Solon Salutes

• Principal Update
• Dates to Remember
• Solon Salutes Shout Outs
• MHS Guidance Department Updates
• Athletics Update

Hello MHS Community,

Usually, I would start off the weekly Solon Salute with the "I hope you all had a lovely weekend," and today seems like an eerie deja vu of last summer. Thank you, caregivers, students, and staff, for being flexible today and understanding why we needed to dismiss earlier than usual. We also acknowledge that today and the next few days may be really stressful. And we are here if you need us and willing to assist you and your families.

While we are unsure what will happen overnight, you can be assured that we can support one another to move forward. Change, unplanned life obstacles, natural disasters, and many unpleasant incidents can try to prevent us from achieving our goals. And while we may be thwarted, we will be determined to continue to take care of ourselves, this place, and others.

I hope you are all safe, sound, and staying dry. If you need assistance, please get in touch with me, and we will figure out the best way we can assist. Please be patient tonight as we determine the next steps, and information may not be available until tomorrow morning.

Thank you always for the care and support of MHS staff and students. We appreciate you all. And if we do not see one another this week, have a great December 23- January 1, and see you in 2024. Be safe and well, and enjoy the new year.

Best Wishes.

Jason Gingold, Principal.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and I am happy to connect.

Take Care of yourself, Take Care of Others, and Take Care of This Place.

Author and poet Maya Angelou on finding your family:

"Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what."

"Sometimes, you get what you want. Other times, you get a lesson in patience, timing, alignment, empathy, compassion, faith, perseverance, resilience, humility, trust, meaning, awareness, resistance, purpose, clarity, grief, beauty and life. Either way, you win."

― Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year

Quick Reminders:

• MHS Peer Tutoring is Back! Solons complete this FORM if you want to sign up for tutoring assistance.
• Hello Juniors and Seniors- This is your friendly reminder that I will be reviewing grades for privileges eligibility on January 8th. You must have a 3.0 or above in all courses in order to maintain or re-apply for privileges. If you have below a 3.0 in any courses, you will be scheduled to meet with me, a work lab will be added to your schedule, and you may lose the option to sign in and out during unscheduled times. If you're worried about a class, you can always come talk to me! Best- Emily
• Interesting Article of the Week About Belonging.

Commentary on Rising Education Spending

The following commentary was submitted by Representative Erin Brady of Williston, an active public school teacher; Representative Rebecca Holcombe of Windsor-Orange 2, former Vermont Secretary of Education; and Representative Monique Priestley, of Orange-2, clerk of the tri-partisan Rural Caucus.

Rising Education Spending is Also Driven by

State-Level Problems That Need State-Level Solutions

Governor Scott recently described an average projected increase in education property taxes of almost 18% as “unacceptable” and asked school boards to control costs. We agree that people across the state are worried about affordability, from higher tax rates to out of control housing costs. School boards cannot control state level drivers of higher cost any more than they can solve the evils of poverty on their own.

The projected education property tax increases are driven by a projected 12% increase in school budgets statewide.

We hope to work with the Governor to tackle state level drivers of that education spending. As one superintendent told the Valley News, many of the factors behind growing school budgets are out of the control of boards, including skyrocketing health insurance costs, our housing crisis, and cost shifting from state to local budgets for a host of human services. We would add use of public school budgets for what amounts to private benefits.

Here are a few ways Governor Scott could meaningfully reduce property tax burdens:

Lead on health care reform. Health care spending consistently grows faster than education spending. One in five dollars Vermonters spend is spent on health care. School districts face a 16% increase in health care premiums this year – an increase twice the rate of inflation. These increases occur year after year. and VT increases outstrip national increases, burdening employers and individuals across the state – not just school districts. Sadly, 40% of insured Vermonters under age 65 (much of our workforce) are underinsured, meaning their health care costs exceed what their incomes can bear. Schools cannot fix our health care crisis. The Governor can join the legislature in working on the sustainability of our health care spending, a process the legislature began with Act 167.

Focus resources on development of workforce housing. Housing shortages drive up housing costs, locking seniors in homes they struggle to afford and locking young families out of the housing market. That means fewer kids in our schools, higher costs per pupil, and skyrocketing tax rates. In a vicious cycle, higher tax rates make it even less likely families will move in. Governor Scott should lead on developing municipal infrastructure that supports smart development including municipal wastewater systems in the least affordable communities, conditional on development of climate-friendly affordable housing. This would lower the cost of housing development and make higher density possible – where it makes sense. In turn, this development refills our schools, builds our tax base, lowers per pupil tax rates, and addresses our workforce crisis.

Fund state agencies so school districts don’t have to pay for state cuts. Our mental health crisis doesn’t go away when the Governor cuts state budgets, as he effectively proposes this year by capping the state mental health department’s budget at 3% growth – a number half the rate of inflation. Cutting state resources for mental health services displaces these costs onto already strained schools – the payers of last resort. Adequately funding state mental health services both keeps people healthy AND reduces our education property taxes.

Address unfunded school infrastructure liabilities. The Administration is aggressively testing school classrooms for PCBs, without realistic state investment in mitigation and without a coherent plan for what to do when PCBs are found. This is closing classrooms across the state and forcing school districts to fix these classrooms on their own, driving higher education spending. They have spent millions of dollars on loud filters that fill hallways, and yet recorded PCB levels are sometimes higher AFTER so-called “mitigation” spending. Districts already face hundreds of millions of dollars of deferred investments in failing infrastructure. This problem screams for state leadership. The House took a first step by passing H.486. The Governor must get behind this bill and comprehensive approach.

Confront uncontrolled, poorly regulated private school vouchers. Private school vouchers drive up tax rates for everyone – in order to pay for private benefits for the few. Prior to 1991, the Academies were public schools in statute and they were held to the same rules as public schools. Now, out of all taxpayer-funded private schools in Vermont, only Thetford Academy and The Sharon Academy commit to open enrollment and the higher quality standards the State Board of Education applies to public schools. While public schools are asked to hold the line, Vermont sends public school dollars to elite prep schools in other states and other countries, driving up the per pupil cost in VT schools. Public money is for public education, not private benefit. Any voucher to a school that doesn’t serve a public purpose makes everyone pay more so a handful of people can have taxpayer-funded benefits that most children cannot access.

Enough is enough. We are all worried about affordability. If the Governor is serious about affordability, he’ll step up on health care reform. He’ll respond strategically to our housing crisis. He’ll adequately fund state agencies, so that public schools don’t pick up the bill for state cuts. And, he’ll ensure the public education fund is used to provide excellent, equitable, and accessible public education for ALL children.

• December 21 During Solon Block Girls Lacrosse Introduction to the game.
• December 19 MHS Music Concert 7:00 PM
• December 22 12:00 Early Dismissal
  Students can pick up a Bagged Lunch at Noon.
• December 23-January 1 Winter Break
• January 10 is now a Green Day
• January 12 Options Based Safety Drive (Either Secure or Lock-down drill)
• January 24 is now a Green Day
• January 25 & 26 Make up Days for MHS.
• January 26 Semester 1 Ends. Grades Close.
• January 29 Semester 2 Begins
• February 7 Guest Speaker and Assembly Kekla Magoon
• April 2-4 VT State COGNIA Testing- ELA and Math for 9th grade. Science for 11th grade.
• April 9 Winooski Valley Concert at MHS

• 5/6/24 AP US Govt exam 8:00-12:00
• 5/7/24 AP Stats exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/8/24 AP English 8:00-12:00 & Comp Science exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/9/24 AP Psychology exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/10/24 AP US History exam 8:00-12:30
• 5/11/24 Race Against Racism Date
• 5/13/24 AP Calc exam 8:00-12:00
• 5/15/24 AP Music Theory exam 12:00-4:00
• 5/16/24 AP Spanish exam 8:00-12:00

2023-2024 District Calendar

2023-2024 Athletics Calendar

2023-2024 MHS Events Calendar

MHS 23-24 Student Handbook

MHS Cell Phone Policy 23-24

2023-2024 MHS Bell Schedule

MHS Program of Studies 2023-2024

MRPS 2023-2024 District Calendar\

MHS Links on the District Website

MRPS Athletics Website

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: 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 soon as possible. If you do not feel comfortable reporting in person, please complete this reporting form. If you have any questions, please get in touch with MRPS Director of Social Emotional Learning & Wellness, Jessica Murray, at jessicamurray@mpsvt.org or (802)505-0435.

Information on the 12th Night in April!

Twelfth Night Auditions & Crew Sign Up!

Applications are now open if you would like to apply to the Career Center! Here is a link to the application. They can also be found on the CVCC website.

Applications are due by December 22nd.

Please see your school counselor if you have any questions, concerns or would like any help with the application process.

MRPS Partners in Education (PIE) represents the intersection between the Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools and the citizens of our community. Our schools are a critical part of our community and affect everybody. We hope to ensure that our kids get the best school experience possible, and that our schools continue to be a resource for all community members. Each of our district’s four schools has an independent caregiver group, and PIE is the non-profit fiduciary organization that connects and supports the four groups.The mission of PIE is to “support the caregiver groups of Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools through fundraising, administrative structure and advocacy.”

The three main projects that PIE has focused on are: (1) The Family Support Fund (which provides direct financial support to families in our school district); (2) faculty/staff appreciation breakfast in the Spring, and (3) the Fall Festival fundraiser that takes place on the Statehouse lawn. In addition, PIE is available to support each school group based on their individual plans. We seek ways to enhance the educational experience for the students and indeed the entire community.

MRPS PIE is seeking your help. We are actively seeking board members, and we hope to formalize a high school caregivers group. Please join us for our next board meeting on January 4th, 5:30-6:30 at the MHS library, and contact Victor Guadagno, our Executive Director for more information, director@mrpspie.org.

Through my Community Based Learning course this semester I partnered with VPIRG to create a survey for high schoolers. VPIRG is lobbying for funding for more education and outreach about the climate workforce, since Vermont requires a solid workforce to meet its energy and climate goals. My part in this process was to make a survey that asks students a bit of information about what they value about jobs (like the wage, job training, health insurance, etc). Please take a moment to complete the survey.

Amelia's CBL Climate Workforce Survey

• Please check out these important updates from the district that include information about and calls for caregiver participation in the:

  
  

  • 2024-2025 school budget: Learn more about this years budget pressures and attend the next school board meeting happening Wednesday, 12/20

  • District Caregiver Council: Learn more about the Council and consider joining. The next meeting is happening Thursday, 12/21

  
  

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.

Every year, the MRPS PIE community raises money to directly support families in the Montpelier Roxbury School District. This is a meaningful way for neighbours to support neighbours and to share the love during the cold days ahead.

Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 by December 15th! If you can help, please donate here. And consider sharing this page - on social media, email, or any way you can! You might share with friends and family who live out of state, as our community has been supporting one another throughout the flood recovery, and while the need is greater, the resources may be depleting.

Salvation Army: For Winter holidays: Food boxes are available. Toys sign ups are available. Call (802-476-5301) or use Facebook Messenger (The Salvation Army Barre, VT Corps) to contact them to set up an appointment to access these resources.

It's hard to believe, but we are approaching the winter holidays already! If your family could use some extra support this holiday season, here is a local resource that you might find helpful. As more information and resources become available, I will continue to share them here with our community.

Toys for Tots: You can donate money or toys or request holiday support here: https://montpelier-vt.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx?nPageID=0&nPreviewInd=0&nRedirectInd=3

You can also go meet with Toys for Tots in person in the Big Lots plaza in Berlin, next to Snap Fitness, to complete an application for support in person. They will be available daily this week, Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 12 noon. If you need further information, call Danny or Angie at (802) 495-8842.

Sincerely,

Ellia Cohen, MSW, LICSW

Located in the back of the City Center at 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT. Enter from the East State Street alleyway (just right of the parking garage entrance). The Montpelier Food Pantry provides a variety of nutritious, often local, fresh foods to individuals and families in the greater Montpelier area. The Food Pantry is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am-12pm.

Request Food Online (for in-person pickup): http://orders.justbasicsvt.org/ Please place your online order before 9am on your pick-up day.

The food pantry serves the communities of: Montpelier, E. Montpelier, Calais, Middlesex, Berlin, Worcester & Adamant.

If you would like to volunteer your time helping at the food pantry, please contact Dylan Fishman, Dylan@justbasicsvt.org

211 / United Way: Vermont 211 provides many seasonal and holiday resources. You can call 211 (just dial 211 from any phone) to get this information via the phone, or you can view the list of available resources here: https://vermont211.org/seasonal-resources-vermont-21