Solon Salutes

• Normal Solon Blocks Monday-Friday this week.
• Seniors- please check out the Graduation Information on The Class of 2024 page.
• April 17th Egress (Fire Drill) between Block 1-2
• Consent Program for All MHS Seniors:
  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.
  

Dear MHS Community,

As we head into break week, we hope you all have a wonderful week, rest, and recharge for the final few months. Progress reports were mailed home last week. Please let us know if you still need to receive one. May 10th is the halfway point of Quarter Four; please continue to work with your students on staying academically focused.

We will continue to set up caregiver meetings, call students back for Solon Blocks, speak with students directly, and find support to help students grow.

When we return from break, MHS is looking forward to Pizza For The People on May 17th, the final Orchestra and Choir concerts in May, spring sporting events, our last Enrichment, the final RENSTAR and SEL assessments, AP exams, Prom on June 8th, and of course graduation week.

Please let us know if we can assist you in any way. Be well, stay safe, and enjoy the sunshine.

Sincerely,

Jason

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

• 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 3, 22, 29 League of Women Voters at MHS To register students to vote.

• 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 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 25 Race Against Racism at VT State House
• May 27 No School - Memorial Day
• June 6 & 7- REN STAR Testing for all students in Grades 9, 10, and 11.
• June 7th- Senior Grades are due and finalized for graduation eligibility
• June 8 Junior Prom (At Farm House Flowers)
  
• June 12 Senior Breakfast: 8:20 - 9:35 am
  Graduation Rehearsal: 9:40 - 10:55 am
  MHS Awards Assembly All School 2:00-3:00 PM
• June 13 Project Grad 7:00 PM -1:00 AM
• June 14 MHS Graduation- seniors arrive at MHS by 4:30 PM
  Graduation Rehearsal: 10:00 - 11:30 am
  Speaker/Presenter Rehearsal: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
  Graduation starts at 5:00 PM
• June 17 Green Day Last Day of Classes
• June 18 & 19 Students Wrap Up Days for Grades 9, 10, and 11
• June 20 Last day of School- Dismissal is at Noon.

• 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)
• MRPS School Board Meeting April 17th 6:30 PM MHS Library

• 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.

The Montpelier Roxbury Board of School Directors encourages Montpelier High School (MHS) students* to apply to be a Student Representative on the Board. This unique opportunity ensures that the MRPSVT district and Board maintain their deep value of student voice in its processes. As a Student Representative you will have the opportunity to actively participate in one of Montpelier’s most important democratic institutions by offering your voice and perspective to the Board. This position guarantees that the Board receives firsthand insight on the needs of students who are directly impacted by the Board’s decisions.

*We are open to considering applications from 7th & 8th grade MSMS students as well.

Overview of roles and responsibilities:

• Attend Board Meetings: Board meetings run for approximately 2 hours twice each month on Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Student Representatives are expected to participate in every meeting, though we understand sometimes scheduling conflicts may arise. Our meetings are held either in the MHS library or the Roxbury Village School library. If you are unable to be on location, there is always a Zoom or carpool option available. Meetings often run late, but if you need to leave early, that is okay.

• Participate actively in meetings: Student Representatives are encouraged and expected to participate in Board discussions by providing valuable student insight and perspectives. Student Representatives have the opportunity to present student updates to the Board at the beginning of meetings, engage in Board discussion throughout the meetings and ask questions.

• Serve as student liaison: Establish regular communication with our student constituents (listening sessions, surveys, etc.) to understand the needs and wants of the student body. Bring students’ voices and priorities back to the Board to help with our decisions.

• Board duties that Student Representatives are exempt from: Students do not vote, but they inform the Board’s decisions and processes. Students often do not participate in executive sessions, which involve issues of a confidential nature. Our student representatives will not be asked to serve on our standing committees, but they are welcome to attend committee meetings or serve on a committee if they wish.

Tenure and Time Commitment:

• Tenure will follow the 2024-2025 school year (September 2024 through June 2025), as well as onboarding with our current student reps in May & June 2024.

• Approximately 5 hours/month of Board meeting time and 4 hours/month of liaison work time.

How to apply & process for selection:

• Please email a short letter of interest to scottlewins@mpsvt.org by May 8, 2024. This should be one to three paragraphs. Please provide your name, grade, and school email address. Keep in mind that your letter will be public, as our Board operates under open meeting laws.

• The Board will review all letters and discuss at our May 15th meeting,

• Each applicant will be invited to address the board on May 15th at 6:30pm in the MHS library (not required).

• The Board will enter executive session (not available to the public) for a discussion to decide which two candidates to award the position.

• The Board will then announce the selected candidates around 8:30pm on May 15.

Some additional resources:

• Short video explaining what a School Board does: https://studentreportinglabs.org/youth-reporting/what-is-a-school-board/

• If you would like to discuss the position with our current student representatives, you are welcome to contact them at serotawinstonm@mpsvt.org and kohna@mpsvt.org

• Link to our School Board website: https://www.mrpsvt.org/school-board

If you have any questions about this position, please reach out to Matt McLane (matt@mpsvt.org), Scott Lewins (scottlewins@mpsvt.org), and/or the current Student Representatives

RSVP HERE

Senator Sanders is a strong believer in the importance of after school activities, including in sports, hiking and the outdoors, the fine arts, music, dance, speech and debate, and games of logic, reason, and strategy. In his view, young people should also be able to learn and excel in chess, a game which demands discipline and strategy – intellectual tools which are of value to all of us. While we have a number of chess clubs around the state, including yours, Bernie believes we can do more to expand the game in Vermont.

To help more young Vermonters try chess for the first time – and for experienced young players to have the opportunity to compete against each other – the Senator’s office has organized a Youth Chess Day. It will feature learn-to-play sessions for students interested in trying out the game as well as a recreational tournament for experienced players. We encourage ALL young Vermonters in grades 1-12 to come join us. For more details, please see below.

Students are strongly encouraged to register as soon as possible, as space is limited; RSVP HERE

Please consider sharing this invitation with any young people who may be interested in participating. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you are chess club teacher or advisor and would like to lend your skills to the event, please let me know. And, check out our office’s interview with Vermont’s youngest chess champion, Alexander Collins, who helped us announce this event last year!

UVM Extension’s 4-H Program invites rising 8th-12th graders to apply for one of three, free, residential summer academies held on the UVM campus June 23-29. AgroTek Innovation, now in its third year, exposes students to agriscience innovation skills by diving deep into one of three topics; Culturing Cells for Healthier Soils, Shifting the Waste to Value Paradigm (converting agricultural waste into value added products), and Using Virtual Reality for More Precise Agriculture. In addition to learning content, participants will build important relationships with undergraduate student mentors along with faculty and staff. More details, including the link to apply, can be found here. Deadline to apply has been extended until all spaces are filled – hurry, only a handful remain in each academy! Individuals who identify as BIPOC, female identifying or LGBTQ+, humans traditionally under-represented in agriculture, are encouraged to apply. Contact: Sarah Kleinman at sarah.kleinman@uvm.edu or 802-656-7637

Beats for Good music competition, associated with National Life Group’s Do Good Fest, a summer concert in Vermont to benefit Branches Of Hope cancer patient fund and Howard Center’s youth mental health services.

Beats for Good is open to any current Vermont high school student and their classmates. This contest is open to musical acts of all sizes and genres, acoustic or electric.

The grand prize winner will open Do Good Fest featuring multi-platinum artists Fitz and the Tantrums, Emmy Award winning Rachel Platten, California alternative rock mainstays Dishwalla, and emerging New England favorite Couch. They’ll also have the opportunity to meet the bands and will receive a $5,000 donation to their school’s music program, as well as a $1,000 personal cash prize. First and second runners-up will receive $2,500 and $1,000 respectively for their school’s music program.