RSU 57 & Massabesic High School

"Preparing students for success in an ever-changing world."

Hello Mustang Nation,

Graduation festivities are in full swing at MHS as Friday marked the annual Senior Send-Off Assembly, followed by the Senior Sunset on Saturday (05.31), the Senior Class Trip this weekend (Sunday 6.01), the Senior Breakfast and marching practice on Tuesday (6.03), marching practice and Elementary School visits on Wednesday (6.04), Senior Awards Night on Wednesday (6.04), Graduation on Thursday (6.05), and Project Grad immediately following the Graduation ceremony on Thursday into Friday (06.05 - 06.06). Both Senior Awards Night & Graduation will be live-streamed by the RSU 57 Technology Department - links to the livestreams are included in the newsletter below). Congratulations to our graduates and their families at this time of celebration!

1. Please be sure to check out the link for the Class of 2025 Top Ten Academic Students located below.

2. Wednesday, June 4 is the final day the Late Bus will be running for after school programs.

3. Please review the newsletter below for important updates related to Underclassmen Finals Week, RSU 57 Device Collection, and the Underclassmen Awards Assembly schedule.

4. The final day of programming for SRTC Students is Wednesday, June 11.

5. The final day of school for students will be Friday, June 13th. Yes, we recognize the superstition that surrounds this particular day of the week and numbered day of month - we anticipate a fun and uneventful day :)

As a reminder, our upcoming week will follow the Green/White color rotation schedule below:

Monday 06/02 - GREEN DAY

Tuesday 06/03 - WHITE DAY

Wednesday 06/04 - GREEN DAY

Thursday 06/05 - WHITE DAY

Friday 06/06 - GREEN DAY

Take care,

-Mr. Thurlow

There are two prospective changes to the upcoming school year that are of particular importance that I will mention here. Please know that we will be hosting conversations with students, parents, and other stakeholders in the coming weeks and months to better understand how these changes can be implemented into our school.

1. Percentage-Based Grading System: following several months of discussions with the school board Curriculum Committee, internal work with the MHS Leadership Team, and research of regional schools, we have moved toward changing our 1-4 grading system to a percentage-based system (aligned with a traditional 0-100 system). There are still details to work out, but we believe this shift reflects a greater opportunity for our staff and students to understand student performance and achievement. Additionally, after receiving feedback from parents and students regarding accountability, the MHS Leadership Team has been discussing systems related to redoing work and late work that will help students better understand and appreciate deadlines and responsibility.

2. Restricting Cell Phones & Other Electronic Devices on Campus During the School Day: The school board Policy Committee has recently reviewed our current policy that governs cell phones and other electronic devices during the school day. The current proposal aims to remove cell phones/other electronic devices for the entire school day (between 7:45 am and 1:50 pm). There is further discussion that will be held at an upcoming committee meeting in June, and in the weeks following. I recognize the anxiety and concerns that may come from these types of discussions, however, I also believe it is important to address the reality of distraction and drama that is associated with these devices in the school environment.

As stated previously, further conversations with stakeholders will be held so that we can all work together toward a successful and meaningful product in terms of our school operation. I will be updating the MHS community on these topics weekly in this newsletter and through other letters/communication as needed.

Senior awards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjqYqoO9Zlw

Graduation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ4phHefFgA

On Thursday, May 29 at Hadlock Field in Portland, Senior pitcher Brady Batson tossed a PERFECT GAME as the Mustangs won 2-0 over Deering HS. A perfect game in baseball is when a pitcher retires all opposing batters (21 in this case in a seven-inning game) without allowing any opposing batters reaching first base (or any base), meaning no hits, walks, hit-by-pitches, or errors that would allow a batter to get on base. Brady recorded ten strike outs and the team defense did the rest to keep the scorecard unblemished for MHS. This is an incredibly rare feat (for context, there have only been 24 perfect games in Major League Baseball history). Congratulations to Brady and the MHS Baseball Team on this momentous achievement!!!

From Tuesday, June 10 to Friday, June 13 MHS will hold Finals during all blocks based on the schedule listed below. On the afternoon of Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13 there are no Finals scheduled, instead this time will be set aside for make up work, device collection, and fun activities to finish off the year.

Tuesday, June 10th - Green 1 & 2 regular classes, Green 3 & 4 Final

Underclassmen Awards assemblies will occur during Mustang Time in the Auditorium on:

June 10th (9th grade)

June 11th (10th grade)

June 12 (11th Grade)

The RSU 57 Technology Department will be collecting ALL student computers/devices and chargers at the conclusion of this school to evaluate the status of our devices, conduct repairs, and ensure that we have working devices for each student at MHS. Students will not be permitted to take the computers/devices home this summer - this will be our practice moving forward to ensure that RSU 57 property is accounted for and in working order to begin each school year. Any students involved in Credit Recovery or Summer academic programming will be provided a temporary use device from the Technology Department. All students are required to turn in their computers and chargers on either Thursday, June 12 or Friday June 13. Lost computers or chargers may result in a fee being assessed to the parents/guardians/families.

Next Week Deputy Cummer will be participating in the law-enforcement torch run where he will be riding his bike from the Kittery Police Department To the Saco police department - a 33 mile venture! The torch will be carried across the state to its final resting area in Orono at the University of Maine. On Friday Deputy Cummer will be participating in the parade and opening ceremonies and spend his weekend at UMaine handing out medals and spending time with athletes. Deputy would like to wish the Massabesic Athletes 'good luck' and he can’t wait to see them up there!

“ Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” - Special Olympic Oath

Is it too late to buy a yearbook?

No. it is not too late.

Yearbooks can be purchased on jostens.com. This online opportunity will remain open until approximately June 5th; follow the path for Massabesic, Waterboro, High school, yearbook.

After this date I can accept money (cash or check) and place the order for anyone who would like to still order a book. The money goes right into the MHS Yearbook account and goes to covering the cost of producing/printing the book. Signature booklets are avail for those who have purchased a yearbook. I am able to check a purchase list if anyone is not sure. Just see me. The yearbooks are $90, even.

Will books arrive before school ends?

No, they will arrive at the High School, by the first week of August.

Traditionally, the yearbooks have come out about late May, and students could go home for the summer with their book. However, that book would only include Sept - Mar ... of that school year, and the rest of the school year photos and events would be pulled from previous year's images, etc.... This creates a book that is incomplete, and the buyer/student must buy the following year’s book in order to get a full picture of the previous year… this especially affects their senior year, having to buy the following year in order to get Prom/spring sports/graduation photos of their last year- even tho they are no longer at the school.

For the past 3 years, our yearbooks have covered the entire year, for the whole school; including all 3 sport seasons, events, academics, etc. through graduation. The last pages are finished over the weekend, after the graduation ceremonies, and the book goes off to the printers. The Book usually arrives, at the High school, the first full week of August. They are then inspected, counted, and sorted before being picked up by families/students.

Expected dates and time for pick-up:

August 8th, 9th and 10th

Friday, 8th: 3pm-7pm

Saturday, 9th: 10am-2pm

Sunday, 10th: 1pm-5pm

*Please contact for questions or issues: heidifryzlewicz@rsu57.org

Thank you for your purchase!

*Once you've received your book, in August, if you are not satisfied we can only refund money for a returned, undamaged/unmarked book.

MHS is proud to expand our partnership with Josten's (think letterman jackets, graduation gear, etc.) to offer an MHS Mascot Shop for lots of great MHS Gear. Please check out the shop using the link below. This site will be available all year long.

Wednesday, June 4 - Class Night

Thursday, June 5 - Graduation

June 10-13: Finals Week

Thursday, June 12 - Device Collection for Students

Friday, June 13 - Device Collection for Students

Friday, June 13 - Last Day of School for Students

You are always welcome to call our Maine Office at (207) 247-3141, schedule a meeting, or email members of our administrative team members directly (emails listed below):