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Ms. Geraldine Fimognari Mathematics Teacher | | Ms. Linda Kern Student Services - Paraprofessional |
Ms. Geraldine Fimognari
Ms. Linda Kern
FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Important notes for winter & spring athletes and their parents –
Please visit our new website! www.hwrsd.org, click on schools, click on Minnechaug, click on Athletics. Please notify us if you would like something posted on our athletics page! All important registration information, links to schedules, etc… is on that page.
Locker Room Procedures:
Please note that PE teachers will be locking to team rooms/locker rooms when they leave after school. ONLY coaches will be unlocking the rooms. Athletes are to change and get out of the locker rooms promptly. There will be no more hanging out in the locker rooms waiting for practice. Athletes can utilize the IRC after school and community lobby.
Winter Athletes
Sports locks - On the last day of the winter season, you are to turn your sports lock into your coach, along with your home and away uniforms, and any other equipment issued by the Minnechaug athletic department. Your cooperation with this important task will be greatly appreciated. Any student-athlete who does not comply with this procedure within three days of the end of his/her respective season will be billed for all outstanding equipment. ALL SPORTS LOCKERS WILL BE CLEANED OUT 1 WEEK AFTER THE SEASON ENDS.
TRYOUTS/PRACTICES FOR SPRING SPORTS BEGIN MONDAY, MARCH 16th!!
Spring Athletes
Physical Examination: According to the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) policy, all students must pass a physical examination within 13 months of the start of each season. If a physical is set to expire during a season, the athlete MUST provide a updated physical by the expiration date or that athlete becomes ineligible immediately! (this is a new rule change) Physical examinations must be performed by a duly registered physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner. Each student must receive written permission from a doctor before he/she participates in a varsity, junior varsity, or freshman sport.
Please visit our website for more detailed information for registration. Deadlines are approaching!
FROM THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
2020 ALL-STATE MUSICIANS
Congratulations to our Minnechaug musicians who have been accepted to the 2020 Massachusetts All-State band and chorus! They will rehearse for two days at the Boston World Trade Center and then take part in the all-state concert on Saturday, March 7th on the famous original stage of Boston’s Symphony Hall, home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Students representing MRHS are: Julia O’Keefe, soprano; Andrew Aguilar, french horn; and Allison Clifford, flute
2020 QUABBIN VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL!
Minnechaug has a GREAT representation this year at the Quabbin Valley Music Festival, with the 1st rehearsal at Palmer HS on Thursday, January 30th, and the concert being presented at Belchertown HS on Saturday, February 8th. Congratulations to the following band students: Molly Olsen, flute; Cade Connor, bassoon; Sophia Noel, bass clarinet; Ava Barton & Kellin Burr, alto saxophone; Andrew Aguilar & WanHo Lung, french horn; Cally Seyler & Ada Cheng, trumpet; Kaileigh Letourneau, euphonium; Tommy Taylor & Thomas Cheng, trombone; and Ava Sirois, mallet percussion.
MUSICIANS ACCEPTED TO 2020 UMASS HONOR BAND
Congratulations to seniors Thomas Cheng and Andrew Aguilar for their acceptance to this year’s UMASS Honor Band Program. Each student had to submit an on-line recording as part of the audition process and will be performing in the UMASS Fine Arts Center on Saturday, February 15th. This event is free and open to the public!
OPEN HOUSE = OPEN JAZZ BAND REHEARSAL!
Parents of string ensemble and band students should consider attending the alternate-day PE class if they were able to attend the music presentation in the fall. Ms. Reidy will be in attendance at open house if anyone needs to stop by the music suite, and in fact will be running a jazz band rehearsal if you’d like to see the kids immersed in the learning process! You may also call or email with any questions regarding your child’s classes for the spring semester at any time! Open House is scheduled for Thursday, February 6th.
THE HONORS RECITAL
On February 13th the music department will present an “Honors Recital” promoting small ensemble and solo work on the part of our honor students in wind ensemble and camerata. The recital will feature small trios, quartets, quintets, a percussion ensemble, chamber choirs, a string duet and more! The honor recital is as much for our younger musicians as it is for our performers. We are encouraging ALL music department students to attend in order to A. enjoy exposure to the individual nature of performing at an honors level B. support your fellow musicians C. take advantage of the extra-credit assignment available that night D. hear some terrific live music.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR, UNO’S NIGHT COMING UP IN MARCH
Come out and support the music program on Wednesday, March 11TH at Pizzeria Uno’s on Boston Road across from the Eastfield Mall. Using coupons supplied by string & band members, pay your bill for dine-in OR take out, and Uno’s will still donate up to 20% to the Minnechaug instrumental music program!
ENSEMBLE PLACEMENTS FOR NEXT YEAR
Student placements in band for 2020-2021 will be determined at the end of February. Ensemble placement is based upon skill level and also balance of parts within each section of band. There will be short musical examples for each instrument in the file box on the teacher desk in the band room for students interested in auditioning for placement in WIND ENSEMBLE. A sign-up sheet for auditions will be posted by February 5th , all auditions will be concluded by Friday, February 21st. Any student who is looking to advance to the next level of band should be considering weekly private lessons on their instrument. Students going into the honors wind ensemble are required to begin lessons this spring if they are not already studying with a specialist. Financing for lessons is available through the Spear Music Foundation, including private lessons on a string instrument. Spear Foundation documents can be found on your Edline page. See Ms. Reidy if you have further questions.
RAFFLE BASKET ITEMS NEEDED FROM BAND & STRING ENSEMBLE FAMILIES !
The MMA (Minnechaug Music Association) is looking for donations for our annual gift basket fundraiser taking place at the March Pops Concert. See the attached document at the end of the newsletter for details.
NOT TOO SOON TO BE THINKING ABOUT SUMMER MUSIC CAMP
A week or two at summer music camp can make a world of difference in your child’s social development as well as give them the opportunity to explore deeper layers of music making and understanding. The music department has several brochures and flyers for camps in New England and around the country, give a call if you’re interested and in the meantime check out these long-standing programs:
UNH Summer Youth Music School: http://cola.unh.edu/music
Litchfield Jazz Camp: http://litchfieldjazzcamp.com
Camp Encore-Coda: http://encore-coda.com
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Emma Arendt, Clay 1, Gold Key | Chloe Yiannacopoulis, Clay 1, Silver Key | Lauren Barry, AP Art, Silver Key |
Emma Arendt, Clay 1, Gold Key
Chloe Yiannacopoulis, Clay 1, Silver Key
Lauren Barry, AP Art, Silver Key
FROM THE GUIDANCE CENTER
ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS:
A National College Fair will be held at the Big E on Monday, April 6 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. This is a wonderful FREE opportunity for students to meet representatives from two and four year colleges and the military to obtain information from them. It is never too early to start thinking about post graduation plans. This is a great place to start!
COURSE SELECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR:
Course selections will take place during March.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Seniors should continue to check on Naviance and the Counseling Center for College Scholarship Applications. Seniors should also update Naviance on their college application decisions.
Seniors will participate in a Credit for Life Fair on March 31. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about budgeting and managing money, skills they will need in life!
Juniors will be meeting with their Guidance Counselors in March to review the college search and application process.
Career-Technical Education Program
The Career-Technical Education Program, CTEC, continues to be an option for our current freshmen and sophomore students through the Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative. If interested, students should review the options in the Program of Studies and then speak with their guidance counselor. The website for CTEC is http://www.lpvec.org/ctec
SUMMER PROGRAMS:
If you are interested in specific colleges, you may want to check their website for any summer programs that you may be interested in attending. Contact the college for information on these programs.
CAREER CENTER ACTIVITIES:
Career Internships
Second semester Interns began working at their jobsites on January 28. During the next few weeks, they will be identifying their challenges and setting goals for the semester.
Winter Weather – At the orientation meeting, all interns were given a memo about driving expectations when roads are slippery. Please go over this with your student.
FROM THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT
Parental Notification Form Regarding Participation in a Research Study
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Over the next several months your child’s school is participating in a culinary training program and study in an effort to help improve meal quality. The program and study are being conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, The John C. Stalker Institute, and Framingham State University.
As part study we would like to get feedback in the form of a survey from students on their perceptions of the school meal quality. The survey will be given to students in your child’s school three times over the next several months. Participation in this survey is completely voluntary and you have the right to refuse to allow your child to participate. Your child has the right to refuse to participate even if you give your permission. Your child may refuse to answer any of the questions on the survey and may withdraw from the survey at any time without penalty, prejudice, or loss of benefits.
All information from the completed survey will be kept confidential. Information from the completed surveys will be reported in summary form only. There are no known risks to your child for participating in this study other than the time it takes to complete the survey. Data from the survey will be kept for three (3) years after the close of the study. Results from this study may be published in reports and articles and included in presentations about this work; however, your child’s name or other identifying information will never be used.
If you have questions about this study or if you have a research-related problem, you may contact Cathy Wickham, PhD, RD, CDN at cwickham@framingham.edu. If you have any questions concerning your rights as a research subject, you may contact Patricia Bossange, the Institutional Review Board Administrator at Framingham State University, 508.626.4996.
If you do want your child to participate, no further action is necessary. If you do not wish your child to participate, please fill out and sign the form on the next page and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher or Principal. Alternatively, you can send an email to the researchers with the subject line “Opt Out”, and include your name and your child’s name in the message. Please return the form on the next page by February 14, 2020.
If you wish to allow your child to participate, please do not return this form – no action is required.
If you do not allow your child to take part in the study, do one of the following by February 14, 2020: (1) sign and return this form to your child’s homeroom teacher or the Principal (2) email cwickham@framingham.edu with the subject line “Opt Out”, and include your name and your child’s name in the message
