Art Shows: The Mahar Art Department participates in several art exhibitions and competitions throughout the school year. They are the Petersham Festival for Young Artists, Artspace Annual Teen Exhibit, NIE (Newspapers in Education) through the Gardner News, and the Annual MWCC Exhibition of High School Art. There are also two major exhibits during the school year that coincide with other school functions. These exhibits are during Open House in the fall and the Spring Art Show in May which occurs with the Music department’s Spring Concert. The work that is chosen for these exhibitions and competitions is primarily created by students enrolled in the art classes. Any student within the school is encouraged to submit his/her work for consideration of entry into any and all of the events.
Cheerleading
Co-Curricular Activities: Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Track and Volleyball.
Concerts: The R.C.Mahar music program presents a winter and a spring concert, at which all of the Middle and High School Instrumental and vocal ensembles perform. The MS Band and Chorus typically perform first, followed by the HS Band, Chorus, and Jazz Band. Last December the program ended with a “Grand Finale” of holiday songs performed by all of our students. Decorations and holiday props have been provided by the R.C.Mahar Art Dept.
Drama: This year, the Theatre Department will be doing Willy Wonka Jr. We are very excited to have returning students from last year as well as many new faces. Our performance dates are April 8th @ 7:pm April 9th @ 7:pm and April 10th @2:pm. Tickets are $7.00 general admission and are available at the door.
Envirothon: The Envirothon Team that represents R. C. Mahar Regional School prepares to compete in the Massachusetts Envirothon which is held each May. The location of this event changes from year to year. The participants are tested in the following areas: forestry, wildlife, water and soils. The Ecostation Exams are “team tests” in which the Envirothon team will have thirty minutes to answer a variety of questions related to that topic. At the completion of that ecostation, they will proceed to the next scheduled station. A fifth station is for the presentation of the “current issue”. The team prepares this presentation during the school year to address the topic of that years’ current issue. The team must also answer questions during this station from their panel of judges. At the end of the competition, scores are tabulated and the winning team is invited to compete at the International Envirothon.
Fish & Game Club: Middle School Fish ‘n Game Club gives middle school students the opportunity to be involved with various outdoor activities ranging from fishing to hiking to shooting. In past years middle school club members have traveled to the Big M.O.E. (Mass Outdoor Exposition) to Northfield Mountain, to the Windsor Dam and McLaughlin Hatchery,to Barton Cove and to Mt. Sugarloaf for outdoor activities. They have also joined the Fish ‘n Game Club on the spring deep sea fishing trip, and members have participated in the trap shoot and ice fishing derbies held annually. Mr. Mexcur has given many hours to seeing that the middle school students have the opportunity to participate in outfdoor activities and to learn about the natural resources available in the North Quabbin area.
International Club: The goal of the international club is to improve relations between the cultures of our diverse student population. It is also a forum to give a positive support system for our Exchange Students and help them assimilate into our school culture. This is done through presentations from our exchange students as well as having pot luck dinners to share and sample ethnic foods. We have both afterschool get tog ethers as well as some evening meeting.
Japanese Culture Club: The Japanese Culture Club examines not only Japanese culture, but other Asian cultures by studying language, art, food, customs, and aspects of popular culture. These elements would include, but are not limited to, watching Asian cartoons, anime, and reading Asian comics, manga. Students meet once a week to discuss topics they enjoy and learn about cultures vastly different than their own. http://japan.mossbrook.com
JETS: Junior Engineering Technical Society is an after-school program that introduces students to the field of engineering. We meet a couple times a month (Sept-Mar) to work as a team to solve real-life engineering problems. JETS is a national organization that sponsors a written engineering test (TEAMS- Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science) for high school students. Each fall JETS posts a theme; the 2010 theme was “Water, water, everywhere”. Students tackled problems concerning pumping and purifying water, as well as wetlands management and dam construction. In early March, we typically travel to a host site in MA where we compete on the two-part (90 minutes each) written test. This program is open to all high school students; strong math skills are recommended. See their website at http://www.jets.org/teams.”
Key Club: Key Club is an international service organization sponsored by Kiwanis clubs. KEY stands for Kiwanis Educates Youth. The Mahar Key Club is now sponsored by the Winchendon Kiwanis Club. By international standards the club must do at least 5 school service projects and at least 5 community service projects per month. The club must file monthly and annual reports with the New England District Key Club and indicate all the service projects completed, the number of members involved, the total manhours involved in the project, and the money spent and raised. The club is required to meet weekly. The club is graded on these reports. The Mahar Key Club is in the bronze division for clubs with members of 35 or less. Ryan Maillloux is serving as the lieutenant governor for our division.
Mock Trial: The Mock Trial Program, sponsored by the Mass Bar Association and Boston law firm Brown, Rudnick, Berlack & Israels, LLP., attracts more than 120 high school teams from all regions of the Commonwealth. The goal of the program is to further an understanding of the law, court procedures and our legal system while helping students hone their analytical, listening and speaking skills. It also seeks to promote better communication and cooperation between the school community and legal profession.
Using a hypothetical case developed by the MBA’s Mock Trial Committee, students begin preparing for their preliminary round trials early in December. Each team is required to give an opening statement, direct and cross examinations and a closing argument. Students prepare legal strategies during three weekly practice sessions, typically two hours in length, with the assistance of their advisor and lawyer coach. After six plus weeks of preparation teams engage in trial completion. After three preliminary trial rounds one team from each of the 16 regions advances to the state tournament.
Mahar, as well as the Mock Trial Program expects, as always, that students will learn not only the law and rules of evidence, but will also engage in discussion about subject matter and the effects within the school environment.
National Honor Society: There are 2 organizations –National Junior Honor Society for grades 8 and 9 and National Honor Society for grades 10, 11 and 12
National Honor Society Eligibility
The National Honor Society honors tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, and character. To be considered for induction into the National Honor Society, all students must meet the 90.0% average requirement for the four previous consecutive quarters to be considered for induction. Students can retain membership by maintaining a 90.0%average for each of our four quarters of the current academic year. No particular levels of course work are required.
The Faculty Council selects students for membership based on the above criteria. Once selected, students must maintain these minimum standards and continue to demonstrate the four qualities for which they have been honored.
National Junior Honor Society Eligibility
The National Junior Honor Society recognizes eighth and ninth graders who have demonstrated exemplary scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship. The academic requirement in addition to the five standards listed above is an 85% average for each of the four quarters in grade 7 and grade 8 to determine eligibility for induction in either grade 8 or grade 9. Continued membership is based on maintaining the five standards and not falling below 85% on more than one quarter after induction. Probation status is for one quarter during which the student must achieve the above eligibility qualifications. Failure to achieve these eligibility qualifications will result in dismissal.
Peer Mediation: Peer mediators are trained to help students settle their disputes by reaching a fair agreement in a safe, confidential and structured setting. In addition to the initial 20 hours of training, peer mediators are provided with monthly seminars to continue their skill development. Mediations can be arranged through Ms. Swenson, the Peer Mediation Program Advisor; referrals are welcome from any member of the Mahar community.
Radio Club: Mahar Radio acts to bolster school spirit and get students more involved in the Mahar community. The radio club operates as a student run, faculty supervised student website that plays music as well as talk shows relevant to the Mahar community. It can be found at www.maharradio.co.cc
SADD: Students Against Destructive Decisions goal is to provide students with the best prevention and intervention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, impaired and distracted driving, and other destructive decisions.
Ski Program: The Ski program is a winter activity at Wachusett Mountain for 6 weeks on Thursday evenings.
SOS: Support Our Students is a diverse club which accepts all students into the club. We meet once a month and sometimes 2 times a month discussing current trends and issues which may be happening in the school and world. We participate in the Pride March in Northampton the 1st Saturday of May, and we help with the Middle School socials and the musical.
Student Council: The Student Council prides itself on being a notable contributor to the school community. Currently our Senator Student Council consists of 30+ active members. Students are elected to this organization during our annual election campaign, spring time for incoming/new sophomores, juniors and seniors, and fall of the new school year for incoming freshman. Our council has attempts to maintain an overall goal of equal membership/participation from all high school grade levels, 9 through 12.
Stuco provides students an opportunity to help in the decision making process. Members are involved in a variety of both current and traditional student centered projects, and are very active in addressing student sensitive issues. Mahar Student Council is the driving force behind student leadership issues at the local, regional and state levels. Our membership attends leadership and development workshops, seminars and conferences, in addition to holding representative seats, on School Committee, School Council, Educational Sub-Committee, town Selectboards (local), WRSAC, WMASC (regional), MASC and SAC (state).
In addition to being a wonderful learning experience, StuCo provides students with models of leadership and the democratic decision-making process. Student Council members are looked upon as the “voice of the student body”, members actively present issues to improve the quality of student life and to increase spirit throughout the R.C. Mahar Reg. High School.
Current list of actives currently involved with:
Student Government/Elections
Leadership training development
Ice Cream Socials
Spirit Week/Senators/ Pep Rally
Anti-Bullying Program
Community Service Projects/Can Tab collection
TAB – Training Active Bystanders-Student trainers work with adult community members to provide workshops to 8th and 10th grade students about how to be active bystanders. Students are taught to use their moral courage to intervene safely when other students are being harmed. Some of the strategies taught are how and when to: speak up, recruit others and seek help. Student trainers from Mahar and Athol complete eighteen-hours of training with their adult community partners. For more information: http://www.quabbinmediation.org/
Yearbook: Assist in development and production of the school yearbook. This group is a full year activity which starts in the fall and goes into the spring. Join the fun and make sure the school yearbook is a representation of the entire school population!