Principal's Newsletter
From the Desk of Russ Booth
March 3rd, 2024
With the start of March it certainly feels like spring is right around the corner. As I said in the newsletter last week there has been a significant amount of success from our MHS students in a variety of activities, arts, and athletics. There is a considerable amount of new and updated information contained in this week's newsletter so please be sure to check out all the information below.
As a reminder, there is a full day professional development day on Tuesday and school will not be in session. We are also hosting parent/guardian conferences on Thursday, March 7th which will be an early release for students. Lunch will be served and students will be released at 11:00am.
Semester 2 Parent/Guardian Conferences
Parent/Guardian conferences are scheduled for Thursday, March 7th. Conferences will be held during an afternoon session from 12:00pm-2:30pm, and an evening session from 6:30pm-8:30pm. An email was sent out on Tuesday, February 27th with and attachment and instructions to sign up for conferences. For those that have yet to set up an appointment, the list of faculty members with links to their calendar page is linked here.
Senior Corner
Senior Families: Graduation has been confirmed for Sunday, June 2nd at the Xfinity Center. More details will follow.
The deadline to order a 2024 Mansfield High School Yearbook has passed. If you would like to be put on a waitlist for books in May please email jennifer.martinelli@mansfieldschools.com. Any available waitlist books will be available at the end of May for $90 and they will be given out on a first come, first served basis.
Celebrate your Senior! Advertise your business! Be a part of Mansfield history! Buy an ad in the 2024 yearbook! - Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com (school number 5468) to design your ad and order. The deadline to order ads has been extended to March 10th.
For more yearbook information check out our google site: https://sites.google.com/mansfieldschools.com/mhsyearbook/order-a-yearbook?authuser=0
Senior Lawn Signs:
Graduation season is almost here!
MHS Senior Celebration
2024 Lawn Signs Fundraiser
The MHS Senior Celebration Committee, sponsored by the parents of Mansfield High School Seniors, is planning to celebrate the Senior Class of 2024 with a Senior Celebration Picnic on May 29th. As in years past, one of our main fundraisers is selling lawn signs. Thank you for your support of the Class of 2024!
Deadline for orders is Friday, March 29th.
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SIGN 1 - Designed for a 2024 graduate’s front lawn, bedroom, window, etc. Cost is $25. Please text or email Lisa Portadin for payment information (856-701-5272 or lportadin@yahoo.com)
SIGN 2 - Designed for parents, neighbors, grandparents, and friends of the Class of 2024. Cost is $25. Please email Tammi Koppy for payment information (tammikoppy@gmail.com)
We will announce distribution information for all signs in the spring!
Junior/Senior Prom 2024!
This year's prom will be held on Saturday, May 18th from 6-10:00 pm in the Tiffany Ballroom at Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood (exact address is 1125 Boston Providence Turnpike, Norwood MA 02062.)
Students will NOT be bused and will provide their own transportation to and from the prom.
This year, the Class of 2025 is happy to announce the lowered ticket price of $75 per ticket ($150 per couple!) Prom tickets have not been this low since 2016!
The theme of this year's prom is "A Night on the Red Carpet."
Prom assemblies have been scheduled to discuss details and expectations on March 14th.
Students will be required to complete a permission slip packet and have it ready to submit at the time of ticket purchase. Permission slips will be available in the Main Office and by visiting the Jr and Sr class bulletin boards beginning Wednesday, March 6th.
Students may bring out-of-town guests in accordance with the language on the permission slip.
Submission of completed permission slips and the purchasing of prom tickets will take place during the week of March 18th. Tickets will be sold at all four lunches Monday the 18th through Friday the 22nd. Students may pay using the online Unipay link or by check made out to Mansfield High School (no cash sales.) All information will be on the permission slip packet.
Check in times for Prom will be set according to ticket number. More details will be posted on the permission slip. The earliest check in time will begin at 4:45 pm. Check in will consist of two stations - 1) Ticket check-in...students will need their tickets and an ID and 2) Breathalyzer station.
There will be NO assigned seating. The Four Points Sheraton Tiffany Ballroom accommodates round tables seating 12 guests per table.
March Madness at MHS!
The class of 2025 is excited to host the Second Annual March Madness Basketball Tournament! Details below:
The Class of 2025 is happy to bring a second year of March Madness back to MHS! Last year was the inaugural year for this school-wide event and it was a HUGE success. This year's March Madness basketball tournament will take place during the week of March 11 - March 15, in the QMS gym after school. The event is open to all MHS students and registration is currently open and is extended until Wednesday, March 6th. Mansfield students create their own teams of players and sign-up to compete in the tournament in an effort to win hundreds of dollars worth of gift card prizes! Five players are required to play, with 2 additional subs if a team chooses. There is a single entrance fee of $5 per player. Sign-Up Here!
Once teams sign up, they must see Mrs. Gentili in room 208 to pay their registration fee and complete their permission slips. Additionally, this event is happy to partner with the Mansfield Food Pantry as a community food-drive event. Registered teams will be asked to donate non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Mansfield Food Pantry.
The winning team will receive prizes to various locations. Last year's prizes included merchandise and gift cards to local establishments like Target, Mansfield Deli, Jersey Mike's, Flannel Cow, etc. In addition to prizes, the winning team will have the chance to play against the teacher's team after the championship!
More information on games can be found on the March Madness website www.mhsmarchmadness.org (Click Here). Students can also visit the Class 0f 2025 Instagram Page and reach out to Mrs. Gentili and Mr. Braz.
Regional History Day Competition
Over the weekend at Foxboro High School, eighteen MHS students attended the Regional History Day Competition. Massachusetts History Day is the state program for National History Day program that strives to help students become better prepared and more knowledgeable citizens through the creation of historical projects. On Saturday, seven entries were vying to move on to the state competition.
Each entry was based on historical research done by the students and must relate to this year's theme, which is Turning Points in History. These students presented their work to the judges and were asked on-the-spot interview questions about their products. Students were assessed on their historical content, relation to theme, as well as the quality of their project.
In the Individual Exhibit category Olivia Dubose received a bronze medal.
For the Group Documentary category Tyler Cook, Shreyas Kandala, and Phinn Evans received bronze medals.
In the Individual Website category Grace Maxwell received a bronze medal.
Sam Winrow’s Individual Exhibit was recognized with a special prize: Outstanding Project in Art and Culture.
The students who medaled will now advance to the next level competing in the Massachusetts state finals on April 6 in Winchester, Massachusetts. Students who are successful at the state competition will represent Massachusetts at the National History Day Finals, June 9-13, at the University of Maryland.
Youth Mental Health Parent Series
The next Leaders in Youth Mental Health Parent Series will occur Friday, March 8th at 9:00am-10:00am.
Dr. Mills Smith-Millman will present “Understanding Transgender and Non-Binary Youth” and will provide information on the current political and mental health landscape affecting transgender and non-binary youth, define key terms like gender identity, gender expression, and gender attribution, and provide ways for caregivers to support transgender and non-binary youth through social, medical, and or legal transitions.
All information for this parent webinar (and others) can be found at the link below:
Leaders in Youth Mental Health Series
Performing Arts Update
This past Wednesday, the MHS Theatre Department hosted a preview performance of the student-directed one-act play, The Yellow Boat, by David Saar. They will compete at the METG One-Act Play Festival at Norwood High School on Saturday at 10 am. A link to a description for The Yellow Boat is linked here
On March 6th, we will present the All Chorus Concert at 6:30 pm at MHS. The All Orchestra Concert will occur on March 12th at 6:30 pm, and the All Band Concert on March 20th at 6:30 pm.
The MHS percussion ensemble is off to a great start! This past Saturday, they had their first competition in Trumball, CT, and came in second place with a score of 82.35. The Winter Guard team also posted excellent scores at their most recent competition in Salem, MA. Both groups will compete this Saturday at Dartmouth High School.
Local Scholarships for Class of 2024
The Mansfield local scholarships will be available through SCOIR beginning March 1st. Please do not miss out on this great opportunity to access scholarship funds to help support your college education. We are so fortunate to have generous sponsors across the Mansfield community who value the opportunity to support our students. If you have any questions please see your counselor.
Changemaker Series: Action To Affect Positive Change In The Community
Underclass Scheduling Information
This past week students attended an assembly with our School Counseling Department to learn about the course registration process for the 2024-25 school year. We reviewed available courses, graduation requirements and the course registration process. For more details about specific classes, their descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the Program of Studies, linked below.
To assist with the process, below are links to the different class presentations, the course registration packet with details about selecting classes, application courses and AP courses.
There is also a link to a tutorial if you don't remember or are having trouble selecting classes on Aspen/X2. Access to the Aspen/X2 registration portal to register for classes ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 10th.
Course Registration Presentation Class of 2025
Course Registration Presentation Class of 2026
Course Registration Presentation Class of 2027
Counselors will send meeting invites to students through their school gmail accounts. Please see below for when counselors will meet with different grades.
Class of 2027: March 12th - 18th
Class of 2026: March 19th - March 31st
Class of 2025: April 1st - 12th
Junior Parent/Guardian College Planning Night - March 13, 2024 Save the Date!!
On Wednesday, March 13th at 6:30pm in the MHS Auditorium, the School Counseling Department will host College Planning Night where counselors will meet to review the college admissions process and how MHS students navigate the process with the support of their counselors. We strongly encourage parents/guardians to attend to help support their child. Students are welcome to attend as well.
Various Vaping Resources
In an effort to combat the ongoing challenge of vaping within our school (and others), please take a look at and utilize the various resources provided below to learn more about vaping in order to start/continue the conversation with your child. Making progress in this area is a group effort, and we want to provide support for families at home with these resources.
General Info:
Vaping and the impact of Covid
Information on Quitting:
About Us
Russ Booth - Principal
Abigail Barlas - Assistant Principal, Student Support Services
Matthew McGuire - Assistant Principal, Grades 9 & 11
Ellen Noto - Assistant Principal, Grades 10 & 12
Timothy Tichacek - Assistant Director, Special Education
Tim Selmon - Athletic Director
Email: russ.booth@mansfieldschools.com
Website: https://mhs.mansfieldschools.com/
Location: 250 East Street, Mansfield, MA, USA
Phone: 508-261-7540
Twitter: @MHSHornets