MHS STUDENT & FAMILY NEWSLETTER

RSU 57 & Massabesic High School

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

Hello Mustang Nation,

Semester 1 Finals Schedule: It is hard to believe that we are quickly closing in on the end of Semester 1 in the 2025-2026 school year. Please review the finals schedule listed below in this newsletter, as well as a letter to parents that contains important information related to attendance on those finals days.

Student Absences: We understand that this time of year illnesses can cause an uptick in student absences. This is a friendly reminder that it is important that parents & guardians report these absences to the main office of the school (with the reason stated for the absence) so we can ensure students are accounted for and records are complete.

Morning Meetings this week.

Tuesday, 01.13.26

Resiliency Project (Mrs. Desjardins, Room 43)

Math Team (Mrs. Blair, Room 18)

Student Council (Mr. Nadeau, Room 42)

Winter Ball Committee (Mrs. Pellegrino, Room 19)

Thursday, 01.15.26

Culture Club WWII Trip (Mrs. Carroll, Room 36)

Math Team (Mrs. Blair, Room 18)

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

Monday, 01.12.26 - GREEN

Tuesday, 01.13.26 - WHITE

Wednesday, 01.14.26 (ERD) - GREEN

Thursday, 01.15.26 - WHITE

Friday, 01.016.26 - GREEN

Take care,

-Mr. Thurlow

The Music Department is holding an honors recital for the students taking the retical class this semester. Each student will perform solo music on their primary instrument that they have been working on throughout the semester. Come join us on Monday, January 12th at 6pm in the Auditorium to listen to their hard work and dedication to their craft. The event is free to the public! If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Farrington or Mr. HD in room 2.

This month, the Resiliency Club is spreading awareness about earthing disorders and issues around body image. In our research about this topic, our group learned that one in 5 women and 1 in 7 men are estimated to have an eating disorder by the age of 40. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, second only to opioid addiction. In the U.S., approximately 10,200 deaths each year are a direct result of an eating disorder, which is one death every 52 minutes. Most first-time cases occur during adolescence and young adulthood, with 95% of cases developing by age 25. In children aged 11 to 16, the prevalence of an eating disorder in 2023 was 2.6% in the UK, rising to 12.5% for those aged 17 to 19.

Given how serious this disorder is, we spend the month of January spreading awareness and body positivity at MHS. We have our "Dear Body" bulletin board listed below, and facts about the disorder. We will also be focusing on facts and myths this month and ways to find help.

We have also added a Resources bulletin board called "Take what you need". In this area of the school, students will have access to hotline numbers and a website for a variety of resources, such as NAMI Maine, the national suicide hotline, and places to get help for substance use. They can "take what they need" for themselves or a friend without having to ask an adult. This bulletin board is located outside of room 43, where the Resiliency club meets every Tuesday morning. New members are still welcome to join.

On January 15th, during Block 2, a representative from the Mitchell Institute will hold a student workshop at Massabesic High School to go over the Mitchell Scholarship and the scholarship search process.

Come by Guidance to sign up!

Information about the Mitchell Scholarship:

The Mitchell Scholarship application is due March 1st! It’s a $10,000 scholarship for any student graduating this year who is planning to pursue a two- or four-year college degree, and at least ONE Mitchell Scholar will be selected at EVERY public high school in Maine. As a Mitchell Scholar, you will have access to financial support, ongoing events, additional funding, and a vast network of over 3,500 Mitchell Scholar Alumni around the world.

Apply and learn more.

APPLICATION LINKS:

• You can find both scholarship links on our scholarship website.

• We accept either application. If a student already has a Common App account, the link below will add the Mitchell Scholarship application to their colleges tab, where they will only need to complete the supplemental questions.

• Common App: https://apply.commonapp.org/Login?ma=1468

• Mitchell Scholarship app: https://connect.mitchellinstitute.org/apply

DEADLINES:

• Due by March 1st: completed application (either platform); one letter of recommendation; mid-year transcript; FAFSA submission summary

• Due by April 1st: financial aid letter from top choice college

• Materials can be submitted with the application, uploaded by the counselor, or uploaded in the applicant's post-submission portal.

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Southern New Hampshire University is visiting on February 3rd for an On The Spot Admission Day at Massabesic High School!

An SNHU admissions rep will meet with students one-on-one to review their applications and

let them know their acceptance decision!

If not accepted, don’t fret -

the SNHU admissions rep can give some kind suggestions on next steps.

In order to take part in SNHU’s On The Spot Admission Day, students will need to:

- Sign up in Guidance

- Fill out the application (available in Guidance) to bring with them to their meeting

Please consider supporting the MHS SWIM TEAM by purchasing exclusive Swim Team gear with the link below.

Captain Howell & Chief Lipp with our NJROTC program are proud to announce upcoming opportunities for our students to participate in Sea Perch Competitions - students will be engaged in building underwater drones and testing them out against other students from the region at a competition held at the University of New Hampshire.

Interested students should connect directly with Captain & Chief (we are currently looking at around 30 available spots).

Sea Perch practice/work days are as follows:

Tuesday, March 3 - Block 4 and after school (1:00 - 4:00 pm)

Wednesday, March 4 - Block 4 and after school (1:00 - 4:00 pm)

Thursday, March 5 - Block 4 and after school (1:00 - 4:00pm)

As we enter the colder and more problematic months of the school year we want to ensure that families are aware of support that exists to help those experiencing challenging times. The link provides information for food assistance programs by town throughout the state for families in need.

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.

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, January 12 - MHS Music Department Honors Recital

Wednesday, January 14 - Early Release Day

Monday, January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)

January 22, 23, 26, & 27- Final Assessment Days

Wednesday, January 28 - Early Release Day

Wednesday, January 28 - End of Semester 1

Thursday, January 29 - Beginning of Semester 2

Wednesday January 28 - Friday February 6: Add/Drop Period

Friday, February 6 - Massabesic Cheering Showcase

Saturday, February 7 - Winter Ball 6:00-9:00pm

Wednesday, February 11 - Early Release Day

Monday, February 16 - Friday, February 20: Winter Break (School Closed)

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):