The MA Express!

Greetings Mustangs!

I’d like to begin this week’s edition of The MA Express! by giving a huge shout-out to our Vex Robotics Teams as well as to our Academic Decathlon Team!   Our VEX teams had an excellent showing at the Maine State VEX Robotics Championships this past Saturday at The Point located in South Portland.  Team 93303M earned the Sportsmanship Award, and Team 93303Z advanced all the way to the semifinals and earned the Judges Award.  All four MA teams were strong competitors and I wanted to thank them for inviting me to see them in action (which is an experience in itself for those who haven’t been); and to congratulate our teams and their coaches for their outstanding performance.  I also wanted to congratulate our Academic Decathlon Team who took part in two days worth of testing as well as completing their speeches and interviews this past week.  Four members of this team are also members of the Vex Robotics Teams so being able to participate in both activities on Saturday was HUGE and made possible by their advisors, Seth Mitchell and Cathy Foyt.  Job well done Mustangs!

Guidance Meetings/Gallup Survey:  Mrs. Knowlton will begin meeting with students in grades 9 - 11 (individually) to review their course requests for the 2022-23 school year.  If you still have your green course registration form, please get it to Guidance ASAP.  These meetings will begin on 03/08 and we hope to have them completed by 03/15 so we can begin working on the master schedule for the 2022-23 school year!  The Gallup Survey our school is participating in is being run through/by our Guidance Department and we have until 03/17 to complete that survey.

Civil Rights Team:  Our Civil Rights Team has created a survey designed to give them a better understanding of how students at MA view their school.  This is an OPTIONAL survey with the results staying within our school.  It is an anonymous survey and will be given during advisory on Tuesday of this week (03/08).  If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to either Ms. Darrell or Mr. Shain.  

The next Civil Rights Team meeting is scheduled for Monday (03/07) at 2:30 in the Art Room. Our team is part of the Maine Civil Rights Team Project (CRTP) whose mission is to increase the safety of elementary, middle, and high school students by reducing bias-motivated behaviors and harassment in our schools.  ALL students are invited and encouraged to be part of this team!  For more information, please connect with Ms. Darrell and/or Mr. Shain.

Say NO to Bullying!  Quote of the week: “You will never reach higher ground if you are always pushing others down.” (by Jeffery Benjamin). If you are experiencing bullying directly or if you see it happening to someone else, please report it to a staff member or administrator immediately.  Thank you!

Winter Carnival Is Coming!  Winter Carnival - 2022 is scheduled to take place next week (03/14 - 03/17).  The WC manual was sent out last week to all students and staff, so please take the time to review that document.  Please note that as of this communication, masks will be optional at the dance and we are no longer requiring proof of vaccination status or a negative Covid test from our students guests (as originally stated when the WC manual was initially created).  The dance will take place on 03/17 from 7:00pm - 10:00pm.  Doors will open at 7:00 and no one will be allowed in after 8:00pm.  Admission is $3 per student (or $5 per couple). Once a student leaves the dance, they will not be allowed back in.  Students are asked to have their rides ready to pick them up by 10:00pm. If you have any questions or concerns about WC Week, please direct them to Mr. Pascarella or Ms. Menace.  Thanks!

Pool Testing:  Will continue (for those students and staff who have registered for it) this week on Wednesday (03/09).  Testing will take place on the stage right after block 1 (between 8:40 - 9:00).

 

Jr/Sr Privileges:  Juniors and Seniors must meet specific criteria in order to have privileges.  This criteria is explained in the paperwork that must be signed by the student and parent before a student is given privileges.  Juniors and Seniors with privileges are reminded that they are required to sign out (in-person; on their own) from the Main Office.  Students are NOT allowed to sign other students in or out.  Also, during school hours (7:45 - 2:30), the only entry/exit doors students should be using are the front lobby doors.  This is for safety, security, and accountability purposes.  Students (and staff) should NOT be letting anyone in from any other door during school hours; and it is EXTREMELY important that we are all abiding by this expectation.  Note: In the event we are required to evacuate the building, students and staff should use the nearest exit to evacuate (regardless of the time of day).  In advance, I thank you all for your understanding and cooperation.

 Privilege Update:  Since we have Seniors who have no study halls before or after lunch but are eligible for Senior Privileges, I have decided to make a slight change to the Senior Privileges as follows:  Seniors with privileges (and parental permission) may leave school during their assigned lunch block and advisory on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and most Fridays. They are no longer required to have a study hall before or after lunch in order to sign-out.  They ARE expected to be part of the lunch block and advisory on Wednesdays and on occasional Fridays in addition to anytime deemed necessary by the administration.

 Dates to Note:

03/07 =  White Day

03/08 =  Maroon Day; Senior Class Meeting in Mr. Pascarella’s room (8:25 - 8:40)

03/09 =  White Day

03/10 =  Maroon Day

03/11 =  White Day (ASVAB Testing for grade 10; 7:45 - 11:00 in rooms 201 & 205)

03/17 =  Winter Carnival Day (Winter Carnival Dance - 7:00pm - 10:00pm)

03/18 =  NO SCHOOL for students or staff (Comp/WS Day)

That’s it for this week’s edition of The MA Express!.  I hope you all have a GREAT week!  Take care and stay well.

 Respectfully,

 Mr. Ted Finn, Principal