SOLON SALUTES
A Solon Salute goes out to Annika Turcotte who was published in this week's VT Digger. Way to represent, Annika!
A Solon Salute goes out to MHS/U32 team who just finished competing at a New England level competition and did very well. Ella Bradley (U32) that competed in Lincoln Douglas debate was first individual speaker and Anika Turcotte who competed in Novice Public Forum was 4th individual speaker.
MHS NEWS and EVENTS
- Q3 Enrichment Classes for Students who are Unscheduled in Q3 : Students have an opportunity to enroll in one of the very cool Quarter 3 enrichment courses. AP support enrichment courses are also included on the below Quarter 3 enrichment course survey. Please review the Program of Studies and then complete the Form survey to choose which enrichment course(s) you would like to take. There are some wonderful options!!The form is DUE, Tuesday, January 12th at 3:00pm. Quarter 3 Enrichment Course Program of Studies Enrichment Course Form Survey - DUE, Tuesday, January 12th at 3:00pm. If you have any questions, please email Matt McLane directly at matt@mpsvt.org.
- Updated Change in Upcoming Weekly Schedule as of Monday, January 11th: January 18th will be no attendance for students. Originally, we had planned to be in person on January 20th; however, we will now move to being remote but on an in-person schedule---GREEN day. This means 8:30-11:00 for morning cohorts and 12:30-3:00 for afternoon cohorts. Please see Libby Bonesteel's most recent letter regarding concerns around security at the Capitol building. dated 1/11/2021.
- Change in Upcoming Dates: There will be no school for students on January 26, 2021 due to PSAT's for 10th/11th graders. Please note that Wednesday, January 27th will be a WHITE day and will be IN PERSON.
- Welcome our new faculty joining us beginning Quarter 3: We are losing one amazing art teacher, Liz Swindell, to another incredible opportunity she has chosen to follow; however, we have gained a wonderful teacher in place of Liz. In fact, we have gained two great teachers mid-year! Please see some more about them below.
- Here's a bit more about our new visual arts teacher Colleen Flanagan who will be joining us on January 18: After spending two years on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Colleen Flanagan has returned to the beautiful Green Mountain State in order to pursue her dream of being the Visual Arts Teacher at Montpelier High School. Colleen moved to Vermont in the late 90s from Hartford, CT to attend Johnson State and then Goddard College. Since then, Vermont has been the place Colleen calls home, even when living elsewhere. She believes art is about connection; that art connects us to ourselves and allows for deep empathy as we connect to each other while we explore the complex issues of what it means to be human. Colleen believes that art is not only about refining technical skills, but is also about developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. Colleen believes art also connects us to our world. When we learn to think as artists and innovators, that thinking transcends disciplines, making for deeper understandings as we continue to on the path of being life-long learners. Colleen is a graduate of the Masters of Art of Teaching program at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts University. She received her B.A. in Alternative Education from Goddard College. She is absolutely elated, honored, and humbled to inspire and be inspired by the students of Montpelier Roxbury School District.
- Additionally, we have hired Lucy Schmid as our new health teacher at MHS who started her first day with us today! Lucy grew up near the ocean in Portland, Maine, and moved to Vermont six years ago. She has a BA from Bard College, an M.Ed from Goddard, and is nearing completion of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program at Champlain College as a licensed Health Educator. Prior to becoming a public educator, Lucy worked in many alternative education settings, including at the Maple Hill School in Plainfield and as a consent educator through Mosaic VT. Her approach to health education is trauma-informed, and centers the intelligence of the body. Lucy is a student of dance improvisation, and she directs a Playback Theatre troupe in Montpelier. She loves to integrate movement, play, and embodied practice into her curriculum as pathways to curiosity, self-awareness, responsibility, and strong communication skills. While Lucy enjoys working with students of all ages, she is particularly jazzed about teens and supporting them through the wild ride of adolescence. She is inspired by the MHS community, and the high value placed on student initiative and leadership. Lucy looks forward to collaborating with students, colleagues, and families in service of creating a relevant and impactful health education program for the students of MHS.
- End of Quarter 2 Dates and Quarter 3 Information: The end of Quarter 2 is on Wednesday, January 27th. Students will attend this day IN PERSON as a white day. We will begin Quarter 3 classes on Thursday, January 28th. Teachers will be sending out room assignments and cohorts by January 19th. Please be on the lookout for those emails. Any student who enrolls in an enrichment course for Quarter 3 will begin their courses the following Thursday, February 4th.
- PSAT: Attention 10th and 11th grade students registered to take the PSAT:Please arrive by 8:00am and enter through the auditorium doors. You will be health screened and directed to your testing room.The PSAT will begin at 8:30. Once the testing begins no late entrances are allowed.Testing will take approximately 3 hours.Bring #2 pencils and a calculator. See this link for approved calculators.10th grade students - if you have not yet paid your test fee, please do so by Friday, January 15th
- CVCC Applications: Attention 10th and 11th graders:Are you interested in exploring a hands-on learning environment at the Central Vermont Career Center (CVCC)?CVCC is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year. CVCC has a wide variety of different programs and provides students with the opportunity to take an in-depth look at specific career options ranging from Automotive and Heating & Plumbing to Cosmetology and Digital Media Arts, just to name a few. For more information, check out their website and watch the videos to learn more about the specific programs and/or connect with your school counselor.The process of applying is as follows:1. Alert your school counselor that you intend to apply.2. Fill out the online application. Application link will be available on the website Apply To CVCC very soon.3. Applications are due by February 19th so the MHS Guidance Dept. has time to upload all the supporting documents required.4. Participate in a virtual interview with CVCC - March 22-25 (This is a very important part of the process. More info about this when you speak with your school counselor)
- Superintendent Bonesteel's Latest Message: 12/10/20 Please see the most recent letter.
- FAQs for Families in Case of COVID Cases at School: Please see Libby Bonesteel's letter to families regarding information on what could happen should a COVID case arrive at your child's school.
- Masks are a Must : Per Superintendent Bonesteel's letter at the start of the school year, masks are required by the State and AOE. Students must wear masks that cover their mouth and nose at all times while on school grounds. Please see our MHS poster that is posted around school.
- Please visit our MRPS District Health and Wellness Page for all COVID-19 related documents and information. COVID Return to School for Students Information Document
VAPING IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH: The Vermont Department of Health has shared information from the 2019 Washington county YRBS data that 53% of our students in Vermont have used an e-cigarette or vape, and that 30% smoke e-cigarettes and/or cannabis on a regular basis. This is of particular concern during the COVID pandemic when their respiratory health is at risk. Please watch this video for additional information on: Vaping Cessation Video
MASK QUALITY: Masks that are single layers are not recommended. Masks need to be 2 layers or more. The disposable masks, otherwise known as surgical masks, do offer a little more protection than cloth masks. Masking only works when we are all masking as a group.
POP UP TESTING:Here is the link for pop up testing. This is for people who are not having symptoms. It looks like they want you to make an appointment instead of walking in, although there seems to be some walk in’s available in certain places. https://www.healthvermont.gov/
response/coronavirus-covid-19/ testing-covid-19 CONTACT TRACING: Here is a link with more information about this subject:https://www.healthvermont.gov/
response/coronavirus-covid-19/ about-coronavirus-disease- covid-19#contacttracing SYMPTOMS/ILLNESS:With any cold or illness, regardless if it’s a mild symptom or not, you MUST stay home. Please review the following link about signs/symptoms of Covid-19.https://www.healthvermont.gov/
response/coronavirus-covid-19/ about-coronavirus-disease- covid-19#symptoms
Please see the most updated information regarding flu/COVID here.
VTVLC COMMUNICATION (CVCC): https://mrpsvirtualacademy.blogspot.com/
Renée DeVore, Principal-MHS
