Principal Message

September 2022 - Welcome Back Pac!

I and my entire faculty and staff are looking forward to welcoming students back this month. We are ready to greet all of our incoming 9th graders on September 6th followed by the entire student body on September 7th. We will be full speed ahead with academics, clubs, and sports and look forward to our Back to School Night on September 29th. Please keep an eye out for communications from the high school and be sure your access to the Parent/Student Portal is up and running. 

Our core values - Resilience, Problem Solving, Compassion, and Risk Taking - will lead us as we prepare our students to be competitive during their post-secondary endeavors.

#GoPac!

Thank You

Matt Lawrence, Ed.D.
#WeAreMHS

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Read Previous Messages from Dr. Lawrence

 

June 2022 

It is truly hard to believe that our Senior Ceremonies and Prom are behind us and we are putting the final touches on Graduation for the Class of 2022. We are grateful our seniors had the opportunity to experience a week of fun that included trips to Great Adventure and Camp Kiwi, a movie night on the turf, Prom, and more. Our Underclassmen are busy with Regents Exams and some have already begun their Summer Break. Thank you for a fantastic year and Class of 2023, get those senior photos taken. Keep an eye out for communications regarding final report cards, college planning, summer reading, and.... the first day of school.

#GoPac!

Thank You

Matt Lawrence, Ed.D.
#WeAreMHS

 
 

April 2022

We are heading into our Spring Break and our final stretch of the 2021/2022 school year. The fourth quarter begins on April 18th - the last quarter for our Class of '22. We will be celebrating these students with Senior Awards, Prom, Honor Society Inductions, and Graduation. Following in their footsteps are our underclassmen and incoming freshmen. Be on the lookout for communications to finalize their course of studies for next year, college planning, and try-outs for fall sports. It is certainly an exciting time for everyone. Thank you for your support and your resilience. It feels like normal school life again and it has been a pleasure.

#GoPac!

Thank You

Matt Lawrence, Ed.D.
#WeAreMHS

 

February 2022

Happy Groundhog Day - We are now midway between the start and end of winter as well as our school year. As we enter our second semester we are focused on graduating seniors, planning for our incoming freshmen, and working with all levels to prepare for their future. All clubs and athletics are in full swing and the school is very vibrant. It almost, almost, feels pre-pandemic. Thank you, as always, for being such a strong and supportive community.
 
Matt Lawrence.
 

November 2021

Every morning I get onto our PA system and reinforce one of our core values by introducing a meaningful quote from somebody, well... meaningful. Truth be told, we do not need somebody "meaningful" to teach us about one of our core values, compassion. I see it here at the high school daily, especially around the holiday season, and I am so proud. Students and Staff are raising funds for food baskets and collecting toys for local residents as well as the Maria Fareri Children's hospital. It is heartwarming to see what our Mahopac Community does to support each other. Thank you Mahopac and enjoy the holiday season! #GoPac!

Thank You

Matt Lawrence, Ed.D.
#WeAreMHS

 

September 2021

Welcome to the 2021 -2022 School Year! I am very happy to welcome students back for another school year at Mahopac High School. If you are a new student to MHS, on behalf of our administration, faculty and staff, I offer you the warmest of welcomes! To all of our MHS Community, our core values - Resilience, Problem Solving, Compassion, and Risk Taking - have lead and will continue to lead us through this year and beyond. I look forward to seeing our successes for 2021 2022! #GoPac!

Thank You

Matt Lawrence, Ed.D.
#WeAreMHS

 

March 2021

Greetings MHS Community,

On Monday, April 5, 2021 we will begin our In-Person or Virtual learning. There will no longer be Blue and Gold Cohorts. 

I would like to offer some reminders and suggestions.

Reminders:

  1. Complete the ezSCRN app questions each day you come to school and stay home, attend school virtually, if you are directed through the screening. If you need assistance with ezSCRN, please refer to our  ezSCRN Support Doc .
  2. Student drop off / pick up occurs in the rear of MHS ONLY. 
  3. Each student must have their temperature taken prior to entering the building.
  4. Upon entering the building, the student must report directly to their classroom. There are no lockers available for storage. 
  5. Everyone is required to wear a mask at all times.
  6. Face Shields will be handed out beginning April 5th and are to be worn as directed. Please refer to the  FAQ's regarding Face Shields .
  7. Lunch can only be eaten in our designated eating areas (Cafe / Library). 
  8. Social distancing of 6 feet is expected at all times (when possible). 
  9. Library, Junior Senior Lounge, and Computer Room are not available. 

  10. Suggestions:
    We are very excited to have you back in school with us! 
    Regards,  Matt Lawrence, Ed.D.
    #WeAreMHS

 

December 2020

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a Gift. That's why they call it the present". In 2020 we have each learned, through our unique experiences, that being mindful of ourselves, our friends, and our greater community Today... is what has brought us through some of the most challenging days many of us will ever see. I am grateful for the compassion, creative thinking, resilience, and risk taking by everyone, each and every day. Together, Today, we will all shape our Tomorrow.  We are MHS!

 
Looking back at some of our most unexpected highlights of 2020:
  • Outdoor Graduation in cars
  • 12/17/2020 - The most welcome snow day ever
  • June and August Regents exams canceled
  • From Zoom to Google Meets
  • Blue days and Gold days
  • The Presidential Election
  • Virtual Back to School Night
  • Teaching to screens with no student faces on the other side
  • Learning from teachers teaching from their living rooms with maybe the occasional pet or kid popping on camera
  • Art projects using any supplies you can find in your house because stores are closed
  • Parent/Student pick-ups with rear windows down, masks on, holding large signs with names written on them
  • Class of 2020 graduation parade sponsored by the Town of Carmel
  • Virtual AP Exams

 

November 2020

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.  Thankfulness may consist merely of words.  Gratitude is shown in acts."  Henri Frederic Amiel

Happy Thanksgiving MHS!
 
 

October 2020

We have our students back at MHS and we LOVE IT ! 
 
Our students have breathed new life into all aspects of MHS  - we are so happy to have them back with us !
 
Everyone is adjusting to our new safety protocols and process just fine. I make it a point to talk to our students to get their reflections on coming back to school versus attending school virtually, the responses are consistently - being back at MHS is different but GREAT 
 
Please stay in contact with your student's teachers frequently ! 
 
Important Dates:
  • Interim Report Posting :   10 / 19 / 20
  • Virtual - Back To School Night:  10 /19 / 20 @ 7:00 pm
Important Reminders:
  • Complete EZscrn for students. - Daily
  • Masks:  Gaiter masks, vented masks, and bandanas are NOT approved for use at MHS
  • Weekly cycle and cohort color day schedule can be found at the bottom of our website
  • Follow me on Twitter for MHS updates :  Dr. Matt Lawrence @ PacHS_Principal
 
#WeAreMHS
 
 

September 2020

Welcome to 2020 - 21!

Although we are starting in a remote setting, we have our eyes on the return of our students on October 5th! As you enter into this remote learning time period, do so with a high level of focus and productivity.  “This is not a test”, as strange as it may seem, the school year has officially begun - get off to a strong start! 

I encourage you to have a high level of communication with your teachers and counselors. Communication will be the key to success during this strange time in our lives. 

As of 9/14 we are operating on our traditional bell schedule. The schedule can be found on the “more” tab of our website. 

Over the past three years we have worked tirelessly to brand the MHS Core Values with our students, staff, and community; to be compassionate, resilient, risk takers, and problem solvers.

It is in times of challenge that we can see the importance of each of these core values.   Lean on these core values and practice them in all you do !

#WeAreMHS