MHS Newsletter
Your news source for Mansfield High School
From the Principal's Desk...
February 12, 2021
Dear MHS Parents and Guardians,
Please find updates for the upcoming weeks:
- Senior Class Officers and I hosted three Senior Class Meeting sessions on Wednesday, February 10th during S3H. We received excellent feedback regarding student preferences and priorities as we plan for the end of the year. Please rest assured that we're getting to work, and that we're committed to making the end of the year as special as possible for the Class of 2021. More to come!
- Semester 2 Teacher Conferences will take place on March 9 and 10. Sign-up information will be sent out by each of your child's teachers on February 23rd at 3PM. Conferences will be conducted over Google Meet just as we did earlier in the school year, and individual conferences will be limited to five minutes.
- On Wednesday, February 24th students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will receive critical information regarding the course registration process for next school year. Information will be shared via digital presentation in class by teachers; students will be able to access the presentation anytime thereafter for reference as they make their way through the process. In addition, we'll be sending out digital presentation for parents/guardians.
- Please read the information from the Health Office posted below regarding illness and travel.
Have a relaxing and safe February Vacation!
Best regards,
Mary Watkins
Principal
From the Health Office
Illness:
We will continue to monitor illness and COVID cases over the February break. No one will be available in the Health Office over the break but we ask that you contact betsy.savoie@mansfieldschools.com to report any illness, COVID diagnosis or that your student was identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID. We continue to put together the pieces of the puzzle and this information is essential in giving us a better handle on keeping our school community safe and healthy.
Travel Information for Families:
We would like to remind you that Massachusetts has a COVID-19 Travel Order in place.
All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to:
Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health.
Quarantine for 10 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
- You must be able to demonstrate proof of the negative test result.
A (PCR), is the approved method of testing as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.The rapid antigen test will not be accepted.
Please find more information, including the list of lower-risk states, exemptions, business guidance and other details, at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order
Please reach out to betsy.savoie@mansfieldschools.com with any plans you have to travel and testing plans.
We all must all remain vigilant in stopping the spread of this virus. If you need to be tested for any reason please click on this link to use the COVID-19 testing map to find a site near you.
Senior Celebration Donations
The Senior Celebration Committee is requesting donations for the Class of 2021 Senior Celebration Fund! All monies will be used to celebrate and honor the Class of 2021 this spring.
The suggested donation per Senior student is $35.00.
If you wish to donate, you may do so online, or via check mailed to Mansfield High School, with "Senior Celebration" noted on the Memo line.
Online donations can be made via the UniPay Link on the District website, for a fee (accepting electronic check and credit/debit card payments, except Visa):
Click here for the High School Student Activity Unipay link. Be sure to type "Senior Celebration" in the "Activity" field.
Thank you for your contributions!!
Mock Trial
Mansfield’s prosecution not only won the guilty verdict but also the match. Team attorneys Hilary Cross, Brianna Bates, Andrew Katz, Jessica Zenack, SriRishi Atluri, and Kaitlyn Malsky proved their case with the aid of tech attorney Ezra Walsh and time keeper Lulu Cavicchi.
The prosecution’s witnesses were well represented by Ian Steele, Haiden Peavey, and Stella Kinney. The opening statement was delivered by Kaitlyn Malsky and the closing was performed by Jessica Zenack.
The team will have its next meet against Pembroke High School on February 23rd.
Athletics- Fall 2 Sports Meeting
The Football Pre-Season Meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 18th at 6:30 pm for all players in grades 9-12.
Please do not pay the user fee yet as it will be collected once tryouts have been completed. If you have registered for Fall 2, you will be sent a link to the Google Meet for each night. If you are interested in Fall 2 sports and have not registered please go to Family ID and register as soon as possible:
https://www.familyid.com/programs/mansfield-high-school-athletics-registration-fall-ii-2020-2021
National Honor Society Sock and Soup Drive
If you would like to donate any cans of soup or new socks, there will be donation bins in the school lobby and throughout town starting on Monday, February 22nd. The drive will be ending March 8th so please get in any donations before that. Thank you.
Kindness Rocks!
MHS Choir
Check out the new MHS Choir website- we can't sing together at MHS, but we can sing at home!!
SATs at MHS
Mansfield High School will be offering a school-based SAT exam on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. This exam session will be available only to members of the Class of 2022 (juniors).
As announced in January 2021, the College Board has eliminated the essay portion of the SAT.
In order to participate in the April 27th test administration, students must register through the School Counseling Office at MHS (NOT through the College Board website) following these instructions:
Registration is open from Monday, February 8th - Tuesday, March 30th.
Secure a check or US money order made payable to Mansfield High School in the amount of $52.
In the memo line of the check, please print the student’s full name.
To submit payment, students may do one of the following:
Bring payment to Mrs. MacKillop in the School Counseling Office on assigned in-person cohort day.
Drop payment off in the MHS Main Lobby Drop Box between 8am-3pm Monday-Friday. Please mark “Attn: Mrs. MacKillop” on the envelope. The drop box is located just inside the door- please ring the bell and you will be buzzed in.
Mail payment to the following address:
Attn: Denise MacKillop
Mansfield High School
250 East Street
Mansfield, MA 02048
Students on Free/Reduced lunch should bring a copy of the letter they received this past fall to Mrs. MacKillop on their in-person cohort day during the registration period, and exam fees will be reviewed at that time; students in the VRC who have a letter should email a copy or photo of the document to Mrs. MacKillop.
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Karidoyanes our Director of School Counseling.
Student Mental Health Support
Flu Vaccination Update
Please see the statement below from the MA DPH, School Health Services, which was issued on Friday, January 15, 2021:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID -19 vaccination efforts.
DPH continues to strongly recommend that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each year.
Department of Digital Learning
If you haven't checked out our Student and Family Digital Resources website, please take a minute and visit! We've been hard at work creating resources to help families and students learn and use some of the many digital tools we have available throughout MPS.
There are instructional documents and videos about the digital tool, as well as resources to help you use digital tools in an efficient and productive way.
Some of our latest topics include:
- How to create and use labels and filters to manage all the emails you receive from Google Classroom, etc.
- How to turn off/on notifications in Google Classroom
- What is the difference between Mark as Done and Turn In in Google Classroom and when do I use each option?
- How do I split my viewing screen to see and use 2 applications at the same time?
- Taking screenshots with my Chromebook
- Creating and Using Google Forms
- Managing your extensions in your Chrome browser
- Using Equatio (grades 5-12) for digital inking in math
We are continuing to create and post new materials regularly, so bookmark the site and check back often!
Housing Help
The state Department of Housing and Community Development has centralized information about resources for families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19. Please use this link for more information. www.mass.gov/covidhousinghelp
Breakfast and Lunch at No Cost
Breakfast and lunch at no cost to families has been extended through June 2021. In addition, Grab and Go Meals are available for pick-up every Wednesday from 3-4pm at Mansfield High School. Please see the links below for additional information.
https://sites.google.com/mansfieldschools.com/covid-19/nutrition?authuser=0
From the Nurses
Illness Management
Please see the Daily Self Symptom Screening Checklist which needs to be reviewed every morning before sending your student to school. If your student does not feel well and stays home, please monitor their symptoms. If your student is having concerning symptoms, please contact your physician for guidance.
If your student is not feeling well:
Stay home and call your physician for guidance regarding concerning symptoms
Physician may diagnose an illness and may or may not refer student for a COVID-19 test
Inform your school nurse of absence, diagnosis, and/or testing
Student may return per our back to school guidelines(fever free for 24 hrs without use of medication and an improvement in symptoms) and a negative COVID-19 test if one was ordered by a physician
If COVID-19 test is positive, please call your school nurse for individual instructions
Communication is key in making sure information is shared in a timely manner so contacts can be identified and informed. If at any time during this school year, your student is identified as a close contact to a positive case and is placed in quarantine, please call your school nurse for individual instructions. Please do not hesitate to call your school nurse with information or with any questions.
For more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-covid-19-testing#where-can-get-a-test?-
Please see the MPS Return to School Flowchart for a quick reference guide.
SCHOOL NURSE CONTACT:
Roland Green Pre-School (508) 261-1561
Fax: (508) 261-7415
Debora.Wirth@mansfieldschools.com
Robinson Elementary School (508)261-7387
Fax: (508) 261-7389
Sue.McGinley@mansfieldschools.com or Tammy.Rozelle@mansfieldschools.com
Jordan/Jackson Elementary School (508) 261-7520
Fax: (508) 261-7522
Kristin.Haskell@mansfieldschools.com or Betsy.Johnston@mansfieldschools.com
Qualters Middle School (508) 261-7530
Fax: (508) 261-7374
Lisa.Anderson@mansfieldschools.com or Elayne.Brown@mansfieldschools.com
Mansfield High School (508) 261-7540
Fax: (508) 261-7416
Christine.Harrison@mansfieldschools.com or Betsy.Savoie@mansfieldschools.com
Key Dates for Your Calendar
Feb. 15-19- No school- President's Day and February Vacation
Bus Information
Please click on the link to watch Thursday's presentation addressing transportation:
About Us
Mary Watkins, Principal
Zachary Abrams, Assistant Director, Special Education
Abigail Barlas, Assistant Principal, Student Support Services
James Schliefke, Assistant Principal, Grades 10 & 12
Timothy Tichacek, Assistant Principal, Grades 9 & 11
Email: firstname.lastname@mansfieldschools.com
Website: http://mhs.mansfieldschools.com/
Location: 250 East Street, Mansfield, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 261-7540
Twitter: @MHShornets