MHS WEEKLY STAFF UPDATE

• Updates from Jason
• Dates to Remember
• Staff Solon Salutes Shout Outs
• Department Updates: Guidance Department & CBL
• Procedure Reminders & Helpful Links
• MRPS District Updates

Hello All,

I hope you are well. You had a lovely weekend, and despite the recent snow (soul-crushing for me- bring on Spring!), all is good. Phoebe came home this weekend, and we had a short but solid visit. Lily is out visiting Josie with Brynn Bushy and Meredith Stetter in Chicago. All is good in our house.

I saw my dad, and I know Jason Hart will appreciate this, as will any other sandwich lovers out there. My dad and I shared a Cosmic Daves Sub! #1 Italian, and it was worth it. My dad says it's better than Martones in Essex, which I disagree with, and the bread is better than Yellow Sub. It's worth the try if you are in the area. Many of you know I love to eat.

Last week was busy, regardless. We were only together for three days, and it felt a whole lot longer due to the budget, the elephant in the room, and the topic on many of our minds. I appreciate the conversation Joe C and I had on Friday, and I know the leadership team at MRPS is working really hard to figure this out. And I know we can do and overcome difficult issues and challenges. I will always believe in our daily work; I see pieces everywhere in the halls, classrooms, teaching, and conversations, and please do not let that detract from your positive thinking.

On Tuesday, the leadership team will meet to discuss our next steps; please reply to Libby's survey if you have other suggestions. Also, on Tuesday night at RVS, there will be another board meeting.

Wednesday morning at 7:30 in the library would be a good time for us to meet. You can ask questions, and we, as a group, can see where we are at. We have also found a genuine and definitive solution to continue having Allison stay at MRPS. Allison and I talked on Thursday, and I believe this plan will work.

I realized Saturday morning how much I had been grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw while I slept. These are stressful days, and please take a moment to un-clinch, breathe, and reset. I am 100% willing to speak with anyone and answer questions, and I encourage you to talk to Libby. I know we will figure out a budget, and we will continue to do work that meets the needs of all of our students.

Thank you for your communication, insights, and teamwork to continue to make MHS move forward.

Sincerely,

Jason

A tiny poem from Emily Dickinson, written on the back of an envelope:

"In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much – how little – is
Within our power"

Source: Poem 1287

Why Math is Important Article Provided by Whitney.

Important Happenings this week:

Monday 3/11/24

7:30 Office Hours

1:00-4:00 Val Out

1:00 Normal Solon Block

3:15 Faculty Meeting Agenda

Tuesday 3/12/24

7:30 SEL Leadership Team Meeting

7:30-12:00 Jason G VPA Meeting
UVM Math Test in Jason Hart's room & Sierra's Room Block 1 & 2.- Sierra's work lab to AJ's room.

Cyber Security Day and Field trip at Norwich University.

1:00 Jason, Matt, Emily League Meeting

1:00 Normal Solon Block

3:15 Guiding Coalition

6:00 PM Meet the Spring Coaches Night at MHS

6:30 PM MRPS Board Meeting at RVS

Wednesday 3/13/24

7:30-8:05 MHS Staff in Library

1:00 Normal Solon Block & Green Mountain Film Festival in Auditorium Panel

1:45 Jason G at League

3:15 Yoga with Amanda 3:15 - 4:15 Room 206

Thursday 3/14/24

7:30- 8:05 10th Grade EST Meeting. If not in 10th grade team, planning time. Required for all 10th grade teachers.

7:30-3:00 Flexible Pathways Blended Learning Conference

PIE DAY- Go Math:)

1:00 Normal Solon Block

6:00-7:30 Rising 9th grade caregiver night

Friday 3/15/24

Emily T Out

7:30- 8:05 Planning Time, and 11/12th grade EST. Required for all 11/12 teachers.

3/15 Masque Theater work Day

RJA Field Trip with Perry

1:00 Normal Solon Block

Reminders:

• MHS is considering working with Prevent Child Abuse VT next year, on a Anti-Sex Trafficking lessons, presentation and student learning. Would any MHS staff member be interested in being the lead? If so, please let me know and we can go into more details.
• Kianna B and Masque is seeking 1980's clothing and items if you have any home to lend.
• 3/20 Will be an adjusted schedule with Soup for the Soul and Enrichment

The United States Institute of Peace is now accepting applications for the 2024 Peace Teachers Program. The 2024 program will select a cohort of up to 51 educators — one from each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. — to receive education, resources, and support to strengthen their teaching of international conflict and the possibilities of peace. Learn more and apply today: https://www.usip.org/public-education/educators/peace-teachers-program

Summer PD- AI In Burlington Hulu.

A nonprofit dedicated to raising artificial intelligence literacy across the state. Each of us has experience in this field and believe strongly in AI's transformative potential to benefit our fellow Vermonters. Accordingly, we are planning a series of annual summits called “AI in the Classroom,” each followed by two regional conferences and an online platform where educators can share their successes and find solutions to their challenges.

The inaugural summit designed for K-12 teachers is set for June 27th at Hula, a beautiful co-working space in Burlington on the waterfront. The goal is to increase our attendees' competence and confidence in the use of this technology to better enable our students to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world. The potential benefits are staggering including, say some reports, a 128% increase in salary compared to other technology-related jobs, yet fewer than 10% of our educators feel equipped to incorporate this knowledge into their curriculum's. We aim to change that and have the facts, the supporting data, and the strategies to make it happen.

For months now, we have been diligently connecting with educators and building an advisory team that includes Lisa Helme, Agency of Education, and Mike McCraith, VT Principals. More information on who we are and what we’re up to is here: aiVermont.org.

Conference Week March 18-22nd- Next Week
3/18- We will hold Faculty Meeting like the other MRPS schools.
3/19 no 7:30 meetings

3/20- no 7:30 meetings

3/21- 7:30 9th grade EST as planned
Early Release at 1:00. Conferences can be held from 1:15 to the end of the day.

3/22 Conference Day. Like other conference days, if you hold all of the conferences before 3/22, please send Val and I your schedule if you will not be in on Friday the 22nd.
PTCFast will be send to caregivers on 3/14 until 3/20.

MHS TA's are starting our own New York Times Style Connections Challenge. What your TA needs to do is this-

1. Use the link that provided as well as the shared doc where teachers/administrators can enter their Connection.

2. Have your TA make a COPY and create their own Connections, and include your TA NAME.

Share it with Jason so we can add it to our shared folder.

3. Jason will share the week's link each Tuesday morning with a brief Good Morning MHS Community blurb

4. Once we have enough Connections, we can begin.
5. Questions- please ask JK, Whitney, and Sue:)

Concentric circles: In concentric circles, students form two equal circles, one inside the other. For example, if you have 22 students in your class, you would have an interior circle of 11 and an exterior circle of 11. The interior circle should face outward toward students in the outer circle. If you have an odd number of students, have two students in the outer circle act as one unit. The facilitator asks the group any question that will help students get to know each other better—some fun, some serious. Give students time to answer the question with their partner.

After a few minutes, give the instruction, “Inner circle, rotate three to the left.” The students in the inner circle will then rotate three students to the left, and now they have a new outer circle partner. Vary having the inner circle rotate to the left and the outer circle rotate to the right. Students will work their way through the class answering questions and getting to know each other. Every once in a while, the teacher should give their own answer to the question so that students can get to know them as well.

I always start with some fun questions:

• Would you rather vacation at the beach or the mountains?
• Tacos or cheeseburgers?
• Who is your favorite relative and why?

Then I go a little deeper.

• What is one of your dreams or hopes for your life?
• Who is your best friend and why?
• What is something you are afraid of?

Concentric circles are also a great way to build a discussion about a topic in class. For example, when my students read The Great Gatsby, I might do concentric circles and ask them questions like these:

• Is Gatsby a likable character?
• Do you think the American Dream is a possibility today? Why or why not?
• Can you think of a place that is similar to the Valley of Ashes in the area in which we live?

The beauty of concentric circles is that it can do double duty. It can be used for academic purposes while it is also building relationships among students.

• 3/19 Options Based Drill in the afternoon
• 3/20 Soup for the Soul Lunch
• 3/21/24 Masque Theater Work Day 1:00-6:00 PM (early release day)
  
• 3/21/24 Music Festival Field Trip
• 3/22 Conference Day
• 3/25/24 VT Young Playwrights Field Trip
• 3/29/24 Masque PLS Field Trip Stage and Lighting
• 3/28-4/28 2 French Students visiting MHS
• 3/30/24 SPRING FLING DANCE at VCFA (MHS Student Council Sponsors)
• 4/1 Steven Willis Guest Speaker during Solon Block
• 4/4-4/6 Masque show 12th Night
• 4/9/24 Winooski Valley at MHS 11:00-2:00 pm Aud & gym
• 4/10 Teen Jazz During Solon Block- this will b ean adjusted schedule
• 4/10 Teen Lit Mob at U32 with Sue M.
• 4/12/24 Advanced Manufacturing Day at VTSU Randolph Campus Filed Trip
• 4/13-5/11/24 3 French Exchange Students visit MHS
• 4/15/24 The Conversation Presents guest speaker on "Consent" for all seniors.
• 4/15 3:15 Laura and Gio at MHS
• 4/16/24 Silent Auction to raise funds for Sadie and Ally T field trip.
• 4/29/24 Long TA No Solon Block
• 5/2/24 UVM Visit for students in grades 10 & 11 (Amanda & Lissa attending)
• 5/3/24 VTSU Try A Major Day Field trip
• 5/6/24 AP US Govt exam 8:00-12:00
• 5/7/24 AP Stats exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/8/24 AP English 8:00-12:00 & Comp Science exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/8-5/10 All State Music Festival
• 5/8 VPA Spelling Bee at MHS Auditorium 4:00-7:30 PM
• 5/9/24 AP Psychology exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/10/24 AP US History exam 8:00-12:30
• 5/11/24 or 5/25/24 Race Against Racism Date
• 5/13/24 AP Calc exam 8:00-12:00
• 5/15/24 AP Music Theory exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/16/24 AP Spanish exam 8:00-12:00
• 5/17/24 PIZZA FOR THE PEOPLE (adjusted schedule)
• 5/18/24 Field Trip to see Kianna in Tick Tick Boom
• 5/20/24 Laura and Gio at MHS 3:15
• 5/21/24 VT Young Playwrights Field Trip
• 5/30/24 MSMS Concert at MHS 3:00-8:00
• 6/7/24 Grades are due to Aaron for all seniors.
• 6/8/24 Junior Prom at Farm House Flowers
• June 14 MHS Senior Graduation
• June 17 MHS Celebration at NOA.

Montpelier High School

April 2, 2024- Mathematics Grade 9 125 minutes

8:20-10:15 a.m.

April 2, 2024- Science Grade 11- 150 minutes

8:20-10:15 a.m.

April 3, 2024- ELA Grade 9- 170 minutes

8:20-10:15 a.m.

April 4, 2024- Make-ups

8:20-10:15 a.m.

*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.

• 9th Grade Summative Calendar
• 10th Grade Summative Calendar
• 11 and 12 Grade Summative Calendar
• Learning Strategies Success Bank from Grade Level EST
• Recurring Meeting Schedule
• 23-24 Flex Block and Long TA Schedule (subject to change)
• 2023-24 MHS Bell Schedule
• MHS 23-24 Greenn & White Schedule
• MHS 23-24 Program of Studies
• MRPS 23-24 District Calendar (updated to reflect 4/8 tp 4/15 ER Switch)
• MRPS Curriculum Webpage
• MHS Staff Webpage
• How to Post a Ready Sub Absence
• MHS Hazing, Harassment and Bullying Information: If you believe you have witnessed or experienced discrimination, bias-based harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or bullying at MRPS, please report it to a school administrator as possible. If you do not feel comfortable reporting in person, please complete this reporting form. If you have any questions please contact MRPS Director of Social Emotional Learning & Wellness, Jessica Murray, at jessicamurray@mpsvt.org or (802)505-0435.

• MRPS has a District Blog; please sign up and learn about all the great moments at each school.

• Things to Check Out on the MRPS Curriculum Site.

• All MRPS schools will release students early on Monday, April 8, 2024 to observe the solar eclipse. We will have a full school day on Monday, August 15, 2024, the originally scheduled early release day. (Your school) will release students at (time) on Monday, April 8, 2024.

• Tuesday, March 12th Special School Board Meeting: The MRPS Board of School Directors and MRPS Administrators will be discussing possible scenarios to reduce the FY`25 school budget. WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! Join us in person at Roxbury Village School or virtually via Zoom. Visit https://www.mrpsvt.org/school-board for more information.

Email: jasongingold@mpsvt.org
Website: https://www.mrpsvt.org/mhs
Location: 5 High School Drive, Montpelier, VT, USA
Phone: (802)225-8000
Twitter: @GingoldMHSvt

Instagram: @mhssolons