SOLON SALUTES
A big Solon Salute goes out to our MHS Nordic team that has gone from 3 participants in 2019-2021 to 24 members this year. In last week's meet, 9th grader, Meg Voisin, won the varsity race for the girls in 14 minutes and 30 seconds and the team beat U-32. This week, Esther Carlson and Sage Grossi were the first across the finish line. Way to go! We can't wait to see what this team can do!
The MHS/U32 Debate team keeps on competing at high levels. The recent Burlington tournament was no exception. Ania Kehne and Ella Bradley placed first team on February 6th and Neil Rohan and Noam Hessler placed 4th. Ania also placed 4th as an individual speaker and Ella placed 5th, Neil 7th and Noam 8th.
As mentioned last week, on Monday, February 1st, MHS took the opportunity to recognize the 3-year anniversary of being the first school in the nation to raise the Black Lives Matter flag. It was wonderful to see so many students and staff present for the incredible reminder of the great work that was done by students, staff, and our community in Montpelier. A Solon Salutes goes out to the team of staff and students who made this happen in 2018, and to our RJA for organizing this event as a beautiful memory of the courage of many and to reinvigorate our work as a school and community.
Thanks to John Bate and his students for journeying into the learning world of Star Wars as part of a Quarter 2 Star Wars enrichment course! Awesome!
Congratulations to our students attending Early College and making the Deans List: Josh Lajeunesse (VTC), Maddie Brigham (Norwich), and Katelyn Hersey and Jenna Robinson (CCV)
MHS NEWS and EVENTS
- The Winooski Valley Regional Public School Choice Collaborative: Please see more information here about the school lottery. All applications must be returned to Val Belanger in the main office by February 22, 2021.
- Wednesday, March 3rd (the day after we return from the February break) is going to be in person and will be a WHITE day.
- Who Tells Your Story? : We are seeking community submissions to our digital time capsule writing project! Please consider sharing a personal anecdote, short story, or any written entry to help us capture what life was like during the COVID pandemic. These can be personal experiences, things you've witnessed, feelings you've had, anything. They can be happy, sad, funny, ridiculous, whatever. We welcome all points of view but do not accept hate speech. All entries will be anonymous and cataloged into a digital time-capsule and saved. In addition, five entries will be selected and performed as monologues in the MRPS 7th-12th grade original 2020 Musical. Here is the link to participate and submit an entry: Anonymous Anecdotes: A Digital Time Capsule
- Senior Class FamiliesReminder to send in Senior dues for your student by Friday, Feb. 19.Dues are $60. Checks can be made out to MHS Class of 2021.Send in with your student or mail to:Kim Kidney5 High School Dr.Montpelier, VT 05602Students will not receive their caps/gowns until dues are paid in full.
- SBAC Dates: The Smarter Balanced Assessment is upon us for the 2020-2021 school year. For 9th grade, we will be assessing on March 16th and 18th and again on May 11th and 13th. For our 11th grade students, they will be tested in science on April 13th and 15th. We look forward to gathering more data to see where our students' strengths are, and where we can continue to help them grow as learners--especially after the year of COVID.
- SAT Sign-Ups for March 24th: Due to a national and worldwide issue caused by COVID -19 restrictions, students are having difficulty taking the SAT/ACT because of cancellations at local test sites, including our own. The good news is that colleges and universities have responded appropriately. Upwards of 60% of colleges and universities in the US did not require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores for fall 2021 admission. Already we are getting notifications from many colleges that this change will be continued for the 2021-2022 admission cycle. This includes highly selective schools like the Ivies. It is up to the student to research the standardized testing policy for the colleges they are applying to. For a complete list, please check the website Fairtest.org. If you are not sure of a specific college's testing policy for this year, please check their website. However, for the juniors who would like to test, MHS has decided to offer the SAT during the school day due to the uncertainty of Saturday test dates being offered at local schools this spring. This opportunity will be for juniors only and space is limited due to space constraints.If you have any questions, contact Nancy Fitzpatrick, 225-8050 or nancyc@mpsvt.orgTo Sign up: Juniors if you are interested in taking the SAT School Day being administered on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at MHS, please register by February 19th.Once registered at the link above, please mail or bring in $52.00 (cash or check) for the cost of the SAT. Mail to Nancy Fitzpatrick, MHS Guidance Dept., 5 High School Drive, Montpelier or give your money to the admin when entering school and they will bring it to Guidance. If you have qualified for free or reduced lunch in the past, you may qualify for a discounted price on the SAT. Please contact Nancy Fitzpatrick to ask about this.Monies MUST be received prior to February 19th for students to be registered.On March 24th, testing will begin by 7:30 am and will run until approximately noon.
- Are you interested in learning more about career possibilities? Gain insights into a variety of careers through student-led conversations with professionals. See this Career Lab Series flyer for upcoming events.
- 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)
DISTRICT NEWS
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
- Have you heard about MyRide? It's like Uber Carpool or a Shared Lyft but it's free, handicapped-accessible, and specifically designed for the Montpelier area. If you want to travel within the designated area, you can use their App, the website, or call them to schedule a ride. They'll come to wherever you are and drop you off at the doorstep of wherever you're going, at whatever time you specify.
- The VT Climate Council is looking for people to serve on subcommittees. Are you a passionate, dedicated, goal-oriented, individual when it comes to climate action? If this sounds like you and you’re interested in applying, click on the link! https://www.surveymonkey.com/
r/VTClimateCouncil
COVID INFORMATION
Here is the link for people who are age 75 years old and above to get the vaccine:
https://www.healthvermont.gov/
covid-19/vaccine/getting- covid-19-vaccine Phone number is: 855-722-7878
Call center hours are today, January 25th from 12:00pm-5:30pm
Monday - Friday 8:15-5:30pm
Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-3:00pm
Anyone who needs to speak with someone in a language other than English can also make an appointment using the above phone number.
People who are housebound can also call and request home health or EMS to come and deliver the vaccine in their home.
- 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.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
- Research shows that well-designed, well-implemented school-based STD prevention programs can significantly reduce sexual risk behaviors among students. Outcomes of such programs include a delay in first sexual intercourse, a decrease in the number of sex partners and an increase in condom or contraceptive use. There is no evidence of increased likelihood of students having sex through participation in such programs. To support preventative health and wellness initiatives for Montpelier High School students, condoms and dental dams along with educational pamphlets will be made available at the school in the following locations: Nurse’s Office, Guidance Offices, Athletic Trainer’s Office, and the Health room. Additionally, condoms will soon be available through a dispenser in the second floor bathrooms. These efforts have been adopted by Montpelier High School and adheres to the VT law that will go into effect July 1, 2021. Please see this VPR article for more information.
- 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
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
