MASSABESIC HIGH SCHOOL

RSU 57 & Massabesic High School

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

Hello Mustang Nation,

Welcome to Homecoming Week at Massabesic High School - what a wonderful opportunity for our students, staff, and community to recognize and celebrate school spirit and community pride. Themed days and activities throughout the week are listed below. There is an adjustment in our Bell Schedule for FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 to accommodate our Homecoming Pep Rally - that schedule is listed below in this newsletter.

Guests @ Homecoming: Students who wish to bring a guest (non-MHS student) to the Homecoming Dance on Friday need to complete the dance guest form that is attached to this newsletter and available in the main office. Guests must be either an alumni from MHS within the last three years, a current full time high school student, or a registered home school student. Guests must be a minimum of a Grade 9 student in high school or higher (all guests must bring picture ID with DOB the night of the event). Potential guests who did not leave their high school in good standing will not be permitted to attend. Guests may not be older than 20 years of age.This requires coordination with the guest's school administrators - don't wait to get this done. Forms are due (completed) in the main office by 12:00 pm on Thursday, October 2 - no exceptions will be made to this deadline.

Assemblies - Monday, September 29: We will hold brief assemblies on Monday morning at the beginning of Block 1 & Block 2 to celebrate student success and address some items we can improve upon in the early going of the school year. Two different (brief) assemblies will be held in the gymnasium featuring the following grades at the follow times:

GRADE 9 & GRADE 10 - 7: 45 - 7:55

GRADE 11 & GRADE 12 - 9:10 - 9:20

Makeup NWEA & Finishing NWEA: A very small number of Grade 9 & 10 students who are still working on their NWEA testing will be called out class this week to spend a few minutes finishing their work. Other Grade 9 & 10 students who were absent on Wed. 24 for the testing administration will be called out of class to complete their testing. Completing the testing is a requirement to attend the Homecoming Week Pep Rally at the end of the day on Friday, October 3 AND also a requirement to attend the Homecoming Dance that same evening.

Spirit Week Themes

Monday, 09.29.25: PJ Day

Tuesday, 09.30.25: Sports Jersey/New Jersey

Wednesday, 10.01.25: USA Day

Thursday, 10.02.25: Denim Day

Friday, 10.03.25 Class colors - & Homecoming Pep Rally (end of day)

-Freshman - Yellow

-Sophomores - White

-Junior - Green

Seniors - Black

Hallway Decorating Theme: Around the World

Homecoming Dance: Friday, October 3 from 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the MHS gymnasium

Saturday, 10.04.25 - Numerous MHS Athletic competitions featuring MHS Varsity Teams

As a reminder, our Green/White day rotation for this week is below:

Monday, 09.29.25 - WHITE

Tuesday, 09.30.25 - GREEN

Wednesday, 10.01.25 - WHITE

Thursday, 10.02.25 - GREEN

Friday, 10.03.25 - WHITE

Take care,

-Mr. Thurlow

Cell Phone & Personal Electronic Devices: Students are continuing to place their focus on their academic work and social interactions with one another. As a reminder to students and families regarding cell phones and personal electronic devices - district policy prohibits the use of these devices during the school day, therefore school rules dictate that these devices are not to be found in a student's possession. School sanctioned options for storage as listed below - any deviation from those options will result in immediate and progressive consequences. (Of course, we want to avoid consequences if possible)

1. Leave the cell phone/personal electronic device at home.

2. Leave the cell phone/personal electronic devices in your vehicle or the vehicle of a friend/classmate.

3. Leave the cell phone/personal electronic device in your homeroom.

Congratulations to MHS senior Brigham McCann, who was recently honored with the Maine Out of School Time Rising Star Award for her exceptional work with the WES Learning Works after-school program.

In her two years with the program, Brigham has demonstrated extraordinary commitment, leadership, and a genuine connection with the students she serves. The Learning Works Waterboro Director praised her, saying:

"In just two years, Brigham has made a significant impact in the Out of School Time field through her unmatched dedication, leadership, and connection with youth. At only 18 years old, she shows up every day consistently with reliability, energy, and professionalism that exceeds expectations. Her presence brings consistency and stability to our program, which the students deeply appreciate. She has built strong, meaningful relationships with the children, who look up to her as a role model. Her natural ability to connect, guide, and inspire our students reflects the best of what OST programs aim to offer. In addition to her daily work, she contributes thoughtful ideas to improve programming and is always the first to step up when help is needed. Her work ethic, maturity, and heart for youth truly set her apart."

We’re incredibly proud of Brigham and all she’s accomplished. Her dedication is a shining example of the positive impact young leaders can have in our community.

MHS is starting a new club aimed at promoting Mental Health Awareness at the School. This club will be called the Resiliency Project and will meet every Wednesday in Room 38.

It will be a student-run organization that raises awareness about mental health, reduces stigma, provides a safe space for discussion, and promotes mental well-being and access to resources within the school

Key Goals of the Resiliency Project

• Raise Awareness: Educate the school community about mental health issues and disorders.

• Reduce Stigma: Challenge negative stereotypes and foster acceptance of mental health conditions.

• Create Safe Spaces: Provide a non-judgmental environment for students to share their experiences and support one another.

• Promote Well-being: Encourage healthy emotional practices and help-seeking behaviors.

• Connect to Resources: Act as a bridge between students and available mental health services and resources.

If you have any questions, please see Meagan Desjardins in Room 38. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 1st, in room 38, right after school.

School pictures are ready! To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the Smilesafe program here.

PICTURE RETAKE DAY - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025

Juniors: Massabesic High School is offering the PSAT test (for FREE) October 23rd or 24th on a first come/first sign up basis. Students will be assigned to one of the testing groups. Spots are limited, and grade 11 students have the first opportunity (Monday thru Thursday, Sept. 22-25) to sign up in the Guidance Office. Please note that the PSAT is DIGITAL and students will be taking the PSAT on their school chromebooks. If interested, stop by the Guidance Office to sign up starting on Monday!

The MHS Culture Club is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience various cultures around the world. One large component of the Culture Club's offerings are overseas international trips. There are currently two trips slated for the Spring of 2026. If you are interested in joining an upcoming trip please contact Mrs. Katherine Carroll at katherinecarroll@rsu57.org.

The next overseas international trip is being discussed to potentially take place in 2028 (pending RSU 57 School Board approval). This is a shift in past practice in that as we move forward we are planning to organize overseas international trips every two years (2028, 2030, 2032, etc...pending RSU 57 School Board approval). On the years between international travel (2027, 2029, 2031...) we are planning to organize regional opportunities for students to experience culture, in addition to potentially inviting cultural figures to MHS to share their experiences with students.

CALLING ALL WINTER ENTHUSIASTS!

Do you ski/snowboard or are you interested in learning how? Come join us for SKI CLUB this winter season! Fill out the Google Form below if you are interested in participating. Information will be sent to parent/guardian emails and official registrations through Gunstock will go LIVE on September 29th!

Feel free to reach out to Kayla Pazmany-Kinney (School Nurse) or Benjamin Durham with questions!

Google Form Link:

MHS Ski Club 2026 Form

SENIORS & Families - please see the important message from our Yearbook Advisor, Mrs. Fryzlewicz:

Hello Seniors!

Senior pictures and quotes/bequeathments will be due by/before the Holidays, by December 21. They need to be emailed to yearbook1@rsu57.org. and MUST have your name in the subject field- if it is not there it will not be able to be found again.

When we leave for Christmas break I should have them. Our MHS team and I can get them started and see who's missing, etc..

The Rubric for these pictures are:

** Vertical shots

** Just you in the shot

** Must be able to see your face/eyes

** Must be appropriate- by school standards: dress/apparel, items in picture, etc.

** Cell phone pictures have been able to be used in the past, we can try it...

** Can have pets, favorite car, etc. in the shot.

** min 175 kb

** If no photo is received by this date we will use the Lifetouch school picture taken for school.

** Your photo does not have to be a professional shot. Yearbook can make arrangements with you to take your senior picture as well.

If you have any questions about an item or scene, etc. please do not hesitate to connect with me and we can discuss it, no problem.

**December 21st - to yearbook1@rsu57.org and MUST have your name as the subject

* YOUR NAME ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF ANY EMAIL!

**Finding your picture and labeling it as YOU in the book depends on this happening!

This cannot be stressed enough!

*Our email site will have been sent submissions from many different sources: several photographers, individual parents, step parents, grandparents, quardians, students, etc.. to list a few.

*Please let your families and photographers know to use your name on the subject line in the email with your photos.

Senior Write-up:

Leave your personal mark on the 2025-2026 yearbook. It can be a favorite memory, quote, poem, song verse, or words of wisdom that you like.

*What you choose needs to be accompanied by who said it or where it was pulled from. For example:

"You just try saying 'no' to these salty parabolas!"

-Jillian Holtzman, Ghostbusters

"...of all the things these hands have held, the best by far was you."

- Cecilia and the Satellite, Andrew McMahon

Otherwise, not necessary if the writer is you:

" To all my friends that remain at Massabesic High, I leave all my unused passes, the locker I would've been assigned and never was able to use, and my favorite pencil- that I swear had enough lead to last through my whole senior year. "

** Yearbook staff and Advisor reserve the right to refuse, or redirect back to the student for re-write, any submission that does not reflect respectfully on the staff, students, and seniors of Massabesic High school or RSU57.

Oh!! and don't forget that yearbooks are at their least expensive right now, on jostens.com, for $80!!

Any questions? Please come by, find me, or email me at heidifryzlewicz@rsu57.org.

Mrs Fryzlewicz

MHS Yearbook Advisor

2025-2026 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.

Monday, Sept. 29 - Saturday, Oct. 4: Homecoming Week

Friday, October 3: Homecoming Dance

Saturday, October 4: Numerous Athletic Competitions

Wednesday, October 8 - MHS College Kickoff Night

Friday, October 10 - No School for Students

Monday, October 13 - School Closed for Indigenous Peoples Day

Tuesday, October 14 - Picture Retake Day

Thursday & Friday, October 23 & 24: PSAT's

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