Student Services Update
4/12/2024
Welcome to MTRS Student Services!
Thanks for reading the Student Services Update!
Questions about scheduling, the college process, scholarships, work permits, transcripts, or life in general? Do you need to speak with someone regarding an issue that is bothering you, do you need a place to discuss what is going on in your life or to figure out how you are feeling? Please feel free to contact us or stop by the office. The Student Services Office is here to help! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Let us know what kind of information you would like to read about in this newsletter: sgarcia@mtrsd.org
Class of 2024
Class of 2024 College Acceptances!
College acceptances have started rolling in for Mohawk Trail Regional seniors and here’s a quick snapshot of those schools loving our students!
Congratulations to the members of the class of 2024 as you continue to blaze your trail!
Binghamton University
Bridgewater State University
Bryant University
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Curry College
Dean College
University of Denver
Emerson College
Endicott College
Framingham State University
Greenfield Community College
Hofstra University
Lasell University
University of Maine
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of New England
University of New Hampshire
University of New Haven
Nichols College
Oregon State University
University of Pittsburgh
Plymouth State University
Providence College
Rhode Island College
Saint Michael's College
Salve Regina University
St. Lawrence University
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
University of Utah
University of Vermont
Westfield State University
Westminster University
Worcester State University
Scholarships!
Scholarships!
This is the Official Scholarship Bulletin.
2 new scholarships have been added as of 4/12/204!
Awards Night is Thursday, May 30th at 5 pm. At this ceremony, we will announce the recipients of the scholarships. Most scholarship disbursements will be made after the students submit their semester 1 transcripts from college. The certificate that you receive on Awards night will provide directions on how to receive the disbursements.
Please let us know if you have any questions. We are happy to help!
MTRS Alumni Scholarships
Quarter 2 Honor Roll
High Honors (All As)
12th Grade Class of 2024
Mohamed Abdelgawad, Sophia Goodnow, Sebastian Seward, William VanVleet
11th Grade Class of 2025
Elias Crowell, Palmer King, Chayim Mojallali, Isabelle Pettengill, Hannah Phillips, Kristen Sevoian, Jadelyn Wheeler
10th Grade Class of 2026
Hazel Foucault, Alex Niquette
9th Grade Class of 2027
Samuel Barrows, Tanner Biagini, Landon Clark, Eli Herrera, Virginia Krezmien,
Natalie Lanoue, SadieMae Mizula, Katherine Osterman, Morgan Raffa, Alaina Shearer
8th Grade Class of 2028
Colten Bailey, Sophia Bourdon, Emily Churchill, Siddha Hoffenberg, Claire Johnston, Rex Kuoppala, Aymeric Loucka, Blake Nevins, Joseph Norwood, Madison Pettengill, Nathaniel Ragan, Grace Stevens
7th Grade Class of 2029
Maya Baunsgard, Kayden Berry, Harper Briggs, Teagan Donahue, Oliver Ferris, Zavel Gardner, Armando Gonzalez, Emmalee Inman, Clinton Jacques, Za'Riah Johnson, Ava LaCross, Wyeth Miller, Abigail Osterman, Ryah Pizzi, Kaylin Sevoian, Kiera Taylor, Olivia Thompson, Wren Topitzer, Madelynn Weller, Ryleigh Westort, Anna Whitaker, Anneke Whitsett
Honors (All As and Bs)
12th grade Class of 2024
Shelby Collier, Madeline Cosentino, Grace Davenport, Weston DenOuden, Riley Giard, Jackson Lilienthal, Rachel Pease, Aidan Pollack, Gabrielle Ryder, Eliandra Snape, Kaylin Sumner
11th Grade Class of 2025
Carolynn Aubrey, Adrian Grant, Avery Johnston, Bianca Robinson, Jasmine Smith, Norzin Wangmo, Mayzie Whitaker
10th Grade Class of 2026
Emma Canaday, Izabelle Finn, Jesse James, Addison Loomis, Kylah Perras-Howard, Emerson Spence, Logan Weigand
9th Grade Class of 2027
Valerie Bzomowski, Joey Calhoun, Hannah Humphrey, Dillon Millar, Luke Read, Cameron Smith
8th Grade Class of 2028
Mamadou Dian Bah, Cole Bassett, Mason Bassett, Leo Boltz, Brayden Brisson, Naomi DenOuden, Jordyn Gilmore, Zephyr Jetzon, Sage Lamboy, Peter Macmillan, Aurora Moynihan, Adam Phillips, Alvin Richardson, Jalila Smith, Mckenzie Sonntag, Jeanna Taylor
7th Grade Class of 2029
Haylie Barto, Amelia Bauer, Joshua Cerone, Dakota Chapin, Mason Clark, Abbey Corcoran, Deven Crawford, Elissa Delisle, Isabella Filiault, Riley Graves, Theresa Hamel, Frankie-Jane Herrera, Racheal Herzig, Eliza Jenkins, Colton Kingsbury, Lincoln Lafleur, Aubrey Lent, Zoe Mojallali, Matan Newcomb, Isabella Pfisterer-Hill, Lydia Pinkham, Wade Purington, Cole Raffa, Kadyn Rice, Benjamin Russell, Trayce Sevene, Caleb Shearer, Belamy Sonntag, Sawyer Thurber
Course Selection for 2024 - 2025
Course Selection for 2024 - 2025
Grade 8: Mrs. Cairney and Ms. Ruggeri met with 8th-grade students last week to discuss What is High School. Students had the opportunity to have a 1:1 meeting with a counselor to review their requests during the next few weeks. Schedules are planned to be available before the end of the school year, at which time students can meet with counselors to discuss any changes that they’d like to make. Efforts are made to have all changes complete by the end of the school year, with only extenuating circumstances allowing for changes in the fall.
Grades 9 - 11: Mrs. Cairney will meet with students to review the course selection process, highlighting course offerings and noting graduation requirements. She will also provide an overview of the online course selection process. Once the requests have been entered, Mrs. Cairney will meet 1:1 with students to confirm their course requests and answer any questions.
Course Selection Timeline
February & March: Provide information to students about course offerings and the online course selection process
March 11 - March 17: The online course selection portal opens in Aspen
March - April: Mrs. Cairney meets with students to review course requests and answer questions
June: 2024 - 2025 schedules made available to students
Resources
MTRS Course Selection: Pathways
Grade 9 Course Selection Worksheet
Grade 10 Course Selection Worksheet
Grade 11 Course Selection Worksheet
Grade 12 Course Selection Worksheet
Ms. Cairney and Ms. Ruggeri will be available in the gym at the Celebration of Learning event on March 27th to answer any questions that parents may have about the transition to high school and the course registration process.
Upcoming Events
STEM-Focused Pre-College Programs at the UMass Mount Ida Campus
This summer, UMass Amherst is offering STEM-focused pre-college programs for high school students at the UMass Mount Ida campus, located just outside Boston, MA.
Programs include excursions to popular Boston destinations such as Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the New England Aquarium, and Fenway Park. The UMass Mount Ida campus also features unique facilities such as veterinary radiology and microscopy labs, and a makerspace.
Summer 2024 Programs at the UMass Mount Ida Campus
- AI, Data & Ethics: Introduction to Public Interest Technology
- June 30 - July 13, 2024
- Ideal for students interested in data science, artificial intelligence, or computer science
- Summer Design Academy: Mount Ida Campus
- Veterinary Technology
Both residential and commuter options are available. All programs are taught by UMass faculty and advanced graduate students, and feature project-based learning. For more program details (including fees and scholarships), please visit our website.
How to Apply
All rising 10th - 12th graders are eligible to apply online via our website. Please note the Veterinary Technology program only accepts rising 11th & 12th graders. The application consists of:
- a brief, 1-page statement of interest
- an unofficial high school transcript (including current academic year)
- a letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor
- a $35 application fee
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, with deadlines as outlined below for each session. We recommend applying early as programs may fill up.
- Session 1 (Programs starting June 30): May 1st, 2024
- Session 2 (Programs starting July 14): May 15th, 2024
Questions?
Email us at precollege@umass.edu or call (413) 577-2112.5-week Business & Leadership Summer Intensive
To Innovation and Beyond
with GWI’s Business & Leadership Academy
Seen in The New York Times
Families - Exciting news! We've teamed up with Girls With Impact to offer your young women FREE tuition for their 5-week Business & Leadership Summer Intensive, all thanks to their generous sponsors.
Starting the weeks of July 8 and July 22, this program delivers an immersive learning experience for young women aged 14-24. Attend two classes a week from anywhere, and empower yourself with essential Business and Leadership skills. Plus, enrolled students get a shot at the Girls With Impact IGNITE Venture Competition, where the top winner receives $1,000 in seed funding for their business idea or educational pursuits.
This opportunity is your ticket to a head start in college and your future career. Our proven e-learning approach has paved the way for countless young women's success, and we're confident it'll do the same for you or your student.
Enrollment is OPEN NOW for our July 8 and July 22 sessions, but spots are filling up fast. Don't let this chance slip away. Join us to build your skills and craft a brighter future today!
Register here now with code: ADVANCEBOSTON
*See attached flyer*
West Point’s Summer Leaders Experience (SLE)
At West Point we develop Leaders of Character, and we are looking for high-achieving young people who are in great standing with their school and community, and who want to challenge themselves. Please see the attached flyer to share with your students, educators, and parents!
What is SLE?
- SLE is a one-week program for current Juniors (High School Class of 2025) to visit West Point in June.
- Students in this program get to spend the week with our cadets, live in the barracks, and eat in the mess hall.
- Learn about West Point’s world class academics by trying 4 of our 17 academic workshops.
- Learn about military training and becoming a Leader of Character at West Point by completing two military days to include rappelling, Zodiac boats, combatives (like Jiu-Jitsu) training and more!
- Challenge themselves physically by attempting the Candidate Fitness Assessment, conducting physical training, and sports.
- Complete their admissions interview with a cadet.
- Spend the week making friends with other students from all over the US who are applying to West Point.
All the students that I have spoken with have really enjoyed this program and they especially enjoy interacting with the cadets. Your students may sign up for this program now by using the QR code in the attached “2024 SLE FLYER” or directly at westpoint.edu. We will accept applications until April 15th. SLE is competitive and not all who apply are offered to attend.
Learn more about SLE- https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/summer-program
Apply now- https://apply.westpoint.edu/portal/candidate
Please direct any questions to admissionsne@westpoint.edu.
Remember - a lot of colleges are offering informational sessions and campus tours over April break. So if you have not yet had a chance to visit a college, this is the perfect time as college students will be attending class and the campus will be full of activity.
Boston University will be hosting a special Spring Visit Day for your sophomores and juniors and their families to learn more about Boston University. During the visit, you will hear from a panel of current BU students, learn more about the admissions process, and go on a campus tour. Each event is the same, please encourage your students to sign up for the time that works for them.
Spring Visit Day
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
George Sherman Union | Charles River Campus
775 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Students can register for one of the Spring Visit Day events below:
Please note that all students who plan to attend should RSVP for Spring Visit Day on our website.
STARS College Network events
Please join us at our upcoming STARS College Network events! We offer a wide variety of virtual sessions and local programs for students and parents, covering everything from starting the college search process to planning financially for a college education.
STARS Virtual Panel: Rural and Small-Town College Students
April 16th 2024, 7:00 pm CST
Every month, STARS College Network member schools host Zoom webinars featuring a variety of perspectives on the academic programs, philosophies, and traditions that make our colleges great places to live and learn. Join current college students from Brown University, University of Iowa, The Ohio State University, and Washington University in St. Louis to learn more about college life and the transition from a rural or small-town high school to a large university.
REGISTER Host: Washington University in St. Louis, The Ohio State University, The University of Iowa, Brown University
STARS summer programs are available for talented high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors from rural and small-town high schools across the United States.
Applications are still open for the following programs at Vanderbilt University:
- Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA): VSA provides the perfect balance of an intensive academic environment combined with a community-driven residential experience at Vanderbilt University. Courses vary each session and are taught by Vanderbilt faculty, Ph.D. students, and content experts. STARS scholarships covering the full cost of tuition and travel are available for current high school sophomores or juniors who live or attend school in a rural and small-town area in the United States and present some level of financial need. While applications are currently being reviewed on a rolling basis, students are encouraged to apply soon, as courses fill quickly.
The STARS (Small Town and Rural Students) College Network is a consortium of 16 colleges and universities across the United States committed to improving access and affordability to higher education for rural and small-town students. Rural and small-town schools represent the overwhelming majority of public-school districts in the United States, and the STARS College Network believes it is imperative that these students’ unique viewpoints and abilities are represented on college campuses. These schools are united in their mission to make college a reality for all rural and small-town students through free college planning tools, including these summer programs, that help students learn about, prepare for, apply to, and succeed at college.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at stars@starscollegenetwork.org.
Job Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Mohawk Trail Regional School District:
Summer Custodians
7 hours per day/ 5 days per week/June 18 – August 23, 2024
No experience necessary.
Forward cover letter, resume and recommendations to: ktotman@mtrsd.org. Applications deadline: open until qualified candidates appointed. The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
I am writing on behalf of Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield. We are looking for some summer help in our kitchen for a student who might be seeking summer employment. The ideal candidate would be a Senior ideally interested in the arts. The position would entail working in our kitchen doing dishes for daily meals provided for ensemble members and guests. It would be 15-20 hours per week at a rate of $15/hr.
Justin Wellman, Company Manager
Office: 413.628.0277 x208 justin@doubleedgetheatre.org
ART + LIVING CULTURE + ART JUSTICE
Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
Election Workers: To be eligible students must – be 16 or 17 years of age; a resident of the Commonwealth; a US citizen; able to speak, read, and write English; and have parents and school principal’s permission. There is also of course a work permit process for students who want to be paid – we have some election workers who volunteer their time and those who want to be paid receive $15 per hour.
Alexis Fedorjaczenko, Ashfield Town Clerk, townclerk@ashfield.org
Need a work permit?
HOW DO I GET A WORK PERMIT IN MASSACHUSETTS?
You must get a Work Permit at the School District where you live.
You must have a job offer from an employer
After you have a job offer, download a Work Permit Application or pick up a copy in the Student Services office at MTRS
After the Work Permit Application is completed with all of the appropriate signatures, a Work Permit can be issued
MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAW: ALL MINORS (14 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS) MUST OBTAIN AND HAVE FILLED OUT THE EMPLOYMENT PERMIT APPLICATION BEFORE A WORK PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED.
STEP 1:
The Employment Permit Application form (Promise of Employment form) can be downloaded Here or Picked up in the Student Services Office.
14 and 15-year-olds: 4 sections MUST be filled out and signed on the Employment Permit Application before the Work Permit can be issued.
The first section is completed and signed by the employer
The second section is to be completed and signed by the Doctor’s office or Medical office where the minor had a physical within the last year. We can not accept a copy of a physical; this has to be signed by a physician according to State Law.
The third section is filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor
The fourth section is signed and dated by the minor
16 and 17-year-olds: 3 sections MUST be filled out and signed on the Employment Permit Application before the Work Permit can be issued.
The first section is completed and signed by the employer
The third section is filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor
The fourth section is signed and dated by the minor
STEP 2:
*The Minor (student) must bring the completed Employment Permit Application form, their student ID, and a document that shows their birth date on it to the High School (MTRS Student Services) where the Work Permit will be filled out by the Authorized agent (MTRS Registrar/Shana Garcia). Documents MUST be originals; fax or copies will not be accepted. THE AUTHORIZED AGENT, MUST BY LAW, WITNESS THE MINOR SIGNING THE WORK PERMIT BEFORE IT CAN BE ISSUED.
Middle School
Middle School
As part of the College & Career Readiness curriculum, middle school students have continued their work in Naviance this semester. This month, they are taking career cluster assessments in preparation for Middle School Career Day on April 12th.
High School Course Registration for 8th-Grade Students
Aimee Cairney, the 9-12 Counselor, and I have met with 8th graders twice within the last month to introduce them to the structure of high school and help them submit course requests via Aspen. Our next step is to conference with each student to review/modify their requests. Our goal is to distribute schedules in May/June and have students make any additional changes before the end of the school year. Please reach out with any questions! Taffy Ruggeri
8th Grade Students
Wondering what your student has for homework? Check out the 8th Grade Daily Homework Page!
7th Grade Students
Wondering what your student has for homework? Check out the 7th Grade Daily Homework Page!
Career of the Month
Career of the Month - Teacher Assistants
Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.
Teacher assistants typically do the following:
- Reinforce lessons by reviewing material with students one-on-one or in small groups
- Follow school and class rules to teach students proper behavior
- Help teachers with recordkeeping, such as taking attendance and calculating grades
- Get equipment or materials ready to help teachers prepare for lessons
- Supervise students outside of the classroom, such as between classes, during lunch and recess, and on field trips
Teacher assistants also are called teacher aides, instructional aides, paraprofessionals, education assistants, and paraeducators.
Teacher assistants work with or under the guidance of a licensed teacher. Reviewing with students individually or in small groups, teacher assistants help reinforce the lessons that teachers introduce.
Teacher assistants may provide feedback to teachers for monitoring student progress. Some teacher assistants meet regularly with teachers to discuss lesson plans and students’ development.
Some teacher assistants work only with special education students. When special education students attend regular classes, these teacher assistants help them understand the material and adapt the information to their learning style. Teacher assistants may also work with students who have severe disabilities in separate classrooms. They help these students with basic needs, such as eating or personal hygiene. Teacher assistants may help young adults with disabilities to learn skills necessary for finding a job or living independently after graduation.
Some teacher assistants help in specific areas. For example, they may work in a computer laboratory, helping students use programs or software. Others may work as cafeteria attendants, supervising students during lunchtime.
Teacher assistants in childcare centers work with a lead teacher to provide individualized attention that young children need. They help with educational activities, supervise the children at play, and help with feeding and other basic care.
Need help logging into Aspen?
Aspen Access
Aspen is our information portal which allows students and caregivers to view grades, progress reports, and report cards. Here at MTRS, we distribute report cards and progress reports via Aspen.
The Aspen email for caregivers is sent to the email address corresponding to the first contact listed for a student.
Students and Caregivers, if you have questions about the login process, please contact Suzor IT:
Email: help@suzorit.com
Virtual Office: help.suzorit.com
Contact the Student Services Office
Contact Us
School Counselor Grades 9-12
Book an appointment HERE
School Counselor Grades 7 & 8
Book an Appointment HERE
Registrar and Student Services Assistant
413-625-9811 ext. 1305
Email: sgarcia@mtrsd.org
Website: https://mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org/Mohawk-Student-Services
Location: 26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 625-9811