Welcome to MTRS Student Services!
Thanks for reading the Student Services Update!
Questions about scheduling, the college process, scholarships, work permits, transcripts, or life? Would you like to speak with someone about an issue that is bothering you, do you need a place to talk about what is going on in your life or to figure out how you are feeling? Please feel free to contact us or stop by the office. The Student Services Office is here to help! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Let us know what kind of information you would like to read about in this newsletter: sgarcia@mtrsd.org
The Mohawk Trail Regional School District only approves the distribution of these materials and does not endorse or sponsor these programs or assume any liability for programs contained herein.
PSAT Information
The PSAT will be offered to all MRHS grade 10 and 11 students during the school day on October 24th!
There is no charge for the students to take the PSAT this year!
The PSAT is a PRACTICE for the SAT. Strong SAT scores can help with college admission and scholarships!
If you are a student who has an IEP or 504 plan and has not turned in their parent permission form for accommodations, please do so by FRIDAY, 9/20. These were handed out in advisory last week and are available here and should be returned to Ms. Desarro in student services.
Do you want to practice for the PSAT? Click here!
Entrepreneurs Wanted
Entrepreneurs Wanted!
Do you know any young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in school and who may face barriers to employment because of justice involvement, unstable housing, or substance use? Do they have an entrepreneurial mindset and a business idea, or do they already own a business? If so, they may qualify for a $3,000 stipend to attend a free 12-week workshop through the Franklin County Community Development Corporation's UPstart Program. Attendees who meet certain eligibility criteria also get a $2,000 investment in their business at the conclusion of the program.
Called the Entrepreneurship Accelerator, the program (which is open to all, in addition to this population) helps early-stage entrepreneurs hone their business idea and make it a reality. Classes meet at the Franklin County CDC at 324 Wells Street in Greenfield on Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30, starting September 25 through December 18 (class does not meet on November 27). Participants are encouraged to enter the UPstart Program's Take the Floor business pitch contest, where winners earn cash investments in their businesses. Two of four Take the Floor winners this year were Entrepreneurship Accelerator graduates!
The link to register is here. Please contact Max Fripp, upstart@fccdc.org, for more information.
The Franklin County CDC’s UPstart Program is funded in part by a grant from MassHire, whose programs and services are funded in full by U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Employment and Training Administration grants. (Additional details furnished upon request.)
Thank you to Take the Floor lead sponsor Franklin First Federal Credit Union and to Greenfield Savings Bank for their financial support of the program.
Any questions? Email us at upstart@fccdc.org.
The Mohawk Trail Regional School District only approves the distribution of these materials and does not endorse or sponsor these programs or assume any liability for programs contained herein.
Western Massachusetts Colleges Fall Visit Opportunities
Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment
American International College, Springfield, MA
October 26, 2024
November 16, 2024
Bay Path University, Longmeadow, MA
October 19, 2024 - Open House
October 22, 2024 - Pathways to Medical Professions
Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA
Every Wednesday at 2:00 and Friday at 10:00
Elms College, Chicopee, MA
November 2, 2024
Greenfield Community College
Thursday September 26 Noon-1 p.m.
Wednesday October 2 4 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Campus Tours Every Tuesday at 1:00
- Online General Information Sessions Every Wednesday at 12:00
Click here to register for any GCC events
Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
October 14, 2024
November 11, 2024
Holyoke Community College
Campus Tours and Information Sessions Every Wednesday at 11:00 and 5:00
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), North Adams, MA
Monday, October 14
Saturday, October 26
Saturday, November 16
Saturday, November 23
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
September 30, 2024
November 4, 2024
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment
Springfield College, Springfield, MA
October 27, 2024
November 3, 2024
November 10, 2024
Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA
Campus Tours Every Monday at 10 and Wednesday at 3:00
Allied Health Exploration Night November 18, 2024
UMASS Amherst, Amherst, MA
October 5, 2024
October 20, 2024
Western New England University, Springfield, MA
October 5, 2024
October 19, 2024
November 3, 2024
Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
October 5, 2024
October 26, 2024
November 23, 2024
Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment
Upcoming Area Overnight/Experiential College Visits
Clark University, Worcester, MA
Join Expedition Clark for an immersive overnight visit!
Sunday, October 27 – Monday, October 28, 2024
Expedition Clark is an overnight program for prospective first-year students applying for Fall 2025 admission. This program introduces prospective students to the diversity inherent in the Clark experience, centering historically underrepresented voices and perspectives, including students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, first-generation students, and more.
Apply for Expedition Clark Here
Please submit your Expedition Clark application by September 27 at midnight ET.
Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
Sunday, September 29, 2024
The Perspectives Day Program is designed for prospective high school juniors and seniors who reside in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island, who may be from families with limited financial resources, attending rural and urban Title I schools, and/or those who are unable to visit campus on their own. Students who will be the first in their family (excluding siblings) to attend college are also welcome to attend. If you have an interest in visiting Holy Cross, we encourage you to register regardless of your demographic or economic background.
Apply for Perspectives Day by September 23rd
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Smith College Women of Distinction
October 18-19 or November 8-9
Intended for high school seniors, this annual event will highlight opportunities offered by Smith College for African American, Asian American, Latin American, Native American, and/or first-generation college students. All students are welcome. Housing, meals, and transportation to and from campus is included.
Participants will have the chance to connect with current Smith students, faculty, and other community members. Additional programming will include a series of panels and workshops on academics and student life.
Trinity College, West Hartford, CT
Sunday, November 3 and Monday, November 4
Explore life as a Bantam through our annual fly-in program for prospective students!
This year’s Bantam Bound program will offer students a two-day, in-person experience on Trinity College’s campus in Hartford, CT. We have designed this program with the goal of providing students applying for fall 2025 admission to college the opportunity to explore both the academic and social aspects of the Trinity community. Bantam Bound focuses on diverse perspectives including, but not limited to, the experiences of students of color, first-generation students, low-income students, and LGBTQIA+ students.
All students who submit a Bantam Bound application will receive a Common Application fee waiver when applying to Trinity College!
Bantam Bound 2024 - Admissions & Aid (trincoll.edu)
The deadline to apply to this year’s Bantam Bound program is September 23, 2024.
Virtual College Events
Virtual Event
The Rural Student Perspective at University of Iowa
September 24th 2024, 6:00 pm CDT
This session is for students to learn more about being a rural or small-town student at the University of Iowa. Our Small Town and Rural Student Ambassadors will share their experiences and will be available to answer any questions!
REGISTER Host: The University of Iowa
Virtual Event
STARS Virtual College Fair
October 1st 2024, 7:00 pm CDT
Join the STARS Network Schools to discover the exceptional opportunities all of our schools have to offer through a virtual college fair!
REGISTER Host: Brown University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Colby College, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University in the City of New York, The University of Chicago, The University of Iowa, University of Maryland, College Park, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Yale University, Amherst College, Auburn University, Berkeley, Dartmouth College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, SMU, Spelman College, Stanford University, The University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of Denver, University of South Carolina, University of Texas at Austin
Virtual Event
STARS Virtual Panel: Student Support Systems
November 12th 2024, 7:00 pm CST
Every month, STARS College Network member schools host Zoom webinars featuring a variety of perspectives on the academic programs, philosophies, and traditions that make our colleges great places to live and learn. Join staff and faculty from Brown University, University of Maryland, the Ohio State University, and Yale University to learn more about the wide variety of support systems available to students during their time on our campuses, as well as some strategies for making your transition from high school to college as seamless as possible.
REGISTER Host: Brown University, The Ohio State University, University of Maryland, College Park,
Yale University
Up Close Virtual Session: Rural & Small Town Students
Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 7:00 PM until 8:00 Eastern Daylight Time UTC
Additional Virtual Events This Fall
- Join a Virtual Information Session co-hosted by an admissions officer and a Yale student. The live presentations cover academic programs, residential life, affordability, and application advice.
- Ask Yale students anything in a Virtual Student Forum - a live informal Q&A session with no admissions officers or parents.
Up Close Virtual Sessions: Learn about part of the Yale experience in-depth, with Q&A from members of the Yale community.
- Performing Arts - Thu Oct 10, 7pm EDT
- Rural & Small-Town Students - Thu Sep 26, 7pm EDT
- Science & Engineering - Tue Oct 15, 7pm EDT
- Affordability & Financial Aid - Thu Oct 17, 7pm EDT
There's lots more about financial aid, admissions, and student life at admissions.yale.edu. Get advice from admissions officers, take a virtual tour, read student blogs, and follow us on Instagram. We wish you the best for the new year and look forward to welcoming you to a virtual session soon.
STARS College Network
About STARS
The STARS College Network, which partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice, is doubling its membership to include 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions.
In its inaugural year, the STARS College Network opened doors to higher education for more than a quarter-million students. The expansion this summer will add flagship state schools, historically Black colleges, Ivy League universities, and other selective institutions, spreading STARS’ reach to more regions across the nation.
CAREER TRAILS
Career information, exploration, and opportunities.
This year students will be exposed to career speakers in their Academic and elective classes. These speakers will highlight careers that connect to the specific academic area or topic they are learning about in class. This allows students to connect the classroom to the real world. More to follow…
Career of the Month - Software developers
Software developers create the computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. Software quality assurance analysts and testers design and execute software tests to identify problems and learn how the software works.
Duties
Software developers typically do the following:
- Analyze users’ needs and then design and develop software to meet those needs
- Recommend software upgrades for customers’ existing programs and systems
- Design each piece of an application or system and plan how the pieces will work together
- Create a variety of models and diagrams showing programmers the software code needed for an application
- Ensure that a program continues to function normally through software maintenance and testing
- Document every aspect of an application or system as a reference for future maintenance and upgrades
Software quality assurance analysts and testers typically do the following:
- Create test plans, scenarios, and procedures for new software
- Identify project risks and recommend steps to minimize those risks
- Implement software testing, using either manual or automated programs and exploratory testing, and evaluate results
- Document and report defects or problems with software
- Provide feedback to software developers and stakeholders regarding usability and functionality
Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers are involved in the entire process of creating a software program. Developers may begin by asking how the customer plans to use the software so that they can identify the core functionality the user needs. Software developers also determine other requirements, such as security. They design the program and then work closely with programmers, who write computer code. However, some developers write code themselves instead of giving instructions to programmers.
Software quality assurance analysts and testers design and execute systems to check the software for problems. As part of their testing, these workers document and track the software’s potential defects or risks. They also assess its usability and functionality to identify difficulties a user might have. After completing testing, they report the results to software or web developers and review ways to solve any problems they found.
After the program is released to the customer, a developer may perform upgrades and maintenance. Quality assurance analysts and testers run manual and automated checks to look for errors and usability problems once the software is released and after any upgrades or maintenance.
The following are examples of types of software developers:
Applications software developers design computer applications, such as games, for consumers. They may create custom software for a specific customer or commercial software to be sold to the general public. Some applications software developers create databases or programs for use internally or online.
Software engineers take a broad view of a project’s system and software requirements, planning its scope and order of work. These workers may direct software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers.
Systems software developers create the operating systems for the public or specifically for an organization. These operating systems keep computers functioning and control most of the consumer electronics in use today, including those in cell phones and cars. Often, systems software developers also build the interface that allows users to interact with the computer.
Developers who supervise a software project from the planning stages through implementation sometimes are called information technology (IT) project managers. These workers monitor the project’s progress to ensure that it meets deadlines, standards, and cost targets. For information on IT project managers who plan and direct an organization’s IT department or IT policies, see the profile on computer and information systems (CIS) managers.
Education
Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics. Computer and information technology degree programs cover a broad range of topics. Students may gain experience in software development by completing an internship, such as at a software company, while in college. For some software developer positions, employers may prefer that applicants have a master’s degree.
Although writing code is not their primary responsibility, developers must have a strong background in computer programming. They usually gain this experience in school. Throughout their career, developers must keep up to date on new tools and computer languages.
Aspen Access
Aspen is the student information portal that allows students and caregivers to view grades, progress reports, and report cards. Here at MTRS, we distribute report cards and progress reports via Aspen.
Aspen Accounts for new students and families, including 7th grade, have been created. If you are new to MTRS, you should have received an email containing login information and instructions. If you are a new student or family and did not receive an email with login information, please submit a ticket to: support@twinlakesconsulting.zendesk.com
Returning students and families who need assistance with Aspen login and account information can also submit a ticket to: support@twinlakesconsulting.zendesk.com
Contact Us
School Counselor Grades 9-12
Book an appointment HERE
School Counselor Grades 7 & 8
Book an Appointment HERE
Registrar and Administrative Assistant
413-625-9811 ext. 1305
Website: https://mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org/Mohawk-Student-Services
Location: 26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 625-9811