Student & Family Update
April 29, 2022
Good afternoon everyone,
I hope you have had a great week and have a nice break to look forward to!
A highlight of the week at school were the senior serenades during Valentine's day - see the photo below!
Here is other information in relation to the week after the holiday:
Middle School Cell Phone pilot - Off and Away All Day
This has started well and we have seen a decrease in cell phone related discipline referrals. Starting immediately after the break there will be no more warnings. If students in grade 7 and 8 are seen with a phone out during the school day, the phone will be confiscated and be kept in the front office for the remainder of the school day. As a reminder, care givers are still able to communicate with students during the school day by calling the main office.
Scheduling and student class options
- Information on the course selection process was shared today with students in grades 9, 10, 11
- Course pathways for grades 9,10,11, 12 were also shared in advisory today
- The guidance team will meet with grades 7 & 8 to introduce courses and the selection process after the February break
- The updated course catalog will be shared after the February break.
Please see below for more information related to upcoming events at MTRS:
FREE Covid Antigen Test Kits: Once again our school is being provided with free at home Covid Antigen Test Kits for our students, families, and staff. Please stop by the front office to pick some up or email dweber@mtrsd.org or lharrison@mtrsd.org if you would like us to send test kits home with your student, now and for the rest of this school year.
- Graduation information for the Class of 2024 - please see below! As a reminder (in newsletters since August of 2023: Graduation will be on Friday 31st May, indoors in the MTRS Auditorium)
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 nice February break and see you on Monday the 26th!
Chris
Upcoming dates
Feb 19-23rd: Vacation
March 1st: 6:30-8:30pm: Student Council Winter Dance
March 27th: District Celebration of Learning
April 10th: Grade 6 ice cream and info meeting with G 7 teachers
April 10th: NHS Induction 6:30-7:30pm
April 11th: MTRS Spring Concert
April 12th: Middle School Career Speakers in Advisory
May 3 and 4th: Spring Musical: You're a good man, Charlie Brown
May 15 & 16th District Music Concert at BSE
May 11th: MTAA Spring Fling
May 18th: Prom
May 30th: Senior Awards evening
May 31st (Friday) -6-8pm: High School Graduation. Indoors at MTRS (This is a correction to the published date of June 1st)
June 3rd - Grade 6 Step up day
June 7th: Grade 8 Ice cream and Celebration: 5:30-7:30
District Calendar for 2023/24: Link
MTRS MCAS and AP testing schedule
Quarter 3 (45 Days)
First Day: January 29, 2024
Last Day: Friday April 5, 2024
Q3 progress report grades close on: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Q3 progress report grading window: Monday, February 26 - Monday, March 4,
Q3 progress reports will be available in Aspen Tuesday, March 5,
Q3 grading window: Thursday, April 4 - Thursday April 11 at 11:59 pm
Q3 report cards will be available in Aspen: Friday, April 12, 2024
Students from Mohawk Trail’s high school band played in the Franklin county band festival this Thursday. This band had students from Turners Falls, Frontier and Mahar, all 4 schools learned 6 songs in just a month separately and came together to perform them. This was a day of community building for our students we had one rehearsal, ate lunch together and performed!
We need your help...
We are in need of some "handy" folks for set building for YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN our spring musical. Anyone with some tools who has knowledge of simple carpentry please come to a brief meeting in the MTRS auditorium at 5:30 pm on March 1st. Our regularly scheduled rehearsal ends at 6:00pm and the meeting will be done at that time as well.
At this meeting we will discuss our needs for set, plan a set build day and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for getting involved and helping us with this very important project. Without help we will not have a set for this show and the kids deserve a set that reflects the hard work they put into the performances.
If you have a special skill set or questions please contact Miss Eva at stagemanager@mtrsd.org.
We are looking forward to meeting and speaking with current grade 6 students and families and wanted to let you know that the following events will be taking place after the February break:
Class visits: Counselor Ruggeri, Principal Buckland and former grade 6 students will be visiting and talking with grade 6 in each of our district elementary schools.
March 27th Celebration of Learning: 4-6pm. All current students and families will be invited to MTRS to see examples of student work, listen to the MTRS band, talk with teachers and enjoy some food. This is a great opportunity for current grade 6 students and families to visit and see the school.
April 10th: 5:30-7:30pm Ice cream and information event at MTRS for Grade 6 students and families - Grade 7 teachers will be providing specific information for rising grade 7 students and will be available to answer any questions or concerns
June 3rd: Grade 6 Step up Day - Students in grade 6 from all of our elementary schools will spend the day at MTRS. They will buddy up with a grade 7 student, meet the staff and get a taste of what it means to be a part of the MTRS community.
Happy February Break!
Take some time to enjoy family time (maybe with some snow?).
On Thursday, Carl Steidel from Suffolk Center for Restorative Practices visited MTRS for the day. He had an opportunity to meet with students, staff, and administrators to learn about what we stand for.
He was well received and everyone was very helpful in providing information about our school. In the coming weeks Carl and his team will be training counseling staff and administrators in the first two tiers of restorative practices. Next fall all of the staff will be introduced to tier 1 interventions and hopefully our peer restorative practices circle leaders will be up and running.
Carol Foote, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, cfoote@mtrsd.org
Public Forums Alert!
Opportunity #1
If you are interested in engaging with two of our legislators, MA State Senator Mark and MA State Representative Blais, they are hosting a “ReMarks and Refreshments” forum TONIGHT - Friday, Feb. 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. - at Charlemont Town Hall, 157 Main St. See the announcement in the Greenfield Recorder here. The Charlemont “ReMarks and Refreshments” event is one in a series of forums Senator Mark is organizing in an effort to reach all 57 communities.
Opportunity #2
As we move into budget season, we want members of our community to be as informed as possible about the budget process and what is being asked of our district towns. Please mark your calendar:
PUBLIC HEARING on the FY2025 BUDGET
February 21, 2024 6:00 p.m.
In person at the Mohawk Trail Regional Superintendent's Conference Room
and remotely. See the posting here.
Financial information may always be found on the MTRS website here. Materials specific to this hearing are being prepared and may be found here.
Pre-school and Kindergarten Enrollment Dates Set for 2024-2025 School Year
The dates for enrollment in our pre-school and Kindergarten programs are set! If you, a friend, neighbor, or co-worker have a child age 3 as of August 31, we welcome their registration. Please plan to provide the child’s birth certificate, proof of residency, lead test, and immunization list. For questions, contact Amy Socquet, Early Childhood Coordinator, at 413-625-6194 or asocquet@mtrsd.org.
Across the District, Second Grade Students Were Face-To-Face with a Paleontologist
Second graders have been studying fossils and paleontology as part of the EL Education ELA curriculum. They've read literature and informational texts about paleontologists, studied the fossilization process, and learned how fossils are used to study the earth's changes. Students have done hands-on activities including digging for "fossils," and building models of dinosaurs from their "bones." Dr. Goswami, Dean of Postgraduate Education and Research Leader in Life Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London, and President of the Linnean Society of London, visited our district-wide 2nd grade classes via Zoom on Tuesday. She shared stories of her experiences collecting fossils all over the world, and how her team uses fossils to learn about how animals have changed over time. She showed students some of her specimens and talked about their incredible variety in age, size, and type. Second graders asked wonderful questions, like "what is the smallest fossil you've ever found?" and "when does a bone switch from being a bone to a fossil?" In the coming weeks, second graders will write an illustrated narrative about the experience of finding a fossil from the perspective of a paleontologist. We hope that speaking with Dr. Goswami enriched their learning and sparked their curiosity about the natural world!
MCAS information
We are about to start the journey towards MCAS testing for 2024 and students will soon be introduced/ reminded of the process for our computer-based (CBT) and paper-based testing (PBT) for this year.
MCAS tests are required by state and federal law and are an important tool to promote student success and educational equity.
High school students in the class of 2026 (10th graders) must take and pass the MCAS tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics to earn a high school diploma, in addition to meeting local requirements. Students in the class of 2027 (9th graders) will take tests in ELA and mathematics next year, and they are also required to take and pass a test in science and technology/engineering (they will take or have already taken the science test this year). Students will have opportunities to retest if they do not pass.
The high school MCAS tests also provide the opportunity for students to qualify for several state awards. These include the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship and the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery.
In addition, MCAS test results will:
give information about areas of learning that the pandemic has most impacted,
provide important data on which students, schools, and districts have been most affected by pandemic-related changes in schooling, and
improve understanding of your child’s knowledge and skills in relation to the state’s learning standards, so that we can provide the best system of support and instruction in future years
Schedule & Parent Information
Please be aware of the schedule. It can be found, HERE
For parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about the tests themselves, DESE has put together a number of useful resources here. Student expectations during testing are explained here.
Grade Level and Tests
- Grade 10 - ELA and MATH & SCIENCE - Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
- Grade 8 - ELA, MATH, Science & Civics Field Test CBT
- Grade 7 - ELA & MATH CBT
Staff will be reviewing expectations and supporting students with the testing process in preparation for the respective tests later in the term. This includes familiarity with the testing technology and looking at past papers.
Chromebooks
Students in grade 7 will use the devices in their classrooms. Grade 8-10 will use their school issued Chromebooks. A limited number of spare devices will be available for student use on the day of the test.
Day of the test
Please make sure that students have slept well prior to coming to school. Breakfast will continue to be available for all students at MTRS.
After Testing
The vast majority of tests are scheduled from 8 - 10 am. This is followed by a lunch break. Students are expected to remain in school for the remainder of the day. It is important that students are able to take advantage of what little time remains in person for the rest of the year. Staff will adjust lessons to account for students taking a test earlier in the day.
Please email or call your student’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns.
Best wishes
Chris Buckland
Class meetings will take place in the next two weeks and the Class of 2024 will be planning their involvement in the following events:
Graduation
DUI and Legal Issues talk with SFPF for G 11 and 12 - May 17th
Prom - Saturday 18th May
Senior Send off - Weds 22nd May
Senior Soak - Thursday 23rd May
Last Day - Friday May 24th
Memorial Day - Mon 27th May
Finals and rehearsals for Awards/ Graduation - Tuesday 28th May and Wednesday May 29th
Elementary school visit and MTRS staff cookout - Wednesday 29th May
Awards Event - Thursday 30th May (5-7pm)
Graduation Celebration - Friday May 31st 6-8pm indoors at MTRS (auditorium)
Scholarships
Please keep checking the Student Services section of the website in order to stay on top of deadlines. Last year the Class of 2023 walked away with over $100,000 in scholarships from our MTRS community!
This section of the newsletter will be updated as we progress through the year, so please check back in regularly!
Check out what is new in the library!
Take a look at our MTRS Library February 2024 newsletter: Link
Also don't forget to be checking the Senior Scholarship Bulletin.
Students and parents, please reach out with any specific questions - happy to help! Mrs. Cairney acariney@mtrsd.org Students to book an appt visit: https://acairney.youcanbook.me/
Bus Schedules and Questions
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 3304 or call the school and ask to speak to Robin Pease.
We want to hear your voice!
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 March 13th
The virtual joining information is as follows:
Meeting ID
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 March 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
In what always ends up being the busiest and most exciting week of the athletic year, our Mohawk Trail Warriors left their stamp on the Western Massachusetts landscape, and brought home PLENTY of hardware to boot! Settle in, because their accomplishments will take awhile to share!
MOHAWK TRAIL WRESTLERS LEAVE MARK AT WESTERN MASS D3 CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Coaches Mark Biagini and Bob Mastorakis led a small squad of five wrestlers to last weekend’s Western Mass D3 Championships at Mount Greylock High School in Williamstown, and returned home with four podium finishes, and four invitations to the MIAA Division 3 State Championship!
Senior Will Van Vleet and Junior Logan Moore both finished with incredibly respectable 3rd place finishes in their individual weight classes. As expected Mohawk Trail’s most experienced wrestlers will both be heading back to Wakefield High School this Friday to face the best competition in the state!
A bigger surprise were the podium finishes of 7th grader Wade Purington in the 106 pound weight class and Freshman Luke Read in his 113 pound class! Purington came home with a 5th place medal while Read brought home a 6th place finish! Congratulations gentleman, and good luck at States!
MOHAWK TRAIL NORDIC SKIERS FINISH STRONG AT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!
In what proved to be a frustrating season as far as weather goes, our Warrior nordic skiers made the best of what proved to be a beautiful day at Prospect Mountain in Bennington Vermont at the MIAA State Championships this past Wednesday! Mohawk Trail Senior Vincent Gauthier helped lead his team to an 8th place overall finish. Gauthier himself finished 33rd overall, followed closely by his Warrior teammate Augustus Niswonger in 34th place! Our Lady Warriors wrapped up in 11th place overall and were led by Charlotte Niswonger in 22nd place and Anya Read in 43rd! Congratulations to Coaches Mark Pollard and Maggie Birrell on a very successful season!
ALPINE SKI TEAMS DECIMATE FIELD AT PVIAC INDIVIDUALS!
In what has proven to be a recurring theme this season, both our boys and girls alpine ski teams came away from Berkshire East on Thursday with a plethora of trophies and medals! Senior Weston Den Ouden destroyed the boys field by taking first in both the Slalom and GS races, leaving no doubt as to why he has consistently been the best racer in the PVIAC this season. Not to be outdone, Addie Loomis accomplished the same feat on the girl’s side, and remained unbeaten during her Sophomore campaign!
All told, both the boys and girls took four of the top seven places! Gage Patenaude (3rd overall), Phineas Tuttman (6th overall) and Grayson Bishop (7th overall) finished just behind Den Ouden, and Emmy Sisum (2nd overall) Sofiya Slocik-Gritzner (5th overall) and Lydie Pinkham (7th overall) cruised in behind Loomis. Both teams are primed for a run at potential State Championships when they travel to Wachusett Mountain on February 27th! Good luck Warriors!
SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!!!!
The sooner we have accurate numbers for participants, the sooner we can post practice schedules and coach information! This spring we will be offering…
Boys and Girls Track and Field
Baseball
Softball
Tennis
The online registration process can be found HERE. Please reach out to District Athletic Director Greg Lilly with any questions at glillyAD@mtrsd.org
Chris Buckland
Email: cbuckland@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org
Phone: 413-625-9811
Facebook: facebook.com/mohawktrailregional