Student & Family Update
April 29, 2022
May 13th, 2022
Good afternoon everyone!
It has been fantastic to be able to see students enjoying classes and lunch outside this week. We are hoping that the sun will stay out and that we will see many of you at the StuCouncil Tag Sale and MTAA Spring Fling event on Sunday. The Tag sale starts at 10 and MTAA activities at 11 and will run until 3pm.
Two quick reminders:
10th grade Math MCAS is happening on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. All 10th graders should report to school with a fully charged Chromebook. 7th and 8th graders who missed a session of their Math MCAS will make it up on Thursday and Friday of next week.
As of Wednesday, everyone entering the building is required to wear a mask. Thank you for continuing to participate in pool testing and wear masks in order to keep our buildings healthy and open!
Please see below for upcoming events at our busy school!
Best
Chris
Background image of the front of MTRS today - what a beautiful day!
Important Dates to Remember
May 15: Student Council Tag Sale and Mohawk Trail Athletic Association Spring Fling
May 19: Trailblazer District Wide Celebration of Learning
May 20 at 7:30 p.m. and May 21st at 7:30 p.m. - Bits of Broadway MTRS Musical
May 26: Spring Concert @ BSE (Rain venue: Auditorium at MTRS)
May 27: Prom
June 2 - Awards Night
June 4 - Graduation 1-3pm
June 13 - Step-Up Day
MCAS Dates
10th grade Math: May 17 & 18
8th grade Science: May 23 & 24
High school Science: June
Academic calendar for 2022/23 (some events like Graduation 2023 need to be confirmed)
We need your input!
Equity Audit Needs Participants! Please share your experiences at MTRS!
At Mohawk Trail we are committed to centering equitable and inclusive practices in our school community and creating a welcoming and accepting environment for all. As such, we’ve made a commitment to take a close look at our everyday policies and practices as related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) this year and have begun a relationship with Firefly Worldwide Inc., an education consulting practice who will serve as a third party to help facilitate this work.
For us, equity means that all members of our community are valued, supported, and included. We see this work as an opportunity to celebrate our strengths and have an honest discussion about areas for growth. We want to invite you all to become a part of this conversation!
In the following weeks we will be conducting an Equity Audit with the purpose of assessing our school climate and culture to determine what’s working, identify areas for improvement, and have an honest conversation about people’s experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion in our district.
The first part of this work is a community survey. Students, caregivers, and staff are invited to share insights about your own experiences within the MTRS community. This is a brief survey with a variety of questions. We truly hope to hear from everyone and to encourage participation, everyone who submits a survey will be entered into a prize drawing for an amazing prize!
How can I answer the community survey?
We will email the survey link to the community on Monday 16th May and community members will be able to take the survey at MTRS at the Equity Stand at the Spring Fling event on 5/15 from 11am-3pm. Additionally, community members will be able to take this survey in person at our Celebration of Learning on 5/19, 4-6pm.
How else can I get involved?
Additionally, focus groups will be taking place for Caregivers, Students, and Faculty/Staff with Firefly facilitators. Volunteers will have an opportunity to share more information in remote conversations with other participants and facilitators about these important issues. Use this form to be contacted about participating in our focus groups. There will be 3 meetings - one for staff, one for students, and one for caregivers - scheduled remotely during the week of 5/24-6/2. Please join us!!
We’re so proud about this opportunity for our community to become stronger, more inclusive, and more equitable. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Principal Buckland or Assistant Principal Zamer.
We look forward to beginning this conversation!
Class of 2022: Awards Night and Graduation Ceremony information
Planning is underway for our Awards Night and Graduation and we hope you’ll join us!
Awards Night will be held on Thursday, June 2 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the MTRS auditorium.
Graduation will be held outside on Saturday, June 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In the event of rain, graduation will take place in the gymnasium on the same day.
Our teaching staff have been asked to compile student awards. Students and caregivers please complete this survey by May 23 to help us plan these events.
MTRS Schedule including Mask Breaks from May 11th
New Mask break schedules
Early Release Day (dismissal at 12:50)
High School Middle School Advisory: 7:45-8:05 (20 minutes) Block 1: 8:08-9:08 (60 minutes) Block 2: 9:11-10:11 (60 minutes) Mask Break: 10:11-10:21 (10 minutes) Block 3: 10:24-11:24 (60 minutes) Lunch: 11:27-11:52 (25) Block 4: 11:55-12:50 (55 minutes) Advisory: 7:45-8:05 (20 minutes) Exploratory:: 8:08-9:08 (60 minutes) Period 1: 9:11-9:51 (40 minutes) Mask/Body Break: 9:51-10:01 (10 minutes) Period 2: 10:04 -10:44 (40 minutes) Period 3: 10:47 - 11:27 (40 minutes) Mask/Body break: 11:27-11:37 (10 minutes) Period 4: 11:40-12:20 (40 minutes) Lunch: 12:25-12:50 (25 minutes)
Regular Day (dismissal at 2:20)
High School Middle School Advisory: 7:45 - 8:15 (30 min) Block 1: 8:19 - 9:29 (70 min) Mask Break: 9:29-9:39 (10 minutes) Block 2: 9:42 - 10:53 (71 min) Lunch: 10:55 - 11:20 (25 min) Activities/Clubs/Office Hours: 11:23 - 11:43 (20 min) Block 3: 11:46 - 12:56 (70 min) Mask Break: 12:56-1:06 (10 minutes) Block 4: 1:09 - 2:20 (71 min) Advisory: 7:45 - 8:15 (30 minutes) Exploratory: 8:19 - 9:29 (70 min.) Body break/Mask Break (on team): 9:32-9:37 (5 minutes) Period 1: 9:40 - 10:30 (50 minutes) Period 2: 10:33 - 11:23 (50 minutes) 7th Grade: Academic Extensions & Interventions: 11:26 - 11:56 (30 min.) Lunch: 11:59-12:24 (25 minutes) 8th Grade Lunch 11:26-11:51 (25 minutes) Academic Extensions and Interventions 11:54-12:24 (30 minutes) Period 3: 12:27 - 1:17 (50 minutes) Body Break/Mask Break: 1:20-1:27 (7 minutes) Period 4: 1:30 - 2:20 (50 minutes)
Cellphone Pilot in Grades 7 & 8
May 2 - June 22nd
This pilot intends to support students in Grades 7 & 8 in learning how to use technology responsibly; increase active student engagement and participation in classes; and help to manage the very real anxiety students experience with cellphones and social media.
This pilot uses a gradual “release of responsibility” model in Grades 7, 8, and 9 where students are provided with more opportunities to access and use their cellphones appropriately as part of their school day.
The pilot will run from May 2 through until June 22.
Overview
Use of electronic devices, including cellphones, in middle school classes is prohibited except when approved by administration at the request of staff for educational purposes.
Middle school students may use their cellphones and electronic devices before first bell at 7:40 a.m., during their body/mask break, and after school at 2:20 p.m. in the school foyer, cafeteria, main hallways near the gym and towards the cafeteria, or outside on school grounds, but not in any other section of the building.
Administration discussed the pilot program, which begins May 2, with students.
More information about the pilot can be found here.
Caregivers - we would like your feedback to provide additional perspectives and ideas. Please contact principal Buckland with thoughts/questions/feedback: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Trailblazer News
May 19th, 4-6pm: Trailblazer Celebration of Learning
Please join us for a districtwide celebration of learning on Thursday, May 19 at MTRS from 4-6 p.m.
Learn about our Trailblazer model and how MTRS students blaze their trails with us!
Elementary Literacy event in the library sponsored by the Mary Lyon Foundation -- free books, make your own comic, and dress like a superhero/favorite character photo-op spot!
Throughout the building you'll see student work displays; go on a district-wide art walk; get a preview of the MTRS musical and spring concert; have a chance to play and bring home math games for the whole family; and so much more!
AND... thanks to the incredible generosity of the Mary Lyon Foundation and Foxtown Diner, dinner will be provided (FREE!) for all attendees!
Families - please join us as we celebrate our students and their work AND have some fun! This event is for *all* ages!
Live Theatre - coming soon!
Bits of Broadway
Live theater is back at MTRS and we would love for you to join us for an evening
of Broadway music and vignettes
A little something for everyone to enjoy!
~Performance Dates~
Friday May 20th & Saturday May 21, 2022 - 7:30 p.m.
Ticket information:
Tickets may be purchased in advance by
emailing stagemanager@mtrs.org, calling (413) 244-5904, or writing a check and leaving it at the front office.
Ticket prices:
Adults: $12
Seniors/Staff/Faculty/Students: $10
Please make checks payable to: MTRS and add Bits of Broadway in the Memo
Questions? Contact Miss Eva at stagemanager@mtrs.org
MTRS Yearbook Info
Hold on to your memories from Mohawk Trail Regional School forever and get your yearbook today! The 2021-22 yearbook is a beautiful, student-designed artifact and a special way to hold on to your high school memories for the rest of your life.
Visit TreeRing to order your yearbook today!
Want to customize some yearbook pages? Check out our quick start guide on creating a TreeRing yearbook account.
Yearbook Questions? Email Rachel Silverman at rsilverman@mtrsd.org
STUCO TAG SALE & Spring Fling!
YOU have stuff to sell and WE have space for you!
JOIN US on for the Mohawk Trail Regional School Student Council TAG SALE on Sunday, May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the MTRS field hockey field (26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls). Help us FILL THE FIELD and sign-up to be a vendor today!
VENDOR INFORMATION:
$20 per space (spaces approx. 10' x 15')
$10 table rental (limited amount, first come first serve)
*Bringing your own pop-up/EZ up tent is encouraged*
Sign-ups are due by APRIL 29
To sign-up, email: MTRSstuco@mtrsd.org and include subject line: "May Tag Sale"
**Vendors: To sign up, please CLICK HERE and complete the form to reserve your space.**
Graphic by STUCO member and communications intern Sophia Goodnow
Library new
Please see the latest library news here
Academic News
Transition to 7th Grade information
Step-Up Day: Monday, June 13th, 9:30-1:30 at Mohawk Trail Regional School (MTRS)
This is an important orientation event for all 6th grade students. At this event, 6th graders will participate in activities intended to ease the transition to middle school and create excitement:
9:00-9:30 Arrive at MTRS on bus from elementary schools
9:30-10:00 Welcome & Introduction to 7th Grade
10:00-12:00 Rotation through 7th grade classrooms with the following activities:
* Tour of building
*Q & A
*General Schedule and daily expectations
*Athletics & After School Programs
*Social Time
12:00-12:30 Lunch in Cafeteria with sports information table
12:30-1:00 Recreation Activity 1
1:00-1:30 Recreation Activity 2
1:30 Dismissal to Busses and travel back to elementary schools
Lunch: Students will eat lunch in the MTRS cafeteria. Lunch will be free for all students. The menu for Step-Up Day is Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers. Students are welcome to bring a home lunch instead of getting school lunch if they wish.
Your student will come home with a folder of information on this day!
Don’t forget to sign and return the permission slip to your student’s elementary school
by June 6th!
Please click here for the most recent Student Services updates
Zamer's Corner ~ Highlights from our Assistant Principal
Literacy, art, and performance all came together this week in Ms. Silverman’s art class. Ms. Silverman writes, “Every day we practice creative warm-ups responding to a prompt . Yesterday we created mini black out poems with illustrations. Reading the work aloud is fun, and being up on a table creates a great juxtaposition between the often absurd poems and the grand delivery. From a creative expression angle, it’s also a great way to normalize sharing work and not take it too seriously even though it’s a vulnerable moment.” I stopped in at the right time to catch this shot of Jackson Morey reciting his poem.
Community Activities & Engagement
How can you get involved at MTRS?
Here is the latest CEEP newsletter and we hope to see you at the youth field hockey scrimmage here at MTRS against Frontier on May 28th at 11:30 to cheer on our young athletes!
Also, the summer track series is back at MTRS. More information coming soon!
Are you interested in gardening or helping us pull invasive plants? Please contact Mrs. Woof at awoofenden@mtrsd.org to learn more about this opportunity.
We have a local Buckland family looking for a babysitter 2 days a week this summer, here is more information.
MTRS International Trip
Please click here for information on Mrs. Camarda’s trip to Italy and Greece in June of 2024. Email Mrs. Camarda for more information: lcamarda@mtrsd.org
Can you host an exchange student for 2022/23?
Hosting a student from another country is a fantastic cultural experience. Please see the note below from Jada at CIEE and consider hosting a student for the 22/23 school year.
My name is Jada, I assist high school students from our global community with experience in international immersion. We have three amazing students from Brazil, Germany, and Spain who are coming to the Shelburne Falls area this August for the school year. I am working to connect them with an awesome volunteer host family. Would you be willing to share this information with your traveller’s families?
Our students are excited to embrace Shelburne Falls’ culture while sharing a piece of their own. They speak good English and have their own medical insurance as well as their own spending money to cover their personal expenses. Volunteer host families come in all shapes and sizes; retired, veterans, single parents, couples with or without children of any age, etc. A host simply welcomes the student as one of their own!
What is a CIEE host family? Link
Contact for more information: email jrogers@ciee.org
Athletics News
Click here to access this weeks MTRS Athletics Newsletter!
Come and Celebrate MTRS Senior Days This Week!
Monday 5/16
Boys & Girls Track!
Tuesday 5/17
Tennis!
MTRS will once again host the Division 2 Track Championships Saturday May 21 starting with field events at 9:30 AM!
MTRS game schedules available on ARBITER SPORTS App!
Download the APP via the App Store or Google Play and add MTRS as a favorite for quick access to all of our teams’ game schedules. You can also access our schedules by visiting the “Arbiter Live” website:
https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=14937
If you need any help or have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to Athletic Director Greg Vouros for more information at gvouros@mtrsd.org
Pop-in for a chat ~ Virtual office hours with Principal Buckland
Have a virtual coffee or tea with me! Pop-by and tell me about your experiences at MTRS and the Trailblazer model. Each month I'll host two virtual drop-in hours for caregivers and hope you'll stop by to say hello!
Second Friday of each month: 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/jtz-yhet-ipo
Phone Number: (US)+1 (813) 773-5581
PIN: 636 883 303
Third Friday of each month: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/sru-mshz-rht
Phone Number: (US)+1 (218) 301-2866
PIN: 136 064 523
Special Education Updates
Mohawk Trail SEPAC Member and Parent
Do you have a question about your child, their services, or resources specific to your needs? If you or someone you know would like to be added to the private list and receive emails and event notifications, please send an email to: MOHAWKSEPAC@gmail.com Please indicate your email, title (such as parent of a student with IEP/504), District, Interested Party or other)
Disclosure: SEPAC maintains the list of contacts and keeps the information private. This email is maintained by a parent and volunteer. Our goal is to respond in a timely manner. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Chris Buckland
Email: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org
Phone: 413-625-9811
Facebook: facebook.com/mohawktrailregional