Student & Family Update

I hope that you have had a good week.

Unfortunately we have had to postpone the Winter Play until January 10 & 11th. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.

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

• Spanish and Salsa at Umass Amherst
• Smithsonian's "Voices and Votes" comes to MTRS
• Athletics updates
• MCAS news
• Student Services updates
• Grade 8 March into High School classes
• AP Brault's Culture Corner
• Grade 8 moving to 1:1 with chrome books in S2 (Starting January 27th)
• SEPAC updates
• Sustainability updates and proposed district suggestions
• Opportunities to work at MTRS

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

• Dec 19th: College and Alumni conversations with current MTRS students during Advisory
• Dec 19: Winter Concert 6:00 pm
• December 20th: Last day of school - 2:20 release
• December 23 - 31st: Winter Break
• January 1: No school
• January 2nd: School starts again
• January 10 & 11: Winter Play
• April 2nd: SLC for grades 7,8,9,10,11,12 (11:30 dismissal for all students!)
  
• April/ May:TBD Capstone Community Celebration (The new version of Celebration of Learning)
• May 29th: Senior Awards
  
• May 30th: Class of 2025 Graduation

MCAS and AP schedule for 2024/25

Bell Schedule

District (Calendar for 24/25)

Student Handbook

Live course catalog 2024/25

Food Services Information

Live Solar Panel Energy Information

Twin Lakes has taken over from Suzor as our IT company. support@twinlakesconsulting.zendesk.com

Quarter 2: 45 days

First Day: Friday, November 1st, 2024

Last Day: Tues, January 21, 2024

Q2 progress report grades close on: Friday, December 6, 2024

Q2 progress report grading window: Thursday, Dec 5 - Thursday Dec 12 at 11:59pm

Q2 progress reports will be distributed on: Friday, December 13, 2024

Q2 grading window: Thursday, January 16th - Fri, Jan 24th 2024 at 11:59pm

Q2 report cards will be available in Aspen on: Monday, January 27th, 2024

During the week of Nov 22nd, students took part in some Salsa dance lessons at UMass Amherst. Spanish classes had a lot of fun dancing and then ate lunch at "Tamales" restaurant on campus.

Quarter 2 Progress Reports are available to view in Aspen until 1/3/25

To view progress reports:

- login to Aspen

- look for "Published Reports" (right side of the screen, mid-way down)

- click on the icon

What are Progress Reports?

Progress Reports are a snapshot of a student’s academic progress at the mid-point of each quarter. Report Cards are the official report of the student’s grades and are published at the end of each quarter.

* Please be aware that progress grades (not term grades) from previous quarters appear on each progress report.

Last Day Q2: Tuesday, January 21, 2025

First Day Q3: Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Q2 Report Cards are planned to be available: Monday, January 27, 2025

Aspen

Aspen Login page can also be found on the MTRS website under Quick Links

Please contact Twin Lakes Technology with questions related to Aspen access:

https://www.twinlakesllc.org/support

The Middle School Student Council met on Friday this week. They voted on positions to represent the whole Middle School. Abby O was elected president, Sawyer T, vice president, Anneke W, secretary and Kayden B Treasurer.

High School Student Council put on a fantastic Teacher appreciation meal this week - a great way to finish the year!

The final part of our Options and Opportunities series for Grade 8 will take place on Dec 19th. Grade 8 students will have the opportunity to Hear from former MTRS students who are now in college or who have finished college and are now working. These former MTRS alums will speak with current students about how best to take advantage of opportunities inside and outside the classroom at MTRS.

Caregivers in Grade 8, please be aware that as part of the gradual release of responsibility with chrome books, we will be moving to a 1:1 program at the start of semester 2. The expectation is that students will be responsible for charging and bringing their devices to and from school each day as well as making sure their devices remain in good condition. This will set all grade 8 students up for success in grade 9 and beyond.

Timeline for 24/25

• Friday Dec 6, 13, 20th: Timeline and documents shared in the newsletter

• Friday January 3rd & 10th: Families will be reminded of the progress via personal email and in the newsletter

• Monday January 13th: Students will be issued paperwork to take home, complete and return to Chelsea anytime before and including on Wednesday 29th January.(If they haven’t done so already)

• Friday January 24th: Devices to be taken to the IT office by 2pm

• Monday January 27th - Tuesday January 28th: Devices readied by Twin Lakes

• Wednesday January 29th: Grade 8 students to be issued devices

Wednesday January 29th

Students will be called to collect devices during the following times: 9:08 - 56

Students who forget their devices?

Students should be reminded to charge their devices each night and bring them in each morning. A single trolley of loaners will be kept with Emily in the library.

If a student comes to a class without a device, the teacher should email the advisor who should follow up with the student and communicate home.

If a student forgets their device on three separate days, the advisor should communicate this to Admin who will follow up at home. The student may be asked to move to a 1:1 in-school plan.

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.

The Smithsonian's (yes THAT Smithsonian) "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" exhibit is coming to Buckland in April and May 2025.

On December 11, leaders from Mass Humanities, individuals from the host site, Mohawk Trail Regional School, plus community partners came together to continue planning for the momentous exhibit and coordinating events. Those involved left the planning session feeling "supported," "super charged," "with direction," "grateful," and glad to be in this together.

Keep an eye out in late winter for an array of related happenings.

It is the expectation of the school, distinct and state, that all students who take the biology course will take the biology MCAS test. There are a number of benefits to students from participating:

1 - Strong performance on 2 or more MCAS tests in high school makes students eligible for the Adam's scholarship, which offers 4 years of in-state tuition to a state university

2 - DESE evaluates each school and district based, in part, on MCAS performance. DESE expects all students to participate, and low participation rates trigger categorization of a school as "in need of assistance," regardless of overall results

3 - Educators and administrators use the test results to help them assess the efficacy of their curriculum and instruction, and to make improvements to their own practices. We want to see what is working and what needs improvement

We will share more MCAS updates from the state when we receive them.

Sustainability Study Update

The 2D8T steering committee will be busy these next few months reviewing sustainability models. There will be opportunities for the community to provide feedback at public meetings. Read about the models under consideration in our latest update. See the general timeline provided.

BSE’s Winter Tag Sale Review

Sponsored by BSE’s PTO, the annual fundraising tag sale was a great success. PTO members were amazing as they collected, sorted and presented thousands of treasures in an organized fashion in the gym.

The event also featured vendors, a bake sale, lunch items, and a raffle. Participants were also able to enjoy free activities at children’s tables that hosted Dreidel, cookie decorating and many crafts to assemble. Even Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance! The Kiwanis Clubs generously sponsored a dynamic and interactive magic show and gave away new books to all children.

The BSE PTO also worked alongside Phil Lewis, BSE’s tireless and ever-present custodian, to clean up following the event. Remaining items were repacked or given to the Salvation Army. Thanks to all who helped, shopped and had a part in making this event special!

Trees Through the Eyes of Sanderson Kindergarten Students

See this sampling of seasonal trees created by kindergarten students in Ms. Forbes class at Sanderson Academy. What great artists!

Colrain Central School Hosted a Building Readers Workshop

With a focus on building stronger literacy skills through reading, Colrain Central staff planned a “Building Readers Workshop” that happened on December 10. It was geared toward caregivers of students in grades kindergarten through second, to help them learn valuable strategies and tips to foster successful readers. Participants brought materials home with them as resources to continue the work. Thanks to staff members Jen Martin, Valerie Lively and Rachel Glick for their efforts!

Frog Felting at Hawlemont!

The last few weeks during 3rd grade HAY class students worked on their Frog Felting projects, which were led by volunteer Mary Ann Adams. During this time, students were able to explore and learn how to use the materials Mary Ann brought in to felt a frog onto their fabric. Previous to this project students learned where wool comes from and how it’s processed. This project expands on 3rd grade students’ Frog EL unit and will be displayed at the all school celebration in May.

BRYT Academic and Clinician Support Personnel

To assist students who have fallen behind in association with a mental health disruption make rapid progress toward completing the school year fully caught up and on track for graduation. This is a grant funded position with the grant covering through June 2026. Among other duties, these are central to the position:

● Assists the clinician with the implementation of the academic component of the overall case management plan for each student in bryt.

● Assists with meeting the individual needs, interests, and abilities of students to allow bryt students to rapidly achieve credit.

● Develops and maintains a work tracking and academic data management system for students in bryt.

● Assists in providing instructional methods and materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated objectives, including leading small-group and 1:1 tutoring sessions with bryt students.

Paraprofessionals, High School and Middle School Team Special Education Team

Full-time - Experience working with students with Individual Education Plans preferred but not required. Must be a team player and willing to work with a Special Education Case Manager. Candidates should be comfortable working in person with students. Full benefits available.

For either position, forward cover letter, resume and recommendations to: ktotman@mtrsd.org. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Please see the latest Student Services updates

Henry David Thoreau Foundation Scholarship

Each year, the Henry David Thoreau Foundation selects several Massachusetts high school seniors interested in environmental studies to receive up to $26,000 for tuition to the college of their choice.

The objective is to foster future environmental leaders. Henry David Thoreau Scholars study many different subjects such as oceanography, green architecture, conservation biology, and alternative energy as well as engineering and computer science majors related to the environment. Thoreau Scholars also participate in study abroad programs and gain work experience through internships, which reinforce an environmental undergraduate experience.

Visit www.thoreauscholar.org or email jackie@thoreauscholar.org to learn more about the scholarship program. The application opens on October 15, 2024, and closes on February 1, 2025.

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 next meeting will take place on Jan 8th

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 next drop in will take place on January 24th- normally the fourth Friday of each month!

Fourth 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

Email: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org
Phone: 413-625-9811
Facebook: facebook.com/mohawktrailregional