Tag Archives: Mason High School

Prescription Drug Task Force working to keep Mason safe

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Prescription drugs confiscated by the Mason P.D.

Prescription drugs confiscated by the Mason P.D. Photo credit, Mason P.D.

by Henrik Blix
Mason Times staff writer

MASON—Prevention and education. Those are the methods Mason leaders are using to address prescription drug abuse.

Police Chief John Stressman said the police department’s job is more about prevention than enforcement.

“We’re trying to get ahead of the game,” Stressman said. “We’re proactive and aggressive about preventing problems before they get started.”

According to the police department’s annual report, drug offenses accounted for 16 of 221, just over 7 percent, of total arrests in 2012.

Some of the drugs obtained by the Mason P.D. through the take back program

Some of the drugs obtained by the Mason P.D. through the take back program. Photo credit, Mason P.D.


Mason’s police department is one of the first to participate in Ingham County’s year-round pharmaceutical take-back program, said Sandy Stacy, the department’s evidence manager. She said the program helps collect unused and expired prescriptions, which keeps them out of medicine cabinets and off the streets. Mason residents can deposit their unused prescription drugs in a marked container inside city hall.

Stressman said there was some proliferation of possession and use of those drugs by school-age youth, which led to the foundation of the Capital Area Prescription Drug Task Force in 2011.

Stressman said the task force involves the police department, the Mason Public Schools, the 55th District Court, Families Against Narcotics and several others.

The police department’s annual report said the task force recently became involved with Families Against Narcotics, a group in southeast Michigan that helps addicts and their families. Continue reading →

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School Board approves field trips to Germany, France

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By Andrea Raby
Mason Times staff writer

On March 11, the Mason School Board approved two field trips for Mason High School students studying German and French to put their languages into practice.

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These trips, which occur every three years, will take place July of 2014. French teacher Margaret Cottrill leads a trip through France and German teacher Monica Norton leads a trip through Germany and parts of Switzerland.

“This is the third time that I have been taking a group here from Mason,” Norton said. “Along the way we see a lot of historical sites and a lot of important sites for the language. We do a lot of really cool experiences for the kids.” Continue reading →

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Mason School Board signs preliminary agreement

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By Cody Harrell
Mason Times staff writer

MASON—The Mason School Board announced Monday that this fall, students will be able to learn college credits while studying at Mason High School.

The agreement would allow high school students to earn community college credit while completing their graduation requirements at the high school. According to Mason School District Trustee Peter Curtis, this agreement is meant to help create a more seamless transition between education levels.

“This is a great opportunity for students to get a running start for college,” Curtis said.
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Mason High School students put on brave faces to help save lives

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By BriAnn Harvey
Mason Times staff writer

MASON — Eighty Mason High School students put aside their fear of needles, blood and missed class to help save a life on Feb. 28.

The American Red Cross along with six MHS student senate members set up at 6 a.m. and tore down at 2:45 p.m. The Student Senate hosted this blood drive, and it was the second of three that it hosts every year. Twelve S.S members worked the drive throughout the day.

Kathy Omillian, MHS Student Senate Advisor, said these blood drives are only open to the student body and staff because of school security issues.

Out of the 80 students who signed up to donate, only 60 met all the regulations the American Red Cross puts up.

Not only did Mason High School students help save a life, they also raised scholarship money in the process. For every pint of blood the Red Cross collects, the Red Cross will give money to the student senate. The senate gives 150 pints to the Red Cross every year.

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Mason technology upgrades mean new learning experiences

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By Michelle Paetow
Mason Times staff writer

Mason High School juniors, Chris Karcher (back) and William Wilson (front) use the Kindles in their English class.

Mason Public Schools has upgraded technology to make learning more fun and efficient for students and teachers.

Mason Public Schools used about $25,000 of Title 1A grant money, a federal grant for at-risk students, Title 2A grant money, used for professional development and technology, and MTIP money specifically for the Mason Technology Infusion Plan for the upgrades in technology.

Originally, the technology plan was created so each class room would be a smart classroom with a document camera, data projector and a SMART board. As technology has changed, so have the guidelines for the money. Teachers in the elementary schools will be receiving iPads for the classroom.

Bruce Barbour, executive director of curriculum, said, “It’s very exciting technology. Instead of the student going up to the SMART board, they are able to manipulate the problem or equation on the iPad that comes to them,” said Barbour. “We have had positive feedback from the teachers thanking us for the new technology, but it is too early to see if they are really getting use from them.I absolutely believe that in the next five to years, that we will be reading textbooks from a device. That is the future of education. Kids’ smart phones are now better than the computers sitting on the teachers desks.”

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