Welcome to MTRS Student Services!
Thanks for reading the Student Services Update!
Questions about scheduling, the college process, scholarships, work permits, transcripts, or life? Would you like to speak with someone about an issue that is bothering you, do you need a place to talk about what is going on in your life or to figure out how you are feeling? Please feel free to contact us or stop by the office. The Student Services Office is here to help! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Let us know what kind of information you would like to read about in this newsletter: rjenkins@mtrsd.org
The Mohawk Trail Regional School District only approves the distribution of these materials and does not endorse or sponsor these programs or assume any liability for programs contained herein.
PSAT Information
The PSAT will be offered to all MRHS grade 10 and 11 students during the school day on October 24th!
There is no charge for the students to take the PSAT this year!
The PSAT is a PRACTICE for the SAT. Strong SAT scores can help with college admission and scholarships!
Do you want to practice for the PSAT? Click here!
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.
Hurting of Flirting?
During the week of October 14th, seventh grade students will participate in a workshop about sexual harassment, called "Flirting or Hurting?" During the workshop, we will be discussing the definition of sexual harassment and what students can do if they witness or experience harassing behavior. The workshop will take place during Social Studies classes Tuesday and Wednesday. The workshop will be facilitated by Ms Ruggeri, School Counselor, and Mr Rabasco, Social Studies Teacher.
The curriculum is introduced in 7th grade because middle school is a time when many students begin experimenting with language and gestures that they do not fully understand. They are faced with the task of developing identities within peer groups and the larger community, and interactions between students can result in confusion and misinterpretation. Often students in middle school do not realize the effect that their behavior has on others, and many are unaware of the definition of sexual harassment and that it can be a form of bullying.
Proactively providing students with information about sexual harassment in middle school is part of our commitment to creating a community of learners who are respectful and accountable, as well as promote a culture of empowerment.
Please feel welcome to be in touch with Taffy Ruggeri, School Counselor, with questions or concerns truggeri@mtrsd.org 413-625-9811 X1304
Caregiver/Teen DBT Skills at Community Action Family Center
Join our Multi-Family DBT Skills group this Fall at the Community Action Family Center.
This is a free 12-week program for teens 12-16 and their caregivers. Intake and screening required. Dinner and childcare provided. Contact 4132-475-1555 for more information
Collège Fair For Juniors
Curious about College but not
sure where to start?
Sign up to attend the college fair!
Talk to an get information from 50 college reps
Hosted by American International College
October 29 leave MRHS at 9:15 and return by 12:30
Free!!! Fun!!! Informative!!!
See Mrs. Desarro in Student Services, or talk to your
advisory teacher for more information.
Western Massachusetts Colleges Fall Visit Opportunities
Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment
American International College, Springfield, MA
October 26, 2024
November 16, 2024
Bay Path University, Longmeadow, MA
October 19, 2024 - Open House
October 22, 2024 - Pathways to Medical Professions
Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA
Every Wednesday at 2:00 and Friday at 10:00
Elms College, Chicopee, MA
November 2, 2024
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
Holyoke Community College
Campus Tours and Information Sessions Every Wednesday at 11:00 and 5:00
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
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
November 4, 2024
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment
Springfield College, Springfield, MA
October 27, 2024
November 3, 2024
November 10, 2024
Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA
Campus Tours Every Monday at 10 and Wednesday at 3:00
Allied Health Exploration Night November 18, 2024
UMASS Amherst, Amherst, MA
October 20, 2024
Western New England University, Springfield, MA
October 19, 2024
November 3, 2024
Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
October 26, 2024
November 23, 2024
Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Campus Tours offered daily, by appointment
Upcoming Area Overnight/Experiential College Visits
Clark University, Worcester, MA
Join Expedition Clark for an immersive overnight visit!
Sunday, October 27 – Monday, October 28, 2024
Expedition Clark is an overnight program for prospective first-year students applying for Fall 2025 admission. This program introduces prospective students to the diversity inherent in the Clark experience, centering historically underrepresented voices and perspectives, including students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, first-generation students, and more.
Apply for Expedition Clark Here
Please submit your Expedition Clark application by September 27 at midnight ET.
Trinity College, West Hartford, CT
Sunday, November 3 and Monday, November 4
Explore life as a Bantam through our annual fly-in program for prospective students!
This year’s Bantam Bound program will offer students a two-day, in-person experience on Trinity College’s campus in Hartford, CT. We have designed this program with the goal of providing students applying for fall 2025 admission to college the opportunity to explore both the academic and social aspects of the Trinity community. Bantam Bound focuses on diverse perspectives including, but not limited to, the experiences of students of color, first-generation students, low-income students, and LGBTQIA+ students.
All students who submit a Bantam Bound application will receive a Common Application fee waiver when applying to Trinity College!
Virtual College Events
Virtual Event
STARS Virtual Panel: Student Support Systems
November 12th 2024, 7:00 pm CST
Every month, STARS College Network member schools host Zoom webinars featuring a variety of perspectives on the academic programs, philosophies, and traditions that make our colleges great places to live and learn. Join staff and faculty from Brown University, University of Maryland, the Ohio State University, and Yale University to learn more about the wide variety of support systems available to students during their time on our campuses, as well as some strategies for making your transition from high school to college as seamless as possible.
REGISTER Host: Brown University, The Ohio State University, University of Maryland, College Park,
Additional Virtual Events This Fall
- Join a Virtual Information Session co-hosted by an admissions officer and a Yale student. The live presentations cover academic programs, residential life, affordability, and application advice.
- Ask Yale students anything in a Virtual Student Forum - a live informal Q&A session with no admissions officers or parents.
Up Close Virtual Sessions: Learn about part of the Yale experience in-depth, with Q&A from members of the Yale community.
- Science & Engineering - Tue Oct 15, 7pm EDT
- Affordability & Financial Aid - Thu Oct 17, 7pm EDT
There's lots more about financial aid, admissions, and student life at admissions.yale.edu. Get advice from admissions officers, take a virtual tour, read student blogs, and follow us on Instagram. We wish you the best for the new year and look forward to welcoming you to a virtual session soon.
STARS College Network
About STARS
The STARS College Network, which partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice, is doubling its membership to include 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions.
In its inaugural year, the STARS College Network opened doors to higher education for more than a quarter-million students. The expansion this summer will add flagship state schools, historically Black colleges, Ivy League universities, and other selective institutions, spreading STARS’ reach to more regions across the nation.
CAREER TRAILS
Career information, exploration, and opportunities.
This year students will be exposed to career speakers in their Academic and elective classes. These speakers will highlight careers that connect to the specific academic area or topic they are learning about in class. This allows students to connect the classroom to the real world. More to follow…
Career of the Month -Industrial Designers
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and usability of products when developing new product concepts.
Duties
Industrial designers typically do the following:
- Consult with clients to determine requirements for designs
- Research the various ways a particular product might be used, and who will use it
- Sketch ideas or create renderings, which are images on paper or on a computer that provide a visual of design ideas
- Use computer software to develop virtual models of different designs
- Create physical prototypes of their designs
- Examine materials and manufacturing requirements to determine production costs
- Work with other specialists, such as mechanical engineers and manufacturers, to evaluate whether their design concepts will fill needs at a reasonable cost
- Evaluate product safety, appearance, and function to determine if a design is practical
- Present designs and demonstrate prototypes to clients for approval
Some industrial designers focus on a particular product category. For example, they may design medical equipment or work on consumer electronics products, such as computers and smart phones. Other designers develop ideas for products such as new bicycles, furniture, housewares, and snowboards.
Other designers, sometimes called user interface designers or interaction designers, focus on the usability of a product, such as an electronic device, and ensure that the product is both simple and enjoyable to use.
Industrial designers imagine how consumers might use a product and test different designs with consumers to see how each design looks and works. Industrial designers often work with engineers, production experts, and market research analysts to find out if their designs are feasible. They apply the input from their colleagues’ professional expertise to further develop their designs. For example, industrial designers may work with market research analysts to develop plans to market new product designs to consumers.
Computers are a major tool for industrial designers. Industrial designers use two-dimensional computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software to sketch ideas, because computers make it easy to make changes and show alternatives. Three-dimensional CAD software is increasingly being used by industrial designers as a tool to transform their two-dimensional designs into models with the help of three-dimensional printers. If they work for manufacturers, they also may use computer-aided industrial design (CAID) software to create specific machine-readable instructions that tell other machines exactly how to build the product.
Aspen Access
Aspen is the student information portal that allows students and caregivers to view grades, progress reports, and report cards. Here at MTRS, we distribute report cards and progress reports via Aspen.
Aspen Accounts for new students and families, including 7th grade, have been created. If you are new to MTRS, you should have received an email containing login information and instructions. If you are a new student or family and did not receive an email with login information, please submit a ticket to: support@twinlakesconsulting.zendesk.com
Returning students and families who need assistance with Aspen login and account information can also submit a ticket to: support@twinlakesconsulting.zendesk.com
Contact Us
School Counselor Grades 9-12
Book an appointment HERE
School Counselor Grades 7 & 8
Book an Appointment HERE
Registrar and Administrative Assistant
413-625-9811 ext. 1305
Website: https://mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org/Mohawk-Student-Services
Location: 26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 625-9811