Student & Family Update

I hope that you have had a great week.

A lot has been going on at MTRS!

A Grade 7 Open House Feedback survey has been shared with caregivers in G7. If you haven't done so already, please share your thoughts: feedback survey

Student Council is planning a Band and Bonfire event for Friday October 18th from 6:30-9pm. Anyone interested in donating old pallets, please contact StuCo Advisor M: rmastorakis@mtrsd.org

Mohawk Trail Music Association fundraiser - sign up for a shift at the baked potato booth - see image!

MCAS Spring Results

MCAS results from Spring of 2024 were delivered to us from the state this week. Broad data can be seen here. Results will be mailed out to families in the next few days. The student service team will share a draft testing schedule for the rest of 24/25 soon. Passing ELA and Math Macas in G10 and Science MCAS in G9 are graduation requirements in Massachusetts and all students are expected to participate in testing. The following tests take place in the Spring for the following grade levels:

• Grade 7 - ELA, Math
• Grade 8 - ELA, Math, Science, Civics
• Grade 9 - Biology (students taking Biology in S1 will test in February)
• Grade 10 - ELA and Math

More information about MCAS results will be shared in an upcoming LEC and School committee meeting.

Will you be able to go to the dance?

We are not going to allow MS students to bring guests to the Homecoming dance. If MS students are able to demonstrate appropriate behavior at the Homecoming dance, we will allow guests at the G8 semi-formal in June.

In order to attend, all students need to be in good academic standing and have fewer than 3 conduct referrals between Monday 7th and Friday 18th. If a student buys a ticket and racks up referrals and can't go, they will receive their money back.

Caregivers, thank you for reminding students that this is a school sanctioned event and the student code of conduct applies to student behavior.

Finally, we are looking for caregivers who might be interested in being paid to helping to monitor school lunches between 11:10am & 12:40pm. Please email me for more details: cbuckland@mtrsd.org

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

• Q1 Grades are now in Aspen
• PreVenture in Grade 8
• A workshop opportunity for families to talk about student social media use
• Student-led-conference information for October 30th, Grades 8-12
• Athletics Updates
• ArtTeens applications are now open
• Host a French student!
• School Photo day- October 9th
• Class of 2025 information
• Teaching and Learning updates: Forensic Science
• AP Brault's Culture Corner
• Student Voice/ Booster Week information
• Community involvement and outreach opportunities
• District updates
• SEPAC 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

• October 9th: School photos
• Oct 15-18: Booster week (Dance on Sat 19th)
• Oct 24th - PSAT (10th and 11th Grade) Information coming next week
• 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

Live Solar Panel Energy Information

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

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

Quarter 1 Progress Reports are available to view in Aspen until 10/18/24.

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 midpoint of each quarter. Report Cards are the official report of the student’s grades and are published at the end of each quarter.

Last Day Q1: Thursday, October 31, 2024

First Day Q2: Friday, November 1, 2024

Q1 Report Cards are planned to be available: Thursday, November 7, 2024

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

In early October, MTRS will be implementing PreVenture with 8th grade students. Preveture is a school-based workshop for youth aged 12-17 that helps them explore their personality and coping strategies and set long-term goals. The program was developed by Dr. Patricia Conrod, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Université de Montréal, a clinical psychologist and a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center.

The program includes a screening phase and a workshop phase. We plan to begin the screening phase on Monday, October 7, 2024. Participation in all phases is voluntary. A passive consent form was emailed to families on 10/2/24 and a hard copy was sent home with students on 10/3/24. The form only needs to be completed if you do not want your student to participate.

This is the registration page/link:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ryjc4ej

ARTeens is an afterschool program where teens play, work, make art, and create a supportive creative community! ARTeens is a weekly after school program at The Art Garden in Shelburne Falls open to middle and high school teens (ages 12-19). Our Fall sessions begin the week of October 22nd and run for 7 weeks. For more info and our participant interest form go to theartgarden.org/for-teens! Interest forms are due Oct 15th, but will be accepted until the program is full!

ARTeens is a pay-what-you-can program with no needs qualifier. The program costs $350 per session, but no one is ever turned away due to lack of funds. Families are responsible for deciding how much they can afford with everyone asked to contribute even a little because every contribution helps make the program possible.

Photo day is coming! October 9th! Advisors, please collect and distribute photo forms to students to take home and then return with money on October 9th. If families would prefer to do this online, instructions are on the forms that they take home.

All students will have their photo taken (paid or not) so we can provide everyone with an official school ID.

A reminder, students should not wear a hat in photos for health and safety and identification purposes in the building.

We are looking at the possibility of co-hosting a group of French students with Frontier and Greenfield HS in the Spring of next year. The first step is for interested families to complete this survey. Following this, if we have enough interest, we will hold a meeting to outline the next steps.

Completing the survey is not a committment to host!!!!

Hi everyone,

BOOSTER WEEK:

We are ordering booster week t shirts at the end of this week. Please ask your student if they've responded to our order form and if not, please encourage them to get on it. Students, did you fill out the order form? There is a space to enter if you are NOT getting a t-shirt as well, so please respond either way!

The seniors are otherwise putting their heads together planning out how to decorate our hallway, banner for the gym, and the last of our plywood letters to spell out "MOHAWK," as a fine way to celebrate their last booster week here at MTRS. Ask your student what our theme is, information far too sensitive to put in an email.

YEARBOOK INFO:

The senior class has decided to purchase a yearbook for each students with funds we have in our student account. However, if parents or students want Custom Pages they will have to order their own yearbook to do so. Please note that Custom Pages are different than a Parent Recognition Ads. Custom pages appear only in your purchased yearbook and all purchases are provided one page for free. Recognition ads have a cost, are available in full page or half page sizes, and are printed in all yearbooks for all students. Recognition ads are the traditional "parent message" page in the back of the yearbook. Please follow up with any yearbook questions or if you'd like to order your own by Mon 9/30.

YEARBOOK DEADLINES:

Speaking of the yearbook... The yearbook editorial team is gathering more detailed info to provide to you in the next couple of weeks, but seniors portraits and other yearbook media should be provided by the following dates:

12/13/24:

Senior Portrait

Baby Photo

Senior Quote

2/7/25:

Recognition Ads

All images should be submitted as JPGs either on a flash drive or via email as an attachment. Recognition ads can be created directly on Treering.com (the best option!), our yearbook platform and printing company. Please submit media/quotes to yearbook@mtrsd.org and any questions can be sent to me, Brendan Leowolf bleowolf@mtrsd.org. Some people may have already scheduled photography for later in the winter. Please reach out to me or the yearbook team to follow up if you are in that situation.

President's dinner

On Wednesday September 26th, Mr. M and I drove out to Franklin MA for the annual student council president's dinner. I attended in place of our student council president, Chay Mojallali as he was unable to attend. I was able to hear speeches from our MASC president and regional presidents, it was fun meeting new people and hearing about events that they put on that we could possibly try out ourselves. It was a great experience and overall a fun night!

Adrian G

Booster week is just around the corner( 0ct. 15-19) and Student council has a lot in store!

Each day of the week is a dress up day:

• Tuesday is “Royalty day”
• Wednesday is USA day (red white and blue)
• Thursday is Blue and Gold day
• Friday is class color day.

On Friday there will be class olympics in the afternoon for points towards booster week scores. Attending home sports games also counts for class points. Friday night there will also be a bonfire with entertainment from 6:30 to around 8:30.

On Saturday night our homecoming dance will be taking place from 7-10 and our theme is “Light it up”.

Tickets for homecoming will be on sale at lunch every day of booster week for $10 and $15 at the door.

We can’t wait to see your outfits and school spirit!

I am a 2014 graduate of MTRHS. I have been a police officer since 2017, working for the Town of Shelburne. In 2022, I began working as a Detective for the Town of Shelburne and became part of numerous different task forces. I am an instructor for the MPTC (Municipal Police Training Committee) in numerous topics. Outside of my role as a Detective, I coach and run a baseball league which offers baseball for about 70 area youth in Franklin County and southern Vermont.

For north of two years, I have served as the police liaison for the Mohawk Trail Regional High School and Buckland Shelburne Elementary School. This work has created a strong relationship with staff and administration to help work with students and families on education and prevention endeavors. I have found concretely that the work, and connection we have made has helped numerous families and children and created systems in place that promote safety and provide resources for all. I hope to continue building this role, within the schools to keep supporting our area youth. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff, and the students.

-

For this year, I hope to continue to grow this role, and working seamlessly with the staff, as well as grow the Forensic Science Class, and provide connections and contacts for students interested in public safety and like fields.

Mohawk Trail Regional is offering a Forensic Science course that explores applied science in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and crime science investigation. Students taking this course will get an overview of the theoretical understanding and experience practical application of forensic science techniques including work with these topics: DNA and biological evidence, Chain of Custody, toxicology, death investigations, search warrants and report writing, fingerprinting, fire science, mock crime scenes, and more.

The course is co-taught by middle school teacher Travis Minnick and Detective Tucker Jenkins (who took a similar class when he was a student at Mohawk Trail Regional!). Guest instructors like police officers, firefighters, an assistant district attorney and more, add their expertise on a range of topics. In the classroom, the progression of any unit is to learn in one class and to participate in a practical application in follow up classes.

In one recent class, students were visited by the Drone Team from the Greenfield Fire Department. Officers brought the department’s $30,000 drone and spoke to MTRS students about the tool itself, why it is helpful, and its capabilities. Both officers are certified by the FAA (part 107) to fly the drone. Drones have the capability to search a wide range of areas quickly using features such as gps, thermal imaging and other tools. Typical uses include: pinpointing the location of individuals or items; oversight of an emerging or ongoing emergency; and flood or fire observation. Students had the opportunity to hear about the work of the Drone Team, observe the drone being flown, and take a turn piloting the drone themselves.

In another recent class, students were prepped and assigned to process a mock crime scene. Students approached a “home” and were required to ask questions of the victim and describe how they would collect and process evidence. The goal was to create a picture using statements from the victim coupled with evidence they found to draw conclusions about what happened.

Mohawk Trail Regional teacher Travis Minnick shares, "Mohawk Trail students are really invested in this class. They are responding to a real-life application of science and exploring the many career options in criminal justice! This experience and knowledge will serve them well into the future. I have appreciated being able to bring them content in this way."

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.

October 30th will be a busy day...

• Student-Led-Conferences 12 - 3:30pm
• Mary Lyon Resource Fair: 3-7pm in the gym at MTRS
• MTRS Football game under lights with food served at the Kiwanis hut

An important part of our shift to SBTL is to have students reflecting on their progress in their classes.

The SLC allows students to reflect on their learning to date and help map out their next steps for semester 2.

Information about the Student-led-conferences

Advisory teachers will start to reach out to families and care providers to schedule a Student-Led-Conference from September 30th

• S1 Student Led Conferences for 8-12- Early dismissal for all MS and HS Students at 11:30. Buses will run at 11:30 after lunch has been served

• Conferences will take place between 12:00- 3:30pm

• Students are encouraged to remain in school so that they can participate in person in their SLC, however, if they don’t have transportation to get home, they should take the bus at 11:30

• Caregivers are encouraged to attend in person but can participate remotely if that is more convenient. Please communicate this to your child’s advisor when they reach out to schedule a time with you

• Students who stay, must sign up in their advisory block on 10-30 for different supervised activities to do during the time 11:30-2:30 when they are not in an SLC. These activities include: Sports, Academic support, Study hall, Movie in the auditorium. There will not be student supervision from 2:30-3:30 but students will be able to wait in the lobby at MTRS

General information about SLC

What is a Student-led-conference?

• Student-led-conferences (SLC) are at the heart of our shift to standards based teaching and learning. They provide students with more ownership of their learning experiences at MTRS.

• Rather than reviewing letters/ numbers on a report or progress card, SLCs provide students with an opportunity to lead a 15 minute conversation about their progress towards proficiency in habits of learning and content-based skills.

• Students will be using the assessment criterion that we shared earlier in the year.

• They also enable students to reflect on their learning experiences to date and to set goals for the rest of the school year.

Does my student have to do an SLC?

• SLC are based in an advisory class, which is scheduled for each student every day. Advisory is a graduation requirement and student participation in SLC is expected and contributes to the pass/fail (credit/no-credit) for the course at the end of the year.

• SLCs are scheduled 1 x a year for grade 7 and 2 x a year for grades 8-12 Students must participate in SLCs in order to pass the Advisory class, in addition to attendance and participation.

• If a student is absent or unwell when their SLC is scheduled, they will make this up when they return.

Who will be at the Student-led-conference?

• Students will lead their own conference as it is their opportunity to talk about their experiences at MTRS as well as their goals for the rest of the year and beyond high school.

• We would like to invite care providers and families to be an integral part of every student’s journey and to try to be present at the SLC - in-person or virtually.

• Your student’s advisory teacher will be present. As advisory groups meet every day for a year, advisory teachers have the best overall insight into habits of learning and academic progress of each of their students. They can help support students as they lead their conference.

When will the Student-led-conferences take place?

• For grades 8-12, SLC #1 will take place on October 30th. SLC #2 for Grades 7-12 will take place on April 2nd, 2024

Where will the Student-led-conference take place?

• If you are in-person, please arrive at school 10 minutes before your scheduled time and someone will bring you to the advisor’s room.

• If you are meeting virtually, please log in to the google meet 5 minutes before your scheduled time.

What is the difference between SLS #1 and SLC #2?

• SLC#1: A chance for the student to reflect on their strengths, growths and challenges in the first semester, to reflect on their discoveries as a learner during the year so far and to set some habits and academic goals for the second semester. It is also an opportunity for students to talk through current post-high school plans.

• SLC #2: A chance for the student to reflect on challenges and successes of the year, to set goals for the year ahead and to revisit and possibly change post-high school plans.

What is the schedule for the S1 Student-led-conferences?

• Students will be dismissed at 11:30 am after lunch. The schedule for the 11:30 day is here

• Students must sign up in their advisory block on 10-30 for different supervised activities to do during the time 11:30-2:30 when they are not in an SLC. These activities include: Sports, Academic support, Study hall, Movie in the auditorium

• Students will go to their advisor’s class at the time of their scheduled SLC. They will return to their activity afterward.

• Activities will end at 2:30 and students and families are encouraged to attend the Mary Lyon Resource Fair, eat food courtesy of the Kiwanis club, and watch the Middle School Football game on the main field.

How do I schedule my SLC?

• From next week, advisory teachers will reach out to caregivers and families by email to schedule conferences of 15 minutes per student (in-person or virtual) on the above days.

What if I have children in multiple grades?

• We will start to schedule appointments so care providers will be able to arrange times convenient for them during the SLC window.

What if 15 minutes is not enough time?

• Advisors can help care providers/ families set up a subsequent appointment to meet with themselves or specific content teachers at a later date.

What will happen if I am unable to attend in person or virtually?

• We understand that not everyone can be available in-person or virtually during the school day. If you are unable to attend, your student will still conference with their advisory teacher.

• As we continue to develop our Student-led conference process, we will look at ways to have early afternoon/ early evening conferences as a way for all families and care providers to have the opportunity to be a part of the process.

What if I have more questions?

• Please reach out to your students' advisor in the first instance. Your grade-level guidance counselor will also be able to help:

Grades 7 and 8: truggeri@mtrsd.org

Grades 9-12: ldessaro@mtrsd.org

Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment

Register Here

American International College, Springfield, MA

October 26, 2024

November 16, 2024

Register Here

Bay Path University, Longmeadow, MA

October 19, 2024 - Open House

October 22, 2024 - Pathways to Medical Professions

Register Here

Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA

Every Wednesday at 2:00 and Friday at 10:00

Register Here

Elms College, Chicopee, MA

November 2, 2024

Register Here

Greenfield Community College

• 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

Register Here

Holyoke Community College

Campus Tours and Information Sessions Every Wednesday at 11:00 and 5:00

Register Here

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

Register Here

Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

November 4, 2024

Register Here

Smith College, Northampton, MA

Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment

Register Here

Springfield College, Springfield, MA

October 27, 2024

November 3, 2024

November 10, 2024

Register Here

Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA

Campus Tours Every Monday at 10 and Wednesday at 3:00

Allied Health Exploration Night November 18, 2024

Register Here

UMASS Amherst, Amherst, MA

October 5, 2024

October 20, 2024

Register Here

Western New England University, Springfield, MA

October 5, 2024

October 19, 2024

November 3, 2024

Register Here

Westfield State University, Westfield, MA

October 5, 2024

October 26, 2024

November 23, 2024

Register Here

Williams College, Williamstown, MA

Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment

Register Here

Explore the student services updates for more information!

Now is the moment to become informed about the findings of the ongoing sustainability study! Jake Eberwein of BERK12, Superintendent Sheryl Stanton, and school committee chairs and members are stepping up to share a progress update.

On Thursday, October 10 at 7 p.m., BERK12 is hosting a virtual progress update. Join the Google Meet from the comfort of your own home to hear directly from Jake Eberwein who has been leading the study. Participants may join with a link or by phone:

BERK12 Progress Update on the 2Districts8Towns Sustainability Study

Thursday, October 10, 2024, 7p to 8:30p

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pme-pqjc-qwr

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 505-636-0084‬ PIN: ‪981 448 988‬#

Additionally, Superintendent Stanton, school committee chairs and members will be in attendance at upcoming selectboard meetings in district towns to offer similar progress updates. That schedule is as follows (in date order):

* Charlemont and Hawley, October 7, 2024, 7:00 Hawlemont Regional School Cafeteria

* Buckland, October 8, 2024, 6:15 pm, Buckland Town Hall

* Ashfield and Plainfield, October 15, 2024, 7:00 pm, Sanderson Academy

* Shelburne, October 21, 2024, 6:00 pm via Zoom

* Colrain and Heath, October 22, 2024, 4:35 pm, Colrain Town Hall

Reports and other resources are available at www.2districts8towns.org where you will find a Facilities Report (76 pages), Early Childhood Brief (23 pages), a Community Outreach Report (97 pages), and more.

Hawlemont Students Enjoy Hike, Scavenger Hunt and Field Games

On Wednesday, October 2, Hawlemont students arrived at Mohawk Trail Regional School for a couple of hours of fun. Members of the junior class hosted Hawlemont students with activities, humor, conversation and fun.

They got right into a scavenger hunt along the wooded trails. They then enjoyed a snack and continued their fresh air fun with field games like Red Light, Green Light and Fishy, Fishy Cross My Ocean. HAY Teacher Jenn Sinistore reported, “The Mohawk Trail students in my group were GREAT! The scavenger hunt through the woods was perfect. It was really a great morning.”

Latest Issue of the Cold River News

Check out the latest issue of Colrain Central School’s very own newspaper.

On the Road

We are fortunate that our districts make possible regular field trips to enhance learning and increase our students’ sense of belonging. Here’s a sampling of where district students are heading for knowledge, culture, wellness, and fun:

Catamount State Forest, 3rd grade, Colrain Central

DAR, 7th grade, Mohawk Trail Regional

Hick’s Corn Maze, all school, Sanderson Academy

Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center, 6th grade, Colrain Central

Mt. Greylock, 3rd grade, Sanderson Academy

Smith College Museum of Art, French class, Mohawk Trail Regional

MTRSD at the Ashfield Fall Festival

Show your support for school-related groups making the most of the Ashfield Fall Festival on October 12 and 13 by signing up to help or swinging by their booth!

Mohawk Trail Music Association

Baked Potato Fundraiser

Sign Up: Fall Festival 2024 Sign Up Sheet—3 DAYS / 3 TABS

Mohawk Trail Athletic Association

Coffee and Whoopie Pies Fundraiser

Sign Up: click here

Sanderson 6th grade

the Dime Toss Fundraiser

Sanderson PTO

Walking Taco Fundraiser

Sign Up: click here

Have a look at the latest news from the MTRS library, here

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 October 9th.

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 October 25th - 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