Student & Family Update

2023 is well and truly underway and we are delighted to welcome Alice Fulton to MTRSD as our new 9-12 High School Guidance Counselor. Alice has a wide variety of experiences as a counselor and teacher and we are looking forward to her working to further develop our College and Career supports and outreach as well as providing academic insight for MTRS students - welcome to our MTRS family, Alice!

We are in the last few days of Semester 1. Don't forget that January 18,19 & 20th are S1 finals days and are all 2 hour delays - 9:45-2:20 - please see the schedule here. Remember, students in 9-12 who do not have exams after lunch are only allowed to leave campus and go home if we have received parent permission. Please email kwagner@mtrsd.org with permissions at least the day before.

Early February will see the start of MCAS testing. Please have a look at the MCAS and AP testing schedule: Link More information will be shared out closer to the time.

Don't forget that Monday 16th is Martin Luther King day and there will be no school for students or staff.

Finally, this week saw Grade 12 present their Summative Capstone Projects to panels (see the photos below) and I would like to invite you to mark your calendars for January 23rd and our Capstone Showcase...see below for more details!

Please read on to find out more about what else is going on and planned to go on at our busy school!

Best wishes

Chris

Upcoming dates

• January 13th: Grade 11 Trivia Night/ fundraiser

• January 16th - No School, MLK day

• January 18, 19, 20th: MS and HS finals: All three days will be 2 hour delay starts

• January 23rd: Capstone Showcase: 8-10:15am

• January 27th: Parents’ night out at MTRS 4-8pm
  

• Feb 1st - First day of Black History Month

• Feb 15th - College and Career Future Fair Event at MTRS

• Feb 20-24 - No School: February break

• March 29th - District Celebration of Learning

In the past few weeks we have been working with Fire, local and State police to make sure that our health and safety procedures are up to date and all of our staff and students are safe in the event of an emergency.

As you will have noticed, I email all families immediately after a drill to let them know that it has taken place. I also email families immediately afterwards should a real procedure take place.

Please note that in the event of a reunification drill/ incident, where a care providers are called to collect students from the school/ relocation site, we will use student information that families return at the start of the year. If your circumstances have changed and your child has a new/ different responsible adult, please let the office know so that we can update our records.

As a result of their outstanding performances on the ELA, Math and STEM MCAS assessments, the following students received John and Abigail Adams scholarships:

Savanna Simmons

Seth Healy

Emery King

Paige King

Clare Wasileski

Gracie Hicks

The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is a merit-based program that provides a credit toward tuition for up to eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university.

We are delighted to welcome Patty Waters to our School Culture team! Patty, along with Dean Colleen will continue to support student learning needs through running the ISS/ Take a Break room in S2. We will also start to run afterschool detentions on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-3:30. These will take place in room 171.

Afterschool Detentions

Afterschool detentions are a part of the way that we support teaching and learning for all students. It is a part of our progressive discipline :

As outlined in the Student handbook, after school detentions are used when previous interventions have been ineffective and behavior is escalating and disrupting the learning environment. Our tiered responses to disruptive behaviors

1. Classroom Interventions/ Consequences

2. Referral to administration/ counseling & parent meeting

3. Lunch detention, After School detention

4. In school suspension

5. External suspension

Notification process

Parents will be notified by email and a phone call by a member of the Student Culture team with 48 hours notice so that transportation can be organized to collect students after 3:30 on the day of detention.

The United States Attorney’s Office is hosting a virtual Internet safety presentation for parents the evening of Wednesday, January 18th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. The presentation, entitled Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online. We will be covering the following topics:

Social Media 101 & Digital Footprint

Cyberbullying

Sexting

Gaming

Victim Support

Protecting Against Online Predation

Who should attend: Parents, guardians, local police departments, school administrators, youth program leaders and anyone who would like to learn how to keep children safe from online dangers.

The presentation is free. Registration is required. The link to register is included on the attached flyer and is also included here:

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Please register at the following link: (via Chrome browser))

Event address for attendees: https://usao.webex.com/usao/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec3d8ccd61ccdd26ee39d8c6ffd5c57aa

Password: PSC1

Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact

Karen Legace @ USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

Thank you!

Karen Legace

Project Safe Childhood Program Specialist

Office of Public Affairs and External Engagement

United States Attorney’s Office

Phone: (413) 785-0329

Email: karen.legace@usdoj.gov

Updates

The Senior Capstone course is a culminating academic experience that takes place during the fall semester. All seniors take the course and learn how to direct their own learning on a topic of their choice to encourage you to think critically, solve challenging problems, and develop skills such as

oral communication, public speaking, research skills, media literacy, teamwork, planning, self-sufficiency, and goal setting—i.e., skills that will help prepare you for college, modern careers, and adult life! Capstone projects also encourage students to connect their learning to community issues or problems, and to integrate outside-of-school learning experiences, including activities such as interviews, scientific observations, creative events or internships. Over the course of the semester students propose, design, research, execute, present, and reflect on their project. All students also take part in the Capstone Presentation Event which is attended by the community at large. This is a team-taught course with a number of faculty directly involved.

All students in grades 9,10 & 11 will have the chance to see current Capstone project presentations on January 23rd during our Capstone Showcase morning for students. Some of these will be recorded and shared online. Additionally, some seniors will be invited to present their Capstone projects to the school committee at their February meeting.

Please join us for a showcase of this year’s senior Capstone projects on January 23rd. Drop in sometime between 8-9:30am to wander through our three gallery spaces. Students will be sharing their work and available for questions and discussion. At 9:30am, the whole high school will gather in the auditorium for performance projects - theater, music, and film. This event is open to the community; please sign in at the main office when you arrive.

The most important part of a classroom experience isn't the setting or course materials, it is the talent of the teacher in front of the student.

Come and support Jacob G as he performs as Elvis on January 25th at MTRS!

Solect Energy's work began over the winter break installing solar panels on the south facing roofs of Mohawk Trail Regional School. When completed, the project is expected to:

a.) Produce about two-thirds of the Mohawk Trails’ electricity

b.) Reduce the school’s electric bill by over 50%

c.) Reduce school budget expenses

Solect is building and will operate and maintain the solar panel system at no cost to the district, then sell the power generated back to the district at a rate that is substantially less than what the district currently pays. The rate would be fixed for 20 years. The project is expected to be fully operational by September.

At the forefront of the decision to go solar was the School Committee’s recognition of the importance of sustainable, renewable energy to the district’s students and member communities. The cost savings are also critical as the district looks to keep its budgets with the means of local taxpayers.

“This is one very tangible way we can show our students that we care about their future even beyond Mohawk Trail,” said Mohawk Trail Superintendent Sheryl Stanton. “The construction and operation of the system will also provide many hands-on learning opportunities for our students.”

If you have any elementary-aged children, or know someone who does, this is for you! Bring kids grades 1-6 up to MTRS at 4pm for a night of food and fun. There will be games, crafting, and pizza followed by a showing of Ice Age. While there, parents should head over to any of the great restaurants in Shelburne to treat themselves to a quiet, child-free dinner. This is a free event, but donations are requested and will go towards the MTRS senior class, who are helping organize the event. Please contact bbasal@mtrsd.org or awoofenden@mtrsd.org with any questions.

Please join us for a free community family supper at the Trinity Church. Everyone is welcome to attend. West County Community Meals will serve dinner; the CFCE will plan activities for your children, and our own superintendent, Sheryl Stanton, will provide us with music. Scan the QR code or visit the Mary Lyon Foundation’s website to register today.

See the flyer for more information: Link

CEEP

Here is the latest CEEP newsletter with 2 new elementary offers and information about the Hilltown Scout camp offered during February Vacation.

Alia Woofenden "Mrs. Woof"

Liaison for Community Engagement and Enrichment Programs

Mohawk Trail Regional School District

24 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

She/Her/Hers

https://www.mtrsd.org/ceep

https://www.facebook.com/MTRSDCEEP/

Local Education Council (LEC)

This meets virtually every second Wednesday of the month between 3:45 and 4:30pm. More information can be found here. The next meeting will be on Feb 8th.

The virtual joining information is as follows:

Meeting ID

meet.google.com/gzo-toke-ibz

Phone Numbers

(‪US‬)‪+1 813-435-9650‬

PIN: ‪741 012 215#‬

Outdoor Advisory Committee (OAC)

This meets every second Wednesday of the month between 5 and 6pm. In the winter we will be virtual. In the Spring and Fall we will be in-person. The next meeting will be on Feb 8th.

Outdoor Advisory Committee- Virtual

Wednesday, December 21st· 5:00 – 6:00pm

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ysh-dgqv-jvz

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 470-210-0524‬ PIN: ‪190 585 623‬#

Please explore the OAC page on the website and have a look at the list of initial projects we gathered from surveying students, staff and community as well as OAC priorities created from this initial list.

Principal Drop-ins

As was the case last year, I will hold regular virtual office hours. You don’t need an appointment to come and talk with me and share your thoughts on what goes on at MTRS. I will try to be available for the whole 60 minutes but can't always guarantee it at our busy school.

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

Mohawk Trail SEPAC Member and Parent

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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.

Email: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org
Phone: 413-625-9811
Facebook: facebook.com/mohawktrailregional