Branagan's Bulletin

Hello MHS,

Welcome back! I hope each of you had a great weekend!

As we begin this week, I hope you had a great start to the new semester and quarter. A fresh start can be a powerful experience, and I hope you are setting your sights on success as we are in the home stretch to complete another school year. I find the second half of the year to simply fly. The days become brighter as the sun sets later. The temperature slowly gets warmer and the excitement of graduating another class has arrived. It will be here before we know it. I share this with you as the quote below has a strong meaning for the start of the new quarter.

There are so many moments when we experience obstacles that seem to stop us in our tracks. These obstacles can be a brief moment in time, such as a big exam that is approaching. It could be a week that seems to never end. The obstacles can appear to be massive and the feeling there is no way to get around it. However, with each obstacle, we learn to become stronger. We learn how to navigate and many times these obstacles lead us in a direction that can help us grow. As you experience the obstacles ahead with this new semester...take each obstacle as a chance to learn. Take each obstacle to become stronger and more confident in your ability to succeed. You got this!

The countdown to the Winter Ball is on, which marks the kick-off to Winter Week.

Can't wait to see you!

Have a great week!

Bran

• Congratulations to Brayden Wright for being named the Class of 2025 Mr. MHS! An honorable mention to Jacob Waterman, Danny Mosely, Will Donahue, and Joe Ladd for making the annual Mr. MHS contest amazing!
• Congratulations to the Class of 2025 Executive Board and Advisers for making the Mr. MHS Contest one of the very best yet! A great night for all!
• Thank you to Jocelyn Bush SEMASC Publicity Coordinator/Officer for her work with the planning for the SEMASC Winter Conference happening this week at Bishop Feehan High School. The Student Council is looking forward to the conference on Tuesday evening.
• Job Well Done to the AP Language and Literature students to participated in the AP Mock Exam this weekend. Your commitment to your academic work is amazing.
• SEMSBA auditions were held this weekend and the following students were selected to represent Middleborough at the festival in March at Sharon High School. Brianna Baker, Will Donahue, Ryan Ferioli, Isabella Foley, Emma Hopgood, Liam Lenahan and Mary Osborn. Students auditioned and were selected as the top students from over 35 high schools in Southeastern Massachusetts. In addition, Mr. Pittsley and Mr. Struzziery were selected to conduct the ensembles at the festival. Congratulations to all!
• Congratulations to Jordan Ingram and Lily Price who will represent MHS at the annual Student Government Day at the State House on April 4, 2025. We are very proud of you both!
• Congratulations to the Senior members of the Wrestling and Swimming Teams who celebrated their Senior Night this past week. We are so proud of you!
• Congratulations to the Hockey Team for their outstanding win against Stoughton/Brockton on Saturday night.
• Congratulations to everyone for finishing Quarter II STRONG!

Happy National School Counseling Week to our amazing School Counseling Team for all they work they do each day for our students and school community. We are beyond grateful for each of you all you to bring to our school.

Thank you!

Please take note of the Academic Bell Schedule and the rotation of your classes for this week - February 3 - 7, 2025

For your planning...

Quarter II Report Cards will be released through Aspen to all students in Grades 9 - 12 at 2:00pm on Thursday, February 6, 2025. We look forward to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of our students.

The Success Block is a flex period in which students have access to teachers and school staff for academic support, school counseling and guidance curriculum, enrichment opportunities, special workshops, guest speakers and other programming not traditionally offered in the school day. The core of the Success Block is Academic Support and personal time for students to collaborate and complete work and projects. This is a time for students to work with their teachers for extra help, make-up work, extension activities, deeper lessons, exploratory activities and more. Other enrichment opportunities may be provided during the second semester based on staff and student interest and availability.

The 2025-2026 Academic Calendar is under review! On January 9, 2025, the School Committee was presented three draft options for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. We encourage the community to review the drafts here and share your feedback. Stay tuned for updates as the options and feedback are presented and discussed at future School Committee Meetings!

Please give your feedback on the proposals for the school calendar for the 2025 - 2026 school year.

School Calendar Review:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqG3yGmoBDU4lQnAHvy3eb6mYFmVqOFOstpzVDQYdwteDNCA/viewform

Attention all MHS Students and Families:

Please see the February edition of the School Counseling Newsletter, "Sachem Counseling Scoop"

Link to Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/bry3h

MHS will launch the 2025 - 2026 Program of Studies for all students in Grades 9 - 11 in February:

Program of Studies Nights

• MHS will host a Program of Studies Night each evening beginning Monday, February 10 - Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6:00 pm at MHS in the Student Commons, 2nd floor. This nightly event is to allow families to come to MHS on a night that is most convenient for them and learn more about courses and ask questions. The program will be the same each evening.

Aspen Portal Opens - February 25, 2024 - March 4, 2025

• Students will begin choosing courses in Aspen beginning on Tuesday, February 25 through Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Attention all members of the Class of 2025:

UMASS Dartmouth will host their annual Instant Decision Day on Thursday, March 6, 2025. If you are interested in participating in this event, please see your school counselor to sign-up for an appointment and to ensure that all of your application materials are in good order for your meeting with the admission representatives from UMASS Dartmouth.

Please see your school counselor with any questions.

Attention Class of 2025:

The annual Scholarship Information Night will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:00pm in the Black Box Theater. This evening is designed to walk seniors and parents/guardians through the scholarship application process. This is a very informative evening for all senior families looking to apply for scholarships for four-year, two-year, technical colleges and universities.

If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Breton in the school counseling office.

Middleborough High School will open its home to the students and families in the Class of 2029 on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 5:30 - 7:30pm. The evening will allow our newest of Sachems to meet many of our faculty and staff and learn about the amazing opportunities that MHS provides.

if you would like to help volunteer for this event as a student ambassador, please see Mr. Branagan!

Please see the expectations around taking the late buses that will run Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each week. The Late Buses will pick up in the Bus Loop at the back of the high school.

Late Bus Expectations:

• Late buses are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

• Late buses arrive at MHS at approximately 3:45 p.m. and pick up students at the Bus Loop.

• Students must have a valid, school-based reason to stay after (club meeting, extra help).

• Students seeking a late bus pass must sign up for the pass in the Main Office before 1:50 p.m. on the day of issuance. The Main Office will verify the school-based need with the staff person with whom the student is staying.

• Students must report to the Main Office upon the conclusion of the after school session with a timed pass from the sending staff person.

All students are required to sit in the Student Commons while waiting for the Late Buses.

Attention Sachems!!

The Winter Sports Season is underway and you do not want to miss a beat. Please attend the many games, meets and matches this week. Check out the game schedule by clicking on the link below.

https://arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=36624

Athletic Newsletter - February:

https://secure.smore.com/n/xpfm5

Go Sachems!!

There will be a sign-up/informational meeting for anyone interested in playing Boys Lacrosse on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 2:00pm in the Auditorium. Please see Mr. Cebula with any questions.

Attention all members of the Student Council:

The SEMASC Winter Conference will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Bishop Feehan High School. The conference is an after school conference and we are excited to send a delegation from MHS to this conference. If you are interested in attending, please click on the link below to be a part of the delegation!

Link: https://forms.gle/iyQkVG27zvomr5dy9

Attention all MHS Students!

Mark your calendar for the annual Winter Ball that will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2025 in the MHS Gym.

Tickets for the Winter Ball will go on sale beginning Monday, February 3, 2025 during all four lunches! Tickets for the dance are $15.00.

Great ready for a great night of Sachem Pride!

Come on MHS....it is time to be freezing for a reason!

MHS will partner with the Special Olympics of Massachusetts for the Second Annual Mobile Polar Plunge. This year, the plunge will take place on Friday, February 14, 2025 during the school day. Start to create your teams and your themes to plunge to make a difference and to ensure that we show that MHS always chooses to include.

Click here to learn more and to create your team page:

https://fundraise.specialolympicsma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=827

Get ready for a great day!

One Middleborough Learning Together is LIVE! We posted a great session with the Director of Student Services, Kevin Avitabile. He takes us on a journey through the incredible resources and support the Student Services Department offers for you and your child. Please visit www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/onemiddleborough

We will continue to roll out more great resources for our families as the year goes on. Please check back and follow us on Facebook & Instagram to be the first to know when we post a new episode.

Please check out the December Edition of the Middleborough Public Schools Family and Community Engagement Resource Newsletter.

Link to Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/j256n-family-and-community-resources

As we head into the colder months of the school year, we wanted to share with you some information about inclement weather and how we will approach the decision making process of school delays and/or closure. One of the most difficult challenges we have is deciding whether or not to cancel or delay school due to inclement weather. Like weather forecasting, the school-closing decision process is not a perfect science. However, we believe it is important for students and families to understand how it works as Middleborough has its own unique set of factors that are taken into consideration when determining delays and/or cancellations.

We recognize that the decision to cancel school for the day is impactful on all families. Student and staff safety will always be my top priority as I navigate these decisions. We hope you find this information helpful in your planning for the coming winter months and helps everyone understand the process used to make the best possible decision for our students and staff.

Inclement Weather Procedure: https://secure.smore.com/n/3c49z

Kindergarten Registration will open on February 1, 2025, for students that turn 5 on or before September 1, 2025. Please use this link Kindergarten Registration or go to www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/registration to complete an online application for your student and review the list of required documents. For any questions please email Katie Goodine at registrar@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Email: pbranagan@middleboro.k12.ma.us
Website: www.middleboro.k12.ma.us
Location: 71 East Grove Street, Middleborough, MA.
Phone: 508-946-2010
Facebook: facebook.com/MiddleboroughHighSchool
Twitter: @principalbran