

MASSABESIC HIGH SCHOOL
2023-2024

Week of October 2 - 7, 2023
RSU 57 & Massabesic High School
"Preparing students for success in an ever-changing world."
Notes from the Principal...
We are truly in full swing in this first semester! Our campus is a daily hive of activity from early, early morning all the way late into the evening. It is wonderful to be a part of all the learning, activities, athletics, and student engagement. We believe strongly that the more that students engage in school activities and offerings the more successful they will be.
In an effort to continue providing students with strategies for healthy living we have implemented a program called IN-DEPTH (Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health) to assist students are struggling with challenges brought on by nicotine dependence. Please see the linked parental letter below that outlines the program.
Picture Retakes will be October 10th.
Finally, a reminder that Friday, October 6th is a non-student day and that Monday, October 9th schools are closed in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day.
-Mr. Thurlow
Fall Testing
Our Fall Testing for the state-required NWEA & MEA will take place on Tuesday, October 3rd and Tuesday, October 10th. This is our opportunity to focus on our performance and prove to ourselves the quality learning that we know exists here at MHS. We ask that families have serious conversations together regarding this unique opportunity. I have visited each classroom this month multiple times and I have seen effective and valuable learning taking place all across our campus - this testing is a valuable opportunity for us to showcase that learning through our efforts and performance. I am confident that our students can put forth their best effort during these two one-hour sessions (that is all we are asking for - 2 hours of focus and effort). We once again have plans to celebrate our students for the focus and attention that they give during these assessments later in the month of October. All I ask is that all students give their very best effort.
A few reminders about our testing administration and overall school performance:
Strength of Our Teaching & Learning
I believe strongly in the teaching and learning that is provided at Massabesic High School by our dedicated staff. MHS educators take pride in working incredibly hard to support students in a variety of ways through their learning. I also believe that the value of the learning at MHS is not always known or appreciated outside our campus or outside our school community. The opportunity to highlight our high-quality academic achievement is truly before us with our upcoming NWEA assessments - together we can prove to ourselves, to one another, and to our region that our students, staff, and stakeholders have great merit and value.
Additionally, our NWEA assessment results are an important demographic indicator for our school, our district, and our six unique communities. These results factor into decisions people make about where to buy homes, where to set up businesses, and ultimately where to send their children to school. We have the opportunity to encourage and inspire new families and industries to set up shop here in RSU #57 through our NWEA assessment performance.
Informing & Improving Instruction
The value of our NWEA assessment results also helps our teachers identify areas of instruction where our students need additional support, review, reteaching, or expansion and enrichment. This data is essential to our teachers to help students develop the skills they will need in the future no matter what pathway our students pursue. By analyzing the data, our teachers are able to support students in the classroom through interventions to improve skills in reading and mathematics. Ultimately, the Fall session of the NWEA is an opportunity for our students, faculty, and parents/guardians to understand what our students know and understand. In the Spring session of the NWEA, we assess again to measure and analyze the growth over the course of the school year.
Career & College Readiness Measurements
We continue to examine the concept of truly being career and college ready, and ultimately what that means and what that looks like at MHS. The NWEA results allow us to assess if a student is career and college ready based on an analysis of individual assessment scores. In specific careers, there is a threshold of skill achievement that students need in order to be successful. The NWEA is helpful in this area to assess what a student knows and, in turn, helps students develop goals based on their post-graduation plans. The NWEA results also allow students to assess the skills they need to be college-ready and can be used to match students with colleges and universities based on their scores. The NWEA also identifies the skills students need to attain in order to be prepared for their college-level classes. In short, Massabesic students have many aspirations after high school that can be supported by participating in the NWEA.
Educational Funding Impacts
NWEA testing is tied to numerous funding streams that support student initiatives and programming opportunities throughout the high school. At MHS, we are highly motivated and determined to reach the threshold of participation that the state requires. In order to achieve this goal for our school, we need the help of all stakeholders. Our school goal is to have a 90% participation and completion rate for our students.
Celebrating Goal Achievement
Our school wide goal of 90% participation and completion is truly achievable for our high school with the help of our community. Once we achieve this goal, we will be celebrating our students and faculty for their efforts and hard work. We will also be celebrating our student efforts later in the month of October. This is an opportunity for students and faculty to celebrate their efforts in participating and completing the Fall session of the NWEA. Additionally, we are making plans to make student NWEA results available and provided to parents/guardians to reflect practices in other schools around the district.
Student Expectations
For our NWEA testing sessions, we ask that all students give their best effort when taking the NWEA. Students will be testing in their Mustang Time/Homeroom groupings. It is important that our students are respectful of their peers who are taking the test by allowing them to have a positive assessment environment. Our faculty are going to be working hard to ensure the testing environment is comfortable for all of our students and encouraging our students to do their very best. (We will conduct makeup assessments throughout the final weeks of October for students who are unable to attend school on the 2nd or 10th)
Assessment Challenges
We understand that assessments present some challenges for our students, parents, and our community. We are committed to providing an appropriate environment for our upcoming sessions. We are also committed to providing as much time as is needed for students to focus their energies on taking the test seriously. We understand that some families have concerns with standardized assessments - we are hopeful that this letter speaks to some of those concerns and further explains how and why our participation in the NWEA assessment is vitally important to our school, our community, and our future.
Homecoming Week Daily Themes
Monday: Red, White, and Blue Day
Tuesday: Barbie and Ken Day (get dolled up, wear pink or blue)
Wednesday: Anything but a Backpack***
Thursday: Class colors:
Seniors - Black
Junior - Green
Sophomores - White
Freshman - Yellow
Thursday, October 5th is our Homecoming Pep Rally. The bell schedule for that day is linked below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pG1qHtfv6_vTYyzoUH50OiKqvA5nA_A1PekSULI06f0/edit
***Anything but a Backpack Day: For this we want it to be silly and creative but a reminder it must be school appropriate; nothing to do with drugs, violence, weapons, or profanity. We've heard some really funny ideas, but someone recently asked if they could bring a gun case, car engine, or motorcycle/motorbike - these types of items are not permitted. IF YOU HAVE ANY INKLING YOUR CHOICE MAY NOT BE SCHOOL APPROPRIATE SEE MR. THURLOW.
Some students have asked for specific clarification around what is appropriate - items that impact your safety, student/staff safety, or building safety will not be permitted. Items that violate Policy JIC - System wide Student Code of Conduct and Policy JICIA - Weapons, Violence and School Safety will not be permitted. I have attached those two policies below.
School Activities (Dances, Pep Rally's, Sporting Events, etc.)
Students must be in good behavioral standing, and be regularly attending school, to be eligible to attend school activities that exist outside of the regular academic schedule. We want every student to be eligible and we remind each student to be on their very best behavior as we approach upcoming opportunities such as the Homecoming Pep Rally (October 5th), the Homecoming Football Game (October 6th), and the Homecoming Dance (October 7th).
After School Detention for Tardy to Class and Class Cuts
- To reduce/eliminate students arriving late to a class, “Tardy to Class'', or not showing up to a class, “Class Cut”, we are implementing an after school detention program. Our goal is to make sure that students are in class to the fullest extent possible so they can benefit from the classroom experience and time on task. When students are late to class, or cutting class, this takes learning time away from the student, but is a safety concern as the whereabouts of a student are not known.
- This program will begin the first week of October, 2023. We will pull attendance records and generate a report of tardies and class cuts of students each block and each day.
- Students will receive a warning on the first offense through evaluation of attendance records and office referral. Parents/guardians will be notified by telephone and email of the first offense, and then after school detention will be assigned on the second offense. Transportation will be either a through our late bus system (Tuesday and Thursday), or provided by the parent. Late buses run starting at 4:00 pm from the back of the high school building at Door 26.
- Detention will be held in the new cafeteria and will begin at 2:05 pm and run to 2:35 pm for tardies. Students who have “cut class” for a full period or more will make up that same amount of time in detention of at least one hour, 2:05 pm to 3:05 pm. If a student does not have a ride at the end of detention, they will be sent to the late bus duty teacher and await the late bus for transportation. Multiple detention days will be assigned for multiple class cuts that occur. Students in this detention are prohibited from using cell phones. Students may complete school work utilizing laptops if needed, read, or sit quietly until the detention is completed. Failure to complete detention by not attending or not following detention rules regarding cell phones, or not following basic expectations of the Student Code of Conduct during detention will result in one or more of the following disciplinary actions depending on the frequency of missed detention, cell phone issues, or misconduct issues:
- Additional time for detention
- Hallway restrictions during school. Violation of hallway restrictions will result in after school detention.
- Hallway restrictions and In School Suspension
- Restriction in the participation in school activities, such as sports as an athlete or spectator, clubs, dances, etc.
- Cell phone restrictions during the school day
- Continuous violation of school expectations for cutting class and /or tardy to class will lead to referral for further discipline, including Out of School Suspension (OSS) or referral to the Principal for potential action at the District level.
PSAT Opportunities for Grade 11
Juniors: Massabesic High School is offering the PSAT test (for FREE) in the morning during the week of October 23rd on a first come/first sign up basis. Students will be divided into two testing groups that will test on two different mornings. Spots are limited, and grade 11 students have the first opportunity (Monday thru Wednesday this week) to sign up in the Guidance Office. Please note that the PSAT is DIGITAL this year and students will be taking the PSAT on their Chromebooks. If interested, stop by the Guidance Office to sign up.
Massabesic Ski & Snowboard Club
Registration has begun for any student interested in skiing or snowboarding at Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, NH. Massabesic participates with the Gunstock Outreach Program which provides four program dates on Friday nights in Feb and March. The program includes free rentals and lessons with the purchase of a significantly discounted season's pass. Please read the attached information and fill out the google form if you want to sign up your child. Register before 10/27 for the cheapest price! Please reach out to Ms. Pennell at loripennell@rsu57.org for more information.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS!
Four of our NJROTC cadets served as the Color Guard and Honor Guard to Army Sergeant Victor Acox, who will turn 99 next month. As part of the tribute they were asked to sign a commemorative flag along with many combat veterans and supporters who were present. Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted at the Sanford VFW post this past Tuesday night. Seniors Bryce and Brayden Emerson, Sophomore Dan Harriman, and Freshman Grace Shipman volunteered for this event. (Cadet Shipman picked up her uniform Friday evening and this was her first public appearance in it - a quick turnaround and a great job!)
Mustang Monster Dash 5K & Fun Run!
The Massabesic Cross Country team is excited to host the Mustang Monster Dash 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, October 14th! Anyone that signs up for the 5K by September 21st will get a free race T-shirt. The Fun Run (1/4 of a mile) is free. Use the QR code or this link to sign up!
Questions or Concerns?
You are always welcome to call our office at (207) 247-3141, schedule an opportunity to meet, or email our administrative team directly:
Mr. Ty Thurlow, Principal - tythurlow@rsu57.org
Mrs. Liane Renaud, Administrative Assistant to the Principal - lianerenaud@rsu57.org
Mr. Scott Lavertu, Assistant Principal - scottlavertu@rsu57.org
Mr. Jim Fryzlewicz, Assistant Principal - jamesfryzlewicz@rsu57.org
Ms. Kaitlyn Ouellette, Main Office Administrative Assistant - kaitlynouellette@rsu57.org
Mrs. Allison Ellis, Dean of Academics & Director of Guidance - allisonellis@rsu57.org
Mrs. Marie Proctor, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Guidance - marieproctor@rsu57.org
Mrs. Kelley Allen, Guidance Office Administrative Assistant - kelleyallen@rsu57.org
Mr. Daniel Lawrence, Athletic Director - daniellawrence@rsu57.org
Mrs. Mackenzie LaChance, Athletic Department Administrative Assistant - mackenziewilliams@rsu57.org
MHS Athletics Website: https://rsu57mustangs.org/
SAVE THE DATE
Week of October 2nd
Homecoming Week
Saturday, October 7th
Homecoming Dance @ MHS (7:00-10:00pm)
Massabesic High School
Location: 88 West Road, Waterboro, ME 04087
Phone: 207-247-3141
Fax: 207-247-3146
Fax for Records: 207-247-3477