Student & Family Update

I hope that you have had a good week.

Just a reminder that students are not allowed to wear masks or items of clothing that may cover their face on Monday 31st. Please remember that there is no school for students on Tuesday November 1st due to staff PD.

Finally, don't forget to cheer loudly for our amazing volleyball team when they compete in the playoff semi-finals away at Mt Greylock later tonight.

Please see below for the upcoming events at our busy school

Best wishes

Chris

Upcoming dates

• November 1 - No school, staff PD

• November 9th - STEAM Fair

• November 11th - Veterans Day - no school

• November 23rd - 11:30 dismissal

• November 24th & 25th - Thanksgiving Holiday (No school)

• November 30th - Photo retakes

• December 9th and 10th - Winter Play: 7:30pm both days
  

• December 21st - MTRS Winter Concert: 7pm

• December 23rd - 11:30am dismissal for Winter Break

• January 3rd (Tuesday) - First day of school after the Winter Break

We continued with our tradition of whole school assemblies on early release Wednesdays.

This week we heard student shout outs from Dean Colleen, celebrated our Fall Athletes and enjoyed a short performance from Mr. Freitag's Pep band!

Help create and make a display installation at the light up the fairgrounds in Greenfield. Commit to a few days after school to design and build the display. If you want to help Friday during activity time meet in Ms Silverman's room. Snacks will be provided!

Mohawk Trail is making news this week with word that the school will spearhead a partnership with Greenfield Community College that allows students to take college courses while still in high school.

"This is a significant program for multiple reasons," said Superintendent Sheryl Stanton. "One, it allows Mohawk Trail students more course options. Two, it provides rigor for high achieving students. Three, and this is the best part for parents, students get college credit that is accepted when students enroll in a college, university or tech school, shaving money off tuition bills."

The grant will eventually involve several other schools in Franklin County, but it is starting at Mohawk Trail Regional School.

More information about the Mohawk Trail's partnership with GCC can be found here

*MT NewsFlash is a service of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School Districts.

The Barr foundation has provided $450,000 of support for the development of our Trailblazer model here at MTRS. The Trailblazer Model has a sharp focus on the development of a positive building culture and strong relationships between students and teachers through Advisory, greater opportunities for student-driven choice in academic classes and a focus on developing college or career-ready skills in all students. Additionally, the Trailblazer model has helped provide opportunities for teacher collaboration and more distributed leadership among staff in order to help teachers to support students and shape educational experiences in response to changing student needs.

Last Thursday we were pleased to welcome a BARR photographer to document students and staff at MTRS. These photos will be used in our MTRS publications such as the newsletter, yearbook and also in the BARR foundations support for school redesign work.

Based on the media release forms we have received, we tried to ensure that students from families who had not given permission were not photographed. I will also make sure that we double check the photos to be used to make sure that all families have given permission.

Finally, if you are still to return a media image permission form, please download and return this form. Alternatively, you can pick up a hard copy from the front office.

During the week of December 13, 2022, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School Districts. The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parents and other individuals may call Marc Oldenburg, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at 413-314-6703 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/.

The district is desperate for drivers! We are having to cancel field trips and sports fixtures due to a lack of drivers. Can you help?

Speaking to other principals in the region, there is growing concern about the use of Vape and Dab pens by students. We are working with local organizations to run an informative assembly on the health risks associated with such products. This will augment our existing health and advisory curriculum and we hope it will provide an opportunity for student question and answer session.

Please be aware that as well as being a significant health risk, using or distributing such devices is against the student conde of conduct as outlined in the handbook.

Additionally, please be aware that according to state law, "It is illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21."

If you have concerns about your child or you would like to talk to the nurse, please reach out to Larissa: lharrison@mtrsd.org If you have concerns about drug usage and would like to speak to an organization not connected to the school, please contact the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board at Franklin County: https://adamhfranklin.org/

Are you interested in becoming servsafe manager certified? We are offering a course here Nov. 15th & 16th for anyone that is interested. See the flyer below and email awoofenden@mtrsd.org to enroll today.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I9Yv18eN-QUCyVHwZBssQeZlhjlZTvSk/view?usp=sharing

Passing Grade 10 ELA and Math MCAS is a high school graduation requirement in Massachusetts. As well as opportunities in the Spring of grade 10, students have the opportunity to retake these tests in November, February and the Spring of grade 11 and 12 should they need to do so.

MCAS results for students in grades 7, 8, 9 & 10 were sent home by mail last week. Next week the families of students who will need to take either G 10 ELA and/ or Math MCAS will receive an email letting them know when these test sessions will be and the expectations for students taking these tests.

MTRSD STEAM Fair is coming this fall for students in grades 6-8, and we couldn’t be more excited! We are hoping to recruit caregiver and community members to our cause: to connect our students with a diverse range of new and interesting hands-on experiences in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Volunteers needed to run sessions or help with logistics. Tentatively scheduled for Wed., November 9, we would love to have you join us; click here for more information.

Read all about our updates here: Student Services

Please consider supporting our fall production of "Ax of Murder" We are excited to give the opportunity to families, friends and local bussinesses a way of showing support. We will have a playbill for our performances that gives the opportunity for anyone to place an ad in support of our show. All of the details are on our website or by contacting Miss Eva at stagemanager@mtrsd.org. We must pay for permission to perform, get costumes and build a set and we would love your ad to help us do that! We hope to see everyone there and your ad in our program!

Do you have cross country ski experience & want to coach beginner elementary students? We are looking for a coach this winter, click the link below for more information.

Cross Country Instructor Wanted

Here is the latest CEEP newsletter. Have an idea you want to share or a club you would like to run?

Please email Mrs. Woof at awoofenden@mtrsd.org -

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 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. Normally we are in-person but our next meeting on Nov 9th will be virtual.

Outdoor Advisory Committee- Virtual

Wednesday, November 9 · 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