Superintendent Weekly Update
June 11, 2021
Dear Mohawk Trail & Hawlemont Families,
This year has certainly kept us on our toes--and the weather this week has made us keenly aware that we're quickly reaching the finish line to the 2020-21 academic year.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Mohawk Trail Regional School Class of 2021 for a wonderful graduation day! We were excited to be able to host a more "normal" graduation ceremony after the trials and tribulations of COVID-19. It was a great day celebrating our students and sending them off into their next adventures. Be sure to visit the MTRS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mohawktrailregional) for photo galleries from graduation day.
And as we've just said farewell to our MTRS graduates, I'm truly excited for the incoming MTRS Class of 2027 (our soon-to-be graduating 6th graders)! We can't WAIT to welcome you (and your families) and watch you blaze YOUR trail at MTRS.
Remember to stay tuned to your principal's weekly newsletters for important dates and information as we head into one of the busiest seasons for our schools.
We have a TON of important information, surveys, and celebrations packed into this edition... so please be sure to check it out!
* MTRS Class of 2021 Graduation
* Class of 2021 Senior SHOUT-OUTS
* MTRS Project 351 Ambassadors Support Cradles to Crayons
* MTRS Caregivers END OF YEAR Communications Survey
* Junior Book Awards
* Registration for FALL Athletics Now Open!
* Explorers Summer Program
* SEPAC Virtual Meeting to be held June 16
* MTRSD Strategic Planning Update
* School Spotlights
MTRS Class of 2021 Graduation
Graduation was held at Mohawk Trail Regional School on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 5 p.m. on the football field. Thank you to the caregivers, families, and friends who helped us celebrate this incredible group of students!
The Class of 2021 At-A-Glance
52 Students in the Class of 2021
50% plan to attend 4-year college
23% plan to attend 2-year college
27% will enter the workforce/apprenticeship
Class of 2021 President Meckenzie Sarage
Valedictorian Amelie Rowehl
Salutatorian Laney Celli
Commencement Speaker Brandon Boucias (MTRS Girls Ski Coach)CONGRATULATIONS to our incredible graduates:
Remick Francis Bakey, Reese Dean Basara, Reuben Wilum Bassett, Nicole Elizabeth Bellows, Kaitlyn Iliana Bisnette, Cullen Rodger Brown, Hailey Paris Buchanan, Annabell Carluccio, Oscar Joseph Cassin, Laney Elizabeth Celli, Sarah B Close, Bailey Reese Cousineau, Justin Quincy Culver, Shawn Michael Davenport,Hunter Riley Dicaire, Emma Fay Stout French, Matthew James Gabaree, Lily Noel Gibson, Elliot Steven Gougeon, Michael Vincent Harrison, Carlito Joseph Hernandez, Sarah Reynolds Herzig, Logan Allen Jacobs, Hannah Grace Johnson, Kevin Garabed Krikorian, Cameren Branden Lococo, Taylor Elizabeth Loomis, Jaden Dean Moore, Raymond Christopher Mossman, Emma Raye Ovitt, Cassidy Angel Marie Patnode, Matthew Patrick Pollen, Keeman WC Ramirez, Michael Scott Ramsdell, Quinton Marsalis Romer, Amelie Camille Rowehl, Cody Gabriel Ryder, Meckenzie Marie Sarage, Lydia Adeline Sargent, Abigail Katelyn Selva, Haley Yvette Sheridan, Abigail Riley Sinistore, Sage Emily Spitzer, Julie Elizabeth Sprague, Austin Edward Sumner, Joshua John Thorndike, Ella Jane Ussailis, Grace Johanna Ward, Kassidy Ann Weber, Ella Rose Wilda, Alexis Morgan Williams, Dylan Adin Wooldridge.
It's SENIOR SHOUT-OUT time!
MTRS Project 351 Ambassadors Support Cradles to Crayons
AWESOME JOB to our MTRS Project 351 Ambassadors as they recently collected and sorted 25 bags of clothing donated to the Cradles to Crayons organization on Saturday, May 22. Representing MTRS this year are:
- Logan Moore
- Isabelle Pettengill
- Makayla Tatro
- Palmer King
- Chayim Mojallali
- Owen Heilman
- Adrian Grant
- Grady Patenaude
Congratulations, Ambassadors for your successful clothing drive and dedication to helping others!
MTRS Junior Book Awards
This year eight outstanding MTRS students were selected and presented with awards at Mohawk Trail Regional School on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in an outdoor ceremony.
Congratulations to:
Stella Clark, Mya Lesieur, Sean O'Dea, Dennis Simmons, Octavia Crawford, Elizabeth Lynch, Kyle Henry, Tyler Matteson, and Erica Szewczyk.
To watch the ceremony, click the video link below:
Registration for MTRS Fall Sports is NOW OPEN!
INCOMING 6th grade families (We're lookin' at YOU, Class of '27!) - if your child is interested in playing a fall sport, you'll need to register using our FamilyID registration system. Sign-ups are EASY! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Athletic Director Greg Vouros for more information at gvouros@mtrsd.org.
Fall sports include:
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Varsity Football (Co-Op Program)
- Middle School Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Volleyball
#BlazeYourTrailatMTRS
District Summer Explorers Program
Registration for the district’s summer Explorers Program opened last week! Information and links to online registration or print registration forms can be found on the district website: www.mtrsd.org/Explorers-Program
Programs for our K-6 program will run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (tentative) with an extended day option until 5:30 p.m. (limited spots). Transportation from Colrain Central, Hawlemont Regional, and Ashfield House is available (pre-sign ups will be required) for the following weeks:
- July 12–16
- July 19–23
- July 26–30
- August 2–6
- August 9–13
Background about our program:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted students across the nation this past year. With students spending last spring and a good portion of this school year in remote and hybrid models, we know many students felt disconnected and struggled with social-emotional connections. As a result, the state made funding available and mandated districts specifically provide summer educational and enrichment opportunities to help re-establish these social-emotional connections and strengthen their educational foundations. These programs, while incredibly fun and interactive, are educational programs not structured as a child care/aftercare and differ significantly from summer camp offerings.
Our district's Explorers Program builds a bridge between academic school years and is aimed at true educational experiences through hands-on learning and outdoor exploration, while meeting students’ academic and social needs. They are not intended to compete with area summer camps, but aim to fill gaps for our district students. Due to requirements for meeting the academic and social needs of our district students, and limited grant funding, space is limited for these free programs.
Need more information or have questions about our summer Explorers Program? Contact Alia Woofenden at awoofenden@mtrsd.org. Don't forget to visit the website for additional information or to access both the online/print registration forms: www.mtrsd.org/Explorers-Program. You can also follow us on Facebook @MTRSDExplorers!
SEPAC Virtual Meeting to be held June 16
Meeting details can be found in their newsletter, on the district website (www.mtrsd.org/Pupil-Services), and their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/events/513445623112442
MTRSD Strategic Planning Update
Throughout the remainder of this month we will be hosting stakeholder focus groups for students, staff, caregivers, school committee, select boards & finance committees, and our community.
Student focus groups will be conducted in school during the week of June 14; followed by caregiver focus groups (both virtual and in-person meetings) during the week of June 21. A school committee focus group meeting will be held during the week of June 28 (date to be determined) and select board / finance committee focus group meeting to be held on June 30. Additional dates and details to come SOON; so please stay tuned to your email; our website and social media; and of course, right here in our weekly updates!
To kick-off our caregiver focus group meetings, we are asking district caregivers to please RSVP to indicate their interest. You can RSVP for the caregiver meeting here: https://forms.gle/A8B7Yrhhy3kFd7jj7
End of Year Events
Buckland-Shelburne Elementary
Friday, June 25: 6th Grade Graduation Parade, starting at 3 p.m.
Colrain Central School
Monday, June 14: Field Day (rain date June 21)
Thursday, June 17: 3rd & 4th Grade Play
Sunday, June 27: 6th grade graduation (rain date June 28)
Sanderson Academy
Thursday, June 17: Field Day (rain date of June 22)
Friday, June 25: 6th Grade Graduation (1 p.m.)
School Spotlight: Colrain Central
Students have been learning about bees and pollination; how to create a bee-friendly habitat; and how to plan a pollinator garden. Recently, the school participated in a whole-school service learning day to build the garden.
You can read all about their work in this recent article by the Greenfield Recorder:
THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make this day possible -- through their volunteer efforts and pollinator plant donations! We're very grateful to all of you!
Community Corner
Basketball Camp 2021
June 28 to July 2
Grades 3 to 6: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Grades 7 through 10: 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Mohawk Trail Regional School
*Please note, this is not a school/district run camp
DETAILS:
This week-long camp is for Western Mass area youth basketball players to learn and play the game of basketball. The program is run by head coach Thomas Manning a personal trainer and basketball skills coach. From Coach Manning: "I have dedicated my professional life to helping athletes achieve their goals. I value all of the relationships I have made through my time as a coach. I am a firm believer that the impact of focused effort always outweighs half hearted reps. I strive to create a fun and engaging basketball environment that keeps the passion for the game going."
Cost for full week of camp: $150
Health and safety is of utmost importance. We will be following all district, state and federal protocols with regards to the COVID-19.
Google Form Link, must be completed to participate:
QUESTIONS? Contact:
Tom Devon Manning
Head Coach of Camp
Personal Trainer and Basketball Skills Trainer
Charlemont Municipal Fiber Service & Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit
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We're proud of our students and our schools and hope YOU are too!
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