MPS will be on winter break starting Monday December 23, 2024-January 1, 2025. School will resume Thursday January 2, 2025. As principal of Methuen High School I am proud to be a part of a team of educators that come to MHS each day to make a difference in a child's life. We have the BEST educators around! Thank you for your continued partnership with Methuen High School.

Wishing all of our families a safe and relaxing holiday season, and happy new year.

Warmest regards

Check out the Care Solace Holiday Toolkit HERE (SPANISH VERSION HERE). The tool kit was developed to help us and our community unplug, reconnect, and step into the new year with a healthy mindset. Inside, you’ll find goal-setting activities, mental health tips, grief resources for families, reflection sheets and self-care tips for teachers.

MHS student participated in their annual gingerbread house competition. Students paired up and created their very best unique gingerbread house. Staff were invited down for a special treat and an opportunity to select the gingerbread house that went above and beyond expectations. The winner of the Gingerbread House Contest was Number 19: Winter Wonderland! The house was created by seniors, from left to right, Tarah Angie- Dossous, Brielle Coleman, Alisha Felix, Anaya Rivera, and Emily Kauffman.

From Thursday December 12-Saturday December 14, 2024 Stage Door 22 put on 4 amazing shows of "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder. MHS students did a beautiful rendition of the American Classic.

On Thursday December 19, 2024 the annual holiday band concert took place in the Arthur Nicholson III auditorium. This years was filled with beautifully executed holiday music by the concert and jazz bands as a whole. Solos were also included in the holiday concern. Shout out to Elden Charles on his solo for the concert band. Shout out to Sarah Baylis, Rokiya Boulal, Sofia Federico, Milo Isaacs, Ben Kebreau-Maceus, Sophia Mayole, Sergio Reyes, Dakota Robinson, Joey Safi, and Michael Schofield who all performed solos for the jazz band. Jazz band solos were improvised on the spot!

Directors Eric Poster and Brian McGonagle also started what they hope to be an annual tradition of welcoming back alumni of the band to help close out the show. This year almost 60 alumni (many of whom had to blow the dust off their instruments) dating back to 1992 joined the students for a beautiful rendition of sleigh ride.

The MHS JROTC program once again we placed 3rd in the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) competition overall, out of ten high schools participating in the event. Highlights from the JV team include Sheila Davis who won the Marksmanship Badge and Emma Demers who won the Expert Badge (the highest badge a JROTC Cadet can earn).

Check out the fall JROTC Battalion newsletter HERE.

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

Episode 5- Holiday Special

Episode 4

Episode 3

Episode 2

Episode 1

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!

MHS Credit For Life Fair - Friday, February 14, 2025

Methuen High School in partnership with the Merrimack Valley Credit Union will be hosting the 6th annual Credit For Life Fair for our senior students on Friday February 14, 2025. The Credit For Life Fair will provide students with the opportunity to budget and make financial decisions through the lens of a young adult in their mid twenties. Please watch the following 2023 Credit for Life Video to get an idea of what the Credit For Life Fair is all about.

In anticipation for the Fair, we need all senior students to choose an occupation by Friday, December 20, 2024. This occupation will assign to you a monthly income that you will use to build a digital spending plan. To select an occupation please complete the Occupation Google Form shared in Google Classroom. Any student who does not choose an occupation will have one randomly assigned.

We are looking forward to providing this exciting opportunity for our seniors!

Yearbook Information

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.

***NEW***

Due to many students needing a bit more time to submit Senior Photos, the deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday, January 3, 2025. Students should use the google form to submit their images.

If there are any issues with the image quality, Ms. Varasconi will email students directly with next steps.

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.

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 system 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

December 2024

Monday, December 23, 2024-Wednesday, January 1, 2025:

• Winter Break-No School

January 2025

Wednesday, January 1, 2025:

• New Years Day- All Buildings Closed

Thursday, January 2, 2025:

• School Resumes

Monday, January 6, 2025:

• ACCESS for ELLS Testing Window Opens
• MHS Faculty Meeting

Thursday, January 9, 2025:

• JROTC Archery Inaugural Regional Competitions
• Connections
• Senior Scholarship Night

Thursday, January 16, 2025:

• Junior Parent Night

Monday, January 20, 2025:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School

Thursday, January 23, 2025:

• Connections

Friday, January 24, 2025:

• Second Term Ends

Monday, January 27, 2025:

• Department Meetings

February 2025

Monday, February 3, 2025:

• Science Fair

Tuesday, February 4-Wednesday, February 5, 2025:

• MCAS Science Retest

Thursday, February 6, 2025:

• JROTC Archery Inaugural Regional Competition
• Connections

Friday, February 7 , 2025:

• Vocational Technical Community College Career Fair
• Quinceanera Ball

Monday, February 10, 2025:

• Department Meetings

Friday, February 14, 2025:

• Credit for life fair
• Midpoint Term 3
• Early Release

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

Wednesday, February 26, 2025:

• District Choral Jamboree

Thursday, February 27, 2025:

• 9-12 Mid year assemblies
• Senior Class Trip-Pats Peak

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.