Student Services Update

Thanks for reading the Student Services Update!

Questions about scheduling, the college process, scholarships, work permits, transcripts, or life in general? Do you need to speak with someone regarding an issue that is bothering you, do you need a place to discuss what is going on in your life or to figure out how you are feeling? Please feel free to contact us or stop by the office. The Student Services Office is here to help! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Let us know what other information you would like to read here: sgarcia@mtrsd.org

We are delighted to welcome Alice Fulton to MTRS as our new 9-12th Grade School Counselor! Mrs. Fulton has a wide variety of experiences as a counselor and teacher and we are looking forward to her working to further develop our College and Career supports and outreach as well as providing academic insight for MTRS students - welcome to our MTRS family, Mrs. Fulton!

Report Cards are scheduled to be available in Aspen on January 26th. We will send out an email when they are ready to be viewed.

Here are the tentative dates for Quarter 3:

First Day: Monday, January 23, 2023

Add/Drop Period (also if you need to change levels in a class) will end on Monday, February 6th!

Last Day: Wednesday, March 29, 2023

**Dates will be adjusted to accommodate snow days

The 2023 scholarship season has begun! Last year, the class of 2022 received over $100,000 in scholarships!

This is the Official Scholarship Bulletin. All of the available scholarships will be listed here as they become available. This year's updated applications have started to arrive (with most of them being available in February/March) so please check the bulletin regularly. This bulletin is also included on the Student Services website.

Here are some tips:

• Check that you have all of the required documents (transcript, letter of recommendation, etc.) before you submit your application.
• Pay close attention to the due dates. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
• Check the application for submission details. Some applications need to be mailed out and some need to be submitted to the Student Services Office.
• If you are mailing the applications, be sure to mail them out with enough time for them to get there before the deadline.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Senior Scholarship Opportunities are starting to come in with most being available in late January. Please continue to check this document for more information.

2023-2024 FAFSA and CSS Profile Opened 10/1: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

Video: How to File the FAFSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAeAVGscEWU

Virtual FAFSA filing support: https://fafsact.org/

More FAFSA resources: https://thecollegefinanciallady.com/2022/09/27/fafsa-resources-2/

Great Advice for Parents:

https://publications.inceptia.org/view/108813868/?utm_source=Flyer&utm_medium=flyer&utm_campaign=Great+Advice+for+Parents+2022

There are even Scholarships available for MTRS Graduates! This document will be updated as more information becomes available.

College Scholarship for 11th-grade students with financial need. The Horatio Alger Association scholarships are available to 11th-grade students who meet the criteria listed on the website.

CAREER TRAILS

Career information, exploration, and opportunities.

CAREER OF THE MONTH: Human Resources click on the link to find out about this growing career field.

This year students will be exposed to career speakers in their Academic and elective classes. These speakers will highlight careers that connect to that specific academic area or topic they are learning about in class. This allows students to connect the classroom to the real world. More to follow……

Jocelyn here from Checkerspot Farm, the native plant nursery next to Colrain Central School. Our first year in business went well and we greatly appreciated your support. I am writing to ask if you think working at Checkerspot Farm might be a good volunteer opportunity for students.

If there are any students who would be willing to volunteer to learn how to bring plants to sale at a nursery - we could really use their help in May.

If there are any environmental students who want to learn about meadow restoration and meadow ecology, we could really use their help in September. I will be planting about 600 plugs into the meadow as our next step in rehabbing the ag field into a more natural environment.

Sincerely

Jocelyn Demuth

978-944-0108

www.checkerspotfarm.com

Students should start getting involved at MTRS or in the community. Clubs, athletics, or music are great opportunities at MTRS. These activities are helpful to connect with other students, gain leadership skills and determine interests and passions.

You must get a Work Permit at the School District where you live.

At Mohawk Trail Regional School, obtaining a Work Permit is a 2 step process:

1. You must have a job offer from an employer

2. After you have a job offer, download a Work Permit Application or stop by the Student Services office at MTRS

MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAW: ALL MINORS MUST OBTAIN AND HAVE FILLED OUT THE EMPLOYMENT PERMIT APPLICATION FOR 14 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS BEFORE A WORK PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED.

STEP 1:

The Employment Permit Application form (Promise of Employment form) can be downloaded Here or Picked up in the Student Services Office.

14 and 15-year-olds: There are 4 sections that MUST be filled out and signed on the Employment Permit Application before the Work Permit can be issued.

1. The first section is completed and signed by the employer

2. The second section is to be completed and signed by the Doctor’s office or Medical office where the minor had a physical within the last year. We can not accept a copy of a physical; this has to be signed by a physician according to State Law.

3. The third section is filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor

4. The fourth section is signed and dated by the minor

16 and 17-year-olds: There are 3 sections that must be filled out and signed on the Employment Permit Application before the Work Permit can be issued.

1. The first section is completed and signed by the employer

2. The third section is filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor

3. The fourth section is signed and dated by the minor

STEP 2:

*The Minor (student) must bring the completed Employment Permit Application form, their student ID, and a document that shows their birth date on it to the High School (MTRS Student Services) where the Work Permit will be filled out by the Authorized agent (MTRS Registrar/Shana Garcia). Documents MUST be originals; fax or copies will not be accepted. THE AUTHORIZED AGENT, MUST BY LAW, WITNESS THE MINOR SIGNING THE WORK PERMIT BEFORE IT CAN BE ISSUED.

Support groups, guides, and other information for parents and caregivers who want additional support for themselves and their children.

Parental Stress Line: 1-800-632-8188

Alice Fulton

School Counselor Grades 9-12th

Taffy Ruggeri

School Counselor Grades 7 & 8th

https://truggeri.youcanbook.me/

Shana Garcia

Registrar and Student Services Assistant

413-625-9811 ext. 1305

Email: sgarcia@mtrsd.org
Website: https://mtrs.mohawktrailschools.org/Mohawk-Student-Services
Location: 26 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 625-9811