Solon Salutes
2023-2024 School Year

Solon Salutes Newsletter
March 18th, 2024
NEW: The Need to Knows
- MHS will have a "Hold" safety drill on Tuesday the 19th in the mid morning.
- Come to the Chorus Concert Tuesday Night at 7:00 PM.
- The MHS Student Council is looking for chaperones for the second annual Spring Fling! The Spring Fling is a semi-formal dance that brings together students in our Central Vermont community to foster connection and camaraderie between different schools with a night of dancing, music, and fun!
The Vermont Department of Health has updated their respiratory illness (including Covid-19) guidance to align with CDC guidance. MRPS will continue to follow VDH guidance. This means that there is no longer an isolation requirement of 5 days if you get Covid. If you are sick, the guidance is to stay home for at least 24 hours; if your symptoms are improving and you are fever free (without fever reducing medication) for 24 hours, you may return to normal activities such as work. For additional information and recommendations, follow the link below for the VDH website:
https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-treatment
As always, please contact your primary care physician with any illness-related questions or concerns.
This year the event is being held in conjunction with Harwood Union High School, U-32 High School, Spaulding High School, and Twinfield Union School, and is open to students from grades 9-12. The dance will happen at the VCFA Alumni Hall on Saturday, March 30th, from 8pm to 11pm.
If you are interested in participating as a chaperone or volunteer, please email MHSStuCo@gmail.com with your preference of chaperoning the actual event (on 3/30 from 7:45pm to 11:15pm), helping with either the setup of the event (on 3/30 from 10am to 12pm) or cleanup (on 3/31 from 12pm to 2pm), or any combination of these responsibilities.
If you have any further questions, please reach out and we will be happy to answer!
Thank you for your interest, we value your time and engagement with our school event.
An Update from the Principal
Dear MHS Community,
I hope you had a wonderful and restful weekend and are well.
This week, we have conferences, a Board meeting to determine the next school budget to be voted on, a Choral Concert, Field Trips, Enrichment, and the first-ever Soup for the Soul.
It will be a different week and one full of connections. Thank you to the enrichment and the Soup for the Soul teams for offering us a delicious meal and time to continue building relationships.
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions about the budget, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Most importantly, please vote on April 30th!
I hope you all have a great new week. We are happy and willing to assist if you need anything.
Sincerely,
Jason
"We can be our own worst enemy sometimes. We often think or expect the worst because it's the easiest thing to believe when we don't believe in ourselves. Instead of being your worst enemy, be kinder to yourself. Give yourself the credit you deserve, and try to see the situation for how it is, not how you have created it in your mind. Give your mind a little rest, beautiful. Save that brain space for new ideas and adventures, for the things you love and the people you love. Breathe in, breathe out. You've got this."
― Charlotte Freeman, This Was Meant To Find You
NEW: Class Specific Updates
Click the buttons below for your class! Review to-dos and helpful info!
Bow Tie Fun! Thank you Bee!
AP Spanish
A Solon Shout Out to the cafeteria staff for serving up a delicious meal with local tortillas and to the AP Spanish class that shared their knowledge about the process of nixtamalization and how it impacts the flavor and nutrition of those tortillas.
Green Mountain film Festival Panel
Thank you Green Mountain Film Festival CVCC Teacher Carlos Diaz, and MHS students for your discussion on Wednesday.
UVM Math Exam Debrief
UVM Math Exam
MHS Dungeons and Dragons Club!
Department Updates
Solon Salutes
Masque Theatre
Athletics
Counseling Department
Library
Read the latest updates from the library!
Community Based Learning
Check out the latest CBL opportunities and updates!
FAFSA Information
Dates to Remember
- March 30 MHS Spring Fling Dance at VCFA
- April 1 Poet Steven Willis will be at MHS during Solon Block to present and speak with students.
- April 2-4 VT State COGNIA Testing- ELA and Math for 9th grade, Science for 11th grade
- April 4-6th- MHS Robotics at New England Championships!
- April 4-May 30th- After school MHS Cooking Club continues.
- April 8th Early Release for All Students 1:00 PM Dismissal
CVCC students will be picked up from CVCC at Noon. - April 9 Winooski Valley Concert at MHS
- April 10 Teen Jazz Performance during Solon Block (Will be adjusted Schedule)
- April 15 Guest Speaker for all MHS Seniors on Consent Block 3 and Solon Blocks
- April 17 Egress Drill at MHS
- April 22 - 26 No School - Spring Recess
- May 1 Norwich Early College Application is due
- May 1 CCV Early College Priority Application is due
- August 7th CCV Early College Deadline
- May 2 University of Vermont College Visit for grades 10 & 11 if interested
- May 6 AP US Govt Exam 8:00-12:00
- May 7 AP Stats Exam 12:00-4:00
- May 8 AP English Exam 8:00-12:00 & Comp Science Exam 12:00-4:00
- May 8-10 All State Music Festival
- May 8 VPA Spelling Bee at MHS 4:00-7:00 PM
- May 9 AP Psychology Exam 12:00-4:00
- May 10 AP US History Exam 8:00-12:30
- May 11 or 25th Race Against Racism
- May 13 AP Calc Exam 8:00-12:00
- May 15 AP Music Theory Exam 12:00-4:00
- May 16 AP Spanish Exam 8:00-12:00
- May 20 Early Release for All Students
- May 23 Spring Pops Concert 7:00 PM
- May 27 No School - Memorial Day
- June 7th- Senior Grades are due and finalized for graduation eligibility
- June 8 Junior Prom (At Farm House Flowers)
- June 12 Senior Breakfast, Rehearsal and Awards Assembly
- June 13 Project Grad 7:00 PM -1:00 AM
- June 14 MHS Graduation
- June 19 Anticipated Last Day of School
Wednesday & Thursday Adjusted Schedules
MHS Soup For the Soul Information:
From the Soup For the Soul Team:
Hi MHS,
Just a reminder that THIS Wednesday, March 20th will have a unique schedule due to our Solon Soup for the Soul event!
Our students and staff have been working hard to prepare a delicious lunch and the expectation is that all students and staff attend this special event. If you have questions or concerns about enjoying your lunch in an alternative space, please contact your TA.
Here are some more details…
The lunch will take place in the gym
Students will be seated by grade at long "Hogwarts" style banquet tables. Staff will sit at round tables
During the meal we will enjoy music, drawing, and each other's company
Lunch will be immediately followed by an enrichment block!
The Menu…
Lunch will consist of a Chicken Orzo Soup or a Vegetable Minestrone (gluten-free and vegan), served with Red Hen rustic rolls (gf options available).
Please remember to bring in food items for our food drive! The grade with the most donations will be rewarded with cookies!
The Soup-er Solons Aka Solon Soup Team
Helpful Links
District Updates & Opportunities
District Updates
Please check out these important updates from the district
- Link to the district newsletter: https://www.smore.com/u/mrps
- Link to our calendar webpage for the 2024-2025 district calendar
- Link to our homepage for the 2023-2024 annual report (PDF of the final report)
- Wednesday, March 20th, MRPS School Board Meeting: The MRPS Board of School Directors and MRPS Administrators will be discussing possible scenarios to reduce the FY`25 school budget.
New Website Updates
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.
Extended Learning Opportunities
GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE AT CCV
Virtual Events:
Monday, April 8th at 6:00 PM
In-Person Events:
Thursday, March 28th at 4:30 PM at CCV Winooski
Wednesday, April 3rd at 4:30 PM at CCV Upper Valley
These events are free and open to students, families, friends, and school personnel.
MHS CAREER LAB SERIES CONTINUES
Maple Moon Cabaret
1) Masque Theatre & Lost Nation's Show Choir which includes MRPS students 6th-12th are performing on March 23rd at 7pm at City Hall as a part of the Maple Moon Cabaret. Tickets are by donation and the event features Maple Treats and a Season preview. Join us!
UVM- Summer Learning Programming
At UVM Summer Academy Your Students Will:
Earn College Credits: Students can choose from a wide variety of 3-credit courses that not only contribute to their high school achievements but also offer a glimpse into their future college careers.
Experience Campus Life: Living on campus, students will cultivate independence, adaptability, and the soft skills vital for college readiness.
Grow Personally and Build Confidence: Students gain time management skills and the confidence that they can succeed in college level courses.
Applications Now Open for FREE Agriscience Summer Academies at UVM
UVM Extension’s 4-H Program invites rising 8th-12th graders to apply for one of three, free, residential summer academies held on the UVM campus June 23-29. AgroTek Innovation, now in its third year, exposes students to agriscience innovation skills by diving deep into one of three topics; Culturing Cells for Healthier Soils, Shifting the Waste to Value Paradigm (converting agricultural waste into value added products), and Using Virtual Reality for More Precise Agriculture. In addition to learning content, participants will build important relationships with undergraduate student mentors along with faculty and staff. More details, including the link to apply, can be found at:
Deadline to apply is April 5. Individuals who identify as BIPOC, female identifying or LGBTQ+, humans traditionally under-represented in agriculture, are encouraged to apply.
Contact: Sarah Kleinman at sarah.kleinman@uvm.edu or 802-656-7637
April Opportunity For Students-Cosmic Play: An Adventure Game Theater Spring Retreat
Cosmic Play: An Adventure Game Theater Spring Retreat
April 20-23, 2024
Ages 13-19
This four-day experience interweaves role-play activities and creative workshops with emotional processing using psychodrama and other therapeutic techniques. Activities include lots of play, music-making, meditation, group sharing, cooking, crafting, ceremonies, and opportunities to connect with nature on 80 acres in the foothills of Mt Mansfield. Role-play experience is helpful but not necessary; all are welcome! Learn more and register at https://www.retribe.org/cosmic-play
Summer Rite of Passage Retreats:
Adventure Game Theater (Ages 12-19), July 4 - 13
Inner Journeys (Ages 14-19), July 21 - August 4
Questions? Contact ReTribeTransformation@gmail.com.