Student & Family Update

And school has started!

As with every year, a lot goes on at MTRS. Coming up soon is the deadline for registering for the PSAT (Grade 11 and also Grade 10 - see below), Open House for Middle School on September 12th (see below for more information) and the first LEC meeting.

Please read on to see what else is going on and will be going on!

Enjoy the long weekend!

Best

Chris

LEC members needed

Caregivers of current students in grades 7-12 who might be interested in being a part of the Local Education Committee (LEC), please email me and let me know. There is more information about the LEC here: Link

Exhibition

See Authentic Selves exhibition presented by Mohawk Trail Equity Council and MTRS Library - see poster below

Parent Workshop

Parent Rights and Responsibilities workshop will be held Tuesday, October 3rd

Middle School Open House - Sept 12th

This will be taking place for Grades 7 and 8 students and families from 4:30-6:30pm. Families of HS students wishing to connect with their student's content teachers are welcome to reach out by email in the first instance.

As advanced warning, as well as summative assessments during academic courses, this year there will also be student-led-conferences scheduled for the end of each semester. This is an essential part of our move towards increased student voice and participation in their own learning at MTRS.

Care providers will be invited to watch their child talk through their learning experiences and accomplishments either in person or virtually. As we get deeper into the school year, I will share out more information about what you can expect from the student-led-conferences.

Upcoming dates

• Labor day: Sept 4th (No school)

• MTRS Open House: Sept 12th, 4:30-6:30pm (Grades 7,8 and Middle School Exploratory teachers)

• School photographs: Oct 11th (Retakes, Nov 25th)

• PSAT October 19th

• May 31st (Friday) -6-8pm: High School Graduation. Indoors at MTRS (This is a correction to the published date of June 1st)

  
  

District Calendar for 2023/24: Link

Handbook

Bell schedule

Quarter 1 45 days

First Day: Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Last Day: Thursday, November 2, 2023

Q1 progress report grades close on: Friday, September 29, 2023

Q1 progress report grading window: Wednesday, September 27 - Wednesday, October

4, at 11:59 pm

Q1 progress reports will be distributed on: Thursday, October 5, 2023

Q1 grading window: Tuesday October 31 - Wednesday November 8 at 11:59 pm Q1 report cards will be distributed on: Thursday, November 9, 2023

Absences (see p11 in the Student Handbook)

Consistent school attendance is important. Excessive absences, tardiness, and leaving school before scheduled dismissal times have a significant negative impact on student performance. General absences from school for common illness and other minor reasons are considered unexcused.

UNEXCUSED absences from school include: • Missing school for mild illness without a doctor’s note • Truancy, cutting class/school • Missing more than twenty minutes of class due to truancy or cutting class. • Missing more than twenty minutes due to being tardy or dismissal for any unexcused reason • Vacations taken while school is in session

EXCUSED absences from school include: • Religious observance • Illness; serious, long-term with a doctor’s note • Death of a family member • Medical appointment with doctor – physician’s note • Court appointment • Driver’s license exams (with paperwork)

Acceptable Cell Phone Use (Student Handbook, p 23)

Grade 7 - off and away on arrival at school. Not permitted to use at all during the day.

Grade 8 - off and away on arrival at school. Only permitted to use during lunch break.

Grades 9-12 - off and away on arrival at school. Can be used at the discretion of teachers if it is related to the academic content

Progressive discipline

• First instance: Warning - put your phone away
• Second instance: Teacher takes device for the remainder of the lesson
• Third instance: Device sent to the office. Student collects at the end of the day. Dean/student/ caregiver meeting
• Fourth instance: Device sent to Principal's office. Care provider to come in and collect the device

Dress Expectations/Appropriate School Attire (Student Handbook, p 25)

Staff and students have a right and responsibility to monitor their dress attire. We recognize that dress and attire are forms of personal expression that bring a rich and creative component to our school culture. However, we expect that staff and student dress will reflect the seriousness to which we and our entire school community takes education. We ask that students and staff think about the context of school when choosing what to wear and strive for their dress to bring a positive impact on student learning, student behavior, and the overall educational environment.

We recognize that there are no “rules” that provide clear guidelines for dress that work for everyone in all seasons and within the context of school. Using a guideline like “business casual” may be useful. In addition, clothing, hats or jewelry advertising or promoting tobacco, alcohol, violence (including images of weapons) or controlled substances are prohibited.

Clothing with inappropriate language or messages demeaning to or oppressive toward groups or individuals is not allowed. Sunglasses are not to be worn indoors unless there is a medical need. If students fail to comply with these expectations, they will be asked to change attire. Caregivers may be contacted and asked to provide acceptable clothing to the school. In the event that a student refuses to comply with the request of staff or administration, their caregivers will be contacted and the student may face disciplinary action.

Hello! My name is Brennan Tierney (Mr. Tierney) and I’m thrilled to be joining the team at the Mohawk Trail Regional School as the new 8th Grade Civics Teacher! I completed my Master of Education degree (M.Ed) last year at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and taught 8th Grade Civics at the middle school in Amherst.

My background includes experience in facilitation and mediation and over four years in the non-profit sector, but my passion is working with young people to become active and engaged participants in our democracy! Please feel free to reach out to me at anytime with questions or ideas for how I can improve the learning environment for all students. I’m so excited to work with these awesome students and to share our accomplishments with families and wider community.

Sincerely,

Brennan Tierney (Btierney@mtrsd.org)

We are delighted to welcome Sofie, Natalie and Jenna to MTRS. Sofie and Natalie will be working in Middle School Math and Science classes and Jenna will be working in History classes in grades 9-12. We can't wait to immerse them in Advisory, Extensions, Capstone, Clubs and to have them work with our fantastic students and staff!!!!

Welcome to the new school year! I have the pleasure of returning to my alma mater as Dean of Culture. It has been so exciting to see the old with the new. As I have traveled down the halls, I remember where my locker was my senior year, the chemistry lab hasn’t changed, and my favorite space - the foods lab - is now where I can get my morning coffee fix.

What does a Dean of Culture do? The short answer is everything and anything having to do with students enjoying their time at Mohawk Trail. From making sure everyone has a safe environment to study in, to assemblies, to attendance tracking, and much more. Discipline is certainly a large portion of my job but I look forward to all of the fun things that can be part of this position as well.

Some things on my upcoming short list include students giving input into the all-school assemblies, regular meetings with class officers and student council members, setting up a peer mediation group, and working out some discipline systems. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

I am always looking for new ideas, so feel free to reach out and tell me what would make Mohawk Trail the best place for students to “blaze their trail.”

Paula Brault

pbrault@mtrsd.org

In the days leading up to the first day of school, teachers and staff across the district were putting forth impressive energy and effort. They have been joyful and intentional in their preparation. Wednesday I felt energy and enthusiasm as students flooded the buildings with their own anticipation and excitement.

I am thrilled to join such a group of educators, students, and others who truly embrace the love of learning and being together. My role as Communications Coordinator will be to share with you these stories of enlightenment, engagement, and discovery across the district.

If your student lights up as they tell you about a specific experience, a project they are working on, something they feel proud of, or a point of growth, I would appreciate hearing from you. These are the stories that need to be shared, and contribute to why our Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont districts are so special. You may find me, Carol Foote, at x1311, cfoote@lifepathma.org or based in the Mohawk library. I look forward to hearing from you.

Also in this district section is the Superintendent's update for the week: Link

Student Services Updates: Link

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week students in 8-12 had the opportunity to hand over forms and damage protection payment and receive a Chromebook for the year.

Students are encouraged to return forms and bring in payment in order to collect their Chromebooks for the year.

Grade 7 students will have access to Chromebooks in their core classes. In semester 1, Chromebooks will live at school. In semester 2, we will start to distribute to individual students.

For information: To replace a screen costs $100, a keyboard $50-100, to replace an entire device, 300$.

Please make sure that you check the Bus routes on district site. Care providers can call Dawn at the bus company on 413-489-3195 at ext 110 or call the school and ask to speak to Robin Pease.

Welcome back! It has been wonderful to see returning students and new 7th graders in the library this week!

Stay tuned for more information on the “Authentic Selves” photography exhibit that will be featured in the library during the month of September.

Also, NEW BOOKS are coming….check back soon!!!!

Dear Caregivers,

Welcome back students and families!

We are excited to update you with the news that Massachusetts students will receive FREE school meals in School Year 2023-2024 and in all future years! Last month, Massachusetts became the 8th state to make Free School Meals for All permanent which means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students for years to come.

Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for families to still complete the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-2024 school year. We strongly encourage ALL families to submit this form as it allows us to waive fees for those who qualify and serve families most effectively.

Completing this form also helps our district to receive more federal funding to keep our Nutrition Program strong.

If you are interested, please consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found at gettingsnap.org or by calling Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.

It is our privilege to provide breakfast and lunch to your children, supporting them with nourishing and healthy meals to power through the school day! We can't wait to see them in the coming weeks. Please reach out with any questions or concerns that you may have.

Best

Debbie Plante & Tammy Wheeler

Co-Food Service Directors

Mohawk Trail Regional School District

Hawlemont Regional School District

1-413-625-9811 EXT. 1324

dplante@mtrsd.org or twheeler@mtrsd.org

Mohawk HS is administering the digital PSAT on Thursday October 19th during the school day, which Juniors are strongly encouraged to attend. To register please fill out PSAT Registration Form. We are delighted to let you know that we are able to cover the costs associated with these tests for students.

We are also extending this opportunity to Sophomores - students, please check your email!!!

About the PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT/NMSQT (short for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is an opportunity for students to practice for the SAT. Your PSAT scores are designed to predict your SAT scores and gauge your college readiness. By taking the PSAT, you will learn which areas you should focus on when studying for the SAT and will be better equipped to score well on the SAT.

For more information please visit: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

Students, if you are interested in participating in the Play and/or the Musical, please complete this form: link

For those who participated in the 22-23 school year- there will be an informal meeting at school in the auditorium on Friday 8/25 at 2pm. This should last about an hour.

Upcoming events- There will be a meet and greet meeting on Wednesday September 13th for anyone who is interested in learning about Performing Arts at Mohawk Trail and those returning to Performing Arts. This meeting will be held in the auditorium directly after school. This is an early release day and you will need transportation home or wait for the late bus. If you can not attend please contact Miss Eva -stagemanager@mtrsd.org.

This meeting will last about an hour.

Auditions for the fall play ( non musical) will be held on Wednesday 9/20 (not an early release day!) in the auditorium. If you are unable to make the meeting on the 13th please contact Miss Eva for information on auditions. If necessary 9/22 will be added for auditions as well.

For those who need to plan- rehearsals will typically be held on Wednesdays & Fridays this year for both the fall play and the spring musical. If you have regular conflicts on these days of the week contact Miss Eva prior to auditions.

Looking forward to a great 23/24 season!! Miss Eva

23-24 District Computer Science Stakeholder Council - Seeking a Community Stakeholder Member

Seeking a caregiver/community member who is committed to high-quality programming and equitable opportunities for K-12 computer science education in the Mohawk Trail Regional School District to participate in the District Computer Science Stakeholder Council.

Our council is seeking your support and input as we develop our K-12 programming. We welcome individuals with or without tech backgrounds, who have an interest in broadening opportunities for students within and beyond their K-12 school experience.

Specific responsibilities include attending a fall meeting, a spring meeting, and a cross-district summit. Tasks include analyzing enrollment data, curriculum and course offerings, and working toward improving caregiver/community engagement, student access, and teacher professional development in computer science programming.

The council member will be compensated with a $250 grant-funded honorarium.

Applicants should send a letter of interest to Sarah Jetzon at sjetzon@mtrsd.org

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 13th.

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 8th.

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

Please make sure that your student has an up to date physical (last 12 months) on file with the school nurse.

You can register your child online at https://mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org/Athletics. The official registration deadline will not be until September 8th, but please note that no athlete will be allowed to participate until their registration is complete.

This fall we will be offering…

Volleyball

Field Hockey

Cross Country

Middle School Football

Middle School Soccer

High School Soccer (Cooperative Team w/ Greenfield High School)

High School Football (Cooperative Team w/ Greenfield High School)

If your child is interested in participating on one of our Cooperative Teams, please reach out to District Athletic Director Greg Lilly at glillyAD@mtrsd.org for more information.

Mohawk Trail SEPAC Member and Parent

Follow us on Facebook

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.

• Parent Rights and Responsibilities workshop will be held Tuesday, October 3rd

In person at Mohawk Trail Regional and Virtually -

Annual Parent Rights and Responsibility Training

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/mby-cuxg-pkm

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 276-695-5147‬ PIN: ‪369 643 542‬#

• You will be receiving a letter in the mail with the Annual Rights and Responsibility

Special Education Contact Information

Person

Leann Loomis

Melissa Plesnar

Erin Beaudet

Carolyn Goodnow

Kate Dwyer

Amy Socquet

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