Student & Family Update

I hope that you are making the best of the snow day.

Please note that there have been a number of changes to MTRS events as a result of the school cancellation for today:

• Monday 23rd will be the last Finals day. This will be a 2 hour delay and students will be expected to be in school from 9:45-2:20pm 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.
• The Grade 9-12 Capstone event has been moved to Tuesday 24th.
• Virtual drop in cancelled for today. Next one Fri 10th Feb, 8-9am

Thanks to all students who auditioned last week. Please see the Theatre Updates section on our website for more information and news on Guys and Dolls: Link

It is time to ask for Q2 Care provider/ Family feedback - How is MTRS doing? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts: Link

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 18, 19, 23rd: MS and HS finals: All three days will be 2 hour delay starts

• January 24th: 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

AP and MCAS Schedule :Link

Please find below information from the 2022 Student Health Survey for Youth and Families

Each year since 2003, between 1500-2000 middle and high school students throughout the Franklin County/North Quabbin region are surveyed on substance use and mental health.

Participating school districts include: Athol-Royalston, Four Rivers Charter, Franklin County Technical, Frontier Regional, Gill-Montague Regional, Greenfield, Mohawk Trail Regional, Pioneer Valley Regional, and Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Districts.

This is a summary of highlights from the annual student health survey, which has been tracking substance use, mental health, and several other risk and protective factors in schools throughout the region since 2003. The front of the "one-pager" focuses on "what we know", spotlighting a general decline of substance use rates over the last two decades, and an increase in depressive symptoms (particularly LGBTQ+ and cis-girls/women) over the last decade. The back focuses on "what you can do", aiming to provide resources, tips, and contacts for students and families that may be struggling.

Link

For more Franklin County & North Quabbin Youth Health Survey data

Visit www.communitiesthatcarecoalition.org

The Mohawk Trail Regional School is excited to announce the reboot of our analog photography darkroom with generous support from the Mass Cultural Council and Local Cultural Councils of Charlemont-Hawley, Rowe, Shelburne, Ashfield, Buckland, Colrain, and Heath. Beginning in Spring 2023, students will be introduced to the world of black and white film photography, from using analog SLR cameras to processing film and printing their images. However, we are looking for one last piece of the puzzle.

We are asking if any of our community members have 35mm film cameras they no longer use, and that they are open to donating to our program. Any 35mm SLR camera that is mechanically functional (shutter, film advance, rewind, and light meter all in working order) and has fully manual controls, would be a welcome addition to the program. We would take those cameras and put them in the hands of open-minded, creative young people, ready to explore the wide world of darkroom photography.

Please contact Brendan Leowolf, Photography Instructor at MTRS, at bleowolf@mtrsd.org with any questions or how to arrange your donation.

We appreciate your consideration and support!

Students in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10 will participate in hands-on learning designed to help them make the most of their time in high school and set themselves up for a bright future.

Through an expo-style fair, students will "choose their own adventure", exploring different pathways to college and career, and learn about opportunities in high school that will open doors to new pursuits.

The event will include a select panel of diverse college representatives that will answer everything from, "What kinds of colleges exist, and how do I choose the right one?" to "How do I pay for college?" to "What should I be doing now to figure out what I want to do later?"

Throughout the event students will have the chance to meet:

• Representatives from public, private, community and technical colleges

• Career professionals and nonprofit leaders from a wide-range of industries and government agencies

• High school teachers that will highlight impactful programming for student development, such as the Senior Capstone and Civics Project

• Guidance counselors to share about scholarships, course selection, and college-planning

• Coaches, club advisers and student leaders showcasing activities that enrich the secondary experience

• Vocational school representatives detailing secondary programs

• Junior Achievement to talk about financial planning

• MassHire to share internships and employment opportunities

• Arts' program leaders highlighting courses and activities in music, visual and performing arts

• Trailblazer leaders - to learn about specialized graduation endorsements and MTRS opportunities

• And more!

If you are interested in volunteering for the day to represent your organization or industry, please reach out to Carol Foote at cfoote@mtrsd.org

Please note that this event has been moved from the 23rd to the 24th due to the snow cancellation on the 20th and the need to move the last day of finals to the 23rd!

Please join us for a showcase of this year’s senior Capstone projects on January 24th. 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 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.

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.

Awards and Graduation

Junior and Senior class advisors have been working with class officers on a schedule for the awards and graduation for the class of 2023. The date for graduation is on the calendar as June 2nd and more information will be shared the week of February 9th as plans and deadlines become more concrete.

Scholarships

Seniors and families will receive an update on scholarship deadlines in the next few days. In the meantime, please check the Senior Scholarships section of the student services Smore and look at the scholarship bulletin.

Rough timeline for scholarships:

• Jan - April - applications

• April - May - Scholarship committees make decisions

• May/ June - Awards presented at the awards evening (normally the Thursday of the week before Graduation

updates

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

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.

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. (Jan 20th has been cancelled due to the snow day)

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