• Mark your calendar
• Safety Notice: Drop off /Pick up
• School Store: Gold Certification
• ACE Club/Black History Month
• AP Government: Senate Simulation
• Social Studies: Black History Month
• Boston Model UN
• Freshmen & Peer Leaders
• Student Council Food/Supply Drive
• Credit For Life
• Financial Literacy Speaker Series

• Morning Update
• Athletics
• Spanish Exchange Hosts Wanted
• World Language Raffle
• PAC Comedy Night Fundraiser
• Peer Leading
• Relay for Life
• Community Service
• Reminders:
• Scholarships
• Tri-Town Council Programs

Sat. 2/10 Open Gym by Tri-Town Council

Mon. 2/12 (Last day) - Valentine bags on sale

Tues. 2/13 - Credit for Life Assembly

Starting Tues. 2/13 - Juniors' Post-Secondary Planning

Wed. 2/14 - 9th & Peer Leader Meeting

Starting Thurs. 2/15 - Financial Literacy

Fri. 2/16 - Deadline: MRSF scholarship

Fri. 3/1 - Deadline: Mitchell Scholarship

Sat. 3/23 - PAC Comedy Night

Please review the following morning drop off reminders:

• If you’d like to beat the rush, students may be dropped off as early as 7:05 AM.
• Please help keep our staff and students safe and do not drop off or pick up on the High School side. This interferes with student, staff and bus arrivals. Drop off and pick up occurs on the Middle School side parking lot, (Lot B).
• Students being dropped off are not restricted to one door, they may use either door (Door 5 or Door 7).
• Students do not need to exit the vehicle directly at the door. As long as it is done safely, they may exit the vehicle anywhere along the sidewalk and walk to either door.
• In order to keep traffic moving as much as possible, please pull forward as far as you can when dropping off and picking up so that others may pull in behind you. Once you are done dropping off or picking up, please continue forward around the parking lot to the exit.
• Use caution for pedestrians.
• For the safety of our schools, the morning doors are locked promptly at 7:35 AM.
• Review the map here: Drop Off/Pick Up map

In acknowledgment of Black History Month, the ACE Club (Appreciating Cultures and Ethnicities) created this display. In early March, ACE Club will be gathering with other multicultural clubs to celebrate the diversity in our Masco community.

The AP Politics and Government students went to the Edward Kennedy Institute for the Senate last Friday, February 2nd. They participated in a Senate Immersion Simulation in which they role played Senators from specific states and interests, and eventually passed a bill on Election Reform. They debated the components of the bill in committees, passed or rejected amendments and made arguments from their assigned positions on the Senate floor. A good day for experiential learning!

The Social Studies Department put up two bulletin boards in the High School; thank you to the Middle School Student Council for putting up the banner in the connecting hallway. Also, thanks to History Teacher Ms. Greeley for creating the Black Leaders images.

21 members of the Masco MUN team traveled to Boston last weekend to debate and collaborate with 2000 delegates from around the world.

Officers Miranda Soriano, Margaret Turpel, and Shrreya Narayanakumar led the team as they tackled topics ranging from international law around sea level rise to human genome editing regulation to securing airspace in conflict zones. All delegates should be proud of their efforts. Next up are conferences at BC High and Clark University in March.

Thanks for supporting these kids!

You will meet during the second half of period 7 on Wednesday 2/14 (11:10-11:41). Per. 7 teachers will dismiss you to your normal Peer Leading meeting location where attendance will be taken.

The Student Council is sponsoring a Food Drive next week for the Topsfield Food Pantry. We will be accepting all sorts of goods but specifically paper products (plates, napkins, etc), shower supplies (soap, shampoo, etc), and condiments. All donations can be dropped off at any of the 4 house offices from 7:00-7:30 next week.

Juniors will be attending an assembly during M Block on Tuesday, February 13th. They will learn about the Credit For Life Fair that is being held on Thursday, May 23rd at Salem State University.

What is the Credit For Life Fair? https://youtu.be/IFyivXxwvxw?si=253p6cGcGsFse5yE

As society continues to put pressure on our youth from many different directions, many students miss out on the opportunities to learn the skills or approaches to be financially responsible and independent. Many of our students will leave Masconomet after graduation, being the #1 target market for credit card companies, blindsiding them with offers that can be detrimental to their financial future. Many of our students lack the skills or awareness of how to handle real-life financial challenges. Credit card offers paired with pressures like student loan debts, gambling, rent, food, vehicle, and healthcare expenses will all present challenges for our students.

Through this speaker series, our goal is to give our students some control, skills, and awareness on how to navigate through the financial challenges real life provides. We are proposing that we, as a school, have financial professionals come in once per month during M-Block (Feb.-June) to speak with our 10th and 11th-grade students in an attempt to expose them to as much information as possible.

Here is this week’s important episode of The Morning Update.

An opportunity for families to host visiting students from Spain is being held by the Masconomet World Language Department! Families will be hosting for up to 4 weeks with a student in high school during October of 2024. This program gives students from Spain a chance to be immersed in the American school system and culture. Your family will also receive $250 per week of hosting. Students will be able to receive up to 10 hours of community service for hosting as well.

To sign up, email bsampietro@masconomet.org, or see Señora Sampietro in room H1240

The World Language Department is hosting a ‘Dream Vacation’ raffle! You can enter for a week’s stay (accommodations only) in Huesca, Spain as well as a stay of choice for two nights in Canada in either Quebec City or downtown Montreal. Tickets are $20 and will be sold during first and second lunch from Monday, February 12 to Thursday, March 7th. Winners will be picked Friday, March 8th!

If you have any further questions, email johearn@masconomet.org, or see any world language teacher.

Please join us for Dinner and Comedy Night.

Order your tickets now!

If you are interested in volunteering for the event, donating a raffle item or if you have any questions

please send an email to: masconometpac@gmail.com

On June 7, 2024, we will be hosting the annual Relay For Life event at the Masco track! We are looking for survivors interested in being a part of the event. Relay For Life is an annual event held by the American Cancer Society to celebrate, honor, and raise money for those who have been affected by cancer. The survivor dinner and lap are important pieces to the event. The experience serves as an opportunity to share your stories, socialize, and inspire others. If you know of someone or you are a cancer survivor or have been affected by cancer, fill out the form at this link for more information! We hope to see you there!

https://forms.gle/Grt6yRc2GBr21J6n9

The Serving Stars program needs volunteers and could use an intern.

3-5 pm on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays at the Lawrence YMCA, we would be so appreciative!! (Even if the volunteer can only work part of the two-hour window). Please contact moira@servingstars.org

MRSF

A reminder to seniors that the Masconomet Regional Scholarship Foundation (MRSF) Survey is currently open. The link was emailed on January 2 to all senior Masco email accounts. You must complete this survey by Friday February 16 to be eligible for the many scholarships available!

Quick Facts!

· The 2023-2024 booklet that lists all the MRSF scholarships can be found in Naviance.

· Also in Naviance, seniors will see a listing of several scholarships that are available outside of the MRSF. More information on how to apply to each one can be found within the listed scholarship.

· If you need to request a transcript for scholarships please visit the Masco School Counseling website and look under “Senior Forms” to access the correct release form or stop by our office. There is a $2 fee per transcript request.

· Seniors must pay their transcript balance in Naviance at this time. Please bring your check to Mrs. Jennings in the school counseling office.

Middleton Seniors

A reminder to seniors who live in Middleton that the Everett and Marion Mitchell Foundation Scholarship is currently open. The scholarship awards an annual amount of $10,000. The scholarships are granted to students for one year of higher education and are renewable annually for three additional years provided that academic achievement is satisfactory and that such education occurs in successive years. This scholarship totals $40,000 towards your higher education. Check your Masco email or Naviance to access the application and more details. The deadline is March 1, 2024.

Tri-Town Council is running a hockey-themed Open Gym Saturday for Masco middle and high school youth (bring school ID). There is a free Investment program for teens coming up, and preparations are underway for the Seniors' All Night Grad Party.

See more information here and on their website: tritowncouncil.org