Week 30

A Solon Salute to all of the students and staff who participated in the spring play production of Diary of Anne Frank. You all did an amazing job honoring this important piece of history. Your talent and skills were on display as you told the tragic story with heart and reverence. Thank you for making MHS proud once again.  A special salute to 9th grader Evie Caserta who did an incredible job as Anne Frank and persevered through a fall in Thursday night's production. Great job Jaimen Sather, Naomi Pitt, Emily Montague, Lilly Smith, Adam Isaacs-Falbel, Ivan Jermyn, Anna Scoppettone, Matt Koucky, Anders Heyerdahl, Avi Isaacs-Corcoran, Nadia Scoppettone, Angus Fraser, Claire Fraser, Siiri Pombar, Emma Polen, and Adam Blair.

A Solon Salute to Scott Weigand. Scott has served as the play director and Masque Advisor for the past six years. Scott has been a true professional, putting on incredibly high production plays, musicals, and talent shows-bringing out the best in MHS performance arts. Scott directed his final production for MHS over the weekend. We are very grateful for you sharing all of your talent, time, and energy. Thank you Scott, we salute you! 

A Solon Salute and welcome to Ms. Kianna Bromley who will be taking over as play director and Masque Advisor this coming fall. Kianna has led high school play productions at BFA St. Albans in the past and has been apart of theater throughout her life. Welcome Kianna!

A Solon Salute to Poet Major Jackson for his inspiration and educational visit to MHS this week. And thank you to Kerrin McCadden for bringing such a talented and interested artist to our school for an enriching learning experience. 

A Solon Salute and congrats to Brennan Smith for leaning into a positive CBL challenge this semester.  Keep up the good work!

A Solon Salute to Maia Hansen and Josh Parker for going above and beyond in their dedication and work with students. Thank you!

A Solon Salute to Clare Fraser and Mary Ellen Solon. They both participated on a discussion panel after the showing of UnSlut on Saturday at the Green Mountain Film Festival. They did an amazing job talking to the community about The Conversation! (From Levi Beavin). 

Reminder: April 1st is a parent conference day. 
(There is no school).

April 1, 2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Due to the tight schedule, we encourage parents to sign up online for 15-minute conferences with each teacher at the address below. Teachers will only be available to meet with parents who have scheduled appointments.

http://ptcfast.com/schools/Montpelier_High_School 

• If you do not have Internet access, please call the MHS Office at 225-8000 for assistance with scheduling appointments.
• Conference sign-ups are only available through March 30, 2016.

We look forward to seeing you at Parent Conferences!

Announcement: The Other Side of Cannabis

Thursday, March 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m. film and panel: Bert Klavens, Dr. William Nowlan, Debby Haskins
Montpelier High School auditorium
With support from MSMS Parent Advisory Group and MHS Boosters

The Other Side of Cannabis, is an independent film project created to reach out to youth, parents, educators, and concerned community members to bring attention to the negative effects of marijuana on adolescents, teenagers and young adults whose brains are still forming. In order to make an informed decision to use marijuana, it is important to know the potential risks. This film is not about legalization nor medicinal treatments. The message that marijuana is safe, natural and harmless as a recreational substance must be weighed against the evidence of associated risks as presented by users and family members concerned about some of the effects—teen dependence, depression and psychosis.

This film is appropriate for ages 12 and up. Middle school children should be accompanied by an adult for followup discussion.

More information: http://www.othersideofcannabis.com/about.html

This 2016 film and presentation series is organized by Central Vermont New Directions Coalition, working with community partners, the Vermont Department of Health, Washington County Youth Service Bureau and the statewide organization Prevention Works!VT, to educate the community about current substance abuse issues, the impact, and resources for help.

Event is free and open to the public. Donations accepted.

Week 29

A Solon Salute to our MHS students who participated in the New England Music Festival this past weekend: Eleanor Braun, Ada Rohan, Anna Scoppettone, Nadia Scoppettone & Rachel Zimet.

Visiting Poet: Major Jackson

• Wednesday, March 23rd: MHS welcomes nationally acclaimed poet, Major Jackson:

• We will have the following special schedule for a school-wide assembly with Mr. Jackson:

Community Forum:  What's in a Grade

Wednesday, March 23rd 6-8pm (pizza served at 5:30)

MHS Library

MHS Masque Presents: The Diary of Anne Frank

March 24th, 25th, and 26th: 7:30pm each night.

 Parent Conferences: 

 April 1, 2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Due to the tight schedule, we encourage parents to sign up online for 15-minute conferences with each teacher at the address below. Teachers will only be available to meet with parents who have scheduled appointments.

http://ptcfast.com/schools/Montpelier_High_School 

• If you do not have Internet access, please call the MHS Office at 225-8000 for assistance with scheduling appointments.
• Conference sign-ups are only available through March 30, 2016.

We look forward to seeing you at Parent Conferences!

A Solon Salute to Jonah Cipolla for thinking of his friends and teachers this week and taking care of each other. We salute you Jonah. 

A Solon Salute to the MHS Debate Team. This past weekend the MHS Debaters traveled to Oneonta, NY to the National Speech and Debate District Tournament and experienced competing in events they had not tried before. Leah tried competing in Senate and George, Angus and Emily tried Congressional Debate, and Jackson Markow tried Lincoln Douglas Debate. Isabelle and Meredith had never competed before at District level. They all did a very nice job. Leah place second in senate and qualified for nationals, George placed second in congress, and Emily and Angus placed third in public forum debate. 

Exhibition 2016: May 3rd
9th and 10th graders are receiving their MHS EXHIBITION 2016 PACKETS this week. Our 2nd annual exhibition day will be held on May 3rd this year. 

Week 28

A Solon Salute to our MHS Debate Team. On Saturday March 12th the MHS debate team soared high: George Huang and Omeed Fallahi won the Vermont Public Forum Debate State Championships at the State House qualifying for NCFL Nationals! Omeed was also 5th individual speaker. Next Friday the entire team will be heading out to Oneonta, NY to the District tournament where they will compete in public forum debate, Lincoln Douglass debate, and Congressional Debate. 

A Solon Salute and Congratulations to boys' hockey team who won the Division 2 state championship in a come from behind win. The boys' team scored all three of their goals in the 3rd period, with one of the goals scored by our own Lucas Eldred assisted by Conor Barrett, and the game winner scored by Matt Hynes. Congratulations to all our boys' on the championship team including, Rory Hynes, Tyler Cain, and Ryan Andreoletti. To see some great pictures of the game click here on this link to the Burlington Free Press Article & Photos (including this photo by Brian Jenkins).

A Solon Salute and Congratulations to the girls' hockey team who were the Division 2 state championship runners' up. Cricket Basa had a goal in the championship game. Congratulations to Dillon Raftery, & Chloe Schiff as well.

A Solon Salute to our U-32 teammates in the hockey games. Here is a message of thanks I received from their principal, Mr. Steven Dellinger-Pate:

"I would like to thank the Montpelier students and fans that supported our combined boys and girls hockey teams this year.  It was great to see U-32 and Montpelier cheer on our athletes.  I know that our rivalry will never be diminished, but it is great to see what we can do together as well. Congratulations to all the Montpelier athletes that participated in the State Championships this week." Together, we salute you!

A Solon Salute to all of our students and faculty that participating in Thursday and Friday's Choral Pops Concert. I think Ms. Monmaney's tweet says it all: 

A Solon Salute to Adam Blair. Adam was thanked by community partner Ann Gilbert, Director of the Central Vermont New Directions Coalition for his tech support in a recent auditorium event that they held at MHS. She writes, "It was great to have the use of the Montpelier HS Auditorium, the equipment, and to have Adam Blair's expertise and time throughout the evening to work out all glitches. Your role as a community partner in this event made it a success."

A Solon Salute to Breanna Morway, Lexi Drew, Willow Forbes, Claire Fraser, Miles Rapaport, Levi Beavin, Nick Colwell, & Maggie Nowlan who volunteered their time on a cold Thursday night to help welcome the incoming 9th graders' parents to MHS. Your support means a great deal to your principal and the guidance staff. Your represent MHS so well! Thank you! 

Week 27

A Solon Salute and congratulations to both the boys and girls' hockey teams who will play in the Division 2 championships this week!

• The girls (Cricket Basa, Dillon Raftery, & Chloe Schiff) play at 6pm, next Wednesday at Gutterson Rink (UVM).
  

• The boys (Lucas Eldred, Conor Barrett, Ryan Andreoletti, Tyler Cain, Matt Hynes & Rory Hynes) play at 6pm, next Thursday at Gutterson
   ​Rink (UVM).​   

A Solon Salute to the MHS participating team members of the Robo-Raiders: Robert Barlow, Kirby Gordon, William Jestes, Daniel Jestes & Harry Wang. Another great season. 

A Solon Salute to Josh Golonka and his CVSA Bantam A team who won their State Hockey Championship this weekend. They will represent Vermont in the regional tournament starting March 18th. We salute you!

A Solon Salute to the MHS Unified Snowshoeing Team. They had fantastic fun and success at the Vermont State Unified Sports Snowshoeing Tournament at Woodstock Ski Area on Friday. Congrats for a great season to Makenna Young, Katarina Pringles, Curtis Hayden, Sophia Robins, Bobby Powell, Anna Scoppettone, Sabrina Hicks and James Coy. Y'all rock!! Also pictured are all the Unified snowshoers from UES, MSMS and MHS who participated at the state event. So much fun!! (Mr. McLane).

A Solon Salute and congratulations to the top scorers on the American Mathematics Competition, a very challenging national exam that took place on February 17th. 16 MHS students took up the challenge this year, our first year doing the exam (Mrs. Abrams).

Grades 11/12

1. Kirby Gordon

2. Charlotte Brace

3. Andrew Holt

Grades 9/10

1. Remi Savard

2. Anders Shenholm

3. Matt Koucky

Kirby Gordon was also invited to take the next level of the competition, the American Invitational Mathematics Exam, because he was in the top 5% of participants nationally.

Announcement:

Image from musuembento.com

Week 26

A Solon Salute to Angus Fraser and Eric Grey (as well as others) who headed out last weekend for a Service Learning trip to Nicaragua with Planting Hope. They will be staying with local families, soaking up the local culture, practicing their Spanish as well as volunteering at the local school. What a great way to spend February break! We salute you! 

A Solon Salute to Jacob Bee Ho Brown who recently had his letter to the editor, LET'S NOT REGRET DECISION published in the Times Argus. It is a very well written piece about the potential harms of legalizing marijuana use in Vermont. Well done Jacob, we salute you!

A Solon Salute to Nathan Grutchfield who was recently featured in a recent article in Montpelier's The Bridge. Nathan had the chance to ask a question of Jane Sanders as she campaigns with presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders. We salute you Nathan! Article: Potential First Lady Jane Sanders Hears From High Schooler. 

A Solon Salute to the Debate Team "Two teams from the MHS Debate Teams, George Huang and Omeed Fallahi and Emily Sheftman and Jackson Markow participated in the Harvard National Forensics Tournament held on President's day weekend, where they debated against teams coming from 28 states ad 4 different countries. This was their first time competing at this level and they certainly enjoyed and learned a lot from this incredibly stimulating environment. George and Omeed were able 'brake' past the 6 elimination rounds and placed 41st out of 390 teams. Omeed placed 80th individual speaker out of 780 speakers. Many thanks to all the staff and faculty and community members who helped make this possible!"

 


Announcements:

SPRING 2016 OUTLOOK:

• We have a VERY BUSY spring 2016 ahead of us at MHS. The following link provides some key dates, as well as some description of new events and initiatives. This information will be mailed home as well. MHS: Spring 2016 Outlook (Includes Important Dates, & Details on Exhibition and PLPs).

RECESS: 

• As many of you already know, Montpelier High School has a 15 minute recess built into most school days. This simple idea is rather novel for high schools. The idea was featured on Edutopia in a piece called: Recess for High Schoolers. That video was one Edutopia's top-ten most viewed for 2015. As a part of continual improvement, we surveyed the students to get their current perspective on recess. Here are the results of that survey: Recess Survey Results (Feb. 2016.