Student & Family Update

I hope that you enjoyed the Monday holiday and had a good week.

Please read on for information and news related to our busy school. This includes:

• Athletics updates
• Drama announcement!
• Mary Lyon Resource Fair: October 30th
• Forensic Science
• Teaching and Learning updates
• Vending machine purchased by the MTAA
• AP Brault's Culture Corner
• Regular and Late Bus information
• Important upcoming dates
• Community involvement and outreach opportunities
• Well water reports
• District updates

If you are reading this newsletter on a phone or laptop, don't forget to click on "read entire message" in order to see the complete newsletter.

Finally, we do our best to convey information to our community from a variety of sources, lots of them community rather than school based organizations. Unfortunately we are not able to share images and posters with live links through Smore but always ensure there is an email for inquiries. If you would like an e-copy of a poster with live links, please feel free to reach out to the office directly.

Have a great weekend

Best

Chris

Upcoming dates

• August 19th: New and returning student registration packets will be available to collect from MTRS

• August 28th: First day of school 7:45-11:30am (Breakfast available from 7:20)

• August 29th: Chromebook issue to students in Grades 9-12

• Sept 2nd: Labor day: Sept 2nd (No school)

• September 25th: Grade 7 Open House & Official Outdoor Classroom opening
  
• October 9th: School photos
• Oct 15-18: Booster week (Dance on Sat 19th)
• October 30th: SLC for Grade 8-12 & Mary Lyon Resource Fair
  
• November 14th: Grades 5-8 STEAM Fair
  
• April 2nd: SLC for grades 7,8,9,10,11,12
  
• April/ May:TBD Capstone Community Celebration (The new version of Celebration of Learning)
• May 29th: Senior Awards
  
• May 30th: Class of 2025 Graduation

Bell Schedule

District (Calendar for 24/25)

Student Handbook

Live course catalog 2024/25

Food Services Information

Quarter 1 45 days

First Day: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Last Day: Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Q1 progress report grades close on: Friday, September 27, 2024

Q1 progress report grading window: Weds, September 25 - Weds, October 2nd, at 11:59 pm

Q1 progress reports will be distributed on: Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

Q1 grading window: Tuesday October 29 - Wednesday November 6th at 11:59 pm

Q1 report cards will be distributed on: Thursday, November 7, 2024

I am delighted to announce that Paul Johnson and Owa Hughes have joined us as the Drama team for 2024/5. I am confident that Paul and Owa will continue the fine work that Ms Eva started at MTRS.

Next Friday there will be a general interest meeting for anyone who wants to find out more about being on stage or part of the crew. Come to the lobby at 1:50 on Friday 13th and meet the team!

(The Fall/ Winter play will be for students in G7-12 at MTRS. The Spring Musical will be open for students in G5 & 6, as well as 7-12)

Caregivers, if you are interested in learning more about how you might help, please email me: cbuckland@mtrsd.org

Below is a quick introduction from Paul and Owa:

Hello! My name is Paul Johnson (they/them) and I am so excited to begin my journey as the theater director at Mohawk Trail Regional! I am a current senior undergrad at UMass Amherst studying jazz bass. I have worked on a number of theater productions as an actor, pit musician, and stage help throughout my high school and college years, and am eager to get the ball rolling with these students! Thank you for the warm welcome and I look forward to working with you.

My name is Owa Hughes, and I work as a paraprofessional for the seventh grade here at Mohawk Trail. My interest in theater started in my own seventh grade year when we acted out scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in my English class, and I got instantly hooked. I started going to Shakespear summer camps after that, and eventually worked my way up to working as a director for a one act play, and later for a curated selection of gothic and horror themed short scenes which I also organized and produced. I love the opportunities that theater offers both for collaboration with other students, and for individual expression/the opportunity to try things outside of your usual comfort zone. My favorite play is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (or maybe King Lear, it depends on the day!), and my favorite musical is Rocky Horror.

What is SBTL?

SBTL is systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting that are based on students demonstrating understanding or mastery of the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education.

or

How effectively can students demonstrate their mastery of the skill/ application of the knowledge embedded in content standards in the classroom?

Why are we moving to SBTL?

We want to empower students with content skills and knowledge as well as the opportunity to apply both in real life settings in the classroom at MTRS and beyond.

Are we moving away from grades and GPA?

The short answer is no and we are going to provide opportunities to qualify student achievment in a way that enables students to continue to drive their own learning and application of these skills as well as providing traditional grades and GPA as required by colleges and employers.

What are the changes that you might notice this year?

Student-led conferences

Families in G8-12 who were at MTRS last year will have been a part of the Student Led Conferences that are held twice a year. These are a chance for students to lead conversations about their learning, reflect on where their strengths and weaknesses might be and to start planning on how they can make changes and start to think about the next stage of their learning experience at MTRS. The student-led conferences will continue this year - see the important dates, section.

A new grading and assessment format

The image below shows how students will be given feedback in order to help them continue to develop content knowledge and skills to use beyond the classroom.

An opportunity for students to provide feedback on our move to SBTL

As well as our regular quarterly feedback surveys, this year we are also fortunate to be able to host Lance Piantaggini, a Ph.D. student researcher at UMass Amherst this academic year. Lance will be helping staff and students with our transition to standards based teaching and learning and his work will help us to improve grading and learning at Mohawk.

An opportunity to participate in this study has been sent to all students and families in G10 & 12.

We are excited to invite students to play a significant part in helping shape the way teaching and learning takes place at MTRS.

Please reach out to Lance with questions about his research at: lpiantaggini@umass.edu

The MTRS high school Forensic Science class is off to a great start. Officer Tucker Jenkins brings years of experience and abundant personality to our classes every day. We've covered the topics of evidence, personal protective equipment, and report writing as we prepare for our first mock crime scene. We will have interactive, scenario-based visits from a local prosecutor, police dogs, and the police drone in the next couple weeks to provide simulations of being in the field.

The Mohawk Trail Athletic Association (MTAA) has placed a vending machine in the MTRS lobby for when hunger strikes, say, after buses have left at the end of the school day and before sport practice. It accepts coins, cash, and credit cards. Thanks, MTAA, for providing a way to keep student athletes fueled!

Student Services Update

The late Bus picks up at Mohawk Trail at 5:30 pm (Starting Sept 3rd)

Schedule dates for the late bus

Fall - Sept. 5th and runs to November 3rd.

Winter - Starts on November 27th and runs to Feb 16th

Spring - Starts on March 18th and runs to May 31st.

Roads traveled

Route 2 west (Mohawk Trail)

Stops at Wells Prevision ( Crn of Rt2/8A) in Charlemont

Continues down Route 2 west taking a right onto Zoar Rd

Stops at the Rowe Town Hall

Turns right onto Pond RD (Rowe)

Turns right onto Cyrus Stage Rd (Rowe

Turns right onto Number nine RD ( Heath)

Turns right onto Route 8A (Heath)

Turns left onto Branch Hill Rd (Heath)

Route Ends on Branch Hill Rd

Please contact:

Dawn Brown, Operations Manager, Tel: 413-489-3195 ext. 3304 F. M. Kuzmeskus, Inc., 635 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

MTRSD Transportation and Facilities: rpease@mtrsd.org

Spotlight on the Need for Paraprofessionals

Have you wanted to step into a school and work directly with students but haven’t figured out how? Right now paraprofessional educators are needed across The Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School Districts. Applying could be your first step toward achieving your goal of working in a school environment.

Paraprofessional educators, or “paras,” are trained aides who provide instructional and behavioral assistance in classrooms every day of the school year. They work under a licensed teacher but are not required to be licensed themselves. Some tasks include but are not limited to: organizing materials, supporting lessons, classroom management, and one-on-one work with students.

Owen Bragdon, an alum of Buckland-Shelburne Elementary and Mohawk Trail Regional, has worked as a paraprofessional in two of our district schools since 2017. Following graduation from college and working as a substitute teacher, Owen decided to become a paraprofessional educator because he could see how essential they are in making a classroom function well. Of the position, Owen shares, “I love working with such a great staff and student body. Because I've worked across the grades, I've gotten to know students over the course of many years of their lives, and watched them grow in ways that I never would have expected.” He also appreciates how working in the schools brings his own community closer to him.

Ultimately, Owen is interested in pursuing “a more specialized career in education” and working day to day as a paraeducator offers him real experience that is helping him to determine his own path. Owen encourages, “Every paraprofessional job that I've had has been rewarding. Even if you have never thought about working in schools, I would highly recommend applying to be a para.”

If you want to work in an environment that truly helps students and teachers succeed, please consider joining our team as a paraprofessional. Still not sure? Check out Greenfield Community College’s para educators training program (for people age 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent) or chat with one of our principals.

The Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School Districts seek candidates who enjoy students and peers alike, work well in a team and on their own, have strong communication skills, take direction well, bring joy to their work, help create a culture of belonging, and are flexible and creative. We welcome candidates of all ages, whether retired, just out of school, or any age between. This work may be done by people from all walks of life with the dedication to enrich the lives of students.

To apply for one of these or other open positions, visit the postings on the website, then forward your cover letter, resume and recommendations to: ktotman@mtrsd.org.

MTR is on well water and all school buildings on well water follow MassDEP Drinking water program guidelines to ensure safe drinking water. Please find our results here: link

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 first meeting will take place on September 11th.

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#‬

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. The first drop in will take place on September 27th - the fourth Friday of each month!

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

Fall sports are underway, and our Mohawk Trail Athletes are hitting the ground running! However, it is still not too late to join one of our fall teams! Please reach out to District Athletic Director Greg Lilly for more information at glillyAD@mtrsd.org, or register your student HERE.

For those of you interested in getting involved with the Mohawk Trail athletic booster club, The Mohawk Trail Athletic Association, the first meeting of the school year will be held on Monday, September 9th at 6:30 in the Superintendent’s Conference Room. This group is a collection of parents, students, and community members with a mission to support Mohawk Trail Athletics through fundraising and special community events. For more information on how you can get involved, please reach out to District Athletic Director Greg Lilly at glillyAD@mtrsd.org.

Swag Stores are back!!! Follow the links below to order your favorite sport specific Mohawk Trail gear! Do not hesitate to order, as the store will close on Monday, September 9th!!!!

SOCCER STORE

FIELD HOCKEY STORE

FOOTBALL STORE

XC STORE

VOLLEYBALL STORE

GOLF STORE

MOHAWK TRAIL STORE

Also, a friendly reminder that all of our athletic game schedules can be found HERE.

Go Warriors!!!

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