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

Dear MHS,

( I apologize for sending earlier than usual- busy day at our household).

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and all is well. It's getting warmer, the sun is out, and we are close to the end.

Lily Gingold graduated from UVM today! One left in college. We had plenty of visitors, and I am very grateful Josie, Lily, and Phoebe have had the opportunities and learning experiences of MRPS and their continued passion for becoming adults.

This week, we have a series of exciting events lined up. We're wrapping up REN Star in some English and Math classes, a testament to our students' hard work and dedication. We have more field trips and sports activities, providing opportunities for our students to explore and excel beyond the classroom. The MHS POPS Concert on Thursday promises to be a delightful evening of music. We also have an early release on Monday, allowing us to continue our important work with Geo and Laura and to have dedicated time for our continued LE discussion.

Thank you to the team who planned, organized, and executed the Friday Pizza for the People event. While the end resulted in some of our community being harmed by student speeches and what appeared to be an accusation of censorship by the MHS Administration, I apologize to the adults who felt harmed. I also apologize to Emily and Matt, who were named in an accusation with no merit. And to Tom, who had made the day's expectations clear. I had a fruitful conversation with an MHS student, which cleared the air and helped us find an understanding.

Community, collective efficacy, or whatever it is you would like to call togetherness should not come at the expense of others. That is my stance.

I hope you all have a wonderful new week.

Sincerely,

Jason

"It's you. It's always been you. You've always been enough, and it's not your fault that it took you so long to understand that, because this world can make us all feel unworthy—but there's a better life waiting for you on the other side of your commitment to fully embracing this truth. When you understand that you're enough, you free yourself from deficit-based thinking and make space for healthy growth. When you understand that you're enough, you empower yourself to choose happiness over conformity. When you understand that you're enough, you give yourself permission to be proud of who you are right now instead of always feeling like you're one step away."

― Michell C. Clark, Eyes On The Road

Important Happenings this week:

Monday 5/20/24
7:30 Office Hours

Early Release Schedule
Thrive Interviews Continue and 1 Registrar interview

Emily T and walking Field Trip to add flowers to the boxes

1:15-3:15 Geo & Laura in the Library with all faculty

3:15 Faculty Meeting AGENDA

Tuesday 5/21/24

Jason G is out all day at Behavior Threat Analysis training

7:30 Department Team Meetings

8:30-11:00 Carlos M Field trip to CVCC Culinary Program

Guest Speaker in Library about Free Speech- though US History. Block 2 and 4

Young Play Writes Field Trip to BVT
Spanish Class- Dance with MHS and MSMS in Aud and Gym

1:00 Normal Solon Block

Wednesday 5/22/24

7:30-8:05 Faculty Gathering in the library

1:00 Normal Solon Block

3:00-5:15 Jason G, Emily in League

Thursday 5/23/24

7:30- 9th grade EST, planning time for everyone else

Rally For the Planet

REN STAR Testing in ELA And Math Classes

1:00 Normal Solon Block

7:00 PM MHS Pops Concert

Friday 5/24/24

Emily T out
7:30 planning time for everyone

1:00 Normal Solon Block

REN STAR Testing in ELA And Math Classes

Saturday 5/25/24
Race Against Racism

If you would like to volunteer and have not here is the link to do so.

Monday 5/27- No School Memorial Day

Reminders (To Do)

• The Guiding Coalition 24-25 School Year application is out and due May 24th.
  MHS has zero Guiding Coalition applications for next year- please let me know if you are interested. The deadline is Friday.
  If no one applies- we will circle back and make a new plan.

• Please send Sue M your recommendations for summer readings.

• Please enter the department or student awards planned for June 12 here.

• Please see the Hazing, Harassment and Bullying one- pager reminder below

• Please communicate home to caregivers about students who will fail a class- there should be no surprise communication.

• Important:
  

We wanted to inform you about a couple of changes to the awards assembly this year. The first change is that we are going to announce the senior scholarship recipients at the awards ceremony and not read them as they cross the stage at graduation. The scholarships will still be listed in the graduation program. There will be parents and community members invited to the awards ceremony as a result of this change.

Secondly, we are discontinuing the book awards. Instead we are hoping to create departmental awards for juniors. Please work with your department members to come up with award criteria and 1-3 recipients. The awards assembly is June 12th from 2-3.

A reminder the Discretionary Days system changed from last year. Staff will document your days via a Google Form. The form can be found on the Human Resources Page of our Website.

Forms are due by June 3rd, 2024.

• Prior to students returning their Chromebooks, they just complete this form.
  In TA's
• When a student brings their Chromebook to Russell, he will check the form spreadsheet to make sure that the student completed the form, and he will scan the Asset tag into the spreadsheet, where indicated.
• June 3-7: Seniors return their Chromebooks to Russell in the tech office as soon as they are done with coursework.
• June 10-14: Final chance for seniors to return their Chromebooks to Russell in the tech office. Other students may also begin to turn in their Chromebooks during this week, if they are no longer needed for this year's coursework.
• June 17-19: Students may continue to turn in their Chromebooks to Russell in the tech office.
• June 20: Final day for students to turn in their Chromebooks to Russell in Room 126 (Val has reserved Room 126 for Russell for June 20 and 21).
• Block 1: 8:55-9:35 - Grade 9
• Block 2: 9:40-10:20 - Grade 10
• Block 3: 10:25-11:05 - Grade 11
• Block 4: 11:10-11:55 - Open time for any student to still turn in a Chromebook

1. Two weeks ago I was in my final class for this semester. One of the other students presented her final project for the semester which was about how she coached a middle school English teacher on how to leverage Assets-Based Pedagogies to increase engagement and academic achievement for her 7th grade students. As soon as she started her presentation, I excitedly started making connections between tSEL and Asset-Based Pedagogies, which has a branch in Culturally Responsive Teaching. Through this teacher leveraging Assets-Based Pedagogy, she was able to embed tSEL and Culturally Responsive Teaching into the structure of her lesson while maintaining focus on academics. It was really exciting to see another real-world example of how teachers are using culturally responsive teaching and tSEL to increase student engagement, feelings of connection and belonging, and academics for students. For me, it continued to clarify that it is not about focusing on belonging or academics, but instead is about using engaging and culturally responsive lessons to create an increased sense of belonging and increase academic outcomes.
   

The goal of the listservs is to keep educators and administrators updated about professional learning opportunities, resources, AOE initiatives, and discipline-specific communication and information. Use the following links to sign up for one or more of our content listservs:

• English Language Arts and Literacy: https://list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/aoe.ela

• Mathematics: https://list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/aoe.mathematics

• Physical Education and Health: https://forms.office.com/g/VH0re1qsq2

• Science: https://list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/aoe.scienceeducation

• Social Studies: email martha.deiss@vermont.gov

• STEAM: https://list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/aoe.steam

• Visual and Performing Arts: https://list.vermont.gov/mailman/listinfo/aoe.artseducation

• 
  

• 5/20/24 Laura and Gio at MHS 1:15-3:00 PM & Early Release Day
• 5/21/24 Spanish Class uses Auditorium from 9:55-11:15
• 5/21/24 VT Young Playwrights Field Trip
• 5/23/24 MHS Spring Pops Concert 7:00 PM
• 5/25/24 Race Against Racism
• 5/27/24 No School Memorial Day
• 5/28/24 AP Spanish Dairy Farm Field Trip
• 5/29/24 7:30 AM Wednesday Gathering with Paul Gamble
• 5/30/24 MSMS Concert at MHS 3:00-8:00
• 6/3/24 Discretionary Days submitted to Google Form/Central Office.
• 6/6/24 Egress Drill (Fire) later afternoon.
• 6/7 Bake Sale Club Interact
• 6/7/24 Grades are due to Aaron for all seniors.
• 6/7 & 8 REN STAR ASSESSMENTS For grades 9, 10 and 11 in classes.
• 6/8/24 Junior Prom at Farm House Flowers
• 6/12/24 8:20-9:30 Senior Breakfast
  9:40-10:55 Graduation Rehearsal
  2:00-3:00 All School Awards Assembly in the Auditorium
• 6/13/24 7:00 PM -1:00 AM Project Graduation
• June 14 MHS Senior Graduation
  10-11:30 Rehearsal
  11:30 Speaker Rehearsal
  4:30 Seniors Arrive
  5:00 Start Time
• June 17 MHS Celebration at NOA. 3:30 PM
  June 17th Last Day of Classes (Green Day)
• June 18 & 19 WUD Days (White Day, Green Day)
• June 18 MSMS Promotion Ceremony at MHS
• June 20- Last day of school- Noon Dismissal
• June 20- all final grades are due by 3:00 PM
• June 21- Sound of Music, Lyric Theater is performing a concert version with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra June 20, 21, 22nd at the Von Trapp concert meadow in Stowe. Tickets are on sale! https://cart.flynnvt.org/18528/18728

• September 28 from 12-4:00 MRPS PIE FALL HARVEST Celebration at the State House.
  

Senior Grades are due June 7th. This gives any Senior June 10-13 to finalize any mishaps.
Seniors are expected in class on the 10th & 11th. The 12-14 are slated for graduation events.

• How to use the interpretation service. Here is the document with the directions.
• 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.

• June 5th- Next School Board Meeting at MHS 6:30 PM

• Updates on the MHS track page

• Updates on FAQ about the Roxbury transition UES & RVS: Roxbury Transition Committee

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