SOLON SALUTES
This past Saturday, students around the state participated in the Vermont Big Questions Debate as part of the NSDA qualifying event that evaluated the question whether "Mathematics was discovered not invented". Individual speakers awards went to Noam Hessler who placed third. Neil Rohan and Noam Hessler qualified for the final round and placed first overall team Congratulations to Noam and Neil and the U32/MHS debate team!
A Solon Salute goes out to Anika Turcotte for her second piece in the The Vermont Digger. The Vermont Digger published another story in their series about the BLM flag in our school communities. From Ben Heinz, head of The Underground Project, "Anika's work ethic is outstanding, in both reporting and writing, and it shows in her finished stories. It's exciting to see our young journalists becoming more skilled over the course of the year." Way to go Anika! We're so proud of your hard work and getting published multiple times!
MHS NEWS and EVENTS
- Q4 begins this Thursday, April 8th: Students, families, and guardians should have already received confirmation for Q4 cohort placement. Q4 enrichment courses begin on Thursday, April 15th. NOTE: This Wednesday, April 7th is in person and a white day.
- Spring Break: School will not be in session April 19th-23rd due to Spring Break.
- SBAC Dates: Our 9th graders completed their English SBAC last week, and they will take the SBAC math assessment 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.
- Please visit our Q3 and Q4 calendar. Quarter 3 ends on Wednesday, April 7th. Due to the two snow days on white days, Wednesday, April 7th will be in person and a white day.
SENIOR NEWS
- Update as of 4/5/21: At this time, we are still awaiting guidelines from the AOE and state as it pertains to graduation activities. MHS is planning to hold a more traditional graduation ceremony, but we will be planning for outdoors-rain or shine, on June 11th at 5 pm. We are not certain of how many tickets will be available to our senior families, but we will also be live streaming the event just in case tickets are more limited than they have been in the past.
Yard Signs for Seniors. Please notify Kim Kidney today (4/5) if you do not want your picture posted on a yard sign.
At this time, we are planning on having Senior pictures that were sent to the yearbook along with student names placed on yard signs. Should a parent/student NOT want their picture on a yard sign, please send Kim Kidney (kimk@mpsvt.org) an email, with both student/parent on the email, that states you DO NOT want a picture on the yard sign. In place of the picture will be an image of a SOLON. If you do not want a yard sign at all, feel free to email Kim Kidney directly. You do not need to send an email if you approve of having a yard sign with your picture and name.
***If you choose to opt out entirely or do not want your picture/name on a sign, please make sure to email Kim Kidney (kimk@mpsvt.org) byMonday, April 5th so we can get these out for printing. We will be sending the order in on Tuesday, April 6th. Should we not receive anything from a student or parent/guardian, we will assume that you approve of a yard sign being created with your school picture and name.
- Please take a moment to read this letter that pertains to end-of-year activities for the Class of 2021.
- Check it out! Recently updated with information about VSAC offerings for post high school training and summer opportunities like Governor's Institute and UVM summer programming. Click on this link: MHS Guidance Counselor Blog
DISTRICT NEWS
- We're so excited to introduce our new MRPS podcast - "In the Schools." Visit https://www.mrpsvt.org/
podcast for the podcast or find it on Spotify. You can also visit https://www.mrpsvt.org/ budget for more information on the proposed FY'22 School Budget and opportunities to participate in the process.
- Please check out the 2021-2022 District Calendar for next year.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
- The Montpelier Foundation is looking for student photographers to take pictures of the Montpelier Recreation Path, North Branch Trails, the community playground (behind the Montpelier Senior Center), expansion of the press box at the Mountaineers Field, reconstruction of the Senior Center, installation of the steel bridge over the North Branch river at the North Branch Nature Center, and the MHS tennis courts for their website. This is a paid job, so photographers with experience are preferred, but not required. If you are interested, please contact Coyah Mosher at: mosherc@mpsvt.org.
- Mental Health Web Video Series - Send Us Your Questions !MRPS PIE and the 4 school caregiver groups are creating a series of mental health support Q & A videos featuring therapists and counselors that we hope will be a substantive and helpful conversation about mental health during Covid-19 and what to expect as we move beyond it. We'll talk about tools to manage anxiety and the resources in our community that can help.
Please CLICK HERE to submit anonymous questions and concerns about your family's or your mental health for inclusion in the videos.
The first video will be a live event including time for live questions as well as previously submitted ones. We are aiming for the week of May 10 for that first one, but stay tuned! Date will be announced here, on social media, and on MRPS and mrpspie.org websites.
COVID INFORMATION
- 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
