Principal's Newsletter

August 14th, 2026

Good afternoon MHS Families,

I hope you have all had a great summer to this point! While there is still plenty of time remaining in the summer, we are excitedly preparing for the start of the new school year. There have been some exciting updates to the building, including our new digital media lab in room 188. We also welcomed back members of the Marching Band this week, as they started band camp this week, and our student-athletes get started the week of the 24th.

As we continue to move toward the start of the school year, there are a few dates to note:

• Open House: Monday, August 31st, 12-3pm
• First Day of School: Wednesday, September 2nd

I hope everyone continues to enjoy the remaining weeks of summer! Be sure to check below for a few updates related to our new Aspen Family Portal, the school calendar for 26'-27', Senior Corner updates, and a few other announcements.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Nick Schlierf (Dr. S) to our Mansfield High School administrative team! Dr. Schlierf joins us after serving 3 years as the Athletic Director at North Attleboro High School, and previously serving several years as the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Sharon High School. Dr. S will oversee students in grades 9 and 11 this year, as well as supporting all things clubs & activities related, among other responsibilities at MHS.

Mansfield Public Schools launched the new ASPEN Family Portal in June of this past school year. The family portal is a centralized hub where you can access all of your students' information in one convenient place. The original document with helpful information is linked here, and an email was recently sent to the primary contact with the username and password for the account.

We will be using the family portal to send a variety of information to families this year, including report cards and in danger of failure notices. Please check you email and login to the Family Portal prior to the start of the school year to familiarize yourself with navigating the system.

What You Can Access:

All K-12 Report Cards: Starting this June, report cards will be exclusively available in the Family Portal under the "Published Reports" tab.

Student Info & Attendance: Review student details, attendance records, and emergency contact information.

Secondary Student Portals: While parents now have a central account, secondary students are still encouraged to check their individual student portals for updates. Gradebook and assignment features will fully launch for secondary students at the start of the 2026–2027 school year.

Locked Out or Questions?

If you forget your password, contact your school’s Main Office. Please note that entering the wrong password 5 times will lock your account , requiring you to submit an IT Help Desk ticket via the district website to regain access.

The district school calendar is linked below at the bottom of the newsletter throughout the school year. It has also been linked here for families to review. Please note, the last day of school is currently listed as June 17th, 2027. Any snow days during the year will push the last day of school into the following week. Students will have final exams during the last week of school, and snow days will push these exam dates back. Please take possible snow days into consideration when planning end of year trips, as this could have an impact on your student taking a final exam over the summer.

All Mansfield High School students will receive a student planner on the first day of school this year. The front of all the planners contain many of the most frequently referenced policies and procedures within our student handbook. Once students receive their planners, they are encouraged to review the front section to familiarize themself with the information there.

Class meetings will be held on the first 2 days of school, where procedures and expectations will be reviewed, including new handbook language. The updated handbook for the 2026-2027 school year is available on the MHS website linked here. Our start of year Google Forms will be sent out in the coming weeks with the Student Handbook sign off. Families are encouraged to use the link to review the new handbook, including updates to attendance, exam expectations, and credit loss.

Mansfield High School will host our annual Future Planning Day on Wednesday, October 7th.

On this day, students will have the opportunity to participate in the following:

• PSAT testing for students in grades 10 and 11
• SAT testing for students in grade 12
• ASVAB Career Interest Inventory for students in grades 10–12

Registration details and additional information were sent in a recent email to families in grades 10-12.

Please note: Students must register for their selected option no later than September 9, which is during the first full week of school.

Any questions should be directed to our School Counseling Office.

Class of 2027 Senior Families:

The yearbook staff will be collecting senior portraits between Sept 14th and Oct 31st. Information will be available including links for submission and ordering books at the beginning September on the school's website. Please keep in mind that all portraits must be submitted in jpg format, 300 dpi and in vertical orientation.

Student Parking Information:

Senior parking forms and registration information will be sent to all seniors on Wednesday, August 19th. Seniors should check their email and fill out the registration form if they plan to park on campus this year. The email will come from our new Assistant Principal, Dr. Schlierf.

2026-2027 School Bus Signups are Open until July 10! Waitlist begins on July 11th.

All students who plan to ride the bus, regardless of grade level (excluding Pre-K), distance from school, or waiver eligibility must request transportation by July 10, 2026.

Items to note:

· If payment is required, the discounted rate is only valid if payment is received on or before June 12, 2026.

· Please note that bus sign up is not considered complete until all required steps, including payment, if applicable, are submitted.

· Payment (when required) must be received before bus routing information is released to families.

· A bus pass is required to utilize the school buses AM, PM & Late Bus.

· We strongly encourage families to sign up early to ensure transportation is in place for the start of the school year.

The Waitlist begins July 11, 2026

Student(s) signed up after July 10, 2026 will be placed on the waitlist and not guaranteed routing or a seat for the first week of school, unless the student(s) is/are moving within town or into town.

Students are welcome to stay after school for extra curricular activities and academic support. Students staying after school for clubs, extra help, or other extra curricular activities must be with a teacher or coach they are staying after for. Students may also utilize the library after school as long as it is open. Once a student is done with their after school activity, they must report to the lobby to wait for their ride. Students who need to take the late bus must also report to the lobby to wait, and leave through the front entrance when reporting to the bus.

As shared in a recent email, families may receive attendance letters when a student reaches 5, 10, or 18 total absences during the school year. These letters are required by Massachusetts law, are sent to all families regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused, and are intended to keep families informed.

These attendance letters are separate from Credit Loss notifications. A Credit Loss letter is sent only when a student has accumulated unexcused absences that place them at risk of losing quarter credit. Receiving an attendance letter does not automatically mean a student is in danger of credit loss.

When credit is lost due to unexcused absences, students may earn it back through Buy Back Days, held during extended after-school detentions or Saturday detentions. Students must attend one 2-hour Buy Back Day for each unexcused absence beyond the first three in a quarter.

Families with questions are encouraged to contact their grade level Assistant Principal listed in the email, or the School Counseling Office.

The following information was included in Superintendent McKeon's weekly newsletter, and we want to be sure all MHS families have access to the same information and links should your family need them. Any family in need of support is encouraged to contact the Main Office at the high school, and a member of our administrative team will be happy to provide support. Please see the links below as needed:

MPS Food Services Website

https://www.mansfieldschools.com/o/mps/page/food-services

Mansfield Food Pantry

https://www.mansfieldfoodpantry.org/

WestSide Benevolent Circle

https://www.westsidebcma.org/

Town of Mansfield Social Services Department

Hockomock YMCA Food Access

https://www.hockymca.org/food-access/

Hebron Food Pantry

https://hebronfoodpantry.org/

Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline

https://projectbread.org/foodsource-hotline

MPS Website - Financial Assistance Information

https://www.mansfieldschools.com/o/mps/page/financial-assistance

Mansfield Public Schools is returning to the previous practice of having CORI's verified at the school level. Anyone needing to complete a CORI will be able to bring their completed form and a state issued photo ID to MHS during school hours and have their forms verified. Forms can also be taken to the HR Department in the Town Hall during normal operating hours.

This updated process will begin in the coming weeks, and we will provide more information once the updated process will begin.

Volunteers and visitors must provide identification when entering the school. The ID will be processed through the Raptor system which checks the Sexual Offender Registry. Any findings must be addressed before the individual is able to volunteer or visit.

The state of Massachusetts has designed a website called HandHold to support families of school-aged students focused on the area of mental health. Families can click the link provided for more information on the supports available.

In an effort to combat the ongoing challenge of vaping within our school (and others), please take a look at and utilize the various resources provided below to learn more about vaping in order to start/continue the conversation with your child. Making progress in this area is a group effort, and we want to provide support for families at home with these resources.

General Info:

What parents need to know

Quick Facts about vaping

Vaping and the impact of Covid

Vaping can't harm teens?

Information on Quitting:

How to quit

This is quitting

Nicotine withdrawal and how to cope

District Vision

The Mansfield Public Schools will foster an environment where all students share a sense of belonging and experience academic and personal growth. We will inspire and empower active and engaged learners, citizens, innovators, and communicators.

District Mission

The Mansfield Public Schools supports each student so they feel recognized and valued. All students are empowered academically, socially, and emotionally so they can reach their maximum potential.

Core Values

Belonging

We build a supportive and understanding community through kindness, respect, and empathy.

Collaboration

We work together, share ideas, respect each other, and celebrate our achievements as a community.

Curiosity

We question, explore, and discover in order to foster a love of learning, not just for school but for life.

Integrity

We are honest and do the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Resilience

We adapt and grow in the face of adversity, always persevering and continuing to try.

Families are encouraged to view our Community Backpack to view fliers that have been approved for school distribution. You can view this page by clicking above or by going to mansfieldschools.com, choosing MENU and selecting the link under the Students and Families section.

Mr. Russ Booth - Principal

Ms. Lisa Giuliano - Assistant Principal, Grades 10 & 12

Dr. Nicholas Schlierf - Assistant Principal, Grades 9 & 11

Eric Bruinooge, Ph.D - Director of Secondary Special Education

Mr. Tim Selmon - Athletic Director

Email: russ.booth@mansfieldschools.com
Website: https://mhs.mansfieldschools.com/
Location: 250 East Street, Mansfield, MA, USA
Phone: 508-261-7540
Twitter: @MHSHornets