!
FOR MTRS students aged 16+ who have been vaccinated: Don't forget to update your vaccine records to include your COVID-19 vaccine with the school nurse. Simply bring your vaccine card (or copy of your card) to Nurse Harrison to keep on file.
IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED, please be sure to read through the updated state guidance to help you navigate social settings safely: www.mass.gov/guidance/guidance-for-people-who-are-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19
As always, if you have any health/COVID-19-related questions, please don't hesitate to contact our Nurse Leader Donna Weber (dweber@mtrsd.org) or reach out directly to our partners at FRCOG, (413) 774-3167, ext. 153.
MTRS Class of 2021 Gift
Did You Know . . .
Below are pictures of our Artglish (a combined Art and English class) students working collaboratively in their class this week. MTRS Visual Art Teacher Rachel Silverman explains:
"In class we discussed the socio-economic setting of our current novel, Montana,1948 to uncover some of the important social injustices that influence the characters in the book. Students were looking at a political cartoon and decoding the meaning as part of this class discussion on why some forms of discrimination can be hard to recognize. This activity will prepare students to engage in a multi-day unit how racism and colonialism impact Native Americans today."
Class of 2024 Walkathon Slated for May 22
Community members - our students need YOUR support!
The Class of 2024 will lace-up their sneakers and make their way to the MTRS track on Saturday, May 22 to raise money for their class and the Baystate Health Foundation! Forty percent of the proceeds of this fundraiser will be donated to the foundation to help offset medical costs incurred during the pandemic.
Our incredible 9th grade students will be walking to fulfill both those needs--helping them to plan for their future needs to offset costs of annual events while impacting their community in a meaningful way.
While the walkathon isn't open to the general public, we hope you can share your support for our students by making a pledge today! To sponsor a walker or donate to their fundraiser, visit: https://sites.google.com/mtrsd.org/walk4health/homepage *Note from their class adviser: the pledge form is linked to the site, and checks are made out to MTRS.
((See flyer below created by MTRS Class of 2024 President Sophia Goodnow))
#BlazeYourTrailatMTRS
Community Corner
For more information, please contact memcdermott@umass.edu
School Spotlight: Sanderson Academy
In this video, we'll give you a peek into a typical school day as we've transitioned to full in-person learning at Sanderson Academy. We are so excited to have students back in our physical classrooms learning, growing, and adjusting to our "new normal." Thank you to our incredible students, staff, and families for being with us on this journey!
School Spotlight: Colrain Central
Colrain Central 1st Graders Create Self Portraits in Art Class!
Thanks for all you do to make Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont School Districts GREAT places to learn and grow!
Sheryl Stanton
Email: sstanton@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrsd.org
Location: 24 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 625-0192
Twitter: @mtrsdsuper