Methuen Public Schools will be on February vacation through February 23, 2025. School will resume Monday February 24, 2025.

Parents and guardians are invited to complete this anonymous SURVEY on school climate, engagement, and safety to help the district identify strengths and focus areas to improve family-school partnerships. The survey should take about four minutes to complete. If you have students in more than one school, please complete a separate survey for each school. The survey items are from Panorama Education and were developed by Dr. Gehlbach and his team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The team underwent a rigorous survey development process, and the items were found to be highly reliable and valid. More than a quarter of all public school districts in the United States use Panorama surveys, as do many districts across the state, including Boston Public Schools. The survey will remain open through February 18, 2025, and can be accessed in multiple languages using the drop-down menu at the top of the survey screen.

At the Methuen School Committee meeting held on Monday, February 10, 2025, seniors Sergio Reyes, and Cassandra Pratt were presented with the Fine and Performing Arts SOAR Awards. The SOAR Award is given to one student per year in each subject area and serves to recognize remarkable academic success and commendable accomplishments. Congratulations, Sergio and Cassandra.

On Friday February 14, 2025 MHS seniors participated in the credit for life fair.

The event kicked off with keynote speaker Socrates De La Cruz. Mr. De La Cruz gave an insightful speech educating our students about his journey, encouraging them to find their vision, and inspiring them to not stop until they accomplished their vision. Students then moved to the fieldhouse for the financial literacy credit for life fair. The event provided students with a hands-on experience in managing real-life financial situations. Students moved from booth to booth, making decisions based on a fixed monthly income from a chosen career. They faced budgeting challenges such as paying student loans, managing housing and transportation costs, and budgeting for essentials like food, clothing, exercise, and entertainment. Additionally, they were expected to make decisions about paying down credit card debt, contributing to their retirement, and building savings.

This event would not be possible without the support of the Merrimack Valley Credit Union, Chick-fil-A, The Savings Bank, and the many volunteers who generously donated their time and expertise.

Banner night was held Friday February 7, 2025 during halftime of the MHS Varsity Boys Basketball game. Coaches, current, and former Rangers gathered to celebrate their successes from the 2024 calendar year. All MHS teams that won a conference championship added their year to their respective teams banner. Go Rangers!

On Friday, February 7, 2025, the Spanish and Multicultural Clubs and the World Language Department hosted their 6th annual Quinceañera ball. This year's Quinceañera court included: Nordys Guaman & Maximiliano Vargas, Yeilin Ureña & Emiliano Valerio, Crismailin Quiroz & Marco Padilla, Ashly Mejia Rodriguez & Randolf Vasquez Garcia and Ámbar Maldonado & Anderson Vargas. The Masters of Ceremony for the evening included Yasury Bonilla (Spanish Club President), Sabiel Sanchez, and Yasmine Bridaa (Multicultural Club President).

On Tuesday February 11, 2025 MHS held is first annual Parent Roadshow. The event was a spinoff to efforts made by MHS students and staff going into the grammar schools earlier in the school year to promote all of the great opportunities taking place at Methuen High School. Special thank you to all that helped put on this great promotional event.

Styve Noel

We are pleased to offer Methuen High School juniors and seniors the no-cost opportunity to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy. Eligibility for the State Seal of Biliteracy is based on student demonstration of proficiency in English and any other language. Testing at MHS is scheduled for the week of Monday, March 10, 2025. For detailed information, please view our letter and the DESE website. Interested juniors and seniors should fill out this Google Form by Monday, March 3, 2025. Please reach out to World Language Department Chair Laura Enright (laenright@methuen.k12.ma.us) or ELE Department Chair Christine Staugler (cestaugler@methuen.k12.ma.us) with questions.

Below are the MHS Athletics Spring Sports Tryout Schedule for the 2025 Season. For more information, please see the contact information for the teams coach or reach out to MHS Athletic Director Tom Ryan at tsryan@methuen.k12.ma.us

The MCAS test was recently voted to no longer count towards attainment of the state of Massachusetts competency determination standards. Any former student in the MHS class of 2003-2024 who did not earn a diploma as a result of not meeting expectations for competency determination, is eligible to apply for a transcript review. Upon review if they met Methuen Public Schools updated expectations for competency determination, they will be eligible for a class of 2025 diploma. For more information on the expectations for competency determination or how to apply for a transcript review, click HERE.

We are excited to support MHS Athletics throughout the winter months. When attending events, please adhere to the following expectations:

• Cheer positively for the Rangers and be respectful of the coaches, opponents, officials, and guests.
• Inappropriate language and behavior will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the event.
• Backpacks are not allowed. If there is a need to bring a bag, it may be subject to search.
• If you leave the facility, you may not reenter.
• School rules apply for all MHS students attending school-sponsored, extracurricular events, whether at MHS or another location. Violations of the MHS code of conduct, as outlined in the student handbook, may result in disciplinary consequences.

We look forward to an enjoyable season. Go Rangers!

The Methuen Scholarship Foundation is thrilled to announce its 34th Annual Scholarship Telethon Fundraiser, scheduled for March 18th and 19th in the Methuen High School Auditorium. This event will be televised on Comcast, Verizon, and Verizon HD.

Since 1973, the Foundation has proudly awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving Methuen High School seniors pursuing higher education. This reflects the strength of our community coming together to invest in the future of our students.

We are reaching out to local businesses, organizations, and individuals to support our fundraising initiatives by sponsoring the telethon or donating auction/raffle items for our fundraising events for the Senior Class of 2025.

Raffle and auction items will be featured in multiple events, including the Telethon, Music Bingo Night (to be held on May 3rd at the VFW Post 8349 in Methuen), and other fundraisers. Your contributions enhance these events and ensure we can continue providing vital scholarships.

All businesses that donate will be recognized during the Telethon and on social media. Viewers will be encouraged to support our generous contributors, showcasing your commitment to the Methuen community.

Donations can be mailed to:
Methuen Scholarship Foundation
P.O. Box 2005
Methuen, MA 01844

You can also email us to arrange a donation pickup. Should you have any questions, please reach out via email. Our Tax-Exempt ID is: 46-4500729

Thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of Methuen High School seniors.

Sincerely,

Ann Shapiro

Treasurer

Methuen Scholarship Foundation

Students,

Interested in showcasing your culture to the MHS community? Please fill out this form if you are interested in representing your culture at an in-school Multicultural Showcase on April 17, 2025. This will be an opportunity for you to share any aspect of your culture: arts/crafts, dance, music, clothing, cultural objects, information, language, performance, etc. This is NOT a final decision, we are looking to see which cultures could be represented by our student body. In an effort to give all students and cultures equal opportunity, we will be asking interested students/groups to submit a proposal in order to be considered for the showcase.

Berkeley Auto School is offering driver’s education classes at MHS from March 4 through March 27. This program is available to MHS students only and participants must be at least 15.9 years old. Please reach out to Berkeley Auto School by phone at (978) 685-7701 or email at berkauto@gmail.com with any questions.

Schedule:

March 4, 5, 6, 2pm-5pm

March 11, 13, 2pm-5pm

March 18, 19, 20 2pm-5pm

March 25, 27, 2pm-5pm

Location: Villanova, PA

Mascot: Will D. Cat

Average accepted GPA: 3.89

• Average accepted SAT: 1340-1490

• Average accepted ACT: 33

Enrollment:
6,700 Undergraduate
3,100 Graduate & Law Students

Villanova University is a medium, 4-year, private university. This coed college is located in a suburban community in a suburban setting and is primarily a residential campus. It offers associate, bachelor's, certificate, master's, and doctoral degrees. This college has an acceptance rate of 25% and a graduation rate of 91%.

Villanova is a closely connected academic community, grounded in the Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition. With renowned faculty and a personalized, supportive learning environment, Villanova provides exceptional opportunities for students seeking a wide range of academic programs—bachelor's, master's, doctoral, law and certificate.

Fast Facts:

12 Miles outside of Philadelphia

260 Acres of Campus

300+ student organizations

Students hailf from close to 50 countries

19 on campus eateries

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives

Campus Tours

What do Dental Hygienists do?

Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

What tasks do Dental Hygienists perform?

• Record and review patient medical histories.

• Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.

• Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.

• Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.

What do Dental Hygienists need to know?

Medicine and Dentistry

• Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Customer and Personal Service

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Psychology

• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

What skills do Dental Hygienists need?

Active Listening

• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking

• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Speaking

• Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Median Yearly Income: $87,165

Income Percentile

Income Low (10%)$64,055

Median (50%)$87,165

High (90%)$120,478

Most Common Education Level: Associate degree

High school diploma or less 0.00%

Certificate 0.00%

Some college 4.35%

Associate degree 75.18%

Bachelor's degree 12.08%

Master's or professional degree 12.74%

Doctoral degree or more 0.00%

Projected Job Growth: +8.33%

Looking for guidance on what college might be a good fit for you? How about a career that might interest you? Need financial support to help you get there? HERE is a great resource to help you get to YOUR BIG FUTURE! As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to your school counselor for more support.

Seniors,

We would love to highlight where you are committing to for college. Please share your admittance letter with main office secretary Ellie Sicard and we will get you added to our newsletter.

At Methuen High School we strive to connect our students with the college, careers that they are considering. With that we have begun to invite outside organizations into our school to promote their respective military branch, educational institution, and/or career field. HERE is a list of scheduled upcoming visits. Please make sure to check back as this is a working document.

Attention students in the classes of 2026 - 2028, Brown University offers a Pre-College Program designed for high school students to explore the challenges and opportunities of the college experience. You’ll enjoy the excitement and responsibility that comes from balancing challenging academics and enriching social activities—without the pressure of formal grades.

The 2025 Brown Pre-College application opens on January 15, 2025. Click on the Learn More to learn more on important details and specifics about the various programs offered, including our Application Checklist!

Are you looking for scholarship opportunities? Are you a rock star in Math? Check out this opportunity to earn a scholarship through the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Massachusetts.

This document contains important information about Senior Week and other senior activities. There will be more detailed information provided as well as sign-up forms for each activity. Please take a moment to look it over and reach out with any questions you may have.

Only 141 more calendar days until graduation day!! Seniors…it will go by fast so get the grades and make the memories!!

On Thursday January 9, 2025 MHS held its annual Senior Scholarship Information Night. If you missed it please check out the MHS Scholarship Process Information Sheet HERE, and the Class of 2025 Scholarship presentation HERE

All information regarding the MHS Class of 2025 Yearbook, including guidelines and deadlines can be found in this document. For questions about the yearbook and senior photo submissions please contact the MHS Yearbook Advisor, Ms. Varasconi.

We are asking that all seniors please take a moment to check Infinite Campus and make sure that their name appears correctly in our system. This is what we will be using for their diploma and it is important that the name appears correctly. If there is a mistake in the name or the spelling, please email Mrs. Javier immediately (gajavier@methuen.k12.ma.us) so that it can be corrected.

If you are looking to make a contribution or know of someone who may be interested in making a contribution to the Methuen Scholarship Foundation, please check out the attached images on how to contribute a gift, and/or a monetary contribution.

The Academic Support Center (ASC) is available for students to get extra help/tutoring to complete their coursework. The ASC, staffed with certified MHS teachers, will be open from 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday in the Media Center. Students who desire a quiet space to complete assignments individually may also access the center. All students are encouraged to have conversations with their teachers about completing assignments and utilizing the ASC.

All electronics including cellphones, smartwatches, and headphones are to be away during instructional time. Teachers have been provided clear pocket holders. Best practice would be to store electronics in the provided pocket holder. This is a students best method for ensuring that the electronics do not come out during instructional time. If electronics do not go into the pocket holder they should remain away for the duration of the period. This includes if students leave the room on a pass. If electronics are out for any reason, teachers have been instructed to assign a teacher detention and to communicate with parents/guardians. During transitions and lunches we are okay with students using their electronics so long as it is done so responsibly. This means at no point should students be taking video's, or pictures, and/or making social media posts, and one headphone should be out so that students can hear staff in the event that they need to speak to them. Teachers have been reviewing all expectations over the past few days to support student understanding of these very essential expectations. We want to reiterate that while many schools are going to full electronics bans in schools. That is not how we want things to be for our students. Our goal is for everyone to use technology appropriately, and with our 1-1 iPad initiative, there is no reason for personal electronics to be out during instructional periods. We appreciate your understanding on why this is important, and we appreciate students cooperation with following this policy so that teachers can provide your children with the learning opportunities that they deserve free of the distractions that come with technology.

Looking for updates on what's happening around MHS. Check out Methuen Minutes.

Episode 8

Episode 7

Episode 6

Episode 5- Holiday Special

Episode 4

Episode 3

Episode 2

Episode 1

Seeking New Members

The Mental Health Parent & Student Advisory Council was formed in order to give students and

parents a voice regarding the mental health initiative in Methuen. The goals of the MHPSAC will

be to identify steps to reduce stigma related to mental health problems, promote health and

wellbeing through increased awareness and prevention, improve students’ access to and use of

mental health services and supports, and continue to strengthen and unify our community

regarding mental health awareness and access to quality services and supports.

Interested students and parents/guardians are encouraged to join these monthly, virtual

sessions to engage in discussion and collaborative planning that will guide the continued design

and implementation of social emotional and mental health services and supports across

Methuen Public Schools. This year, we are especially interested in expanding membership of

the council to include students and caregivers in grades 5-8.

If you are interested in joining the Mental Health Parent & Student Advisory Council, please

email John Crocker, Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services at

jncrocker@methuen.k12.ma.us. The meeting dates and times for the 24-25 school year are

listed below:

February 26 (4:45-5:30)

March 26 (4:45-5:30)

April 30 (4:45-5:30)

May 28 (4:45-5:30)

The student newspaper club (The Blue & White) finished their first issue of the paper this week. Check it out HERE.

For more information how to connect to Infinite Campus, or how to update personal information, click HERE

Daily Schedule

Early Release Schedule

Two Hour Delay Schedule

Lunch Schedule

For more information on parking expectations and how to purchase a permit, click HERE.

For more information on bussing, parent drop-off, and pick-up, click HERE

For more information on student attendance, tardies, dismissal, and credit denial policies, please click HERE

MHS Handbook

MHS Website

MHS Program of Studies

MHS Twitter Page- @MPS_MethuenHigh

Methuen Public Schools has secured a resource to support matching students, staff, and their families to mental health services. Care Solace draws on a national database of mental health providers and manages complete coordination of the service matching process all the way through to intake. Support is available in multiple languages for all forms of insurance 24/7/365.

This service can be accessed confidentially without informing any MPS staff. Click here to access the Methuen webpage to search for mental health services and begin the matching process. Students under the age of 18 will need the consent of their caregivers to begin the process of accessing mental health services.

The family letters, available in English and Spanish, describe how individuals can initiate a referral. Thank you for partnering with MPS as we work to ensure all students and families receive quality and timely support.

For more information on Care Solace, watch this video HERE

Have a child that you are concerned may be experimenting with substances? HERE are some resources that may help with supporting our youth. For more information on resources/support that MHS may be able to provide, please reach out to their school counselor or grade level AP.

Addressing substance use without understanding the role of mental health is like solving half the puzzle. Often, when a student is struggling with one, the other follows. For many young people, substance use becomes a way to manage emotional challenges they can’t easily express. Please see the article The Impact of Mental Health on Youth Substance Abuse article for more information.

Every student at MHS can access support from the School Counseling Department for problems large and small. Counselors do not only assist students with postsecondary planning and academics. All school counselors are licensed professionals who provide free, confidential counseling services to students to address mental health concerns, personal problems, conflicts, and crises. If a student is struggling with a personal issue, needs help supporting a friend, or simply needs advice about how to manage a stressful situation, please reach out to the School Counseling Department. Families are encouraged to reach out to counseling staff to request support for their student (including group and individual counseling services), request assistance navigating difficult situations and family crises, and learn about how to access community resources. Counselors are available throughout the school day and can be contacted in person and through email. Students can simply visit the counseling office or reach out in any way they feel comfortable and a counselor will provide the help they are looking for.

• Counseling Department Services (English; Español)

• Counseling Department Overview (English; Español)

• Mental Health Screening FAQ for Students

• Student Mental Health Resources Organized by Topic

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the appropriate grade-level associate principal for assistance. Communication along with a strong partnership between families and the school will provide students with the necessary support to be successful throughout high school.

Glenda Javier - Grade 12 AP gajavier@methuen.k12.ma.us (978) 722-6040 ext. 2623

Matthew Curran - Interim Grade 11 AP mwcurran@methuen.k12.ma.us (978) 722-6040 ext. 2363

Jackie Rubino - Grade 10 AP jerubino@methuen.k12.ma.us (978) 722-6040 ext. 2362

Kevin O’Loughlin - Grade 9 AP knoloughlin@methuen.k12.ma.us (978) 722-6040 ext. 2669

February 2025

Monday, February 17-Friday, February 21, 2025:

• Winter Recess-no school

Monday, February 17, 2025:

• Presidents Day-All school buildings closed

Monday, February 24, 2025:

• School resumes

Tuesday, February 25, 2025:

• Connections

Tuesday, February 25, 2025:

• Senior Class Trip-Pats Peak

Wednesday, February 26, 2025:

• District Choral Jamboree
• 9-12 Mid year assemblies

Thursday, February 27-Saturday March 1, 2025:

• DECA State Competition

Friday, February 28, 2025:

• Midpoint Semester 3

March 2025

Monday, March 3, 2025:

• Faculty Meeting

Wednesday, March 5, 2025:

• Art Show

Thursday, March 6-Friday, March 7, 2025:

• ELA MCAS Retest

Saturday, March 8, 2025:

• SAT Exam
• Coffee House

Tuesday, March 11-Wednesday, March 12, 2025:

• Math MCAS Retest

Thursday, March 13, 2025:

• Connections

Saturday, March 15, 2025:

• JROTC Drill Competition
• Winterguard Friends & Family Show

Sunday, March 16, 2025:

• Winterguard Friends & Family Show

Monday, March 17, 2025:

• Department Meetings

Tuesday, March 18-Wednesday, March 19, 2025:

• Methuen Scholarship Foundation Telethon

Friday, March 21, 2025:

• Early Release - Professional Development

Tuesday, March 26 - Wednesday, March 27, 2025:

• Grade 10 ELA MCAS

Wednesday, March 27, 2025:

• District Band Jamboree

Thursday, March 28, 2025:

• MHS Connections

Are you interested in supporting our students by working in the Methuen Public Schools? Click here to view employment opportunities. Please contact Director of Human Resources Colleen McCarthy by email at cnmccarthy@methuen.k12.ma.us or by phone at (978) 722-6013 with questions.