Solon Salutes

• COGNIA- VTCAP Testing this week
• April 1 Poet Steven Willis will be at MHS during Solon Block to present and speak with students. The first week of April, spoken word poet Steven Willis is returning to Vermont, and we will have him at MHS on Monday, April 1. He was last here in 2020, so this will be a new experience for all of our students. His performances evoke powerful emotions. His poetry writing workshop is incredible. He published a book of poetry last year, and we have it in our library collection.
  I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch one or more of his performances (most are roughly 3 minutes).
  From his bio: "Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, storyteller Steven Antoine Willis uses his poetic and theatrical background to embark on the daunting task of creatively articulating African American culture. With art heavily influenced by urban life and religion, Steven mixes elements of hip hop poetics and theatrical performance with formal teachings of anthropology and political theory to help express his eclectic personal narrative."
• April 4-6th- MHS Robotics at New England Championships! Best Wishes Solons!
• Due to the Eclipse, and school being closed on April 8th- April 10th is now a GREEN DAY and April 17th is now a WHITE DAY.

Dear MHS Community,

What a wonderful Spring Fling event on Saturday night. A fantastic job of planning and organizing by the MHS Student Council and led by Meg V, Kathryn M, Anika T, and Emery R- we thank you for your senior leadership! A sincere thank you to the chaperones: Briang G, Emily T, Emily W, Jessica O, Drew M, Matt M, Bri M, JK Connor, Lindy O, Laurel M, Grace D, Jason W, Brigitte S, Patrick B. I am so grateful for your time, work, and assistance. Also, I am super thankful to the 300-plus students who showed up, were respectful, and, what looked like, from our end, had a fabulous time.

This week, we look forward to the Masque production of "Twelve Nights." Please be sure to come see the show on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:00 PM and on Saturday at 2:00 PM. I am really looking forward to watching the students perform.

Also, this week is the Vermont Cognia Testing in grades 9 Math and ELA and grade 11 Science. Please communicate with your students the importance of taking the assessment as seriously as they can. Give the test your best effort, and we appreciate your time. The VTCAP assessments offer a snapshot of where students are at this time and place in their learning. While student scores are not reported on their transcript, they help showcase how MHS performs as a school. Students absent or missing the assessment will be scheduled for a make-up. Please refer to the communication below for more information about our schedule and times. Please ensure students charge their MHS devices (only MHS Chromebooks can be used). Cell phones are prohibited, and students must remain in the testing room until everyone is done. Bring a book or homework to work on if a student finishes early.

We hope you all have a wonderful new week. We look forward to the emerging spring weather and hope you are well.

Sincerely,

Jason

"Holding onto anger and resentment is like scuba diving with an anchor. As long as you're clinging to it, you're bound to the seabed, limited in movement, unable to appreciate the coral reefs and the colorful fish that dart in and out of view.

Forgiveness is letting go of the anchor. It isn't about declaring what was done to you is okay, but about unburdening yourself so you can swim freely. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It's the gift of letting go of the anchors you've been carrying."

This year students across Vermont will participate in the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP). This will be computer based, and all three subjects will be adaptive (responsive to individual student levels) and will assess our state standards for English/Language Arts, math, and science. These assessments include: VTCAP Language Arts and Mathematics for Grades 9 and VTCAP Science for Grade 11. The testing is required for students in grades 9 and 11. The schedule for testing in our schools is as follows and please reach out if you have any questions.

Students are required to use a charged MHS Chromebook and Cell phones are not allowed at all during the exam, including when a student is finished. Students are required to remain in the testing room when done. Please bring a book or assignments to work on. Students who arrive between 8:20-10:15 can access the MHS Cafeteria as a quiet place. The Library will be used for testing. Students will not be allowed in the halls to help keep the noise down. The Gym will be closed.

April 2, 2024

8:20-10:15 a.m. Mathematics Grade 9

8:20-10:15 a.m. Science Grade 11

April 3, 2024

8:20-10:15 a.m. Grade 9 English Language Arts

April 4, 2024

Make-ups as needed.

*Only students who are testing are expected to be at school at this time. MHS will run on a delayed start schedule for all students, beginning at 10:20 am. Students will be provided extended time to continue testing in a quiet space in order to complete a test in one sitting. Grade 11 CVCC students must be at MHS on April 2nd for testing, and a bus will take them to the Career Center around 10:30. Any student who is absent on a testing day, including CVCC students, will be required to attend on April 4th and/or rescheduled until testing is completed.

Click the buttons below for your class! Review to-dos and helpful info!

• April 4-May 30th- After school MHS Cooking Club continues.
• April 8th No School- Eclipse
  
• April 9 Winooski Valley Concert at MHS
  
• April 10 Teen Jazz Performance during Solon Block (Will be adjusted Schedule)
• April 12 Senior Meeting during Solon Block in the Auditorium.
• April 15 Guest Speaker for all MHS Seniors on Consent Block 3 and Solon Blocks
  On behalf of the Conversation, I'm excited to announce consent educator Sarah Casper will be coming to our school April 15th to host an interactive consent presentation, "Consent Shakeup". This is designed to be an applicable and more nuanced version of the consent education most of you have already received. The course will be taught in two groups, block two and three (a green day). All seniors will be excused from the class they will be missing and sorted into two groups (stay tuned for your group) . This opportunity has been made possible with generous community member's donations. The MHS class of '68 has been instrumental in our fundraising, donating in the name of their classmate Robin Farnham, whose life was tragically taken in an act of domestic violence soon after her high school graduation.
  Our club has been fundraising and putting a lot of thought and time into this event and we are really grateful to be able to provide this experience for the class of 2024! Thank you for your participation! -The Conversation MHS.
• April 17 Egress Drill at MHS
• April 22 - 26 No School - Spring Recess
• May 1 Norwich Early College Application is due
• May 1 CCV Early College Priority Application is due
• August 7th CCV Early College Deadline
• May 2 University of Vermont College Visit for grades 10 & 11 if interested

• May 6 AP US Govt Exam 8:00-12:00
• May 7 AP Stats Exam 12:00-4:00
• May 8 AP English Exam 8:00-12:00 & Comp Science Exam 12:00-4:00
• May 8-10 All State Music Festival
• May 8 VPA Spelling Bee at MHS 4:00-7:00 PM
• May 9 AP Psychology Exam 12:00-4:00
• May 10 AP US History Exam 8:00-12:30
• May 11 or 25th Race Against Racism
• May 13 AP Calc Exam 8:00-12:00
• May 15 AP Music Theory Exam 12:00-4:00
• May 16 AP Spanish Exam 8:00-12:00
• May 20 Early Release for All Students
• May 23 Spring Pops Concert 7:00 PM
• May 27 No School - Memorial Day
• June 7th- Senior Grades are due and finalized for graduation eligibility
• June 8 Junior Prom (At Farm House Flowers)
• June 12 Senior Breakfast, Rehearsal and Awards Assembly
• June 13 Project Grad 7:00 PM -1:00 AM
• June 14 MHS Graduation
• June 19 Anticipated Last Day of School

• District Calendar
• School Events Calendar
• School Website

• Athletics Calendar
• Athletics Website
• Student Handbook
• Cell Phone Policy
• Bell Schedule
• Program of Studies
• Power School How to Access Student Grades Video
• Where do I go for Solon Block?
• Caregiver Handbook for Special Education Services
• MHS Hazing, Harassment and Bullying Information and reporting form

• Please check out these important updates from the district

• Link to the district newsletter: https://www.smore.com/u/mrps
• Link to our calendar webpage for the 2024-2025 district calendar
• Link to our homepage for the 2023-2024 annual report (PDF of the final report)
• Wednesday, April 3rd, MRPS School Board Meeting 6:30 PM MHS Library.
• Eclipse - school closed on April 8th, 2024

Vermont is predicting anywhere from 30,000-200,000 additional people to be entering our state on Monday, April 8, 2024. Local emergency officials have recommended we and our fellow Central Vermont schools close. In addition, all of these Central Vermont school districts are already noting significant staff absentee rates in anticipation of April 8th. In light of these strenuous circumstances on both our immediate school systems as well on our state's infrastructure, Montpelier Roxbury School District will be closed on April 8th. Barre, Harwood, and Washington Central are also closing for the day.

• Vote - on April 30th

• The MRPS Board of School Directors approved the new FY`25 Budget and Warning on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Please vote on or before Tuesday, April 30th, 2024! To learn more about voting and the proposed budget please visit our budget webpage, read this 3/21/24 letter from Superintendent Libby Bonesteel, and review this budget fact sheet.

MRPS administrators have been working to improve our website for students and families! Please check out the recent updates made to the curriculum, social emotional learning and wellness, and student support services webpages. Also, a reminder that all MHS air quality testing results are posted to our facilities webpage.

Mosaic Vermont's Bright Lights Peer Advocacy Program at Montpelier High School. Bright Lights is a 4-session peer advocacy training program that will equip youth with the skills needed to advocate for and support one another following experiences of harm.

We have heard from students again and again that they are most likely to turn to one another for support following difficult experiences such as sexual harassment. Students already support their peers; therefore, we want to teach them how to offer that support responsibly, in ways that prioritize their own and their peers’ wellbeing. This looks like recognizing when and how to refer a peer to a professional agency such as Mosaic; approaches to healing and justice that seek to prevent future harm; recognizing the intrinsic value of all community members; and understanding why relationship violence happens among teens and how to prevent and change that. This training is designed to respond to the needs we have heard about repeatedly from youth and adult members of school communities we work with in Washington County.

Right now, I am trying to gain interest in this program and see which youth might be interested in being part of it. I am reaching out to faculty advisors and staff that can help share this program with youth. The sessions will take place once a week during May for 4 weeks. Sessions will take place after school from 3-5pm at Montpelier High School. More information is soon to come! Youth will receive a stipend of $200 for completing the entire program. There are only 20 slots available, so youth should sign up ASAP! I would greatly appreciate your help in spreading interest in this program to MHS students. Thank you!

Here is the link to the interest form for students to fill out:

https://forms.gle/TmXEQPWd1MMJYGGv7

Morgan Montminy (She/Her)

Social Change Coordinator - Mosaic Vermont

PO Box 859, Montpelier, VT 05601

Office: (802) 476-1388 ext. 1005

Helpline: (802) 479-5577

mosaic-vt.org

GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE AT CCV

Virtual Events:
Monday, April 8th at 6:00 PM

In-Person Events:
Thursday, March 28th at 4:30 PM at CCV Winooski
Wednesday, April 3rd at 4:30 PM at CCV Upper Valley

These events are free and open to students, families, friends, and school personnel.