Masco Memo # 22
January 22, 2023
School Mission Statement
The Masconomet High School community believes that learning enables us all to achieve ambitious personal goals, develop fine minds, and build strong character. Therefore, we foster the acquisition of attitudes, skills, and knowledge necessary for life-long learners to think critically in order to participate in a global society.
Headlines and Highlights (TLDR bullets)
- Mark your Calendar
- PBS's 20 under 20
- Mourning Update Shoutout
- Strategic Planning - Survey
- Quarter 2 and the PowerSchool Portal
- M-Block Updates
- Rocketry Award
- Morning Update and the Chieftain
- School-Day SAT
- Grade 11 Parent Coffee
- TTC News
- PAC News
- Athletics: Cheerleaders compete in Nationals!
Mark Your Calendar
- January 23, No School for Students
- January 24, Quarter 3/Semester 2 starts
- January 26, TTC High School Student Community Conversation
- January 27, Grade 9 and 10 Semi-formal (ticket sales have ended)
- February 7, Junior Parent Coffee (Snow date, 2/14/23)
- February 20 - 24, February Break
- February 27, School Re-opens
Reminder, No School Tomorrow!
PBS's 20 Under 20
We are excited to announce that Alexa D'Amato has been recognized as one of PBS's 20 under 20 Young Storytellers. From the Storytellers website,
"For the past two years, the PBS Student Reporting Lab team has come together to identify specific students who have gone through our program and produced powerful stories. This year, we accepted nominations from educators in our large network from across the country."
Check out the Alexa's biography on the 20 Under 20 student storytellers! The Media Communications class has been invited to tour the WGBH studio and watch a taping. I am excited to share more after their visit.
Massachusetts Scholastic Press Association Shoutout
The morning update team was given a shoutout by the Massachusetts Scholastic Press Association during their Holiday Coverage Round-up. I am always delighted to share when the good work of our students is recognized by outside groups.
Here is a link to the Roundup.
Strategic Planning -- Input is needed!
In November, the Masconomet Regional School District (Masco) launched an aspirational, community conversation to redefine what success should look like for our students and schools and to embrace the practices that will enable the district to realize that vision. A representative Strategic Planning Working Team has started discussions to help plan for our future.
Now is YOUR time to participate
in setting the future direction and determining strategic priorities
for Masconomet Regional School District.
We welcome your ideas and invite you to participate in a community survey to share your perspectives and suggestions. All responses are anonymous and the survey takes only 15 minutes. As a bonus, we’ll be raffling a $40 gift card to participants.
Here is the link and a QR code is below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MasconometPlanningSurvey
by February 1, 2023
Also, please share this link with families, neighbors and colleagues in your Masco community network, even if they don’t currently have students at the middle school or high school. We hope to maximize community engagement and capture our best collective ideas.
Responses are due by February 1. For more information on Masconomet’s Strategic Planning Initiative, see our website (https://www.masconomet.org/Page/908).
Quarter 2 and the Power School Portal
The Power School portal closed on Friday, January 20th at 3:00 PM, the same day Quarter 2/Semester 1 ended. The portal will remain closed until January 27th at 4:00 PM when we anticipate the portal opening and quarter 2 report cards become available.
M-Block
As you know, M-block meets each day for thirty-six minutes. This time is used to make-up work, get extra-help, or use as students see fit. At this time, we are using the adaptive scheduler which is a plug-in that works with PowerSchool. Both teachers and students have the ability to schedule themselves into a particular session. The Adaptive schedule will open for the following week on Friday at 12:30 PM.
Starting with the week of 1/30/23, students will have the ability to schedule themselves for M-block Monday through Thursday (when we have a 5-day week). Friday will be a "home-base" day where students will report to their assigned M-block class unless they are drafted by a teacher. The thought is that having one day where students aren't moving, may allow teachers to help students who otherwise might not be using the time as it is designed. Since teachers can draft students to their M-block, we would encourage students to be in touch with teachers if they need to meet with them during this time.
Rocketry Club News
The Masconomet Rocketry Club was the lucky recipient of the Bill Spadafora Fund Grant from CMASS (Central Massachusetts Central Spacemodeling Society- one of the largest National Association of Rocketry sections).
The grant is for $400. These funds will allow the club to apply for and purchase supplies for the upcoming prestigious national TARC competition next year.
PhotoCredit: R. Quadros
Here is a link to the Morning Update!
There’s also an all-new edition of The Chieftain Chronicle, jam packed with stories about Open House, Debate Club, Rocketry Club, Internship, and so much more.
Class of 2024 Parent Coffee
To support parents in the post-secondary planning process, we invite you to attend The School Counseling Department’s Junior Parent Post-High School Planning Presentation on Tuesday, February 7th from 8:00-9:30 AM in the high school library. If your junior is the first child in your family to apply to college, you are strongly encouraged to attend this event.
Topics to be discussed will include the following:
Summary of college counseling services at Masconomet
Overview of post-secondary options
Roles in the college search and application process
How to begin the search process
Researching colleges
Standardized test options and the growing trend of test-optional admissions
Application timelines/components
Financial aid
We ask that you RSVP using the link here.
School-Day SAT
The Masconomet School Counseling Department is pleased to inform you that we will administer a school-day SAT for the Class of 2024 (current Juniors) on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
This is an optional test, therefore we are asking that all Juniors please complete this form to indicate whether or not they wish to participate. For those who do wish to register, please also submit payment of $55 per student -- check only -- made payable to Masconomet Regional High School on or before Friday, January 27, 2023. Payment can dropped off in the School Counseling Office (or to the black drop box outside the main entrance of the school).
SAT resources for students:
Please contact Mrs. Delafano at adelafano@masconomet.org if you have questions, or need information regarding fee waivers.
MASCO students leading the Community Conversation, Save the date!
COOKIE sale extended! ORDER TODAY!
Masconomet PAC is once again selling Rebecca's Nut-Free cookie dough! We have moved the final order date to Sunday January 22, 2023.
Click here to place your order: https://masconomet-pac.square.site/
Pick up is on Monday, Feb 6, 2023, at Masconomet High School, time TBD. We will box all orders by student or family name.
You can also choose to have your order shipped directly to your home; perishable shipping charges apply.
Order your cookies TODAY!
Athletics - Cheerleading at Nationals in Texas!
The Varsity Cheerleading team traveled to Dallas Texas to compete at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) High School National Championships. They competed in the Advanced Small Varsity Performance division against numerous teams, including teams from Oklahoma, Maryland, and Illinois to name a few. This is the third time Masconomet has attended this National event.
Athletes attending: Madeline Blanchette, Mya Champlain, Caroline Losee, Christina Catalano, Jenna Leonforte, Alexa Paris, Payton Champlain, McKenna Boyd, Olivia Borghesi, Ally Kelter, Emmy Kelter, and Elise Moore. Coaches: Elizabeth Walsh-Williams, Tara Reiss, and volunteer coach Victoria Guarino (Masco '19)
Stay tuned for 2023 results.
Photocredit: @MascoCheer - Twitter
Schedule
Please see the athletic schedule below but be sure to check for any updates on our
athletics website.
Masconomet Regional High School
